What is one of the really bright spots for the Commanders this offseason?
It’s easy to always look to the draft and talk about the players selected in your team’s draft. However, isn’t every team optimistic this time of year, thinking (and hoping) that the players they have selected are a good fit for their team and that the improvement will show up this upcoming season? Commanders fans are certainly not immune to this. It is simply natural to hope so strongly in your team that you are optimistic about the draft.
What about when you look at the coaches? Dan Quinn being selected as head coach certainly did not ignite the fan base with excitement. In fact, there was as much scrutiny as hopeful anticipation regarding Quinn. But that wasn’t his fault. Fans unfairly brought up the 28-3 halftime lead the Falcons blew in the Super Bowl loss to the Patriots. But fans could have just as easily looked at the other side of the coin and been happy to have a coach who had led his team to a Super Bowl.
There was also some skepticism regarding defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., who had not been a coordinator previously. The defense was suspect at best in many games last season. The Commanders’ front office knew Whitt needs some studs, and moves like bringing in corner Marshon Lattimore, defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw, and the drafting of corner Trey Amos are expected to help Whitt’s defense.
Perhaps going unnoticed is that the Commanders bring back every single coach on Dan Quinn’s staff from the 2024 season. I suppose someone could negatively respond that this is not necessarily a good thing. But yes, NFL teams were seeking to hire Kliff Kingsbury and David Blough this offseason.
This could be a big plus for the Commanders in terms of continuity and not needing to give time for a position coach to bring in his new schemes or unfamiliar language/vocabulary. It also points to the fact that the head coach of the Commanders, Dan Quinn, is skilled in how he relates to this staff. He is not simply their boss, though that is an important boundary to maintain. Quinn relates well enough that it appears each and every member of his staff wanted to return for 2025.
This means not only will the same coaches be in place this season, but they will also have the same roles they had in Quinn’s first season in Washington. This is significant because coaches often remain but may or may not be as prepared for a different role when given that new role.
Seeing everyone like to talk about how any move affects or helps Jayden Daniels, then having his entire offensive coaching staff return in the same roles for Daniels’ second NFL season certainly looks to be a major blessing for Daniels, don’t you think?