The real RG3, or sophomore slump?

[WindCityHawk]

I'm watching my first Redskins game of the year and I'm wondering: who's afraid of Robert Griffin? He holds the ball too long, can't see the field, I've watched him stare down receivers and make insistent, even desperate throws. Against a terrible pass defense. And it's not even halftime.

Think it's just a sophomore slump, or does he really have some serious problems? Or both, I guess.

(FWIW, I'm actually rooting for the Redskins in this one)

 

[C-Dub]

Last week he was pretty darn good, and he seems to be getting better as the season progresses.

I never thought he was a great pocket passer. Since he's not running as much, he has to rely on his passing and has struggled as a result. Throw in his supporting cast and it's easy to see why the Skins aren't very good.

It's only a matter of time before he takes off running only to take unnecessary hits that get him hurt again.

 

[SmokinHawk]

He's nothing without the legs to carry his game.

 

[HawkWow]

He's going to have to reinvent himself if he is going to excel in this league. There will be growing pains and Griffin's previous style, IMO, will
amplify the traditional growing pains suffered by every QB coming into the league. IE: He's not a guy that's comfortable letting the game come to him. That will have to change post haste. It looks like he's been humbled a bit and that is a great step towards progress.

 

[Msfann]

That's one big difference between him and Wilson, Wilson will try to avoid contact where rg3 seems to think that since he's a big guy he can take it. Those big hits are going to catch up to him eventually.

 

[Smelly McUgly]

He looks really scared in the pocket. I still think getting hurt is in his head. He didn't miss open guys and make weird decisions like this last year.

 

[WindCityHawk]

He does look scared in the pocket, I agree. He's absolutely dancing back there.

On a completely unrelated note: how do screens seem to work for everyone but Seattle, lol.

 

[dontbelikethat]

RG3 :lol:

 

[AF_Hawk]

He wasn't a great pocket passer last year and it is showing this year. Without the threat of his legs teams are waiting for the pass.

 

[HawkWow]

He looks really scared in the pocket. I still think getting hurt is in his head. He didn't miss open guys and make weird decisions like this last year.

The shock of learning he's not Superman...not in real life, anyway. All those draft picks, GONE!

Watch someone turn around and do it again for Manziel. He has many of the same tendencies as Griffin and I predict he will be exposed in similar fashion if he doesn't start tweaking his game, in preparation for the bigs, instead following the path of Griffin. He would do well to find some humility post haste and learn to avoid tacklers like the plague.

 

[pmedic920]

RG3 took a beat down today. Physically speaking. I felt bad for him.

 

[Smelly McUgly]

I don't really think there's any issues with RGIII's personality, and even if I did, I don't know that I could estimate how they affect his actual play unless I was a professional in the field of psychology.

RGIII has all the tools to be an elite QB; I just really think he wants to play so badly that he needs a coach and owner that understand how to protect their investment. He should pack it in for this year, but Shanny doesn't want to end up on the hot seat and Snyder is an impatient buffoon, so they'll ruin him. Honestly, this was maybe the worst franchise for him to go to.

 

[Happy]

He looked shell shocked by the second half. The Broncos defense was giving him the business with impunity and his line wasn't sticking up for him, and it had an impact. I don't know if that's coaching or his teammates losing faith in him but it was notable I thought.

 

[HawkWow]

Suffering the rapid descent he did, after basically anointing himself the prodigy, I would think would have to have an impact on his mental fortitude. At least short-term.

Like all rookies that come into the bigs with a feeling of entitlement, I'm glad reality reared it's familiar head to Griffin. I don't wish for his injury, nor long time failure, but like a fighter, there's much more to be learned in losing than winning and he's getting that education now.

 

[Smelly McUgly]

I mean, I just don't see how anyone can come up with the idea that he really anointed himself or that he is entitled. I don't think that there's a pattern of him saying "I am the greatest, I don't need any more work, I'm a HOFer already." I would guess that you would actually have to know him to know what he was like or if he was entitled unless he was REALLY obvious about it, like Ryan Leaf-level obvious personal and mental issues.

I have a hard time with making claims on someone's personality that I don't know unless they act out in enough of a consistent pattern and in a very obvious manner. There's too much chance that I'm judging someone based more on my biases than on reality.

But I will say that his lack of aggressiveness and his skittish nature in the pocket is apparent, and I would guess that he's still protective of his knee, as he didn't have these issues before his injury.

 

[Happypuppy]

It looks to me like he looks for a open receiver and if none runs rather than progressing in his reads. I would not give up on him. Some take longer to get comfortable in an offense.

 

[Smelly McUgly]

He doesn't even run - he just panics and freezes. There were times that he could have run, but didn't until it was way too late and a LB or CB or DE had recovered to spy him.

He was missing open guys working themselves free all over the place.

Plus, the dude was incredibly accurate last year, and now he's scattershot. I hate to see it because I think he has the potential to be a truly generational player, as most do.

 

[HawkWow]

I mean, I just don't see how anyone can come up with the idea that he really anointed himself or that he is entitled. I don't think that there's a pattern of him saying "I am the greatest, I don't need any more work, I'm a HOFer already." I would guess that you would actually have to know him to know what he was like or if he was entitled unless he was REALLY obvious about it, like Ryan Leaf-level obvious personal and mental issues.

I have a hard time with making claims on someone's personality that I don't know unless they act out in enough of a consistent pattern and in a very obvious manner. There's too much chance that I'm judging someone based more on my biases than on reality.

But I will say that his lack of aggressiveness and his skittish nature in the pocket is apparent, and I would guess that he's still protective of his knee, as he didn't have these issues before his injury.

Then you're an extremely fair person.

Over the past 3 years, I've seen enough Griffin coverage to form the opinion I have of him. I've seen few players enter the league with the same arrogant swagger Griffin had entering last season. Then, after being exposed to his self promoting, "record breaking" performance at the Skin training facility a couple months ago, his arrogance in that (conveniently recorded) drama made me want to hurl.

The reality is Griffin's not as special as the media built him up to be. He was a glorified system QB @ Baylor and his skillset much more conducive to college than pro...as we are seeing now. Baylor has since found a (perhaps) better version in Bryce Petty.

But like I said earlier, Griffin seems to be toning it down and that is encouraging. He's learning and I hope he puts it all together. Though, for me, he's not much fun to watch at this level.

 

[SmokinHawk]

I think that he felt pressured to play, by both the fans, and the ownership. He came back way too soon from tearing two ligaments.

Ironically, it seems that Clem is in better game shape than RG3, though the team is treating him as much more of a role player these days.

 

[Smelly McUgly]

I still am not sure what RGIII has done to deserve that "entitled" label, and I have been seeing the same coverage as you have, but I guess we'll agree to disagree.