Ashburn, VA – Over the last several years, I have made it a point to not write about Robert Griffin, III. Not because he has not been the biggest story coming out of Washington besides the nonsense that happens on Capitol Hill. Not because I do not like him. The Washington Redskins quarterback has captivated this town in both good and in bad ways. His presence on the team has been a marketing boom and a public relations nightmare all in the same breath. The team has not had this type of press for a player since the days of the late, great safety Sean Taylor who routinely struck fear in the hearts of opposing offenses and special teams alike.
Why have I never written about Griffin?
I chose to not write about the young man because I felt too much unnecessary attention was already being given to his every move. I remember back at his first press conference at Redskins Park, days after being drafted out of Baylor as the number two pick by the team in the 2012 NFL draft, he was asked if it was true that he’d recently purchased a Bentley… I knew right then and there that there was going to be a circus surrounding the Redskins new savior.
Fast forward three years and a full-fledged carnival surrounds RGIII.
It is without further a due therefore, that I break my pledge. My job is to report on things that go on out here at Redskins Park and Robert Griffin is obviously one of those topics.
In reviewing his practices throughout training camp as well as these last two weeks out in Ashburn, it is clear that what we have seen out of Robert on the preseason football field is not what was expected. I have arrived at a startling conclusion regarding what has affected his play as we move into 2014 and it boils down to three things:
1) Griffin is not having the fun he had three years ago. This has nothing to do with his new coaches or teammates but rather the fact that he is pressing too hard. He wants to be perfect. He wants to show people what he can do and this pressure has overtaken his swagger… that same swagger that got him into trouble a few times in the first place. Need we bring up Mike Shanahan again? Griffin’s former head coach did more than tear up his star quarterback’s knee. He tore up his ego and his confidence on his way out of town. The RGIII that is on display now lacks that football cockiness that endeared him to many and alienated him to some. Show me a great QB in the NFL who isn’t confident or border-line cocky and I will show you a career back-up. That swagger and cockiness needs to find its way back to the surface.
2) There is a gentleman named Kirk Cousins on the roster. Again, recall that Shanahan brought the backup QB here. Cousins, in his limited opportunities; has shown that if put in the right situation (which is not here), he could be developed into a starting NFL quarterback.. The key word here is ‘developed.’
Fans who have asked for a change at the position in Washington must understand that when Cousins had his opportunity last year during the final three regular season games, he looked like an inexperienced signal caller who was prone to turning the ball over. Did he do some things well? He sure did. Did he look bad at times? He sure did. Of all the quarterbacks in the NFL last year with a minimum of 150 attempts, it was Cousins who had the worst passer rating at 58.4 percent and pass completion percentage at 52.2. This tells me that Cousins could have performed better considering he went up against three really porous defenses in the Atlanta Falcons, Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants. Is he solely responsible for the Redskins’ ineffective special teams, bad defense and a drama-laden season? No. But if this is true, then Griffin is in the same boat and needs time to develop as well. Remember also that both have worked under three head coaches in four years if counting their senior seasons in college.
For everything that Cousins can do (he does seem more comfortable reading defenses because of his experience in college with a pro-style offense), what is not up for debate is that Cousins simply does not match the overall skill sets that Griffin brings to the table. RGIII’s upside surpasses Cousins’.
3) There are a lot of new toys in Washington. Griffin has a new coach with a history of having outstanding offenses. He has a new superstar play-maker in wide out DeSean Jackson. He gets to play with returning stars in running back Alfred Morris and receiver Pierre Garçon. And finally, he has a future Pro Bowl talent in tight end Jordan Reed. This may be more weapons on any starting offense in the league including the Denver Broncos. Perhaps with all that talent, the team player in Griffin is trying to satisfy everyone. He needs to remember the saying “You can’t please everyone all of the time.”
Robert just has to trust the plays that are called and not try to do too much himself. He needs to get the ball out quickly to one of these aforementioned play-makers and the rest will be history. Of course, it would not hurt if he had ample time to throw the ball… some of the hesitation could be because he is under duress trying to survey the field.
None of us out at Redskins Park want nothing more than a drama-free place from which to work. Unfortunately, if this story-line plays itself out on its current path; and if fans keep their near-sighted glasses on, there will be more drama coming — or better yet remaining — out in Ashburn.
An opening day drive and score to start the season against the Houston Texans would do wonders for a potential ‘sleeping giant’ of an offense which is the 2014 Redskins. Before we get to that game however, it must be stressed that this is only the preseason and 80% of what has been seen offensively may never be seen again once the real game plan is put into use. Nothing cures all ills but success and this team, this offense and this young quarterback eagerly look forward to that happening when it counts.