Some Washington Commanders players have an issue with new OC Eric Bieniemy's coaching style, and took their concerns to Ron Rivera.
Eric Bieniemy has yet to receive a real head coaching opportunity, though it's unclear exactly why the odds are stacked up against him. On Tuesday, it became clear that some Washington Commanders players believe his coaching style could use a tune-up.
Bieniemy did admit to criticizing his players at times, in hopes that it will help them get better. The former Chiefs offensive coordinator has been around the league for a long time — he knows what makes a starter vs. the kind of player who will spend the season riding the bench.
Commanders: Eric Bieniemy explains his coaching style
"Yes, I am intense and I would be afraid too at the start if I didn't know it. … But I'm always up front and I'm always honest. … I expect us to be the team that we're supposed to be. It's not going to be easy, but everybody's not going to like the process," Bieniemy said, per Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post. "I'm always going to be loud and I'm always going to be vocal. I'm always going to demand from our leaders. … I want our guys to clearly understand that we're not taking anything for granted."
It's unclear if Rivera reprimanded Bieniemy in any way, or even spoke with him about those concerns. At the end of the day, it is in Bieniemy's job description to relate to his players, and if they're intimidated by his coaching style in some cases they're less likely to listen.
Bieniemy grew comfortable in Kansas City, where he was permitted to run the offense his way under the guidance of Andy Reid. In Washington, he's on his own, and expected to deliver results without Patrick Mahomes at the helm.
