Robert Griffin III is an USA football quarterback for
the Redskins of the NFL. He played college football for Baylor University,
and won the Heisman Trophy. He was selected by the Redskins. Griffin
III won the 2012 Offensive Rookie of the Year award. Jay Gruden knows
he wants quarterback Robert Griffin III to
throw the ball away every once in a while. Griffin already made it clear that’s
something he won’t do in practice. It’s something he’s loathe to do in the
regular season as well. Even the Redskins' coach understands why. “Sometimes
you say he should have thrown it away,” Gruden said, “and he scrambles around
and finds a guy wide open and it’s a 70-yard gain and you’re high-fiving him.” Against
the New England Patriots Tuesday afternoon, Griffin had a couple occasions when he didn’t
unload the ball. Rather than throw it away in a practice setting, even if it
was clear he’d have been sacked, he’ll scramble out of the pocket. His goal:
keep the play alive so they can work on the scrambling drill with the
receivers. Griffin
wants to get the other receivers used to knowing what to do when he starts to
run. Jackson
was used to playing with a scrambling quarterback in Michael Vick and, on
tape last year, adjusted immediately as soon as Vick would start to run. Andre
Roberts has adapted well. Santana Moss, in his third year with Griffin, had to shake free
from playing with quarterbacks who did not scramble and was in a structured
system. On two occasions Griffin
scrambled outside the pocket, but he opted to run instead of throwing it
downfield. Another time he found tight end Jordan Reed along the
sidelines. Last week, though, he scrambled to the right and connected on a deep
ball to receiver DeSean Jackson. In those situations, once the play went
away from him, he would be done. “Robert’s so athletic that he thinks he can
keep a lot of plays alive,” Gruden said. “Maybe he can. But there’s a point in
time where he has to not make a bad play worse.” Griffin
and the Redskins’ offense struggled in their first 2-minute drill against New England’s defense. But they improved in their next
showing. During seven-on-seven work Griffin
was more adept at finding receivers underneath Reed in particular. Griffin said, “The time
to throw it away is in the preseason. I understand that. My thing is in
practice most of the time I won’t throw it away and sometimes if the play
doesn’t present itself, I will try to extend the play and work on the scramble
drill. In the regular season the scramble drill is a big part of what we do.
Not every play will work out the way you plan it. In the preseason I’ll
definitely throw the ball away.” What the Redskins want to see from Griffin is a strong
command of the offense, knowing it will take some time. He did have a couple
good throws to Jackson
that showed what they want to see: get to his drop, plant and throw. On the
first, he found Jackson
on a comeback against corner Darrelle Revis. On the second, he nearly
connected on a deep ball in the end zone. Revis, though, wound up knocking the
ball away. Most corners would not have made the play and the Redskins likely
would have argued that Revis interfered with Jackson. A play-action screen to the left was
high and in front of Jackson,
who would have been drilled if it were a regular game. Griffin also was a little off at times,
missing behind Roberts on one cross. “He’s coming,” Gruden said. “He has a long
ways to go but the more chance he has to take a snap from center with people
rushing him, seeing coverages and seeing routes develop, making reads, making
progressions and making throws with his footwork, the better he’s going to be,”
The Griffin wore number 10 for the Redskins.
Redskins Camp of day 4, The Redskins made
their first cut of camp, releasing second-year linebacker Brandon Jenkins after
a rugged start to camp. Redskins Camp of day 4, He had a particularly tough
day, getting chewed out a couple times by his position coach Brian Baker for
his pass rushes. Though Rob Jackson is a veteran it’s not a lock that
he’ll automatically be the fourth outside linebacker. Redskins Camp of day 4, Adrian
Robinson looked good Sunday, for example. Redskins Camp of day 4, “We like
the play of the guys behind him,” Redskins coach Jay Gruden said of the
release. “We thought the earlier we make that move to give Brandon a chance to go somewhere else would
be beneficial to him.” The Redskins still have a roster spot available and will
bring in some free agents Monday, including defensive end Everette Brown. Redskins
owner Dan Snyder made his first appearance at training camp Sunday
morning, a departure from last season when he was more present. Snyder used to
be a staple at training camp practices. On a dreary day, the Redskins drew
6,668 fans in attendance on Military Appreciation Day. Along
with releasing Jenkins, the Redskins took offensive lineman Maurice Hurt off
the physically unable to perform list. Hurt failed his physical and at the time
Gruden said Hurt was out of shape, but said after further review “something
wasn’t right and we wanted to make sure he was healthy.” But he declined to say
what wasn’t right, but did say Hurt’s weight was fine. Hurt will have a tough
time making the roster regardless. Quarterback Robert Griffin III had
one of his better throws in camp
Sunday morning, tossing a
deep out over corner E.J. Biggers to receiver Ryan Grant. Griffin got away with a couple passes that
should have been intercepted, but were dropped. Griffin has cut down on the number of times
he’s taken off from the pocket as camp has progressed. He did take off one time
and showed good speed getting around the edge, with linebacker Brian
Orakpo in pursuit, but did not have room to do much other than get out of
bounds. Redskins Camp of day 4, Also liked when Griffin whipped a pass underneath to tight
end Jordan Reed, showing torque that he didn’t always display in 2013. Redskins
Camp of day 4, Not sure what will get the players more jacked up, Going in full
pads with more live hitting Monday morning or the fact that the walk-through
that afternoon was cancelled. The Redskins never had live drills where there
“might be some tackling involved,” Gruden said. Redskins Camp of day 4,As for
giving the players the afternoon off, with an off day Tuesday, Gruden said,
“I’m tired of looking at them and I want them out of the building for a few
hours,” Redskins Camp of day 4. end the article.
