We’re not sure who Quinn and general manager Adam Peters, who has only been on the job for two weeks, will appoint to plan and oversee the offensive.
Quinn has credentials that are, in a way, unchallengeable. He oversaw the Seattle Seahawks’ illustrious, game-winning defenses, which helped them win one Super Bowl and advance to the next. When the Atlanta Falcons qualified for the Super Bowl for just the second time in franchise history, he was their coach. In just two seasons, he raised the Dallas Cowboys defense from the lowest five in the league in points allowed before to his arrival to the top five. That’s coaching.
Offensive coordinator is the issue that requires prompt and accurate attention.
In my opinion, the fourth-most essential player in the organization will lead this team offensively in the upcoming seasons. He lags Harris because the new owner will decide on everything, including who gets to call football plays, the location of a new stadium, and beer prices. He follows Peters because, for once, the general manager has the ability to assemble a front-office and scouting staff in addition to a roster that uses draft capital and salary cap flexibility to offset the team’s current skill deficit.
Furthermore, he trails the guy that Peters and his staff choose to choose with the second pick in the draft since that person, whether it be Jayden Daniels or Drake Maye, will start for the team as the quarterback on a rookie contract and provide the foundation for a competitive roster. Finding the proper quarterback is somewhat more crucial than finding the right person to develop him because Jimmies and Joes win out over Xs and Os.
But after that? Put the offensive coordinator over the head coach and give him to me. That is not a strict guideline. But it’s relevant to this particular circumstance.
Particularly when there is drama involved in the hiring process, hiring coordinators and assistants does not elicit the same level of attention as selecting the head coach. Arguably, hiring more people is just as important to the outcome.
These are some possible candidates for the coordinator posts in Washington’s special teams, offensive, and defensive units.
What does Dan Quinn bring to Washington, and why does he come?
Keim: “Leadership” was the word that the Commanders used the most, both in public and in private. Washington desired an experienced leader.
Quinn was described as being as good as any coach he had ever worked with at setting the standard for an organization by an NFL coach who collaborated with him. He was rated as one of the NFL’s best by another coach. In the league, he so has a large following.
What needs to be Quinn’s top priority in Washington?
Finding a top offensive coordinator is Keim’s task. Quinn’s defense in Atlanta was his undoing, but in Washington, the offense must be fixed first. It’s expected that the Commanders would select a quarterback with the second pick in the 2024 draft, thus Quinn needs to have a solid offensive game plan.
This refers to the quarterback’s coach as well as the coordinator. In the event that his coordinator becomes very successful and swiftly departs to take a head coaching job, he will also need to have a solid succession plan in place. Tavita Pritchard is the quarterbacks coach at Washington, and Eric Bieniemy is the offensive coordinator at the moment. Both have contracts that expire in 2024.
The next task on the list is to find a quarterback. Washington has started 12 different quarterbacks since splitting ways with Kirk Cousins following the 2017 campaign, including eight over Rivera’s four seasons. In 1989 through 1993, Mark Rypien was the last quarterback in Washington history to start as the team’s regular starter for more than three seasons.
What rumors are there about the hire in the league?
Graziano Over the past week or two, I’ve had the impression that Washington thought highly of Mike Macdonald and that he was the Commanders’ first option. (Also, ahead of Lions offensive line coach Ben Johnson.) However, I also heard repeatedly that Quinn was well-liked by Washington and that the franchise found his prior head-coaching experience to be in line with their requirements for an all-around organizational leader. Therefore, it was apparent that once Macdonald arrived in Seattle, Quinn would be appointed unless the Commanders chose to consider other applicants.
What rating would you give this hire?
Tannenbaum: A-minus. As the defensive coordinator for the Cowboys for three seasons, Quinn, an accomplished coach who has attended a Super Bowl, significantly improved the team’s defense. It’s a wise move.
