ASHBURN, Va. — The firing of offensive coordinator Scott Turner is the most significant change to Ron Rivera’s staff since Washington hired the head coach in 2020. It won’t be the last.
It became apparent in recent days that the team would move on from Turner. Criticism of his play calling and the offense’s low scoring escalated after Washington was eliminated from the playoff chase with one week remaining in the regular season. Now Rivera must lure a new coordinator to town.
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Not simply any coordinator, but a person whose vision adheres to Rivera’s — and who is willing to come on board without a definitive starting quarterback and the organizational uncertainty that goes with a potential ownership change. Those are not insurmountable issues, but they are boxes to check.
The Washington Commanders fired offensive coordinator Scott Turner today after three seasons. Now what?
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) January 10, 2023
“Our formula of football is playing great defense, running the ball, having the quarterback utilize play-action off our run scheme,” Rivera said at Tuesday’s news conference with general manager Martin Mayhew hours before Turner’s firing. “That’s what has worked for us, so we’re planning to build it that way.”
More teams leaned into the run game this year compared to recent seasons, often due to limited quarterback play. Washington would fall into that category after a third consecutive season with three different starters. But Rivera said his run-first desire is a “philosophical belief.”
“We need to control the tempo of the game,” Rivera said. “I do believe in a two-back system. I’ve had success with that, and I believe we had some pretty good success with it.”
“When you can’t run the football late in the year,” Mayhew said, “it makes it very, very difficult to advance, make the playoffs, or have success in the playoffs.”
Washington acquired Carson Wentz in a trade with the Colts last March, believing the strong-armed passer’s success in play-action would overcome other deficiencies. They were wrong. With zero guaranteed money on the remaining two years of his contract, Wentz is expected to be released before the start of the new NFL year.
Taylor Heinicke, a 23-game starter over the past two seasons, is entering free agency. Rookie Sam Howell shined in his debut during Sunday’s win over the Cowboys but remains a project. Yes, Washington will head back into the QB market once again.
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Most notably, owner Dan Snyder is exploring the possibility of selling the franchise he has owned since 1999. That’s welcome news for a frustrated and increasingly shrinking fan base but also a variable for any potential hire to consider. Rivera’s original five-year contract has two years remaining. He might not get to 2024 if a new owner wants a change.
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Rivera and Mayhew pushed back on any notion of being in limbo until there’s more clarity on the ownership situation.
“I intend to coach this football team, do the best we can, and see what happens,” Rivera said.
What’s already happened is Turner’s exit. Next, find a coordinator who can help a team that ranked 20th in yards, 24th in points, 25th in red-zone efficiency and 25th in third-down conversion percentage.
In-house
Ken Zampese, QBs coach: Rivera’s history suggests familiar faces must be considered, and Zampese joined the staff in 2020. He has coordinator experience from two seasons with the Bengals, but shuffling the coaching org chart doesn’t seem likely if Rivera wants real change. Additional staff changes might occur should a new coordinator bring in his own assistants.
Ken Zampese on his experiences coaching Wentz and Heinicke
— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWC) September 9, 2022
Mike Shula, Bills senior offensive assistant: Rivera brought a dozen coaches and staff members from Carolina to Washington after the Panthers fired him late in the 2019 season. Numerous players added over the past three seasons have Carolina ties. The new OC might as well.
Shula joined Carolina as the QBs coach in 2011, Rivera’s first season, before transitioning to offensive coordinator in 2013. The Panthers ranked first in scoring during quarterback Cam Newton’s 2015 MVP season as the team went 15-1 and won the NFC Championship. That was the only year an offense with Shula as OC, including stints with the Buccaneers and Giants, finished higher than 12th in points per game.
Rob Chudzinski, Boston College assistant: Shula moved to OC after the coordinator who helped usher Newton into the NFL took his vertical passing concepts to Cleveland as the Browns head coach in 2013. Fired after one season in Cleveland, Chudzinski became an associate head coach and offensive coordinator with the Colts before jumping to the college ranks as a special assistant to BC head coach Jeff Hafley in 2020.
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Big-game hunting
Eric Bieniemy, Chiefs offensive coordinator: This reads like a lateral and bizarre move. Why leave Patrick Mahomes and the league’s most dynamic offense for Washington? Well, because Rivera can offer something one of his mentors, Chiefs coach Andy Reid, cannot: play-calling duties.
Cries for an NFL team to hire Bieniemy as head coach occur so frequently that the oversight might eventually follow death and taxes as life’s inevitabilities. Whatever the main reasons for teams looking elsewhere, it hurts that he doesn’t call plays. Unless Bieniemy breaks the curse and lands a head-coaching gig, joining Washington — with at least a two-year contract — might be a decent long-term career play.
So this just happened? 😂
📺: #KCvsLV on ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on NFL+— NFL (@NFL) January 7, 2023
Frank Reich, ex-Colts head coach: This is more about mentioning a noted offensive mind’s availability than thinking Reich would join Washington with questions at quarterback and head coach. It would be quite the coup if Rivera could get this done.
Kliff Kingsbury, ex-Cardinals head coach: Kingsbury signed a five-year extension last year. This week, Arizona fired him following a tumultuous 4-13 season. Those checks will keep coming until 2027, so Kingsbury can be picky with his next spot. His Air Raid offense would provide a seismic jolt for the Commanders and be a fun way to use wide receivers Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson and Curtis Samuel.
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Bill O’Brien, Alabama offensive coordinator: If the former Texans head coach leaves Nick Saban, a reunion with Bill Belichick makes the most sense. O’Brien was with New England from 2007-11 in various capacities, including coordinator.
Here’s what Alabama OC Bill O’Brien said a couple of years ago about his relationship with #Commanders HC Ron Rivera. Could they reunite with an O’Brien return to the NFL as OC?
— T M (@reshmanuel) January 11, 2023
Wait, there’s more
Pat Shurmur, ex-Broncos offensive coordinator: Head-coaching stints with the Browns and, more recently, the Giants ended with an 18-46 record. Not good, but those hires came about because of Shurmur’s OC work with the Rams, Eagles and Vikings. Philadelphia’s 2013 squad ranked fourth in rush attempts and first in rush yards. In 2021, Shurmur worked as Denver’s OC while his son, Kyle, spent that season as an emergency quarterback on Washington’s practice squad.
Thomas Brown, Rams assistant head coach and tight ends coach: Sean McVay’s flirting with stepping down as head coach has reportedly led to him telling his assistants they should consider their options. People seem to like getting a branch off the McVay coaching tree, so Brown should have suitors. Same for Eagles QBs coach Brian Johnson.
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Joe Brady, Bills QBs coach: Calling someone a young retread feels like an oxymoron. Brady, 33, qualifies after the post-Rivera Panthers fired him in 2021 during his second season with them. NFL executives became aware of his spread offense after he helped develop quarterback Joe Burrow during LSU’s 2019 national championship run.
Mike McCoy, Jaguars QBs coach: McCoy’s resume includes four years as Chargers head coach (2013-16) and multiple coordinator roles. The 2012 Broncos ranked top-four in points and yards with McCoy as OC. Granted, the offense belonged to quarterback Peyton Manning. With Jacksonville, McCoy and first-year head coach Doug Pederson resurrected Trevor Lawrence after a trying rookie season.
Jay Gruden, ex-Washington head coach: This isn’t happening, especially if Snyder still owns the club, or probably regardless. Debate his head-coaching acumen as needed, but Gruden can call an offense.
(Photo of Eric Bieniemy: Ed Zurga / Associated Press)
