Tag: Jack Del Rio

Commanders DC Jack Del Rio talks K.J. Henry’s bogus roughing penalty in Week 9

Jack Del Rio believes K.J. Henry did everything right on bogus penalty.

Washington Commanders defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio has been around the NFL for a long time. From his playing days until now, Del Rio has seen a lot.

During Washington’s Week 9 win over the New England Patriots, rookie defensive end K.J. Henry had his first career NFL sack taken away due to a roughing the passer penalty. It was a horrendous call. Even the NFL’s former director of officiating agreed that it should not have been flagged.

Fortunately, it didn’t cost the Commanders the game. Head coach Ron Rivera has chosen to stay quiet on the penalty due to possible fines. Del Rio met with the media Thursday and politely disagreed with the call while praising his rookie.

“I tell him, ‘I hope the league doesn’t double down and send you a fine on top of it, Del Rio said.'”

“That’s what I told him. I said it wouldn’t surprise me because they might. They sometimes will do that, but the reality is that was not; it should not have been a flag in the first place. He should not receive a fine. You do exactly what he did because it was exactly how you should do it.”

For his part, Henry told reporters Thursday he had yet to be fined.

Del Rio was asked if there was some frustration on the roughing the passer penalties, which are up this year.

“No, I think it’s clear,” Del Rio said. “I think the rule is clear. I think anytime the league tries to make an emphasis, then guys tend to come up with calls that are like close to it and wrong. And to me, I would love to just see an emphasis on doing your job, officiating the game so that it’s a fair contest. That’s what it should be. We don’t need to come up with calls to fit a certain window or to fill up a certain window. To me, that’s not what it should be about. It should just be a fair contest. Make sure it’s fair.”

It’s safe to say the NFL’s competition committee will likely be discussing the roughing the passer penalty next offseason.

Commanders LB Cody Barton ruled out with an ankle injury

Cody Barton is out with an injury.

In the first quarter of Washington’s Week 7 game with the New York Giants, starting middle linebacker Cody Barton went down with an ankle injury. He did not return in the first half.

Now, the Commanders have ruled Barton out for the remainder of the game.

Barton, in his first season with Washington, has struggled. However, he has been an ironman for the Commanders this season, playing every defensive snap through the first six games. Barton had his best performance in the Week 6 win at Atlanta, finishing with 15 tackles.

Naturally, with Barton out, you’d expect defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio to go with Khaleke Hudson. Instead, Del Rio turned to veteran David Mayo, who was busy, picking up nine tackles in the first half.

Commanders, Del Rio prepare for Saquon Barkley and Giants

Everything begins and ends with Saquon Barkley.

Jack Del Rio knows his team is facing a very dangerous running back this weekend.

At 6 feet and 232 pounds, the New York Giants’ Saquon Barkley is one of the most explosive running backs in the NFL. He has massive leg strength and is a great receiver out of the backfield, which could cause matchup problems for the Commanders’ pass defense.

On Thursday, in his weekly appointment with the media, Del Rio was asked about having had to prepare for such backs as Eagles RB D’Andre Swift, Falcons RB Bijan Robinson last week and now Barkley.

“All super talented,” Del Rio said. “Everybody has talent in this league, but that’s the way I’d answer that is they’re all super talented. They’re all a tremendous challenge. We prepare each week to face the one we’ve got. This week, we’ve got Saquon. He’s a heck of a player.”

Del Rio was then asked: What makes Barkley dangerous?

“It’s a combination. Everything everybody talks about. He’s explosive. His balance. His vision. Just a good football player.”

It was typical Jack Del Rio. Ron Rivera could take a lesson or two from Del Rio on how to respond to the media’s questions. Each week, Del Rio is direct and to the point, but he is absolutely not going to give you (or the upcoming opponent) anything regarding a game plan, nor anything technical.

Del Rio is very guarded, but he is also very consistent. You are not going to get any secrets from the former USC Trojan and NFL linebacker.

Even when Del Rio was asked to comment on the Commanders linebackers making some big plays last week against the Falcons, he acknowledged it, but no more.

