Washington Football Team head coach Ron Rivera is an optimistic guy.
One example: Even though his team is 2-6 he still thinks they have a realistic shot at the playoffs. And even though his team is struggling to score points and stop opponents, he believes when you look at the roster, there is lots of young talent to get excited about.
“That’s important, why?” Rivera told the media Monday. “Because going forward, those guys will have game experience, legitimate game experience, under their belt and that’s going to make them better. I’m going to give you an example of a guy—look at Cam Sims. Look at what he’s done. Look at Cole Holcomb. I can sit there and go down the list of the guys and tell you.
“There’s reason for optimism. At least I am, maybe I’m overly optimistic or something,” Rivera said. “When I sit here and look at these names I go: ‘Wow, these are some young guys that are playing. These are guys that don’t have a lot of NFL experience going out there right now and gaining that NFL experience that’s going to help us.’”
One name not mentioned by the head coach: Second-year quarterback Dwayne Haskins.
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Haskins has not seen action since he was relegated to the bench after Week 4 and Rivera revealed Sunday he would remain on the bench with Alex Smith getting the starting role after Kyle Allen suffered a nasty-looking ankle injury in the 23-20 loss to the New York Giants.
So why is Haskins not getting the chance to earn that valuable game experience that makes Rivera so optimistic about his team?
Judging by Rivera’s comments there are two reasons: He believes the division is winnable with Smith giving his team the best chance and the younger Haskins isn’t as prepared to play as the veteran Smith.
“I was hopeful that Dwayne would continue to learn and grow, which he is. But right now, I chose to go a different direction with a guy that’s very familiar with our system," Rivera said referring to Allen. “But unfortunately, he’s hurt. We have the ball in a veteran guy’s hands, a guy that I saw who was working out very, very hard, and was trying to come back.”
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On Haskins, Rivera added: “It’s all part of being mature and handling it, and I thought he’s handled the circumstances and situations pretty good. I know he’s very aware of now this is an opportunity for him going forward.”
And as far as that process going forward, Rivera says he believes Smith’s track record of helping to develop and nurture young quarterbacks will be a boost for Haskins.
“(Smith has) kinda showed these guys how to study and prepare for a game, how to handle it,” Rivera said Monday. “And I think this is gonna be very good for Dwayne. I think Dwayne’s gonna get an opportunity to truly see how to prepare for a game as a starter. And I think, hopefully, Dwayne will take it that way. This is an opportunity to learn and grow.
“And then, who knows? He may get his opportunity again shortly. But he’s just gotta be ready and prepare as if he’s really one play away.”
Of course, Rivera’s comments about what he needs to see from Haskins, the 15th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, still came with an air of disappointment and criticism about his work-ethic.
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“It’s really about how to prepare, how to take what you’re getting, the information that you’re getting, how to disseminate it, and then take it and how to transfer it onto the field,” Rivera said about the second-year passer. “My example of coming in early, meeting with the coaches, meeting with the other quarterbacks, having discussions, talking about what you’re seeing, what you’re not seeing. Just studying and preparing. I think that’s important. I think that’s vital for a young quarterback to have those kinds of examples.”
To Rivera, the off-field work is where everything comes together.
“A lot of times, guys will rely on their great talent,” Rivera added. “That talent will get you by for a while, but there’s a point in everybody’s career where everything catches up to talent. The only thing that separates it, are the guys that work the hardest.”
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So what does that mean for the future with Washington fans asking if the ‘Quarterback of the Future’ is on the roster? Well, Rivera is asking that same question.
“Is our franchise quarterback here? Is he on the roster? Is he being developed, or is he somewhere else? Again, we’ll continue to go through that and look at it and evaluate it and see exactly where we are,” he said.
Having said that, Rivera, an admitted optimist, still believes Haskins could be that guy.
“He’s got the skillset. I’m telling you, the arm is legit,” Rivera said. “Now, let’s see him put it all together. That’s what I’m hoping to get out of Dwayne for the next few weeks and as we go forward for the rest of the season.”
The problem is, will Haskins put it all together and will his coach give him the chance to prove it on the field?
Follow @BenKrimmel for the latest.
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