I, too, have some complicated thoughts about Blough as a candidate for the job. So let\u2019s break them down: my four reasons I like him and three reasons I don\u2019t.<\/p>\n
4 reasons Blough should be a legitimate candidate<\/p>\n
He\u2019s got a firm grasp of the Lions\u2019 scheme<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s be honest with ourselves, the Detroit Lions\u2019 offensive scheme does not need a dramatic overhaul. If the Lions can just get back to where they were under Ben Johnson\u2014and they weren\u2019t that far off last year\u2014things can change in a hurry. The Lions\u2019 scheme was one that was carefully developed with Jared Goff at the helm, and Detroit\u2019s personnel was hand-picked to fit what the Lions want to do here. The biggest reason Detroit took a step back this past season was their inability to win up front, not huge schematic blunders. If the Lions go with an external hire, they risk alienating their quarterback and attempting to fix things that weren\u2019t broken.<\/p>\n
Blough spent two seasons in Detroit under this scheme (2021, 2023), has a clear rapport with Jared Goff, and throughout his time here, he constantly received praise for his deep football knowledge.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s Johnson mentioning that he saw play-calling in Blough\u2019s future:<\/p>\n
\u201cI talked to Tim Boyle right now and I think whenever he decides to hang the cleats up, he\u2019s going to become a coach. David Blough was the same way when he was here. Those guys \u2013 you can already see that they want to be potential play-callers down the road.\u201c<\/p>\n
And here\u2019s Dan Campbell from 2021:<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s smart. He\u2019s extremely smart. He knows where to go with the football, I love his timing. He knows how to command the huddle, he communicates well and on top of that, he\u2019s a hell of a dude, by the way. He just is.\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u2019s in higher demand than you may think<\/p>\n
Blough may only be two years into his coaching career, but the man has already drawn the interest of several teams. Last year alone, the Commanders had to block interview requests from the Jets (QB coach), Bears (pass game coordinator), and Jaguars (QB coach)<\/a>. Obviously, Aaron Glenn and Johnson chasing him is no surprise considering their shared time in Detroit, but Liam Coen was also interested, and he has no history with Blough. Word is getting around.<\/p>\n He\u2019s already designed some very successful plays<\/p>\n While play-design is only a small part of the job of offensive coordinator, Blough has already been credited with pitching in for some critical plays at critical times. Here\u2019s Commanders QB Jayden Daniels talking about this game-winning touchdown play in Week 16 against the Eagles<\/a> (via Albert Breer):<\/p>\n \u201cIt set up perfectly,\u201d Daniels says of Blough\u2019s concept. \u201cWe did that same play in practice, same route, right behind the linebacker, in two-high coverage. That was my first read presnap from what I\u2019ve seen\u2014I\u2019m going to go right here and trust in him to make a play.\u201d<\/p>\n Remember the reverse flea-flicker the Lions pulled off against the Cowboys<\/a>? That play was called \u201cBoilermaker.\u201d Why? Because Blough, a Purdue alumnus, brought it with him from college<\/a>.<\/p>\n He\u2019s already being tabbed as a future head coach candidate<\/p>\n While the Lions certainly wouldn\u2019t want to have another successful offensive coordinator poached from them in the future, it speaks to Blough\u2019s legitimacy that some believe he\u2019s destined to be a head coach someday soon. David Aldridge, a Commanders columnist for The Athletic, had this to say about Blough<\/a>:<\/p>\n \u201cBut it feels more likely that Quinn will go outside the building, though he\u2019d love to keep assistant quarterbacks coach David Blough, who\u2019s on the fast track to becoming a head coach sometime very soon.\u201d<\/p>\n