I don’t think I’ve seen a coach backtrack so fast as Riverboat Ron has done this week. Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera has been backtracking his comments about his QB, Carson Wentz, as the media has created a frenzy storm around him.
To be honest, I don’t even think his comments were that bad. Sure, the Washington Commanders’ main issue this season, aside from the usual nonsense and blatant (alleged) criminal activity by team owner Dan Synder, has been their defense. You know, the very side of the ball that Ron Rivera has made this name and living on in the NFL these past 15 years.
In particular, their pass defense.
In the five games the Commanders have played so far, their defense ranks 18th in total yards allowed, 30th in total TDs allowed, 31st in interceptions, 16th in 1st downs allowed. Obviously, that’s not great when they drafted FOUR first round picks on LBs, DE, and DTs in the last six drafts.
It’s the D-Lines and the linebacker core’s responsibility to get to the quarterback and either prevent him from passing or force him into making quick, ill-thought throws that the defensive backfield can bat away.
Clearly, with the Commanders only being a playoff team two years ago on the back of a great defense, Ron Rivera has not done his job in coaching this defensive line to stop the pass.
Though, they are 14th in total rush yards allowed and 10th in rushing TDs allowed, so that’s not too bad. At least they’re doing something right.
But, as for Ron Rivera’s specific comments about Carson Wentz, they’re mostly factual.
First off, for those who don’t know, when Rivera was asked why the three other NFC East teams have been playing so well this season compared to how bad the Commanders have been, he responded by saying “quarterback”. Evidently, that’s him taking a massive shot on his QB, the newly acquired Carson Wentz.
Now, the part of his comments that’s not accurate is his idea that the other NFC East teams have ‘great’ quarterbacks that have set apart the Cowboys, Eagles, and Giants from the Commanders. Is he really trying to tell us that Daniel Jones and Cooper Rush are game changing quarterbacks? Jones has been consistently one of the worst QBs in the NFL since he was drafted 6th overall back in 2016, while Cooper Rush has been a backup QB his whole career.
Meanwhile, Jalen Hurts, the Philadelphia Eagles QB, was a second-round pick and was nearly supplanted by Deshaun Watson this offseason. Carson Wentz is not substantial worse than these players.
Yet, Rivera does have a point to the respect that Carson Wentz has not won the Commanders any games this season.
With a 62.9 completion percentage, 1,390 passing yards, 10 TDs, 6 INTs, and an 86.0 QBR, these numbers just aren’t ‘Super Bowl’ caliber statistics. Yes, they could be a lot worse, as they were in Indianapolis last season, but they also could be a lot better.
Out of the 32 starting QBs Week 1, Carson Wentz ranks 20th in completion percentage, 3rd in interceptions thrown, and 18th in QBR. However, he also ranks 5th in passing yards, 2nd in passing attempts, 6th in touchdown passes, and 12th in 1st downs gained. So, he’s really a mixed bag.
Nevertheless, whether one thinks the Commanders struggles are down to Wentz or to the defense, I think Riverboat Ron is forgetting that he is the guy who picked Carson Wentz in the first place. So…
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