Can Eric Bieniemy Improve Commanders Offense in 2023?
The Washington Commanders offense is easily one of the team's biggest questions heading into the 2023 season.
Whether or not the Commanders offense improves depends largely on new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. Bieniemy was the Kansas City Chiefs' offensive coordinator from 2018-2022. In that span, quarterback Patrick Mahomes developed into one of the best in football, and Kansas City won two Super Bowls.
Bleacher Report broke down the biggest question for each team and picked Bieniemy's ability to fix the offense for Washington.
"The group has something to prove and so does its new coordinator," Bleacher Report writes. "Eric Bieniemy left Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid to light out on his own with a tall task: Make the Commanders offense effective."
Washington's offense was 24th in NFL in scoring in 2022, averaging 18.9 points per game. Kansas City was No. 1 and averaged 29.2 points per game.
One key factor in if the Commanders' offense makes the jump in 2023 is their quarterback play. Quarterbacks Carson Wentz and Taylor Heinicke were inconsistent at best last season. While Bieniemy's track record with Kansas City gives reason for optimism, Sam Howell is a relative unknown and Jacoby Brissett is 18-30 as a starter.
Howell played well in his lone start in 2022, and Brissett has been solid when he starts but has yet to prove he can elevate talent. Howell has taken all of the first team reps thus far in the offseason, and all signs point to him being Washington's starting quarterback when the season begins.
If the Commanders are going to reach the postseason for the first time since 2020, their offense will play a huge role. If Bieniemy can help Washington's offense improve, and Howell or Brissett thrive, he may be set to earn a head coaching job that's eluded him for multiple offseasons.
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