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Washington Football Team Head Coach Ron Rivera held a lengthy Zoom presser today following the news that Dwayne Haskins Jr. was being benched for #2 QB Kyle Allen. Rivera said he has been thinking about this move for a while, and the status of the NFC East helped push the decision. Washington is 1-3 and only a half game behind the Eagles. Rivera wants a QB who is familiar with their system, and one that will give them the best chance to achieve their “short-term goals”
Rivera said this isn’t an indictment on Dwayne Haskins Jr., but also said he didn’t see the growth he needed over the first 4 games. The door is not closed for Haskins, but for now he will sit on the bench and watch as Kyle Allen and Alex Smith are active on gamedays. He admits that it’s not a fair situation for Haskins with new coaches, no OTAs, preseason, and a limited mini-camp. He heard Haskins’ agents complaints about lack of weapons on offense, but Kyle Allen will be stepping in an playing with the same players.
Rivera also mentioned that he has noticed frustration from players when Haskins play has limited the offense, and put more pressure on the defense. The decision is his, but he laid out his plan for team owner Dan Snyder and he was supportive. Offensive Coordinator Scott Turner also agreed with the plan, and is reportedly very high on Kyle Allen.
Washington Football Team Press Conference | October 7, 2020 https://t.co/UJv3UsAZIC
— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) October 7, 2020
QB switch:
Ron Rivera on the QB switch: "The biggest thing is looking at where we are in terms of our schedule and circumstances. This has been thought out by me for a while."
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) October 7, 2020
Ron Rivera: "This has been thought out by me for a while. To me, it goes back to the beginning of the schedule." He figured with four NFC games coming up, incl. 3 division games, they're better off putting ball in Kyle Allen's hands bc he's more familiar w/the system.
— Adam Zielonka (@Adam_Zielonka) October 7, 2020
Rivera said the decision to move to Allen has been thought out by him for a while. He mentioned the schedule, which includes three division games, and based on what has happened with Haskins, WAS is better off putting the ball in the hands of the people who know their system.
— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) October 7, 2020
Dwayne Haskins Jr.:
Ron Rivera: "I just based on the things that have gone on with Dwayne, based on his development and where he is, we're better off going with guys that know our system ..."
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) October 7, 2020
Ron Rivera on switching quarterbacks: "It goes back to the schedule. ... We've got three divisional games coming up."
— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) October 7, 2020
"This is not an indictment on Dwayne ... more so than the situation than we are in."
Rivera said this "is not an indictment on Dwayne" but more about his development in the system. "It's just one of those things where he needs more time."
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) October 7, 2020
Rivera said Haskins has not had the opportunity to play a lot of football and the benefit of getting the work he would normally have gotten in a preseason w/o COVID-19.
— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) October 7, 2020
Ron Rivera: Dwayne's got an NFL arm but he doesnt have a lot of NFL experience. Rivera says lack of OTAs and preseason was really tough
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) October 7, 2020
Haskins reaction to benching:
Rivera said Haskins was disappointed and "I wouldn't have expected a competitor to take it any other way."
— Adam Zielonka (@Adam_Zielonka) October 7, 2020
Rivera on Haskins' reaction: "He was disappointed obviously. ... I know today was tough on him."
— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) October 7, 2020
Rivera said that what we didn't see at practice was Haskins being engaged, taking his reps, being around the team. When we saw him, he was standing off a little, arms crossed, but Rivera said that isn't a ding and he should be disappointed and he'd be concerned if Haskins wasn't.
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) October 7, 2020
4th down play/test vs Ravens:
Ron Rivera said that the 4th down play didn't have an impact. It speaks to the development, and that Dwayne Haskins didn't get the benefit of that kind of work
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) October 7, 2020
One win short:
Ron Rivera said that if @WashingtonNFL was 2-2 after four games, he might have been able to stay with Haskins despite the circumstances. But being 1-3, coupled with Haskins' performances, prompted the change with the division still up for grabs.
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) October 7, 2020
Scout team:
Rivera said Haskins worked with the scout team in practice.
— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) October 7, 2020
Teaching:
Rivera says he can't teach one guy and be fair to the other 52.
— Chris Russell AKA The Rooster (@Russellmania621) October 7, 2020
"We have one eye on what's happening in our division."
Door not closed?:
Ron Rivera says this is not necessarily the end for Dwayne Haskins in Washington. He says the org wants to develop him, but they've "got one eye" on what's happening in the division. He didn't rule out Haskins competing for the job in the future.
— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) October 7, 2020
"He'll get his opportunity."
Not enough growth:
Ron Rivera said he did not see the growth he wanted to see from Dwayne Haskins through four games. So, with the division up for grabs, he wants someone who knows the system backed up by a veteran who knows the system.
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) October 7, 2020
NFC East:
Rivera: "Our division is open."
— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) October 7, 2020
"With the division the way it is right now, I’d be stupid to not give it a shot and see what happens" - Ron on making the QB switch
— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) October 7, 2020
If other teams in the NFC East were 4-0, or 3-0, then this be a different story. The Washington Football Team is currently half a game out of first place in this weak division.
