As the offseason workouts for the Washington Commanders gain momentum, it has become apparent that Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator Eric Bieniemy commands pace and precision and is all-in on quarterback Sam Howell. With a playbook full of strategies designed to unlock the team’s potent group of skill players, Bieniemy has drilled his players on a vast array of motions, formations, and personnel groupings. These include “Zebra” (three wide receivers, one tight end, one running back) and “Tiger” (two wide receivers, two tight ends, one back).
During workouts, the players have cycled through motions such as jet, glide, and return, and just about every skill player has rolled through a dizzying number of assignments. Bieniemy has even had a group that included Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel, and Antonio Gibson play wildcat quarterback and run the zone read.
But does Bieniemy have specific game situations in mind for these tactics, or is he just experimenting? “When you have good players, you want to give guys an opportunity to show what they can do,” he said. The position coaches have also maintained an open mind about roles and are focusing on helping the players master the complex West Coast scheme to evaluate each player’s full skill set.
In the fall, when Bieniemy is preparing a game plan to attack a specific defense, he will wrestle with the same problem former offensive coordinator Scott Turner never seemed able to solve consistently: What is the optimal way to spread the ball around?
With a deep complement of weapons headlined by McLaurin, Samuel, Gibson, Jahan Dotson, Brian Robinson Jr., and Logan Thomas, Bieniemy will have about 65 plays to share the ball. With presnap motion and players shifting positions during games, the Commanders’ offense will be unpredictable and versatile.
Regardless, the players are enjoying the fresh approach. With a lot of options and an intriguing array of pieces to work with, the Commanders’ skill players are excited to be moved around and getting different assignments. “He has a lot up his sleeve,” Gibson said of Bieniemy. “I’m excited about that.” With a smart, creative, and unique approach, the Commanders’ offense is shaping up to be a force to be reckoned with.
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