Tag: Travelle Wharton

Ryan Kerrigan to return to the Commanders in 2024

Good news. Ryan Kerrigan is back in 2024.

Franchise icon Ryan Kerrigan will return to the Washington Commanders in 2024.

According to John Keim of ESPN, Kerrigan will remain on Washington’s coaching staff under new head coach Dan Quinn. Kerrigan began his coaching career two years ago as the assistant offensive line coach. Kerrigan will serve as the assistant linebackers coach/pass rush specialist in his new role.

Kerrigan holds Washington’s franchise record with 95.5 sacks. He was a first-round pick out of Purdue in 2011, playing 10 seasons in the burgundy and gold before finishing his career with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2021.

Kerrigan joined the Commanders as a coaching intern in 2022. When former head coach Ron Rivera fired defensive line coach Sam Mills III, Jeff Zgonina was promoted to replace him, and Kerrigan later replaced Zgonina.

In 2022, Kerrigan was named one of the 90 greatest players in franchise history.

The Commanders have yet to name a new defensive line coach or linebackers coach but hired Joe Whitt Jr. as the defensive coordinator. Quinn will also be heavily involved with Washington’s defense.

Ben Standig of The Athletic also reported that tight end coach Todd Storm and offensive line coaches Travelle Wharton and Juan Castillo will not return in 2024.

The Commanders hired Bobby Johnson as offensive line coach earlier Monday.

Studs and duds from Commanders’ 14-7 loss to the Giants

Who shined in Washington’s loss? Who struggled? Studs and duds from Week 7.

The Washington Commanders fell to 3-4 on the season after Sunday’s disappointing 14-7 loss to the New York Giants. The Giants came into the game without quarterback Daniel Jones, left tackle Andrew Thomas, and a host of other starters, yet went up 14-0 on Washington and never looked back.

The Commanders managed only 46 yards in the first half and punted seven times. While they got things going in the second half, Washington still couldn’t get out of its own way. The Commanders had back-to-back drives of 80 yards or more in the fourth quarter yet came away with no points.

If last week’s win over Atlanta was a team win, Sunday’s loss to the Giants was a team loss. The entire team started slow, getting themselves into a hole they could not recover from.

Who shined? Who struggled?

Here are the studs and duds from Sunday’s loss.

Commanders offensive coaching staff looks a lot different in 2023

It all starts with Eric Bieniemy, but there is shuffling all over the place.

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When the Washington Commanders hired Eric Bieniemy as offensive coordinator away from the Kansas City Chiefs in February, they gave him complete autonomy of the offense. He also received the assistant head coach title, which head coach Ron Rivera felt Bieniemy deserved.

“I don’t believe you give the assistant head coach title, and it is gratuitous,” Rivera said Wednesday. “I mean when I was in Carolina, and I gave it to Steve Wilks, Steve did a lot of this stuff too as well. I’ve been holding it for a while here, and then when the opportunity to give it to Eric and again to make sure it’s something that’s not just gratuitous, it’s not just a title, but it’s a working title, and he’s doing those things, and he’s got those responsibilities. I think he relishes it. I mean, he’s one of those guys that very few people are gonna outwork, and he works very hard at what he’s doing, and he’s developing his way of doing it.”

Early on, Bieniemy has made his presence felt this spring with the Commanders, bringing a different energy to practice and getting on players, such as quarterback Sam Howell and running back Antonio Gibson.

While Bieniemy is front and center among Washington’s offensive coaching staff, the entire group looks much different in 2023. The only coaches returning in the same roles are running backs coach Randy Jordan, assistant running backs coach Jennifer King and assistant tight ends coach Todd Storm.

However, Storm is among those who will have an increased role in 2023. The current tight ends coach, Juan Castillo, is best known for his work as Andy Reid’s longtime offensive line coach in Philadelphia. While Castillo will still hold the title of TEs coach, Storm will see more responsibility in 2023, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post.

Additionally, we know last year’s assistant offensive line coach, Travelle Wharton, will eventually be the new offensive line coach once Washington’s ownership situation is settled. Rivera said as much recently. Castillo will help Wharton out for the time being.

