Tag: Jack Del Rio

Commanders vs. Dolphins: Wednesday injury report for Week 13

Three players miss practice for the Commanders, including Emmanuel Forbes.

The Washington Commanders returned to practice Wednesday after a few extra days off. Washington last played on Thanksgiving Day and lost 45-10 to the Dallas Cowboys.

After the loss, Washington fired defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio and secondary coach Brent Vieselmeyer. Head coach Ron Rivera will serve as Washington’s defensive play-caller for the remainder of the season.

The Commanders next face the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. Miami has the NFL’s most explosive offense, which could spell trouble for a struggling secondary.

Here’s a look at Washington’s first injury report of the week:

  • CB Emmanuel Forbes: DNP (elbow)
  • C Tyler Larsen: DNP (knee)
  • DE James Smith-Williams: DNP (hamstring)
  • FB Alex Armah: Limited (hamstring)

As for the Dolphins, they had a long injury report that featured star wide receiver Tyreek Hill and starting running back Raheem Mostert missing practice:

DNP:

  • WR Tyreek Hill (ankle)
  • S Jevon Holland (knees)
  • OT Kendall Lamm (back)
  • RB Raheem Mostert (ankle/knee)

Limited:

  • RB De’Von Achane (knee)
  • LT Terron Armstead (knee/quad)
  • RB Chris Brooks (knee)
  • DB Elijah Campbell (shoulder)
  • LB Bradley Chubb (knee)
  • WR Chase Claypool (knee)
  • LS Blake Ferguson (ankle)
  • RG Robert Hunt (hamstring)
  • FB Alec Ingold (foot/ankle)
  • OL Robert Jones (knee)
  • TE Durham Smythe (ankle)
  • C Connor Williams (illness)

Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was listed on the injury report with a right arm laceration but was a full participant.

What changes will Ron Rivera make to Commanders defense?

What kind of changes should we expect from Washington’s defensive over final five games?

Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera will serve as the team’s defensive coordinator for the final five games this season. On Friday, one day after Washington’s 45-10 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, Rivera fired defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio and secondary coach Brent Vieselmeyer.

Rivera, who made his name in the coaching world as a defensive coordinator before taking over as Carolina coach in 2011, would serve as Washington’s defensive play-caller for the remainder of the season.

While it would be tough for Rivera to make massive changes to the defense this late in the season, there are things that he will do to potentially help the Commanders improve on that side of the ball.

“Well, I think some of the things that we need to look at obviously is just creating those opportunities for the players to be successful, paring down some of the things that we’ve done from the past, and just trying to get them to play fast,” Rivera said Monday. 

How can Rivera pare the defense down?

“Well, I think eliminating some of the tools, the checks that we’ve used in the past and just really almost to a point where, ‘Hey, you draw them, you write them.'”

One issue that plagued the Commanders at times under Del Rio was the constant communication issues in the secondary. After playing well last season, more was expected in 2023, particularly after Washington spent a first-round pick on cornerback Emmanuel Forbes and a second-round pick on cornerback/safety Quan Martin.

Instead of taking a step forward, Washington’s secondary has been terrible in 2023.

With respected defensive leaders like defensive tackle Jonathan Allen and cornerback Kendall Fuller, did Rivera consult with them ahead of taking over as defensive play-caller?

“That is one thing you do is you most certainly want to make sure you talk to specific guys,” Rivera said. “And that’s what I did on Friday and on Saturday and then today.”

Rivera has a difficult first assignment in his expanded role. The Commanders host the explosive Miami Dolphins in Week 13. Miami’s explosive offense is led by wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, both of whom could have huge games against Washington’s struggling secondary.

Chris Cooley: Ron Rivera did ‘a complete 180′ with Commanders’ offensive identity

Cooley weighs in on Ron Rivera and Jack Del Rio.

“It’s hard to play when you know your coach is gone,” said former Washington Redskins tight end Chris Cooley as a guest on the “Kevin Sheehan Show” podcast Friday.

