Leadership was paramount for the Washington Commanders when picking new coach Dan Quinn. After all, this team has been wandering the desert for more than 30 years.
Quinn, 53, was the senior statesmen of Washington’s five finalists. He has 22 years in the NFL, including five-plus as Atlanta’s head coach - where he reached a Super Bowl - and time as the defensive coordinator of Seattle’s “Legion of Boom” that won and lost championships. Lately, he piloted a solid Dallas Cowboys defense that was ambushed in the playoffs.
The Legion of Boom is the textbook case of leadership. The crew was loaded with big personalities – Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas for starters. It took a strong coach to prevent that group from imploding. If new Commanders owner Josh Harris wanted to see leadership just play those tapes.
Leadership seems like a no-brainer when picking a coach. Yet, it’s really rare. The only strong leaders Washington has seen since its Super Bowl days a generation ago were Joe Gibbs’ second stint and Marty Schottenheimer’s one-year tour, where his dictatorship led to the owner’s uprising.
It took Norv Turner five years to become a real leader. Mike Shahahan’s overreach created internal crisis. Steve Spurrier and Jim Zorn were jokes. Jay Gruden was much like Turner – smart offensive mind who wasn’t suited for the overall job. And Ron Rivera? He never matched his reputation as a task master.
Quinn might most resemble Gibbs. He’ll run the show without needing to prove who’s boss every day. People already know it.
Maybe it wasn’t the sexiest pick. Many fans wanted Detroit offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who decided he wasn’t ready for a head coaching job yet. Fair enough – Johnson saved a new team several years of misery by admitting so. Baltimore defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald opted for Seattle’s head job. Macdonald’s admitted “introvert” style might not have been what Washington was seeking anyway. Finalists Aaron Glenn of Detroit and Anthony Weaver of Baltimore might have worked, but Quinn is more of a known persona.
One added perk of picking Quinn is costing Dallas its defensive coordinator. Hurting an NFC East rival is always a gain. And, Quinn will understand the need to win division games.
Commanders fans are already skeptical and divided over Quinn, but that was happening no matter the choice. Fans are divided over the team name, possible stadium choice and essentially any issue surrounding the franchise. It was smart of Harris to stick with a less popular choice than govern by polls if he truly believes in Quinn.
This wasn’t a bust of a choice despite becoming the last of seven teams to hire a coach. We won’t know that for a couple years. Wait until at least the first preseason loss before booing.
Washington gains a much-needed serious, no-nonsense coach. Now, let new general manager Adam Peters rebuild the roster and see if Quinn can win some games over the next couple years while not looking like the clown show of recent years.
Can the Commanders truly say they got their guy with a straight face? We’ll never really know. But, it won’t matter if the team wins.
