Redskins Dwayne Haskins displays growth, need for reps in starting debut

Where Redskins QB Dwayne Haskins showed development

In his first start, Haskins showed development in the mental aspect of the quarterback position. Continued development in this area will ideally help him clean up some of the mechanical issues in his game, but we’ll get to that later. First, let’s go over how Haskins progressed.

First and foremost, Haskins seems to be growing more comfortable with his role as an NFL quarterback. Coaches reported last week that Haskins’ study habits were more thorough and urgent than they had been in the past. He delivered a pre-game speech to the offense, starting off on his path as a leader, and transitioned to the field, where positive progression was evident.

Among other things, Haskins displayed more command at the line of scrimmage, and his cadence caused fewer issues with the offensive line. He made a few calls at the line, working on his ability to diagnose and modify the play pre-snap. In the pocket, Haskins showcased good anticipation and understanding on timing routes, and as analyst Mark Bullock revealed in a film review, Haskins tried his hand at manipulating linebackers with his eyes. All these developments show that, while Haskins still has a ways to go, he’s growing comfortable enough to take more tasks on in his role as the starting quarterback.

Off the field, the 22-year old Haskins appears to be maturing, and on it, he’s gradually locking down the operational aspects of the quarterback position. He’s clearly smart enough to man the position, as was evidenced even before the NFL Draft, but up until now, he’d been adjusting to the pace of the NFL and the complexities of the calls, all at once. A lot is on Haskins’ plate, but ever so slowly, the game is starting to slow down for him.

The most important takeaway is perhaps a simple one. Haskins was better against the Bills than he was against the Vikings, and the Giants. Haskins was better one day than he was the day before.