***Official*** Washington Redskins 2014 Thread (In-Season) (1 Viewer)

[dgreen]

The question is: while we are all down on Cousins, why are we all so eager to replace him with McCoy?

Same reason so many people were eager to see Cousins: the backup QB is the most popular person in DC. Lots of people are excited by the unknown and optimistic about that guy on the bench. Maybe he's the next Kurt Warner!!!

I don't care too much either way who starts Monday night. McCoy will likely make fewer big plays (both positive and negative). I think Griffin is likely to return against Minnesota, so this is a one-game decision. Maybe the coaches think a conservative approach is best against Dallas. Avoid turnovers and try to hang in there defensively. Take an occasional shot deep to Jackson. A long pass being picked doesn't hurt as much. A big problem with Cousins' INTs are that they aren't all downfield. It's not that he's just taking a deep chance on a 3rd and 20. He's getting picked 15 yards downfield in the middle of the field on early downs (10 of his career INTs are on 1st down). It's not that he's a "gunslinger", as every wants to say; he's just not seeing things well.

Like I said, I'm fine with either starting. My guess is the team will move the ball better at times with Cousins, but you risk the killer turnovers that derail the game. With McCoy, my assumption is you gain fewer first downs and fewer yards, but do better with field position because you punt more than you turn it over.

 

[RGIII HTTR]

For all those that say Redskins need to draft OL in 1st and 2nd rounds....what makes u think the organization will pick the right guy, even if its the right positions? Basically the only time we don't whiff on a OL is when we pick high in first round...other than that, we can't seem to find a diamond in the rough even if we are getting paid to do so. Wait...they are getting paid to do that...

 

[dgreen]

Did I hear that Roethlisberger scored a TD on the zone read the other night? Can someone please explain to me why we don't use it more, even with guys not named Griffin? That would be my go-to short-yardage play. It's a huge reason why they were so successful on 1st and 2nd downs in 2012 and had so many manageable 3rd down situations. Now we just run Alf into the backs of the OL on first down for no gain.

 

[RGIII HTTR]

The question is: while we are all down on Cousins, why are we all so eager to replace him with McCoy?

Same reason so many people were eager to see Cousins: the backup QB is the most popular person in DC. Lots of people are excited by the unknown and optimistic about that guy on the bench. Maybe he's the next Kurt Warner!!!

I don't care too much either way who starts Monday night. McCoy will likely make fewer big plays (both positive and negative). I think Griffin is likely to return against Minnesota, so this is a one-game decision. Maybe the coaches think a conservative approach is best against Dallas. Avoid turnovers and try to hang in there defensively. Take an occasional shot deep to Jackson. A long pass being picked doesn't hurt as much. A big problem with Cousins' INTs are that they aren't all downfield. It's not that he's just taking a deep chance on a 3rd and 20. He's getting picked 15 yards downfield in the middle of the field on early downs (10 of his career INTs are on 1st down). It's not that he's a "gunslinger", as every wants to say; he's just not seeing things well.

Like I said, I'm fine with either starting. My guess is the team will move the ball better at times with Cousins, but you risk the killer turnovers that derail the game. With McCoy, my assumption is you gain fewer first downs and fewer yards, but do better with field position because you punt more than you turn it over.

Basically, if McCoy can stop starring down one receiver like Cousins was doing (making it too easy for any NFL DB) then its a win situation. Comparing McCoy's numbers/stats of old is not really fair IMO as he was a Brown and had a very poor offense with little to no tools to be effective. Cousins had far superior tools and I think having similar numbers just goes to show how bad Cousin was performing with those tools.

Cousins is DONE, stick a fork in him. He might ride out his contract as a back up and maybe get one chance to be a back up elsewhere. If not, he is out of the NFL IMO as his starring down receivers is high school QB to lower program college stuff...great attitude will only go so far, but poor play/performance dominate will mean nobody wants to touch him.

 

[RGIII HTTR]

Did I hear that Roethlisberger scored a TD on the zone read the other night? Can someone please explain to me why we don't use it more, even with guys not named Griffin? That would be my go-to short-yardage play. It's a huge reason why they were so successful on 1st and 2nd downs in 2012 and had so many manageable 3rd down situations. Now we just run Alf into the backs of the OL on first down for no gain.

Probably because we have a QB that is poor at sliding and doesn't know when its best to not make contact. Add that the others are not as athletic, so easy to catch or lack of threat to really run with it. Just a guess though bcuz who really knows what insanity takes place in the hierarchy of Redskins Park.