Indeed the Commanders have now lost five of their last six games. In their last game, the defense at times offered no resistance.

“I didn’t feel like they were going to fire Jack Del Rio this week,” Cooley said. “I didn’t know or have an expectation that they were going to fire Ron Rivera this week. I am just telling you, you have a dead coach, and you just don’t play well. Go back to the Jim Zorn era, the end of (Jay) Gruden and (Bill) Callahan.”

Cooley said he has noticed that the first time out, a team often will play much better after a coach has been fired. He said he thought Washington would play better this week against Miami and then suggested, “If you want a better draft spot, you keep Ron Rivera in place.”

The former Washington Redskins radio analyst then joked, “I really don’t care if they make Craig Hoffman the coach, they are going to win the next game if they hire an interim head coach.”

Sheehan was in stitches at this point. Cooley added (you could imagine him smiling), “It was the first name I came up with.”

Cooley said he recognized players had been repeatedly trying to say the right things the last few weeks. He said when they say things like, “The players just have to do better,” or “It is just not working,” or “Something has to change,” that it was a clear indictment of the coaches.

Cooley pointed out how Rivera insisted that soon after last season, they were committed to running the football as their main identity and controlling the clock.

Then they hired Eric Bieniemy and threw the ball more times than anyone else in the league, and with a rookie quarterback.

“Rivera had this identity, he declared, and then he did a complete 180,” Cooley said.

“If I am Del Rio at this point, I am saying, “We went from a top-10 defense to 30th in part because we throw the ball on every down. Both sides of the ball affect both sides of the ball. I am by no means making an excuse for Del Rio or the big plays they give up. But at the same time, it doesn’t help.”

“I am almost blown away that Ron Rivera fell into that ‘OK, we will just do this now.’ You would think a guy that’s been around as long as he has would have said, ‘No, this is what I want. If this is going to be my last year, I am going out doing what I want to do.'”

“If it is my last year as head coach and I am resigned to my fate, or at least I think I am, I am going down swinging the way I want to go down swinging.”

 

Commanders’ DT Allen: ‘Growing up here, it is more personal’

Allen defends Del Rio, while acknowledging football is a production-based business.

How does Jonathan Allen feel about this being another losing season for the Washington Commanders?

The Commanders defensive tackle made it clear to the “Sports Junkies” at 106.7 the Fan, Monday, “Growing up here and being a fan of the team, long before I played here, it’s even more personal.”

Allen continued, stating that most players get drafted and want that team to do well, but “growing up in this area, going to the training camps, following them, supporting them, rooting for them for five to ten years before I even came on this team, it sucks, because I want to win.”

“But even more importantly, I want to win here. If winning was all, I wouldn’t have signed a contract for here. I would have gone free agency and gone to the best team. Winning somewhere else wouldn’t feel the same for me.”

“The idea of winning here is something I am going to achieve before I exit this league, God willing. It is tough, but it gives me the resolve to come back year and year with even more optimism. Because I truly believe we found our quarterback…”

The “Sports Junkies” cast then asked about defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio being fired, and Allen offered some heartfelt thoughts.

“We live and play in a production-based world and a production-based league, and when the defense has played like we have played, heads are going to roll. That’s only natural,” said Allen.

“I do not think Coach Del Rio was the entirety or sole reason why we are where we are. But as the leader and the guy who leads the group, you are always going to get the blame. Like when the offense doesn’t play well, the quarterback gets the blame.”

“It’s part of the blame. It sucks. But at the end of the day, we get paid to perform. Changes are going to be made.”

“There’s nothing he did that I largely disagree with…As players, I think we could have performed better.”

“I’ve never seen a pencil win a game. It’s a coach’s job to try to put you in the best position to make plays. At the end of the day, the coach is not the one out there telling you play the double team or to catch the interception, or react fast and hustle to the ball.”

