Tag: 2021 NFL season

Cowboys’ Trevon Diggs named PFWA’s Most Improved Player of 2021

To win Most Improved Player, a guy has to make a tremendous leap from the prior year and expectations. Diggs did just that in 2021. | From @StarConscience

Trevon Diggs revealed himself as a ball-hawking cornerback in the final five games of his rookie campaign by recording three interceptions in his final five games. The next step was to build off the foundation laid, and he did just that in Year 2.

Diggs finished with a league-leading 11 interceptions and second in total passes defensed with 21. He was selected to his first Pro Bowl and was named First-Team All-Pro. His accolades for the 2021 season don’t end there, though, as the Pro Football Writers of America named him a Most Improved Player of the Year, sharing the honor with running back Cordarrelle Patterson of the Atlanta Falcons.

Diggs wasted little time giving the Cowboys’ offense extra possessions this season. He registered an interception in each of the first six games (seven total) and returned two for touchdowns. For the season, Diggs hauled in an interception in 10 different games.

The 11 interceptions tied the Cowboys’ franchise-record, set by Everson Walls in 1981, and are the most any player in the NFL has had over those 40 years.

Diggs has amassed 14 interceptions in 28 career games. As a player who had only two years playing the position prior to these two years in the pros, there are still plenty of things for Diggs to learn about coverage. His ball skills are elite, though, and the sky seems to be the limit if he continues to improve at this trajectory.

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Washington signs veteran linebacker to a contract extension

David Mayo is back for another season in 2022.

The Washington Football Team signed an inside linebacker on Friday. No, Washington didn’t fill its biggest offseason need, but it kept linebacker David Mayo in town for another season with a one-year contract extension.

Mayo, who signed with Washington last March, played 16 games for the WFT in 2021. Mayo mainly was a key contributor on special teams but did move into the starting lineup at inside linebacker late in the season with rookie Jamin Davis struggling. Mayo played reasonably well, allowing Cole Holcomb to play his more natural position as an outside linebacker.

In the Week 16 loss at Dallas, Mayo played every defensive snap, and the following week played 66% of the snaps.

Keeping Mayo was a smart move for Washington. He’s cheap, he knows the defense, is a critical part of special teams and can help the younger linebackers. And, most importantly for head coach Ron Rivera, he’s reliable.

No Washington rookies make PFWA All-Rookie Team

No Washington rookie was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.

The Pro Football Writers of America continued with their postseason awards Tuesday, announcing the PFWA All-Rookie Team. To the surprise of no one, Dallas linebacker Micah Parsons was named the 2021 rookie of the year and defensive rookie of the year.

Cincinnati wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase was named the offensive rookie of the year.

For the first time since 2017, no Washington player earned PFWA All-Rookie honors. WFT defensive end Chase Young won PFWA defensive rookie of the year in 2020, in addition to winning NFL defensive rookie of the year.

Terry McLaurin (2019) and Daron Payne (2018) were previously named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.

While this is certainly disappointing, it means little in the grand scheme of things. However, one thing Washington fans will certainly notice is Cleveland linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah making the team as one of three linebackers, along with Parsons and Nick Bolton of the Chiefs.

Washington, with a big-time need at linebacker, selected Jamin Davis of Kentucky at No. 19 overall, choosing to bypass the versatile Owusu-Koramoah. Davis struggled as a rookie, while Owusu-Koramoah thrived.

Washington’s top-performing draft choice in 2021 was second-round pick Sam Cosmi. Cosmi started nine games at right tackle. Unfortunately, he missed eight games, but he was outstanding as a run blocker and looks to have a bright future.

We recently graded all of Washington’s 2021 rookies.

Grading each of Washington’s 2021 NFL draft selections

 

Jonathan Allen, Antonio Gibson land on 2021 PFWA All-NFC Team

Jonathan Allen and Antonio Gibson named to the PFWA 2021 All-NFC team.

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The 2021 NFL season is over for 28 teams around the NFL, including the Washington Football Team. However, awards season is in full swing, and two Washington players were honored Monday.

Defensive tackle Jonathan Allen and running back Antonio Gibson were named to the 2021 Pro Football Writers of America All-NFC Team.

Allen was named to his first Pro Bowl, which takes place on Sunday, April 6, after recording a career-high nine sacks and 30 quarterback hits. Allen was dominant as both a pass-rusher and run defender in 2021. While Washington’s defense failed to meet expectations, don’t blame Allen, who had the best year of his young career after signing a four-year extension before the season.

Gibson, the second-year running back out of Memphis, went over 1,000 yards for the first time in his career. In only his second year of being a full-time running back, Gibson rushed for 1,037 yards and seven touchdowns. Gibson also had 42 receptions and three touchdowns.

Gibson’s season was impressive, considering he was listed on the injury report every week. Gibson battled numerous injuries yet only missed one game, and it was due to COVID-19.

Congratulations to both Allen and Gibson on receiving this honor.

Several Washington players stand out in ESPN’s win rates measuring success in the trenches

ESPN’s new metrics further prove Washington as having one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, despite all of the injuries.

