Coaching is an exercise in humility, according to Washington Commanders coordinators Joe Whitt Jr. and Kliff Kingsbury. While players spent the offseason honing their skills and letting their bodies recover, the coaching staff pinpointed their own areas for improvement.
“It might sound silly, but right now it’s this: Do what’s right, don’t necessarily be right,” Whitt said after Monday’s training camp practice. “As coaches, you think you have all the answers all the time. So I’m being very cautious to listen to everybody and make sure I’m doing what’s right, not trying to prove that I’m right.”
The Commanders took the NFL by storm last season — the first with head coach Dan Quinn running the team while Kingsbury and Whitt called the offensive and defensive plays, respectively. An unexpected run to the NFC championship game brought big expectations to this year’s training camp.
“We were always the underdog. We could just kind of take a shot at people,” Kingsbury said. “This year, we have to be more consistent in how we do everything. That’s the biggest message.”
For the offense, that means turning the ball over less. Washington’s last two games against the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles — including the playoff loss — featured nine total turnovers.
That won’t fly this season if Washington plans to meet the offseason hype. The Commanders enter the year with the sixth-best Super Bowl odds, according to ESPN Bet.
For the first time in years, the 6,000 fans who flock to training camp for the team’s open practices have high hopes. And they’re justified.
“We have to do better, give ourselves a chance to win,” Kingsbury said.
With budding superstar Jayden Daniels at quarterback, the Commanders like their odds. The 2023 Heisman Trophy winner won the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in a landslide last season, quickly developing a reputation for clutch performances. With an immaculate deep ball and dynamic running ability, Daniels gave opposing defenses fits in his rookie campaign.
The first year for Quinn, Daniels and Kingsbury was about getting comfortable. The offensive leaders routinely showered each other with praise as they developed a tight relationship. Now, Daniels is ready to take command of the offense.
“We got a lot of guys returning. So them understanding the offense in year two and putting their own spin on it makes them more comfortable with the quarterback being in total command,” Kingsbury said. “Taking the next step, not thinking as much and being able to execute at a high level.”
Whitt has the same approach on defense. He said he learned from last season’s mistakes and spent the summer strategizing how to best allow his players to succeed.
“Making sure that we’re putting the players in the best situation, utilizing them. I don’t think I did a good-enough job in certain spaces with [linebacker Frankie Luvu and former safety Jeremy Chinn], who did good jobs,” Whitt said. “But the whole 11, I could do a better job of using people’s skill sets.”
Despite last season’s success, the Commanders maintained their entire coaching staff. That’s a rarity in the modern NFL.
The Lions, who the Commanders upset in the divisional round of the playoffs, lost both of their coordinators to head coaching jobs. Former Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen took the top job with the Jacksonville Jaguars after losing to the Commanders in the wild-card round.
“We’re fortunate that not just at the coordinator level, but at the assistant level, we had just an unusual year where people had a chance to move and they ended up staying,” Quinn said.
That continuity has let Quinn’s staff hit the ground running as they prepare for the team’s regular-season opener against the division rival New York Giants on Sept. 7.
“Now you’ve gone through the ups, downs, highs, lows and you can really collaborate at a higher level,” Quinn said. “That can kind of raise the standards of things, because you’ve been through the adversity.”
This offseason’s adversity has centered around the off-field situation of wide receiver Terry McLaurin. The two-time Pro Bowler has skipped training camp practices as he negotiates a new contract and rehabs an ankle injury.
The 29-year-old is at the team’s facility, often stepping onto the field after practice to talk with his agent and sign autographs for fans.
During practices, though, his absence has allowed receivers such as the newly acquired Deebo Samuel and Jaylin Lane to shine.
“It’s good competition,” Kingsbury said. “If you were to lose Noah [Brown] or Terry, you’ve got to have some guys step up. We’re starting to see who’s making plays when they get their opportunities and who’s not.”
The Commanders continue their preseason with a joint practice against the New England Patriots on Wednesday. They play the Patriots in their preseason opener Friday.
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
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