We’ll know the identity of the Commanders’ next head coach soon, but so far, we know they’ve requested interviews with seven candiates and will interview Dallas DC Dan Quinn via Zoom on Thursday.
Lions OC Ben Johnson is the betting odds favorite right now, and that’s who both BMitch & Finlay think is getting the job – with Landini agreeing because ‘that’s what I’ve seen reported the most – albeit with a caveat or two.
“I think Johnson is the candidate, but I think David Tepper is going to throw it at him, and you’ll have to go with Slowik,” BMitch said, to which Jeff agreed: “I’ve been hearing Johnson a lot so I’m going with Slowik.”
“I'm saying Ben Johnson, I think they get Ben Johnson done, and this this is good news for everybody,” JP replied, “but what I think is vital is who's gonna be the defensive coordinator and special teams coordinator.”
However, as they were discussing the possibilities and making some predictions, our buddy Chris Russell jumped in studio, and he was crowin’ for Slowik?
“What I can't separate is what Peters’ relationship is with Bobby Slowik; you have to look at what he has done, and I'm a player-first guy, like players deserve more of the credit and more of the blame than coaches do, but C.J. Stroud is awesome,” Russell said. “What Bobby Slowik has done with that offense, with having four-fifths of the offensive line banged up, is incredible. And, he worked with Adam Peters in San Francisco. I know everybody's trying to connect Adam Peters to the Spielmans and Detroit and Ben Johnson and I get it, Johnson has more experience as a play-caller, I understand all that – all I would say is if Bobby Slowik and Houston comes out and they somehow put a 28 spot on the Ravens, whether they win or lose, I wouldn't close the door on Bobby Slowik.”
Jeff Walker was the only one of the B&F crew on Team Slowik, and Russell joked “then put me on Ben Johnson” when he found out, but regardless of who Peters chooses, so far, he has won the week in Rooster’s mind.
“I thought there was genuine, real emotion and appreciation for the path that he's traveled, and I liked what he said about not being in a box and not choosing offense or defense,” Russell said. “There’s some belief in me that he was not just saying that just to say it, talking about getting the right leader and saying a building is filled with good people, but they do need leadership and one direction from one voice, and not just shoehorn themselves into something.”