Eric Bieniemy is an interesting prospect as an NFL coach. The Houston Texans have a vacancy. So, it would only make sense that Houston take a look.
Charles Goldman, managing editor of the Chiefs Wire, returns to provide some insight into the Chiefs offensive coordinator as Texans Wire goes Behind ‘Bieniemy’ Lines.
Texans Wire: If Bieniemy is so good, why is he still available?
CG: Beats me, but I’ll give it my best shot. I was as surprised as anybody that the Chiefs were able to retain basically their entire staff after winning the Super Bowl. The Kansas City staff has been raided in years where they didn’t win diddly-squat, so this was a rather uncharacteristic outcome. As for why Bieniemy didn’t get a job as a head coach right after the 2019 season — he is a straight-shooter and I think that intimidates ownership. He’s not going to be afraid to call it as he sees it with ownership and he’s going to want to do things his way. Not many owners are willing to give that type of autonomy and trust to a coach, especially one that would be a first-time head coach. Also, I’m not too sure that he didn’t turn down a job this past coaching cycle. Who would give up working with the best player in the NFL for anything less than the perfect opportunity?
TW: Is he more the product of being under Andy Reid and coaching Patrick Mahomes?
CG: Obviously, it’s a team game so Bieniemy can’t get the credit for the Chiefs’ success without sharing it with Reid, Mahomes and so on. Everyone involved with the offense is willing to give him credit, though. He’s beloved by his players and the thing they most praise him for is his attention to detail and his ability to get everyone prepared for games each week. People give Reid lots of credit for the unique play-design, but Bieniemy has his hand in that pot too. He probably doesn’t get enough credit for all that he does because a lot of it happens behind the scenes.
TW: If Bieniemy goes somewhere, which assistants would you expect to follow him?
CG: A bit of an unwritten rule that Andy Reid has when coordinators leave is that you don’t poach from his staff, especially when it’s the coaches that he intends to promote. If you look at the past two coordinators to leave and become head coaches, Doug Pederson and Matt Nagy, they both didn’t really bring anyone from Kansas City with them. Nagy eventually added Mark DeLeone as a linebackers coach, but it was only after he was let go following the 2018 season. That being said, DL coach Brendan Daly, WR coach Greg Lewis and Assistant Special Teams coach Andy Hill could be options for coordinator roles. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Bieniemy grab some coaches from outside the Kansas City fold, though.
TW: How could Bieniemy get the most out of Deshaun Watson?
CG: He’s not going to make any excuses for him. He’s going to hold him accountable and hold the players and coaches around him accountable. I personally think a lack of accountability was one of the big problems with the Bill O’Brien era of the Texans. He also will design an offense that is catered to the strengths of Watson. There won’t be any forcing a square peg into a round hole. All-in-all, I’m confident in his ability to put Watson and the offense in a position to succeed.
TW: What are some frustrations with Bieniemy’s job performance?
CG: I’m not sure that I really have any if we’re being honest. As a head coach, he might want to run the ball more often than some analytics experts would like being that he is a former running back. I’m not saying that he’s the perfect offensive coordinator, but there’s just really no complaints about what he’s done thus far. He’s been involved in some of the most iconic moments of the Chiefs’ successes these past few years (i.e. 2-3 Jet Chip Wasp) and really you just can’t ask for more from the guy.
TW: Prediction for what happens with Bieniemy and where he lands.
CG: There are already three jobs available in the Lions, Texans and Falcons. There look to be two more available soon in the Jets and Jaguars based on recent reports. Anthony Lynn could also be on his way out with the Chargers in Los Angeles. Personally, I think from an ownership perspective, he’d get the most freedom to run the show with the Jaguars and the Falcons. I tend to feel that he’s going to favor the two NFC coaching jobs, just because he knows that they’re trying to build a dynasty in Kansas City. Really, it has to be the perfect opportunity for Bieniemy to jump ship in Kansas City because he truly has a good thing going on here and he’s not going to settle for anything less.