Commanders zero in on coordinators from playoff groups

When the Detroit Lions and Baltimore Ravens misplaced Sunday, the Washington Commanders received — no less than, in the case of once they can rent a brand new coach. With each groups eradicated from the playoffs, the Commanders can discover their subsequent coach this week.

Contemplating these groups have 4 potential candidates on Washington’s checklist, not having to probably wait two extra weeks to rent a coach was essential for the Commanders.

The Commanders will likely be busy, having interviewed two candidates Monday and one other three scheduled for Tuesday. They’d beforehand interviewed Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik final week and their present offensive coordinator, Eric Bieniemy, two weeks in the past.

Washington fired coach Ron Rivera after 4 seasons and a 4-13 report this previous 12 months.

Here is a take a look at their candidates:

Ben Johnson

Present place: Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Interview standing: In-person Tuesday in Detroit. He interviewed through Zoom earlier than the divisional playoff spherical. Connection: Chris Spielman, a particular assistant to Detroit proprietor Sheila Ford Hamp, is the brother of former NFL common supervisor Rick Spielman, who’s a part of Washington’s advisory board throughout its search.

Many within the NFL have lengthy anticipated Johnson would get this job. Nonetheless, a number of sources mentioned, his rent isn’t a foregone conclusion in Washington. Seattle, the one different teaching emptiness, stays enthusiastic about Johnson as properly.

Groups need him due to his offensive acumen: In his two seasons as Detroit’s coordinator, the Lions are a mixed second in yards per sport and third in factors.

Greater than X’s and O’s, new Commanders common supervisor Adam Peters mentioned management would be the No. 1 trait they need. Those that have labored with Johnson say he is a transparent communicator. One opposing assistant coach thought of Johnson “revolutionary.”

Johnson is taken into account the most effective offensive coach obtainable throughout this teaching cycle, however he wouldn’t be inheriting the identical offensive expertise he has with the Lions. Washington must rebuild its offensive line, discover its quarterback of the longer term and add a shifty third-down again like Detroit’s Jahmyr Gibbs.

The Lions additionally had quarterback, Jared Goff, who threw a mixed 59 landing passes to 19 interceptions underneath Johnson. Washington has Sam Howell, who has began 18 video games and has thrown 22 touchdowns and 22 picks. However the Commanders even have the No. 2 choose and drafting a quarterback will likely be excessive on their checklist.

As one NFL government mentioned, “It is about quarterback.”

Johnson has labored in quite a few offenses, permitting him to adapt to his expertise. He knew Howell as a result of each performed quarterback at North Carolina — Johnson was a walk-on whose solely time occurred on particular groups — and he coached him on the 2022 Senior Bowl.

Two weeks in the past Johnson mentioned of Peters, “I’ve heard nothing however implausible issues about those that have labored with him instantly or have met him over the course of scouting on the street. I stay up for meet him and speaking with him.”

Aaron Glenn

Present place: Detroit’s defensive coordinator Interview standing: In-person Tuesday in Detroit. Connection: Identical as Johnson’s.

A number of sources, who both coached Glenn or coached with him, think about him a robust chief. He performed nook within the NFL, a place that is sometimes not one among management for a complete group, however that is the trait that clearly would draw him to Washington. Chris Spielman’s perception on this space would assist as properly.

“The most important factor is he is formidable and a competitor,” mentioned one one who coached Glenn and stays within the league. “He has infectious enthusiasm.”

The management and motivational abilities are two traits which have constantly come up in Washington’s teaching search. The Lions’ protection has not been pretty much as good statistically as their offense. In three seasons mixed underneath Glenn, the Lions rank thirty first in each yards and factors. However they did enhance in each classes this season in comparison with 2022: going from twenty eighth in factors to twenty third and from final in yards to nineteenth.

Dan Quinn

Present place: Dallas’ defensive coordinator Interview standing: In-person interview Tuesday. Connection: No direct connection.

Quinn is the one candidate who has been a head coach, compiling a 43-42 report in five-plus seasons with Atlanta. He led the Falcons to the Tremendous Bowl after the 2016 season, the place they misplaced to the Patriots in time beyond regulation — after main 28-3.

A number of individuals who performed for Quinn, coached underneath him or labored in the identical group have raved about his capacity to guide, with one among his former coaches saying he set the usual for a group in addition to any coach he has been round. One present assistant coach, whose group has confronted Dallas, praised Quinn for adjusting his scheme over time.

Quinn additionally stays amongst Seattle’s alternatives, having interviewed with the Seahawks. He spent 4 years within the group — together with three after John Schneider took over as common supervisor — with the final two as defensive coordinator. He coached Seattle’s protection when it received Tremendous Bowl XLVIII.

