The Washington Commanders are aiming to bounce back after a disappointing 5-12 season last year. Injuries to their starting quarterback, Jayden Daniels, contributed significantly to their struggles. Daniels, now in his third season, was the team’s second pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, following Caleb Williams. As a rookie, he played in all 17 games and almost led the Commanders to the Super Bowl. However, he started only seven games last season due to injuries, managing a 2-5 record. This season, Daniels is back to full health, and the team is making strategic changes to enhance his effectiveness on the field.
One major adjustment involves Daniels spending more time in the huddle with his offense. Previously, during his NFL career, Daniels huddled less frequently. The Athletic reports that the Commanders operated from under center only 32% of the time with Daniels, compared to an NFL median of 82%. This season, the team intends to increase huddling to improve coordination and performance.
Head coach Dan Quinn observed significant benefits from using a GoPro camera to review Daniels’ practice footage. He noted Daniels’ calm demeanor in the huddle as an encouraging sign. “He was always so calm and cool, and he’s still that way in the huddle. … That’s a big deal. There’s a calmness when the quarterback, in the chaos, is like, ‘We’re good, man,’” Quinn said. By enhancing Daniels’ comfort in the huddle, the Commanders aim to protect him from injuries. Last season, Daniels experienced a dislocated elbow, a left knee sprain, and a right hamstring strain, affecting his availability.
Additionally, huddling could help the Commanders manage the clock better and conserve timeouts, an area where they struggled last season when they didn’t huddle. Effective time management is essential, particularly in tight games.
The team has a new offensive coordinator, David Blough, who serves as a fresh addition to the coaching staff. As the former assistant quarterbacks coach, Blough replaced Kliff Kingsbury, who was the team’s offensive coordinator in 2025. Through the huddle, Blough aims to relay more comprehensive information to Daniels, aiding strategic decision-making during plays.
Regarding his huddling stance, Daniels expressed uncertainty, noting he has not settled on whether to stand, hunch, or kneel. He still has time to make that decision, with the season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 13. Observers will be keen to see if these offensive changes lead to improvements over last year’s performance.
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