Tag: Pat Shurmur

Where does the Commanders’ offensive coordinator opening rank?

How appealing is Washington’s vacant offensive coordinator position compared to other openings?

Someone is always to blame when a team’s season doesn’t go as expected. For fans, most of the blame goes to the offensive coordinator — right or wrong.

The Washington Commanders fired offensive coordinator Scott Turner after the 2022 season. Turner’s firing was justified by Washington’s offensive performance late in the season. However, not everything was Turner’s fault. It wasn’t Turner’s fault Washington didn’t adequately address the quarterback position, nor was it his fault that head coach Ron Rivera didn’t upgrade the offensive line after trading for quarterback Carson Wentz.

Turner wasn’t blameless, though. His play-calling was a major reason Washington lost to the New York Giants in that critical Week 15 game.

Regardless of who you blame, the Commanders still need an offensive coordinator. Last week, Washington interviewed Pat Shurmur, Ken Zampese and Charles London. This week, the Commanders plan to interview Eric Studesville and Thomas Brown, among other candidates.

The problem for Washington is seven other teams need an offensive coordinator. This isn’t counting the teams with head-coaching vacancies. How does the Commanders’ offensive coordinator opening stack up against the other openings?

Mike Jones of The Athletic recently ranked each of the current eight openings. The other teams looking for an offensive coordinator are the Jets, Buccaneers, Patriots, Rams, Titans, Ravens and Chargers. The first thing you look at when examining that list is who has a franchise quarterback.

The Chargers [Justin Herbert] and Ravens [Lamar Jackson] do. Of course, there is some uncertainty regarding Jackson’s future with Baltimore. The Rams are an enticing option because you’d work for Sean McVay but likely would not call plays.

Where is Washington ranked?

Jones has the Commanders ranked No. 5 behind the Chargers, Rams, Buccaneers and Ravens.

If we’re just going off personnel, then this is a pretty intriguing job. The offensive coordinator inherits three talented wideouts (Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel and Jahan Dotson), a solid tight end in Logan Thomas and a promising running back in Brian Robinson Jr. Despite instability at quarterback, Washington still flirted with a playoff berth. But, the uncertainty engulfing the franchise makes this job less attractive. There are questions about the next quarterback. Is it Sam Howell or an established veteran currently on another roster? Ron Rivera is entering Year 4, but with a sale expected soon, there’s no telling if the next offensive coordinator is signing up for a one-and-done job. A new owner could possibly clean house if a 2023 campaign proves unsatisfactory.

Everything Jones said is true and something we’ve been saying for weeks. The uncertainty of Rivera’s future, due to the pending sale and his need to win in 2023, will turn off some candidates.

With another week of interviews set for this week, it will be interesting to see what type of coordinator Rivera eventually chooses. Will he choose someone he’s comfortable with [Shurmur], or go outside the box with a young candidate like Brown?

Whatever decision Rivera makes, it’s a critical hire for the Commanders heading into a make-or-break season for the current coaching staff.

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5 thoughts one week into Commanders’ offensive coordinator search

Five thoughts one week into Washington’s offensive coordinator search.

The Washington Commanders fired offensive coordinator Scott Turner last week after three seasons with the team. We speculated on potential replacements after Turner’s dismissal, focusing on anyone with a prior connection to head coach Ron Rivera or perhaps taking a chance on a young up-and-coming offensive mind.

One week into the search, we’ve heard of several names the Commanders are interested in for the position. Former NFL head coaches Pat Shurmur and Jim Caldwell, two Dolphins assistants in Darrell Bevell and Eric Studesville, Falcons QB coach Charles London and Washington’s QB coach Ken Zampese.

Caldwell declined Washington’s request, as he was focusing only on head coaching vacancies. Shurmur interviewed with the Commanders Tuesday, while Washington has sought permission to interview Bevell, Studesville and London. It’s unclear if Bevell will interview with Washington.

There will likely be more names in the coming days. We discuss what we’ve learned one week into Washington’s search for an offensive coordinator.

