Some four and a half months ago Dan Quinn brought his new team to Tampa Bay for their first foray into real football. “New” was the operative word. The coaching staff had been “Oil Changed.” The Quarterback was starting his first game that would count. And, the roster had been essentially “Zero Staffed.” Only the players with longer and more expensive contracts were safe from the scythe that new General Manager Adam Peters wielded. Adding to the mix the opponent had won their Division three times in a row. Their coach was old friend Todd Bowles. He is considered a master at disguising Defenses. Surely the new QB would get schooled as the new WFT got trounced into disorganization. Tampa won handily. But, the game left an impression on Bowles.
A Perfect Defense
If you have occasion the weekly Todd Bowles interview on NFL Radio is a good listen. He is a man of few words. But, the words have meaning. After the first game, and again this week he remarked on Jayden Daniels: “They were in the Red Zone. We had the perfect Defense called. Absolutely perfect. The kid beat it.” In the September interview Bowles added, “I’m glad we saw him when we did. And, I’m glad we don’t have to see him again.” So much for that thought.
They were in the Red Zone. We had the perfect Defense called. Absolutely perfect. The kid beat it.
Tampa Bay Head Coach Todd Bowles
Young Daniels did not throw a Touchdown in that game. But, he didn’t throw an interception either. He ran for two TDs on sixteen carries. All things considered it was a satisfactory maiden effort. Seventeen weeks, 25 Touchdowns, 4 fourth-quarter comeback wins, 4 Game-winning drives, and a Pro Bowl selection later Daniels is a rookie in name only.
Re-thinking Retreads
So-called “Black Monday” came and went as coaching and front office staffs were sent packing at various spots around the League. It was essentially ignored in Washington. Oh, there are some worry beads that Kliff Kingsbury will be poached to fill a vacancy. But, this team was focused on a playoff game. Whatever now coach-less fanbase you tune into long enough to get the vibe the word, “Retread” appeared as an aspersion repeatedly. A nearly universal clamor is for “…an offensive minded Coordinator.” It’s a perception and position that defies reality. This weekend there are 12 Head Coaches in playoff games: 8 are first-timers and 4 are “Retreads.” Of the first-time coaches 4 have Offensive backgrounds, 3 have Defensive backgrounds, and 1 came from Special Teams. The 4 second-timers are evenly split 2-2 between Offense and Defense. There’s not a hard and fast connection between first-time Offensive coaches and the playoffs.
Look at the four teams with the pre-seasoned veteran coaches. Todd Bowles is the only one with a team returning to the playoffs. Denver, the Chargers, and Washington are back from the depths with grizzled veterans at the helm. For franchises mired in incessant woe the idea that a raw Coordinator could change the culture while learning the job while in the saddle is a big ask. Chicago keeps trying the gambit only to watch it reliably fall apart.
Not only is it a good time for retread coaches, castaway Quarterbacks are having a renaissance also. Cleveland wishes with all its might that Baker Mayfield was still in a Browns uniform.
A Retread Quarterback
Baker Mayfield is a fascinating case study. He came out of the Draft as the Number One-Number One. Cleveland had its franchise QB for the next decade…until they didn’t. His first year brought him a second-place finish to Patrick Mahomes for Rookie of the Year. In his third year he went 11-5 as a starter. He also had enough time to cut advertisements for seemingly anyone willing to pay for it. The following year he hurt his “Non-throwing shoulder.” His mistake was that he tried to play through it. After a 6-8 season the Owner gave up on him signing Deshaun Watson to a disastrous contract.
The prime colt went to claiming race status in a hurry. His year started in Carolina where he went 1-5 as a starter. It ended in Los Angeles where Sean McVay attempted to resuscitate his career. It had to be a disorienting and distressing year. The train finally stopped in Tampa Bay where he found a coach that really believed in him. Two winning seasons later Mayfield is fulfilling his Draft Board potential. He threw 41 Touchdowns this year. That’s tied with Lamar Jackson and is only two behind Joe Burrow for the most TDs in 2024. Washington will have its hands full with Baker.
Eleven of those Touchdown passes went to Mike Evans.
An Ongoing Skirmish
Not lost on anyone following this team was the news that Marshaun Lattimore will play this week. Coming to Washington from New Orleans Lattimore and Evans used to square off twice a year. The outcomes were memorable. As expected Evans caught some balls while Lattimore defended about the same amount. Per Pro Football Reference Evans caught 11 passes while Lattimore defended 12. But. that’s not the story. These two genuinely dislike each other on the field. Evans has had a hard time keeping his emotions in check. He and Marshaun tangled enough that Evans has been suspended twice and fined over $100,000.
You can make book on the NBC crew having an isolated camera on these two all game long.
A Measuring Stick
Talking about the playoff game this week Dan Quinn called it a “Measuring Stick.” It affords an opportunity to see how far the team has developed since Week #1. It’s an interesting take. Washington is not a Super Bowl contender. Being in this game is the cherry-on-top of a remarkable and truly unexpected season. Winning it would be pushing the envelope of believability.
This is a measuring stick game for us. We went into that first game with no idea of whether our identity was anywhere near what we wanted it to be. So, this is a full-circle moment.
Dan Quinn
Quinn’s comments reveal the perspective that the longer term goals are paramount. There’s no lofty goals or pipe dream visions in his remarks. He wants to see how far this nascent squad of his has come. Hint; the answer is “A long ways.” Will that be enough to knock off the established home team? For that answer we need to tune in on Sunday night.
Washington Commanders at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jan. 12, NBC, 8 p.m. ET
Announcers: Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth, Melissa Stark
