Ron Rivera is playing mind games this week. There’s no way the Washington Football Team coach is tipping who’s quarterbacking against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. If Washington needs different game plans for Alex Smith and Dwayne Haskins, then Seattle can spend time preparing for both.
Coaches love this game. A chance to outsmart their opponent by forcing extra work and overthinking. They live for the moment of looking across the field and seeing the opposing coach's jaw drop in surprise.
So pardon Rivera if he's not tipping if Smith will play with a strained calf that made him withdraw midway through San Francisco on Dec. 13. The passer hasn't practiced all week and Rivera said Smith could play without doing so, but that's double talk.
First, very few players play if not practicing all week, especially a quarterback. You might sneak in a receiver or linebackers for a few snaps, but the passer's playing every snap so it's all or nothing.
Second, dangling a start in front of Haskins and then pulling it away is the worst thing they can do to the second-year quarterback. Rivera and staff have spent two months trying to bolster Haskins' confidence after benching him for an uneven start. Coaches didn't want Haskins to quit mentally while planning for an offseason exit in case he was needed again. And, he's needed again at the worst possible time.
Washington (6-7) has a one-game lead over the New York Giants (5-8) in the NFC East race with three games remaining. Seattle (9-4) is a legit Super Bowl contender, so maybe Washington loses no matter who's quarterbacking.
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But Rivera knows Washington can beat Carolina (4-9) and Philadelphia (4-8-1) over the final two games. Maybe it's better to get Smith healthy for those games, while seeing if Haskins really did learn as much as touted while watching Smith. There are plusses in playing Haskins and resting Smith, even if the team loses.
Of course, maybe Haskins is ready for a prime role late in the season. Doug Williams took over for Jay Schroeder in the 1987 finale and coach Joe Gibbs rode the hot hand to a Super Bowl championship. We'll see what Haskins can do that factors into Washington's offseason decisions.
Meanwhile, running back Antonio Gibson misses his second game with turf toe. Oh, the team makes it sound like it's a week-to-week decision, but turf toe is much more serious than it sounds. Players often miss long stretches with it. Most likely, Washington is resting Gibson in hopes he returns for the playoffs if the team makes it. As long as J.D. McKissic plays well, there's no pressure on Gibson's return. But, no sense letting Seattle know that, too.
After all, mind games count.
Rick Snider has covered Washington sports since 1978. Follow him on Twitter: @Snide_Remarks.
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