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On Tuesday morning, Ron Rivera spoke to the media. He talked about player health, roster concerns, training camp expectations, the challenges brought on by COVID-19, managing the organizational culture, his relationship with Dan Snyder and more.
Bryce Love cleared:
Ron Rivera says Bryce Love passed his physical
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) July 28, 2020
Bryce Love is someone that the coaching staff wants to watch on the field in the coming days. Especially in that crowded backfield, Ron Rivera said.
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) July 28, 2020
As Ron Rivera noted on a zoom call, RB Bryce Love passed his physical. Good step for him. Was some concern/wonder in org that this would happen.
— John Keim (@john_keim) July 28, 2020
— Bill-in-Bangkok (@billhorgan2005) July 28, 2020
Alex Smith & Reuben Foster on the PUP list:
Neither Alex Smith or Reuben Foster passed the football portion of their physical, Ron Rivera said.
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) July 28, 2020
Ron Rivera, on placing Alex Smith and Reuben Foster on PUP: "We wanted to get a chance to look at him, watch him on the side. ... We've got to see the actual football movement before we'll clear them."
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) July 28, 2020
Ron Rivera says he feels very confident that Reuben Foster and Alex Smith will eventually pass the football portion of their physical. They can be taken off the list as soon as that's accomplished.
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) July 28, 2020
Quarterback Competition:
If Smith passes his football physical, he "becomes part of the equation," Rivera said.
— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) July 28, 2020
Ron Rivera on the QB competition: "It's going to be pure competition. I like the fact that we have a good group of guys that will push each other. The biggest thing is how each guy develops over time. ... We're going to create as many game-like situations in practice. ..."
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) July 28, 2020
Great philosophy https://t.co/CIMlweOIsh
— Bill-in-Bangkok (@billhorgan2005) July 28, 2020
The team name and military connection:
Ron Rivera explains his statement about the new team name honoring to the military. He said a team name doesn't have to allude to the military, however it would be cool if the team name did.
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) July 28, 2020
COVID-19:
On COVID https://t.co/7XyMC54MAH
— Bill-in-Bangkok (@billhorgan2005) July 28, 2020
On COVID https://t.co/FpSeX1f85q
— Bill-in-Bangkok (@billhorgan2005) July 28, 2020
COVID https://t.co/G6uByPV0ks
— Bill-in-Bangkok (@billhorgan2005) July 28, 2020
Ron Rivera on coronavirus concerns: "Unfortunately, it's still kind of rampant right now." pic.twitter.com/vPZvOsGCl6
— michael phillips (@michaelpRTD) July 28, 2020
Rivera on COVID - That's the thing that were not really doing as a society, were not very diligent, were not very disciplined
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) July 28, 2020
(He's right)
COVID https://t.co/IyBNPZZZJ6
— Bill-in-Bangkok (@billhorgan2005) July 28, 2020
COVID https://t.co/6nv7uuvyfn
— Bill-in-Bangkok (@billhorgan2005) July 28, 2020
Training Camp:
COVID https://t.co/G6uByPV0ks
— Bill-in-Bangkok (@billhorgan2005) July 28, 2020
Rivera believes the ramp up period that will happen before practices this training camp is a good idea. It’ll give the players a chance to get back into football shape gradually rather than jumping into full contact.
— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) July 28, 2020
Rivera says lack of preseason will be a challenge. Says the team will be forced to have live practice sessions
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) July 28, 2020
Ron Rivera said it's going to be "very, very difficult" to get a sense of his team before Week 1. The team plans on more live practices during the preseason, he added.
— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) July 28, 2020
Improving the culture:
Ron Rivera addressing how the organization will be better following the Washington Post story, he has an open door policy. He doesn't want people to be afraid to speak up if there's an issue.
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) July 28, 2020
Ron Rivera: I dont want an atmosphere around here where people are scared to tell the truth
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) July 28, 2020
Ron Rivera, when asked about the team's culture and the @washingtonpost report: "The thing that I really want is that we have an open-door policy. ... I don't want an atmosphere where people are afraid to tell the truth."
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) July 28, 2020
Ron Rivera says he's trying to create a family atmosphere, and one thing he learned from Mike Ditka is creating an atmosphere where people take ownership of what's happening in the organization.
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) July 28, 2020
Roster concerns:
Rivera says if there was a position of concern it 'most certainly' would be WR depth
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) July 28, 2020
Ron Rivera on if Washington needs to add more help at WR with Kelvin Harmon and Cody Latimer out: "It's something we're going to look at."
— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) July 28, 2020
Relationship with Dan Snyder:
Ron Rivera says his relationship with owner Dan Snyder has been good. The two talk almost every day and have developed a good relationship. "I feel comfortable and confident."
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) July 28, 2020
Ron Rivera says over the last two months, his relationship with owner Dan Snyder has evolved to where they talk everyday for 30 minutes or so. He says Snyder ask his opinion on topics regularly.
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) July 28, 2020
Still excited:
Ron Rivera said the last few months haven't "dampened" how he feels about the organization. "I feel very comfortable and very confident in what we can do here."
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) July 28, 2020
Defense:
All the excitement on the D-Line usually includes Jon Allen, Daron Payne and Matt Ioannidis but Ron Rivera makes a point to include Tim Settle when he talks about the group
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) July 28, 2020
The big question on the defensive side of the ball is about how the cornerback competition is going to play out, and how will the defensive line play impact the coverage, Ron Rivera said.
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) July 28, 2020
Rivera added that he likes what the team has at safety led by Landon Collins. A big question, Rivera said, is how the cornerback situation will play out. Washington added CBs Ronald Darby and Kendall Fuller in free agency.
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) July 28, 2020
On Defense https://t.co/zouKROxGDJ
— Bill-in-Bangkok (@billhorgan2005) July 28, 2020
Rivera said that the defensive attitude and philosophy will be "championship caliber," but it still remains to be seen how everyone will gel. Still, he certainly likes the potential of this defense, especially up front.
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) July 28, 2020
Doing extra:
Doing extra https://t.co/799F2R4u1D
— Bill-in-Bangkok (@billhorgan2005) July 28, 2020
No preseason games:
Rivera says lack of preseason will be a challenge. Says the team will be forced to have live practice sessions
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) July 28, 2020
Ron Rivera said it's going to be "very, very difficult" to get a sense of his team before Week 1. The team plans on more live practices during the preseason, he added.
— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) July 28, 2020