The Washington Commanders have a new offensive line coach. On Monday, head coach Dan Quinn promoted assistant offensive line coach Darnell Stapleton to offensive line coach, while Shane Toub takes a step up and replaces Stapleton as assistant offensive line coach.
The move was met with skepticism by some. Why would Washington move on from offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and offensive line coach Bobby Johnson, only to hire their replacements? Great question. But the Commanders loved Blough and didn’t want to lose him. They’d rather take the chance and promote him a year early than risk losing him to another team.
They felt the same way about Stapleton. The Commanders hired Stapleton in 2024, and he reportedly worked closely with Blough, establishing a strong working rapport. Stapleton received praise for developing Brandon Coleman in 2024 and Josh Conerly Jr. and Chris Paul in 2025. Conerly, the first-round pick from Oregon, struggled early in the season before turning things around in the second half. Paul, meanwhile, is a former seventh-round pick who took advantage of his opportunity when promoted to the starting lineup early in the season.
Stapleton is praised for his ability to develop players. He’s also a strong proponent of zone blocking. Johnson ran a gap scheme. Quinn and GM Adam Peters reportedly preferred an offensive system similar to what Kyle Shanahan runs in San Francisco or what Ben Johnson runs in Chicago, rather than Kingsbury’s hybrid Air Raid. To run Shanahan’s scheme, you need to employ zone blocking.
Stapleton, a former NFL offensive lineman before getting into coaching, is apparently a teacher. Before coming to Washington in 2024, Stapleton served as the offensive line coach of the Florida Gators.
Here are multiple videos of Stapleton teaching his blocking scheme. It’s very informative and Stapleton’s communication and teaching ability shines through.
Washington Commanders OL coach Darnell Stapleton – Split Zone Arc
– “Bang Back” technique. OL protects open play side gap w/ eyes & ready to react.
– If nothing shows, OL bangs back & can account for fall back run fits from the LBs. pic.twitter.com/SrPJDmDihD
— James Light (@JamesALight) March 5, 2024
NFL Divisional🏈
Commanders OL Coach – Darnell Stapleton IZ vs twist
– BS Lock – Extra eliminates Alert for PST. TE accounts for PS #3.
– “Silo” technique vs Twist game from 5T DE and 30T LB.
– PSG gets up & under DE and pushes off the PST to the LB.https://t.co/4wogKEL6jcpic.twitter.com/XxuhF9Q2QM— Football Coach™️ (@footballdothow) January 18, 2025
Washington Commanders OL coach Darnell Stapleton – Inside Zone Lock Extra vs Twist Game
– BST/BSG Lock
– Extra eliminates Alert for PST. TE accounts for PS #3.
– “Silo” technique vs Twist game from 5T DE and 30T LB.
– PSG gets up & under DE and pushes off the PST to the LB. pic.twitter.com/S4wQH1hZi4— James Light (@JamesALight) March 22, 2024
Preseason Just outside the top 25-Florida-Zone Scheme Basics and Fundamentals – Darnell Stapleton, OL
Start, Explosion, and Finishhttps://t.co/iJ6TXpQtL8pic.twitter.com/WvZRNbX2So
— Football Coach™️ (@footballdothow) May 25, 2023
Washington Commanders Asst OL – Darnell Stapleton
Teaching the Zone Count
– Center = 0 to Mike
– PSG = 1
– PST = 2 (Alert 3 in an Open Surface)
– BSG = -1
– BST = -21st Defender from the Centerline Playside is 0
Vs #3 coming vs an Open Set, Alert “Team” Call to reset the… pic.twitter.com/I36a4E9DYI
— Spencer Wheeler (@CoachSCDub) March 23, 2025
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: New OL coach Darnell Stapleton is a teacher
