The future is now for Dwayne Haskins

Dwayne Haskins knows that the future of the Washington Football Team is in his hands. Meeting with reporters via Zoom after practice, Haskins said something many second-year players who spend the offseason trying to improve say, and that is the game has slowed down.

“Going into the first week of me starting last year against Buffalo compared to now… Just the control of the offense, the energy, I think I bring to practice is better, way better than it was last year,” Haskins said.

Last year, the 15th pick in the draft was not the player that former Coach Jay Gruden wanted in the first round. Gruden was in a contract year, knowing it was playoffs or bust. Because of that, the 20-year-old Haskins found himself running the scout team most of the training camp and the first five weeks of the season as Washington crashed and burned.

Gruden was fired after an 0-5 start to the 2019 season, interim coach Bill Callahan would wait another month before handing the offense to Haskins. Haskins threw for 122 yards in a 24-9 loss to Buffalo in his first start. The difference this year, he says, is like night and day.

“My demeanor overall,'” Haskins said. “Just me having more confidence in myself to go do what I have to do to as the leader of this football team and this offense and having coaches that believe in me is something is propelling me to have even more confidence on the field,” Haskins went on to say.

One off-season hobby Haskins credits to his development is playing chess. “It’s like playing quarterback you don’t want to be in a position to where you are caught reacting,” he said. “You just kind of want to anticipate what’s going on. And know if I get this, I know I have this, this and this to go to. Chess is a way to ignite my processing.”

Haskins also credits head coach Ron Rivera and offensive coordinator, Scott Turner. The two, along with the rest of the offensive staff, believe in him; in the high-pressure job of being the starting quarterback in the nation’s capital, belief can be a powerful ally.

“Just having the ability to talk to Ron after a play, whether it’s a good play or a bad play on the field and knowing coach Rivera is going to tell me the good, the bad or the ugly and I can trust him to make me better as a player,” Haskins said.

Ultimately, Success will be determined, mostly on Sunday afternoons (Washington has just one Thursday night and no Monday night games). Haskins says he is ready for the challenge.

“Success for me is helping this team have a better overall demeanor having more energy on the field,” Haskins would say. “Success for me, is finding ways to lead. I’m looking forward to leading these men.”