Coming off consecutive seven-win seasons, the newly minted Washington Commanders will have to show marked improvement in year three under coach Ron Rivera. Rivera, Martin Mayhew, and Marty Hurney orchestrated a trade in the offseason that brought in quarterback Carson Wentz in hopes of stabilizing the position that has been a revolving door for the franchise.
In Wentz, Washington is getting a big, strong-armed prototypical signal caller similar to what Rivera had during his time in Carolina. While coaching the Panthers, Rivera watched Cam Newton win the league MVP back in 2015 and his team make it to the Super Bowl where they ultimately lost to the Denver Broncos.
That season in Carolina, the Panthers had a strong running game led by Jonathan Stewart, and a stalwart defense to complement Newton.
The 2022 Commanders will have Wentz, a defense that should be ready to take off and live up to the unit’s eminence potential, and an offense that could produce balance in the run game as well as through the air.
Of course, everything starts with Wentz.
How will offensive coordinator Scott Turner use Wentz in his offense?
The seven-year player from North Dakota State proved during his second year that he could be an MVP-caliber player when everything is clicking in his game and around him. Turner likes to use QB movement outside of the pocket; this is where Wentz excelled when he was at his best in Philadelphia. Wentz moving outside the tackles is also what got him injured against the Los Angeles Rams back in 2017 which was also during his second year in the league. It can be argued that Wentz has never been the same since.
If Wentz can stretch the pocket and extend plays like he has done for most of his career and then occasionally place the ball down the field then the trade would look like a coup for Washington.
Does Washington have enough weapons to enable Wentz to excel?
The re-signing of wideout Terry McLaurin was as crucial to the organization as it was for Wentz. Washington also drafted Jahan Dotson from Penn State to give McLaurin a legitimate threat on the other side of the field. If wideout Curtis Samuel can bounce back from an injury-derailed first year in DC, then the Commanders could have a nice trifecta of speed and quickness at the receiver spots.
TE Logan Thomas is coming off of an ACL injury and if he can regain his form that would give Washington yet another weapon at Wentz’s disposal.
Several factors will have to play out on the positive side to see the fruits of their trade for Wentz pay off. If they can get the Wentz that from 2017 through 2019 threw for 81 touchdowns against only 21 interceptions, Washington could be in a position to have a true franchise caliber signal caller under center for the foreseeable future.