The Washington Commanders’ offense during the 2022 season showed flashes of producing at an upper-echelon rate. The problem that plagued the unit was the inconsistent playcalling of former offensive coordinator Scott Turner.
The team has since moved on from Turner and over the weekend hired Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.
The move should lift the Commander’s offense and utilize the young talent that is sprinkled throughout the roster. The likes of a successful coordinator just coming off of a Super Bowl win normally would not befall a team searching for a play-caller. Unfortunately, the circumstances around why Bieniemy in 23 years of coaching after a modest pro career as a running back and the success he has had in Kansas City as an OC can’t get a head coaching job is something the NFL has to get a handle on.
The knock on Bieniemy around NFL circles and people close to the situation is that he wasn’t the primary play caller in KC. That specific went to longtime coach Andy Reid who without question is a brilliant offensive mind. The problem with that rhetoric, however, is that several coaches have come from Reids’ coaching tree and those same narratives were not mentioned with them.
Doug Pederson, Kansas City’s OC from 2013-2015 has a Super Bowl on his resume as coach of the Philadelphia Eagles back in the 2017 season. After unceremoniously being fired by the Eagles after five seasons, and a year off from coaching, he resuscitated the Jacksonville Jaguars in his first season back by taking them to this year’s AFC Playoffs.
Matt Nagy was KC’s OC in 2016 and 2017. He would become the Chicago Bears head coach in 2018 but was fired after several uninspiring campaigns after the 2021 season.
The big question that some are still running from is why does Eric Bieniemy who is African American have to deal with the stigma that he can’t call an offense on his own, unlike his white counterparts who were in similar situations?
Whether that is true or not, credit has to be given to Commanders coach Ron Rivera and the Washington brain trust for bringing Bieniemy on board and giving him total autonomy to orchestrate the offense. The former Colorado University star has plenty of talent to build his offense around.
The @commanders hiring Bieniemy is a huge coup for the organization. There’s no way he would come to DC without full control to orchestrate the offense and possible succeed Ron Rivera. Now the question is whether Sam Howell is his QB or does the team look to FA or the draft?
— Lake Lewis Jr (@LakeLewis) February 18, 2023
Washington has a pro-bowl receiver in Terry McLaurin. Two playmaking receivers in Curtis Samuel and Jahan Dotson. A tight end room that collectively could be viable if they can stay healthy and a plethora of running backs in Brian Robinson, Antonion Gibson, and J.D. McKissic that have versatility.
The two glaring spots that have to be addressed for Bieneimy and the Commanders to compete in the resurgent NFC East division are along the offensive line and at quarterback.
Does Washington have their signal caller of the future on the roster in Sam Howell?
Howell played in only one game as a rookie last season but in that regular-season finale against the Dallas Cowboys, the former North Carolina standout showed immense potential and seemed to make every throw imaginable. An offseason under Bieniemy’s tutelage could work wonders for Howell and allow him to take a significant leap in his second season. Bieneimy has worked with Patrick Mahomes over the past few seasons and each year Mahomes who is a generational talent has improved within the structure of KC’s offense and on his own skillset. This could be just what the doctor ordered for Washington’s offense to show consistency in what they want their identity to be under Bieniemy.
Last year, Washington’s offense ranked 22nd overall in passing yards and 12th in rushing yards. Again, the team struggled to identify and maintain an identity under Turner.
In Kansas City, Bieneimey has produced a top-five offense in each of his seasons with the title of offensive coordinator.
That bodes well for Washington and the future of the offense.