 

[RGIII HTTR]

So, TEN & NE make a deal for an OLB that was a 2nd rounder...basically swapping a 6th rounder for player + 7th rounder. Why can't the 'Skins ever be on these no harm no foul type deals? Had that been us, we would have given a 2nd or 3rd rounder and just gotten the player, right? For once I'd like a shrewd move done by our FO where even if it doesn't pan out, we are not scratching our head or left looking like the idiot without a seat in a game of musical chairs.

 

[MikeApf]

Did I hear that Roethlisberger scored a TD on the zone read the other night? Can someone please explain to me why we don't use it more, even with guys not named Griffin? That would be my go-to short-yardage play. It's a huge reason why they were so successful on 1st and 2nd downs in 2012 and had so many manageable 3rd down situations. Now we just run Alf into the backs of the OL on first down for no gain.

Dude, everyone does it but us now. I've seen Foles do it, even gumpy old Eli. But if the Redskins ever broke out the running option again the media would probably explode in outrage. We are just a stupid, stupid organization.

One things for certain, when I reflect on Colt McCoy's college days, he could run it pretty well. I wonder if they will let him take off a few times. Probably afraid to but what the heck...pull out all stops and try to steal a win.

 

[MikeApf]

Griffin back on the practice field:

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/10/22/robert-griffin-iii-gets-more-practice-work-as-return-gets-closer/

 

[fatness]

For all those that say Redskins need to draft OL in 1st and 2nd rounds....what makes u think the organization will pick the right guy, even if its the right positions?

Well, what makes any of us think that they won't whiff if they pick another position? None of us have a ton of faith in their ability to draft well, so go with what the team needs most.

 

[fatness]

And your NFC defensive player of the week: Keenan Robinson

 

[fatness]

Cousins is DONE, stick a fork in him. He might ride out his contract as a back up and maybe get one chance to be a back up elsewhere. If not, he is out of the NFL IMO as his starring down receivers is high school QB to lower program college stuff...great attitude will only go so far, but poor play/performance dominate will mean nobody wants to touch him.

I pretty much agree. He has looked unbelievably bad in several parts of several games, while not being forced into errors. I think the fans here would boo him heavily if he started again, and I doubt any other team would want him right now. It's tough to picture him being successful in the NFL any more. The idea that he has potential has been beaten pretty soundly by the evidence that he has fatal flaws that lose football games by himself.

I like the guy. He seems like a genuinely nice guy and I wish he'd do well. But he has sabotaged several games for this team, and there are only 16 games in a season and then 8 months of waiting to play another one. The games are too critical to have him in there.

 

[fatness]

Linebacker Keenan Robinson was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week after his 14-tackle performance against Tennessee. Robinson and players such as cornerback Bashaud Breeland give Gruden hope for the future. “As a young player, you go through some rough patches, but when you play through it, you can see the progression of these guys. Breeland had a good game the other day against Tennessee also. So these young players are getting meaningful reps – that ones that continue to get better and better are the ones that are going to be special-type players and I hope that for Keenan. He had a great game.”

http://espn.go.com/blog/washington-redskins/post/_/id/12247/redskins-notes-keenan-robinson-wins-award?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

 

[fatness]

Things you didn't expect to read:

Washington won for the first time this season on a final drive, with quarterback Colt McCoy marching the Redskins 76 yards in 3 minutes 14 seconds for the 22-yard field goal that toppled Tennessee with three seconds remaining.

Place kicker Kai Forbath was awarded the game ball for hitting all four of his attempts.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/football-insider/wp/2014/10/23/safety-ryan-clark-says-2-5-redskins-have-talent-to-succeed-but-lack-confidence/

 

[fatness]

Things I'm happy to read.

“I don’t know if you do this, but in your mind, if you’re conservative, do you have a date circled when you think you could have him back on the field?” Murray asked.

“I would think — I would guarantee Tampa, most likely, unless something happens between now and then,” Gruden said. “You’ve got a good bye week, you’ve got a couple weeks to make sure it’s ready. Obviously Robert is a quick healer. He works extremely hard in the training room. So the process could be sped up a little bit depending on how he feels.

“You know, it’s a very difficult position to play, and just because he’s healthy, he hasn’t taken a meaningful rep in about six weeks,” Gruden went on. “And Rich knows first hand that the quarterback position is very delicate. You need your reps to play, and play successfully. You can’t just throw a guy out there without the reps, and the practice time, and the continuity with the receivers and the backs and the tight ends. So it’ll be a little bit of a process — probably a little bit more than people think — but we’ll play it by ear and see how he’s doing on a daily basis.”

