Ron Rivera held a presser the day after his first loss as the Washington Football Team’s head coach. He was immediately asked about the knee injury that took LG Brandon Scherff out of yesterday’s game against the Cardinals. Scherff had an Arizona defender roll up on his right leg, and he immediately went down and was helped off the field. Rivera said the news was positive for Washington’s franchise tag player. He expects Scherff to miss a few weeks, which could land him on this year’s short-term(3 week+) injured reserve. This sounds like a sprain, and will likely keep him out for 2-6 weeks depending on the severity and location of the injury. Wes Schweitzer filled in for Scherff yesterday, and will likely continue to take over that spot unless major changes are coming to the offensive line which doesn’t seem likely…yet.
Ron Rivera continues to preach patience, but that applies to coaches as well as his players. With the limited offense, it’s easy to expect more from players who have had to learn entirely new schemes with limited time to apply them on the practice field. Coaches have to self-evaluate when judging players who are still learning techniques, play calls, formations, substitutions, and more on an accelerated time frame. Rivera admits preaching patience is hard because you want success.
Rivera was asked if the coaches are putting too much pressure on one player. He mentioned Troy Apke who is in his first season as Washington’s starting FS. Apke didn’t play a lot last year, and is getting a baptism by fire. Rivera mentioned taking short-term lumps, for hopefully long-term gains. This is an experiment that many fans are ready to end quickly after Apke has looked lost multiple times already.
Rivera really focused on Dwayne Haskins Jr, and his development when the pressure question came up. He wants to make things easier for his franchise QB earlier in the games, but Haskins gets hyped, and speeds up early, which can lead to high throws and missed opportunities. Rivera wants 2nd half Haskins to show up in the first half, which means he’ll have to settle down early.
Brandon Scherff injury:
Ron Rivera said they got “some good news” on Brandon Scherff, but he’s going to miss a few weeks.
— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) September 21, 2020
Ron Rivera says Brandon Scherff will miss a few weeks but the news is “positive.” Sounds like he wont miss the full year
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) September 21, 2020
Patience:
Ron Rivera explained what he meant exactly when he said the coaching staff needs to look at itself. They don’t want to get too far ahead of themselves, maybe asking too much of them too soon with so little time to prep this offseason.
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) September 21, 2020
Rivera has been talking about patience for months now. He said that can be hard because the coaching staff wants to put players in position to win, but they don’t want to get ahead of themselves.
— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) September 21, 2020
Rivera on preaching patience: “It’s hard because you want success.”
— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) September 21, 2020
Dwayne Haskins Jr.:
Asked if Washington is putting too much pressure on any one player, Ron Rivera says “we’re putting a lot on the quarterback.” Rivera wants to make things easier for Dwayne Haskins early in games
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) September 21, 2020
Rivera said there were a couple of opportunities for Haskins to take advantage of some mismatches, but he didn’t make those throws. Rivera also said Haskins made some good throws, but he wants to see Haskins get off to a better start early.
— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) September 21, 2020
Good question from @InstantRHIplay – How can second half Haskins show up in the first half? Rivera says he’s talked to Scott Turner about that too, needs Haskins to deliver better passes early on
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) September 21, 2020
.@RiverboatRonHC says that he feels Dwayne Haskins is “so hyped” but going through his progressions and reads too quickly.
They want to settle him down in the first half. @WSHFootballSI
— Chris Russell AKA The Rooster (@Russellmania621) September 21, 2020
Ron Rivera on Dwayne Haskins’ missing high – “He speeds up.” Rivera says Haskins sees the read and wants to get the ball there quick – making good decisions but needs to be more relaxed like he does in 2nd half
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) September 21, 2020
Troy Apke:
Rivera said they are “putting a lot on the quarterback” right now. Also Apke, another player who didn’t play a ton last year. Part of the choice to take short-term lumps for hopefully long-range growth.
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) September 21, 2020
Rivera also mentioned that the coaching staff has put a lot on Troy Apke’s plate. Sounds like they’re being patient with Apke as he progresses through his first season as the starter.
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) September 21, 2020
Head coach Ron Rivera said Dwayne Haskins’ seems to be going through his progressions too quickly and releasing the ball too quickly early on. Wants Haskins to be more patient, which will help with his accuracy.
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) September 21, 2020
Throws to RBs:
.@RiverboatRonHC says part of the reason why they haven’t had as many throws to RB’s is because their protection scheme called for them to be more blockers yesterday.
— Chris Russell AKA The Rooster (@Russellmania621) September 21, 2020
Couple things from Rivera: on the RBs/receptions… Sunday they were in protection quite a bit; more safety valves; do need to get them more — they make guys miss…Says DH might get a bit too hyped early; speed things up; settles in late; more productive…
— John Keim (@john_keim) September 21, 2020
Running game:
Rivera said they have to put the running game together more quickly. If they can, that will allow the play action to be more successful.
— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) September 21, 2020
3 disappointing plays:
Head coach Ron Rivera said he was disappointed in three plays in the first half:
1. Haskins’ fumble in the red zone
2. Steven Sims Jr.’s fumble on the punt
3. Haskins’ sack that took them out of field goal range.Instead of scoring 10 points on those drives, it ended up with 0.
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) September 21, 2020
Cancer treatment:
Rivera said he has been holding up well with his treatment in the first two weeks of the season.
— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) September 21, 2020
Rivera said he’s holding up well. Flew on Saturday instead of Friday with the team and also flew back private yesterday to get back quicker.
— George Wallace (@GWallaceWTOP) September 21, 2020
Every day or so, we get a reminder that Ron is not only trying to fix one of sports’ most dilapidated organizations, he’s also trying to fight cancer. He flew separately from the team both ways in Week 2 and will be heading to treatment right after the presser he’s holding now
— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) September 21, 2020
Rivera said he’s found somewhat of a routine to balance his health and coaching. It includes taking short rest breaks – one in the morning and one after practice – and making sure he’s staying hydrated.
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) September 21, 2020
Not using timeouts:
When justifying his non-usage of timeouts at the end of yesterday’s game, Ron Rivera quoted Ernest Hemingway. Not sure if any other NFL coach will be doing the same today
— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) September 21, 2020
Pass rush:
Rivera said he is happy about the defense getting to quarterbacks, but he also feels like they took a step back against Arizona. They played tentative, Rivera said. He’s fired up about the unit, but he still says they need to play better.
— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) September 21, 2020
Rivera and Del Rio both thought the defense played tentative Sunday compared to its aggressive style in Week 1. Rivera said a lot of that had to do with Arizona’s personnel of Murray, Hopkins, Fitzgerald, etc.
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) September 21, 2020
Rivera said he thought the Wash D was tentative at times Sun. Agree: Murray does that to teams; LBs can’t attack the line the same way; DL worried about busting, etc…
— John Keim (@john_keim) September 21, 2020
.@RiverboatRonHC said his defense played a little tentative yesterday which is more than understandable.
They seemed to be crashing early on the mesh point of the QB keeper & got burned. Wonder if that had anything to do with it?
IDK..Maybe? @WSHFootballSI @LockedWFTPod
— Chris Russell AKA The Rooster (@Russellmania621) September 21, 2020
