Washington Football Team (o5 -143/u5 +118) 2020 Preview
The Washington Football Team (they shoulda just went with Washington FC) cleaned house last year. Out is the old coaching regime and in comes veteran Ron Rivera. The team is coming into 2020 serious about giving Dwayne Haskins a shot to succeed. Armed with the #2 pick they bring in Chase Young and Terry McLaurin is looking to expand on his stellar rookie campaign. If it sounds like everyone I just mentioned went to Ohio State, its because they did (that’s a good thing). Success for Washington this season will depend on the offense taking a step forward, as the defense is already primed for success.
It’s important we talk about the elephant in the room: Dwayne Haskins. There is no good NFL team without the leadership and solid play of the quarterback. Is Dwayne a good quarterback? Well, that’s hard to assess. He came in as a rookie but clashed with his then head coach, Jay Gruden, who didn’t want to start him. Part of the reason Gruden was fired so quickly, was that he wasn’t throwing Haskins into the fire. Then Bill Callahan took over on an interim basis. Haskins is now on his 3rd coach in less than 2 years. While the perception was that he was really bad, the numbers show an average player (58.6% completion percentage, 7 TDs, 7 INTs and 1,365 yds in 9 games). I think under Rivera’s steady tutelage that Haskins makes a jump this year. You do not throw 50 TDs and complete 70% in a season while playing in the Big 10 if you’re a bum, you just don’t. Add on a bunch of new people in the backfield like Bryce Love playing after an injury year, Antonio Gibson being picked in the 3rd round and JD McKissic and this team has a new identity. Steve Sims is on year 2 with Terry McLaurin and if each just take a tiny step, this offense should improve from the 30th DVOA. McLaurin could be on the verge of being a true professional difference maker.
Washington comes into this year ranked #3 for defensive line by PFF. Yes, I’m not joking. They are gonna get after the passer this year. Chase Young is in. Montez Sweat is back after a solid rookie campaign. Matt Ionnidis is graded the best of this bunch in pressures. The line is rounded out by Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen, both highly ranked. The secondary will be a problem however. In a division where they will have to deal with good passing attacks (even the Giants), the “Football Team” will have to improve last year’s 27th pass defense DVOA. Mercifully, Josh Norman and Quinton Dunbar are out. But their replacements Ronald Darby and Kendall Fuller aren’t much better. The game plan by new DC, Jack Del Rio, will be to have opposing QBs scrambling for their lives as to not have time to hit the wide open QB. This is a great plan that has made teams with average quarterbacks and suspect secondaries champions in the past (2007 NY Giants). It should be noted that Del Rio, while never excelling as a coach, has done well in his prior DC jobs.
Now please do not think that I believe that Washington F.C. will be winning any titles this year, cause they’re not. However, 5 wins is not a hard bar to clear in the NFL and I think Washington can do so. I will only lean and not play the season win total. My instinct will be to take Washington when they are getting points this season. They perception is that they are last year’s team and they’re not. This is a young team, now being headed by the consummate professional, Ron Rivera, and that alone should be good enough for two wins this year. The only thing that keeps me off the over with Washington is very tough schedule they have.
No Season Total Play. Lean Over 5 wins.