Even though the Washington Football Team came up short against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, embattled starting quarterback Dwayne Haskins took steps forward in the box score.
He had a laundry list of deficiencies through the first three games of the 2020 season, and his head coach floated the possibility to the media of replacing him if he didn’t improve.
In his fourth start, Haskins had this season’s best statistical performances in passer rating (90.4), completions (32), attempts (45), completion percentage (71.1 percent), yards (314), and longest throw (40 yards).
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He also took his coaches’ advice and checked the ball down more, progressing through his reads and making better decisions with the football. Coming off a performance in Cleveland in which he heaved three interceptions, he had zero turnovers on Sunday.
It’s fair to say that this was Haskins’ best start of the 2020 season. It’s also fair to say that he still wasn’t good enough. Context:
He took three sacks from a Ravens defense that didn’t tally any last week, and he now has 13 through four games. (And lost 40 yards on those sacks.)
The team had only one scoring drive that didn’t start after a defensive takeaway in Baltimore territory.
His long 40-yard completion was a catch-and-run to running back Antonio Gibson.
Haskins tends to have his best statistical performances in non-competitive games where Washington fails to challenge on the scoreboard. The team abandons the run and he picks apart soft defenses with replacement defenders.
It happened last year vs. the Eagles and Giants, two losses where he tallied the highest passer ratings of his career. It happened again on Sunday, as the Ravens had their way with Washington and then took their foot off the gas.
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Aside from a 39-yard connection to McLaurin, which was completed against a little-used rookie cornerback, Khalil Dorsey, it was another ho-hum day for Haskins. In McLaurin, Washington has one of the best deep receivers in the NFL, but treats him like a check-down machine (nine other receptions, 79 yards), with lots of underneath passes and screens.
Coming into the game, McLaurin has 65 percent of his yards coming after the catch. That’s indicative of a world-class playmaker AND a quarterback who is producing less than his stats might suggest.
Haskins also failed to make plays that could have kept Washington more competitive in the game. Trailing by 18 points late in the third quarter, Haskins led his team down the field on an 18-play drive to the Ravens’ doorstep. A touchdown would have made it a two-score game.
On first-and-goal at the Baltimore 10, center Chase Roullier took a false start penalty to push them back to the 15. On the next play, Haskins took a brutal 18-yard loss on a sack, setting up second-and-goal from the 33-yard line.
Two plays later, Washington was looking at fourth-and-goal from the 13. Head coach Ron Rivera made the call to go for it and Haskins through a nonsensical five-yard pass to rookie receiver Isaiah Wright, turning the ball over on downs.
That can’t happen.
“I thought Dwayne had his moments. There’s still some things he’s working through, he’s still developing, he’s still learning,” Rivera told the media after the game. “I was a little disappointed with his situational awareness...that ball has to be put in a position where it can get into the end zone.”
Translation: Throwing the ball eight yards short of the goal line, on fourth down, to an unknown rookie can’t possibly be the best read by the quarterback.
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In Haskins’ defense, Sunday marked only the 13th start of his career, fourth in this offensive system, and he doesn’t have world-class talent around him, aside from McLaurin.
Washington also doesn’t have other realistic options at quarterback, with Alex Smith’s reconstructed leg serving as a major question mark and no buzz around former Panther Kyle Allen.
The 2020 Washington Football Team is dependent on Haskins taking the next steps in his development, or they will be shopping for his replacement next offseason.
Brian Tinsman has covered D.C. sports since 2011, both from the team marketing and skeptical fan perspectives. Tweet your criticisms @Brian_Tinsman.