The relationship between former Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III and the Washington Commanders started off great but ended ugly. The former No. 2 overall pick and 2012 NFL Rookie of the Year is a firm believer in this year’s Washington Commanders team. In a segment on ESPN, the analyst mentioned a few things he likes about the new-name Commanders.
He’s really high on the 2022 version.
Griffin even thinks they could be a sleeper Super Bowl pick.
“The Commanders have surprise Super Bowl contender written all over them,” RGIII said Thursday on “NFL Live.” “The reason they went and got Carson Wentz is because if he plays like he did last year they will at least be in playoff contention, because it was better than the quarterback play they had last year. But if he can turn the clock back to 2017 where he was an MVP candidate? He can help lead the Washington Commanders on a deep playoff push.”
“Bobby 3 Sticks” wasn’t done.
“They’re loaded at wide receiver. Scary Terry, they got a healthy Curtis Samuel, and Jahan Dotson they just drafted from Penn State. And that defensive line with Chase Young, Montez Sweat, Da’Ron Payne, Jonathan Allen. The defensive line has to show up now. That defense underperformed last year, and because of that, they struggled collectively as a team. But if they can get all those ifs – and it’s a lot of ifs — to go together? Their roster is stacked, and it’s the best roster Washington has had in the last 10 years.”
Washington Commanders have SURPRISE SUPER BOWL CONTENDER written all over them.
-Wentz has to be in 2017 form
-D-Line has to play to its potentialBIG “if’s” but this is the best roster Washington has had in at least 10 years. pic.twitter.com/GSYbPzDinJ
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) May 13, 2022
It’s not a secret that Washington has a plethora of talent at its disposal. No other team in the NFL can lay claim to having four former first-round selections as their starting defensive line. Allen was the team’s top pick in 2017. Payne followed suit in 2018, Sweat in 2019 and Young was the No. 2 overall selection in 2020 and Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Never short on confidence, Young, who’s returning from a torn ACL, spoke about the team’s possibilities on a recent appearance on the “Rich Eisen Show.”
Team Traded For Carson Wentz: He’s An Upgrade
Since the team decided to let quarterback Kirk Cousins walk after the 2017 season, quarterback play has suffered mightily in D.C. Outside of a 6-3 start under veteran Alex Smith in 2018, there hasn’t been much success with guys like Kyle Allen, Taylor Heinicke, and the late Dwayne Haskins leading the way.
To rectify that problem, the Commanders traded for former Eagles and Colts signal caller Carson Wentz. His 2021 season with Indianapolis was very good, as he passed for over 3,500 yards, 27 touchdowns and just seven interceptions in a run-based attack. Those are numbers the Commanders would welcome in a heartbeat, considering the erratic play they’ve received at the game’s most important position.
Ron Rivera Needs A Winning Season
Having Rivera stalking the sidelines seems to be an upgrade over the list of failed coaches during Daniel Snyder’s tenure as owner (1999-present). But how good is Rivera really? His best years were on the back of former Heisman Trophy and NFL MVP Cameron Newton.
With just three winning seasons in 11 as a head coach, including that remarkable 15-1 Super Bowl season in 2015, Rivera is currently sporting an underwhelming 14-19 record in Washington. Questions linger as to Rivera’s qualifications to get this team back to the Super Bowl for the first time since the ’90s.
I like Ron Rivera. I trust him. I think he’s a good coach.
I simply can’t understand why he thought trading for Carson Wentz was their best option — a guy who no doubt has physical talent, but major questions about his leadership and decision making, two giant factors for a QB.
— COMMANDERS FOOTBALL (@HogsHaven) March 10, 2022
Based on the personnel the Commanders have assembled, this might be the best opportunity to find out.
