Tag: QB Tua Tagovailoa

As expected Commanders hosting Maye and Daniels next week

The Commanders get some face time with Maye and Daniels next week — one week before the NFL draft.

Well, that didn’t take long.

Just 24 hours ago, Commanders Wire encouraged Commanders fans not to make too much of Tuesday’s announcement that Jayden Daniels would visit the Commanders next week.

Though Adam Schefter, Brian Kelly and Colin Cowherd had all said in the past week that the Commanders were going to draft Daniels, we said, yes, the Commanders may draft Daniels, but those guys don’t actually know whom the Commanders are going to select.

We also declared that Adam Peters would certainly have Drake Maye visit the facility and perhaps J.J. McCarthy as well.

So, Wednesday brought the announcement that North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye will also visit Ashburn next week.

Indeed, Adam Peters, Dan Quinn, and owner Josh Harris have wisely not given any indication to anyone in the media who the Commanders will select with that No. 2 overall selection.

The possibility exists that the three may not only be acting wisely to not publicly declare their intentions. Seeing these three quarterbacks are also receiving such varied evaluations from the draft analysts, could it be that the Commanders trio of Peters, Quinn and Harris honestly, have not yet been able to be in unison regarding the selection?

Perhaps, being undecided, the Commanders are still continuing to do their necessary homework. If that is the case, could it be that this final visit/interview for each next week may be the determining factor in the end?

It’s a huge decision for Quinn and Peters. Just last year, the Panthers took Bryce Young, yet the guy selected next was C.J. Stroud, who had a much better rookie season.

With that in mind, the Commanders may want to conduct one more face-to-face interaction to observe how the young men refer to surprising questions or statements.

Ron Rivera chose Chase Young at No. 2 when quarterbacks Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert were not chosen until the fifth and sixth selections. Rivera never recovered and never obtained the quarterback he needed, either.

 

What were Ron Rivera’s 2 biggest errors with the Commanders?

What were Rivera’s biggest mistakes during his time in Washington?

Ron Rivera was praised by players and Josh Harris as someone who was professional to the very end of his tenure.

Yet, the question can also rightly (and fairly) be asked, What were Rivera’s biggest mistakes during his four-year coach-centric term?

In Rivera’s case, two errors clearly outshine the others.

Parting ways with Kyle Smith

In the 2019 Redskins draft room, Kyle Smith (director of college scouting) asked the room whom they were going to draft at No. 15? Sources have agreed there was silence, and one voice finally answered: the owner himself. The choice was going to be Dwayne Haskins.

Smith reportedly proceeded to implore the room to please consider drafting one of three players. But the owner had spoken.

Rivera was hired the following January. Smith basically constructed the draft board and led the room through the draft. Rivera was pleased and publicly praised Smith for his leadership in that draft.

But in later months of that 2020 season, Rivera grew cold toward Smith; not praising him, nor even mentioning him. Rivera determined instead to hire Marty Hurney and Martin Mayhew.

Yes, Rivera got what he wanted, but he also lost what he had. In Smith, he had a young man, full of energy and a voracious work ethic. He also possessed, in Smith, the one man who carried courage in the organization to tell Rivera and Snyder what they needed to hear.

Smith understandably departed following the 2020 season. In all three drafts (2021-23) Smith would clearly not have drafted as Rivera and the Marty’s did. Do you think Smith would have reached on Jamin Davis at No.19? Valuing draft choices, can you even imagine Smith trading up for a long snapper (Camaron Cheeseman)?

Drafting Chase Young in the 2020 NFL Draft

The previous owner, having laid down his law in the previous draft, Washington had been stuck with Dwayne Haskins at No. 15 overall.

As the 2020 draft arrived, Washington owned the No. 2 overall selection. Haskins, during his rookie season, had displayed an alarming immaturity, playing on a cell phone with fans in the stands prior to an NFL game’s conclusion.

Two quarterbacks (following Joe Burrow) were projected to be top-10 picks. Rivera could have approached Snyder expressing those two were far ahead of Haskins. He could have then stressed that when you are selecting No. 2 and you don’t have a quarterback, you should take a top-10 projected quarterback because he might be your guy for the next decade.

But Rivera wanted Chase Young and left Tua Tagovailoa (chosen 5th) and Justin Herbert (chosen 6th). Young disappointed tremendously and was traded in 2023.

Rivera spent his next three seasons attempting to find a quarterback in Ryan Fitzpatrick, Taylor Heinicke, Carson Wentz, Jacoby Brissett and Sam Howell.

Rivera earned a 26-40-1 .396 record because these were the two biggest errors of his Washington tenure.

Commanders defense no better without Jack Del Rio, in 45-15 loss to Dolphins

Yet another rough day for Washington’s defense.

It was ugly from the start, as Miami completely humiliated Washington 45-15.

The Commanders defense had no answer for the Dolphins offense. Miami converted seven of 13 third downs and also both of its fourth-down attempts, piling up 406 yards.

Head coach Ron Rivera had fired defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio one day following the Thanksgiving Day Massacre that ended with a 45-10 loss to the Cowboys. At least that game was 20-10 after three quarters.

This home game with Rivera calling the defense was over at the half; Miami was already up 31-7. Tua Tagovailoa had already connected with speedy wide receiver Tyreek Hill for touchdown passes of 78 and 60 yards.

The Commanders pass defense surrendered 11.3 yards per pass Sunday. Don’t misunderstand. It was not 11.3 yards per completion. It was 11.3 yards per attempt. Words to describe such a performance that come to mind are rotten, lousy, atrocious, awful.

You would think those who are paid to be professionals would all week, prepare immensely, and play intensely because they have something to prove.

Yet, all that this defensive unit “proved” Sunday is that they personally, and their level of play collectively, indeed did get their coordinator Jack Del Rio and defensive backs coach Brent Vieselmeyer fired.

Even late in the game, when Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel subbed out his starting quarterback for Mike White, the Commanders were helpless, providing little to no resistance as Miami ran the ball for 13 consecutive plays.

Miami scored on the possession, and the final touchdown was emblematic of the day. Dolphins running back De’Von Achane scored from two yards as the defense looked like it was simply going through the motions.

Tagovailoa completed 18 of 24 passes for 280 yards and two touchdowns. He was not intercepted, nor was he sacked. Hill finished his day with five receptions for 157 yards and those two touchdowns that looked entirely too easy.

Knowing the last five games are important for many defensive players, this was the effort this group put on tape today? There did not appear to be much intensity.

Why? Are some settling for losing?