Random Commanders Thoughts

[MikefromOH]

What if he came here and brought Baker with him?

 

[DieselPwr44]

So Sean McVay is already burned out? No thanks.

 

[Primus Porcus]

Most intriguing nugget I've seen in awhile...




Sounds like he might want to take a break. He's under contract to LA for like 4 more seasons so the cost to coax him back to DC would probably be eye-popping.

My eyes got big when I first saw his name too, but I just dont see it.

After the SB last year there were rumblings that he might hang em up, so you really start to wonder how much he actually WANTS to do THIS. The HC gig? He's 36, so how the hell is he already burnt out... when it supposedly all comes so 'easy' to him, according everyone who's worked with him? It just doesn't add up. He's not even at the top of his game yet. He's ascending.

I have a feeling that he doesn't like the grind, he's reached the top, and now he's going to move on to television. I'm seriously concerned a guy who's lost his passion for coaching after 6 very successful seasons, with 2 SB appearances and 1 victory. Something isn't adding up. Is he unhappy in LA? He seems to have a blank check when it comes to the team... maybe there's more to it?

 

[MikefromOH]

AZ coach is probably out, too, right?

 

[Chris]

AZ coach is probably out, too, right?

 

[Boone]

I think they'd be crazy to ditch Kingsbury but that's just me. I guess the argument is, the best he's been able to do in 4 years is lose a wildcard game and then follow that up with a 4-5 win season. I think the organization made a big mistake making Kyler Murray the long-term QB for insane money (5 years for 290 million). He's going to kill more than one HC's carerr imho.

 

[MikefromOH]

All that money they sunk in to Murray and the word is he doesn't like him at all. Will be interesting to see how it works out.

 

[Primus Porcus]

I think they'd be crazy to ditch Kingsbury but that's just me. I guess the argument is, the best he's been able to do in 4 years is lose a wildcard game and then follow that up with a 4-5 win season. I think the organization made a big mistake making Kyler Murray the long-term QB for insane money (5 years for 290 million). He's going to kill more than one HC's carerr imho.

I think he locked himself into a deadline when he took Murray. Josh Rosen was a 1st round QB from the year before. He ended up being 'right' but when you dump a 1st round QB in his second season in favor of taking ANOTHER QB at 1/1, you're locking yourself in to that guy. If you can't win with HIM... you're doomed.

 

[burgold]

Norv Turner: What we do works.
Scott Turner: What we do has never worked and I'm not gonna change.

 

[burgold]

No to Carr. Yes to Bezos.

My position has simplified. I don't want us to draft a QB in round one or two this year. I don't want to trade for a QB. I don't want us to rent a high priced QB mercenary. What I want to do is hand the keys to Sam Howell. Yes, I know that's insane, however, insanity is what we need. Playing it safe might bump us up to a winning record and it might fail as spectacularly as the Wilson signing. For me, it's a decent time to throw the dice. Here's why:

If Howell balls out and the Commanders score we have our franchise QB. If Howell craters we get a low enough draft pick to nab one of the coveted draft QBs in 24. If Snyder sells the team before spring, but too late for the new owner to make a decision on Rivera then we do not saddle our new coach with a QB they don't want. So, the best scenario is go with Howell and hope he is the man, but play it out regardless. No Alex Smith or Wentz... maybe not even a Heinicke. Just some standard near vet minimum journeyman QB backup in case Howell gets hurt. But no matter how the season works out, give Howell a chance to go through his growing pains on the field and prove his quality.

Sticking with my plan.

 

[burgold]

So, do we pick 16 then?

I feel fine about the win because Howell played fine and Paul showed up (why he wasn't inserted earlier with all the struggling/injured linemen I don't understand. Why are coaches so afraid to trust rookies?)

8-8-1 is about as average as you can get. Not a good record at all, but it is Rivera's first non-losing record with this team.

 

[Boone]

Obviously they have no problem throwing gunshot victim rookies out there. I think there's this idea that the QB has to be an 'experienced' vet. Funny thing is, a couple of our best QB showings in the past 3 seasons have been inexperienced QBs getting their first opportunity. Experience is great. But it's not the only attribute that matters in a football player - even a QB.