“It’s not Del Rio’s fault a guy doesn’t win his pass rush rep, or a guy loses his one-on-one man-to-man rep. I’m always going to lean more to the players could have done a better job.”

“I can point out a lot of things as to why we are not playing well. It’s a year-to-year league even when you have the same personnel.”

“I reached out to him and told him I appreciate him for everything he’s done, and I wish him and his family nothing but the best. He sent a nice message back, telling me to continue to lead and be true to who I am. We had a good relationship.”

There is more. Here is the video link to the entire conversation with Jonathan Allen.

Commanders’ Rivera a big help to owner Josh Harris

Ron Rivera made life a bit easier on Josh Harris last week.

In the last week Commanders head coach Ron Rivera has certainly made new owner Josh Harris’ job easier.

Washington lost 31-19 at home last week to the anemic N.Y. Giants. Then turned around on Thursday and looked even worse (much worse) at Dallas, being embarrassed 45-10 on national television.

What was Harris to do? How was Harris to respond Friday?

Enter head coach Ron Rivera.

Rivera reportedly contacted Harris with his plan Friday morning and Harris gave the nod to Rivera to proceed with his plan. Gone are defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio and defensive backs coach Brent Vieselmayer.

As a result, Harris did not have to fire two coaches with five games remaining. Even more, instead of the constant speculation of when and what Harris was going to do, asserting his authority over the mess. The speculation is now removed; Harris can wait another five games and begin cleaning house.

I hate to say it, but the Cowboys also revealed that they had no respect for the Commanders going into last week’s debacle. I mean, Dak Prescott even went to head coach Mike McCarthy asking if he could eat turkey on the sideline during the game.

What’s more, Jerry Jones and McCarthy went along with it. No respect! They view Washington as a clown show. So, with the game easily in hand, there was Prescott on the sideline eating his turkey. It certainly helps Harris discern how the Commanders’ team is viewed around the league.

Speaking of no respect, which players has Harris himself, already determined must go? The linebackers can be seen weekly, chasing after receivers with the ball in their hands.

Benjamin St-Juste and Emmanuel Forbes sure get picked on by other teams don’t they? Imagine what Rivera will attempt to scheme for Miami when the 8-3 Dolphins come to town Sunday?

Tua Tagovailoa has completed 69.8% of his passes in 2023. He has passed for 22 touchdown passes, along with ten interceptions. Rivera will need something to impact the Dolphins passing game. Tua’s passer rating is 103.7, and his QBR is 59.5.

Rivera will have his hands full with the Dolphins offense, and perhaps he will be focused on having to develop the defensive game plan himself.

Will Rivera still insist on telling us this week about the “growth and development” of his young guys?

A good and bad weekend for the Commanders

Some good news regarding the 2024 NFL draft for the Commanders.

Week 12 of the Commanders 2023 regular season brought plenty of good and bad.

First, the bad, so we can close with the good and be encouraged.

After scoring to reduce the Dallas lead to 14-10 with under two minutes remaining in the first half, the Commanders never scored again, losing 45-10 on the nationally televised Thanksgiving Day embarrassment.

Friday morning, Ron Rivera, after saying last week he would make no changes to his staff, fired both Jack Del Rio and Brent Vieselmeyer. It was not pretty, as Rivera virtually saved himself, guaranteeing he would remain for the remainder of the season. It was bad for both players and coaches. The Commanders have lost five of their last six and are now 4-8.

The good news?

The Packers and Titans won, upping their records to 5-6 and 4-7, respectively. The N.Y. Giants defeated the Patriots, providing the Giants their fourth win. However, the Commanders have lost twice to the Giants and moved up ahead of the Giants in the 2024 draft order. The Rams improved to 5-6, moving lower away from the Commanders as well.

Just six weeks ago, the Commanders were sitting at 3-3 in the middle of the draft order. But Washington moved up this week to its now current draft order position of fifth!

