Head coach Ron Rivera admitted that moving from Alex Smith and Taylor Heinicke to Tampa Bay is a possibility.
ASHBURN – Con Alex Smith still recovering from a calf throw, the head coach of the Washington football team, Ron Rivera, He said they could resort to an unconventional solution: rotate the quarterbacks.
Washington (7-9) receives the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-5) in the first round of the playoffs, next Saturday. Smith he missed two games because of the calf problem, but returned to help Washington to take possession of the divisional title of the NFC Est with a victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. However, the injury limited the mobility of Smith.
If this happens on Saturday, Rivera he said he would consider employing two quarterbacks. This would mean switching to Smith with Taylor Heinicke, Who was out of the league for almost two years before Washington added him to his internship squad last December 8th.
“We definitely need to consider that,” he said Rivera. “The reality of things is that we played against a very aggressive defense this week, it’s something we certainly have to see.”
Tampa Bay has sent load in 262 occasions, the second greater amount in the NFL, Behind the Baltimore Ravens, According to ESPN information and statistics. the Bucs 24 of their 48 catches were recorded via cargo, at the same time as they caused 10 of their 25 ball thefts. Also, they have conceded q4 touchdowns in charge situation, the highest amount in the league.
Heinicke has played in the system for three years with two other teams –they Vikings of Minnesota i Carolina Panthers– and contributed a spark of fourth period in a defeat before the own ones Panthers in Week 16. In this match, Heinicke completed 12 of 19 passes for 137 yards and one touchdown. A second touchdown was denied by a penalty for holding. He showed the ability to move, which could be beneficial on Saturday.
Rivera he said that if this route was taken, they would not need two game plans. Originally valued at Heinicke for their knowledge of the system. However, according to Rivera, They could use different aspects of the same plan for each quarterback.
“Having two game plans separately, you’re asking too much of your team,” he noted Rivera. “That’s why it’s important to have quarterbacks who know your system, understand your system, and have been part of your system.
“I couldn’t tell them if we wanted to do it or not we wanted to do it,” he explained Rivera. “I couldn’t tell them if there’s courage in doing it. We’ll only know when it happens.”
Smith calf was injured in a Dec. 13 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. He played damaged during the first half and tried to shake up the problem with stretches in the half. It didn’t work, and he was left out in the second half. Dwayne Haskins Jr. he started the next two games, both defeats.
Against Philadelphia, Smith completed 22 of 32 passing attempts for 162 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He was captured three times, Rivera said he does not know if the calf of Smith it can improve too much in the week which in turn would lead to greater doubts about its ability to escape pressure. Rivera said he considered using a Heinicke in front of the Eagles. But Rivera was pleased with the first series of Smith, Resulting in a touchdown, and another just before half time that also ended in 7 points.
“I think he had his moments [contra Philadelphia]”He pointed out Rivera, When asked about the mobility of Smith. “This first series was what we were looking for. The series before halftime was excellent. There were a couple of things that happened where you say, ‘Oh, well, I’d have preferred you to get away from that. “As long as he responds and does the things we need to win, we will move on.”
Otherwise, they consider alternatives … like a rotation.
“We will just know agreement progress the party and we can get into certain situations or circumstances where we might have to consider something like that,” he said. Rivera. “I can’t tell them what it would be like. It should be something that comes up at the time of the game.”