Washington Football Team: Dwayne Haskins’ time may be coming again
Both Coach Rivera and offensive coordinator Scott Turner have seen a change in Haskins’ preparation, which is a welcome sight for Washington.
Coach Rivera talked about Haskins’ poise and decision making when he was called upon in the 49ers game. He commended the emotion that Haskins showed being back on the field for the first time in over two months.
"That’s what you’re looking for. You’re looking for a guy that really does care and obviously he does. And the nice thing about what you’re seeing now is you’re seeing the opportunity, and again how he handles it and how he deals with it, we’ll see on Sunday. But he’s done exactly what’s he needed to do today [at practice]."
Turner has also noticed the change in Haskins’ preparation. Haskins has been showing up early to watch film and getting together with the other quarterbacks to review. He has also started asking better questions, doing extra work on the side in practices, and grabbing guys to stay after practice and work on things.
"I think the biggest thing with him is he’s just really kind of shadowed and modeled the kind of preparation behind Alex. I heard Dwayne say that Alex is someone he looks up to. And I think he really took that to heart and he looked at the type of career Alex has had and said this is the way you do it."
That sounds like a complete 180 from the reports about Haskins from earlier in the season, and that’s a good thing for the team.
He might not be there yet, but he is heading in the right direction, and that’s all the team can ask for. Turner wants Haskins to continue focusing on the process because as he does that, the results will come.
"I think developing the right habits is the first step and then making sure you’re always moving in the right direction. You’re always building on your habits. You’re building on the work ethic. You’re building on the way you practice, the way you approach practice. And you’re consistently getting better and then that’s when it pays off. You don’t know exactly when it’s going to be, but you can’t lose sight of the process. If you trust the process, then the results are going to come.”"
More often than not, the results do eventually come, and you can look at Alex Smith if you want proof of that. Like Haskins, Alex Smith started 3-8 in his first 11 starts. He threw four touchdowns to 13 interceptions in those first 11 games, while being sacked 37 times. Thus far in his career, Haskins has an 11:10 TD-to-INT ratio and has been sacked 43 times.
Both quarterbacks share their early similarities, but look at the career Smith has been able to carve out. Haskins can get there, and it starts with how he prepares and plays in his next start.