John KeimESPN Staff Writer November 23, 2023, 10:00 PM ET3 Minute Read
DALLAS — The Washington Commanders didn’t want to focus on potential coaching changes — and they’re not convinced anything would help.
After the Commanders lost 45-10 to Dallas – their eighth loss in 10 games, at 4-8 – speculation once again turned to the job security of fourth-year head coach Ron Rivera and his staff.
Rivera said of his situation: “I already told you, I’m not worried about anything. I’ll just do my job and see how things go. That’s the only thing I can do.”
But several players said they are not focused on the coach’s fate.
“The only way you can do that is if you ask,” said Washington left tackle Charles Leno, Jr.. “Nobody else brings that shit up. We don’t talk about that shit; We don’t care about that stuff, we listen to our coaches, follow their game plan and try to win games.”
With this being the fourth year of Rivera’s tenure and owner Josh Harris’ first, there has been constant talk about the coach’s future. Washington won the NFC East in 2020 under Rivera, but hasn’t had a winning record since 2016.
Harris said he wanted to give the staff a full season to better evaluate the entire operation. But the Commanders have lost three straight and were outscored 85-30 in two nationally televised games.
“Who will step in and become head coach? “Who?” said Leno. “I don’t know it. …Where we’re at, I don’t know that that’s going to help anything. I just feel like when you do something like that in the middle of the year, I don’t know, I really don’t know.
Leno said even if Harris promotes associate head coach/offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy to interim coach, “it will be the same because at the end of the day EB will be focused on offense.” [defensive coordinator] Jack [Del Rio] will focus on defense. What is the difference?”
Several players have said privately that Rivera hasn’t lost the locker room and wants to keep him as coach for the rest of the season. It’s possible he could decide to change personnel before the end of the season, but when asked about it after the game he said: “I’m not going to get involved in that.”
“It really doesn’t impact anything in the locker room,” Washington quarterback Sam Howell said. “We just focus on what we can control and try to get better. Of course, when things aren’t going well, people talk about jobs for everyone – not just coaches, but players too. We just have to divide everything up.”
Receiver Terry McLaurin experienced a coaching change here during the 2019 season. Then-owner Dan Snyder fired coach Jay Gruden after an 0-5 start; Gruden was in his sixth season. Washington won its first game after the shot against the winless Miami Dolphins. But the Commanders finished the season 3-13.
“Just because you make changes here or there doesn’t necessarily always impact the outcome,” McLaurin said. “I’m not involved in those discussions, but I think even in my first year, when there were some changes, we still had ups and downs. It’s about the players still having respect and pride. You can’t come in here.” Hang your head and don’t strain and don’t exert yourself. I just don’t think that’s a reflection of how personal you want the player to be. So that’s kind of my mindset.”
Washington was coming off an 8-8-1 season and hired Bieniemy to revitalize a struggling offense. The Commanders decided to use second-year player Howell at quarterback after he performed well in the season finale win over Dallas.
Commanders expected offensive fighting due to the changes, but had not foreseen the defensive stumbling blocks. Washington ranked seventh defensively in points scored and third in total yards defensively last season. They hoped to build on this success, but instead had problems throughout the season.
The Commanders rank last in scoring defense and 29th in yards allowed. Players say their conflicts extend beyond the coaches.
“In the NFL you have to do your job, and as players we can’t do it,” Washington defensive tackle Jon Allen said. “As coaches, we don’t get the job done, so I don’t think anyone gets the job done.”