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Redskins: Grading Ron Rivera’s hire along with other NFC East hires

By Ian Cummings

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - JANUARY 09: Joe Judge talks to the media after he was introduced as the new head coach of the New York Giants during a news conference at MetLife Stadium on January 9, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - JANUARY 09: Joe Judge talks to the media after he was introduced as the new head coach of the New York Giants during a news conference at MetLife Stadium on January 9, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – DECEMBER 01: Josh Norman #24 of the Washington Redskins embraces head coach Ron Rivera of the Carolina Panthers before their game at Bank of America Stadium on December 01, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – DECEMBER 01: Josh Norman #24 of the Washington Redskins embraces head coach Ron Rivera of the Carolina Panthers before their game at Bank of America Stadium on December 01, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) /

Ron Rivera

Now, to the one you’ve all been waiting for.

The Redskins did a great job of being proactive and getting the guy they wanted quickly. Ron Rivera was reportedly on the short list of several teams with coaching vacancies, including the New York Giants. Rivera brings a defensive mindset, as well as a desire to keep quarterback Dwayne Haskins in the team’s plans, which was ideal.

Rivera brings with him a similarly impressive resume to McCarthy; he doesn’t have a Super Bowl ring, and his winning in Carolina wasn’t nearly as consistent, but Rivera did turn around a 2-14 program and successfully implemented a culture change, something the Redskins desperately need.

Rivera is an undeniable leader who can provide the franchise with the foundation it needs to be successful, but his upside beyond that point is unclear. He doesn’t have a personal affinity for analytics, but he willingly delegates on the offensive side of the ball, where analytics can be particularly impactful under Scott Turner.

Rivera has already put together most of his staff, and while there is some concern that most of it is comprised of coaches and officials from a Panthers organization that went 29-35 over the past four seasons, he did divert course for some important positions, including defensive coordinator (Jack Del Rio), quarterbacks coach (Ken Zampese), and defensive backs coach (Chris Harris).

There’s ultimately not a lot of room to complain about Rivera for the Redskins, of course. They could have been stuck with Bruce Allen at this point. The fact that they’re not is already a step in the right direction, and for what they need, Rivera is the perfect match. The Redskins need a culture change and a reset button. Rivera is one of the best matches for that. Can he sustain winning ways after completing the reset? That will be the biggest question for the former Coach of the Year.

Ron Rivera Grade: B

Side Note: He’s not in the NFC East, but I give the Panthers hire of Matt Rhule an A. It will be telling how he and Rivera, the man he ultimately replaced, perform over the coming years.

Next. Five reasons to be optimistic about Scott Turner's hire. dark

Agree or disagree with the grades for the coaching hires in the NFC East? Feel free to voice your thoughts in the comments section below!

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