Pressers

Ron Rivera Presser: “I think my messaging has been consistent”

Ron Rivera speaks to the media

By Scott Jennings@ScottJenningsHH Oct 19, 2020, 12:00pm EDT

Ron Rivera doesn’t have any updates on three Washington Football Team players who left yesterday’s game[Saahdiq Charles(knee), Antonio Gandy-Golden(hamstring), and Isaiah Wright]. He did mention that AGG could miss a few weeks, but he has to meet with Head Athletic Trainer Ryan Vermillion later today. He was especially disappointed in Charles getting injured on his second play as a pro. Rivera said he blocked the Giants best pass rusher on the first play, and he has so much potential.

Rivera is trying to teach the team how to win, and also instill the culture he wants in Washington. He’s not sure if they have all the pieces right now. Even though the wins have not come, Rivera likes that a lot of young players are playing a lot right now and learning and growing together. They’re the ones tasked with helping create the culture Rivera envisions.

Rivera said going for two to get the win showed that he believes in his players, and it teaches them to play to win. But he said that if the game was at home in the same situation he probably would have kicked the extra point and went to overtime. Rivera said his aggressive “Riverboat” mentality came from a conversation he had with John Madden, and you have to have a mentality to drive to win. He doesn’t want to hear about his message being inconsistent and he doesn’t feel the need to keep explaining himself for his decisions this season.

Washington Football Team | Press Conference https://t.co/TOUJkuHBin
— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) October 19, 2020

Injury Updates:

Ron Rivera doesnt have much update on Antonio Gandy-Golden or Saahdiq Charles injuries. Rivera says Washington might need to look at practice squad help at WR for Cowboys game
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) October 19, 2020

Rivera does not have any medical updates on Saahdiq Charles, Antonio Gandy-Golden & Isaiah Wright. 11:30 meeting with Ryan Vermillion.
— Chris Russell AKA The Rooster (@Russellmania621) October 19, 2020

Ron Rivera has no injury updates. Antonio Gandy-Golden and Isaiah Wright were both hurt, so Washington could be thin at receiver this week if they aren't ready. (Steven Sims is also out)
— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) October 19, 2020

Rivera said he'll know more about the 3 guys who left Sunday's game w/ injuries — Saahdiq Charles, Antonio Gandy-Golden and Isaiah Wright — later this a.m.

But in answering another ? about AGG, Rivera said, "... next thing you know he's down and we'll lose him for a few weeks."
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) October 19, 2020

Saahdiq Charles:

Rivera expresses his frustration with Saahdiq Charles leaving the game with an injury. Said that in watching his first two plays, he thought, "God, the guy is something else."

Rivera said he blocked the best pass-rusher on the very first play.
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) October 19, 2020

Rivera was impressed with the two plays Saahdiq Charles played on Sunday. There's potential there, he said, and it's frustrating setbacks continue to happen because he wants Charles to have success.
— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) October 19, 2020

Teaching the team how to win:

Rivera said the team is making progress on teaching the team how to win. There are still some lessons to learn, though.
— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) October 19, 2020

Rivera said that the team is making progress but that he does not know "if we have all the pieces" right now. Also emphasized needing to adopt that winning mentality. That's what he tried to do with the 2-point attempt Sunday.
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) October 19, 2020

"This is their opportunity to learn and grow together."

Washington has a young team, and Rivera wants to use this time to develop the players so that when the culture is more established, they'll know how to win in close games.
— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) October 19, 2020

Even though the wins have not come, Rivera likes that a lot of young players are playing a lot right now and learning and growing together. They're the ones tasked with helping create the culture Rivera envisions.
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) October 19, 2020

Going for two to win the game:

Rivera said the decision to go for two shows the team two things:
1) He believes in his players
2) It teaches them to play to win

Rivera knows there are some people who don't agree with the call yesterday, but moments like that are teachable moments, he said.
— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) October 19, 2020

Here's the full exchange: pic.twitter.com/COw1vMzKgq
— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) October 19, 2020

Winning mentality:

Rivera mentions players like Jonathan Allen, Chase Young, Brandon Scherff, Morgan Moses who have that winning mentality. Other players are learning to develop that mentality.

"You can see it and feel it in guys."
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) October 19, 2020

Successful season:

Rivera has two goals for a successful season:
- Win as many games as possible
- The players can come away from the season believing their have established a foundation for a new culture.
— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) October 19, 2020

No change at kicker:

Ron Rivera makes clear he's not considering a kicking change. Dustin Hopkins job is secure
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) October 19, 2020

Ron Rivera said he is not considering making a change from K Dustin Hopkins, who has missed three field goals and an extra point this season.
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) October 19, 2020

Riverboat Ron:

#WashingtonFootball Head Coach Ron Rivera's aggressive mentality to go for 2-point conversions was inspired by legendary coach John Madden.

For more: https://t.co/KBE1eVMhy3 @wusa9 @WUSA9sports pic.twitter.com/yPSqq4rwsP
— Darren M. Haynes (@DarrenMHaynes) October 19, 2020

Ron Rivera says the "Riverboat Ron" mentality came about from a meeting he had with the legendary John Madden, who reinforced to him that you have to drive a mentality to win. #WashingtonFootball
— Chris Russell AKA The Rooster (@Russellmania621) October 19, 2020

The NFC East isn’t very good:

Ron Rivera: "The division isn't very good right now." - Might be understatement of the century. #WashingtonFootball
— Chris Russell AKA The Rooster (@Russellmania621) October 19, 2020

Rivera: "I've challenged our guys based on the division. It's not like anyone is running away with it."
— George Wallace (@GWallaceWTOP) October 19, 2020

Consistent message:

Ron Rivera: My message has been consistent. Im not worried about the timeout thing earlier in the year.
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) October 19, 2020

Ron Rivera on mixed messages:

"No I think my messaging has been consistent here."

Says he's already explained the timeout thing earlier in the year.

It's going forward.

Ol' @RiverboatRonHC does not seem thrilled about the 'mixed messaging' complaints. #WashingtonFootball
— Chris Russell AKA The Rooster (@Russellmania621) October 19, 2020

Antonio Gibson:

Rivera again praises rookie RB Antonio Gibson: "I think Antonio is going to be a good player for us...a very good player."
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) October 19, 2020