Commanders’ Eric Bieniemy: NFL’s Best Coordinator?
When Eric Bieniemy signed on to be the new assistant head coach and offensive coordinator of the Washington Commanders he did so knowing he was joining a club not known to have high expectations outside the franchise.
Bieniemy, however, wasn’t joining the underdog club though, because he was already a member before the Commanders adopted their new name and entered what will become the next chapter of burgundy and gold football.
It had become an annual exercise in futility for those predicting coach Bieniemy would finally get his shot at being a head coach in the NFL.
With this stop in Washington the expectations are that if the offense thrives under ‘E.B.’ his coaching career will follow suit.
But according to Pro Football Focus, Bieniemy isn’t the top offensive coordinator in the league this year. He’s not even in the top five.
“One of the most difficult evaluations out there, Eric Bieniemy has become an annual discussion point as he gets consistently overlooked in head coaching searches,” writes PFF while ranking the coach at No. 6 on their preseason order of merit list. “How good Bieniemy is within his role as coordinator is an open question…Unfair as it may be, this season could be one that makes or breaks Bieniemy’s reputation as a coordinator.”
As PFF points out it may be unfair to look at this season as the one and only chance for Bieniemy to prove his doubters wrong.
But if there’s added pressure on the Commanders coach he’s not showing it on the practice field.
His directions are clear, his message is pointed, and his players say they’re receiving it well and are excited for what’s to come.
Unfortunately for Washington, good offense could mean a third offensive coordinator in three years next season.
But that’s a problem the team and Bieniemy would love for the Commanders to face.
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