Commanders News: Ron Rivera, Terry McLaurin, Sam Howell and Jamison Crowder
By Dean Jones
Commanders HC Ron Rivera's preparations
As previously stated, the Washington Commanders have a great chance to secure success in Week 1 against the Arizona Cardinals. No game should be taken for granted - especially considering the pressure under new ownership - but the 7.0-point spread is reflective of how things have unfolded throughout the offseason.
The Cardinals are without star quarterback Kyler Murray, traded away former first-round pick Isaiah Simmons, and let DeAndre Hopkins leave with a dead-cap figure of more than $21 million. Accusations of tanking inevitably followed, with their unofficial depth chart still not declaring who'll be starting under center between Joshua Dobbs and Clayton Tune this weekend.
When asked about Arizona's quarterback conundrum, Ron Rivera said via the team's website he would do exactly the same thing to keep an opponent guessing. But the head coach's preparations remain the same regardless of who's manning the plate.
"It's all part of it. I know that the more doubt you can put in your opponent's mind, the more they gotta work and think about and prepare and it might take some time away from something that might be important or relevant."
- Ron Rivera via Commanders.com
Looking at the talent on both sides, the Commanders have an undoubted advantage. However, dismissing the Cardinals entirely would be foolish with players such as James Conner, Budda Baker, Paris Johnson Jr., and Zaven Collins at their disposal.