Gruden also talked about Griffin’s progress, using similar language to that he used with the Redskins media corps.

“He’s progressing at a great rate, like we knew he would,” Gruden said. “Every time he comes on the field he wants more. The big thing is after practice, the running he does, how he feels, is it sore, does it swell up on him? And that’s something that’s gonna come from the doctors once they clear him and say he’s ready to play.

“And then I have to feel good about him being in the huddle, going through all these concepts again,” Gruden said. “Because it’s not like he’s a 10-, 12-year vet. He’s only been in this system for a very short time, and he’s got to go through the concepts and get the familiarity back with the receivers again, and get comfortable with the timing and the protections.”

Gruden was also asked what it would take to convince him that Griffin was ready to be set free.

“First it starts with the doctors telling me he’s full-go, as far as being able to take a hit and all that good stuff,” Gruden said. “And then it’s gonna be getting more reps, and then I’ve got to see him comfortable throwing the timing routes, the out routes on time with no hitch, and all the reads and all the progressions. He’s going to have to get more and more reps.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/football-insider/wp/2014/10/22/gruden-colt-mccoy-still-the-starter-robert-griffin-iii-remains-a-ways-off/

 

[MattFancy]

So after going back and forth with the idea, I say let RG3 play this week. If he's cleared by the docs, there's no reason he should be sitting. If his ankle is 100%, what is resting it until after the bye going to do? I could understand if this was Kirk vs RG3 and Kirk had been playing well. But Gruden is deciding between Colt McCoy and RG3. This should be a no-brainer. I'd even think an RG3 at 90% would be a better option than McCoy.

 

[MattFancy]

Things I'm happy to read.

“I don’t know if you do this, but in your mind, if you’re conservative, do you have a date circled when you think you could have him back on the field?” Murray asked.

“I would think — I would guarantee Tampa, most likely, unless something happens between now and then,” Gruden said. “You’ve got a good bye week, you’ve got a couple weeks to make sure it’s ready. Obviously Robert is a quick healer. He works extremely hard in the training room. So the process could be sped up a little bit depending on how he feels.

“You know, it’s a very difficult position to play, and just because he’s healthy, he hasn’t taken a meaningful rep in about six weeks,” Gruden went on. “And Rich knows first hand that the quarterback position is very delicate. You need your reps to play, and play successfully. You can’t just throw a guy out there without the reps, and the practice time, and the continuity with the receivers and the backs and the tight ends. So it’ll be a little bit of a process — probably a little bit more than people think — but we’ll play it by ear and see how he’s doing on a daily basis.”

Gruden also talked about Griffin’s progress, using similar language to that he used with the Redskins media corps.

“He’s progressing at a great rate, like we knew he would,” Gruden said. “Every time he comes on the field he wants more. The big thing is after practice, the running he does, how he feels, is it sore, does it swell up on him? And that’s something that’s gonna come from the doctors once they clear him and say he’s ready to play.

“And then I have to feel good about him being in the huddle, going through all these concepts again,” Gruden said. “Because it’s not like he’s a 10-, 12-year vet. He’s only been in this system for a very short time, and he’s got to go through the concepts and get the familiarity back with the receivers again, and get comfortable with the timing and the protections.”

Gruden was also asked what it would take to convince him that Griffin was ready to be set free.

“First it starts with the doctors telling me he’s full-go, as far as being able to take a hit and all that good stuff,” Gruden said. “And then it’s gonna be getting more reps, and then I’ve got to see him comfortable throwing the timing routes, the out routes on time with no hitch, and all the reads and all the progressions. He’s going to have to get more and more reps.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/football-insider/wp/2014/10/22/gruden-colt-mccoy-still-the-starter-robert-griffin-iii-remains-a-ways-off/

Question for you, isn't he doing this exact thing with McCoy? How many reps in practice had Colt really been getting before this week? Especially with the 1st team.

 

[fatness]

Perry Riley is starting this week. Ugh. Mark Witten down for 8 catches.

 

[fatness]

Polumbus and Lauvao are bad.

 

[fatness]

“Kirk actually played himself out of a job,” Theismann said. “You play yourself into jobs as a quarterback; you play yourself out of jobs as a quarterback. And the way you prove to coaches, the way you prove to teammates, the way you prove to fans that you can deliver is in the fourth quarter in crunch time.