Assisting Storm is Ken Zampese, the quarterbacks coach from the past three seasons. Zampese was re-assigned as a senior offensive advisor/game management coach in the offseason under Bieniemy.

Tavita Pritchard replaced Zampese as QBs coach. Former veteran NFL wide receiver Bobby Engram replaced Drew Terrell as wide receivers coach.

We mentioned Castillo as a potential replacement for John Matsko as the offensive line coach when the team made a change in March. As it turns out, he will assist Wharton. It’s not known if these coaching changes are only for the offseason or will carry into the 2023 NFL season.

Ron Rivera confirms the identity of the new offensive line coach

Travelle Wharton is receiving a promotion.

The Washington Commanders fired offensive line coach John Matsko earlier this offseason after hiring new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. While Matsko was a respected coach, head coach Ron Rivera wanted Bieniemy to hire his own staff.

Since that time, there has been no announcement on who Washington’s offensive line coach would be in 2023. There were hints that assistant offensive line coach Travelle Wharton would receive a promotion, but nothing was official.

After Day 2 of the 2023 NFL draft, Rivera confirmed that Wharton would be Washington’s next offensive line coach.

“Well, I mean, this is where we obviously had to put a lot of things on hold until we find out what new ownership is,” Rivera said. “But Travelle Wharton’s gonna be the offensive line coach. We are restructuring the coaching staff.”

Wharton played 10 seasons in the NFL, including two for Rivera and Matsko. He began his coaching career under the two with Carolina in 2018 and followed them to Washington in 2020.

Due to the ownership situation, there hasn’t been an official announcement, but now we know.

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Ron Rivera very comfortable with Commanders offensive line

It also sounds like Washington’s next offensive line coach is already in the building.

Ron Rivera feels much better about his offensive line now.

The Commanders went out aggressively during the first week of free agency addressing their offensive line woes. As a result they made two quick additions, signing G/T Andrew Wylie and G/C Nick Gates.

Rivera, speaking with the local media at the owners meeting, Tuesday expressed, “I feel very comfortable with it, I really do. We made a concerted effort during free agency to go out and fortify the line. Add some depth to the line. Add some competition. We have some guys that are also position flex guys so it’ll give us an opportunity to see the best places to have these guys and integrate them with the guys that are currently on the roster.”

There are still young players who have yet to prove themselves. Apparently the plan is for two of them to compete at left guard. Rivera explained, “Our left guard will truly be a competition in terms of watching Saahdiq [Charles] and Chris Paul compete for that. I think both of those guys are young guys that have to play. Saahdiq is an explosive guy, very powerful. You watch Chris Paul in practice and the tape from some of the snaps he had in the Dallas game for sure, you see his play strength and his athleticism.”

There has been much speculation that both starting guards from last year Trai Turner and Andrew Norwell would not return. However, Rivera says that is not the case. “Andrew is going to be there as we go through the process and finish up all of our evaluations. We have to get through the draft as well.”

The Commanders also re-signed center Tyler Larsen and still have Chase Roullier. Rouiller was solid and dependable through the 2020 season. Unfortunately his last two seasons, he suffered bad injuries.

Who will be the next offensive line coach, replacing long-time veteran coach John Matsko?

“Well, we haven’t had an opportunity to finish the announcements and everything with everything that is going on. We will take care of that first opportunity very quickly, but we have a guy that is on staff, and we feel very comfortable with him.”

Travelle Wharton has been the assistant offensive line coach, even assisting Matsko back in Carolina as well. He played with the Panthers (2004-2013) starting 111 of the 115 games he played.

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Is the Commanders next offensive line coach already on staff?

The Commanders likely already have a replacement in mind.

The Washington Commanders made a surprising move Tuesday, parting ways with offensive line coach John Matsko. Matsko, who some believed had been considering retirement, was recently at the NFL combine, leading meetings with offensive line prospects.

Coaching changes are usually made after the season but before free agency, so the timing was a bit of a surprise. Matsko had been with head coach Ron Rivera since 2011 and was his offensive line coach for all 12 of Rivera’s seasons as a head coach.

The most logical reason for the change is new offensive coordinator/assistant head coach Eric Bieniemy wants his own guy. Bieniemy will run a different offense than Scott Turner and wants someone who aligns with his offensive vision.

