Category: Coaching Hires

NFL insider believes Eric Bieniemy is considering the Commanders’ OC position

The Commanders aren’t the only team interested in Bieniemy.

The Washington Commanders fired offensive coordinator Scott Turner two days after the 2022 season ended on Jan. 10. Almost three weeks later; the Commanders still do not have an offensive coordinator.

Head coach Ron Rivera is taking his time in the process, interviewing numerous candidates, some with plenty of experience, with others looking for their first opportunity to call plays. Pat Shurmur, Ken Zampese, Charles London, Eric Studesville, Thomas Brown and Anthony Lynn are the candidates who have interviewed with Rivera.

Last week, it was revealed that Rivera would like to interview Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. However, Rivera must wait another week with the Chiefs playing in the Super Bowl.

While Rivera likely knows who he’d like to hire from the group he’s already interviewed, he’s committed to speaking with Bieniemy before hiring anyone.

And, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, Bieniemy is a legitimate contender for Washington’s vacant offensive coordinator position.

“I think Bieniemy is really in play for a play-calling or OC job, a couple of different places,” Rapoport said Thursday on “The Pat McAfee Show.” “Baltimore and, I think, the Commanders is really one to consider. So you’d be like, ‘he’s already an OC; why would he leave Mahomes?’ He shares play-calling with Andy Reid, he does a lot of it, but he shares it.”

If Bieniemy lands in Washington, he’d have full control of the offense, something he doesn’t necessarily have in Kansas City with Reid. While he’d inherit a much different quarterback situation with the Commanders, a successful 2023 season in Washington could finally be what Bieniemy needs to land a head-coaching opportunity. 

So don’t expect Washington to name a new offensive coordinator next week. It shouldn’t be long after the Super Bowl until we know who is the Commanders’ offensive coordinator for 2023, whether that’s Bieniemy or someone else. 

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbykgy681k112p8 player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]

Former Commanders OC Scott Turner quickly finds new work

Scott Turner lands with the Raiders.

It didn’t take long for a former Washington Commanders coach to find new work.

Scott Turner, who came to Washington from the Carolina Panthers with Ron Rivera in 2020, has been hired by the Las Vegas Raiders Friday.

Turner was fired by Rivera after the Commanders failed to finish with a winning record for the third consecutive season of Rivera’s tenure in Washington.

Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels was looking for some help coordinating the passing game and chose the Commanders former offensive coordinator as his man.

Interestingly enough, Turner was actually a backup quarterback at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas, receiving a bit of playing time in both 2003 and 2004 under then-head coach John Robinson.

Turner had the misfortune all three seasons in Washington of having a revolving door at the quarterback position, as the Washington offense had its struggles in each season. In total, Washington played eight quarterbacks in Turner’s three seasons (Dwayne Haskins, Kyle Allen, Alex Smith, Taylor Heinicke, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Garrett Gilbert, Carson Wentz and Sam Howell).

“I’m just happy to be a part of the staff, and it’s obviously coach [Josh] McDaniels’ deal, and I’m just going to be ready to contribute and help the best I can,” Turner said Friday. “I’ll get out there and get a feel for the team. It’s just everything’s so new right now.”

The son of former Redskins head coach Norv Turner played quarterback at Oakton High School [Virginia] while his father was coaching the Burgundy and Gold. Following his playing at UNLV, Turner was a graduate assistant at Oregon State and head coach at South County High School in Virginia.

For the next three seasons, Turner was an assistant at the University of Pittsburgh and, in 2017, on the University of Michigan staff.

Turning to the NFL, Turner served on coaching staffs for the Carolina Panthers, Cleveland Browns, Minnesota Vikings, again the Panthers, and then the last three seasons with Washington.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbykgy681k112p8 player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]

Commanders will need to replace secondary coach Chris Harris

Chris Harris hasn’t officially departed — yet. But it’s expected to be soon.

Old ownership is leaving; the new will come in. Thus, defensive backs coach Chris Harris is departing.

The pending departure of Harris is significant. Harris, who completed his third season as Washington’s defensive backs coach, sees the handwriting on the wall.

Realizing Head Coach Ron Rivera has won 7, 7, and 8 games in his three seasons, if Rivera does not win big next season, he is most likely going to be replaced by the new ownership.

Consequently, Chris Harris is being proactive in looking and searching for a job now. Prior to coming to Washington in 2020, Harris served as the Chargers assistant secondary coach from 2016-19.

The Bears and Titans both have sought out Harris, and seeing Washington’s secondary had a much better year in 2022, the timing is good for Harris to seek a job with a bit more security for the next few seasons.