“I particularly think of the Arizona game, when the score was 23-20, and they had the ball with an opportunity to maybe move it down the field and take it to overtime,” Theismann went on. “When you throw seven interceptions in the fourth quarters of two football games, it’s hard to keep your job. And as I watch these games, I scratch my head a little bit. I look at some of the throws that Kirk has made and I’m thinking ‘Well who are you throwing it to?’…Kirk certainly mechanically fits the profile perfectly, but just wasn’t able to deliver.”

Even Joey Sunshine has given up on Cousins.

 

[Bankerguy]

Why, with your current record would RG3 be rushed back to play. I would make sure he is better then 100% before I played him. Interesting to see...

 

[MattFancy]

Why, with your current record would RG3 be rushed back to play. I would make sure he is better then 100% before I played him. Interesting to see...

But if he is 100% right now, why not play him?

 

[packersfan]

Why, with your current record would RG3 be rushed back to play. I would make sure he is better then 100% before I played him. Interesting to see...

I don't think he should be rushed back but if he's ready to play I think he should play. He needs reps in this offense and the team needs to find out if he can master Gruden's system. The only way they're gonna find that out is by seeing him in as much game action as possible.

 

[Bankerguy]

Why, with your current record would RG3 be rushed back to play. I would make sure he is better then 100% before I played him. Interesting to see...

But if he is 100% right now, why not play him?

I admittedly don't follow Skins news on a daily basis, but all I heard last Sunday was Colt was starting, now hearing RG3 is suddenly ready to go against a team that's playing pretty well and should (no guarantee's in this rivalry) beat you guys. So, he is 100% ready and taking all the snaps in practice with no restrictions, no pain and no adverse affects? I don't know the answers...just asking.

 

[MattFancy]

Why, with your current record would RG3 be rushed back to play. I would make sure he is better then 100% before I played him. Interesting to see...

But if he is 100% right now, why not play him?

I admittedly don't follow Skins news on a daily basis, but all I heard last Sunday was Colt was starting, now hearing RG3 is suddenly ready to go against a team that's playing pretty well and should (no guarantee's in this rivalry) beat you guys. So, he is 100% ready and taking all the snaps in practice with no restrictions, no pain and no adverse affects? I don't know the answers...just asking.

He's been doing some side work over the last couple of weeks. He was working out on the field before the Titans game last Sunday and has been participating in individual drills all week (not sure if he's done any team drills or not yet). So if he's healthy enough to do that, he could certainly be healthy enough to play.

It isn't like Colt McCoy had been getting a ton of reps in all season. He was the 3rd stringer to start the season and the moved to #2 once RG3 went down in Week 2. So it's not like he was getting starter reps before this week either. I just don't understand that if you're starter is 100% healthy, why you would prefer your 3rd stringer over him?

Now, this could all be a smokescreen by Gruden to get Dallas to prepare for McCoy and then they announce on Monday that RG3 is getting the start. Happened to the Skins a couple weeks ago when they played the Cardinals.

 

[Sidewinder16]

Why, with your current record would RG3 be rushed back to play. I would make sure he is better then 100% before I played him. Interesting to see...

But if he is 100% right now, why not play him?

I admittedly don't follow Skins news on a daily basis, but all I heard last Sunday was Colt was starting, now hearing RG3 is suddenly ready to go against a team that's playing pretty well and should (no guarantee's in this rivalry) beat you guys. So, he is 100% ready and taking all the snaps in practice with no restrictions, no pain and no adverse affects? I don't know the answers...just asking.

As far as we know right now, he hasn't been cleared by team doctors for contact and he's only thrown in individual drills and 1v1s. So, based on the current available information, he is not 100% ready and he has taken no "snaps" (I interpret that to mean reps under center in 7v7 and 11v11 drills where they are installing/practicing the game plan).

Gruden has a presser at 3pm, so we could get some added/new info at that time.

 

[MattFancy]

Why, with your current record would RG3 be rushed back to play. I would make sure he is better then 100% before I played him. Interesting to see...

But if he is 100% right now, why not play him?

I admittedly don't follow Skins news on a daily basis, but all I heard last Sunday was Colt was starting, now hearing RG3 is suddenly ready to go against a team that's playing pretty well and should (no guarantee's in this rivalry) beat you guys. So, he is 100% ready and taking all the snaps in practice with no restrictions, no pain and no adverse affects? I don't know the answers...just asking.