What if his own guy is already on Washington’s staff?

No, we aren’t talking about assistant offensive line coach Travelle Wharton. While Wharton is undoubtedly qualified for a promotion, he played and coached under Matsko. But Washington did send him to the Senior Bowl to coach one of the team’s offensive lines.

Wharton will likely remain on staff, but in what role?

The most intriguing name on the staff is tight ends coach Juan Castillo. Castillo made his name as an offensive line coach under Andy Reid. The 63-year-old Castillo joined Washington’s staff last offseason replacing Pete Hoener, who retired.

Castillo joined the NFL in 1995 as an offensive assistant with the Philadelphia Eagles. He spent two years in that role before he was promoted to tight ends coach in 1997. In 1998, Castillo was named offensive line coach, a position he held for the next 13 seasons. He was the offensive line coach before Philadelphia hired Reid in 1999, who retained him.

A look back at Castillo’s tenure with the Eagles and he coached some outstanding offensive linemen. We noted last year how Rivera was on Reid’s staff at the same time as Castillo. In 1999, Bieniemy spent his final NFL season with the Eagles.

In addition to his time with the Eagles, Castillo has also been an offensive line coach with the Baltimore Ravens and Chicago Bears. He understands the type of offense Bieniemy wants to run.

Bieniemy could always be looking to bring in someone from the outside, but Castillo makes sense. Don’t discount Wharton, either. Washington is high on Wharton’s future as a coach.

Regardless, don’t expect the Commanders to let this drag out too long. A plan is likely already in place, and we should know more in the coming days.

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Commanders part ways with offensive line coach John Matsko

Matsko was considered one of the best offensive line coaches in the NFL.

The Washington Commanders parted ways with offensive line coach John Matsko on Tuesday, multiple sources confirmed.

Matsko, 72, has been an offensive line coach in the NFL since 1992 with the then-Phoenix Cardinals. Matsko had been Washington’s offensive line coach since 2020. Matsko had been with head coach Ron Rivera since Rivera took over as head coach of the Carolina Panthers in 2011.

Matsko is one of the more respected offensive line coaches in the NFL. The timing of this move is strange, considering most teams have their coaching staff in place before the new league year begins. However, new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy hired a quarterbacks and wide receivers coach last week. This move appears to be more of Bieniemy putting his final stamp on the offense.

According to Nicki Jhabvala and Sam Fortier of The Washington Post, many in the organization believed Matsko might retire after the 2022 season or that the Commanders could go in a different direction when Bieniemy took over. But, at the NFL combine two weeks ago, Washington used almost half of its 45 formal meetings on offensive linemen, with Matsko leading those meetings.

Assistant offensive line coach Travelle Wharton remains in place, as Washington hasn’t appointed a replacement for Matsko. Wharton played for and coached under Matsko. In January, Wharton coached the offensive line for one of the Senior Bowl teams.

The Commanders struggled on the offensive line last season, but that was more due to a lack of talent than Matsko’s coaching abilities. Washington failed to replace right guard Brandon Scherff and battled injuries at other positions, specifically at center.

On the first day of the legal tampering period, Monday, the Commanders agreed to terms with two offensive linemen.

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Commanders assistant could be in line for an increased role in 2023

Could Ron Rivera be giving one of his offensive assistants more responsibility next season?

Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera does a good job developing young coaches. While some will ridicule Rivera for bringing his former Carolina staff to Washington in 2020, the head coach always looks for talented and hungry coaches to develop.

One of those coaches, Drew Terrell, is expected to leave Washington for a role with the Arizona Cardinals. Terrell began his NFL coaching career in 2018 as a quality control coach for Rivera’s Panthers. In 2020, when Rivera came to Washington, he brought Terrell with him as an assistant wide receivers coach.

In 2021, Rivera promoted Terrell to wide receivers coach, and after two years, he had the opportunity to interview for an offensive coordinator position.

Now, Rivera could be promoting another young coach or, at least, expanding his responsibilities.

Assistant offensive line coach Travelle Wharton played 10 seasons in the NFL, including two under Rivera in Carolina. Like Terrell, Wharton joined Carolina’s 2018 staff as an offensive quality control assistant. He also followed Rivera to Washington, where he has spent the past three seasons as an assistant offensive line coach under the venerable John Matsko.

