It’s already been a tough enough season for Jayden Daniels, but now the franchise quarterback of the Washington Commanders must face up to losing a key mentor in the coaching room.
News broke from ESPN’s Pete Thamel on Friday, November 28 Commanders quarterbacks coach Tavita Pritchard has been named the new man in charge at Stanford. Thamel noted Pritchard has deep ties to the program, having been “a former quarterback, assistant coach and coordinator at the school, including a run on staff from 2010 to 2022.”
Although Pritchard won’t leave before Week 13’s game against the Denver Broncos, his departure will still rate as a blow to Daniels.The latter has dealt with multiple injuries during his second campaign in the NFL, including a dislocated elbow, but Daniels remains the future of the Commanders. Perhaps that’s why the team is being tipped to turn to a familiar face as his new position coach.
This prediction comes from Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic, who “would think this means David Blough moves up to be the Commanders’ new QBs coach. Blough retired from playing in 2024 and became Washington’s assistant QBs coach.”
Jhabvala’s thinking is supported by The Washington Post’s Tom Schad. He also “would assume David Blough will step into Pritchard’s spot — at least for the rest of this year, if not permanently.”
Any change in the coaching setup for the final weeks of a disappointing season will only increase the scrutiny on how the Commanders manage Daniels’ playing time and development.
Tavita Pritchard Departure Comes at Key Moment for Jayden Daniels
Pritchard’s role in Daniels’ rapid rise from the second-overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft to Offensive Rookie of the Year can’t be overstated. Although he predated the arrival of head coach Dan Quinn and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, Pritchard became the key sounding board for Daniels.
Early walk-throughs with Kingsbury and Pritchard, detailed by Thamel’s colleague John Keim earlier this year, gave Daniels the foundation to be a quick study at the pro level. Pritchard was also one of the overseers of subtle changes to Daniels’ mechanics in the offseason.
Not all of those changes have bore fruit, but injuries to both Daniels and core members of his supporting cast haven’t helped. Balancing protecting their prized asset against getting him some more much-needed experience on the field, will define the rest of this campaign for the Commanders.
Commanders Need Keen Coaching to Safeguard Star QB
Safeguarding Daniels is the hot button issue facing the Commanders, with the focus on preserving his health. Daniels has made it clear he wants to play, but the Commanders are so far reluctant to rush him back.
Head coach Dan Quinn insists resting Daniels hasn’t been a topic of conversation, but the Commanders can’t avoid the issue for much longer. Quinn will need to make a decision about the value of Daniels being exposed to more hits in a lost season.
If the Commanders opt to take the risk, Blough will get a useful audition as an important voice in Daniels’ development. Blough knows what it takes to play the position, having spent time with the Detroit Lions, Arizona Cardinals and Minnesota Vikings, after entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent signed by the Cleveland Browns back in 2019.
The next stage of Daniels’ development will need to be managed carefully, so a familiar face with Blough’s experience can be invaluable once Pritchard officially takes the reins at Palo Alto.
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