The Washington
Redskins 1. David Amerson looks bigger and, indeed, he said he's
added about six or seven pounds of muscle. Amerson does appear to have more
toned arms. That will help when he plays press coverage and in run support.
I'll have more on Amerson later this summer, but know this: He's had a good
spring. Saw him stick with Pierre Garcon in a couple one-on-one
occasions. Also, more importantly, saw him use his eyes better and more
consistently. It was an issue last year. 2. Did see Garcon get him on one crossing
route. Amerson tried to jam him, putting his right hand onto Garcon's outside
shoulder. But Garcon's strength helped him here as he wasn't knocked off stride
and created separation running across the middle. 3. Saw this for the first
time: a receiver doing a spin move at the line to get away from press coverage.
Garcon tried that against Amerson, but it didn't work. Amerson stayed
patient and, partly because he didn't try to jam Garcon, was not fooled by the
move. 4. Garcon dunked a ball after a catch in the end zone. The Redskins had
college officials at practice and one immediately threw a flag. Players can no
longer dunk over the goal posts. 5. The offensive players were convinced
Amerson should have been called for holding on a back-shoulder attempt to tight
end Jordan Reed in the end zone. I was just finishing up an interview
with Amerson after practice when Reed walked past with a smile and asked,
"Did he tell you he held me?" 6. Rookie receiver Ryan Grant had
a few nice grabs Tuesday, mostly on underneath routes against zone coverage.
He's good at driving the defender off and then cutting. Did it a couple times
Tuesday. I don't know when he'll be able to really help because he has to get
stronger and, ultimately, prove he can beat press coverage. 7. One coach I will
enjoy listening and paying attention to this summer: outside linebackers coach
Brian Baker. Yes, I know, I've mentioned him a few times, but after watching
him work with the players I'm even more convinced of his impact. Just a
detailed coach. I'll have more on that later this week. But he is good and
isn't afraid to chastise anyone. Heard him ping rookie Trent Murphy during
a drill Tuesday morning. 8. Murphy was juked out by Reed on one route. He can
ask other veteran linebackers how that feels because that's what happened last
year. Once more, Reed was among the last off the field after working more on
his game. Nothing has changed since last year in that regard. 9. Reed also had
a nice block on Murphy, getting his hands into the rookie's chest and pushing
him to the ground. 10. With linebacker Brian Orakpo out (sickness),
this was a good chance for Murphy to work against veterans. He also went
against left tackle Trent Williams a few times. Murphy's spin move
worked well against Moses, but Williams was able to stop it on the one time I
saw it tried. The coaches like what they've seen from Murphy overall,
especially off the field in terms of work ethic. 11. Rookie running back Lache
Seastrunk, who lost the ball on a handoff in practice, stayed afterward to work
on handoffs with fullback Darrel Young playing the part of the
quarterback. 12. Kedric Golston worked at nose tackle with the first
defensive line. He's done that in previous workouts this spring with Barry Cofield sidelined.
And if he shows it's a spot he can help at during the summer, then it'll be
tough to cut him. Golston adds experience and toughness up front, two qualities
that should be welcomed. Add a little versatility and it makes him even more
valuable, and it also makes it tough for Chris Neild to make the
roster. 13. The quarterbacks worked on slant passes during drills with
receivers. The quarterbacks dropped back, looked down the middle and then
turned toward the receiver running the slant. It's a little thing, but I point
it out for this reason: Robert Griffin III's last interception in 2013
came on a slant route. He eyed the receiver the whole way, who then got a good
break to make the pick. Sometimes you have to eye the receiver off the line
because the pass is coming right away. But in this case it led to the pick. 14.
Wasn't able to spend a lot of time watching rookie right tackle Morgan
Moses, but did see him get beat by second-year Brandon Jenkins to the
outside on one occasion. Moses was too upright and a bit slow with his feet. 15.
Jenkins failed to use the proper technique on an inside run, staying too wide
and creating a gap inside. The coaches, um, reminded him of the mistake. 16.
Said it last week and will continue to point out how much more energy there is
during these practices. Some of that could just be because change brings a new
energy. But some of it is the style of coaches they now have on staff. Raheem
Morris was always vocal under Mike Shanahan, so his ribbing of players and
coaches is nothing new. But things were just more lively Tuesday, with trash
talking and banter. 17. The field goal kickers attempted three kicks apiece
(from 39, 44 and 50 yards) at the narrow goal posts (about half the width of
regular ones). Rookie Zach Hocker made all three attempts -- the ball
jumped off his foot on the 50-yarder. Kai Forbath missed two of three
but on regular goal posts he would have made each attempt. 18. Quarterback Kirk
Cousins had a nice bullet to receiver Aldrick Robinson; the pass
arrived just before safety Bacarri Rambo for a touchdown The end.
