RG3 Development Tracker 2015

Redskins Quarterbacks Coach Matt Cavanaugh on RG3?s Mechanics « CBS DC

WASHINGTON — Much has been made this offseason about the Redskins fixing starting quarterback Robert Griffin III.

The day-to-day work of that continued development in fundamentals fall to quarterbacks coach Matt Cavanaugh. Griffin still works with offensive coordinator Sean McVay and head coach Jay Gruden. But Cavanaugh’s sole focus is to work with Griffin – and reserves Colt McCoy and Kirk Cousins.

That day-to-day process lost something last year as Gruden and McVay were spread thin with other duties. Griffin spent time in the offseason working with quarterback guru Terry Shea and had a minicamp of his own, of sorts, in Florida with some of his wide receivers. But the Redskins were anxious to get Griffin back to Redskins Park and under the supervision of their own coaches, too.

According to Cavanaugh, Griffin has a long stride. Sometimes when he moves around in the pocket it is difficult for him to re-set and keep his mechanics sound. He’s worked with Griffin all spring to focus on setting himself again and then delivering the ball in rhythm. That comes naturally for some quarterbacks. For others, they have to drill it constantly to make it stick.

“There’s flashes where [Griffin] goes on runs of 10, 12, 15 plays where everything’s right and then he’ll slip a little bit,” Cavanaugh said. “But then he gets back. He now knows when he doesn’t feel comfortable and he can figure it out watching on tape. So that’s encouraging. Getting better at anything you’ve got to be aware of it. And I think he’s become very aware of some of the things that we want him to do a little bit differently.”

Griffin was excellent on Tuesday during a minicamp practice. There have been other times during sessions open to the media that Griffin has regressed to old habits – holding on to the ball too long, inaccurate passes, interceptions. It’s a work-in-progress, but there also isn’t much time left to fine-tune things. Training camp is just six weeks away as the Redskins break for a rest before reconvening in Richmond. The key for Cavanaugh? That Griffin builds on days like Tuesday.

“[Griffin] looked poised, relaxed. He was accurate. He was throwing with a good base, he was able to finish his throwing motion. He made plays down the field. He made plays checking the ball down. Got a lot of completions. Got the ball out of his hand in good rhythm,” Cavanaugh said. “And all those things add to not getting sacked, not turning the ball over, not having negative plays. And I think he appreciated the day he had yesterday. I tell him after a day like that 'You screwed up now. Because now we’re going to expect it every day.’

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Redskins? Griffin Still Has Far to Go « CBS DC
WASHINGTON — It was another new play in a simple seven-on-seven drill where the offense has a big advantage given no pass rusher.

Robert Griffin III looked right, middle and finally the left corner searching for an open receiver.

Five Mississippi, six Mississippi . . .

Griffin finally whipped it to the receiver who was double covered and out-of-bounds. Not exactly the type of play or practice on Wednesday that provides confidence entering the team’s six-week break before training camp starts July 30.

Indeed, after having a solid practice on Tuesday where coach Jay Gruden raved over Griffin’s progress in his new kinder, gentler fashion, the passer looked bad on Wednesday. He even threw one off his back foot trying to make something happen.

Translation – Griffin’s mechanics still need work entering his fourth season. Don’t say it’s just a drill. You practice like you play and Griffin looked lost at times, especially in red zone snaps. Frankly, it was much like a lot of the past two seasons while the team went 7-25.

Whatever happened to that 2012 rookie sensation that made the monstrous trade of three firsts- and a second-round pick briefly seem worthwhile? Have the injuries robbed his overall ability? Has his ego failed to realize things are done differently in the NFL than his days at Baylor where a statue now stands outside Baylor’s stadium to remember his exploits?

This is Griffin’s last chance in Washington and maybe as an NFL starter and the overall spring workouts could have been a lot better. It doesn’t matter what clichés he says or Gruden’s temporary approval. It’s the offseason.

Griffin needs a full preseason. The Redskins can’t afford another Club Med where starters barely play. Griffin needs lots of work because there are still plays he can’t make. There’s a right side of the offensive line with a rookie tackle and young guard that need to get a feel where their quarterback moves. Griffin needs to learn receiver DeSean Jackson’s downfield speed that was never in sync last season for missed opportunities.

The Redskins have done everything they could to help Griffin, from spending the fifth overall selection on tackle Brandon Scherff, to hiring a top offensive line coach and an experienced quarterbacks coach who was a good passer in his day.

But it won’t matter if Griffin can’t read plays faster and commit to better mechanics on every single snap. He can’t wing the ball at times, because those go for touchdowns the other way.

The Redskins have been liberal with Griffin during practice. He gets extra seconds to throw the ball and still it’s often mediocre. Just wait till the fall when his helmet is a defender’s trophy.

Griffin gets maybe a half season to prove he’s worth keeping in 2016. Otherwise, the Redskins would rightly bench him for fear of injury that would cost the team $16 million.

Griffin needs to get better and get better now. While teammates can spend the next six weeks at the beach, Griffin better spend it in the film room and working out, because he’s still not ready to excel.

Otherwise, writers in another town will chronicle Griffin’s comeback

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Fear The Spear said:

According to Brunell, there is no development to track in RG3 - only digression

Ex-Redskins QB Mark Brunell goes off on Robert Griffin III | For The Win

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Chris said:

Input from talking heads about situations that they are not around on a regular basis is generally worthless to me...

On a par with taking relationship advice from Tiger Woods.

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Dead Money said:

This thread is taking a long time to develop.

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After three seasons of unprecedented success together, Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks are engaging in a high-stakes game of chicken. The fourth-year quarterback’s contract negotiations have made the leap from private and pleasant to public and contentious. It’s still difficult to imagine Wilson wearing another team’s uniform in 2016, but there have been enough public statements and leaked messaging — particularly from Wilson’s side — to suggest that an agreement isn’t the inevitability it seemed a few months ago. It’s a discussion that raises all kinds of questions about Wilson, his value to the team, and what kind of organization the Seahawks intend to be in the years to come.

There’s one thing all parties involved can agree upon: Wilson is due for a raise. Seattle’s star quarterback wasn’t at the top of the Trade Value columns I put together in 2013 and 2014 by accident. He hasn’t just been a bargain relative to other quarterbacks; he’s even been a bargain relative to other quarterbacks on rookie deals, as Wilson’s cap hit has amounted to 13.5 percent of Andrew Luck’s cap hit over the last three seasons. Swap out Luck for a veteran like Philip Rivers and that figure falls below 5 percent.

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