Washington Football Team: The Most Interesting Team in the NFL

Washington Football Team: The Most Interesting Team in the NFL

Washington has a chance to make the playoffs with a win this weekend. I don’t think too many people expected that, I certainly did not, and even if it says more about the division they play in than the team, it’s still impressive. The fact that this 6-9 team can make the postseason simply with a win is only one of the many reasons why Washington is the most interesting team in the NFL.

Let’s start off the field, as that is what we specialize in at Odin Development. The most glaring off-field consideration of any program or team is character. Without character, your team will not win. Washington has a wild mix of character in its program. In football, and in any arena, character starts at the top. Dan Snyder is possibly the weakest character owner in professional sports. Not only was the name “Redskins” long overdue for a change, since unlike “Indians” or “Braves” it is actually a derogatory term, but this organization has been riddled with sexual assault allegations. Discrimination and harassment unfortunately can happen anywhere, but they are severely deterred when an organization’s leader establishes a positive culture, sets standards, and enforces standards at every level. The lack of a commitment to character was made more evident throughout the recent Dwayne Haskins saga, which can be heard in detail on episode 22 of the Odin Development Sports Show. 

Conversely, Washington has some high-character pieces they can build on. Head Coach Ron Rivera and Defensive Coordinator Jack Del Rio are renowned for their commitment to toughness and ownership. Having one of those coaches on your staff is a positive, but Washington has two, and it has shown in the way they have played on the field. The team has mirrored Ron Rivera’s fight against cancer as they have fought in every game this year. On top of the coaching staff, Washington is home to one of the best stories of the season in Quarterback Alex Smith. This man has fought through every possible obstacle associated with a leg injury and has worked his way back into a starting lineup. He is a major part of the resurgence of Washington this season and undoubtedly deserves Comeback Player of the Year. These are things to build around, but I fear all the positives on the roster and staff will be overshadowed by ownership that doesn’t share the same values.

Then we look at the roster talent itself. The Quarterback is the most important position on the field. He touches the ball every play, puts the offense in protections and plays, and overall impacts a team more than any other player. While Alex Smith is a great story and a good player, he is older, slower, and still clearly limited in mobility, and he isn’t the future of the franchise. He might be able to hold the team together for another year or two, but ultimately they will need to find a new franchise QB in the next couple offseasons. One thing that can help is a reunion between Ron Rivera and Cam Newton. Cam has struggled this season, especially passing the ball, but he’s reminded everyone how tough a runner he is, and let’s not forget he is an NFL MVP. For a decent price, and Washington has plenty of salary cap room, Cam can help supplement the offense by serving as a change of pace QB with a specific package dedicated to his tough running. Forcing a defensive coordinator to plan for two schemes is a pressing task and if something happens to Smith, Cam is more than capable of filling in as the full time starter. Someone will benefit from Cam’s athleticism and leadership next year, so why not a young, promising team with his old head coach?

Beyond the Quarterback, Washington is building a decent team and has struck gold on some low profile pickups. Terry Mclaurin and Antonio Gibson have been outstanding and cost next to nothing. Chase Young, their latest first round pick, unlike two years ago, is an absolute stud and a piece any defense would want to build around. The defense played very well this season and despite losing Trent Williams (another ownership blunder) the offensive line has been good. Any team with solid offensive and defensive fronts can compete, and the addition of some prominent skill players either in the draft or in free agency would put this team in consistent contention for the playoffs- looking at you Allen Robinson. There is a lot to be excited about on this team and a lot of young players who appear to be going against the ownership’s character and siding with the coaching staff character- which is what will make them dangerous moving forward.