The return of RG3 is a big deal for the media and certainly for the Washington Redskins, but are the Redskins really better off with RG3 behind center instead of Colt McCoy?
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Long-term, certainly the Redskins want RG3 out there. The talent is undeniable with Griffin and you have to believe that if he can stay healthy production will eventually follow.
But for this week, RG3 being in the lineup could lead to some problems for the Redskins. And that’s good news for the Vikings.
Minnesota certainly knows what it’s like to face RG3 when he’s locked and loaded. Last year, Griffin lit up the Vikings for 281 passing yards and 3 TDs in a game the Vikes would somehow manage to win.
And who can forget the highlight-reel play Griffin dropped on the Vikings two years ago in leading Washington to a 38-26 victory?
Running quarterbacks like Griffin, Michael Vick and Steve Young have historically given the Vikings problems. But there are several reasons to think that, for this week at least, you can throw all that history out the window.
This week, Robert Griffin III will not be fully locked-and-loaded. Nor will he be fully healthy, you have to believe.
Yes, the reports coming from Redskins practice say Griffin looks great and is fully recovered from the ankle injury that kept him out for six games. But I would be shocked if Griffin is truly 100% yet despite the Redskins’ care in bringing him back slowly.
Physically he may be close to 100%, but it’s the mental side of the equation that could be the real problem. Griffin has gotten banged up so many times in his career that you have to wonder how it might be affecting him psychologically.
Will Griffin be able to go out there and cut it loose so soon after returning? You have to believe there will be a bit of hesitancy and trepidation on his part. That could play right into Mike Zimmer’s hands.
You have to believe too that Jay Gruden will be hesitant to let Griffin run much. The Redskins will likely try to keep Griffin in the pocket as much as possible and, again, that is great news for the Vikings.
Take away the run dimension from RG3 and he becomes a pretty middle-of-the-road QB.
Raising Zona
Mike Zimmer must be salivating at the thought of unleashing his mad-dog defensive line against a pocket-passing, hesitant and less-than-100% RG3.
Zimmer is the other reason I think you need to throw history out the window this week. When Griffin tore up Minnesota last year, and ran for that stunning game-winning 77-yard TD two years ago, Leslie Frazier was running the defensive show.
Leslie Frazier’s Tampa-2 defense with its safe zones and lack of blitzes played right into RG3’s hands. The read-option is unbelievably effective against that defense.
Mike Zimmer’s fluid, moving, multi-faceted hybrid defense is a thousand miles ahead of Frazier’s bland sit-back-and-hope-for-the-best approach. If the pass rush gets cranked up against Washington the way it was against Buffalo and Tampa Bay the last two weeks, Griffin might have to run whether he likes it or not.
And he won’t be running for yards. He’ll be running for the sidelines to avoid getting crushed.
The Redskins know it won’t be easy for RG3 this weekend against Minnesota and their ever-improving Zimmer-led defense, but they also know they have to get him out there for some live action, even if it means he’s going to get smacked around.
To borrow a phrase from Leslie Frazier, Colt McCoy probably gives the Redskins the best chance to win. But this is one instance where long-term thinking has to trump a short-term goal.
The Redskins need to get RG3 in a game, whether he’s ready or not. This could play right into the Vikings’ hands and help them get back to 4-5.