Dwayne Haskins didn’t have the ideal rookie season in the NFL. He faced rumors of his head coach not wanting to draft him and repeated hints from his coaches that he wasn’t ready for the NFL all while trying to learn the rigors of being an NFL quarterback with a lame duck coaching staff that was more focused on trying to save their jobs than developing the first-round pick.
Meanwhile, Haskins was thrust in to unenviable spots as the backup QB like replacing an injured Case Keenum midway a losing game against the New York Giants. Finally he got his opportunity following the firing of head coach Jay Gruden in Week 5.
Interim head coach Bill Callahan pushed him in as a starter. Haskins fared better guiding Washington to its first two of three wins. But, the total scope of his rookie season left more to be desired about him being a franchise quarterback.
He completed 58.6 percent of his passes for 1,365 yards and seven touchdowns against seven interceptions in nine games.
Haskins has his fair share of critics, but his college head coach at Ohio State, Urban Meyer, is not one of them.
Speaking with Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks on the “Move the Sticks” podcast Meyer, a three-time national champion coach, defended his former QB, saying the Redskins’ struggles last season wasn’t the quarterback’s fault.
“So it’s the quarterback’s fault?” Nevermind the fact that their coach got fired, the place is a mess, there’s this going on, there’s this going on, this going on. A lot of stuff I heard from behind the scenes — cause, once again I have several players there — yet it’s Dwayne’s fault.”
Urban Meyer / (h/t NFL.com)
To pin the Redskins’ 3-13 season all on Haskins is a bit premature. Unfortunately, perception is reality in most cases. And the perception is that Haskins may not be the answer for the Redskins to move forward.
Meyer said Haskins can be a great player, but the Redskins have to surround his with “really great players” and a “really elite culture.”
“The NFL is amazing to me is that the minute a team, they draft a quarterback, they put him on a very bad team or there are a lot of culture issues. Which I, I don’t want to start throwing stones, but I do know. I talk to my guys. I talk to a lot of these players. So it’s the quarterback’s fault now that their coach got fired after what, [Week 5]. They were in complete disarray and it’s the quarterback’s fault now. I wish college was that easy. For some reason it’s not the quarterback’s fault, it’s the coach’s fault. To me it’s about culture and leadership. You want Dwayne to be a great player? Surround him with some really great players. Surround him with a really elite culture.”
Urban Meyer / (h/t NFL.com)
Much of the aspirations on Haskins has subdued on just one season. A season that had many factors that went into the total product. Every player was affected in some way playing in what turned into being a season of disarray for Washington.
However, Haskins must prove otherwise. Recently hired head coach Ron Rivera hasn’t helped much in dissipating the perception, as public statements may come off as lukewarm, even if he is using it as a motivator for the young quarterback.
Rivera has come in with a main focus on changing the franchise’s culture. The Bruce Allen era left a deep and dark stain on the overall culture in Washington. The Redskins are trying to turn the page.
As for really great players, the Redskins have Haskins’ Ohio State teammate Terry McLaurin at wide receiver. They rest is a work in progress, as the team hopes rookies running back Antonio Gibson and wide receiver Antonio Gandy-Golden turn out to be draft steals much like McLaurin.