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There are all sorts of ways to measure player efficiency in 2022. Football Outsiders and Pro Football Focus first come to mind when using different forms of data to evaluate individual and team performance.

ESPN Analytics created a new metric in 2021 using NFL’s Next Gen Stats to measure individual and team success in the trenches. ESPN’s new metric measures pass-rush win rate, stop-run win rate, pass-block win rate and run-block win rate.

Washington’s team was built to win in the trenches. Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned in 2021, with defensive end Chase Young lost for the season in Week 10 and fellow defensive end Montez Sweat also missing several games.

The WFT also had numerous injuries along the offensive line, including playing the final weeks with their fourth-string center.

According to ESPN’s win rates, Washington held up well in the trenches despite the injuries.

Defensive tackle Jonathan Allen ranked No. 8 amongst defensive tackles in pass rush win rate. No Washington interior defensive lineman ranked inside the top 10 for run stop win rate. However, as a team, Washington ranked No. 13 in team run-block win rate.

Washington ranked No. 19 in team pass-rush win rate. That’s certainly a disappointment considering what Washington has invested in its front four. Even before the injuries, Young had issues getting to the passer consistently.

Washington’s offensive line had plenty of success. Left tackle Charles Leno was ranked No. 10 in pass-block win rate for offensive tackles — tied with Trent Williams. Left guard Ereck Flowers ranked No. 6 among guards. Center Chase Roullier would likely have been ranked if not for his season-ending injury in Week 8.

Washington was even more successful in run-block win rate. Right guard Brandon Scherff was No. 1 among all guards, while rookie right tackle Sam Cosmi was No. 3 among all offensive tackles.

As a team, Washington was No. 9 in pass-block win rate and No. 1 in run-block win rate. Now, you understand why the metrics favor Washington’s offensive line success.

Even if Washington loses Scherff in free agency, the WFT’s offensive line is set up for success in 2022 and beyond.

Ryan Fitzpatrick was shirtless at Bills’ wild-card game as a fan

Ryan Fitzpatrick was in attendance for the Bills’ blowout wild-card win over the Patriots Saturday — as a shirtless fan.

Ryan Fitzpatrick’s 2021 season didn’t go as planned for him or the Washington Football Team. Fitzpatrick’s season ended in the second quarter of Week 1 after just six passing attempts for 13 yards.

A hip injury landed Fitzpatrick on injured reserve, but there was hope he’d return for the second half of the season. The injury didn’t heal as quickly as hoped, and Washington sidelined the 39-year-old quarterback for the season.

Fitzpatrick wasn’t in Ashburn for last week’s locker clean-out day, or, at least, he wasn’t available to the media.

But, five days later, we finally have a Fitzpatrick sighting: In Buffalo, for the Bills’ home wild-card game against the Patriots sitting amongst the crowd, as a fan — shirtless.

Check it out.

Fitzpatrick, who has played for nine teams, spent four seasons in Buffalo — the most time he has spent with any team. Even though Buffalo released Fitzpatrick in 2013, he remains beloved in Buffalo.

Fitzpatrick has made it no secret he, too, loves Buffalo.

It’s unfortunate Washington fans didn’t get the full Fitzpatrick experience in 2021 for various reasons. He would’ve given Washington’s passing offense more life, the media more soundbites and the fans more reasons to love him.

Here are more pictures from Fitzpatrick’s Saturday night in Buffalo.

It was nice to see a happy and healthy Fitzpatrick after a difficult 2021 season.

 

Former Washington players see playoff action, Saturday

Two former Washington players were in action in Saturday’s playoff game between the Raiders and Bengals. How’d they do?

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Former Washington running back Semaje Perine and former wide receiver DeSean Jackson both saw action in the NFL playoff game in Cincinnati between the visiting Las Vegas Raiders and the home team Bengals.

In the fourth quarter, Bengals running back Joe Mixon appeared to turn an ankle, grimaced in pain, looked to the sideline, then proceeded to take himself out of the game.

Perine entered the game with the Bengals leading 23-16. Perine then got an early carry for two yards, and cameras displayed Mixon getting his ankle re-taped over on the sidelines. Mixon indeed returned, and Perine would be limited to the single carry.

DeSean Jackson made a big play for the Raiders Saturday. The Raiders were trailing 26-16 in the final quarter on their own 44-yard line facing a fourth & 5 with 4:27 remaining.

QB Derek Carr from the shotgun formation took the snap and appeared to have looked for Jackson and no other receiver on the play. Carr found and connected with Jackson on a crossing route over the middle for a huge 26-yard gain to the Bengals’ 30-yard line.

On the previous Raiders’ possession, Carr found Jackson for a 35-yard gain; however, a holding penalty against Alex Leatherwood negated the huge Jackson gain for a first down into Cincinnati territory.

Jackson also found himself in the news twice this week at the close of Week 18 of the regular season. When Washington back Antonio Gibson and receiver Terry McLaurin both went over the 1000-yard mark for the season, they became the first Washington duo to do so since the 2014 duo of Jackson and Alfred Morris.

Also, in the season’s final week, Eagles receiver DeVonta Smith eclipsed the 2008 Eagles rookie record for most receiving yards set by Jackson.