There is also speculation Harris may get some defensive coordinator interviews this cycle. All of this would be beneficial for Harris in his coaching career.

With the Washington situation unstable, this would most likely mean the Commanders will not be having top secondary coaches knocking down their doors for interviews this month.

They may have to replace Harris from within the existing staff. However, there is experience on the staff in this area that could really help the Commanders at this time.

Richard Rodgers (assistant defensive backs) has coached in the NFL for ten seasons. Brent Vieselmeyer (assistant defensive backs/nickel) has six years of NFL coaching experience and defensive quality control coach Cristian Garcia might perhaps be ready to move up to an assistant role.

One outside name that may come available might be Steve Wilks. Wilks was the Cardinals head coach (2018) and coaches six seasons for the Carolina Panthers when Rivera was the head coach. Understandably, Wilks is said to be seeking out defensive coordinator positions initially.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbykgy681k112p8 player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]

Commanders, Rivera, new offensive coordinator NEED to win next year

Ron Rivera needs to hire the offensive coordinator who can help him win — not necessarily who he is most comfortable with.

Ron Rivera and the Commanders are searching for their next offensive coordinator, and one name has yet to generate much discussion.

The reason might be play-calling experience. Or it might be something as simple as why would an offensive coordinator leave Patrick Mahomes for another OC job.

Calling the plays in the NFL? Don’t all offensive coordinators do this today? Not if the head coach wants to be calling the plays. Eric Bienemy has been in Kansas City now for ten years. For the first five, he coached running backs, and for the last five, he has been the offensive coordinator, but it remains Reid who calls the plays.

Apparently, the play calling of OC Scott Turner was upsetting enough to Coach Ron that Turner was sent packing after his three years under Rivera.

Play-calling is the most criticized aspect of NFL coaching.
Every fan knows the coordinator should not have called that play that didn’t work well. Actually, what most of us confuse is play-calling with execution.

The Commanders run it up the middle on 4th & 1, “Everyone knew they were going to run it up the middle! They should have out-smarted the defense and pitched it wide!”

Yet, when Washington pitched wide on a 4th & 1 early against Cleveland, “What are you doing, pitching wide when you need only one yard!? You should have sent Brian Robinson up the middle to pick up the one yard!”

Of course, those fans were completely forgetting that the interior line had trouble getting a surge in the previous game in San Francisco, missing on three plays needing a single yard.

Pat Shurmur?
Ken Zampese?
Charles London?
Eric Studesville?
Thomas Brown?
Greg Roman?

Who knows?

I certainly don’t.

One thing we do know. Coach Ron has won 7, 7 and 8 games in his three seasons in Washington. He is well aware he NEEDS to win next year.

Consequently, won’t Rivera thus hire whom he feels will best help him get over the hump and into the playoffs in 2023?

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbykgy681k112p8 player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]

[listicle id=74656]

[listicle id=74017]

Which Washington offensive coordinators do you recall?

Looking back at some of Washington’s previous offensive coordinators. It’s a pretty good list.

As a little kid following the team as closely as I could, I recall hearing for the first time of an offensive coordinator. George Allen was a defensive-minded head coach for Washington, but I was learning they had this coach in charge of the offense (to some degree), and he was Ted Marchibroda (1971-74).

I learned in just a few years that Marchibroda really knew offense when as head coach of the Colts, his teams were exciting on offense, winning the AFC East. I began hearing how Allen had actually been too conservative, handcuffing Marchibroda.

Charlie Waller (1975-77) was the next Washington offensive coordinator. I naturally thought he must be great. Until a couple of years later and I heard Joe Theismann praising then-offensive coordinator Joe Walton (1978-80) for being his most organized ever, coordinating the quarterback pass drops with the timing of the offense.

I was a teenager (didn’t know nearly as much as I thought I did) but have always remembered this Theismann comment because it struck me, causing me to wonder what Waller had been doing with the offense the previous seasons.

When Joe Gibbs was the head coach, Joe Bugel (1981-89) was listed as the offensive coordinator, but it was Coach Joe always calling the plays. Steve Spurrier didn’t have an OC, either. That time it didn’t work out so well.

When Coach Joe came out of retirement, he determined he needed not one but both Al Saunders (2006-07) and Don Breaux (2004-07) as his offensive coordinators.

Sherman Smith (2008-09), Kyle Shanahan (2010-13), Sean McVay (2014-16), Matt Cavanaugh (2017-18), and Kevin O’Connell (2019) all brought their own backgrounds and philosophies to the role.

Frankly, I don’t know what type of OC Scott Turner (2020-22) was. I heard all of the complaining about the play-calling this season. But I do know this. When I watched the All-22 viewpoint, I often saw guys schemed open and Washington quarterbacks not getting the ball to them.

