The Washington Commanders are running out of time to turn their season around, and Jayden Daniels' latest comments about offensive coordinator David Blough aren't exactly reassuring.
Daniels spoke about Blough's development as a first-time offensive coordinator, acknowledging that there have been some growing pains as the Commanders attempt to find their offensive identity.
“He's first-time coordinator, so he has growing pains that he's going through. It's not going to be perfect as much as you want it to be, but we're still continuing to stick to the process and really just going from there,” Daniels said, per Martenzie Johnson on X.
Daniels isn't necessarily criticizing his coordinator, but the comments make it clear that Washington is still working through some issues with Blough calling the offense. Unfortunately, the Commanders don't have much time left to figure things out.
Washington entered the season hoping to build on its 2024 campaign, when it reached the NFC Championship Game. Instead, the team has struggled to find consistency, and injuries have made things even more difficult. The offense has been particularly frustrating, ranking 21st in scoring and 20th in total yards entering Thursday's matchup.
Blough deserves some understanding as he navigates his first season in the role, especially with the number of injuries Washington has dealt with. However, the Commanders need more production from their offense, and the coaching staff must find ways to put Daniels and the rest of the unit in better positions to succeed.
The upcoming matchup against the New York Giants is an important opportunity. Washington enters the game at 2-5-1 and needs to start stacking wins if it hopes to make a push in the NFC East. The Commanders already have a tie against New York this season, making Thursday's rematch even more important.
There is still a path for Washington to make something out of this season, but it needs to start now. If Washington wants to get back into the playoff picture, its offense needs to show meaningful improvement. Otherwise, the Commanders could find themselves watching the postseason from home once again.