RGIII shut down for remainder of season

[Dwinsgames]

Brilliant move by the Redskins ( how strange does that sound ? ) it does a couple things for them ...

1) ensures a healthy Griffin going into the off season and start of next season

2) it gives them the chance to showcase Kirk Cousins ( who has done a very good job when given the chance ) to potentially garner trade interest at draft time for Cousins and reap some rewards and potentially someone over paying for him

3) 2 gives them more ability to secure a better line so 1) can have healthier seasons moving forward

[steeldawg]

Might as well RGIII is doing nothing but going out and taking a beating every week.

[st33lersguy]

Good move, don't risk another devastating injury and maybe he can bounce back in 2014

[Seven]

I'd trade Griffin and hand the team to Cousins. I think Griffin could be a great quarterback, but I've never - not since his days at Baylor - liked his persona. I've always believed he was going to exhibit character issues and I feel vindicated by his actions of late. Dude needs to shut his mouth and learn how to be a quarterback.

[tube517]

Kirk was last seen filming the next Subway commercial

[Devilsdancefloor]

I dont think the kid has been healthy all year

[steelreserve]

Good idea. They have nothing to gain by continuing to send him out there at this point. Honestly, dude is a meathead for pushing it so hard and forcing it when he obviously wasn't ready. And then continuing to be so bulheaded about forcing it because of some macho dick-swinging bravado after it was obvious he wasn't helping either himself or his team.

If I were the Redskins, I would be thinking less about showcasing Cousins for trade value than about seeing what he really has to offer as a QB in the long term. RGIII is one awkward step away from the end of his career, and for all anyone knows, he might not ever be the same just based on last year's injury alone. That's a real possibility. Cousins was really good last year, but only in two or three games, so it's really really important for them to find out whether they have a Drew Brees in the making or a Matt Flynn in the making.

[zulater]

It's Shanahan's middle finger to Dan Snyder and RG III on the way out the door. Nothing more nothing less. Two weeks ago RGIII had his best game of the season, and this coming game is against a softie. He quite likely would have finished out the season half way decently.


And if a quarterback can't play because his one knee is "only" 75-80% then he's really not an NFL quarterback. Dan Marino came into the league with a knee already shot and carved out a HOF career. In other words running the ball should never be the primary weapon of a quarterback. If you need your running skills to set up your passing you're just a modern day Kordell Stewart. Russell Wilson will be a star long after his 40 time rises above 4.5.

[steeldawg]

Lets not forget what rgIII did last season as a rookie, he was pretty damn good. I don't think rgIII is leaving the skins, shannahan is definetly gone but rgIII stays.

[Dwinsgames]

Madden says it effects the integrity of the game ....

and to a degree he is right , but it is not like they are tossing some no name bum under center that is incapable of competing in this league , Cousins is plenty capable and could actually provide them a spark

[steelreserve]

And if a quarterback can't play because his one knee is "only" 75-80% then he's really not an NFL quarterback. Dan Marino came into the league with a knee already shot and carved out a HOF career. In other words running the ball should never be the primary weapon of a quarterback. If you need your running skills to set up your passing you're just a modern day Kordell Stewart. Russell Wilson will be a star long after his 40 time rises above 4.5.

Kordell had passing skills? I always thought his problem was that he didn't have any passing skills to set up with the run. And also that he mostly stopped running when he became the starting QB anyway.

At least we know Griffin can throw the ball, but let's face it, if he can't keep the defense off-balance with the threat of running, he's just another QB. What we saw this year was the real talent level of the Redskins as a team showing through.

Funny thing, they are on track for a top-five pick, maybe even the #1 overall pick ... which goes to the Rams because of that idiot trade. D'oh.

[zulater]

Kordell had passing skills? I always thought his problem was that he didn't have any passing skills to set up with the run. And also that he mostly stopped running when he became the starting QB anyway.

At least we know Griffin can throw the ball, but let's face it, if he can't keep the defense off-balance with the threat of running, he's just another QB. What we saw this year was the real talent level of the Redskins as a team showing through.

Funny thing, they are on track for a top-five pick, maybe even the #1 overall pick ... which goes to the Rams because of that idiot trade. D'oh.

Yes he can throw it with the best of them. But he can't read defenses past his primary receiver. Basically what the Chiefs did last week was take away RGIII's first read, and with him not being such a threat running the ball that's all you need to do to shut him down. Last year the Redskins essentially ran a college offense. It worked because RGIII had sub 4.4 speed. Now he's a mere mortal 4.7- 4.8 ish it's no longer effective at this level.

So it comes down to this, Robert needs to learn how to play quarterback from the pocket better or he'll never be what he was billed to be. Even if he does recover more of his speed, over a season you can't expose yourself like that so often and expect to come out unscathed.

- - - Updated - - -

By the way for the first half Kirk Cousins really tore it up against the Falcons. 13-20- 248 yards, 2 td's and 0 interceptions.

