QB - what did we see?

[Sportster 72]

Analysis of Griffin's game:

Quarterback: <A href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/14875/robert-griffin?ex_cid=null">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.

Kind of reminds you of last year when often Robert struggled in the first half and then inflated his stats in the 2nd half when teams were playing prevent. It will be interesting to see if this is a trend or just due to the game plan last week.

 

[j_y19]

ouch. That's not going to cut it in the NFL. I realize the sample size is small and he was just executing the plays called, but we have got to figure out a way to stretch the field. Actually, I know the way......Robert has to run a few times to free the defense up.

 

[j_y19]

Also, what we can't see on TV was this a result of Robert dumping off to his safety valve when other were open down field or were these mostly designed quick hitters?

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

By all accounts the Redskins took what the Texans gave them. I'm not sure throwing into coverage is the answer. If there were receivers open down field trust me we would know about it by now with all the scrutiny Griffin is facing.

I just don't see how they can exploit those deep patterns with the way this team is unable to pick up the blitz. No doubt some of that is on the QB but the protection is horrible as we know. How can they go deep when the rush is there in less than 3 seconds? They best figure this out because every team they face will be sending the house until they prove they can beat it. And because teams will blitz so often won't sending Robert around the edge on a running play run right into the defense?

 

[RedskinzDan]

That's the RG3 I saw in the game. I also saw how all the sacks were on him, holding the ball too long. I was surprises how many people were saying he had a great game. The O Line is no better than last year, RG3 is no better than last year. It's going to be a LONG season unless things change. They need to run the read option several times a game to open things up or we are going nowhere.

 

[Caliskinsfan]

I heard some absurd statistic like a 3.7 avg for passes, including the second half stats when Griff played better. That's ok I guess, if we all want to see a check down King and game manager. Which no one does.

The game plan and scheme HAS to be positioned to maximize the strengths and talents of this team. It can't simply focus on Griff transitioning. That is completely unfair to the team IMO. I'm ok with letting The Houston game go, but we better see a better plan against the Jags...

We still have to win games while Griff is transitioning to better pocket presence. No franchise has the patience to just lose games that are winnable. And certainly not this one after 3years, regardless that one year was a wash with an injured QB and the team and Coach in wild dysfunction.

We better see the running game more against the Jags. If nothing else, we know we CAN move the ball running it, and it will open up the passing game if we refuse to use RO or any scheme that includes a real threat of Griff using his legs.

 

[ehb5]

What I saw was a very pedestrian performance but one that is serviceable as a qb. But I have a hard time believing he won't get at least a little better and at that point you can win with him. sure that would mean the trade was a disaster but my point is I don't see why we'd move on from him in the future as I think at worst you can build around him to build a winner.

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

That's the RG3 I saw in the game. I also saw how all the sacks were on him, holding the ball too long. I was surprises how many people were saying he had a great game. The O Line is no better than last year, RG3 is no better than last year. It's going to be a LONG season unless things change. They need to run the read option several times a game to open things up or we are going nowhere.

I'll ask again: who is saying that Griffin played a great game?

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

No franchise has the patience to just lose games that are winnable. And certainly not this one after 3years, regardless that one year was a wash with an injured QB and the team and Coach in wild dysfunction.

After 3 years? Last time I checked this is start #30

 

[Caliskinsfan]

After 3 years? Last time I checked this is start #30

Key sentence....games that are winnable. We didn't execute a good game plan against the Texans. The loss wasn't Griffs fault, but he certainly didn't help win it either. We failed in all phases of the game. That's what is at issue for me. We could have won that game, with our transitioning QB.

A bad game plan is fair game to criticize as is things each player could have done better, IMO.

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

The loss wasn't Griffs fault, but he certainly didn't help win it either.

This sums up that game perfectly. Those blaming Griffin for the loss are just flat wrong. With that said as you posted he didn't do enough to win either. We harp on the 2 fumble and they were critical But when you only have 3 drives into the red zone all game the 2 fumbles were crippling. The answer is 2 part, don't give it away and get there more than 3 times. It also would have been nice if Garcon had not mistimed his jump, that should have been a huge gain that could have changed the game.

 

[skinsdad62]

Key sentence....games that are winnable. We didn't execute a good game plan against the Texans. The loss wasn't Griffs fault, but he certainly didn't help win it either. We failed in all phases of the game. That's what is at issue for me. We could have won that game, with our transitioning QB.

A bad game plan is fair game to criticize as is things each player could have done better, IMO.

i dont have an issue with what you say

but from what i saw in game one i dont think Rg3 is going to carry a team to a win ,not yet anyhow

 

[gkekoa]

Still defenders even on this game. There have already been other posts showing RG3 missing planned routes further down field. I like the idea of swing passes to DeSean and Garcon...both extremely capable of making people look silly in the open field. I like multiple calls of this nature each game; however, you can't do dump passes on top of it the whole game and you have to hit the guys that are "coming open."

 

[skinsdad62]

Still defenders even on this game. There have already been other posts showing RG3 missing planned routes further down field. I like the idea of swing passes to DeSean and Garcon...both extremely capable of making people look silly in the open field. I like multiple calls of this nature each game; however, you can't do dump passes on top of it the whole game and you have to hit the guys that are "coming open."

i think you need to go watch the game . he missed roberts twice on one play and garcon misplayed another deep ball .

he still needs work in some areas for sure but he seemed to take what the defense gave us . we simply made too many errors to win in all phases including qb play

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

Still defenders even on this game. There have already been other posts showing RG3 missing planned routes further down field. I like the idea of swing passes to DeSean and Garcon...both extremely capable of making people look silly in the open field. I like multiple calls of this nature each game; however, you can't do dump passes on top of it the whole game and you have to hit the guys that are "coming open."

Again nobody is claiming he played a great game. And I have no doubts he is missing reads, that kind of happens with young QBs. But let's not pretend Griffin is the only QB to miss an open receiver, they showed Romo do it on Sunday as well. However this is clearly one of the things he needs to improve on.

But you are acting as if he just posted a Tony Banks line of 9-23-125 with 2 picks. Stop already. Why can't you accept the assessment above, he didn't lose it but didn't do enough to win it either.

 

[Caliskinsfan]

i dont have an issue with what you say

but from what i saw in game one i dont think Rg3 is going to carry a team to a win ,not yet anyhow

I think he can do a lot more to help our O and himself, by running SMARTLY, a few times a game. And stepping up and left in the packet to maximize pass pro from TW.

Course the game plan has to support creatively Griffs transition, while still playing to the strengths of the line, Griff and our Running game. Right now, our scheme is fooling no team. And is just begging for the blitz.

I don't have a problem with checking down, but if we don't get some play action going on, by either using our running game effectively or having the threat of the run from Griff, this O is going nowhere. And Griff will be learning nothing, except for how teams like to blitz, cuz he's gonna get pounded until he proves he can do something more.

 

[RedskinzDan]

So we traded 3 1st round picks for a "Game Manager" Great.............

 

[Caliskinsfan]

So we traded 3 1st round picks for a "Game Manager" Great.............

For game 1 of the transition. There were some pretty passes down field too. Just errors and not enough of them. That happens without effective play action.

Let's hope we continue to see progress beyond a 'game manager' as the season continues.

 

[Sharkinva]

For game 1 of the transition. There were some pretty passes down field too. Just errors and not enough of them. That happens without effective play action.

Let's hope we continue to see progress beyond a 'game manager' as the season continues.

Ever the diplomat Cali.

 

[Caliskinsfan]

Ever the diplomat Cali.

LOL