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Commanders looking to interview Eric Studesville for offensive coordinator

Studesville is currently running backs coach/associate head coach with the Miami Dolphins.

You can’t say the Washington Commanders aren’t casting a wide net in search of their next offensive coordinator. We’ve heard the names of former NFL head coaches Jim Caldwell and Pat Shurmur, longtime offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and Falcons quarterbacks coach Charles London named as candidates.

Another name in contention is Miami Dolphins running backs coach and assistant head coach Eric Studesville, according to John Keim of ESPN.

Studesville is probably most famous for his stint as Broncos interim coach back in 2010 after Denver fired Josh McDaniels. However, he has an impressive track record in the NFL that began in 1997 as a quality control coach for the Chicago Bears.

Over the years, Studesville has spent time with the Bears, Giants, Bills, Broncos and Dolphins.

He’s been with the Dolphins since 2017.

 

Commanders seek to interview Falcons QB coach Charles London for offensive coordinator

London has coached quarterbacks with the Falcons for the last two seasons.

The Washington Commanders need an offensive coordinator after firing Scott Turner last week.

Veteran coach Pat Shurmur is the only known person to interview thus far. Washington quarterbacks coach Ken Zampese is also a candidate for the position.

On Monday, it was reported that the Commanders were interested in Dolphins QB coach/pass game coordinator Darrell Bevell.

Now, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post, we’ve learned another name. The Commanders want to interview Falcons quarterback coach Charles London for the vacancy.

London has been with the Falcons for the last two seasons as QB coach. Before Atlanta, London was with the Chicago Bears for three seasons as running backs coach. Before Chicago, London was with the Houston Texans for four seasons, where he coached running backs.

The Tennessee Titans also plan to speak with London for their offensive coordinator position.

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Commanders seek permission to interview Dolphins QB coach Darrell Bevell for OC

Darrell Bevell has been an NFL offensive coordinator four times.

The Washington Commanders continue their search for an offensive coordinator by looking at veteran candidates. Over the weekend, it was reported that Washington had an interest in former Colts and Lions head coach Jim Caldwell, who politely declined due to being interested in only head coaching vacancies.

The Commanders are also interested in former Browns and Giants head coach Pat Shurmur. Shurmur is interviewing with the Commanders on Tuesday.

Washington is interested in another veteran offensive coordinator, according to Josina Anderson of CBS Sports. The Commanders requested permission to interview Miami Dolphins quarterbacks coach and pass game coordinator Darrell Bevell.

It’s Bevell’s first year with Miami, where he coached Tua Tagovailoa in his breakout season. With Tagovailoa’s injuries, Bevell was also responsible for getting seventh-round rookie Skylar Thompson ready. Thompson would start three games in 2022, including almost leading the Dolphins to an upset over the Bills in the wild-card round of the AFC playoffs.

Bevell coached Brett Favre for six seasons with the Green Bay Packers before landing his first offensive coordinator job with the Minnesota Vikings in 2006.

Bevell’s greatest success came in convincing the Seattle Seahawks to draft quarterback Russell Wilson in the 2012 NFL draft. Bevell coached Wilson for six seasons. He has also spent time as an offensive coordinator with the Detroit Lions and Jacksonville Jaguars.

In addition to coaching quarterbacks and being a four-time offensive coordinator, Bevell has also been an interim head coach twice — with the Lions in 2020 and the Jaguars in 2021.

The New York Jets are also interested in Bevell for their vacancy at offensive coordinator.

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Former Giants head coach Pat Shurmur is a candidate to be the Commanders offensive coordinator

Pat Shurmur has a positive history of working with young quarterbacks.

The Washington Commanders fired offensive coordinator Scott Turner last week after three seasons with the team. Turner did some good things during his time in Washington, but the offense fading down the stretch and costing the Commanders a playoff spot doomed Turner.

After Turner was fired, we here at Commanders Wire compiled a list of 11 possible candidates to be Washington’s next offensive coordinator. On Friday, it was revealed that the Commanders were interested in former Colts and Lions head coach Jim Caldwell as offensive coordinator. However, Caldwell told Washington he was only interested in interviewing for head-coaching positions.

