Brandon Scherff, Washington Redskins. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
Once again, the Washington Redskins have a new sideline leader. How much work does Ron Rivera and the team’s new regime have ahead of them?
Once again, there’s a new head coach in D.C. for Daniel Snyder’s team. This past season, the Washington Redskins went through Jay Gruden (5 games) and Bill Callahan on the way to a 3-13 finish. Now it’s former Carolina Panthers’ sideline leader Ron Rivera’s turn to try to restore this franchise to being a consistent playoff contender.
Dating back to 2008, the Redskins have reached the postseason only twice, both times as division champs in ’12 and ’15. Since their last playoff appearance, the team is a combined 25-38-1. This past year, the club finished last in the NFC East for the seventh time in the past 12 seasons.
So it’s the start of a new era in Landover as Rivera becomes the 10th different head coach under Snyder. Obviously, there’s obviously plenty of work ahead and some of the housecleaning has begun. So what are the priorities for “Riverboat Ron” and company?
5. Sign G Brandon Scherff to a long-term deal
Basically a no-brainer, although the fifth overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft has battled some injuries the past two seasons.
During his first three years in the league, the former University of Iowa standout started all 16 games in each of his first two campaigns and 14 contests in ’17. But he missed half of the season in 2018 and this past year, spent the final three weeks on injured reserve.
Still, Scherff earned his third Pro Bowl invitation in 2019 and it’s hard to fathom the Redskins won’t get a deal done sooner than later for one of the best players in the league at his respective position.