Did Commanders’ Ron Rivera hint he’s considering a QB change?
By Jerry Trotta
![Sep 25, 2022; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera greets quarterback Carson Wentz (11) before the game between the Washington Commanders and the Philadelphia Eagles at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports Sep 25, 2022; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera greets quarterback Carson Wentz (11) before the game between the Washington Commanders and the Philadelphia Eagles at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/0ccad6f21e467b3e0d8a230105edf0695445974952b26c9e27a3c217b9773cdb.jpg)
To say the Washington Commanders’ offense is out of sync would be a comprehensive understatement. After four games, they’re scoring on 21.6% of their drives and are averaging 4.6 yards per play. Both are last in the NFL, but Ron Rivera insists the offense is on the verge of turning a corner.
It’s no secret what’s holding the offense back right now. The new-look offensive line is struggling to contain four-man rushes. When a defense gets a little creative with its pass-rushing scheme, you can almost guarantee a sack that derails a drive, throw away, quarterback hit, or even an intentional grounding.
That brings us to the next issue: Carson Wentz.
Nobody would deny the OL has to play better, but Wentz’s play the last two weeks has been nowhere near good enough despite that. Fans would even settle for complementary football, but Wentz isn’t providing that right now.
While Rivera has been steadfast in his commitment to Wentz, the head coach made an interesting comment to NBC Sports Washington’s JP Finlay on Tuesday. Rivera’s wording was admittedly hard to decipher, but it sure sounds like he hasn’t ruled out the possibility of making a change at quarterback.
You be the judge.
Ron Rivera had some interesting comments in his interview with @JPFinlayNBCS:https://t.co/AtWeL9Rgri pic.twitter.com/oKv4OfeNcy
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) October 4, 2022
Is Commanders’ Ron Rivera considering benching Carson Wentz?
Again, “bigger changes” could mean anything. Could it mean changing defensive coordinators mid-season? Maybe making more changes along the offensive line even after Trai Turner was benched for Saahdiq Charles against the Cowboys?
It’s anyone’s guess, but we can’t help but go back to the QB position.
The offensive line has done Wentz zero favors, but that doesn’t excuse the quarterback from staring down receivers, failing to recognize open route-runners and rushing his internal clock whenever the pocket starts to break down. His pocket awareness is as bad as Eagles and Colts fans warned us about.
There are even some instances when Wentz is too flustered to throw downfield and settles for a check down. On some occasions, though, Wentz is so desperate to make a downfield throw that he bypasses a WIDE OPEN check down.
Take Sunday’s interception for example. Wentz stared down Curtis Samuel and Cowboys rookie DaRon Bland jumped the route pretty easily.
On the play, Antonio Gibson leaked out with ample real estate in front of him and Logan Thomas leak out to the left. Gibson had more space but Thomas would’ve been close to picking up a first down. Pause the video at the six-second mark.
Wentz INT kills any slim chance Washington had of getting back into the game. Trying to hit Samuel over the middle, but DB was watching him the whole way, undercuts the route and intercepts it easily. pic.twitter.com/WyCtSUFinH
— Mark Bullock (@MarkBullockNFL) October 2, 2022
What about the unnecessary deep shot to Jahan Dotson to end the half? Cowboys corner Trevon Diggs tracked the ball like it was intended for him.
I get its at the end of the half and there's no real risk in taking a shot, but this is still a poor decision by Wentz. Not a double move, so Diggs stays on top of it the whole way. Never really there, certainly not that far inside. pic.twitter.com/UmMVPrtkqJ
— Mark Bullock (@MarkBullockNFL) October 2, 2022
Those are just two of a laundry list of mistakes Wentz has made in the last two weeks. He struggled with the same things against the Eagles.
The 29-year-old probably deserves another game to prove himself before getting benched, but we certainly don’t blame Rivera if he’s already considering a QB change. The Commanders are 1-3 and need to start winning games before the season gets away from them. If Wentz isn’t helping them do that, pull the plug.
Simple as that.
Next. 3 reasons Commanders will get back on track vs Titans. dark