Alex Smith on Chiefs O.C. Eric Bieniemy: "It's ridiculous he hasn't been hired yet"

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Terez Paylor speaks with Washington Football Team quarterback Alex Smith about his former offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy of the Kansas City Chiefs. Alex discusses what makes him well-qualified for a head coaching role and why it's absurd that he hasn't risen to that position yet.

Hear the full conversation on the Yahoo Sports NFL Podcast.

Video Transcript

[CHEERING]

TEREZ PAYLOR: Once again, we're heading through a hiring cycle where Eric Bieniemy still hasn't been hired.

ALEX SMITH: Yeah.

TEREZ PAYLOR: I mean, you can lend a really important voice to this, Alex. Can you tell me and explain to our listeners what this guy brings to a room? To a facility? And are you surprised that he hasn't gotten the job yet as a head coach?

ALEX SMITH: Yeah. I mean, I think it's ridiculous that he hasn't been hired yet. So I know that the interview process is weird with a team that's still in it, you know. But regardless, I don't see how you can excuse it. I think Eric's number 1 quality-- and it was apparent from the first day I met him-- was his leadership ability, a true leader of men.

Here's a guy that had played for a long time. He was a great teacher, commanded respect because he gave respect also. You know, in the NFL sometimes you get these good luck coaches I feel like. And you're about to take the field and, OK, good luck. And you're like, well, for me, it's always like, well, aren't you going out there with us? You know, like--

TEREZ PAYLOR: Yeah.

ALEX SMITH: --aren't you in it with us? And for me, EB is the epitome of the opposite of that.

TEREZ PAYLOR: Oh, yeah. He's in it.

ALEX SMITH: If he could have strapped them up and go out there with you, he would.

TEREZ PAYLOR: He was ready to go.

ALEX SMITH: He would, and I think that was something for me that I loved so much playing for him. Because it was like I felt like we were all going out there together. We were in it together. He brought that energy every single day, the passion.

And then I think there's not a facet of the game on offense that he hasn't been incredibly involved in from protections, to the run game, to the pass game. He knows it all he knows it all. He knows his stuff. And then obviously I think to have been in that system, to have been kind of groomed and brought up with all those guys, certainly with Andy, but certainly to see obviously Doug, and Nag's, I don't see how you could be more ready.

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