Washington Commanders Adjust Strategy to Improve Performance

Expectations for Washington Commanders and Jayden Daniels

The Washington Commanders aim to recover from last season’s disappointing 5-12 finish. Injuries affected the team’s performance, particularly with starting quarterback Jayden Daniels. Daniels, entering his third season, was selected as the Commanders’ second pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, following Caleb Williams. His rookie year involved playing all 17 games and nearly leading the team to the Super Bowl. However, the previous season saw him starting only seven games, resulting in a 2-5 record due to injuries.

Now healthy, Daniels is set to enhance his approach. The team has introduced a major change to improve his gameplay this offseason. The Commanders are focused on increasing Daniels’ interaction with the offense through huddling. Although new in his NFL career, this strategy may offer benefits.

Improving the Offensive Approach

According to insights from The Athletic, the Commanders’ usage of under-center formations was the lowest among NFL teams, at merely 32% with Daniels on the field. This contrasts with the median of 82% across the league.

Head coach Dan Quinn shared his approval of practice footage from a GoPro cam worn by Daniels. The footage highlighted Daniels’ comfort and calm demeanor in the huddle, a style he’s learning to adopt more frequently.

Quinn commented, “He was always so calm and cool, and he’s still that way in the huddle. There’s a calmness when the quarterback, in the chaos, is like, ‘We’re good, man.'”

Benefits of the New Offensive Strategy

Adopting more frequent huddling can offer multiple benefits. It reduces Daniels’ exposure to hits, crucial after last season’s injuries, including a dislocated elbow, a left knee sprain, and a right hamstring strain. Additionally, huddling minimizes unnecessary timeouts, enhancing late-game management. The strategy aligns with the hiring of new offensive coordinator David Blough. Previously the assistant quarterbacks coach, Blough replaces Kliff Kingsbury, who held the position in 2025.

Huddling Dynamics

Daniels is yet to determine his stance in the huddle. He remains undecided between standing up, hunching over, or taking a knee. As the first regular-season game approaches in less than two weeks, he will have time to adjust.

The upcoming game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Sept. 13, presents a key scenario to observe if increased huddling leads to enhanced results.