Head coach Ron Rivera acknowledged that the alternation between Alex Smith and Taylor Heinicke against Tampa Bay is a possibility.
ASHBURN – Con Alex Smith still recovering from a calf stalk, the team’s head coach The Washington football team, Ron Rivera, said they could resort to an unconventional solution: rotating the defenders.
Washington (7-9) receive Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-5) in the first round of the playoffs, next Saturday. Smith he missed two games with calf problems, but came back to help Washington to win the divisional title of NFC East with a victory over Philadelphia Eagles. However, the injury limited mobility Smith.
If this happens on Saturday, Rivera He said he would consider hiring two defenders. That would mean switching to Smith with Taylor Heinicke, who was out of the league almost two years before Washington will add him to his training team on December 8th.
“We should definitely consider this,” he said. Rivera. “The reality is that we’re playing against a very aggressive defense this week; it’s definitely something we need to see.”
Gulf of Tampa ordered the cargo 262 times, the second largest in NFL, behind Baltimore Ravens, conform ESPN statistics and information. pcs they registered 24 of the 48 bags by loading, causing at the same time 10 of the 25 thefts. They also gave up 4 touchdowns in a loading situation, the highest in the league.
Heinicke played in the system for three years with two other teams – Minnesota Vikings and Carolina Panthers– and they offered a spark in the fourth quarter in a loss in front of them panthers in week 16. In that match, Heinicke completed 12 of 19 passes for 137 yards and a touchdown. A second touchdown was denied for a penalty. He showed the ability to move, which could prove beneficial on Saturday.
Rivera He said that if he had followed this route, he would not need two game plans. They initially appreciated it Heinicke for their knowledge of the system. However, according to RiveraThey could use different aspects of the same plan for each defender.
“With two separate game plans, you’re asking too much of your team,” he said. Rivera. “That’s why it’s important to have quarterbacks who know your system, understand your system and are part of your system.
“I couldn’t tell them whether we wanted to do it or not,” he explained. Rivera. “I couldn’t tell you if there was value in doing this. We’ll only know when it will happen.”
Smith injured his calf in a December 13 victory over San Francisco 49ers. He played injured in the first half and tried to shake the problem with stretches in the middle. It didn’t work and it was in the second half. Dwayne Haskins Jr. started the next two games, both losses.
Against Philadelphia, Smith completed 22 of 32 passing attempts for 162 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He was captured three times, Rivera He said he did not know if the calf Smith You may improve too much in the week, which in turn would lead to additional doubts about your ability to escape the pressure. Rivera he said he thought of using Heinicke in front of eagle. But Rivera was satisfied with the first series of Smith, resulting in one touchdown and another just before the break, which ended at 7 points.
“I think he had his moments [contra Philadelphia]”, he showed Rivera, to the question of mobility Smith. “The first series was what I was looking for. The series before the break was great. There were a few things that happened where you say, ‘Oh, wow, I’d rather get away from this.’ “As long as they respond and do the things we need to do. To win, we will continue.”
If not, they will consider alternatives … such as a rotation.
“We will only know as the game progresses and we may end up in certain situations or circumstances where we should consider something like that,” he said. Rivera. “I can’t tell you what it would be. It should be something that appears at the time of the game.”