It’s hard to figure out the exact moment in an offseason when speculation starts to grow tiresome, and fans just want to get down to the nitty-gritty and start reading about things that are happening in the then and now.
I don’t think we’ve hit that place in time just yet when it comes to the Washington Redskins. After so many years of turmoil under the old regime, my guess is that all of these stories lifting up new coach Ron Rivera, be it from a former player or colleague, are still welcomed fodder in Redskins circles.
Well, if you like these types of stories, you’re going to like this one. The latest Carolina Panther to give his two cents on Rivera is former-Panther Thomas Davis, who predicts that the Redskins will see a quick turnaround when it comes to competing for a playoff spot with their new coaching staff.
“I expect a complete culture change,” Davis said, via NBC Sports Washington. “I expect that team to go in and be competitive immediately.”
Competitive immediately — that sounds pretty appealing, considering that the team is coming off a 3-13 season and the final stretch dragged out longer than most. Davis, who played in Carolina for 13 years, thinks that it will be Rivera’s ability to reach the players, especially the young crop, that will be the biggest factor in driving success.
“I think Coach Rivera definitely connects to the players on a one-on-one level,” he said. “He knows how to reach players exactly where they are, and he knows how to get the most out of them. He’s done a great job of that in Carolina, and I don’t expect that to be any different in Washington.”
Hopefully, all of these former Panthers are proved right in the end.
