ESPN personality Louis Riddick praised the Washington Commanders when they hired Eric Bieniemy.
The former NFL safety and longtime personnel executive has become one of the primary faces of ESPN’s NFL coverage with his excellent analysis. After watching the Commanders’ preseason opener against the Cleveland Browns, Riddick thinks Washington’s offense will be “exciting” in 2023.
“This offense is going to be exciting now,” Riddick said. “All the people who said in Kansas City, ‘well, Eric doesn’t call the plays, Andy [Reid] calls the plays, it’s all Patrick Mahomes, it’s not Eric Bieniemy.’ Wait til the end of this year, I have a feeling you’re going to be singing a different tune.”
Riddick also likes second-year quarterback Sam Howell, Washington’s weapons, and Bieniemy’s ability to bring the best out of Howell.
“This offense is exciting because Eric has them right now concentrating on really trying to throw the football and spread the ball around to see what he can find out about Sam Howell to see whether or not he can be the face of the franchise going forward……………and tonight he looked like that guy.”
“Once they started getting into rhythm and started giving him some pass protection, this is an offense that looks like they will be able to put up points with anybody, provided that the offensive line continues to develop and gives their quarterback protection.”
Riddick wasn’t done showering Bieniemy and the Commanders with praise.
“I’ve always been excited about Eric Bieniemy,” he said. “He told me back at the combine he was excited about Sam Howell, and now I see why. This is going to be a fun season in Washington. About as fun as it’s been there in a long, long time. And a lot of that has to do with the kind of fresh perspective Eric Bieniemy is bringing to this team, particularly the offense for sure.”
So many people have been hesitant to predict success for Washington’s offense in 2023. Most of it centers around Howell and the offensive line. While the offensive line got off to a slow start Friday, it improved on the third drive. Bieniemy can scheme ways to protect Howell, allowing him to get the ball in the hands of his playmakers like Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, Curtis Samuel and others.
A fun season in Washington? On offense? That would be a lot of fun.