The Washington Commanders are winless in their last two games, both against the New York Giants.
Taylor Heinicke has struggled at times in both games, and this week, Ron Rivera actually admitted he knows he may have to make a change at the quarterback position soon, if Heinicke does not “get back on track”.
Heinicke actually averaged 8.59 yards per passing attempt, which was his second highest in his eight starts. Yet, Heinicke also lost two fumbles. The first fumble was a strip-sack touchdown and the second fumble cost the Commanders inside the Giants 10-yard line in the final quarter.
Perhaps most telling is the Commanders only managed to convert one single third down in the ten third downs the Commanders faced against the Giants. One of those third downs, Heinicke actually ran for 15 yards and a first down.
Which transitions to one way Heinicke can be more effective in the offense. Too often Heinicke is seen looking at the defensive end only to simply hand off the ball to the running back. What I’m saying is too often, defenses only need to defend ten Commanders players.
If Heinicke were to truly read the defensive end on these zone-read looks they run, then two or three times a half, when that defensive end crashes down on Brian Robinson or Antonio Gibson, Heinicke could become a threat, and tougher to defend. Five or six times a game is not too much to ask, and making defenses defend all eleven players is more difficult than defending only ten.
Rivera wants to make the playoffs; he wants to win. If Heinicke struggles again on third downs (1-10 last week), might this Saturday’s game against the 49ers be it for Heinicke?
If the Commanders extend their winless streak to three games, and if Heinicke again struggles, why would it surprise any of us, if Rivera names Wentz his starter against Cleveland, providing Wentz all the reps in the week of preparation for the Browns?
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