In all five of Wharton’s years as a coach, he’s learned under Matsko. However, at 72, the respected longtime coach may be looking ahead to retirement. Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reported last week that Wharton could be in line for increased responsibilities in 2023.

Bieniemy is likely to bring a couple of coaches with him to Washington, and there could be added responsibilities for assistant line coach Travelle Wharton with the Commanders as well. Wharton, who played 10 years in the league, has been an assistant line coach for Rivera for five years now (two in Carolina, three in Washington).

Even before Washington hired Eric Bieniemy, the Commanders had plans for Wharton. He was one of four coaches Washington sent to Mobile, Alabama, to coach in the Reese’s Senior Bowl.

With Washington expected to focus heavily on adding to the offensive line in free agency and the 2023 NFL draft, it looks like Wharton could play a heavy role. It’s important to note that Wharton got up-close look at some talented offensive linemen at the Senior Bowl.

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Commanders coach Travelle Wharton talks offensive line

The assistant offensive line coach sees progress despite the rocky start to the season.

Travelle Wharton is a name most Commanders fans will not recognize, but the assistant offensive line coach is in his fifth season in NFL coaching.

Wharton played at South Carolina, grabbing the attention of enough scouts that he was drafted in the third round (94th) of the 2004 NFL draft by the Carolina Panthers. Wharton who played in the NFL for nine seasons (2004-2013), met with the media Friday.

The team has suffered so many offensive line injuries early in the season.
A huge loss was losing center Chase Roullier and Wharton addressed this.
“Chase is not just a good player, but just a leader on our line and in the locker room. So losing him was a big hit for us. His confidence and getting us in protections and things like that. You can hear it with other players when he talks, everybody listens. Guys have been really stepping up, so it just shows everyone, Hey, be ready.”

After losing two centers, Nick Martin was signed and had to start immediately.

“I thought Nick stepped in last week and has done really well for just coming in and picking up what we were doing. For everybody else on the line, it’s really staying fine-tuned and understanding those calls cause we rehearse it so much during the course of the week and meetings and stuff like that, or what you’ll call here on different looks.”

The offensive line has at times gotten beaten badly. But Wharton sees progress.

“We are consistently getting better every time we step out there. We gotta continue to work; that’s the big thing. You lose a couple guys here and there, and the next guys step up, but we gotta continue to go. That’s what you have to do as offensive line, play hard together.”

Saahdiq Charles replaced Trai Turner at right guard and made some plays last week.

“He’s been in a few times, a few snaps. He’s getting the opportunity to play, and that’s the biggest thing when you get an opportunity to play in NFL games; you have to take advantage of it. I think mentally he’s prepared.”

“He’s always been explosive, from year one to year two is a big jump, man. He’s really grown overall as a football player mentally and physically of what he needs to do. He played multiple positions. He’s one of those guys that can play multiple and you have to be a pretty smart player to do all that and have the athletic skill set to do it also.”

“Andrew Norwell came in and has been physical. Let me start by saying that, he’s a great teammate that plays great football and he’s been physical. The continuity of those guys and Andrew being in there has been really well because he can make the blocks on the front side and the back side and do a good job in pass pro.”

Washington assistant RBs coach Jennifer King continues to make history

Washington assistant running backs coach Jennifer King continues to make NFL history.

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Washington assistant running backs coach Jennifer King continues to make NFL history. King is the first African-American female to be a full-time NFL assistant. King’s next accomplishment came when she was the first female to lead a position group when Washington running backs coach Randy Jordan missed a game due to COVID-19 in 2021.

Now, King will coach a position in the East-West Shrine Bowl. The game is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 3, with multiple practices leading up to the game.

Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post first had the news.

King is the second woman ever to coach in the East-West Shrine Bowl but the first to lead a position. Katie Sowers was an assistant to the head coach in the 2016 East-West Shrine game.

Other Washington coaches will also coach in the game. Assistant offensive line coach Travelle Wharton will be the offensive coordinator for the East team, while assistant special teams coach Ben Jacobs will be the West’s special teams coordinator.

Congratulations to all of Washington’s coaches on this opportunity.