An unbiased QB analysis from last week

[Sharkinva]

Inside Slant: NFL Week 1 QB Report - NFL Nation Blog - ESPN


Quarterback: Robert Griffin III
What you saw: He was 29-for-37 for 267 yards, 0 TDs, 0 interceptions
What you might have missed: One of the most conservative games of Griffin's career with the Washington Redskins. Documenting his approach leads to some staggering numbers.

Griffin's average pass against the Houston Texans traveled 5.89 yards in the air, the third-lowest total of his career. Of his 37 attempts, 25 traveled 5 yards or fewer downfield. About 60 percent of his yardage total (160 of 267) came after the catch, and while he completed all eight of his passes targeted at receiver DeSean Jackson, six of them traveled 5 yards or fewer downfield. Of Jackson's 62 yards, 43 were after the catch.

That 267-yard total is worth further inspection. Nearly three-quarters of it (193 of 267) came in the second half, which began with the Redskins having a win probability of 17 percent and never rose above 31.6 percent. In other words, it came when the Texans were more willing to allow yards in exchange for time off the clock.

Final analysis: Robert Griffin III the pocket passer makes one yearn for Robert Griffin III the wild runner. Checking down all game only works if your team has a lockdown defense. The Redskins don't. They need more explosive plays from their quarterback, one way or the other.


Note the bolded sections.

Dont shoot the messenger guys.

 

[Stymietee]

I've said all along that RGIII is not the problem on this team. While extremely telling, those statistics don't tell you that in completing those short passes this QB paid a very heavy price for his efforts. Knocked down or hit 71% of the time on short passes indicates that he might have been better off without an offensive line in front of him.

 

[martinez]

nothing new.

 

[skinz2winz]

The biggest Achilles heel on this team is and has been the offensive line.

 

[Sharkinva]

The biggest Achilles heel on this team is and has been the offensive line.

Yep, you are right. But hey if we had five all pro lineman we could probably suite up Joan Rivers tomorrow and have her play QB and we might win. Heard this story for Jason Campbell, hearing it for RG3.

Funny no one condemned the O-line when it was McNabb, Grossman or Beck or Ramsey, or Matthews or weurffel under center though.... whyis that??

 

[Stymietee]

Yep, you are right. But hey if we had five all pro lineman we could probably suite up Joan Rivers tomorrow and have her play QB and we might win. Heard this story for Jason Campbell, hearing it for RG3.

Funny no one condemned the O-line when it was McNabb, Grossman or Beck or Ramsey, or Matthews or weurffel under center though.... whyis that??

.....because despite the argument against it, this offensive line is far worse than those that were in front of McNabb, Grossman (earlier) Beck or Mathews, yet still horrible then.


On Washington Redskins' revamped offensive line, nothing ...
Washington Post: Breaking News, World, US, DC News & Analysis › Sports › Redskins


The Steve Spurrier lines were also terrible but slightly below average......wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy better than this current bunch.

Lots of us condemned them...just on that now defunct forum.

 

[Sportster 72]

Yep, you are right. But hey if we had five all pro lineman we could probably suite up Joan Rivers tomorrow and have her play QB and we might win. Heard this story for Jason Campbell, hearing it for RG3.

Funny no one condemned the O-line when it was McNabb, Grossman or Beck or Ramsey, or Matthews or weurffel under center though.... whyis that??

This is a good and accurate point but you have to leave Beck out of it. Remember when he got sacked something like 10 times and it was pointed out later most sacks were on him. The following week he helped Helu set the Redskins single game catch record at 14 pretty short passes.

A few of these people want to blame our Oline and they aren't world beaters but this same offensive line has been the one that has allowed Morris to run over 2,500 yards the past two years. Gruden himself said post game that Griffin still needs to get rid of the ball sooner and was the reason for some of the sacks. I pointed out last week that two of the sacks were caused by blitzes that weren't picked up. Not all but a lot of that is on the QB into a play that will change the protection or speed up the pass.

I'll say again but figure a lot of non-football types will understand our line is built as a zone blocking line. They are smaller and more agile than many other lineman. They won't win a lot of one on one power blocks because they aren't strong enough. I believe Gruden wants to keep the blocking scheme but wants to fins some stronger lineman. Right now they are one of the best run blocking lines in the NFL. They need more help from their QB. Same line did not give up as many sacks when Cousins was in during TC because he gets them in better protections, reads his blitz keys better and is more decisive and gets rid of the ball faster. I expect we will see Griffin get better at that each week during the season.

 

[Breed]

Knocked down or hit 71% of the time on short passes

If this is accurate (and I'm not disputing it) The dope in the OP isn't being as unbiased as the title of the OP suggests. Getting knocked down or hit 26 times on 37 attempts is a lotta heat.

Still, there were plays to be made imo by Griff that he didn't make. If he's going to be the QB many hope and/or expect him to be, of which I presently count myself among, he has to make those plays.

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

Yeah not sure why this thread is necessary either. As mentioned this is not news, the Texans defense forced a lot of short throws. But I"m not buying this "take time off the clock" theory. Teams do not play a prevent defense the entire 2nd half with an 8 point lead. This was their plan all along and it was probably the Redskins gameplan too. But as the Griffin folks have been saying all week he didn't plan poorly but didn't do enough to win it either, so obviously we think he needs more explosive plays too. Wouldn't hurt if your WR didn't mis-time his leap and missed a very catchable 40 yard completion either.

As for the OL again not exactly news that they are a good run blocking unit but they suck at pass protection. It's been discussed everywhere I've been posting for years and they really haven't upgraded the right side, the main culprit, yet. They have one, count 'em, one good pass blocker. The others are either average, slightly below or they flat out suck. I know it's hard for the haters to accept but this does have an effect on the QB's ability to hit big plays. You tell me how many times Griffin had a clean pocket and full 3 seconds to allow a play to develop downfield last Sunday.

 

[skinsdad62]

what game was this clown watching ? we were behind and still had a chance to win the game . of course he would have more yards and it wasnt because the texans took a 2nd half game vacation

we get it , Rg3 didnt play well