Ron Rivera might not be the only coach bringing a culture change to the Commanders.
During Rivera’s tenure, players have openly declared how Rivera has indeed influenced the team and the culture over time has changed for the good.
Second-year wide receiver Jahan Dotson offered this weekend at his football camp that he sees new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy certainly adding his own chemistry to the Commanders team unit.
Jahan Dotson: “Coach Bieniemy, I feel like he’s brought culture to our team. He’s brought a sense of energy, a sense of urgency. It’s been really good just being able to learn from him and just get familiar with the things he wants us to do and the things we want to do …”
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) June 3, 2023
Indeed the Commanders under Rivera have played together and stuck together as a team in tough times. Yet, one common obstacle for Rivera’s teams have been in each of his three previous seasons the team has gotten off to slow starts.
Perhaps the energy and urgency of Bieniemy may help the team come out of preseason more prepared to begin the regular season.
One common occurrence for Washington has been they have not started the same quarterback in Week 1 since Kirk Cousins started on opening day of the 2015, 2016 and 2017 seasons. Other starters have been Alex Smith (2018), Case Keenum (2019), Dewayne Haskins (2020), Ryan Fitzpatrick (2021) and Carson Wentz (2022).
The plan is Sam Howell to become the next starter launching the 2023 season. Howell will be the least experienced of the starters, having only attempted 19 passes in all of 2022, playing in only the season finale against Dallas.
Howell recently at OTAs was recorded to have said he wants to be coached hard, so he doesn’t mind the new more aggressive and vocal coaching of Bieniemy.
The culture being brought by Bieniemy was met with a humorous moment when safety Kam Curl volunteered to the media that Bieniemy was loud and yelling of the offense.
Dotson caught 35 passes for 523 yards and 7 receiving touchdowns in 2022. If Bieniemy’s intensity can bring better offensive production, there will be other team members joining Dotson in liking the new culture brought by Bieniemy.