As far as we know right now, he hasn't been cleared by team doctors for contact and he's only thrown in individual drills and 1v1s. So, based on the current available information, he is not 100% ready and he has taken no "snaps" (I interpret that to mean reps under center in 7v7 and 11v11 drills where they are installing/practicing the game plan).

Gruden has a presser at 3pm, so we could get some added/new info at that time.

Correct, we do not know as of yet if he has been officially cleared for contact. Obviously, he's good to go for non-contact drills.

And yes, not sure if he has taken any 11v11 reps yet this week in practice. Since the Skins are playing on Monday, I think yesterday or today was/is the first real practice of the week for them. Like I said above, it's not like McCoy had been seeing 1st reps over the last few weeks either. I could understand if this was Cousins v Griffin, but we're talking about Colt McCoy who I'm assuming has seen as many 1st team reps before this week as I have. So from a reps standpoint, he and Griffin would be about even.

 

[Sidewinder16]

I could understand if this was Cousins v Griffin, but we're talking about Colt McCoy who I'm assuming has seen as many 1st team reps before this week as I have. So from a reps standpoint, he and Griffin would be about even.

I'm not sure that's a great assumption. I could certainly be off about this, but my general understanding has been that a #2 QB will usually get at least a handful of 1st team reps each week.

Regardless, though, whether 1st or 2nd team, he's almost certainly been getting "Gruden offense" reps since becoming the #2, which is something Griffin definitely hasn't had in 5-6 weeks. That alone should be a plus for him over Griffin, IMO. Other things should be taken in to consideration when deciding who to start, but I don't think it's far-fetched to think that "grasp of the current offense/gameplan" is somewhat in McCoy's favor right now.

 

[Bankerguy]

Why, with your current record would RG3 be rushed back to play. I would make sure he is better then 100% before I played him. Interesting to see...

But if he is 100% right now, why not play him?

I admittedly don't follow Skins news on a daily basis, but all I heard last Sunday was Colt was starting, now hearing RG3 is suddenly ready to go against a team that's playing pretty well and should (no guarantee's in this rivalry) beat you guys. So, he is 100% ready and taking all the snaps in practice with no restrictions, no pain and no adverse affects? I don't know the answers...just asking.

As far as we know right now, he hasn't been cleared by team doctors for contact and he's only thrown in individual drills and 1v1s. So, based on the current available information, he is not 100% ready and he has taken no "snaps" (I interpret that to mean reps under center in 7v7 and 11v11 drills where they are installing/practicing the game plan).

Gruden has a presser at 3pm, so we could get some added/new info at that time.

Updates would be appreciated.

 

[MattFancy]

I could understand if this was Cousins v Griffin, but we're talking about Colt McCoy who I'm assuming has seen as many 1st team reps before this week as I have. So from a reps standpoint, he and Griffin would be about even.

I'm not sure that's a great assumption. I could certainly be off about this, but my general understanding has been that a #2 QB will usually get at least a handful of 1st team reps each week.

Regardless, though, whether 1st or 2nd team, he's almost certainly been getting "Gruden offense" reps since becoming the #2, which is something Griffin definitely hasn't had in 5-6 weeks. That alone should be a plus for him over Griffin, IMO. Other things should be taken in to consideration when deciding who to start, but I don't think it's far-fetched to think that "grasp of the current offense/gameplan" is somewhat in McCoy's favor right now.

Fair points. I don't think they should start him for the sake of starting him, but if he's 100%, then why not?If his ankle is full healed this week, it's not like it's going to get more healed after the bye.

The Skins will have to decide after this season if they want to pick up RG3's 5th year option. They may as well get him on the field as much as possible to see if it's worth it (IMO, I think they should, but that's just me).

 

[Marvelous]

Our 1st and 2nd round picks next year need to go to the OL.

THIS!

There was a really good post from another message board that showed how teams addressed the OL/DL in the 1st/2nd rounds of the draft. Since 2000, the Redskins have used 1 pick in the 1st/2nd on the lines: Trent Williams in 2010.

Yeah, but they used a first rounder on Chris Samuels in 2000 and locked down the most prized Oline spot (the one you're most likely to use a high draft pick on) for the next decade, so there really wasn't all that much reason to use a high draft pick on the OLine, although they certainly could have used some of the 2nd round picks on linemen. And they've used multiple first round picks on pass-rushing LBs in the 3-4, which basically counts as a DLine pick.

Should have been more picks used to bulk up the middle, for sure, but that quick summary of their early picks over the last 15 years isn't entirely fair.

