Next years QB

Washington Redskins mailbag: Part 2 - ESPN (http://espn.go.com/blog/washington-redskins/post/_/id/15290/redskins-mailbag-part-2-62)

One thing we do know, is that RGIII isn't in the plans.



@john_keim: Griffin's problems are way beyond the line, and people need to quit thinking that will solve all his problems. It won't. I have yet to hear anyone in the organization -- from coaches, executives or players -- say Griffin would be fine if only the protection was better. Nobody wants the kid to succeed more than those in the organization whose livelihoods depend on wins and losses. In other words, they are not rooting against him. They just don't feel he can do the job. There were definitely times protection was an issue, but you'll never have great protection all the time (and there is no rule saying you still can't make good decisions). As for the quarterbacks coach, yes he can help Griffin, but if he doesn't improve, it all goes back to the quarterback. Can't keep blaming: coaches, protection, this, that, the other.




Keim: Goodness, that's a lot of excuses for one player in one question. First off, I wouldn't say any player who is 25 with his talent is done. But I would ask: Doesn't it concern you in the least that numerous coaches and teammates have severe doubts about him? They are the ones delivering this message. Sure, the line could be better -- but good quarterbacks overcome such lines. I'm all for sticking by the kid and hoping/believing he can improve. This will be only his second legitimate NFL offseason, so we'll get a chance to see how much difference that makes. But to blame all his previous issues on everyone else ignores reality: he misses plays, relies too much on his legs, and lacks the explosion he had as a rookie. No quarterback has all the time in the world and works with All-Pro receivers, which is what many seem to think Griffin needs. If that's the case, he's not who they thought he was when they drafted him. Griffin has to improve his game if he wants to remain a starter.


Shutting those BobThreeSticks fanboys down. I love it. Tired of hearing their bullshit excuses about the guy.

I think Griffin playing the last few games was more about politics. There was no way he wasn't going to play once McCoy got hurt. And there was no way he could drop Griffin to 3rd string.

This year I believe that's all done. The best guy, whomever that's going to be, is going to play. Griffin's leash is gone.

Get ready for more Griffin.

i'd be surprised if griffin wasn't handed the opening day starting job... unless he looks straight up terrible in the offseason. I'm not saying that because that's what i want, but because i think that's how it's going to play out.

kirk's int problems go back to high school, so don't get your hopes up that they'll end any time soon. his inability to get past mistakes is fixable, but i've never seen someone lose it so quickly after one mistake.

Griffin and Cousins should have a legitimate competition this offseason. They need to be on equal ground in the teams' eyes before training camp starts. Give the job to whichever performs better in the next 8 months.

Meanwhile, we need to continue to improve the offensive line. Not by signing high-dollar free agents and not necessarily by using high draft picks, but keep signing these young free agents like Nixon and Larsen, and draft some more offensive linemen late and maybe a developmental center in the mid rounds. Try to get better at tight end and running back when it comes to pass blocking, whether that's through value free agents or the draft.

After the season's over, evaluate your starting QB... if he played well enough to stay, commit to him with an extension and move on from the loser. The moves we made this year as well as the OL picks we took last year should start paying off to a larger degree and this should help the starter continue to improve.

If your starting QB played poorly, well, you're in the market for a new guy with both Griffin and Cousins walking.

I also think we should let McCoy walk and either draft or sign a rookie QB to start developing.

:twocents:

I hope John can work some magic on Big Cuz? His INT is coachable but I don't know if it can happen in one offseason?

What this tells me is Cousins wants to work hard to become a better QB. That is all. Has anyone heard if our other two QB's are getting extra work with a Super Bowl winning coach?

Jay sure didn't show anything to believe Cousins was his guy last year. Even when he had the chance to go back to him he left him inactive. Kinda telling.

Sounds like this is more about Cousins trying to take advantage of every opportunity possible. Smart on his part, but it doesn't say anything about what Jay is thinking.

Yup. Keim says that KC is working out with other QB coaches, not just Jon Gruden, so the Gruden angle is overplayed.

Keim also says that Griffin is still working out with Terry Shea. This makes it hard to get excited about possible improvements for him.

Redskins wake-up call: Kirk Cousins, Jay Gruden and Vernon Gholston - Washington Redskins Blog - ESPN (http://espn.go.com/blog/washington-redskins/post/_/id/15358/redskins-wake-up-call-kirk-cousins-jay-gruden-and-vernon-gholston)

As someone mentioned it on the radio this morning, Cousins' career is on life support and he needs all the help he can get.

I really dislike this attitude of dismissing protection problems. Anyone knows that protection is not the only reason why all three QBs failed this past season, but that doesn't mean it is not a problem. We don't have a QB on the roster that can overcome the shitty line that we have right now. I don't know why everyone expects overnight for Cousins or RG3 to be able to overcome our bad offensive line.

We have an example within NFC East (Dallas) and in the Conference (Seattle) of teams that have built superb o-lines and are not solely QB dependent to win in the league. IMO, improving the line should be priority #1 this season, and then they can figure out what to do with the QB position.

Regardless about the play of the line, our QBs got a ways to go to becoming viable starters in this league. Unfortunately, Cousins is closer to being there than RG3.

I don't think anyone is dismissing the O-line issues, I think everyone recognizes it is our biggest need.
But to have a QB not adjust his game and hold on to the ball for far too long and do it over and over again again when he knows there is an offensive line problem is what has people scratching their heads wondering if this guy gets it. Is it ego or stupidity/incompetence?
The other thing that drove me nuts is when a pass play fell apart, his first instinct was to take off running with it instead of throwing the ball away.