ESPN: How the Commanders reached the crossroads and what comes next

[MikeT14]

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/39033706/washington-commanders-crossroads-ron-rivera-eric-bieniemy-josh-harris-next 

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And so the trade calls flooded the office lines and personal phones of general manager Martin Mayhew and executive vice president of player personnel Marty Hurney, along with head coach Ron Rivera, who had final say on personnel.

But the boss would have to weigh in before any moves occurred [...] Harris didn't "roll in as a sheriff," as the source put it, in line with the owner's philosophy of leaning on staff to make recommendations before major decisions are made. "He gave his opinion, everyone was heard, and we landed in a fair spot."

Within league circles, the terms of the trades were viewed as favorable to the Commanders. But that didn't mean it felt like a win for Mayhew, Hurney or Rivera.

"Today ... has not been a good day," a personnel source said in a text to ESPN on the evening of Oct. 30.

Coaches, including Rivera and since-fired defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio, especially, wanted to keep Sweat. It would be difficult for any objective observer to argue the Commanders had gotten closer to the 2023 playoffs with their work at the deadline.

 

 

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Quarterback Sam Howell, a fifth-round draft choice in 2022, was handed the ball with 19 career passing attempts entering 2023. Despite Howell's inexperience and low draft position, Rivera and the staff loved his poise, had confidence in his decision-making and believed they could win with him. That thinking has largely proved to be well founded. Despite being in danger of breaking the NFL single-season record of 76 sacks -- he has been dropped 58 times -- Howell is second in the league in passing yards (3,466) and has accounted for 21 touchdowns (18 passing, five rushing) on the year.

Several team sources have been effusive: Howell has, at minimum, placed himself in the conversation to be the starter in 2024, and possibly longer. "He's just getting better and better each and every week," wide receiver Jahan Dotson said during Week 11. "Especially his pocket presence -- it's grown tremendously."

 

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And while Howell has performed admirably and Bieniemy has proved he can both design and implement an offense, Rivera's wager on the 54-year-old coach has been something less than an instant jackpot.

Some players, including team veterans and those with families, have not warmed to it. "It's what Bieniemy wants," one player grumbled.

Among the players' other issues early in the year, per team sources, was that afternoon offensive meetings frequently ran long and got in the way if players needed treatment. Bieniemy's initial concession was to allow players to use foam rollers on the floor of the meeting rooms to save meeting time, per a team source.

In recent weeks, Bieniemy has relaxed some of the demands, including shortening Wednesday practices from two hours to closer to an hour and a half.

But Bieniemy's approach remains a matter of some debate. In training camp, when star receiver Terry McLaurin intervened after defensive back Benjamin St-Juste hit a teammate in what McLaurin deemed an overzealous manner, Bieniemy fired an expletive warning for him to return to the huddle. McLaurin wouldn't back down, vowing to defend his teammate.

While changes in both on- and off-field approach have prevailed since Bieniemy came aboard, the wins have not followed -- and the offense has scored 20 or fewer points in four of the past five games. The losing has amplified some of the grumbling both about Bieniemy's style and playcalling. But Bieniemy's defenders insist the complaints are unfair to a coach trying to revamp a system with mediocre talent in some areas.

 

 

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As he reviewed the film, and reflected on the game and season, Rivera considered whether to fire Del Rio, a team source said.

Del Rio was a two-time NFL head coach who a year ago had led one of the league's top defenses in Washington. The jettisoning of Sweat and Young, predictably, had done Del Rio's defense few favors.

But the Commanders' defense had struggled even before those trades and, by Thanksgiving, had cratered to last place in points allowed (29.2 per game) and 29th in total defense (377.7 yards per game).

Rivera waited until around 8 a.m. to call Harris, spending his time mapping out the new structure and each coach's responsibilities. When he called, a source said, the owner asked why he wanted to make the move, as well as the plan moving forward. Harris, who generally believes staff changes should be made at the head coach's discretion, approved the move.

Rivera visited Del Rio's office to deliver the news, an interaction coaching staff sources characterized as professional but less than warm. Rivera then exited Del Rio's office, took a few steps into the office of defensive backs coach Brent Vieselmeyer and delivered another blunt message: Vies, we have to let you go.

The unraveling of the Commanders' once-stifling defense has been the biggest surprise of the season. Del Rio and Vieselmeyer took the fall, but their failures also reflect on Rivera, a former NFL linebacker and two-time defensive coordinator whose reputation had been forged on that side of the ball. Washington rebuilt the offense around Bieniemy and Howell with the hope any growing pains would be mitigated by the presence of a proven defense, one that ranked in the top 10 in just about every major category last season.