“I thought it was a good day. We’d like to stack a few of those together,” he said.

Whether it’s Tyrod Taylor or Daniel Jones at quarterback Sunday, Del Rio acknowledged they both are athletic enough to make some things dangerous for the defense.

“(Taylor is) a good veteran quarterback, seen a lot, done a lot, has mobility. I think they can run their offense with either guy.”

“I think both guys are very capable. We’re putting a plan together, looking forward to going out and competing.”

Commanders CB Emmanuel Forbes remaining upbeat through recent struggles

Can Forbes turn things around this week? Coaches remain confident in his ability.

It’s been a tough few weeks for Washington Commanders rookie cornerback Emmanuel Forbes.

After a relatively quiet first two weeks, Forbes was matched up with Bills star Stefon Diggs in Week 3 and Eagles star A.J. Brown in Week 4. In the matchup against Brown, Forbes had multiple “welcome to the NFL” moments. He was credited with allowing nine receptions for around 200 yards and two touchdowns.

Yet, Washington coaches kept Forbes matched up with Brown.

In Week 5, Forbes had another difficult matchup with Bears wide receiver D.J. Moore. The Commanders’ entire secondary struggled against Moore, but Forbes was benched. That performance on national television led Eagles Pro Bowl cornerback Darius Slay to offer some encouraging words to Forbes.

With Forbes struggling recently, what’s his status for Week 6 against the Falcons?

Head coach Ron Rivera said, “We’ll see,” when asked about his workload for this weekend’s game.

“How he handles this situation and circumstances is important for him,” Rivera said via John Keim of ESPN. “It’s important for us to see and see how he handles a lot of things. We’ll continue to work, he’ll work, as will the rest of the DBs, and we’ll see how things go.”

For his part, Forbes remains upbeat with the encouragement of his teammates.

On Thursday, defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio was asked about Forbes.

“I’m just going to say it hasn’t gone the way he would like or we would like,” Del Rio said. “So, we’ll just keep working at it. I believe in the young man. He’s obviously had a rough start, hasn’t been as productive as we’d like him to be, and I know how much he’d like to be himself. So, just got to keep working, that’s what you do in this business, there’s no shortcut, there’s no easy way out, you just have to work, and that’s what we want him to do.”

This leads to more questions about the coaching staff. Remember the William Jackson signing? The Commanders took a player in one scheme and tried to make him fit their scheme, and it, predictably, ended up going badly.

Forbes has played just five NFL games. There’s no reason to be too concerned. Every cornerback will struggle, especially when matched up one-on-one with players such as Diggs, Brown and Moore.

All cornerbacks are going to lose reps. It’s a difficult position. Forbes’ mindset appears to be in the right place. If he’s going to turn things around, he needs to play — and play the style of football that made him the No. 16 overall pick.

This week, Forbes and the Commanders face the Atlanta Falcons, led by their top receiver, 6-foot-4, 213-pound Drake London. While London isn’t yet as accomplished as the aforementioned wideouts, he presents another unique challenge with his size. Does that mean we’ll see him matched up with Benjamin St-Juste, or will the coaches turn back to Forbes?

This is a massive week for Forbes and Washington’s defense.

Broncos keep losing to their former coaches

Broncos lost to four of their ex-coaches + a former ball boy. Meanwhile, Vance Joseph is coaching one of the worst defenses in NFL history.

After trading a first-round draft pick to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for the rights to head coach Sean Payton, the Denver Broncos have started 1-4 under their new coach.

The team’s bleak outlook won’t get any better this week as the Broncos are set to face the 4-1 Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday Night Football in Week 6. If Denver loses that game — the Broncos are considered big underdogs — Payton will be 1-5 through his first six games in charge.

A 1-5 record would tie the worst start in franchise history. So it’s fair to say the Payton era is off to a disastrous start. Making things even more embarrassing for Broncos fans is the fact that Denver keeps losing to its former coaches, as our friend Brandon Perna pointed out on Twitter/X.

