Carolina Panthers: Former HC Ron Rivera is turning Washington around
By Dean Jones
How Rivera has turned Washington around
Things aren’t perfect in Washington, not by any stretch of the imagination. But the way Ron Rivera has got everyone moving in the right direction is something we saw prominently during his time with the Carolina Panthers.
Rivera has gone through his fair share of turmoil since taking over at the helm. He benched Dwayne Haskins quickly, former Panthers quarterback Kyle Allen suffered a devastating injury that ended his season, and Alex Smith’s incredible comeback after almost losing his leg has resulted in the starting job moving forward.
Despite this, Rivera has Washington in contention for an unlikely playoff spot. The NFC East’s lack of quality is well documented, but it’s hard not to look at the Football Team and not be impressed by the direction they’re moving in.
At the very least, Rivera has them believing again.
Their success is based on a formidable defense that is led by a front seven that is among the NFL’s best. They generate pressure effectively and consistently, which enhances a secondary that is the ranked No. 1 overall – giving up just 194.6 yards-per-game through the air.
Couple this with some exciting young playmakers on offense, and there is a solid foundation from which to build a successful future. Rivera’s health problems have only brought this team closer together and things are definitely trending on an upward curve.