Riggo's Rag
FanSided

Washington Football Team: Ron Rivera’s case for Coach of the Year

By Jason Boleman

Nov 22, 2020; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Football Team head coach Ron Rivera on the field before the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 22, 2020; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Football Team head coach Ron Rivera on the field before the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 26: Alex Smith #11 of the Washington Football Team looks to pass during the second quarter of a game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on November 26, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 26: Alex Smith #11 of the Washington Football Team looks to pass during the second quarter of a game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on November 26, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

Managing a revolving door at quarterback

Speaking of the quarterback situation, Rivera’s first season in charge of the Washington Football Team has been complicated by the revolving door at quarterback.

Rivera opened the season starting second-year quarterback Dwayne Haskins. But, after a Week 4 loss to the Baltimore Ravens dropped Washington to 1-3, Rivera demoted Haskins to third-string. The demotion came after Rivera tested Haskins’ situational awareness on a key fourth-and-goal play that saw Haskins throw short to Isaiah Wright rather than throw into the end zone.

Replacing Haskins was Kyle Allen, a third-year player that followed Rivera from the Carolina Panthers to Washington during the offseason. While his statistics were not eye-popping, Allen did complete 69 percent of his passes and threw for four touchdowns in his four starts. Allen’s season ended when he suffered an ankle fracture during a Week 9 loss to the Giants.

Improbably, as the calendar turns to December and the playoffs inch closer, Rivera and the Washington Football Team find themselves in the hunt. Former starter Alex Smith has resumed his role as starting quarterback to the tune of a 3-1 record in four starts this season.

Smith, a near-lock for Comeback Player of the Year, returned after nearly two years away from football due to a devastating leg fracture from 2018. Smith has played well, to the tune of 1,363 total yards and a 68.7 percent completion rate.

Home/Commanders News