That’s right, fifth! Here is the current 2024 NFL draft order:

  • 1. Chicago (from Carolina)
  • 2. Arizona
  • 3. New England
  • 4. Chicago
  • 5. Washington

Commanders Wire would not encourage the Commanders to tank/lose deliberately. After all, obtaining the second overall selection in 2020 didn’t bring Washington any great dividends.

Yet, with Sam Howell maturing and playing fairly well, the Commanders fan base can encouraged regarding the next draft.

As it stands now, Washington will own the following selections in the first three rounds:

  • 5
  • 36 (from Chicago)
  • 38
  • 69
  • 100 (from San Francisco)

 

What did Jay Gruden think of Jack Del Rio’s firing?

Jay Gruden weighs in on Jack Del Rio’s firing. He isn’t wrong.

Former Washington head coach Jay Gruden is a frequent guest on several Washington-area radio shows and podcasts these days. Gruden coached Washington from 2014 through the first five games of the 2019 season, when he was fired after starting 0-5.

While some think Gruden comes on local airwaves to “hate on” the Commanders, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Gruden praises Washington and offers excellent insight into players, schemes and game situations. He also provides analysis on the rest of the NFL, too.

Gruden recently opened a Twitter — or X — account. You can see Gruden’s personality in some of his tweets. He’s never afraid to bust his own chops from his time as a coach.

On Friday, Gruden had a different response to the Washington Commanders firing defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio.

He’s right. Despite the franchise’s enormous amount of investments on that side of the ball, Washington’s defense was terrible under Del Rio in two of his four seasons.

But Gruden had one more tweet on the matter, and it was personal.

So, what was Gruden talking about?

It could be this.

Need more context?

Del Rio was fired as the Raiders head coach after the 2017 season. Why? So owner Mark Davis could bring Jay’s brother, Jon, to coach the Raiders, whom he coached from 1998-2001.

Jay Gruden likely remembered Del Rio’s comments about his brother from 2021.

As for Del Rio, he was no stranger to controversial comments himself, which earned him a fine in 2022.

Ron Rivera: Commanders ‘going to do things a little differently’

Ron Rivera said there would be some changes for the Commanders on defense.

The Washington Commanders fired defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio on Friday, one day after Washington’s 45-10 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Head coach Ron Rivera also fired defensive backs coach Brent Vieselmeyer.

Rivera will assume Del Rio’s role as Washington’s defensive play-caller, while assistant defensive backs coach Cristian Garcia replaces Vieselmeyer for the remainder of the season.

Often, when a team fires a coach, whether a head coach or coordinator, during the season, there’s only so much you can change. After all, you’ve spent the entire year learning one scheme.

The Commanders currently rank dead last in scoring defense and aren’t far behind in total defense. Nothing they did this late in the season would significantly impact the remainder of this season.

Rivera met with the media Friday afternoon and discussed the coaching changes.

“I made a decision this morning,” Rivera began. “I relieved Jack Del Rio and Brent Vieselmeyer of their duties. We’re going to be moving forward, going to do things a little differently. It was very tough, difficult decisions because those are two really good men, good football coaches, guys that have had a lot of success in this league. And just unfortunate the situation, circumstances, but did feel that change was something that we needed to do going forward. Really to see if we can shake some things up and get some things started.”

What stood out here? Rivera saying, “They were doing to do things a little differently.”

What is something Rivera could do with five games remaining? The Commanders have struggled at every level of the defense — before and after the trades of Chase Young and Montez Sweat — but the secondary has been particularly bad.

Rivera can simplify some of the coverage concepts, as the Commanders have had opposing wide receivers running free and unchecked through the secondary for easy big plays all throughout this season.

Washington has several young players in the secondary on rookie contracts. The Commanders need these players for the future, but many have regressed this season under Del Rio and Vieselmeyer’s leadership.

Why did Rivera decide now was the right time?