Yes, it is important whom they hire, but in 2023 they are going to NEED better offensive line play and better quarterback play.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbykgy681k112p8 player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]

Cowboys let go of former Washington defensive coordinator

Remember George Edwards?

Five Dallas Cowboys assistants were informed Thursday the Cowboys are no longer interested in their services, one of which used to coach for the Redskins.

The contracts of all five assistant coaches were expiring, so basically, the Cowboys were informing them they would not renew their contracts for the upcoming 2023 NFL season.

The five Dallas coaches now out of a job are defensive line coach Leon Lett, offensive line coach Joe Philbin, assistant head coach Rob Davis, running backs coach Skip Peete and linebackers coach George Edwards.

Washington fans may remember Edwards. When Dan Snyder fired Marty Schottenheimer after winning 8 of their final 11 games to finish 8-8 in 2001, Snyder hired Steve Spurrier from Florida, making him the NFL’s highest-paid head coach.

Marvin Lewis became the defensive coordinator, and Edwards became the linebackers coach/assistant defensive coordinator. It was a first for Edwards, who had previously coached linebackers and defensive linemen in other coaching locations.

Washington went 7-9 that 2002 season, Lewis departed to Cincinnati, becoming the Bengals head coach, and Edwards was promoted to defensive coordinator for the 2003 season. However, Washington went 5-11 (“not very good”), Spurrier resigned, and Edwards went to Cleveland to coach the linebackers.

Life for NFL coaches’ families can be extremely difficult. A coach must travel multiple times out of state during the season, while there are long hours with no days off during the regular season for coaching staffs.

The most difficult aspect may actually be the emotional instability of knowing you are most likely not going to be in any one location for a long time. For Edwards (age 56), the Cowboys were his 12th employer since he began coaching as an assistant at the University of Florida in 1991 on the Steve Spurrier staff.

Following the Florida Gators, Edwards has also coached for Appalachian State, Duke, Georgia, the Cowboys, Redskins, Browns, Dolphins, Bills, Dolphins, Vikings, Cowboys.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbykgy681k112p8 player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]

What do the 2022 Commanders’ team offensive stats tell us?

A change was needed.

Why has the Washington Commanders’ brass interviewed Pat Shurmur, Ken Zampese, Charles London, Eric Studesville, and Thomas Brown for their offensive coordinator position on the coaching staff?

The simple answer we may be tempted to offer is that Scott Turner was fired. But why was Scott Turner fired?

There are always going to be relational elements that go on behind closed doors, down on team sidelines, that the public is not made aware of until later.

We know there were some philosophical differences between Ron Rivera and Turner. But hey, they are two knowledgeable football coaches, and differences of opinion are to be expected.

It’s been reported that Turner was not altogether pleased with the trade for Carson Wentz last offseason. Was Turner upset about Wentz himself? Was Turner upset concerning the compensation the Commanders returned to the Colts?

However, what we can look at are some numbers. What were the numbers for the Washington Commanders offense this season? What will the numbers tell us? The numbers show the offense, whether one coach wanted to run more and one wanted to pass more, was not outstanding passing or running.

There were effective games passing (Jaguars, Titans) and running (Cowboys, Packers, Eagles, Falcons), but when looking at the season-long results, what do we learn?

*Team Rankings based on scale of 1st is the best and 32nd the worst

Washington Commanders 2022 Offensive Team Statistics

Points scored by offense 321 (24th)

Yards gained from scrimmage 5,615 (20th)

Offensive plays 1,140 (4th)

Yards per offensive play 4.9 (27th)

Turnovers lost 23 (18th)

First Downs  339 (18th)

Passing Yards 3,472 (21st)

Passing Touchdowns 24  (17th)

Interceptions Thrown 16 (27th)

Net Yards gained per passing attempt 5.8 (23rd)

Passing First Downs 184  (20th)

Rushing Yards 2,143  (12th)

Rushing Touchdowns 9  (29th)

Rushing Yards per attempt 4.0  (28th)

Rushing First Downs  124  (11th)

Percentage of drives ending in offensive score 29.4%  (28th)

Percentage of drives ending in offensive turnover 11.7 % (18th)

Expected points contributed by the offense  -24.27  (24th)

Conclusion:

a. Commanders quarterbacks were not very good this season, and the Commanders offensive line did not perform as well in run or pass blocking as they did in 2021.

b. Changes are needed on the offense in coaching and personnel.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbykgy681k112p8 player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]

Commanders pursue Anthony Lynn interview for OC position

Anthony Lynn is a former NFL head coach.