In Week 1, the Broncos lost to the Las Vegas Raiders 17-16. The Raiders, of course, are coached by ex-Denver head coach Josh McDaniels (2009-2010).

In Week 2, the Broncos lost to the Washington Commanders 35-33. Washington’s defense is coached by ex-Denver defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio (2012-2014).

In Week 3, the Broncos were blown out 70-20 by the Miami Dolphins, whose defense is coached by ex-Denver head coach Vic Fangio (2019-2021). Miami’s head coach, Mike McDaniel, served as a ball boy for the Broncos growing up, and he got his NFL start as an intern with the team in 2005. Unfortunately, Denver didn’t bother to interview him when they had a head coach opening last year. Oof.

In Week 5, the Broncos lost 31-21 to the New York Jets and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, who served as Denver’s head coach last season. That loss might have been the most painful.

And just to put a cherry on top, the Broncos’ defense is coached by Vance Joseph, who served as the team’s head coach from 2017-2018. Denver’s defense is on pace to turn in one of the worst seasons in NFL history.

The Broncos picked the wrong ex to reunite with this offseason.

The NFL’s Worst of the Week for Week 5

From the Commanders’ defense to the Patriots’ offense to Sean Payton losing the Nathaniel Hackett Bowl, here’s the NFL’s worst of the Week for Week 5.

Football is often a wonderful, amazing, thrilling game that shows the capability of the human spirit, and inspires us in countless ways.

But football is also a stupid, maddening, infuriating sport that can take us to new heights of frustration, and possibly perform Keith Moon-style acts to our own home furniture.

It is in this spirit that we balance the greatness of the game with the utter futility it shows at times. It’s time for the NFL’s Worst of the Week for Week 5!

Nothing in the NFL this week (or this season) matched, say, the idiocy of Miami head coach Mario Cristobal’s decision on Saturday, but we’ve got some really weird stuff, as always.

Folks, here’s the NFL’s Worst of the Week.

Why Jack Del Rio’s Washington Commanders defense has been a disaster

Jack Del Rio’s Washington Commanders defense was an abject disaster against the Chicago Bears. Is it time to make serious changes?

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In the first three weeks of the 2023 NFL season, Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields completed 51 of 88 passes (58.0%) for 528 yards (6.0 YPA), three touchdowns, four interceptions, and a passer rating of 67.8. Fields was throwing his coaches under the bus (somewhat justifiably), offensive coordinator Luke Getsy and head coach Matt Eberflus were on the chopping block, and Chicago’s season looked like a lost cause.

Then, in his next two games against the defenses of the Denver Broncos and Washington Commanders, Fields looked like a completely different guy. He completed 43 of 64 passes (67.2%) for 617 yards (9.7 YPA), eight touchdowns, one interception, and a passer rating of 131.3. Was Fields playing at a new level with more expansive passing concepts from Getsy? Yes, but Fields was also going up against two bad, overwhelmed defenses, and that was especially true in Chicago’s 40-20 win over the Commanders on Thursday night.

Even when Fields was unable to connect with his receivers, it didn’t matter — he completed 15 of 29 passes against Jack Del Rio’s defense for 282 yards, four touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 125.3. Most disconcerting for the Commanders was Fields’ ability to create explosive plays — both on long passes, and shorter passes in which Washington’s defense simply fell apart.

On Friday, per Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post, head coach Ron Rivera seemed bereft of answers.

Rivera cited the choices in defensive play calls. He mentioned the possibility of allowing some defensive players more liberties with their techniques — or even mandating that players adhere to certain techniques. He also said players need to be more disciplined.

“We’ve got to stop trying to do more than we need to and do our jobs,” he said.

Well, when you’re not put in positions to succeed, maybe it is time for a soft mutiny. Washington’s defensive players were loath to blame their coordinator, but when you watch the tape, it’s clear that the concepts Del Rio is giving his players aren’t working.

“It’s nothing on Del Rio. He made good calls today,” defensive end Chase Young said, adding, “It’s on us as players. [We’ve] just got to start faster and hold each other accountable.”

