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Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin had the best year of his career in 2024. It was his sixth NFL season. It happened when McLaurin finally had stability at quarterback with rookie sensation Jayden Daniels.
McLaurin caught a career-high 13 touchdown passes in 2024. His previous career-high was seven, set in his rookie season of 2019. McLaurin even added three more in Washington's surprising playoff run. McLaurin's career year came under first-year offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.
For as great as the 2024 season was for McLaurin and the Commanders, the 2025 season was on the opposite end of the spectrum. Daniels missed 10 games with injuries. For the first time in his career, McLaurin missed significant time with an injury. After missing seven games, McLaurin posted the worst numbers of his career, only months after a contract standoff with the team.
After the season ended, head coach Dan Quinn made sweeping changes. He moved on from Kingsbury and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. The Commanders didn't part with Kingsbury due to performance. They wanted a change in philosophy. Quinn felt Daniels could thrive in a more traditional NFL offense, with an emphasis on the running game, more play action, and a passing game married to the run-game concepts.
One area of Kingsbury's offense that drew criticism from around the NFL was the way he used his top receiver. While most offensive coordinators move their top receiver around the formation to take advantage of or create mismatches, Kingsbury likes his receivers to line up on the same side more often than not.
The Commanders promoted David Blough to replace Kingsbury. Blough played for Kingsbury and coached under him for two years. However, he would run a more traditional NFL offense, similar to what Ben Johnson ran with the Lions and now runs with the Bears. Blough will still use some of Kingsbury's concepts, but the wide receivers could have more opportunities under the new philosophy.
It's safe to say that McLaurin is excited about Blough's offense.
"Newness brings a breath of fresh air," McLaurin said Tuesday. "I had success in the offense we were just in, so I'm not, I don't really have too many bad things to say about that. I had a lot of success there, but just being able to be multiple, being able to be moved around as a receiver. You know, when you're the No. 1 guy, and the team goes into the game and they have to worry about you playing 1, 2, or 3 on the left, or 1, 2, 3 on the right, what does he do in a stack? What does he do in motion? That forces them to have to communicate more. It focuses them to have to study my route stems and lining up where I'm lining up vs. them knowing, 'Hey, we know 17 is going to be on the left side.'"
McLaurin said he noticed this more toward the end of last year, when he worked with Kingsbury to move him to the right side to help Daniels and Marcus Mariota. He said it's naturally occurring in Blough's offense.
"You're going to see some guys all over the field, and I think that's exciting."
It almost sounded like McLaurin was indirectly taking a shot at Kingsbury. He wasn't. McLaurin is a nice guy and the ultimate team player. He even opened his statement by saying he had plenty of success in Kingsbury's offense. Still, you could hear the excitement in his voice as he discussed how Blough plans to use him.
Remember, after he was hired, Blough said his goal was to get McLaurin 10 targets per game. That will make any receiver happy.
McLaurin has had a strong offseason. He's highly motivated to put the most disappointing season of his career behind him. It's a new offense. He's healthy. Daniels is healthy. McLaurin also wants to prove that Washington made a wise investment, signing him to a three-year extension last summer, one month before his 30th birthday.
Don't be surprised if McLaurin has his best year in 2026.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Terry McLaurin sounds excited about new offense
Continue reading...
McLaurin caught a career-high 13 touchdown passes in 2024. His previous career-high was seven, set in his rookie season of 2019. McLaurin even added three more in Washington's surprising playoff run. McLaurin's career year came under first-year offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.
For as great as the 2024 season was for McLaurin and the Commanders, the 2025 season was on the opposite end of the spectrum. Daniels missed 10 games with injuries. For the first time in his career, McLaurin missed significant time with an injury. After missing seven games, McLaurin posted the worst numbers of his career, only months after a contract standoff with the team.
After the season ended, head coach Dan Quinn made sweeping changes. He moved on from Kingsbury and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. The Commanders didn't part with Kingsbury due to performance. They wanted a change in philosophy. Quinn felt Daniels could thrive in a more traditional NFL offense, with an emphasis on the running game, more play action, and a passing game married to the run-game concepts.
One area of Kingsbury's offense that drew criticism from around the NFL was the way he used his top receiver. While most offensive coordinators move their top receiver around the formation to take advantage of or create mismatches, Kingsbury likes his receivers to line up on the same side more often than not.
The Commanders promoted David Blough to replace Kingsbury. Blough played for Kingsbury and coached under him for two years. However, he would run a more traditional NFL offense, similar to what Ben Johnson ran with the Lions and now runs with the Bears. Blough will still use some of Kingsbury's concepts, but the wide receivers could have more opportunities under the new philosophy.
It's safe to say that McLaurin is excited about Blough's offense.
"Newness brings a breath of fresh air," McLaurin said Tuesday. "I had success in the offense we were just in, so I'm not, I don't really have too many bad things to say about that. I had a lot of success there, but just being able to be multiple, being able to be moved around as a receiver. You know, when you're the No. 1 guy, and the team goes into the game and they have to worry about you playing 1, 2, or 3 on the left, or 1, 2, 3 on the right, what does he do in a stack? What does he do in motion? That forces them to have to communicate more. It focuses them to have to study my route stems and lining up where I'm lining up vs. them knowing, 'Hey, we know 17 is going to be on the left side.'"
McLaurin said he noticed this more toward the end of last year, when he worked with Kingsbury to move him to the right side to help Daniels and Marcus Mariota. He said it's naturally occurring in Blough's offense.
"You're going to see some guys all over the field, and I think that's exciting."
It almost sounded like McLaurin was indirectly taking a shot at Kingsbury. He wasn't. McLaurin is a nice guy and the ultimate team player. He even opened his statement by saying he had plenty of success in Kingsbury's offense. Still, you could hear the excitement in his voice as he discussed how Blough plans to use him.
Remember, after he was hired, Blough said his goal was to get McLaurin 10 targets per game. That will make any receiver happy.
McLaurin has had a strong offseason. He's highly motivated to put the most disappointing season of his career behind him. It's a new offense. He's healthy. Daniels is healthy. McLaurin also wants to prove that Washington made a wise investment, signing him to a three-year extension last summer, one month before his 30th birthday.
Don't be surprised if McLaurin has his best year in 2026.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Terry McLaurin sounds excited about new offense
Continue reading...