“Well, more so anything else is, it’s one of those things that as you watch things happen and unfold last night, it was kind of that snowball; it just kind of started again,” Rivera said.

“It just kept going, and I was concerned and spent a lot of time last night and early this morning trying to go through this in my mind and just trying to figure out what else can be done, and it just seemed that shaking some things up made sense.”

It’s probably too little too late for this season and for Rivera, but it was absolutely the correct decision for multiple reasons.

 

Commanders’ Rivera distances himself from Del Rio, Vieselmeyer

Rivera had said repeatedly there would be no staff changes.

Ron Rivera will now be the head coach through the remainder of the 2023 season.

You see, this morning, Rivera and new owner Josh Harris dialogued, and Rivera apparently recommended that changes be made at defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach.

Consequently, Rivera did what he said he would not. He said he would not fire any of his staff. With only five games remaining, Rivera “recommended” these changes be made?

Ron Rivera actually recommended Jack Del Rio and Brent Vieselmeyer be publicly linked to the failure and be the fall guys to take the blame. With only five games remaining?

At this point, I think it wise to consider the two vantage points of Harris and Rivera. For Harris, if this is truly how it went down, then he is simply allowing his head coach to work through a season with those for whom he feels it is best for the success of the team.

On the other hand, for Rivera, he is making Del Rio and Vieselmeyer the fall guys with only five games remaining.

Coach Ron, didn’t you just tell us last week you would not be making such changes?

This raises the question, “Who actually initiated this conversation and moved that the DC and DB coach should be removed?” Did Harris inform Coach Ron that something must be done, so make a move?

Then again, if this actually arose with Coach Ron, I am not impressed. Why? Well, over the last few weeks, his demeanor has greatly changed. He has visibly been discouraged and tired.

The reality of this team having a losing season had set in on Rivera. Thus he knows he is finished following this season.

So, if he knows he is done after this season, why single out others with only five games remaining in your tenure as coach-centric CEO of the Commanders’ football operations?

Wouldn’t it say more of Rivera if he actually kept his word and went down with the ship in five weeks, rather than dismissing Del Rio and Vieselmeyer?

A look at Ron Rivera’s track record as a defensive coordinator

We look back at how Ron Rivera fared in each of his seven seasons as an NFL defensive coordinator.

Before Ron Rivera took over as the head coach of the Carolina Panthers, he had two stints as a defensive coordinator. The former NFL linebacker was the defensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears for three seasons (2004-06) and the then-San Diego Chargers for 3.5 seasons (2007-10).

Of course, Rivera, in his fourth and, perhaps final season as the head coach of the Washington Commanders, assumed the role of interim defensive coordinator over the last five games this season after firing defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio on Friday.

Rivera’s first test as Washington’s defensive play-caller will be a difficult one. The Commanders have a few extra days off because they played on Thursday, but when Washington reports to work next week, they’ll be preparing for the high-octane Miami Dolphins.

Good luck.

In preparation for Rivera’s return to defensive coordinator, we went back in history to see how he fared during his seven seasons as a coordinator.

  • 2004: No. 12 total defense, No. 13 scoring defense
  • 2005: No. 2 total defense, No. 1 scoring defense
  • 2006: No. 5 total defense, No. 3 scoring defense
  • 2007: No. 14 total defense, No. 5 scoring defense (DC for part of the season after Chargers fired Ted Cottrell)
  • 2008: No. 25 total defense, No. 15 scoring defense
  • 2009: No. 16 total defense, No. 11 scoring defense
  • 2010: No. 1 total defense, No. 10 scoring defense

These are some good results from Rivera’s time as a coordinator. He obviously had more talent during his three seasons with the Bears. Rivera worked under Lovie Smith for those three seasons, and Chicago ran the “Tampa-2” defense.

In San Diego, the defense continually improved under Rivera.

Any of these numbers would be welcomed in Washington right now.