“We played terrible,” safety Darrick Forrest said. “We just got to be better.”

“We look at ourselves like a top-five defense in the league,” safety Kam Curl said. “We’re not playing like that right now, so we’re just looking for a solution to change that.”

The solution for Del Rio would be to give his players better answers to the test. If not, the solution for the Commanders would be to find someone who can.

Ron Rivera says there will be no coaching changes

There will be no staff changes for the Commanders.

Washington fans were fed up Thursday night after the Commanders’ embarrassing 40-20 home loss to the Chicago Bears. It was the fourth consecutive game that Washington allowed 30 or more points and the second straight blowout loss at home.

This is front of third sellout of the season at FedEx Field. And while the loss in Week 3 was to the Buffalo Bills, a legitimate Super Bowl contender, Thursday’s loss was to the Chicago Bears, which had lost 14 straight games.

Not surprisingly, Washington fans were out for blood on social media, calling for the Commanders’ new ownership group to fire head coach Ron Rivera. Or, for Rivera to fire defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio.

Rivera met with reporters via Zoom on Friday and was asked about any potential staff changes. He shut it down.

“No, no,” Rivera said via John of Keim of ESPN. “We’re, what, at Game 5; we’ve got 12 left to play. There’s plenty of football left.”

As much as fans don’t want to hear this, there are lots of things to consider when making these types of changes. Who would step in for Del Rio? I can hear the response to this: “Well, anyone can do what Del Rio is doing.”

In actuality, you’d be firing someone just to be firing someone. Rivera’s not going to do that. And it’s doubtful new managing partner Josh Harris interferes with any coaching moves right now. Harris and his partners are in full evaluation mode. That evaluation isn’t going too well for Washington’s coaching staff at the moment.

But as Rivera said, there are 12 games remaining. Rivera’s team often responds with at least one hot streak during his time in Washington. And for some reason, the Commanders always seem to start slow under Rivera and Del Rio.

However, all bets are off if the Commanders continue to lose, especially ugly home losses.

 

Fans and media discuss Rivera and Del Rio after another ugly Commanders’ loss

Social media weighs in on Ron Rivera and Jack Del Rio.

It was a rough night for the Washington Commanders in the Week 5 edition of Thursday Night Football. The Chicago Bears snapped a 14-game losing streak with a relatively easy 40-20 win over the Commanders at FedEx Field.

The Commanders looked flat and unprepared Thursday, digging themselves a 27-3 hole that they were unable to recover from even as the offense played much better in the second half.

Throughout the game, Washington fans were all over the Commanders, particularly head coach Ron Rivera and defensive Jack Del Rio. Why do these slow starts continue to happen each year? How can it be avoided?

After Washington dropped its third consecutive game, fans took to Twitter — or X — to vent their frustrations, particularly with Rivera and Del Rio.

Here are some of those reactions.

What coaches are saying about Commanders rookie CB Emmanuel Forbes

What are your impressions of Forbes through three weeks?

Washington Commanders rookie cornerback Emmanuel Forbes has three games under his belt. The first-round pick has had his share of ups and downs through the season’s first three weeks.

Forbes has one interception, which he could’ve run back for a touchdown if he hadn’t slipped. He also missed another one, something Forbes never did in college. He gave up a big catch at Denver and against Buffalo.

However, as a whole, Forbes has adjusted well early in his career. Kendall Fuller and Benjamin St-Juste have played most of the snaps at cornerback, but Forbes has participated in 57% of Washington’s defensive snaps.

According to Pro Football Reference, opposing quarterbacks have a 61.1 rating when throwing in Forbes’s direction. That’s excellent. Of course, it doesn’t tell the entire story. Quarterbacks have completed six of 12 passes against Forbes, again, a good number. But those six receptions have totaled 158 yards, an average of over 26 yards per reception.

Forbes still has to grow, but the early signs are encouraging. Washington coaches spoke about Forbes this week and are highly encouraged by his progress.