Agreed. We did have Samuels and Jansen achoring the line for awhile. But we still didn't do much to address depth or the other 3 OL spots. I feel like this team has been very reactionary instead of proactive. We wait until a position becomes a need to address it, rather than trying to build depth.

That is the way bad teams build. When a new hole pops up, they stick a finger in it to plug it up. And another hole appears.

 

[Sidewinder16]

Tarik El-Bashir ‏@TarikCSN 39s

40 seconds ago
Robert Griffin III was limited in practice, Gruden.

Mike Jones ‏@MikeJonesWaPo 39s

39 seconds ago
Gruden: "Robert hasn't changed. Not a whole lot to say. Not going to announce if he's active or not til Monday night"

Mike Jones ‏@MikeJonesWaPo 23s

23 seconds ago
Gruden: McCoy still the starter.

 

[Sidewinder16]

Mike Jones ‏@MikeJonesWaPo 4m

4 minutes ago
Gruden says Griffin has been lobbying to play but understands he has to go through the process of getting back to game form.

Mike Jones ‏@MikeJonesWaPo 4m

4 minutes ago
Gruden "we're tinkering on thin ice here" on helping Griffin along while also prepping McCoy.

Not sure what that means.

Zac Boyer ‏@ZacBoyer 2m

2 minutes agoAshburn, VA
Gruden: "When Robert's healthy, he'll be the starter. We just don't know when that will be."

 

[Sidewinder16]

And in some non-Griffin news, RT is currently up for grabs:

Mike Jones ‏@MikeJonesWaPo 11m

11 minutes ago
Gruden still considering Compton and Polumbus. Says Moses still in mix but not naming a starter yet.

 

[Sidewinder16]

Other Griffin notes:

Dianna Marie Russini ‏@NBCdianna 7m
7 minutes ago
Gruden noted that RG3's timing is still off a bit. Going to take some time. #Redskins

Tarik El-Bashir ‏@TarikCSN 16s

17 seconds ago
Gruden: "We’re trying to get Robert some reps, get him ready. But right now odds are Colt will be the starter” Monday night in Dallas.

 

[Marvelous]

Polumbus and Lauvao are bad.

In Cooley's analysis on a game earlier this season, he thought Lauvao looked lost on the field. Cooley would say WTF after watch Lauvao.

In a subsequent game, he though Lauvao looked good.

Cooley has been a big supporter of Polumbus last year, but early this year, he stopped. Polumbus' play can't be defended by anyone at this point.

 

[Marvelous]

Other Griffin notes:

Dianna Marie Russini ‏@NBCdianna 7m

7 minutes ago

Gruden noted that RG3's timing is still off a bit. Going to take some time. #Redskins

Tarik El-Bashir ‏@TarikCSN 16s

17 seconds ago
Gruden: "We’re trying to get Robert some reps, get him ready. But right now odds are Colt will be the starter” Monday night in Dallas.

Personally, I think Gruden is a bit too honest with the media. I actually like it when a coach talks and talks to the media and says absolutely nothing. And the media eats it us nonetheless.

 

[fatness]

Why, with your current record would RG3 be rushed back to play. I would make sure he is better then 100% before I played him. Interesting to see...

But if he is 100% right now, why not play him?

He's not 100% now, physically. And he's certainly not up to speed with receivers, patterns, playcalls, blocking assignments, etc. So "if he's 100% right now" is kind of meaningless.

The only way he'll play Monday is if Snyder or Allen orders it. And while the verdict is still out on Gruden as a head coach, I don't want the front office bozos meddling with the lineup. Again.

edited to add: While it would be nice at the end of the season to know if Griffin's going to be kept around for years, it's counter-productive to rush him out there without enough practice and conditioning. That's what he was lacking at the beginning of last season, and his performance last season was noticeably down from the season before. The only thing I can see coming out of putting him out there now is to increase the chance he'll play poorly.

 

[fatness]

John Keim @john_keim · 2h 2 hours ago
Gruden says rg3 status hasn't changed. Says he's steadily progressing. Gruden leaves no doubt McCoy will be starter Monday

 

[nittanylion]

Regardless of the shape he's in - physical shape or 'football shape' (including the mental side) - it would be counter-productive to put him on the field behind that embarrassing sieve of an offensive line. All those snazzy parts and pieces at the 'skill positions' are absolutely worthless if he doesn't have time: time to manage the huddle and game clock so he has time to figure things out when breaking the huddle and approaching line of scrimmage (something he's still working on), time to recognize blitzes pre-snap (something he's still working on), time to dissect coverages pre-snap (something he's still working on), time to identify the 'Mike' LB pre-snap (something he's still working on), time to locate the free safety, pre-snap (something he's still working on), and time to go through his progressions, identify the mismatch, and make the correct throw (something he's still working on) - including when to run, and when to throw the ball away and how not to take a sack/loss of yardage (somethings he's still working on).

