(UPDATE, 11:20 am, Feb. 1): ESPN is reporting that Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn has been named Commanders head coach.
In a surprising turn of events, the Carolina Panthers have managed to hire a head coach before the Washington Commanders. While they may not have landed one of the hottest names in the market, they have found someone to fill the role. Dave Canales, who previously served as an OC for one season, is now the new head coach of the Panthers. We wish him the best as he navigates both the challenges in his personal life and the ones that come with being an employee of David Tepper. This leaves the Commanders as the only NFL team without a head coach, and it seems they are not in a rush to make a hire.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Commanders’ top choices for head coach are Dan Quinn, Aaron Glenn, and Anthony Weaver. However, since they have no competition from other teams, they are taking their time with the hiring process. Schefter mentioned on Sportscenter that there is no urgency in Washington to make a decision right away. They may take a day or even a week to finalize their choice.
While the Commanders take their time, it’s worth noting that the Senior Bowl, a crucial scouting event, is currently taking place in Mobile, Ala. This event showcases highly touted draft picks competing against each other in practice. With no clear frontrunner for the head coaching position, one might wonder why offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy is not being seriously considered.
Last year, Washington made a big deal about hiring Bieniemy as their offensive coordinator. It was an unusual move to treat an offensive coordinator’s introduction like a head coaching hire. He was brought in to revitalize an offense that had the potential to make the playoffs in the previous season if it had more firepower. Unfortunately, the defense performed poorly in 2023 compared to 2022. Injuries and trades weakened the defensive line, leading to a significant drop in their performance. This might explain why the Commanders’ top choices for head coach are all defensive coordinators.
On the offensive side, Sam Howell had both impressive passing yards and interceptions. Brian Robinson Jr. made a remarkable comeback after being shot in the leg before the start of the 2022 season. However, the offense ranked 26th in DVOA and struggled to get the ball to Terry McLaurin. Despite Jacoby Brissett cutting into Howell’s snaps during Weeks 15 and 16, McLaurin should have had more than 1,009 receiving yards.
After the 2023 season, the Commanders’ offense only improved slightly, averaging half a point more per game compared to 2022. Their yards per play also saw a minuscule increase from 4.9 to 5. It’s important to consider that Bieniemy had to work with a turnover-prone quarterback in his first season as a starter and an offensive line that was far from stellar.
Fortunately, Washington has the No. 2 overall pick in the upcoming draft, giving Bieniemy the opportunity to mold a quarterback in his image and potentially use him as a showcase for his next head coaching audition.
While Bieniemy did interview for the head coaching position, it appears unlikely that he will be offered the job, as per Schefter’s Sportscenter report. Perhaps Drake Maye, the Offensive Rookie of the Year in the next season, will push Bieniemy towards his first head coaching gig.
