Five ways the Washington football team can make the playoffs
By Ian Cummings
No. 1 – Dwayne Haskins takes the leap and becomes a franchise quarterback
The single most important factor for a successful season for the Washington football team is the development of second-year quarterback Dwayne Haskins.
Notice that I said “successful season”. I didn’t say playoff season. Regardless of what kind of record Washington ends up with, ensuring that Dwayne Haskins takes a step forward in his progression is essential for the franchise, not just short-term, but long-term. The team spent a first-round pick on Haskins, and he showcased potential last year. This is the perfect time to let him grow into his role and strengthen his comfort level.
With all this being said, if Haskins does take the leap, as some expect him to do, then the Washington football team will without a doubt be a more formidable opponent, and their offense might be explosive enough to compete for a playoff bid.
We saw last season that Haskins has the physical tools to be a franchise quarterback. His arm is sensational, and he’s more mobile than he appeared to be in his college tape. He started to catch on down the stretch, and although things were never able to come together for him amidst the team’s dysfunction, he showed enough potential for Ron Rivera, a new coach, to push all the chips in.
Now, it’s Year 2. Haskins has reportedly done everything he can this offseason to set himself up for success. He’s trained arduously to get his body into shape, improving his athleticism. He’s practiced his throwing with receivers on a daily basis, refining his fundamentals. And he’s also been in close contact with quarterbacks coach Ken Zampese, a teacher renowned for his work with signal callers like Carson Palmer and Baker Mayfield.
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Taking these factors into account, it’s likely that Haskins shows improvement no matter what in 2020. But to elevate the Washington football team to playoff status, he’ll have to become the surefire franchise quarterback with a degree of immediacy. We’re talking a 4,000-yard campaign that includes over 25 touchdowns. If Haskins can catalyze his own growth and get to that point, then Washington might have a chance at surprising people.