- - - Updated - - -

http://www.sportspickle.com/2013/12/report-shanahans-give-kirk-cousins-good-plays

Suspicions that Mike Shanahan is not being truthful with his stated reasoning for sitting Robert Griffin III for the remainder of the season gained credence today with reports of favoritism towards new starting quarterback Kirk Cousins.

“Based on how things looked today at practice, I’m fairly certain Mike and Kyle [Shanahan] are giving Kirk all their good plays while they called only crap ones for Robert,” said one member of the Washington offense. “The stuff we were running today had the ball getting out quickly and accurately. Where has that been? I think they’ve done Robert wrong.”

Offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan denies the coaching staff has been saving its “good plays” for when they had the opportunity to play Cousins.

“We don’t have good plays or bad plays in our playbook. They’re all just plays,” he said. “Some people may execute them differently. That’s all.”

However, Cousins himself said today that he believes Mike Shanahan is playing favorites.

“He doesn’t roll his eyes or make a wanking motion whenever I talk like he does with Robert,” said the new starter

Now we know the reason.

[steelreserve]

Yup, that's exactly it. You can be a running QB and be a dynamo for a while, but before long either you're going to get hurt, or you have to become a "mobile" QB who runs occasionally, and you give up your edge and other teams figure you out. It's the same reason I thought the 49ers were doomed this year, except that Kaepernick's done a little better (but not great) at being a regular QB, and the rest of his team is good enough that he doesn't have to carry them.

I never really thought RGIII was going to be a great QB. Like we both said, his whole game was keeping people off-balance to the point where even limited QBing skills would suffice. Once that's gone, you're toast unless you've got something more, and it doesn't look like he does. Maybe it was surprising that it happened so soon, but hey, that's two ACLs in a game where even one can be a career-ender, and you're the centerpiece with the target on your back. Not good odds.

[st33lersguy]

I dont think the kid has been healthy all year

I don't either. Better to shut him down now and ensure a healthy RG3 for 2014 than risk another injury and having him re-injure himself

[zulater]

I don't either. Better to shut him down now and ensure a healthy RG3 for 2014 than risk another injury and having him re-injure himself

I'd venture a guess that RGIII is no less healthy than 75% of the qb's in the league. Yea I get that he had major offseason knee surgery. But he's not a running back, a cornerback, an edge rusher. He's a quarterback. His leg is more than healthy enough to set up and throw passes.

[Dwinsgames]

I'd venture a guess that RGIII is no less healthy than 75% of the qb's in the league. Yea I get that he had major offseason knee surgery. But he's not a running back, a cornerback, an edge rusher. He's a quarterback. His leg is more than healthy enough to set up and throw passes.

if he where a pocket passer I would agree , but that is not really his game . his game is moving whether it be within the pocket , roll outs or as a runner , he is not good enough at any one thing to be a starter , its his complete package of abilities and he needs them all to be 100% effective ... he can throw for 300 yards in a game but impart it is because of his other abilities ...

he is best suited to throw for 225-250 yards and then rush for another 50-75 at that point is when he is maximizing his talents and forcing defenses to account for all that he can be not just part of what he can be .... pieces of his game do not stand alone , the totality of his game does and that is where his health has to be 90% plus to be what he is....

I do not believe he is at or near 90% probably 80% at best and that is not enough for a guy of his skill set

[zulater]

if he where a pocket passer I would agree , but that is not really his game . his game is moving whether it be within the pocket , roll outs or as a runner , he is not good enough at any one thing to be a starter , its his complete package of abilities and he needs them all to be 100% effective ... he can throw for 300 yards in a game but impart it is because of his other abilities ...

he is best suited to throw for 225-250 yards and then rush for another 50-75 at that point is when he is maximizing his talents and forcing defenses to account for all that he can be not just part of what he can be .... pieces of his game do not stand alone , the totality of his game does and that is where his health has to be 90% plus to be what he is....

I do not believe he is at or near 90% probably 80% at best and that is not enough for a guy of his skill set

A guy of his size and skill set will never stay healthy in the NFL. Not the sort of player I would commit my franchise to.

[Dwinsgames]

A guy of his size and skill set will never stay healthy in the NFL. Not the sort of player I would commit my franchise to.

the size does not bother me as much as how you put it ... including the skillset with that size poses the problem ...

he is not Drew Brees , he is closer to (a refined / better passer than the young but skinnier ) Mike Vick and we have watched this story play out all to many times

[zulater]

the size does not bother me as much as how you put it ... including the skillset with that size poses the problem ...

he is not Drew Brees , he is closer to (a refined / better passer than the young but skinnier ) Mike Vick and we have watched this story play out all to many times

Oh yeah, of course. I mean Russell Wilson is smaller than R.G.III, but I wouldn't hesitate for a minute to build a franchise around him.

[Dwinsgames]

Oh yeah, of course. I mean Russell Wilson is smaller than R.G.III, but I wouldn't hesitate for a minute to build a franchise around him.

crazy that his play makes you forget he is all of 5-11 ( with his shoes on ) .....