Another name has emerged as a candidate for Washington’s vacant offensive coordinator position: Veteran coach Pat Shurmur is a candidate, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post.

We included Shurmur on our list of 11 candidates.

Shurmur, 57, does have a history with head coach Ron Rivera. The pair worked alongside one another on Andy Reid’s staff in Philadelphia from 1999-2003. Also on that staff was current Commanders tight ends coach Juan Castillo.

That checks one box

Shurmur also has a history of working with and developing young quarterbacks. Donovan McNabb, Sam Bradford and Daniel Jones are some of the young quarterbacks who Shurmur has coached. You could make the argument that Bradford’s best success came under Shurmur, and McNabb was one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks during his time with Shurmur.

This matters because the Commanders have apparently told prospective candidates that Sam Howell is Washington’s plan at quarterback for 2023.

In addition to Shurmur’s time with Philadelphia, where he coached tight ends, quarterbacks and the offensive line during his 10 seasons under Reid, he is also a two-time head coach. Shurmur was head coach of the Cleveland Browns for two seasons [2011-12] and the New York Giants [2018-19]. Both franchises were bad before Shurmur took those jobs.

As an offensive coordinator, he has an excellent resume. In 2017, he was named the Associated Press NFL assistant coach of the year for his work as the Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator. He has also had stints as offensive coordinator with the Eagles, Rams and Broncos.

Shurmur didn’t coach in the NFL last season. The Broncos fired head coach Vic Fangio after the 2021 season, which left Shurmur without a job.

Shurmur would be a solid choice for Rivera. Whoever Rivera chooses, the next offensive coordinator should tailor an offense around Howell rather than forcing Howell to adapt to their scheme.

Shurmur would check a lot of boxes for Rivera and is respected around the NFL.

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Ex-Giants coach Pat Shurmur praises QB Daniel Jones

Ex-New York Giants head coach Pat Shurmur isn’t surprised by Daniel Jones’ success and heaped praise on his former quarterback this week.

Former New York Giants head coach Pat Shurmur spent just one season with quarterback Daniel Jones, but it was more than enough to form an opinion.

Shurmur had faith in Jones the moment the Giants selected him sixth overall in the 2019 NFL draft, and that faith remains to this day.

“His first year, I think it’s fair to say that he did enough things that he had the ability to have a bright future,” Shurmur told NJ Advance Media. “Probably the only thing you could have been critical of when he was a rookie was his ability to take care of the ball. But as far as throwing the ball and running it and doing what you have to do as a quarterback, you had to walk away from that first year saying this guy really has a chance to be good.”

Jones did struggle with turnovers early on, but he’s essentially eliminated that issue here in his fourth season. He also has the Giants on the brink of the playoffs for the first time since 2016, and Shurmur is thrilled for his former quarterback.

“I’ve been really impressed by him,” Shurmur said. “He’s played some really fine games and done a great job of taking care of the football. He has been executing their offense and (the Giants’ coaches) are doing a good job of utilizing his ability on structured running plays. That’s when you have to be really, really conscious of taking care of the football and he has done that.”

Statistically, Jones hasn’t been able to recreate the same production he had under Shurmur. As a rookie, he threw for over 3,000 yards and 24 touchdowns in just 13 games (12 starts). But, as the former coach noted, the turnovers are way down and that has lead to many more wins.

The progression and development comes as no surprise to Shurmur.

“I’m not surprised at all by what he’s doing,” Shurmur said. “I’ve seen the way he works and I always thought he was a good leader and a very talented guy. I’m just happy about his success. It takes a while for quarterbacks to develop, and he has done that. I’m rooting for him. When I was part of that organization, we did a quarterback evaluation that year and we felt he was our guy. I think it was a smart decision.”

Former general manager Dave Gettleman always believed Jones was the guy. Now we know that Shurmur and Joe Judge did as well. Co-owner John Mara has echoed those sentiments, and it seems current GM Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll agree. But will that position change come the offseason?

The Giants declined Jones’ fifth-year option and he is slated to become an unrestricted free agent in March.

