Washington Football Team: Bobby McCain, it’s time to Put up your Dukes
Earlier this off-season, the Washington Football Team signed Bobby McCain to a one-year deal after his release from the Miami Dolphins. On paper, McCain appeared to be one of the many upgrades on defense. Through the first quarter of the season, those so-called upgrades have provided more frustration than elation for WFT fans. Some believed that McCain could help transcend Washington’s defense in 2021. However, so far that has not been the case this season. Washington’s defense is ranked 30th in ppg (30.5) and 29th in ypg. (417.5)
After the game versus the Atlanta Falcons, Bobby McCain provided a scathing assessment of the Washington Football Team beat writers. When questioned about the players-only meeting during the game, McCain unloaded on reporters. On the 42-yard touchdown pass to Cordarelle Patterson, McCain admitted the following in a postgame press conference exchange with Washington Post reporter Nicki Jhabvala.
“Oh, that’s on me. I got a little too aggressive. That’s on me.”
McCain then got a little aggressive towards John Keim of ESPN. The exchange occurred when McCain was asked about the meeting held by defensive players on the sideline after Patterson scored the first of three receiving touchdowns.
"“I’m not going to tell you because you guys aren’t on my side,” McCain said. “I respect what you do, but defensively we’ll get it together. When we start balling & we start playing our asses off, I want y’all to write the same s–t y’all write.”"
Maybe Bobby McCain has not read about all the hype Washington received this offseason. Many believed the Washington Football Team would have arguably the best defense in the NFL. Through the first four games of the season, Washington is 2-2 because of their offense. However, the defense has been solid in the red zone.
Through the first four games of the season, Washington has the ninth-best red zone defense in the NFL. Opposing offenses are scoring touchdowns on 52.6 percent of drives that enter the area.
Update: post-game, Safety Bobby McCain said that this touchdown was his blown coverage responsibility.
— Chad Ryan (@ChadwikoTWW) October 3, 2021
It was a Cover 3 package and McCain should have been deep over the top of WJIII.
You can clearly see WJIII expecting help up top but none there makes it look bad. https://t.co/j33QgoQmiK
Can Bobby McCain and the rest of the WFT defense start balling against the New Orleans Saints?
In 2021, opposing quarterbacks are carving up Washington’s secondary which has been disappointing. Through the first four games of the season, New Orleans is averaging 156.3 passing yards per game. Jameis Winston is 55/86, completing 64.0 percent of his passes. He’s only thrown for 613 yards in four starts and has thrown eight touchdowns compared to only two interceptions. He’s also been sacked seven times.
Despite the paltry statistics, Winston does have a 106.4 quarterback rating and a 65.9 QBR. Winston’s QBR rating is the fifth-highest in the NFL and his quarterback rating is the eight-highest among qualified quarterbacks. However, five of Winston’s eight touchdowns came in the season opener.
Regardless of how bad Winston and the Saints have looked offensively, they are more than capable of carving up Bobby McCain and the rest of the secondary. Winston has an affinity for the deep ball and could land a few against the WFT secondary.
Week five against the New Orleans Saints is an opportunity for Bobby McCain and the rest of the Washington Football Team defense to start balling. If they can’t do so against Jameis Winston and the New Orleans Saints offense, they’ll be in a world in a world of trouble going forward. In the next two weeks, the WFT has matchups against 2018 NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes and 2020 NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers.
