ASHBURN, Va. — Eric Bieniemy went to Washington in part to run an offense under a defensive-minded coach and show what he could do away from Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes.
That defensive-minded coach is gone, and Bieniemy's calculated risk did not work out. The team said it will not be moving forward with Bieniemy on its staff during a press conference Monday.
While addressing the media Monday, new Head Coach Dan Quinn said, "I really respect the work that [Bieniemy's] done ... I've got a lot of respect for him."
Commanders owner Josh Harris and General Manager Adam Peters did not comment on Bieniemy's departure.
Following Ron Rivera's departure and an inconsistent season that saw the Commanders finish with the 24th-ranked offense, Bieniemy's future was uncertain. Now, with the hiring of Kliff Kingsbury as the team's offensive coordinator, Bieniemy won't be on the sidelines in burgundy and gold any longer.
Commanders players didn't seem to be looking for what Bieniemy gave them this season. Questions about Bieniemy brought varying degrees of compliments for his consistency as a person but more criticism than praise from inside the locker room.
“I wanted to run the ball more,” right guard Sam Cosmi said when asked generally about playing for Bieniemy. “I felt like we weren’t balanced. I think we were 30th in the league in attempts at runs. I love running the ball, and I felt like it was just nothing but drop-back passes. I just want it to be more balanced, to be completely honest with you."
Swing tackle Cornelius Lucas said it was “different” under Bieniemy compared with the previous couple of years under former offensive coordinator Scott Turner, when he said Washington had a “completely balanced attack.” Tight end Logan Thomas said, “We had our ups and downs.”
“E.B. was the same person every day,” left tackle Charles Leno said. “You know what you were going to get out of him. That’s really all I’ve got to say: He was the same guy every day, so I have nothing to say about that.”
Rivera let slip during training camp that some players had come to him expressing concern about Bieniemy's coaching style, then apologized and tried to clarify those comments. But it was clear Bieniemy did rub some players the wrong way, and the results on the field — including an average of fewer than 20 points a game for a team that went 4-13 — were not what anyone had hoped.
Bieniemy, for his part, said during his final press conference of the season that he could only live and coach in the moment.
“I’ve had a great deal of fun,” Bieniemy said. “It’s been a great learning experience, not only for them, but for me, as well.”