Ron Rivera's conservatism is hurting the Commanders
When the Washington Commanders hired head coach Ron Rivera in 2020, they needed a culture reset. With so many off-the-field and ownership issues, the franchise's necessity was a veteran, established coach, with a strong personality and able to handle a shaky situation. So, the hire made sense at the time. Now, the moment of the […]
When the Washington Commanders hired head coach Ron Rivera in 2020, they needed a culture reset. With so many off-the-field and ownership issues, the franchise's necessity was a veteran, established coach, with a strong personality and able to handle a shaky situation. So, the hire made sense at the time.
Now, the moment of the franchise and of the team is different, and Rivera hasn't fit as well.
Over the last two weeks, the Commanders lost two games, and Rivera's old school conservatism negatively weighed on the results.
Against the Philadelphia Eagles in week 4, the Commanders were losing 31-24 late in the fourth-quarter. They scored the touchdown and had a chance to go for two to finish up the upset against a divisional rival. However, Rivera decided to kick the extra point to tie the game. The Eagles won 34-31 in overtime.
"Those guys, they were gassed. They really were," Rivera said after the game about his offensive players to justify his decision-making. "It was a long-ass drive, they were hurrying, they were hustling. I really thought we had the chance, and that’s too bad."
But if the players were tired, what would make more sense: going for a final play to get two yards, or playing at least one more entire drive in overtime? It's a difficult decision to explain, especially when Washington entered the game as the underdog.
Ron Rivera's conservatism got in the Commanders way again on Thursday, in a 40-20 loss to the previously winless Chicago Bears. Trailing by 16, Washington had a chance to cut the lead to one possession. After a Sam Howell scramble on a 3rd & 12, the Commanders had a 4th & 3 from the Bears 14-yard line. Rivera decided to kick the field goal, cutting the lead to 13, still two possessions behind.
"We're going to watch the tape, we'll look at what we need to do better. It starts at the top," Rivera said after the game. "We've got to be better and that part is on me. Then we’ve got to make sure we're put in a position to be successful."
Ron Rivera mentioned the general performance, but he actively hurt the team's chances two weeks in a row in areas of the game where other coaches around the league are much more aware nowadays. And it's not like Rivera has been good enough everywhere else to justify his own approach. Since taking over the Commanders, he's had a 24-30-1 record, and not a single winning season. Even when they made the playoffs, in 2020, they were 7-9 and lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at home in the wild card round.
His old school style is putting his team in a disadvantageous position even if compared to division rivals. Last season, Rivera was 15th in in-game win probability added over expected, at 5.4%, according to SumerSports. Philadelphia Eagles' Nick Sirianni was first, at 84.6% — it's a significant difference, and it's independent of the roster talent. Even Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy, also seen as an old school coach, was better: 12th, at 12%.
The Riverboat Way hasn't been successful, and if he isn't able to adjust his style to the new era of football, it will be even harder to put the Commanders back on the right track.
Jonathan Allen says Commanders defense played like ‘s—‘
Yea, that’s pretty obvious.
