While ESPN and other media outlets reported late Wednesday and early Thursday that Robert Griffin III will start on Sunday against the Vikings, and Jay Gruden seems optimistic about Griffin’s chances to play, Minnesota defensive coordinator George Edwards is still preparing for both Griffin and Colt McCoy.
Gruden: Griffin's progress continues and "every intent right now is for him to be the starter"
— Mike Jones (@MikeJonesWaPo) October 30, 2014
Gruden : RG3 is at 100 percent physically.
— Rich Tandler (@Rich_TandlerCSN) October 30, 2014
Robert Griffin III took the majority of the first team reps today after splitting them with Colt McCoy yesterday.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) October 30, 2014
“You never know,” Edwards said of preparing for Washington’s quarterback situation. “We’re just going about it just like last week we were preparing for two different guys so we are going about it, preparing the best we can. Schematically I think offensively they are going to pretty much stay the same. I think they’ll do some things different between the differences in the quarterbacks but, for the most part, offensively I think they’ll pretty much stay schematically what they’re doing.”
Edwards said the team went back and saw all the games both quarterbacks played in to see what differences in what was called and what receiver was favored. Whoever is at quarterback will have some players in DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcon, Niles Paul and the now-healthy Jordan Reed who can threaten a pass defense that is ranked 18th in passing touchdowns allowed (13) despite only allowing 212 yards passing per game, tied for fourth-least in the NFL.
“They throw the ball and they’ve got some receivers that can run and really get and run so from that aspect of it we’ve got to do a job,” Edwards said of Washington’s passing game. “That’s one of our goals, not only just to stop the run, but to come back and don’t give up big plays. That’s one of our main focuses each week is when do they like to take the shots, down and distance wise, position of the field. So from that aspect of it that is one of our goals and one of our concentrations from week to week. We kind of go through and that’s one of our goals, we make an emphasis on it and show them when they like to take those shots.”
The Redskins are tied for third in the NFL with 34 plays of 20 yards or more in the passing game, and lead the league in plays of 40 or more through the air with 12, while Minnesota has allowed 22 plays of 20 yards or more (tied for sixth least) and only 4 of 40 or more (tied for fourth least). But Washington’s offensive line has allowed 17 sacks, tied for fifteenth-most in the NFL, a positive sign for a Vikings defensive line that has 20 of the team’s 25 sacks (tied for second-most in the NFL), a level of play that Edwards is certainly happy about.
“They are playing good and that’s the big thing that coming in they all bought all, that’s a good room, they all bought in to what we are trying to do and from week to week things have to come up, nuances, technique, fundamentals have all pretty much stayed the same,” said Edwards. “From week to week the different schemes that we see and this week will be a big challenge for them. So from that aspect of it, yes, we’re pleased with where we are but we know that we’ve still got some room to improve. So from that aspect of it those guys take the challenge each week and have some good production from week to week.”
The player who has been getting the most acclaim from the defensive line is end Everson Griffen, who today was named the NFC’s defensive player of the Month after registering 20 tackles, six sacks, and a forced fumble in October, upping his season sack total to 8. He registered a sack in all four games in the month, including 3 at Buffalo in Week 7, aiding Minnesota to lead the NFC with 17 sacks in October, tied with the Bills for most in the NFL during that span.
When the Vikings signed Griffin to a five-year, 42.5 million contract in the offseason, it raised eyebrows throughout the league because while Griffen had 13.5 sacks in the two seasons previous, he had only one start in those two seasons. But now the move looks like a stroke of genius, and Edwards thinks it’s “great” that Griffen is being appreciated for his hard work through the accolade.
“Everson has worked his butt off since we’ve been in here,” said Edwards. “He’s bought in and every day he comes to work and he’s able to go out on Sunday and perform and so from that aspect of it we’re happy for him. We’ve been stressing all the time that it isn’t just one guy, it’s everybody that makes that happen – good coverage, good pass rush goes hand-in-hand and guys are realizing that and going out and doing what we’re asking them to do.”
Along with Griffen, defensive tackles Linval Joseph (2.5 sacks), Tom Johnson (5 sacks), Sharrif Floyd (3 sacks), end Tim Robison (1.5 sacks), and rookie linebacker Anthony Barr (3 sacks), Minnesota will have a plethora of pass-rushers to get to Robert Griffin III, assuming he plays as reported and even if he is fully healthy.
