5 Commanders reality checks for Week 11 against the Texans
By Tim Payne
3. The Reality Is, Darrick Forrest earned a starting spot.
Monday was yet another reminder that Darrick Forrest should be starting, and as Ron Rivera confirmed Friday, he’s now finally getting that opportunity.
Bobby McCain is the Commanders' slot corner going forward, Ron Rivera said. This is a byproduct of Darrick Forrest really playing well. They want him on the field as much as possible.
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) November 18, 2022
Forrest has shown a great balance of discipline and playmaking, and is a great complement to Kam Curl. Look for continued improvement in Washington’s defense as these two continue to get more playing time together.
In addition, the move to put Bobby McCain in the slot is an improvement over the other options on this roster. Kudos the Ron Rivera and Jack Del Rio for being flexible to put players in the best positions possible to help the team succeed.
2. The Reality Is, Taylor Heinicke is living on borrowed time.
Heinicke has made the most of his opportunities this year, but I find it extremely unlikely that he will maintain his starting role if he puts together a couple of sub-par games over the next month. He’s been solid and managed to bring a level of energy and execution that this team desperately needed. His teammates clearly love him, and the offense is way more effective with him under center than it was with Carson Wentz.
WAS QBs on early downs
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) November 18, 2022
Wentz
#31 success %
#35 first down %
#25 time to throw
#36 in % of comp for 10+ yds
Heinicke
#20 success %
#11 first down %
#6 time to throw
#12 in % of comp for 10+ yds
Wentz pressured less often but took sacks at 2x the rate
Heinicke >>
cc @JunksRadio
Possibly, his greatest contribution is his emphasis on getting Terry McLaurin the ball more consistently, which seems like an obvious priority, and yet often has escaped QBs here in Washington for long stretches of each of the last three seasons. Heinicke and McLaurin have a clear connection that has provided electric plays and infectious energy.
Yet in spite of these positive results and encouraging intangibles, Rivera has almost gone out of his way to leave the door open for Carson Wentz to return to the lineup this season, once his finger heals. If Heinicke wants continued opportunities, he’s going to have to maintain at least the level of play he put together against Philadelphia. He doesn’t have to dominate…he just needs to keep operating efficiently and make a few more good plays than he makes bad ones.
We’ll see if he can manage that in the coming weeks and keep the team in the playoff hunt.