The Washington Commanders elevated David Blough to do the same to the offense. One of the most important parts of the offense is the production of wide receiver Terry McLaurin. McLaurin is the go-to wideout, the preferred target of quarterback Jayden Daniels. As the main focus of the offense, Blough knows that the 30-year-old must see a plethora of targets, as this interview with WUSA attests.
“This thing’s going to be built around how we get Terry 10 targets a game and get him explosive receptions after explosive receptions to kind of flip the field.”
In 107 career games, the two-time Pro Bowler enjoyed at least ten targets 21 times. Plus, McLaurin has seen five or fewer targets 25 times. In contrast, Minnesota Vikings star Justin Jefferson has seen double-digit targets 45 times in 13 fewer career games. By improving the use of McLaurin, Blough hopes it will open up other areas of the Commanders’ offense.
“These guys, whether they’re sparking a long run in the running game with blocking on the perimeter or creating explosive passes.”
Blough mentioned flipping the field. In essence, that approach helps both sides of the ball. First, it put the offense in a far better spot to score. On the other hand, the defense can pin the offense back and force them to go down the field.
GettyWashington Commanders wide receiver makes a catch during the 2025 NFC Championship.
Blough Highlights Three Key Positions
To facilitate his self-imposed mandate on targets, the Commander’s offensive coordinator highlighted the importance of quarterback Jayden Daniels and left tackle Laremy Tunsil. Injuries limited Daniels to seven games in 2025. With a hopeful return to a healthier season. The previous season, McLaurin and Daniels enjoyed their greatest success through the air at least 20 yards down the left sideline.
Tunsil graded out as the third-best pass blocker, according to Pro Football Focus. In his first year with the Commanders, Tunsil ranked in the top 2% of all eligible blockers, surrendering just two sacks. Wit Blough’s offense, he hopes to blend shotgun snaps with under-center work. In a division where you will see secondaries that may not enter elite status, Tunsil’s blocking will help open the door to bigger plays.
GettyWashington Commanders left tackle Laremy Tunsil looks on during a September 11, 2025 game against the Green Bay Packers.
Accuracy and Placement Will Help in the Quest for Increased Targets
In 2024, McLaurin caught a career-high 70.1% of his targets. Last year, that number dropped to 63.3, which is close to the wideout’s average of 63.4. In the last two seasons, the pass catcher dropped a total of five passes. While the drops matter, where the ball is thrown to them supersedes them.
In other words, putting the ball on target and hitting McLaurin in stride matter. Yards after catch can serve as the difference between a small gain and a potential game-changing play. Daniels has shown an excellent touch on the ball. With the increased target, McLaurin could be the beneficiary. Within that, the quarterback still needs to take care of his receivers. Leading the wideout too far and exposing them to potential injury.
With Blough seemingly determined to build around his starting quarterback and top wide receiver, the Commanders want to bring back the big plays. Provided that the health and productivity of Daniels and McLaurin return, what will the new scheme bring?
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