VIDEO Despite the fact that the Redskins gave away everything, including the kitchen sink, to get the coveted number two pick in the 2012 NFL Draft in order to select Robert Griffin III, and despite the fact that he will more than likely be the star, The Man and the Week One starting quarterback for the Skins, RGIII understands that he’ll have to work hard, prove himself and earn the trust and respect of the veteran players around him.
“It starts with knowing that you’re going from the top dog in college to bottom of the totem pole in the pros,” Griffin said. “You have to work your way up and earn the respect of the players around you rather than coming in thinking that you’re gonna be the man right away.”
Griffin was named the starting quarterback by Mike Shanahan on May 6. This was before any full team mini-camps, training camp and any preseason games. Griffin is the starter before he even steps onto the field, but must keep this humble attitude in order to keep himself in check.
Humble as he might be, getting the starting job had to be expected. Rex Grossman and John Beck combined to give the Redskins a record of 5-11 during the 2011 season, so a change at the quarterback position was bound to happen. But the timing of Shanahan’s announcement was somewhat of a surprise, since Shanahan is never one to reveal anything ahead of time, especially this far ahead of time. Last season he wouldn’t announced the Week 1 starter when the world knew the starting job was clearly Rex Grossman’s to lose. It may have been better to let Griffin, Grossman and Kirk Cousins battle it out in training camp, but it only would have delayed the inevitable. You don’t trade away three 1st round draft picks to have your new franchise player sit on the bench.
Griffin realizes that changing his game could be the key to his success. He was able to run the ball effectively in college, on top of his passing, but he knows that running quarterbacks don’t translate well to the NFL. He has to change to help the players around him.
“The biggest thing as a quarterback is that you have to assist everybody. Let the running backs do what they’re supposed to do, let the receivers catch it and my job is not to go out there and try to run, I only run if I have to and that’s the way I look at it. If they’re going to let me do it, then I’ll do it.”
Griffin was a great running quarterback at Baylor, and the numbers back it up. RGIII ran for 2,199 yards and 32 touchdowns over his career at Baylor, but his job in the NFL will be to throw the ball first. Fortunately, he also has a great arm and impressive accuracy. During his Heisman Trophy winning 2011 season, Griffin completed an incredible 72.4% of his passes, which was higher than any NFL quarterback during the 2011 season. Griffin could break the trend of running quarterbacks who can’t throw the ball accurately. He has the potential to be a more accurate, and faster, Cam Newton, and we saw what Newton did last year in his rookie season.
Griffin also has less pressure on him. Andrew Luck has to fill the shoes of a legend – Peyton Manning made the Indianapolis Colts what they are today. The Redskins haven’t had a successful quarterback since Joe Theismann. Griffin isn’t exactly filling the shoes of any legends, he just has to fit well into Shanahan’s offense and win at least half his games
If Griffin is good to his word – humble enough to put in the time and effort that it takes to succeed in the NFL – combined with all his natural talent, he’ll have a long and successful career in the NFL and prove to everyone that he was worth three first round draft picks. It’s going to be an interesting preseason in Washington.
