Dwayne Haskins is set to enter his second NFL season, still looking to prove he is the quarterback of the future for the Washington Redskins. It’s a real challenge Haskins has faced since the Redskins selected him 15th overall in last year’s draft.
Haskins failed to win over his initial NFL head coach, Jay Gruden. To the point, Gruden was fired mid-season. Gruden’s dismal has left Haskins once again trying impress his head coach, this time in the form of Ron Rivera.
After an up and down rookie season, Rivera is looking for Haskins to prove he is the leader Washington is looking to head their franchise. While Haskins has shown through social media his training efforts, he has also been active on social media, commenting or reacting to many news drop of the Redskins or him. Some don’t mind it, but there are others who are concern.
Count Haskins’ former head coach at Ohio State, Urban Meyer, as part of the crowd worried by Haskins’ social media activity.
“Dwayne likes the social media,” Meyer told NBC Sports Washington’s JP Finlay in an exclusive interview. “He’s all over the social media. I worry about that a little bit.”
Meyer coached Haskins for three seasons at Ohio State. And he is one of the many in Haskins’ corner to succeed. Yet, the three-time national champion coach wants his former QB to take page out of Tom Brady’s book.
“I like the Tom Brady approach,” Meyer said. “Just focus on your team.”
Keep in mind, it’s no sustaining evidence to prove a player more active on social media is less successful on the field than a player less active. But, Haskins has yet to prove he should be given the keys to the team. Everything he does on and off the field will reflect on him and the impression he gives to his new coaching staff.
His eagerness to interact to every news drop or negative comment towards him makes him vulnerable to his detractors.
Those detractors have questioned Haskins’ focus and his activity and behavior in the forefront fuels them. Not being ready has been a theme from his former Redskins coaches. That goes beyond picking up a playbook, especially when his infamous selfie moment with a fan while his team was looking for him to take the field to secure a win served as a bad first impression publicly.
Haskins is set to enter training camp in a competition with Kyle Allen for the Redskins’ starting quarterback position. Haskins has the advantage with talent and upside, however, Allen has the upper-hand with familiarity spending two seasons with Rivera and offensive coordinator Scott Turner in Carolina.
