Ron Rivera implies Chase Young experienced needed reality check in 2021

Whether it be by a draft scout, a college coach or an everyday analyst, when a prospect is labeled as a generational talent coming into the NFL, fans expect said player to perform like a star week in and week out.

When it comes to Washington Commanders edge rusher Chase Young, he fulfilled those expectations as a rookie. In 15 games, he compiled 7.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, 12 QB hits, four passes defended and three fumble recoveries, one of which he returned for a touchdown.

When the dust settled, Young was voted Defensive Rookie of the Year going away, winning an 86% share of the first-place votes and beating out the Panthers’ Jeremy Chinn, the Ravens’ Patrick Queen and the Bucs’ Antoine Winfield Jr.

Unfortunately for Young, his sophomore season was one to forget. While we’d argue he performed better than some fans claim, his sack and pass-rush output left a lot to be desired before he suffered a torn ACL in Week 10.

The good news is Young attacked his rehab with a killer mindset and Ron Rivera’s latest comments about the 22-year-old suggest his underwhelming 2021 was just the reality check, or humbling, he needed after his lofty rookie year.

Commanders head coach Ron Rivera says Chase Young was “awakened” by his adversity-filled second season.

Speaking at the Annual League Meeting on Tuesday, Rivera said, “I think for Chase, it was a little bit of an awakening, a little bit of a realization.” It’s not the most descriptive quote we’ve heard from Rivera, but the third-year head coach didn’t need to say anything more than he did.

Did Young get complacent after he hit the ground running as a rookie? We hate to cast aspersions, but it seems noteworthy that the former No. 2 overall pick skipped voluntary OTAs because of prior commitments to off-field endorsements.

As one of the faces of the franchise and entering just his second season in the league, you’d expect Young to be front and center at offseason workouts. Given how impactful Young was in Year 1, fans weren’t wrong or unfair to expect him to enter Year 2 motivated to take his game to another level.

We’re obviously not questioning Young’s work ethic or hunger. However, skipping OTAs put unnecessary pressure on him to deliver in a big way after he banked so much credit as a rookie and he underwhelmed to the tune of 1.5 sacks and four QB hits in nine games before his season-ending injury.

Speaking of that reality check and “awakening” Rivera alluded to earlier, it appears Young has decided to alter his offseason approach this time around. Rivera has kept in contact with the former Buckeye throughout his rehab and believes he’ll be in attendance for the start of OTAs in mid-April.

"In my conversations with him, he said he’s going to be here and I’m pretty excited to see him here. One thing I really appreciate is how focused he is right now. He truly really is attacking his offseason, his rehab program. I think that’s been good."

It’s almost as if Young is learning on the job … which is totally normal for young superstars who enter the NFL with colossal expectations. If you were in his position, would you really have spurned the opportunity to make extra money shooting commercials for Mercedes and appearing on Family Feud?

It still wasn’t a great look for Young, but the fact he’s poised to be present at organized team activities despite the fact he won’t participate in any of the physical demands suggests he’s turned a corner in his maturity and leadership.

If that’s the case, the NFL should be put on notice.