Washington
Will Week 18 be Scott Turner’s last game as the Commanders offensive coordinator?
It wouldn’t be the Washington Commanders if there weren’t leaks in January after one other misplaced season. As soon as the Commanders had been eradicated from postseason competition final week with a loss to the Cleveland Browns, the main target instantly turned to 2023.
An enormous purpose for Washington’s absence from one other postseason is its offensive struggles. Regardless of having an excellent group of weapons at broad receiver and within the backfield, Washington’s offense ranks No. 20 in complete offense and No. 25 in scoring offense, averaging solely 18 factors per sport.
Two causes for Washington’s points this season are quarterback and offensive line. The quarterback place has lengthy been an issue for Washington, and it took simply seven video games this season for the Commanders to understand Carson Wentz wasn’t the reply. On Sunday, rookie Sam Howell will likely be Washington’s third beginning quarterback this season, following Wentz and Taylor Heinicke.
When Howell begins Sunday, he would be the eighth quarterback to start out a sport in head coach Ron Rivera’s three seasons.
The offensive line had been strong till this season. Accidents have performed an element, however Rivera’s gamble on two older guards from his Carolina days didn’t repay. Within the offseason, Brandon Scherff left in free company, and the Commanders launched Ereck Flowers, changing them with Trai Turner and Andrew Norwell.
One other drawback for Washington in 2022 is its offensive coordinator. Scott Turner had loads of excuses in his first two seasons, usually incomes reward regardless of obvious personnel deficiencies, particularly at quarterback. Whereas the quarterback place stays an issue, Turner’s play-calling and sport plans haven’t essentially helped.
Talking of these aforementioned leaks, the Washington Submit launched a report Saturday stating that Commanders gamers had been pissed off with Turner’s play-calling. The report cited a number of examples of frustration with Turner. Essentially the most distinguished being in Washington’s Week 14 loss to the Giants, the place Turner deserted the run regardless of working again Brian Robinson Jr. averaging over seven yards per try. The Giants had no reply for Robinson, but Turner went away from the run.
Tight finish Logan Thomas supplied the next when requested if the play-calling put the gamers in place to succeed.
“The way in which I put it’s: We received a lot expertise, we must be scoring extra factors than we now have [been],” Thomas mentioned.
The next excerpt highlights the extent of frustration:
9 different Commanders, who spoke on the situation of anonymity to be candid a couple of coach, expressed frustration with the play-calling. They complained about predictability, an abandonment of the sport plan towards Cleveland and Turner’s tendency to deviate from performs which are working, which a number of gamers described because the coordinator “outsmarting” himself. They advised Browns defenders had anticipated their performs within the loss that successfully ended the Commanders’ season.
Curiously sufficient, the report comes two days after Turner was requested about his job safety and supplied this reply:
“I imply, that’s simply a part of this league, you already know, it may occur, it may occur to anyone,” Turner mentioned. “It’s occurred to guys after they don’t count on it, it’s occurred, you already know, no matter. So I simply do my job. I’m centered on the Cowboys. No matter occurs after this week, you go together with it after that.
Sooner or later later, Rivera was requested about Turner’s efficiency this season:
“I feel we’ve had our moments,” Rivera mentioned. “I feel there’s some actually good issues contemplating the provision of all people. , it’s been robust.”
Not precisely a ringing endorsement.
When you mix all the above, it is sensible to surprise if Sunday is Turner’s final day with Washington.
The Commanders are in a tough place. Rivera’s job safety would probably be in query if the franchise wasn’t concerned in a possible sale. For Rivera, it might be exhausting to draw a top quality candidate to switch Turner resulting from his personal standing and a potential new proprietor. However it seems that Washington’s gamers are prepared for a change.
As for Turner, not the whole lot is his fault. Nonetheless, one grievance is Turner usually didn’t cater a selected sport plan to his quarterback’s strengths. Will Turner tailor his sport plan to Howell’s strengths along with his inexperience in thoughts for Washington’s Week 18 sport vs. Dallas? And if he does, will it’s too late?
Story initially appeared on Commanders Wire