Tag: Commanders former HC Ron Rivera

Panthers game will reveal much about 2024 Commanders

We will learn a lot about the Commanders this week.

The Panthers game is a big game this Sunday.

No, I’m not kidding. Honestly, it is a bigger game than many may realize.

Oh, how quickly we forget.

That’s right. In one short calendar year, the Commanders revealed to all of their fan base and the NFL world that they were never going to have a winning team under Ron Rivera.

Rewind to October 1, 2023. The Commanders (2-1) went up to Philadelphia to play the Eagles and lost a tough, contested game 34-31 in overtime.

What happened next was an eye-opener. The Commanders were announced as a 6.0-point favorite to defeat the winless and hapless 0-4 Chicago Bears at FedEx Field.

Players were heard in postgame interviews talking about how the loss in Philadelphia had been a good loss. Ron Rivera continued to talk about how the culture was good and how he believed in his team and, in particular, Sam Howell at quarterback.

Reading Twitter and listening to DC sports radio the next three days, the overwhelming consensus was the Commanders were so much better than the Bears and would win handily in the Thursday Night Football game.

Watching the game was so enlightening. From the outset, it was irrefutable that Ron Rivera did not have his team ready to compete. The Commanders were a step slow, they were not intense. The fact is Ron Rivera’s team was not energetic, and they were not competing as the Bears were.

The Bears thoroughly embarrassed Rivera’s team on national television. The team that seemingly was two games better, playing at home and on a very short week, found itself down 17-0 and then 27-3 at the half. The final score was 40-20. It was the definitive moment; we all knew the Ron Rivera era was finished. He was never going to have a winning team in Washington.

Fast-forward to 2024. Ron Rivera is gone, and Dan Quinn coaches here now. His team went to Baltimore last Sunday and won respect from the Washington fan base and NFL world, competing well, though losing to the Ravens 30-23.

Similarly to the 2023 game, the Commanders are 4-2, and the Panthers are only 1-5. Again, the game is going to be a Washington home game. The Commanders are a 7.5-point favorite.

Frankly, the Commanders need to be focused and intense in preparation, ready to show they are not resting on a moral victory like the 2023 team did.

This is an opportunity for Dan Quinn and his staff to show how much better they are than the Ron Rivera staff. Have this year’s Commanders team focused to truly compete each and every week.

On more than a couple of occasions, the Ron Rivera teams (2020-23) raised expectations and hopes of the fan base, only to then lay an egg in games where they were expected to or had a chance to win.

The good teams focus on process. On Sunday, we learn how focused and mature Dan Quinn’s Commanders really are.

Another Commander is glad a new OC is in town

Another Washington starter is thrilled with the O.C. change.

Another member of the Commanders offense is happy to see Kliff Kingsbury as the new offensive coordinator.

Earlier Thursday, Sam Cosmi spoke out very strongly about his fervent disagreement with Eric Bieniemy’s approach in 2023.

“I think we were last in the league for attempts in rushing, and then one of the highest in passing (attempts), and you saw where that got us…”

Friday, it was Brian Robinson’s turn. Robinson took a very positive approach. Yet, for those who know the 2023 situation, Robinson spoke softly, yet clearly.

“Kliff has great energy as an offensive coordinator. He’s very personable. I think he’s a great player’s coach, somebody you can just rap with, you know, just come and chop it up with.”

“You can tell him how you feel about what you see, your ideas and thoughts. He’s going to listen to you, talk with you and be genuine with you, so I appreciate the relationship we are all building.”

“Very personable, you can tell him how you feel, what you see, going to listen to you, be genuine with you,” (yes Brian, we understand.)

Last month Cosmi told of how Bieniemy had some more rules for his offensive players, “That was something that we as players, offensive side, we weren’t allowed to wear our hat backwards.”

Bieniemy’s common refrain with the press was that he was old school, that he was going to do things his way, and that he was not changing for anybody.

As early as the 2023 training camp, there was tension as Bieniemy was said by players to be loud, always loud. Even one member of the sports media acknowledged Bieniemy was loud, but all the cursing at players could easily become problematic.

He was right; it was. Before the regular season had even begun, head coach Ron Rivera had already lost a sense of control with Bieniemy, conveying that some players had come to Rivera unhappy with Bieniemy.

Had it been unproductive players, Rivera would have shrugged it off, thinking them soft. However, Rivera was very concerned because it apparently was players Rivera respected.

At season’s end, Terry McLaurin, Logan Thomas, and Sam Cosmi all offered direct commentary as well.

One year later, Cosmi and Robinson, both productive players in 2023, are happy coaching changes have been made. That’s fine, and they both agree it is up to them to continue to produce as the team leaders they were a year ago.

Commanders WR Dyami Brown to share No. 2 with Sainristil

Brian Mitchell summed it up perfectly.

Dyami Brown has not been cut by the Commanders.

The Commanders, in announcing their rookie jersey numbers, certainly seized the attention of many when they revealed defensive back Mike Sainristil would be wearing No. 2 this offseason.

Commanders fans certainly recognize that receiver Dyami Brown has worn No. 2 for each of his three NFL seasons here in Washington (2021-23).

It is true the Commanders are completing their 90-man roster in preparation for their off-season mini-camps, OTAs and training camp. So, while the roster is full at the 90-player capacity, yes, there will be some sharing of jersey numbers.

Yet, it is also true that the former Michigan defensive leader, Sainristil, was a second-round choice (50) of this current administration led by general manager Adam Peters.

Consequently, it would not be a stretch to conclude that if both Brown and Sainristil make the final 53-man roster, Sainristil will wear the No. 2 jersey.

Even more, Brown, though he wore No. 2 at North Carolina, simply has not produced in his three NFL seasons. Ron Rivera drafted Brown in the third round (82) in 2021. He has played in 15, 15 and 17 games, yet accomplished only a mere 12, 5 and 12 receptions.

Most likely, Brown will not survive unless he has an impressive preseason. He simply cannot afford to have the unimpressive preseason games he has experienced thus far.

When former Washington Redskins running back Brian Mitchell (1990-99) was asked about this by JP Finlay during their 106.7 The Fan show, Friday, Mitchell succinctly responded, “They never gave anybody my number when I was on (the team) from year one all the way through…I never really worried about my number. I worried about being ready to play.”