 

 

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There was a feeling among players and team sources that the more Washington struggled, the more complicated its scheme became. Some players said the game plan didn't change enough; others said the rules of the defense changed and led to on-field breakdowns. Rivera and Del Rio were communicating weekly on how to improve and "everyone was on the same page," per the head coach, which is why Del Rio was at least mildly surprised by the timing of his firing.

Del Rio's scheme was built on discipline up front, especially within rushing lanes, and Young was known to freelance. A group defined largely by its star-studded pass rush wasn't getting enough sacks, a surprise not only because of Young and Sweat, but also handsomely paid defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne.

The coordinator changes cast a pall over Rivera's future because of how much faith and responsibility he places in them. Several team sources said Rivera defers to his coordinators on decision-making, sometimes to a fault.

"Ron needed to take more ownership," one of the team sources said.

 

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When reached by ESPN for this story, a spokesperson for Harris added that while ownership is disappointed by the team's struggles on the field this season, optimism for the future remains strong. The spokesperson said the ownership group has taken its first season as an opportunity to fully evaluate all facets of the organization with the goal of building a team that can win sustainably over the long term.

But with Washington sitting at 26-36-1 during his tenure, questions about Rivera's ability to maximize the team's ability persist. Rivera often begins meetings with three words that serve as team pillars: "Attitude. Preparation. Effort." Feeling the mantra was ringing hollow, Rivera stopped using it this season, a team source said.

"For whatever reason, the players just didn't seem to be fired up this year," one front-office source said of Rivera's motivational impact.

 

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That begs another question: What exactly will Harris be looking for in a head coach and front office? Several league sources wonder whether Harris will emphasize analytics with his choices, similar to the model he favored in choosing Daryl Morey as GM of the 76ers. In late October, Harris hired Eugene Shen to head the Commanders' analytics department.

But the owner has shown he values a balance of analytics and on-field experience, such as the Morey-Elton Brand setup in Philly or the way his Devils general manager, former NHL player Tom Fitzgerald, is supported by a strong analytics department.

 

 

[MikeT14]

There's nothing overly earthshattering in this piece I'd say. Confirms a lot of what we heard and knew. Still worth a read. 

The first quote block confirms what we had heard: team wanted to keep Sweat but was given an offer they couldn't refuse. Reading between the lines, we were ready to punt Young into the sun for whatever we could get best. Especially with the later Young freelance comment.

I'll always respect Terry for going to bat for his teammates.

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"Ron needed to take more ownership," one of the team sources said.

This is a funny comment since most of us seemed happy (at least with EB at first) that he wasn't.

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"For whatever reason, the players just didn't seem to be fired up this year," one front-office source said of Rivera's motivational impact.

With new ownership (and then a 2-0 start) I truly thought it would be different.

 

[Slappy Mc]

Nothing screams "Redskins" like foreshadowing articles coming out during the season, about what went wrong and where we go next. 

As @MikeT14 said, 99% of this was all well known because nothing can ever stay in house here, but it is discouraging that still we are getting these types of articles before the hammer has been dropped on the season. Now Josh, Ron and the players have to deal with questions about this article. 

There needs to be a monumental shift in the way the organization is run and the people that are in knowledge privy positions going forward. If we ever want to stop being a bottom destination, these types of articles need to not be writable.

#CleanHouse 

[turtle28]

Too much to read. My greatest take away is that Josh Harris let Rivera & his front office make the moves bc that’s the way Harris does things.

That’s a good sign for the future & the opposite of Snyder.

[naptownskinsfan]

On 12/6/2023 at 4:22 PM, Slappy Mc said:

Nothing screams "Redskins" like foreshadowing articles coming out during the season, about what went wrong and where we go next. 

As @MikeT14 said, 99% of this was all well known because nothing can ever stay in house here, but it is discouraging that still we are getting these types of articles before the hammer has been dropped on the season. Now Josh, Ron and the players have to deal with questions about this article. 

There needs to be a monumental shift in the way the organization is run and the people that are in knowledge privy positions going forward. If we ever want to stop being a bottom destination, these types of articles need to not be writable.

#CleanHouse 

With the ever-present “anonymous sources” being quoted.  

They have to clean house in the worst way.  Everyone needs to go.  That is the only way to purge a source like that.