Five Wide: 2024 Week Nine

By Thomas Willoughby

We’re here. The second half of the season. Nine more weeks for sides to decide who and what they are.

There are nine teams currently on 2 wins. Most I’m not surprised by, but did anyone expect to see the Dolphins in that conversation when the season started? No you didn’t you liar stop it.

Imagine losing out from here and not even getting a top 5 pick. That’d be hilarious. I hope it happens to someone.

Anyway onto some more serious business. We’re talking coaches, mostly, this week. Strap in.

Coach of the Year

Take one look at the Los Angeles Rams’ roster. Seriously. Open a new tab, load up their wiki page, and have a look. I’ll make it easy for you, it’s here. That team sucks so much. That team is 4-4. They’ve the same record as the 49ers, and a better record than the Seahawks. Sean McVay is an absolute wizard.

They beat the Seahawks, in Seattle! Yes, they rose their luck hard. Geno Smith had a really tough game, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba had about 500 receiving yards called back for various penalties. But the Rams won. In overtime. Even with Puka Nacua getting ejected after about 2 minutes. They’re alive, against all reasonable expectations. If they get into the playoffs, I want McVay getting coach of the year buzz.

I have a very big smile on my face

Well that didn’t last long. Last week I brought your attentions to the plight of the New Orleans Saints. This week, with Derek Carr back from injury, they marched into Carolina looking to right the ship and get their season back on course. They walked out with a 23-22 defeat, a star receiver in hospital, and a head coach given his marching orders. Oh.

That’s right, Dennis Allen has become the second head coach to be relieved of his duties this season. He’s also become the first coach to have ever been fired by two teams that were quarterbacked by the same player. Derek Carr HATES him.

The Saints job has to be the least attractive of all the ones likely to be available this summer. They’ve no players, no money, and are basically hoping a bunch of lads retire and Derek Carr to sign an extension that means he has to pay them $30mils in order to be cap compliant. They might end up with the 1st overall pick and be forced to trade it just to get under the cap. That’ll teach you for pretending the cap isn’t real for the past decade.

Viva Lost Season

Joining Dennis Allen in the chopping block: the entire Las Vegas Raiders offense. Following a 41-24 defeat to the Bengals, Antonio Pierce has decided enough is enough and has done away with offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, QB coach Rich Scangarello, and OL coach James Cregg.

The Raiders have lost 5 straight and saw arguably their most potent weapon traded to the Jets a couple of weeks back. They’ve only managed 168 points through 9 games, good for 5th lowest in the AFC. When you’re turning to Desmond Ridder to give you a spark, you’re in trouble. Take it from someone who knows.

Pierce says that they want to find “balance and identity on offense”. There’s no better way of doing that than bringing in an entirely new set of coaches, of whom are unlikely to be there at the end of the season. Fortunately for them they’re at the bye week, so they’ve a bit of time to figure something out. I’m sure it’ll work out fine.

A bit of a dressing down

I ended last season by throwing down the gauntlet. “[…]there now need to be serious questions over what Trevor Lawrence is. The hottest QB prospect in recent draft history has seldom lived up to reputation. I’m not saying move on, but I am saying 2024 needs to be a season of dominance in order to justify the contract he’ll no doubt demand.” Lawrence got his contract in the summer. 5 years, $275 million with $200 million guaranteed. I’ve seen enough. He’s not worth close to that.

“Oh but look at his stats” you might say. Look at his performances, I retort. The numbers tell a fairly middling story, the tape tells an utterly horrid. The most exciting QB prospect for a generation has grown into a serviceable game manager. He’s getting no help from Pederson, of course, who’ll likely be the next to receive his P45. But he’s not helping himself. The Jaguars battled their way back into their trip to Philadelphia on Sunday, and had the ball in the Eagles’ half with the chance to win the game. Step forward Trevor Lawrence.

The Jaguars had D’Ernest Johnson one on one with Nakobe Dean in the endzone, and Lawrence put the ball where only the Eagles linebacker could get it. Interception, game over. 28-13 defeat. Jags down to 2-7.

This is not a performance, or a season, in isolation. This is consistent with the body of his professional career. I’m certain the Jaguars will change everything above him, and give a young offensive genius the keys to the franchise in the summer. I’m also certain Lawrence will continue to underwhelm under the watch of Bobby Slowik or whoever. I’ve seen enough.

Antony Richardsgone

So the moment I submitted last week’s Five Wide, the Indianapolis Colts announced Anthony Richardson would be benched in favour of Joe Flacco moving forward. I spent a whole section defending the boy for having a sit down only for it to blow up in my face. More fool me, I guess.

At least I was somewhat vindicated. Flacco looked every one of his 39 years, and the Colts could not mask it. They lost 21-13 to a Vikings side who’ll hope their promising season’s back on track. The Colts fall to 4-5, and have a lot to think about.

We’re kind of in the same situation we were in with Bryce Young. And I’ll say what I said when he was first benched; how many QBs are benched, get their job back, and are successful with that team? Exactly. Young Richardson might want to get a bag packed, just in case.

Features Image Credit: Grant Halverson-Getty Images

THOMAS IS A WRITER, AND REGULAR GUEST ON THE TOUCHDOWN REVIEW SHOW PODCAST, FOR THE TOUCHDOWN. YOU CAN FIND HIM @WILLO290592 ON TWITTER

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