2026 Offensive Expectations
July 15, 2026
By Noonefromtampa
New offensive coordinator David Blough is expected to borrow heavily from Ben Johnson’s offensive schemes. This column will look at some of the changes fans can expect to see when Jayden Daniels and the rest of the offense take the field.
Background
Ben Johnson’s offensive scheme is built around making the same concepts look different and making different concepts look the same. His approach stresses balance between the run game and pass game. He uses disguises, pre-snap motion, and formation variation to keep defenses from understanding the play call tendencies.
Personnel Groups
In NFL terminology, personnel groups are numbered by the number of running backs in the formation (from zero to three) and the number of tight ends in the formation (also from zero to three). So an 11 personnel group would be the offense having 1 running back, 1 tight end and 3 wide receivers on the field for that play. Let’s compare the 2025 statistics on personnel groups between Johnson’s Bears team and Washington. Here is how often each personnel group was used.
| Personnel Group | CHI | WSH |
| 01 | 1.72% | 0.91% |
| 02 | 0.91% | 0.40% |
| 03 | 0.09% | 0.10% |
| 10 | 0.18% | 1.11% |
| 11 | 52.68% | 58.49% |
| 12 | 35.54% | 30.70% |
| 13 | 8.79% | 5.35% |
| 21 | 0.00% | 0.20% |
| 22 | 0.00% | 0.51% |
| 23 | 0.09% | 0.00% |
While both teams predominantly run 11 and 12 groups 88% of the time, Johnson makes greater use of three tight end sets to help the run game. But Johnson will also throw out of three tight end sets so defense just can’t assume a run play is coming from those formations. Another difference is that Johnson used four wide receiver sets with a tight end versus Washington which ran four receiver sets with a running back.
Formations
This big difference here is Johnson puts the quarterback under center instead of a pistol formation. This is a major difference for Daniels in terms of body movements, footwork and reading defenses pre-snap. This was evident from OTAs and minicamp with errant snaps and poor timing on hand-offs. These will get more focus in training camp to build muscle memory on those movements.
Johnson loves being unpredictable and does this by either running the same play from different formations or using the same formation to run different plays. He tries to create uncertainty in opposing defenses by not showing them tendencies.
Here is a breakdown of pass versus run plays by personnel groupings:
| Personnel Group | CHI Pass | CHI Run | WSH Pass | WSH Run |
| 01 | 14 | 5 | 7 | 2 |
| 02 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| 03 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 7 |
| 11 | 357 | 224 | 354 | 225 |
| 12 | 184 | 208 | 104 | 200 |
| 13 | 35 | 62 | 19 | 34 |
| 21 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 22 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 9 |
| 23 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
A defining feature of Johnson’s system is the ability to use the same personnel grouping for multiple purposes. Heavy sets (12 and 13 groups) can produce play-action shots, spread looks (01 and 11 groups) can lead to runs, and motion can force the defense to reveal coverage. This keeps defenses from confidently predicting the play based on personnel alone.
Run Game
Johnson’s run game is mainly based on zone blocking but that doesn’t mean he also won’t throw gap run plays or even power running plays with pulling linemen at a defense. Again, this goes back to a core principle of being unpredictable. Johnson will also use misdirection running plays like reverses and designed cutbacks to keep defenses from overplaying the run game. You will also see motion on run plays and pass plays to try to disguise what type of play is coming.
How effective is the running scheme? In 2025, D’Andre Swift gained 1,087 yards and Kyle Monangai gained 783 yards for the Bears. In 2024, Jahmyr Gibbs gained 1,412 yards and David Montgomery gained 775 yards for the Lions. Johnson’s scheme is not just a pass-oriented offensive system.
Pass Game
The passing game is centered on play action and timing routes. With the quarterback under center, play action means Daniels back will be to the defense which should help hide the ball more effectively. Defenses will have to respect Daniels’ ability to keep the ball and run as well as the pass.
Johnson’s passing scheme features a lot of layered route patterns. Expect to see high-low combinations like mesh, sail, and smash concepts. All these concepts have some form of a clearing route with a high-low read option. The goals of this are to:
- Get receivers open in rhythm to maximize yards after catch
- Allow the quarterback to distribute the ball quickly and efficiently
- Stretch defenses both horizontally and vertically
The other big change in the passing game will be that Blough will move receivers around the formation in an attempt to get more favorable matchups. The days of Terry McLaurin lining up only on the left side of the formation are over.
Wrap Up
The changes coming to Washington offense short benefit Daniels long-term reducing his risk of injuries by having less designed run plays for him. He will have to master new footwork, different terminology and reads for the new offense. The opportunity to have a bounce-back year despite a difficult schedule.
If he stays healthy this year, expect Terry McLaurin to have a good year getting better overall matchups. The big question will be who ends up at the second and third receiver positions.
With more heavy sets being used, expect Chig Okonkwo to get some big plays this year with formations designed to isolate him one-on-one with a defender.
The question in the running game is which player becomes the primary back. Can Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Rachaad White or Kaytron Allen be that thousand yard back in this offense? History says that two backs will likely take the bulk of the carries in the offense, training camp, the scrimmages and the preseason games will give us some clues about that.