Commanders’ final run for a referendum on Howell and Bieniemy
It is possible that Ron Rivera’s time in Washington is coming to an end with just four games remaining, as a result of the team’s ongoing struggles and the arrival of new ownership.
There won’t be much left for the Commanders (4-9) to gain from the final four games as Josh Harris and his group, which includes Magic Johnson, will get to shape the organization’s football operations once this losing season is over.
Sam Howell, the quarterback, excluded. In essence, this last stretch is a referendum on the second-year pro, who has the chance to demonstrate that he merits a spot in the starting lineup for the upcoming campaign. Additionally, it’s an opportunity for offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy to validate his claim to be an NFL head coach.
With Rivera and Bieniemy going all in on throwing the ball to make him the center of the offense, Howell, a 2022 fifth-round pick out of North Carolina, has shown flashes of brilliance. However, he fell in the draft due to concerns about his size and a difficult final season in college. In addition, as of Week 14, he has been sacked more times than any other player in the league with 14 interceptions.
Everyone is aware of the nature of our industry, and Howell recently stated, “If you’re not doing your job, things will happen at the end of the day.” However, none of us—players or coaches—seem to be overly concerned about it. Every day, we’re just doing the best we can, and the outcomes are what they are. We make sure to come in here every day and give it our all, and we try to do everything within our power to control what we can control.”
No one has completed more passes this season than Howell, who has been sacked 58 times and completed 335 of the 509 attempts as of Week 14. He has now thrown three straight games with a pick-6.
Howell, a 23-year-old quarterback, has received praise from Bieniemy and Rivera, who decided to give him the starting job after the 2018 season. Howell has grown and learned from his mistakes.
“I know sometimes things look bad, but the thing that he does: He makes sure that he corrects the mistakes that he’s making,” said Bieniemy.
“The child is performing incredibly well. In addition to competing and finding ways to make plays, he is also receiving coaching. He’s honing every little detail that’s making him a better football player; all we can hope for is that he keeps improving and that the arrow continues to point in the right direction.
Bieniemy joined Washington, in part, to work for a defensive coach and establish himself outside of the massive Kansas City shadow cast by Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes, who called the plays when Bieniemy was the offensive coordinator and the Chiefs won two Super Bowls. Howell’s notable progress would also be helpful to Bieniemy.
Since the two of them began working out together in the offseason, Howell feels that Bieniemy’s play-calling has gotten better.
With the talent we have here, he’s beginning to get a pretty good sense of how to succeed,” Howell remarked. Although we players need to perform better in some circumstances, I believe he’s doing a great job. Throughout the season, as he has likely done his entire career, he has developed as a leader and an OC.”
There is a wide range of numbers. Washington’s offense, which ranks 12th in passing and 22nd in scoring, is distinctly in the middle of the pack offensively.
It’s unclear if that will be sufficient for Bieniemy to land a head coaching position. He has already conducted two head coach interviews with various teams, including the New York Jets, and is expected to be considered once more in the upcoming season.
Although Howell’s future isn’t directly related to Bieniemy, the continuity would make a strong argument for him to be the chosen one in 2024.
If not, Washington would be starting a different starting quarterback in Week 1 for the eighth time in a row.
Jonathan Allen, a defensive tackle, stated this week on the radio that he would rather not go through another rebuild. Regardless of whether he is involved or not, Allen thinks Howell is the future.
The Commanders’ most recent victory came Nov. 5 at New England. “I feel like we found our quarterback for the next 5-10 years, and I truly believe that,” Allen stated. “I’ve seen a lot of great quarterbacks in my time, played against a lot of them, and feel he has the potential to be one of them.”
