BGO Blind Pig: Week 6 at Atlanta

[Boone]

This week, the Commanders travel to the Big Peach and the home of Coca-Cola to try to get Ridder that bad taste in their mouths. The guys talk Bears debacle, Sam Howell, Chase Young, and our chances in Atlanta. Bonus Rivera-bashing included and Morgan Freeman makes an unexpected appearance.

 

[Boone]

You really have to wonder how Rivera's 'Do your job' sign went over with the locker room? I think I'd be extremely irked as it's not really consistent with Ron's usual 'it starts with me' mantra.

 

[Chris]

A present for Boone:

 

[DieselPwr44]

Making mountains out of molehills: it’s the Redskins fanbase way.
Fighting freelancing or blown assignments happens to every coaching staff in any sport.
But as usual, the local beat blows something as small as “Do your job” way out of proportion.

There’s a lot of things to give Rivera hell about…..this ain’t one of them.

 

[Boone]

I won’t argue on things being overblown - but that doesn’t mean it isn’t another tone deaf Ron Rivera head scratcher.

If you’re a head coach and you want to make a point, do something decisive like replace starters, replace a coach, bench guys, or call individuals out. But I think where it’s mockworthy is that Rivera constantly throws out the ‘we all have to do better including me’ and ‘it starts at the top’. For me this is something a high school coach does and it seems like a passive-aggressive way of communicating ‘I’m not the problem’.

I’m tired of 7 and 8 win seasons and new locker room signage isn’t it.

 

[DieselPwr44]

When Belichick says it, he’s a genius.
When Ron does it? Just go ahead and fire him now.

Too many people need to step in the shower….because they’re all lathered up.

 

[Boone]

I know folks are enjoying Belichick having a nightmare season, but what did he ever do to you to warrant comparing him to Ron Rivera?

 

[Boone]

The bottom line DP isn’t what you or I or any other fan thinks of Rivera’s methods/schtick. It matters what the players think of it. As Canadian Hog has talked about, we will see in the next couple weeks if Rivera has started to lose this locker room.

I really don’t think it matters as I am confident this is his last season as the HC and his actions may be more about controlling the narrative when he’s let go than they are about winning.

 

[DieselPwr44]

IMO, if Rivera had lost the locker room, the team never comes back vs Denver or makes a run in the second half last Thursday.
We’ll see if Ron and his staff can get everyone on the same page in the coming weeks.

 

[Chris]

 

[Kel Varnsen]

Good episode today. I really enjoyed it.

As for the last topic of why so few WR targets. You have to remember that EB came from KC where the offense was based around the TE. And when you have the best TE in football, that’s a great plan. The WR in KC were not good last year. Before that, they had Hill and no one else. Hill was a freak and his other WR teammates were nothing. So he’s used to building the game plan from the TE out. But Thomas isn’t Kelce and Howell isn’t Mahomes. I think he needs to adjust his game plan a bit more, which it seemed like he did against Philly. But I agree he needs to use McLaurin and Dotson more. Get the ball into your playmakers hands more often. Design plays to get them open.

 

[SirClintonPortis]

IMO, if Rivera had lost the locker room, the team never comes back vs Denver or makes a run in the second half last Thursday.
We’ll see if Ron and his staff can get everyone on the same page in the coming weeks.

It's more likely Ron is just a nice guy with motivating powers. Him being the nice coach means the players are too lax and comfortable when the first punches are thrown but he gets them to dig deep come halftime. This team is never going to fix its slow starts.