Rivera says Player development is hard, but it is the way it’s supposed to be

Head coach Ron Rivera is heading into week six with a 2-3 record and preparing for a matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. This week has been hectic for Rivera through the media, having to face the same questions about his defensive struggles on a week-to-week basis while trying to provide insight into the issues in various ways. To summarize the problems to this point in its most simplistic form, Washington’s defense is failing early on to maintain the high expectations that people, including the players themselves, had on that unit. It is an important story, and Rivera is responsible for answering all of the defense’s ugly questions.

During a weekly interview spot on 106.7 The Fan’s “The Junkies” show, he was asked more questions about the defense, and he mentioned that the defense had just two bad plays that genuinely impacted the game. 

“Well, we have a long way to go to be consistent. Again, everybody sees, unfortunately, the two bad plays. I get it. There were two bad plays, two bad plays that truly impacted this game. But don’t take away from what the guys have done. Don’t take away from the improvement that has been made. This is about growing and developing. If every time all we want to do is remember the negative then we are not going to go anywhere, we’re going to get getting pulled backward.” Rivera says to the Junkies. 

While Rivera narrows it down to two bad plays on defense, likely the 72 yard touchdown to wide receiver Deonte Harris and the 49 yard hail mary to Marquez Callaway, the context goes deeper beyond what Rivera describes. Late in the game, Washington’s offense drove down the field, scoring a touchdown that brought Washington within five points with seven minutes left to go in the game. Rivera’s defense, which was only described as having two bad plays, allowed a corresponding four-minute drive by the Saints offense that accumulated 75 yards on eight plays, ending in a touchdown.  

Rivera continues with the Junkies, saying that the defense in his eyes is all about developing and teaching.

“We’re trying to develop, we’re trying to get better, and we’re trying to become a football team that can win on a consistent basis. This is about teaching a bunch of young guys. Teaching a second-year and third-year defensive end how it is done. Trying to make sure that the rookies that we’re trying to develop gets more opportunities. Give them a chance to grow and develop, guys.”

While trying to balance development and teaching with winning games, Rivera acknowledges that it is not easy. 

“Again, understand what s truly the development of this football team for the long run, not an overnight fix. You almost want to say, ‘Man, I wish 7-9 last year wouldn’t have been good enough to win the division; that way, the expectations would have been much lower and would’ve been a little bit easier.’ This is hard. This is the way it is supposed to be. It is supposed to be hard because it is the only way you learn.”

I am sure he is right, and I also believe the pressure he is facing has not been drummed up anywhere. So it comes down to winning or looking much more stable defensively, or hopefully both. Last year, with a 1-5 record, Rivera said that winning comes first over development. Winning as many games as his team could, his players may believe that the culture is all about winning and there’s a certain way to do things. Hopefully, while player development is undoubtedly a key factor, he has not forgotten about that “winning games” part, too.