ESPN analyst and former front office executive Louis Riddick took Jay Gruden to task Monday, blasting the Washington Redskins coach for his handling of rookie quarterback Dwayne Haskins.
Haskins replaced starter Case Keenum in the second quarter of Sunday’s 24-3 loss against the New York Giants, finishing with three interceptions.
Riddick said on “Monday Night Countdown” that Haskins is being “set up for failure.”
“Dwayne Haskins going into that game was really one of the worst decisions I’ve seen this year as far as how people handle young quarterbacks,” Riddick said. “All we’ve heard from the Washington Redskins all along, from their coaching staff in particular, was that he wasn’t ready. … That’s why Case Keenum has been playing. Case Keenum should have been made to finish that football game.”
Gruden said he turned to Haskins in hopes the first-rounder would provide a spark. The Redskins were down 14-0 and Keenum was ineffective for the second straight week.
Riddick, who has worked for the Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles, said Gruden’s decision “reeks of an agenda.” He cited a pre-draft report from ESPN that stated there was tension between the coaching staff and the front office over Haskins’ possible selection.
“You think Dwayne Haskins doesn’t hear that?” Riddick said. “You think he feels totally supported in this entire process? … That young man right now is being set up for failure. And Dan Snyder needs to recognize that and say, ’Hey look, you just drafted another franchise quarterback and he’s being set up to fail.’ He should have never went in that football game [Sunday].”
Gruden has not said if Haskins will start Sunday against the New England Patriots.
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
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