PHOENIX — It’s been 4 weeks because the Washington Commanders fired offensive coordinator Scott Turner, and the crew has but to call his alternative. However a call will in all probability be made subsequent week, with Coach Ron Rivera hoping to interview another candidate: Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.
Washington
Ron Rivera shares thoughts on Commanders’ offseason priorities
The change to a brand new play-caller is without doubt one of the many pending adjustments within the Commanders’ future, which may embrace new possession, one other new quarterback and scheme adjustments.
Wednesday in Phoenix, the place Rivera was named the NFL’s Salute to Service award winner, he spoke on an array of matters in regards to the crew’s hopes for the offseason and past.
Rivera has interviewed six candidates for offensive coordinator — Pat Shurmur, Ken Zampese, Charles London, Thomas Brown, Eric Studesville and Anthony Lynn — and hopes to speak to Bieniemy after Tremendous Bowl LVII. The longtime Chiefs coordinator has interviewed with the Indianapolis Colts’ for his or her head-coaching emptiness and is reported to be a candidate for the Baltimore Ravens’ offensive coordinator opening.
Washington’s candidacy comes with caveats; a possible possession change has raised questions in regards to the safety of the job.
“The query has come up,” Rivera stated. “As a result of for them, for lots of them, it’s … ‘I’ve two years left on my contract, are they going to offer you that two years?’ , that’s what all people has requested. And I stated, ‘Look, all I do know is I’ve been advised it’s enterprise as traditional.’ I imply, I get updates. I speak to possession to allow them to know the place I’m. They’ve been nothing however supportive.”
Rivera’s precedence is to discover a new play-caller who can get the ball to the Commanders’ varied playmakers, together with wideouts Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson, create explosive performs off play-action and use the run recreation to create chunk performs.
“One thing that was actually proven within the Dallas recreation was Jahan Dotson caught two fast slants that changed into nearly 50 yards of offense, simply on two performs,” Rivera stated. “And it’s a kind of issues, you go, that’s what you want.”
As somebody who sat by way of eight interviews earlier than touchdown his first head-coaching job within the NFL, Rivera has the expertise and want to afford one other up-and-comer his alternative. When requested about Bieniemy’s wrestle to get a head-coaching supply, Rivera voiced his help and dismay that he’s but to land a chance.
“I’m tremendously stunned,” Rivera stated. “To hearken to folks’s reasoning, saying it’s as a result of he’s underneath Andy [Reid]’s shadow, I feel is unfair. I imply, you must be keen to offer the man the chance greater than something. … I don’t suppose Eric deserved to should undergo that. However what it’s, from what you’re listening to on the grapevine, is he’s searching for a chance to work with a defensive coach. So I wish to see about that chance.”
The Commanders must decide on Chase Younger’s close to future within the coming weeks. The crew has till Could 1 to select up his fifth-year contract possibility, for 2024, which shall be value $17.452 million and assured if and when it’s exercised.
Younger acquired a four-year, absolutely assured $35.4 million contract when he was drafted second in 2020. After he earned defensive rookie of the 12 months honors and a Professional Bowl choice in his first season, an intensive knee damage sidelined him for 22 video games over the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
“You get a chance to sit down down, have a look at his tape with our scouts, speak about the way in which he performed,” Rivera stated. “What will we see by way of growth and progress? We’re going to sit down down with the docs, with the trainers. The place is he?”
Rivera stated the choice about Younger’s fifth 12 months is not going to have an effect on the choice the crew should make about Daron Payne, who shall be a free agent in March. However Payne’s path may affect the crew’s pondering with Younger.
Washington picked up Payne’s fifth-year possibility two years in the past, and he performed his greatest this season, in a contract 12 months. Not exercising Younger’s fifth 12 months, Rivera stated, might be a motivator.
“When you have a look at what Daron did, why wouldn’t you consider it that method?” Rivera stated. “Consider me, that may be my method, particularly taking a look at what Daron did and the state of affairs he put himself in. … It value us [with Daron]. However it value us in a great way, as a result of the younger man performed, he did issues the best method.”
Rivera stated he’s “optimistic” about protecting Payne however provided few specifics in regards to the crew’s plans to attempt to retain him.
Payne is ready to be a free agent in March except the Commanders first re-sign him to a longer-term contract or use a franchise or transition tag on him.
A brand new contract may carry a median annual worth of $19 million, if no more. A franchise tag, basically a one-year deal that may enable the crew to match one other supply sheet Payne would possibly signal and obtain draft compensation if he walks, can be across the similar quantity ($18.937 million). A transition tag, which might give the Commanders solely the best of match if Payne indicators one other supply sheet and no draft compensation, is value much less ($16.068 million).
Rivera has stated Sam Howell is the probably starter, however must earn the job. The coach’s objective, nonetheless, is to get a veteran within the room, and he’s on report saying he want to preserve Taylor Heinicke, a pending free agent.
However taking up a high-priced veteran, both in free company or through a commerce, could also be too expensive for the Commanders.
“We’re formidable, and we didn’t have a totally wholesome quarterback all 12 months,” Rivera stated. “We’ve acquired a stout working recreation. We’ve acquired playmakers in place, and we had a younger man who confirmed us that he can unfold the ball out and get it out rapidly. What’s the danger of spending cash on any person after which unexpectedly it not understanding, once more? Now, are we going to surrender on looking for the best veteran? Completely not. If we discover the best veteran to come back in and add that competitors to that group of men in that room, I feel we’re going to see progress.”