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Did Odell Beckham Jr. imply Dave Gettleman tried to ‘ruin his career?’

Former New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. may have accused Dave Gettleman of trying to ruin his career by trading him.

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Former New York Giants star wideout Odell Beckham Jr. may have recently implied that the team’s ex-general manager, Dave Gettleman, tried to ruin his career.

This isn’t the first time Beckham has accused Gettleman and former head coach Pat Shurmur of working against him, but it may be the first time he implied they tried to ruin his career. He also previously stated that the Giants organization had a personal vendetta against him. And yet, Beckham has also said that he’s not afraid of a return to New York.

Over his eight-year NFL career, OBJ has amassed 531 receptions for 7,367 yards and 56 touchdowns. Five of his eight seasons and roughly 75% of his career production happened in New York, and with Shurmur and Gettleman gone, it’s not as far-fetched to think he might return to Giants before his career ends.

Even Art Stapleton had something to say about it.

If you scroll through the replies, you’ll see that OBJ responded as well. That he’s interacting with members of the Giants organization and their media shows that he may be open to returning sometimes down the line. If nothing else, he didn’t dismiss that potential.

The bottom line is that a potential future reunion between Beckham and the Giants can’t be ruled out. At least not anymore. Those who he felt were working against him are no longer in East Rutherford, while his relationship with co-owner John Mara remains strong.

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6 members of Vic Fangio’s old coaching staff have landed with NFL teams

Ed Donatell, Curtis Modkins and Chris Kuper are among the former members of Vic Fangio’s coaching staff who have landed new jobs.

By our unofficial count, the Denver Broncos parted ways with 14 members of Vic Fangio‘s coaching staff in addition to Fangio himself.

At the time of this writing, six of those coaches have landed gigs with other NFL teams.

Ed Donatell has accepted a defensive coordinator position with the Minnesota Vikings, assuming the same role he held in Denver.

Minnesota also hired ex-Broncos running backs coach Curtis Modkins (same role) and ex-Denver assistant offensive line coach Chris Kuper as their new OL coach. The Vikings also poached quality control coach Justin Rascati from the Broncos’ staff, giving him a promotion as an assistant OL coach.

Ex-Denver special teams coordinator Tom McMahon was hired by the Las Vegas Raiders as their new STC. Former Broncos assistant ST coach Chris Gould was hired by the Los Angeles Chargers to fill the same position he held in Denver.

Elsewhere in L.A., former Broncos assistant coach Chris Beake has joined the Los Angeles Rams as their new linebackers coach.

Perhaps the most notable former members of Fangio’s staff still available are offensive line coach Mike Munchak and offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur. Munchak and Shurmur both have head coach experience in the NFL.

As for Fangio, he is expected to take a year off from coaching.

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Report: Giants’ Joe Schoen, Brian Daboll creating ‘fun’ environment

New York Giants GM Joe Schoen and coach Brian Daboll are already changing the culture in East Rutherford, including with the support staff.

The New York Giants have endured many downs over the past decade, which has led to a tough working environment in East Rutherford.

Due to the constant turnover, employees and staff around the team’s facility have found themselves in a relentless cycle of meeting and adjusting to new people. And while respect has always flowed from one side to the other, the lack of stability has been trying.

Following the retirement of general manager Dave Gettleman and the termination of head coach Joe Judge, the team’s employees are once again dealing with change. This time however, the arrival of general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll has led to a more positive environment.

Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post reports that the new leading duo are very “hands-on” with the team’s employees, leading to a more pleasant vibe.

This news is not necessarily a knock on Gettleman, Judge, Pat Shurmur or even Ben McAdoo, but more a testament to the change in personalities that now run the show.

Gettleman was viewed in public as blunt and standoffish, while Judge ran a tight ship — especially with his coaches. And although he did go out of his way to procure large Christmas bonuses for the team’s support staff, he was far less interactive than Schoen and Daboll appear to be.

If the Giants truly wish to change their culture, Schoen and Daboll are going about it the right way. And early returns sound positive.

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