Haskins ‘still learning,’ must keep improving to help team
Dwayne Haskins’ 32 completions on 45 attempts and314 yards passing in Washington’s loss to Baltimore aren’t Ron Rivera’s biggest concern.
What the second-year quarterback couldn’t accomplish on fourt hand-goal from the 13-yard line stuck out more. Haskins completed a 5yard pass to the 8 to turn the ball over on downs and Rivera expressed some disappointment in the 2019 first-round pick not adjusting to the circumstances.
“I wanted to see what would happen,” Rivera said. “Unfortunately, that’s a situational awareness that he’ll have to understand — that ball has to be in a position to put it in the end zone. He’s still learning.”
Rivera said Haskins had his moments in Washington’s third consecutive loss and some improvements were made. That progression needs to continue while Rivera continues to evaluate the roster in his first year as coach.
“Doing the things he needs to do and showing the growth — that’s what we’re looking for,” Rivera said Monday. “It’s a tough situation.”
Beyond situational awareness,
Rivera would like to see Haskins get rid of the ball quicker under pressure. The Ravens sacked Haskins three times Sunday for a total loss of 40 yards.
After an NFL Network report Sunday said Haskins was in danger of being replaced as the starter, agent David Mulugheta pointed out that Haskins has only started 11 NFL games and is trying to learn a new system.
“Yet ‘he’ is the one that must play well,” Mulugheta tweeted.
Haskins feels he’s making progress as he gets more used to the pro game.
“I felt like I was in great control,” Haskins said. “I felt calm. I felt collected. I felt like I had a plan in what I was trying to do before it happened, and I was able to have a plan of how to react if it wasn’t there. So just keep on taking that and enhancing it and getting better each week.”