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I think some of the fan criticism and anger out there is over the top. I think this is a fair summary of the Rivera era so far:
1. He came into a HC role with no GM or experienced front office help and was handed a roster with no starting caliber QB and only a handful of guys who would start on other NFL teams.
2. He was diagnosed with cancer and coached through treatment.
3. He was saddled with a blown first round pick of a QB, a guy who is probably uncoachable, and was forced to play that hand out until it became obvious it was a blown pick. Then he finished the season with a one-legged aging veteran who he had to replace with a guy off the street. He still manages to win the NFC East and nearly knock off the eventual Super Bowl champs in a playoff game.
4. Year 2, he brings in two experienced front office guys in Mayhew and Hurney. They lose out in the Matthew Stafford lottery and decide not to give up major picks/talent to move up for a QB in the draft. They bring in a serviceable boom or bust QB coming off his best season as a pro who plays 5 minutes before suffering what may be a career ending injury.
5. Kid off the street becomes the season starter, backed up by Sir Limps-a-lot.
6. The team proceeds to have one of it's worst rashes of injury ever (53 total go to IR at some point in the 2021 season, almost 1/3rd of our cap for the year - 2nd worst total in the league behind only the Jets).
7. In an admittedly up and down season, the coaching staff still has the squad in the thick of the playoff race well into December when a COVID outbreak devastates the roster further. In the 2nd to last game of the season, Washington is finally eliminated from playoff contention in a very close contest.
When you take all of the above into consideration, it really puts the last 2 years in context. I did not mention everything the current front office and coaching staff have had to contend with - because just the above would be enough to result in a couple of 3 or 4 win seasons. Despite the above, some want the coordinators fired, feel Rivera should either be gone or on the hotseat, or want to blow it all up.
I think one can argue that these coaches and the front office should be commended for achieving what they've been able to achieve given all of the obstacles they've faced, with limited talent. We're a tired, frustrated, and rightfully impatient fanbase. We hate our owner, our name, our stadium, and question why we even bother watching or continuing to call ourselves fans. Our stadium, literally falling down around us, is routinely taken over by opposing fans. It's now the norm.
But the truth is, Rivera and company just got here. They are responsible for the team's record, but not much else. In the short time they've been here, if not true success, they've at least put a respectable mostly competitive often over-performing team on the field. We have NO off the field issues, no malcontents (save the most recent outburst by Daron Payne which I mostly attribute to frustration), our coaches and players appear to be good guys, solid human beings, and have no quit in them.
So I have to ask.... what, really, is the problem?
I don't know if on-the-field success is right around the corner or if we'll be blowing it up again 2-3 failed seasons from now. But when I look at the big picture, it's more encouraging than not. We should not be ashamed to be DC Football fans.
And there have been many years where we could not say that.
Here's to better days ahead.
1. He came into a HC role with no GM or experienced front office help and was handed a roster with no starting caliber QB and only a handful of guys who would start on other NFL teams.
2. He was diagnosed with cancer and coached through treatment.
3. He was saddled with a blown first round pick of a QB, a guy who is probably uncoachable, and was forced to play that hand out until it became obvious it was a blown pick. Then he finished the season with a one-legged aging veteran who he had to replace with a guy off the street. He still manages to win the NFC East and nearly knock off the eventual Super Bowl champs in a playoff game.
4. Year 2, he brings in two experienced front office guys in Mayhew and Hurney. They lose out in the Matthew Stafford lottery and decide not to give up major picks/talent to move up for a QB in the draft. They bring in a serviceable boom or bust QB coming off his best season as a pro who plays 5 minutes before suffering what may be a career ending injury.
5. Kid off the street becomes the season starter, backed up by Sir Limps-a-lot.
6. The team proceeds to have one of it's worst rashes of injury ever (53 total go to IR at some point in the 2021 season, almost 1/3rd of our cap for the year - 2nd worst total in the league behind only the Jets).
7. In an admittedly up and down season, the coaching staff still has the squad in the thick of the playoff race well into December when a COVID outbreak devastates the roster further. In the 2nd to last game of the season, Washington is finally eliminated from playoff contention in a very close contest.
When you take all of the above into consideration, it really puts the last 2 years in context. I did not mention everything the current front office and coaching staff have had to contend with - because just the above would be enough to result in a couple of 3 or 4 win seasons. Despite the above, some want the coordinators fired, feel Rivera should either be gone or on the hotseat, or want to blow it all up.
I think one can argue that these coaches and the front office should be commended for achieving what they've been able to achieve given all of the obstacles they've faced, with limited talent. We're a tired, frustrated, and rightfully impatient fanbase. We hate our owner, our name, our stadium, and question why we even bother watching or continuing to call ourselves fans. Our stadium, literally falling down around us, is routinely taken over by opposing fans. It's now the norm.
But the truth is, Rivera and company just got here. They are responsible for the team's record, but not much else. In the short time they've been here, if not true success, they've at least put a respectable mostly competitive often over-performing team on the field. We have NO off the field issues, no malcontents (save the most recent outburst by Daron Payne which I mostly attribute to frustration), our coaches and players appear to be good guys, solid human beings, and have no quit in them.
So I have to ask.... what, really, is the problem?
I don't know if on-the-field success is right around the corner or if we'll be blowing it up again 2-3 failed seasons from now. But when I look at the big picture, it's more encouraging than not. We should not be ashamed to be DC Football fans.
And there have been many years where we could not say that.
Here's to better days ahead.
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