DALLAS — Washington’s leaders didn’t want to focus on a potential coaching change. And I’m not sure anyone can help.
Speculation once again turned to the job security of fourth-year head coach Ron Rivera and his staff after the Commanders lost 45-10 to Dallas, their eighth loss in 10 games and fell to 4-8. .
Rivera said of his situation: “As I said before, I’m not worried about anything. I’m just going to do my job and see what happens. That’s the only thing I can do.”
However, several players said they were not paying attention to the coach’s fate.
“It’s only when you guys ask,” Washington left tackle Charles Leno Jr. said. “Nobody else is bringing this up. We’re not talking about this. We’re not concerned about this. We’re going to follow the game plan, listen to the coach, and win.” “I’m trying hard to play the game.” “
This is the fourth year of the Rivera administration and the first year of owner Josh Harris, so the future of the manager has been a constant topic of discussion. Washington won the NFC East title under Rivera in 2020, but hasn’t had a winning record since 2016.
Coach Harris said he wanted to give his staff a full season to better evaluate the entire operation. However, the coach has lost three straight games, losing 85-30 in two nationally televised games.
“Who’s going to be the head coach instead? Who?” Leno said. “I don’t know. … Where we are right now, I don’t see what good it’s going to do. When you do something like that in the middle of the year, I’m like, ‘I don’t know.’ I really don’t know.” ”
Leno said that even if Harris promotes assistant head coach and offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy to interim coach, “Ultimately, EB will be focused on offense, so it will be the same.” Ta. [defensive coordinator] jack [Del Rio] He will concentrate on defense. What is the difference? ”
Multiple players have said privately that Rivera is not missing out on the locker room and hopes he stays on as coach for the remainder of the season. He may choose to change his staff before the end of the season, but when asked about it after the game, he said, “I’m not going to get involved in that.”
“We’re not making any impact in the locker room,” Washington quarterback Sam Howell said. “We just focus on what we can control and try to improve. Obviously, when things aren’t going well, people are going to talk about everyone’s job, not just the coaches and the players. You just have to zone everything” outside. “
Receiver Terry McLaurin experienced a coaching change here during the 2019 season. Then-owner Dan Snyder fired coach Jay Gruden after an 0-5 start. Gruden is in his sixth season. Washington won the first game after his firing against the winless Miami Dolphins. However, the coach finished the season with 3 wins and 13 losses.
“Just because you make a change here and there doesn’t always affect the outcome,” McLoughlin says. “I’m not part of those types of discussions, but I think even in the rookie year where there was some change, there were still ups and downs. It’s a question of whether the players still have respect and pride. You can’t come here.”
Washington hired Bieniemy to revive a struggling offense after an 8-8-1 season. The Commanders chose Howell, a second-year player who played well in the season finale against Dallas, to start at quarterback.
The coaches expected the team to struggle offensively due to the change, but they didn’t expect it to stumble defensively. Washington finished seventh in scoring and third in total yards defensively last season. They were expected to build on that success, but instead struggled throughout the season.
The Commanders rank last in scoring defense and 29th in yards allowed. Players say the conflict extends beyond coaches.
“In the NFL, you have to do your job, and as players, we’re not doing our job,” Washington defensive tackle John Allen said. “As coaches, I don’t think anyone is getting their job done because we’re not getting our job done.”