Developing a QB starts and ends with giving him time in the pocket to set up and do all those things, in order. Average veteran QB's have a tough enough time doing that on their own, much less a 3rd year athelete who's still learning the QB position at the NFL level, who's only actually played all or part of 75% of the games he's been under contract for (30 out of 40 including the upcoming game he's guaranteed to miss).

This is going to sound like a knock on Griff, but it's not - Andrew Luck and Russell Wilson, he ain't.

To maximize his development into whatever he ultimately becomes, he needs time...and the biggest impediment to getting the time he needs is that crap O-line we're going to be trotting out for the rest of this Season. Sorry to be a Debbie Downer, but there's nothing but an offseason of Free Agency and a Draft that's going to fix that problem.

Also sorry to see Gruden (or whoever), making the choice to start McCoy on MNF against the Cowboys, for the following reasons: there's nothing invested in Colt McCoy - he's been in the NFL long enough that he's a known commodity, with a known ceiling, and it's a low ceiling. Colt is a game-manager with limited upside, and lacks the arm strength to work the whole field, and subsequently limits the amount of offense we can install to plays that only extend about 20 yards beyond the line of scrimmage. He's the 'safe' play. Teams with something to play for use the 'safe' play. At 2-5, with a largely 2nd string NFL caliber defense missing maybe not it's best, but it's most key player (DeAngelo Hall), and one of it's few other players who would actually start for another NFL Team (Orakpo), the 2014 Redskins are not going anywhere.

Despite Cousins' propensity for erroneous decisions, he's still an investment, and it's our investments who should be getting the on-field work. Also, with Cousins in, we're capable of opening the whole playbook, which we must be able to do in order to even try and compete with the Cowboys. Also, opening the whole playbook gets everyone else on the offense who may or may not be here next year, much needed reps with the entire offensive package. Colt McCoy does not have the arm or core strength to get the ball to DeSean Jackson 50 yards downfield. The Garcon TD on Sunday was 90% Pierre, and that play isn't going to be there very often when McCoy is starting a whole game against a team to prepare vs his limitations. You take that deep threat away, and it makes the whole game easier for the Cowboys defense to squat down inside the short middle area that Colt is capable of delivering the ball in. When they do this, they take advantage of his other liability - he can't throw the ball hard, either, and has a limited trajectory (height of throws). When pass defenses are in squat mode, they can get places within the limited area faster, and linemen can get their hands up because angles become more predictable, which leads to bat-downs, knock-downs, and interceptions.

Those of you who want to enjoy a night of 'Charlie Check-down' have at it. Seeing as how the only reason we have a shot in this game is that history says regardless of the caliber of the Teams that hit the field, you can throw the baby out with the bathwater most of the time the Redskins play the Cowboys. In that situation, regardless of the mistakes he might, or might not, make, I want the guy on the field that has the arm to make all the throws, because the throws that Cousins can make, that Colt can't (the deep bombs that stretch the field and keep the defense from squatting), are the kind of throws we need to threaten them with to keep them honest and possibly hit the big play. Not likely to win this game regardless, but limiting the offense, and taking away the threat of the big play is one sure way of limiting what little chance there is.

Frustrating.

 

[dgreen]

Why, with your current record would RG3 be rushed back to play. I would make sure he is better then 100% before I played him. Interesting to see...

But if he is 100% right now, why not play him?

This is my position, too. Whenever he's on par health-wise with McCoy (or Cousins), then I question not playing him.

 

[Sidewinder16]

Per twitter updates of Gruden's press conference, no change in QB outlook right now, and Compton starting at RT over Polumbus.

ETA: McCoy gettting the bulk of 1st team reps; Griffin getting a handful, but mostly working scout team.

