Torrey Smith is a two-time Super Bowl champion who played in one against the Niners and then later played for the Niners, so he’s got a lot of dap when it comes to this year’s game.
But he’s also a Maryland guy and a Virginia native, so he has a lot of love for the Commanders – and, it seems, a lot of love for what they’ve done with their off-season.
“I love it. You hired a group that it seems like will give them time to get it right,” Smith said. “When you talk about the organization and where they’re trying to go, now is the time to build in a way where fans feel comfortable with the process. With Coach Rivera, who I love, there was always something else with the owner – but now, for the first time since I’ve been alive and watching the squad, this organization is in a spot where the fans believe, and when you have that confidence, you can trust the process more. I’m excited to see where this clean slate works out.”
BMitch, of course, thinks the GM is the most important person in the building because he’ll pick the players, but it seems like the Commanders have nailed the process.
“There are some big-time decisions to make, like how we start over at the QB position,” Smith said. “When you come in, you want to have your guys, and I think it will be great for them to hit that reset button and start fresh.”
This is Quinn’s second chance after leading Atlanta to a Super Bowl but leaving after starting a season 0-5, and he’s seemingly learned a lot – including the fact that he has to be more adaptable, and more of an overall leader. And that, Smith says, is what is needed.
“One thing that I’ve learned from watching is when you’re a head coach calling plays, you have to set yourself up a bit, because you get ALL the blame,” Smith laughed. “This is his second stint, and it didn’t go the best the first time, but he’s been successful everywhere he’s been defensively – and beyond that, as head coach, your job isn’t Xs and Os really, it’s to build the culture and make sure you pick the right people to take care of business.
Everything I’ve seen about him, his defenses are composed, and you hear how the players talk about him as a leader, and I think he’s done a great job.”
And that’s when Smith dropped a positivity bomb:
“With the people he has around them, and even what this organization is bringing in terms of excitement, I think for the first time in a long time, players from the outside looking in are going to view Washington as a place they absolutely want to go to in the years ahead.”