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) October 7, 2020
Ron Rivera on having Kyle Allen start three division games in the next four weeks: "I could've had gone with Dwayne and who knows what would have happened. But if the negative happened, you could lose a young quarterback." #WashingtonFootball
— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) October 7, 2020
Kyle Allen:
Ron Rivera on why he went with Kyle Allen: "[In the NFL], he's had success. He hasn't had great success, but he's had some. That's what I'm looking for."
— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) October 7, 2020
Asked if Kyle Allen can win with this Washington team, Ron Rivera has a great answer: "Well, were about to find out."
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) October 7, 2020
Dwayne Haskins’ agent:
Ron Rivera responding to a tweet by Dwayne Haskins' agent insinuating DH is being untreated unfairly bc he has to play well but doesn't have much help on offense.
— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) October 7, 2020
"[Kyle Allen will] have the same unfair shake, and we'll see how it goes."https://t.co/Tahljii9w5
Rivera on Agent David Mulugheta criticism of not enough talent around Dwayne.
— Chris Russell AKA The Rooster (@Russellmania621) October 7, 2020
"Same thing for Kyle" citing that Allen is inheriting the same offense around him.
"I have a guy who has a little bit better feel, backed up by a guy that has a better feel."
Rivera said that Kyle Allen is going to have the same players that Dwayne Haskins had and they're going to see what happens.
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) October 7, 2020
Short-term glory:
Rivera on talking big picture all summer and season and now pivoting to short-term thinking. Says it's about the division. "I'm taking a shot for the short-term glory."
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) October 7, 2020
Ron Rivera: "I'm here to win, and now's an opportunity to find out if we can win."
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) October 7, 2020
"I'm here to win, OK? And now is an opportunity to find out if we can win."
— michael phillips (@michaelpRTD) October 7, 2020
On not having good pieces around the QB:
"(Kyle) will have the same unfair shake and we'll just see how it goes." pic.twitter.com/s08KG5qlj1
Player frustration:
Rivera says fans dont see the frustration of other players on the sideline and that players want to win. Interesting.
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) October 7, 2020
Rivera: “What people don’t see is the frustration in the sideline of other players. Guys want to win. Our best shot to win is with guys that have been in the system.”
— George Wallace (@GWallaceWTOP) October 7, 2020
System QBs:
Ron Rivera: "I think our best shot to win is with guys who have been in the system."
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) October 7, 2020
Coach’s decision:
"I think our best chance to win is to put the ball in somebody else's hands. ... I could be wrong or I could be right. ... That's why we play the games." Ron Rivera
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) October 7, 2020
Ron Rivera: "My decision is being made on what we've seen for the last three weeks, or four weeks for that matter, and looking at where we are."
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) October 7, 2020
Alex Smith:
On Alex Smith being moved to No. 2 because he's been in the system and he wants to put the ball in the hands of someone who has been there, Ron Rivera explains.
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) October 7, 2020
Rivera said he has Alex Smith is No. 2 because he's been in Turner's system before. "We have three capable quarterbacks."
— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) October 7, 2020
Ron Rivera said that Alex Smith is the backup over Dwayne Haskins because he's a veteran with experience in this system. Smith worked under Norv Turner in his second NFL season.
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) October 7, 2020
Ron Rivera on potentially being the coach to put Alex Smith back on the field: "There are doctors that were ready to put him back on the field as well."
— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) October 7, 2020
Developing young QBs:
What the team is hoping to do is develop a young quarterback. Rivera has consistently said that it's about Haskins getting more experience, playing some more football. Rivera wishes that he'd had the offseason and the preseason, and that he's not close to the 5,000 reps, yet.
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) October 7, 2020
Ron Rivera: "I wish Dwayne had had the offseason. I wish he had the OTAs and the minicamps. I wish he had the preseason games."
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) October 7, 2020
Rivera has repeatedly stated how it takes 5,000 reps to fully get and understand something. Rivera said he is not even close to that.
Unfair situation:
Rivera: It's not fair. I get it. The situation right now calls for us to do something different and hopefully he understands.
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) October 7, 2020
Ron Rivera said and acknowledges again that it's not fair that Dwayne Haskins didn't get the reps or time to develop, and he hopes Haskins gets it. Rivera said he gets it, being benched and Haskins can come out of this stronger or otherwise.
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) October 7, 2020
Ron Rivera on Haskins: "It's not fair. I get it. ... Believe me, I know how he feels to be sat down. How he comes out of it on the other end is up to him."
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) October 7, 2020
Dan Snyder:
Ron Rivera said Dan Snyder was fully supportive of the QB change.
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) October 7, 2020
Scott Turner:
Ron Rivera said he went to offensive coordinator Scott Turner and asked his thoughts about a QB change. Said Turner was on board and thought it was a good idea going with someone who has experience in the system.
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) October 7, 2020