 

[Sidewinder16]

Griffin's locker room "statement":

A quote that I stumbled upon during this process of being injured and being out was by Winston Churchill. It says, 'Courage is what it takes to stand up and do something. Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.' During this time, I’ve been listening, learning, growing as a player in this offense. It’s our job to help this team win and I’ve been there for Kirk and Colt as much as I possibly can and being there for this team to make sure they’re as ready as possible during this process. It sucks that I can’t get out there and play with them and help them get wins. But I’ve been listening to the doctors, listening to the trainers, listening to the coaches, and we’re not going to rush my ankle. It’s a blessing that I wasn’t hurt as bad as it could have been. It’s been a blessing and I’ve been recovering right on time. That’s good, but at the same time, we don’t want to rush that. It’s Dallas week. We all want to beat Dallas. We all know what this game means for our season, so that’s what I’ve been trying to do this week and making sure that I’m ready to go, making sure this team’s ready to go, and whoever plays quarterback is ready to go. That’s all I got to say. Beat Dallas.

 

[Brunell4MVP]

Just added griffin from ww as my backup qb. Figured dalton wasn't going to shine much without green around. Rg3 may be good pickup for weeks 11-16 in leagues.

 

[packersfan]

Just added griffin from ww as my backup qb. Figured dalton wasn't going to shine much without green around. Rg3 may be good pickup for weeks 11-16 in leagues.

Week 11: Tampa Bay

Week 13: at Indy

Week 15: at NYG

Week 16: Philly

All four of those games have the potential to provide some huge fantasy production for RG3 if he's playing as expected.

 

[RGIII HTTR]

Cousins is DONE, stick a fork in him. He might ride out his contract as a back up and maybe get one chance to be a back up elsewhere. If not, he is out of the NFL IMO as his starring down receivers is high school QB to lower program college stuff...great attitude will only go so far, but poor play/performance dominate will mean nobody wants to touch him.

I pretty much agree. He has looked unbelievably bad in several parts of several games, while not being forced into errors. I think the fans here would boo him heavily if he started again, and I doubt any other team would want him right now. It's tough to picture him being successful in the NFL any more. The idea that he has potential has been beaten pretty soundly by the evidence that he has fatal flaws that lose football games by himself.

I like the guy. He seems like a genuinely nice guy and I wish he'd do well. But he has sabotaged several games for this team, and there are only 16 games in a season and then 8 months of waiting to play another one. The games are too critical to have him in there.

+1 and well said, we are surely rowing the same boat for sure!

 

[packersfan]

While all that is true about Cousins I think by starting McCoy Washington is essentially conceding defeat against a clearly superior opponent. As bad as Cousins has been, McCoy (in my opinion) is considerably worse. It's one thing to pull away from the whole Cousins should be starting over RG3 nonsense but not starting him over McCoy? The Redskins might as well just not show up on Monday night. Cousins may only give them a 1% chance to win if he was the starter but that's 1% more than I think McCoy can provide.

 

[RGIII HTTR]

While all that is true about Cousins I think by starting McCoy Washington is essentially conceding defeat against a clearly superior opponent. As bad as Cousins has been, McCoy (in my opinion) is considerably worse. It's one thing to pull away from the whole Cousins should be starting over RG3 nonsense but not starting him over McCoy? The Redskins might as well just not show up on Monday night. Cousins may only give them a 1% chance to win if he was the starter but that's 1% more than I think McCoy can provide.

I disagree completely...McCoy gives them a better chance to win now than Cousins. What this is saying is the organization/team wants to win now and is not interested in building Mr. Cousins for a better tomorrow. I'm not saying its night and day difference, but Cousins' play is demoralizing the team at its core. His bonehead INTs completely erode and positive energy built up in the locker room and sidelines. His INTs are not about "oh that DB made a great play" variety. they are "he's making sooo easy for them." For the team to have a chance to win, Cousins cannot be at the helm driving the ship as we've seen too many times now that all he does is crash and burn like its a job requirement.

 

[fatness]

While all that is true about Cousins I think by starting McCoy Washington is essentially conceding defeat against a clearly superior opponent. As bad as Cousins has been, McCoy (in my opinion) is considerably worse.

I'm not sure what else to say except that I strongly disagree. Cousins was actively losing games, not actively winning them. He'd take winnable games and tilt them in the other team's favor. If someone actually wanted to sabotage the Redskins they could not do more than Cousins did in that regard --- look good enough most of the time, then make completely fatal mistakes.

 

[packersfan]

I agree Cousins was terrible. But in my opinion McCoy is worse and possibly/likely much worse.

 

[fatness]

I agree Cousins was terrible. But in my opinion McCoy is worse and possibly/likely much worse.

If McCoy loses several games by himself I'll agree.