We’re starting to get a good feel for what the Washington Redskins coaching staff will look like under Ron Rivera in 2020, but does that mean what they will be operating with the same starting lineup that we assume? More important than the starting lineup as a whole, will the offense be run by the supposed quarterback of the future in Washington?
Will Dwayne Haskins keep his starting job in 2020?
This question was brought up during Rivera’s introductory press conference as the head coach of the Redskins when he said that he thinks there are a couple of good veteran quarterbacks in the program who will get a shot to play as well. That seems like a loaded statement if there ever was one. Let’s try to break it down and see if we can glean anything from it.
Is Rivera not sold on Haskins?
It seems harsh to say that Rivera is totally out on the rookie QB, but it’s fair to say that he hasn’t completely bought in, either. Prior to saying that there are veterans that will get a look at the position, he mentioned that Haskins can be a franchise-style quarterback, but he didn’t expect that to happen overnight, and he wasn’t ready to make a decision at the moment. That’s fair, as he hasn’t seen anything that Haskins can do outside of game tape. Maybe once Rivera gets a chance to work with Haskins a bit in mini camp, he will start to feel more comfortable with entrusting his team in No. 7’s hands. Until then, though, the lack of commitment is nothing serious.
Does Rivera mean Keenum and McCoy by ‘Veterans?’
Both Case Keenum and Colt McCoy are set to become free agents once the 2019 season officially comes to an end, so the team would have to sign either of them to a new deal should they want to keep them on to compete in a potential QB competition. This doesn’t seem too crazy of a notion, as neither player is likely to garner a starting position from any franchise in the NFL, and they would likely be competing for the QB1 or QB2 role wherever they went. It’s also important to note that Rivera could be talking about Alex Smith here, as well. Though Smith is unlikely to be ready to play until at least the 2021 season if ever, this comment was left vague enough to keep him in the conversation.
What does a new OC mean for Haskins?
The ouster of Kevin O’Connell is definitely a hit to Haskins, as he will now be starting from scratch with a third OC in as many years. Haskins and O’Connell worked well together in 2019, and the two formed a bond that could be seen on the field. They grew comfortable together, and as the season progressed, O’Connell was able to scheme the offensive gameplan around his rookie QB and get him into spots where he could feel more comfortable. Now, with Scott Turner running the offense, the two will need to find a similar rhythm and gel together going forward. A change in OC isn’t a major deal — quarterbacks go through it all the time — but if you were to choose between staying with a coordinator for several years, or moving onto a new one every season, you’d obviously choose to keep things the same.
Is there any chance Rivera chooses to draft a QB with the No. 2 pick?
Rivera has seemingly been given full control over the franchise, and he could technically use that control to do whatever he wants with the team. That means selecting who he wants, when he wants, in the upcoming 2020 NFL Draft, where the Redskins have the No. 2 overall pick. However, this is where we have to use some common sense. Rivera is a smart man, and he knows that a big influence in the Washington franchise is what the fans want and believe. Many fans are clamoring for the Redskins to select Ohio State defensive end Chase Young with the No. 2 pick, a player who is said to be a future Hall-of-Famer and generational talent. If Rivera were to pass on Young and select another signal-caller — say Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa or Georgia’s Jake Fromm — many fans would be questioning the move, as they have grown to believe that Haskins actually has what it takes to be a solid NFL QB. While the answer is technically ‘yes,’ Rivera is not going to draft a new QB in the first round of 2020.
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