Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera said something he’d probably like to have back in his Tuesday press conference.
Early in his presser, reporters asked Rivera about the early impact of new offensive coordinator/assistant head coach Eric Bieniemy.
“He’s loud,” Rivera said of Bieniemy. “The beauty of Eric and that is, again, it’s from the perspective he has, I mean, he’s been with an organization that’s done some things differently. And one of the things that he is very staunch about is the way that he does it. That’s something that’s been different, and like I said, I appreciate it cause we’re out of our comfort zone. We’re doing things a little bit differently. You know, I’ve been doing things for the most part the same way for 12 years, and it’s been good. But, you know, this is something that’s been different, and it’s been good for our guys.”
Certainly nothing noteworthy there.
However, Rivera was later asked how players were adapting to Bieniemy’s intensity.
“They have, and one of the biggest things is I had a number of guys come to me, and I said, ‘Hey, just go talk to him. I said, understand what he’s trying to get across to you.’ And I think as they go and they talk, and they listen to him, it’s been enlightening for a lot of these guys. I mean, it’s a whole different approach.”
Finally, Rivera was asked if the players thought Bieniemy was too intense.
“They just were a little concerned,” Rivera said.
Coach Rivera would probably like to have that answer back, even though it was probably taken out of context.
Look, there is a larger issue here. If Washington players are concerned with Bieniemy’s intensity or being coached hard, that is a problem. Last season, the Commanders finished 20th or worse in most major offensive categories. That performance cost former offensive coordinator Scott Turner his job after three lackluster seasons.
Bieniemy, after 10 years with the Kansas City Chiefs — the last five as offensive coordinator — was a part of two Super Bowl teams and came to Washington in hopes of reviving the offense and finally getting a much-deserved shot to be an NFL head coach.
Several Commanders have said all the right things. Wide receivers Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson have spoken highly of Bieniemy. McLaurin loves to be coached hard, which is why he is great.
But if some players, any players, are concerned about Bieniemy’s intensity before the first game, that says more about the player than the coaches.
This is likely much ado about nothing. Rivera will likely discuss it when he speaks to the media Wednesday.