s head coach Dan Quinn is desperately making an attempt to re-instill grit and a tough edge into his crew in 2026. After the excessive of the 2024 season was tempered by a 2025 season that was marred by harm, Quinn needs to see that edge and willpower from his gamers once more in 2026.
It's not simply concerning the gamers, although, as Sports activities Illustrated's Albert Breer t. It's much more relevant to his new coordinators.
The Commanders are conducting largely 11-on-11 intervals, and most of that work’s been executed in “name it” intervals, the place the coaches don’t have a script, are calling performs in opposition to one another and reacting to the circumstances within the second. That’s nice coaching, after all, for Blough and Jones as they construct towards the season. And as for areas the place the Commanders are getting the sting Quinn is on the lookout for, nook will surely be one, the place each Amik Robertson and Mike Sainristil are enjoying with chips on their shoulders, which has been actually good for the expansion of youthful guys like Trey Amos. Security Jeremy Reaves, who, like Robertson, needed to earn his manner into the league, is one other DB in that class.
Each Blough and Jones are of their first stint as coordinators within the NFL, though Jones beforehand held the defensive coordinator position with LSU. Blough has the good thing about being in his third teaching 12 months with the Commanders, so he already is aware of the group and what it's wish to work with Dan Quinn. Jones has the good thing about having held the same position up to now, however he’s new to the group.
Quinn needs his coordinators to emanate having an edge and be gritty from a play-calling standpoint. If they’ll try this, then perhaps that edge and grit will make their manner all the way down to the gamers. We've already seen guys like Quan Martin, Ricky Barber, Kaytron Allen, and Antonio Williams present out throughout the preseason, and there are extra who present their willingness to play with grit and willpower.
If what we've seen throughout the preseason means something, then we are able to actually count on this Commanders crew to indicate up with an enormous chip on its shoulder and a willingness to win within the trenches. Taking part in with an edge, enjoying with grit and willpower, are precisely what Quinn needs to see this season.
This text initially appeared on Commanders Wire: 6
