Washington, as a lot as any staff within the NFL, ought to know concerning the significance of a franchise quarterback.
And Washington, maybe greater than any staff within the NFL, ought to know that as a lot as a quarterback is required to elevate a franchise, the franchise, in flip, must do its half in defending him so he can hold lifting.
That ought to have been true even earlier than Jayden Daniels was injured whereas enjoying late in a blowout loss on Sunday.
Again in 2012, Washington appeared to have a QB savior in Robert Griffin III, a dynamic Heisman winner who bested Andrew Luck and Russell Wilson to win NFL Rookie of the 12 months.
Then got here the primary quarter of a wild-card recreation in opposition to Seattle, when Griffin’s proper knee buckled. Reasonably than placing in backup Kirk Cousins, coach Mike Shanahan caught with the clearly compromised Griffin.
It was a brutal watch. The offense sputtered to only 41 yards en path to a loss. Worse, Griffin did not simply look damage, however immobilized to a level that made him incapable of defending himself in opposition to additional damage. It was a prepare wreck in progress. Griffin ultimately crumbled after hyperextending his knee whereas reaching for a low snap.
Days later, he underwent surgical procedure. He was by no means the identical participant once more.
He accounted for 27 touchdowns earlier than the damage; simply 26 over the remainder of his profession.
Washington, in the meantime, did not win a playoff recreation till a dozen years later. That is when one other Heisman-winning, rookie sensation led the Commanders to final season’s NFC Championship Recreation.
The circumstances, and hopefully the severity, of Daniels’ elbow dislocation are totally different than RGIII’s career-altering knee, after all. Totally different gamers, totally different teaching staffs, several types of damage (non-throwing arm for Daniels).
The identical battle-hardened followers, although, noticed one other breathtaking expertise go down in an avoidable heap as Washington trailed 34-7 with simply 7:38 remaining.
“Why is he nonetheless within the recreation?” RGIII himself mentioned in a social media video, echoing the cries that after rang out for him.
Why hold your starter in for the top of a blowout loss? Why, particularly, when he was battling a hamstring damage that restricted his mobility. If he needed to be there, why not only a regular eating regimen of hand-offs?
“I do know lots of you’ve gotten been asking concerning the thought strategy of Jayden being within the recreation in that state of affairs. I get that,” Washington coach Dan Quinn mentioned this week. “I have been eager about it actually nonstop too, and for me the reply is, man, I missed it.”
Credit score Quinn for proudly owning the error; nonetheless, this was pricey. The coach mentioned Daniels could be out “some time,” which isn’t ultimate for a 3-6 staff.
Sure, soccer continues to be soccer. It’s a robust sport. A harmful sport. There is no such thing as a approach to get round the truth that accidents, usually vital ones, can happen at any time to anybody.
The ethos of being “damage” however not “injured” is a part of what makes the sport particular. There aren’t any shortcuts. “Load administration” is not actually a factor. Even again with RGIII, it was the participant who stored claiming to coaches and medical doctors that he was advantageous, even when he wasn’t.
Shanahan stored listening to his QB somewhat than his personal mendacity eyes. It value Washington every little thing.
Defending your quarterback is not about softening the requirements of soccer. It is about valuing your gamers; a troublesome, if important, idea within the final staff recreation. There’s a motive NFL guidelines hardly enable two-hand contact on a QB.
RGIII argued that Daniels should not have been enjoying in any respect, as a substitute resting up that hamstring till he was “as near one hundred pc as attainable.”
Maybe, particularly contemplating that Washington has not constructed the offensive line to guard him. On the play in query, Daniels was scrambling for his life after what gave the impression to be a blown blocking task.
Daniels has been sacked 17 occasions in six video games he has performed this season. He has been “hit” 322 occasions throughout the final two — most within the NFL.
Daniels is listed at 6-foot-4, 210 kilos. He is not a tank like Josh Allen (6-5, 237), though Buffalo hardly needs him uncovered to as a lot contact as Daniels has been. For Washington, Daniels is misplaced in a season that’s now probably misplaced as effectively. All that is left is the hope that he could make a full restoration and Quinn & Co. reevaluate every little thing about tips on how to handle their most vital participant.
“We’ll give him the assist … in each single approach,” Quinn promised. “It is calls, offense, protection, the entire approach by way of. I completely really feel that approach. The hamstring damage and tonight with the elbow, it is actually vital that we get that half proper. And we are going to.”
The franchise which, after failing to guard their final younger star quarterback, spent years trying to find a brand new one, now must remind itself of a lesson that ought to have already been discovered.
The phrase “franchise QB” has two components to it, in spite of everything.