Finally, in Saturday’s playoff loss at Cincinnati, Jackson also dropped a deep Derek Carr pass in the first half for the Raiders.

Perine was a fourth-round draft choice by Washington in 2017 and spent two seasons with the WFT. Washington signed Jackson as a free agent in 2014, and he spent three seasons in D.C. In two of those three seasons, he went over 1,000 yards receiving.

No Washington players make the NFL All-Pro team

No Washington player was named to the NFL All-Pro team, but Jonathan Allen and Brandon Scherff did receive votes.

Washington guard Brandon Scherff did something in 2020 that hadn’t been done during owner Dan Snyder’s entire tenure. In fact, Washington hadn’t had a first-team All-Pro since before Snyder purchased the team in 1999. Punter Matt Turk was Washington’s last first-team All-Pro —in 1996.

Unfortunately for Washington, a new streak begins in 2021. No Washington made the All-Pro team in 2021. Washington’s two Pro Bowlers — defensive tackle Jonathan Allen and Scherff — did receive votes.

Allen, who was recently named to his first Pro Bowl, received two votes, while Scherff received one vote. It is Scherff’s fifth Pro Bowl appearance.

The first-team defensive tackles named to the All-Pro team were Aaron Donald of the Rams and Cameron Heyward of the Steelers. Kansas City’s Chris Jones and Tennessee’s Jeffery Simmons made the second team.

You could make the argument for Allen to be one of those four players.

Joel Bitonio of the Browns and Zack Martin of the Cowboys made the first team, while Cleveland’s Wyatt Teller and Indianapolis’ Quenton Nelson made the second team.

Scherff missed six games, so it’s a surprise he even received a vote. However, his impact was clearly felt as Washington lost all six games without him.

Seahawks already looking ahead to offseason process

With no playoff spot this year, the Seattle Seahawks are already looking ahead to their offseason process.

With no playoff bid this year, the Seattle Seahawks have some extra time to recover and recuperate before the start of the offseason activities in 2022. Coach Pete Carroll is already looking ahead.

Carroll discussed his offseason plans with reporters during his final press conference this week.

“What the process is, is for us, when we get back going again, take all the information we’ve accumulated, all of the numbers and the stats and all of the printout that we have to tell us all of the background,” Carroll said. “We’ll go through everything to how much they’re able to practice, to time missed and all that. Reps, who they matched up against. All of that stuff to make individual evaluations on each guy. Both sides of the ball, we’ll go watch individual cut-ups of each guy, as an entire staff, so we can make a collective evaluation.”

Like teams around the league, the Seahawks will dive deep into their current roster ahead of the start of free agency and the new league year.

“Then, of course, we compare the other guys and start to put together a whole program of trying to understand our guys better than we ever have,” Carroll continued. “It’s an exhaustive process for us, and we go through it with the intent of figuring out what we can do to help that guy better, is really how we go about it.”

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Ron Rivera acknowledges Washington may hire new head athletic trainer

Ron Rivera discussed Washington possibly hiring a new head athletic trainer.

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One of the more underrated storylines of Washington’s 2021 season was the absence of head athletic trainer Ryan Vermillion. Vermillion was placed on administrative leave back on Oct. 4, where he remains today.

Vermillion’s office and home were raided by the Drug Enforcement Administration in an investigation that was unrelated to the team. Washington coach Ron Rivera spoke about Vermillion shortly after the news, per NBC Washington.

“The only thing I can say about Ryan is, I know who Ryan is,” Rivera said. “Last year, I trusted Ryan with my health, and I would do it again.”

Rivera obviously couldn’t get into specifics regarding the investigation, only speaking on his experience with Vermillion. Vermillion was Carolina’s head athletic trainer for Rivera’s entire tenure with the Panthers and followed him to Washington in 2020.

Vermillion was placed on leave ahead of Washington’s Week 4 game at Atlanta. Washington would suffer several injuries in the game, creating a hectic situation for the WFT.

The team would bring back legendary former trainer Bubba Tyer and hired former Washington Capitals trainer Greg Smith, both temporarily to assist the team. Washington would also use interns to help in the absence of Vermillion.

In his season-ending presser Tuesday, local reporters questioned Rivera about hiring a new head athletic trainer:

No, that’s a fair question because we most certainly are looking at those options right there, those are things that we have to consider going forward. It’s been a very difficult situation. We hired Greg Smith, who obviously worked at one point for the [NHL Washington] Capitals and did a great job coming in to help us, but you know, that was a temporary thing. We brought in a couple of interns that had worked with us to help add some more bodies to it and it worked effectively. Was it ideal? No. But going forward, we will certainly have to look at that and we will, and we’ll address it because again, we’ll have the combine coming up very shortly and we’re going to have to have evaluations go through all of that process.

There’s never a good time for an NFL team to lose its head athletic trainer, but for Washington in 2021, it was the absolute worst time. There was the never-ending off-field stuff, a litany of injuries and a team-wide outbreak of COVID-19.

It’s wise of Washington to get ahead of hiring a new athletic trainer ahead of the offseason with free agency and draft season rapidly approaching.