Redskins: Dwayne Haskins showcased leadership, maturity against Packers

Dwayne Haskins has been judged quite a bit this year. But after the game against the Packers, there’s only one thing that I’m judging the Redskins quarterback on.

I’m not making any determination about Dwayne Haskins except for this.  During the game against the Packers, he showed me and his Redskins teammates his character and leadership.

I listened to the game and although I take umbrage at times with the Redskins play by play cast always painting a more than rosy picture, there was a sense, articulated by the crew, that Haskins was there to lead his team. Certainly, there are questions abound about keeping Haskins in amid an ankle injury that limited his mobility and how it may impact the Redskin’s future, but this I am certain of.

Haskins showed leadership and toughness and grit at a position every player looks to on the field of play when things get tough.

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Sure, Haskins knows one bad series or one series out with injury and a hot streak by a replacement could mean benching. And nowhere is that more likely than on the Redskins, where searching for any winning formula leads to frequent and rapid change.  But Haskins took one for the team and it didn’t go unnoticed, especially by the group of players that may have the toughest job of all, the offensive line.

I realize there will be questions for Callahan regarding keeping Haskins in play. The Redskins surely have a history of needlessly extending a quarterback’s play when, like the Nationals did with Stephen Strasburg, they should have shut him down.  But in this case I feel there’s a difference.

Haskins led by example which, at 22, is not something easy to do.  You have little if no professional capital, so what could teammates possibly think of your example? Youthful inexperience can be painful in many ways and Haskins has certainly shown much of that the past few weeks. His infamous “selfie” post-game press conference displayed a surly attitude that was not endearing to the press or fans.

The selfie incident alone showed his immaturity but the optics of that seem better now that he displayed maturity and toughness. Even his post-Packers game press conference showed a greater level of awareness on how a leader should act at the podium. Yes, he still has lessons to learn but over the span of two weeks, he appears to be taking it all in and responding admirably.

I don’t believe the old school ways where players stayed in games after sustaining serious injuries is reasonable anymore. Much money is on the line, and the complexity of the business means a player has to be objective regarding short term gain for long term sustainability. Enduring an injury and playing through at the risk of longer-term damage is part of the maturation process, so Haskins will certainly have to fully understand that balance and be cognizant that stepping aside may be in the best interest of the team at times, both short and long term

None of us can judge whether Haskins will be the answer Washington needs at quarterback. I’ve said before we can only make a judgment after a full 16 games and even then, external factors must be assessed and weighted when it comes to his potential. For example, a new coach next year could mean stunted growth as he adapts to three coaches in one calendar year and possibly two different schemes.

Haskins is showing reasonable development at this point and while I don’t make comparisons between Haskins and elite Hall of Fame quarterbacks like Troy Aikman and Peyton Manning, it must be pointed out that they had horrid rookie seasons.

If Haskins develops a sense of consistency, toughness, and respect all while improving his technique and awareness, he will be more than a serviceable game manager and may well develop into a quarterback offering some modicum of stability and leadership this team so often lacks.  While my optimism for the Redskins remains low, it is cautiously high regarding Haskins.