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Washington Football Team’s rebuild parallels Rams’ rise to success

By Tim Meek

LANDOVER, MD - DECEMBER 22: Dwayne Haskins #7 of the Washington Football Team scrambles with the ball in the first half against the New York Giants at FedExField on December 22, 2019 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - DECEMBER 22: Dwayne Haskins #7 of the Washington Football Team scrambles with the ball in the first half against the New York Giants at FedExField on December 22, 2019 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /
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INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 29: Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams calls a play during a team scrimmage at SoFi Stadium on August 29, 2020 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 29: Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams calls a play during a team scrimmage at SoFi Stadium on August 29, 2020 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

Comparing Washington’s rebuild to the Rams rebuild: Top QB draft picks

In 2017, the Rams were in the midst of 14 years of mediocrity. No winning seasons, zero division titles, and they obviously didn’t sniff the playoffs. The last four-plus years of that mediocre run they had Jeff Fisher as head coach.

Here is a look at the Rams record by season under Fisher:

  • 2016: 4-12 (fired mid-season)
  • 2015: 7-9
  • 2014: 6-10
  • 2013: 7-9
  • 2012: 7-8-1
  • Fisher’s overall record: 31-48-1

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Look familiar? Well, it should. Here are the last five years of results under Gruden in Washington:

  • 2019: 3-13 (fired mid-season)
  • 2018: 9-7
  • 2017: 8-7-1
  • 2016: 7-9
  • 2015: 7-9
  • Gruden’s overall record: 35-49-1

In 2016, the Rams drafted Jared Goff with the No. 1 pick. Fisher didn’t start him. After Fisher’s firing, Goff became the starter for the Rams over the final seven games. Goff finished the season 0-7 as the stater. He completed 54 percent of his passes for 1,090 yards with five TDs and seven INTs.

In 2019, Washington drafted Dwayne Haskins with the No. 15 pick. Gruden didn’t play him. After Gruden’s firing, Haskins became the starter over the final seven games. Haskins finished the season 2-5 as the starter. He completed 59 percent of his passes for 1,365 yards with seven TDs and seven INTs.

The similarities between these two organizations and the two starting QB’s leading these teams is stunning.

As detailed by Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post: “Tony Franklin, Goff’s offensive coordinator at Cal, worried for his former quarterback after he watched one of Goff’s first NFL practices. Under Coach Jeff Fisher, the Rams practiced without tempo and ran a staid, predictable offense that didn’t take into account Goff’s specific talents.”

Sound familiar Washington fans?  This is exactly what happened to Haskins last year.

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