Rivera Puts Washington through Paces at FedEx Field

Washington Football head coach Ron Rivera took his team through its first and only practice at Fed Ex Field before its opening week game against the Philadelphia Eagles on September 13.  

For Rivera and the coaching staff, the name of the game was communication. 

“That’s why we did this,” Rivera said. “We wanted to give our guys a chance to see what it was like communicating.”

Rivera said there was a slight problem getting in a play during the two-minute drill between offensive coordinator Scott Turner and quarterback Dwayne Haskins but overall, he said he was pleased. 

“They seemed to get that worked out pretty well so that was good to see,” the HC said.

The task for the coaching staff now turns to the roster.  Teams are required to have the active roster down to 53 players by the weekend and Rivera says most of the starting spots are set.  The task now is to figure out depth, who to keep, who to cut and who might clear waivers and make it to the practice squad.  

Those decisions are harder this year without the benefit of a preseason. Rivera has indicated in the last few weeks that special teams play may decide a roster spot.  The team worked extensively on the squad Sunday and yesterday; Rivera said veterans Jon Bostic and Jeremy Sprinkle, as well as rookie Antonio Gibson and Kamren Curl, stood out. 

“When young guys who are learning to understand go out and do those types of things,” the coach said, “that’s encouraging.”

Rivera also had praise for Haskins. According to the coach, last year’s first-round draft pick has worked exclusively with the 1’s this training camp and is now trending upwards.

“He’s growing, he’s learning, he’s developing,” Rivera said about his signal-caller. “This has been tough but I think he’s handled it very well. You see the growth, you really do. And we still have a way to go. But it’s promising.”

Rivera pointed to one play in particular that demonstrates Haskins’ development into a potential long-term starter.  He explained that one of the cornerbacks baited Haskins into making an ill-advised throw across the field on the last play of a two-minute drill but that the young player learned immediately that this was a throw he cannot try to make. 

“It’s a lesson he learned.  If you are going to throw that ball to a certain part of the field, you can’t throw it where you threw it.”

Still, despite the praise, Rivera demurred when asked when he would officially name his Week 1 starter.

“The 13th, right? There you go.”