 

[Chris]

Obviously they have no problem throwing gunshot victim rookies out there. I think there's this idea that the QB has to be an 'experienced' vet. Funny thing is, a couple of our best QB showings in the past 3 seasons have been inexperienced QBs getting their first opportunity. Experience is great. But it's not the only attribute that matters in a football player - even a QB.

Funny thing is…one can only gain playing experience by, you know, playing.

 

[MikefromOH]

Howell got the win tonight, and I'm happy for it.

But, he went 11 for 19 with 169. 1 TD and 1 pick.

The issue is Turner, and perhaps him. He threw a very costly pick in the end zone. He did have great in stride throws and a great deep throw.

Fire. Turner. Now. That last name has cursed our team since his father.

 

[burgold]

Funny thing is, a couple of our best QB showings in the past 3 seasons have been inexperienced QBs getting their first opportunity. Experience is great. But it's not the only attribute that matters in a football player - even a QB.

That suggests that our coaches ruin our QBs. If they were best straight out of college or in their first game and get worse thereafter then there's something wrong with how we are developing them, coaching them, or calling plays for them. Perhaps all three.

 

[burgold]

Took a peek at some way too early mock drafts this morning. Quite a few places have us taking a corner. Don't that, but the needs part of me would really like to see a guard or linebacker at 16. Then again, our CB depth is really suspect especially after St. Juste went down and just really couldn't return.

 

[Rhino-Rhino]

Im on board with letting Turner go but really what up and coming /experienced OC is going to look at our organization with a team sale pending and a head coach who basically a lame duck . If he doesn't win next year he won't be back and what if the new owner wants to go in a different direction and fire him . Turner signed a 3 yr extension last year and Ron being as loyal as he is ........I just don't know

 

[Boone]

None of them is the answer. As I said in chat - if they want to replace Turner, it will have to be someone in house imho. Unless Rivera walks, which I still think is a distinct possibility. And even then, unless the new owner is more or less already set, that still isn't an attractive situation for a new OC.

Most likely scenario (again, unless sale of the team is imminent), is this same coaching crew comes back with no changes.

 

[burgold]

I think this is the scary part of Rivera reassembling the gang from Carolina. If it didn't work or didn't work well enough everyone on the staff is old guard. There's no hot shot kid with new exciting ideas ready to take a leap just a bunch of graybeards holding on. Part of me thinks this is why Kerrigan seems to have had such an outsized impact on the D Line this year. He was a fresh voice with fresh ideas. He wasn't someone who has done this and done it well for twenty years and is stuck in a pattern. Now, just to counter my observation, Scott Turner probably was the fresher set of eyes on offense. Even though he had been around this was his first time to step out of his Dad's shadow. It worked for Kyle Shanahan. It hasn't (so far) for Scott. So new isn't always better.

Best is a mix. Rivera's mix is off. It tilts too far towards experience. Worse, and we see this evident in the inability to adapt, it skews towards the unimaginative. All Rivera's choices for coach have been safe and unimaginative. Loyalty can be great. Gibbs was super loyal, but he was also super loyal because the team he assembled was winning constantly and always in the Super Bowl or a threat to go. Rivera's Carolina teams were leaking and in need of repair. There really wasn't a reason to get the gang back together and when he did he more or less got the results he'd been getting his last few years in Carolina.

 

[Boone]

I think Rivera is one of those coaches who has a ton of 'emotional intelligence'. He knows what to say, who to say it to , and is a great relational coach. I've never heard anyone say anything bad about Rivera the human being. But in terms of raw intelligence and football IQ, I think he's average. He's not ever done anything as a coach that is considered ground-breaking or especially innovative. I don't believe there is a 'Rivera coaching tree' as there is with other long-term coaches like Andy Reid and Bill Belichick. Despite his 'Riverboat' moniker, he's not a risk-taker in the grand scheme of things. He's a super traditional, mainstream, old school coach who thinks leadership and character are the most important qualities to have in a football team. In 2023, I'm not sure that works as well as it used to.