How urgent is it that the Commanders hire an offensive coordinator?

Well, perhaps, not as urgent as we have thought.

The Commanders have now requested permission to interview another candidate, Anthony Lynn. The Commanders are said to be willing to wait until after the 49ers’ NFC Championship game this week against the Eagles before interviewing the 49ers running backs coach.

Lynn’s official title includes “Assistant Head Coach,” which we have learned can mean a number of things in today’s NFL. Some AHCs are actually assistant head coaches, with duties in oversight and supervision. There are also AHCs who are strictly position coaches but are provided another title, protecting the team by preventing these coaches from easily jumping ship for what amount to lateral moves.

Lynn would provide head-coaching experience (Chargers 2017-2020) as well as experience as an NFL offensive coordinator (Bills 2016) and Lions (2021).

Most of Lynn’s NFL coaching experience has been with the running backs, and Ron Rivera and Martin Mayhew both conveyed at their season-ending press conference they want to be a run-oriented offense.

Lynn coached the running backs for the Jaguars (2003-04), Cowboys (2005-06), Browns (2007-08), Jets (2009-12). The following year the Jets added the title “assistant head coach’ to his running backs coach (2013-14).

The Bills hired Lynn to coach running backs and, you guessed it, “assistant head coach in 2015, and he was elevated to the offensive coordinator (and running backs coach) the following season.

After a successful first season, Lynn’s last two as Chargers head coach did not go well. He was heavily criticized for his team’s lack of preparation and in-game situations.

Lynn, age 54, last played in the league in 1999. The former Texas Tech running back played for the Broncos, 49ers and Broncos again. Primarily a special teams member, Lynn did have 28 carries for 177 yards.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbykgy681k112p8 player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]

DBs coach Chris Harris expected to leave Commanders for a position with the Titans

The Commanders will be looking for a new defensive backs coach.

The Washington Commanders will be looking for more than just an offensive coordinator over the next few weeks. On Saturday, Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network reported that defensive backs coach Chris Harris is leaving Washington for a position with the Tennessee Titans.

Harris’ new title with the Titans is defensive pass game coordinator/cornerbacks coach. Tennessee’s defensive coordinator is Shane Bowen. Head coach Mike Vrabel is considered one of the best in the NFL.

Per Pelissero, Harris remains in play for other defensive coordinator positions.

Harris is the second assistant that head coach Ron Rivera must replace. Washington has already had multiple interviews for its vacant offensive coordinator position.

Harris arrived in Washington in 2020 with Rivera. Harris is highly regarded, but Washington struggled in the secondary the first two years of his tenure. In 2022, things turned around as young players such as cornerback Benjamin St-Juste and safety Darrick Forrest took significant steps forward. Harris also oversaw the development of safety Kamren Curl, who should be one of Washington’s top candidates for a contract extension this offseason.

It’s only a matter of time before Harris lands a defensive coordinator position, and for him, this gets him one step closer after his work with the Commanders.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbykgy681k112p8 player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]

Bears request permission to interview Commanders DBs coach Chris Harris

Harris began his NFL playing career with the Bears.

For the third consecutive offseason, other NFL teams are calling the Washington Commanders looking to interview defensive backs coach Chris Harris.

This time around, it’s the Chicago Bears, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. The Bears have a defensive coordinator in Alan Williams, so this would not be a promotion for Harris, which means Washington would need to approve.

Fowler noted the interview would be for a defensive position, which likely is the secondary. James Rowe, Chicago’s defensive backs coach in 2022, left to take a defensive coordinator position at his alma mater.

In addition to Harris, Chicago has also requested permission to speak to Packers secondary coach Jerry Gray. That’s a familiar name for Washington fans, as Gray spent four seasons as Washington’s defensive backs coach from 2006-09.

Harris started his NFL playing career as a sixth-round pick of the Chicago Bears in 2005. As a rookie, he became a key part of the secondary and intercepted Peyton Manning in Super Bowl XLI. After spending the 2006 season with Chicago, Harris was traded to the Carolina Panthers in 2007. He played three seasons for Carolina before returning to Chicago in 2011, where he played for two more seasons.

Harris retired from the NFL after the 2012 season and immediately began his coaching career with the Bears as a quality control assistant. After two more years in Chicago, Harris jumped to the Chargers, where he worked the next four years as an assistant defensive backs coach before becoming Washington’s defensive backs coach in 2020 under Ron Rivera.

Harris interviewed for defensive coordinator positions and is ready to make that leap. He had his best season yet in Washington in 2022, playing a key role in the development of cornerback Benjamin St-Juste and safety Darrick Forrest.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbykgy681k112p8 player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]