Why are the Commanders hiring Kliff Kingsbury as their new OC?

The Washington Commanders‘ reformation continues as they have appointed a new offensive coordinator in former Arizona Cardinals Head Coach Kliff Kingsbury.

The hiring of Kingsbury comes just a few days after the Josh Harris-led ownership announced Dan Quinn as the new Head Coach of the Commanders. Kingsbury was on the verge of becoming the offensive coordinator for the Las Vegas Raiders until contract negotiations broke down on Saturday.

The Commanders, who finished last year with a 4-13 record and at the rock bottom of the NFC East, will look to improve their roster with more than £80 million in cap space. With the help of Quinn, Kingsbury, and the newly-appointed Jon Whitt Jr. as their defensive coordinator, it is a necessary step forward to make improvements.

As Quinn makes his first major moves, he certainly has respect from many of his coaching peers, influencing the decisions for Kingsbury and Whitt Jr. to join him in D.C. This is a significant move aimed at improving the team’s prospects for the upcoming season.

While many fans may feel disappointed that their coaching vacancies did not bring in the top coaching candidates, there are a lot of good things to take away from Kliff Kingsbury heading to D.C.

Here are four takeaways from the hire and what Kingsbury will bring to the once iconic franchise.

Caleb Williams link: Could Washington make a move?

The hiring of Kingsbury, who has last worked with USC, has brought up ideas about what the Commanders might be thinking and who they may target in the draft. This year’s draft is dominated by a lot of quarterback talent, and one of them is USC Heisman winner Caleb Williams. The projected number-one overall pick is a player that many have been watching for years.

Now that the Commanders have signed Kingsbury as their offensive coordinator, speculation will centre on whether the team would try to move up in the draft to choose Williams, who played high school football in Washington. After all, Kingsbury was on USC’s coaching staff last season, and Williams has performed admirably in Kingsbury’s air raid attack.

According to multiple reports, they are aware that the roster needs significant improvement and want to build through the draft. Giving up many picks to move up one position might not correspond with that ambition. Having seen what the Panthers did last season with moving up to select Bryce Young, that is perhaps on the mind of the new General Manager Adam Peters.

It’s also important to keep in mind that current Washington QB Sam Howell and possible number two selection Drake May thrived in the air raid offence at North Carolina. But if the Commanders decide to make the necessary moves to get Williams, he would be welcomed as he has spoken highly of Kingsbury’s impact on USC’s offence and his play.

Quarterback experience

This is a coach who has a well-documented history of working with and developing quarterbacks at both the college and NFL levels.

His coaching career began at the University of Houston, where he worked with Case Keenum, who finished his college career as the all-time leading passer in college football history. At Texas A&M, Kingsbury coached Johnny Manziel, who became the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy. Kingsbury then moved to Texas Tech, where he worked with quarterbacks like Baker Mayfield and Patrick Mahomes.

Mahomes, in particular, since coming to the NFL, has been one of, if not the best quarterback. In his last stint in the NFL, he worked with former number-one pick Kyler Murray. Under Kingsbury’s coaching, Murray developed into a dynamic player and a key part of the Cardinals’ offence. Of course, as mentioned before, he worked with Williams before coming to Washington.

These names are important because it’s clear what Kingsbury will be…to develop whoever becomes their QB1. His experience with these quarterbacks demonstrates his ability to develop young talent and prepare them for high-level competition. His track record suggests that he can effectively adapt his coaching to the strengths of his quarterbacks, helping them maximise their potential or at least see it. For Washington, that will be of the utmost importance as they need to establish a clear number one at QB.

Eric Bieniemy replaced after one season

The signs were clear about Bieniemy since reports about players complaining and former Head Coach Ron Rivera’s poor handling of the situation in the press. It was most likely cemented when the sale of the Commanders was official. Change was coming in the organisation, and even the resume of success that Bieniemy had would not have salvaged him.

His move to the Commanders was seen as a lateral one, aimed at showcasing his ability to lead an offence without the influence of Chiefs’ head coach Andy Reid. Bieniemy’s tenure with the Commanders, where despite his experience and success as an offensive coordinator with the Kansas City Chiefs, the team’s performance under his guidance did not meet expectations. The Commanders are looking to revitalise their offence, and Kingsbury’s hiring is a key part of this strategy given his pro-style air raid offence.

It would seem maddening that one of the successful OCs could not improve a poor offence, but the offence, in fact, got worse, and whether it was the player personnel or Bieniemy to blame…he has paid the price and now is without a job in the NFL. Perhaps he can be recruited to another OC job, but would teams be willing to pay what he wants and the potential ‘tough love’ treatment he seems to give to his offence.

Revitalising the offense

The task for Kingsbury? To revitalise one of the worst offences in the NFL. In the 2023 season, they ranked 27th in rushing, 15th in passing, and 24th overall. They also were near the bottom of the league in points and yards for each game and play.

He is known for his adaptability and willingness to incorporate different ideas into his playbook. His approach is quarterback-friendly, emphasising the maximisation of player talents and adapting the game plan to suit the personnel. Kingsbury’s tenure with the Cardinals showcased his innovative play-calling and the ability to implement a high-volume passing attack. Kingsbury’s offensive scheme, often referred to as a ‘pro-style air raid’ offence, is known for its innovative and dynamic approach.

Contrary to certain misconceptions, Kingsbury’s air raid offence does not neglect the running game. In fact, during his tenure with the Arizona Cardinals, the team ranked among the top ten in the league for rushing attempts. Kingsbury’s hiring is expected to bring a fresh perspective to the Commanders’ offence. His track record suggests a potential shift towards a more dynamic and versatile offensive scheme.

Given his background, Kingsbury might also influence the development of the team’s quarterbacks, tailoring the offence to their strengths and fostering an environment conducive to high passing efficiency. The development of the QBs will be vital for Kingsbury’s role, as we all know, the QB is the most important player, and the offence starts with them.

With the number of QBs he has developed, there is hope that he will bring the best out of whoever emerges as the number one option from the QB room.