This is going to come across as a Jay Gruden bash party, but I swear I didn’t intend for that to happen. It’s merely a humorous observation….well….at least if you’re not a Washington fan. Gruden hasn’t done a bad job in Washington. With the exception of a 4-12 debut in 2014, his teams have been relatively competitive. They were 9-7 in 2015, which earned them a playoff spot. The Green Bay Packers beat ’em in the wild card round, but it was still Gruden’s most successful season. In 2016, the team had a winning record again, but 8-7-1 wasn’t enough to get into the playoffs. Washington has since gone 7-9 in back to back seasons.
That 2018 season has to sting, though. The team started 6-2, and looked like they were clearly the best team in the NFC East. The defense wasn’t anything to mess with, and Alex Smith looked like he was going to carry that offense back to the postseason! Then, a myriad of injuries (including Smith) led to a monumental collapse and Washington was on the outside looking in.
Still, the decision to hire Gruden five seasons ago sure seems comical when you look at who else was on that staff in 2013.
Sean McVay is about to coach the Los Angeles Rams in the Super Bowl. Kyle Shanahan rode the wave of momentum of that Atlanta Falcons Super Bowl run to a head coaching gig with the San Francisco 49ers. And, Matt LaFleur was just announced as the new head coach of the Packers. It’s crazy now – everyone wants a coach who has so much as breathed in the same room as McVay. But, if you rewind to 2013, all of these guys were on the same coaching staff….in Washington. McVay served as tight ends coach, LaFleur coached quarterbacks, and Shanahan was the offensive coordinator.
That was the last season Mike Shanahan was a head coach. How the hell was that offense 23rd in the NFL in points per game in 2013? Well, regardless, the end of the 2013 season and a 3-13 record meant a changing of the guard in Washington.
Of course, that meant the arrival of Gruden, and here we are – full circle. There was no way to know that all of these guys would become such hot shots – that was five years ago. But, holy shit – talk about a who’s who of coaching. How different would Washington be with McVay at the helm instead of Gruden? What would’ve happened had Shanahan (Kyle) never left town? It’s fun to think about – maybe Washington would be in the Super Bowl instead of Los Angeles. You can play that game all day.
Instead, Washington fans will go into 2019 with a coach well on the hot seat, wondering if they’re going to have to start from square one with a new guy come 2020. Some might say it’s karma for Dan Snyder always being such a goober. I say it’s just the perfect storm of bad luck and poor timing.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Alabama Crimson Tide football, the WWE, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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