Quinn has served as Dallas’ defensive coordinator the previous three seasons. The Cowboys rank a mixed fifth in factors and seventh in yards. However they lead the NFL with 93 turnovers compelled underneath Quinn.

Anthony Weaver

Present place: Baltimore’s affiliate head coach/line of defense. Interview standing: His in-person interview occurred Monday in Baltimore. He interviewed through Zoom earlier than the wild-card spherical. Connection: No direct connection. Weaver performed seven seasons within the NFL and has coached within the league since 2012 with 5 totally different organizations. He joined the Ravens in 2021 as their line of defense coach and run sport coordinator. He was elevated to affiliate head coach the next season.

One one who has labored with Weaver mentioned he has “nice presence” and may be “powerful however honest.”

Since he joined the Ravens’ employees three years in the past, Baltimore ranks a mixed third in dashing yards per sport and fourth in yards per carry. But it surely slipped in each classes this season — 14th in yards per sport and twenty fifth in yards per carry.

Mike Macdonald

Present place: Baltimore’s defensive coordinator. Interview standing: His in-person interview occurred Monday in Baltimore. He interviewed through Zoom earlier than the wild-card spherical. Connection: Washington’s senior vice chairman of soccer technique Eugene Shen was the Ravens’ director of teaching analytics from 2014 to 2019 and initially shared an workplace with Macdonald; the 2 grew to become shut.

Like Johnson, he has drawn widespread reward for a way his facet of the ball performed all season. Additionally like Johnson, he is anticipated to interview with Seattle.

Macdonald climbed from a training intern with Baltimore in 2014 to its defensive coordinator beginning in 2022. In his two seasons as coordinator, the Ravens had been a mixed second in scoring and sixth in yards.

Even in Sunday’s loss to Kansas Metropolis, the Ravens allowed solely 17 factors and none within the second half. In two postseason video games, the Ravens allowed a mixed 27 factors and solely 266 yards per sport — 56 fewer per sport than anybody else.

One particular person acquainted with Macdonald thought of him a “nice communicator and arranged” with a popularity for maximizing his group’s expertise — evidenced by how they altered their appears to be like to assault varied offenses. Macdonald’s secondary coach, Dennard Wilson, has been interviewed for a number of defensive coordinator openings.

Bobby Slowik

Present place: Houston’s offensive coordinator. Interview standing: He interviewed in-person final week. Connection: He was an assistant coach in varied roles with San Francisco from 2017 to 2022; Peters joined the 49ers’ entrance workplace in 2017. Slowik served as a defensive assistant from 2011 to 2013 underneath former coach Mike Shanahan.

Slowik interviewed with Carolina, Tennessee and Atlanta, all of whom opted for a unique head coach, in addition to Seattle. He interviewed nearly with the Seahawks. Slowik’s work with rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud in Houston opened eyes across the NFL.

Stroud threw 23 touchdowns and solely 5 interceptions because the Texans went from 3-13-1 in 2022 to 10-7 underneath first-year coach DeMeco Ryans.

Slowik spent six seasons with San Francisco, beginning off as a defensive high quality management coach and finally working over to offense and ending up because the 49ers’ move sport coordinator. However he additionally has an analytics bent — the Commanders have positioned a robust emphasis on this underneath Josh Harris — and labored for Professional Soccer Focus for 3 years.

Eric Bieniemy

Present place: Washington’s offensive coordinator. Interview standing: He met with Washington’s decision-makers earlier this month. Connection: Bieniemy was Minnesota’s operating backs coach from 2009 to 2010 (being elevated to assistant head coach for his last 12 months); Spielman was the Vikings’ vice chairman of participant personnel throughout this time.

Washington’s offense struggled for a wide range of causes underneath Bieniemy, who was in his first season with the group.

The Commanders completed twenty fourth in yards and twenty fifth in scoring and quite a few gamers chafed enjoying underneath Bieniemy, identified for his demanding and relentless fashion. At season’s finish, veteran left sort out Charles Leno Jr., when requested about Bieniemy, mentioned: “E.B. was the identical particular person daily. You realize what you had been going to get out of him. That is actually all I’ve received to say.”

Washington tried 22 extra passes than another group — and the need to throw wasn’t dictated by the rating. In video games that had been inside a landing within the fourth quarter, the Commanders had the fifth highest move makes an attempt and the second fewest run makes an attempt.

Bieniemy served as Kansas Metropolis’s offensive coordinator for 5 seasons — serving to the Chiefs win two Tremendous Bowls — earlier than arriving in Washington, although coach Andy Reid remained the first playcaller.