Rich Tandler's Real Redskins

Need to Know: Is clarity coming from RG3?

Here is what you need to know on this Tuesday, May 21, 65 days before Redskins start training camp.

RG3 to speak

Robert Griffin III will talk to the media that covers the Redskins as a group for the first time since his press conference after the Redskins’ playoff loss to the Seahawks on Jan. 6.

Griffin has been seen frequently since he had his right knee surgically reconstructed three days after that game. He was in New Orleans to accept his Offensive Rookie of the year award, at a Hollywood movie premiere, jumping up and down in front of an enthusiastic draft day party crowd at FedEx Field, at the circus and other events at the Verizon Center, at a post-party after the White House Correspondents dinner, the Kentucky Derby, and other places both in and out of town.

He also has been heard from but mostly in controlled environments like Twitter and an occasional interview. But what we have heard has shed little light on how his knee is doing and what he and the organization about the circumstances surrounding his injury.

Much of what he has said has led to more confusion than understanding. In an interview with ESPN magazine he said, “I don’t feel like playing against the Seahawks was a mistake. But I see the mistake in it.”

Say what?

There is no guarantee that we’ll get any more clarity out of Griffin on Thursday. But we’ll try and maybe see how he is handling being a spectator.

Redskins catching up to NFL tight end revolution

In case you missed it

• Allen: “It’s too early to tell” about RG3’s knee
• Countdown to OTA’s—Who plays safety?
• NFL looks to change date of draft
• How much will the Redskins retool the offense?

Days until: Minicamp 21; Training camp 65; Preseason opener vs. Titans 80; Redskins @ Packers 117

Griffin's dad says QB has been throwing since April

Sometimes lately it’s been hard to figure out what @RGIII has been tweeting about. There was no ambiguity on his timeline today.

Today....Treadmill Run.....Threw the football around & a couple roll out throws...But some take Friday off...

— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) May 17, 2013

What got attention here was the part about “roll out throws”. That means that he is doing some running on the field and putting some degree of stress on his surgically-repaired right knee.

It’s not planting the right foot and turning upfield. It’s not making one of the lightning-quick moves to elude a defender in the pocket or downfield. But the ability to roll out and throw has to be considered a step forward in his rehab.

USA Today talked to Griffin’s father, Robert Griffin II, and he said that his son has been throwing since before the NFL draft in late April.

"Robert is doing extremely well as far as the timetable,'' the elder Griffin said. "He's been doing a lot over time, he never stops.

Griffin II said that the quarterback is “a little ahead of himself” compared to his rehab from a torn ACL to the same knee that he suffered four years ago as a sophomore at Baylor.

"He's smarter, stronger, wiser,'' said Griffin, speaking of RG3 in 2013.

Need to Know: Troller warning--RG3 No. 83?

Here is what you need to know on this Thursday, May 16, four days before Redskins OTA’s start.

No. 83? Really?

According to one NFL writer, Robert Griffin III is not among the top 50 players in the NFL. He’s not even in the top 75. In fact, he’s not even the best player on his team. Or the second best.

That is all in the opinion of Pete Prisco, Senior NFL Columnist for CBS Sports. Yes, he is the same guy who last year predicted that the Redskins would go 3-13, drawing the ire of many fans of the burgundy and gold. Of course, he was dead wrong about that.

And, yes, he is probably just looking to stir the pot and generate some page views with analysis like that and with his ranking of the top 100 players in the NFL he posted earlier this week.

To get to Griffin on the list you have to scroll past the likes of Evan Mathis, Henry Melton, Mike Pouncey, Alfred Morris (the Redskins top-ranked player at 41), Calais Campbell, Tony Romo, Andy Levitre, Cam Newton, Jared Vledheer, Trent Williams (78) to get to Griffin, the No. 83 player on the list.

Prisco’s bio says that he has been covering the NFL for three decades and he is certainly entitled to his opinion. But if there are 82 players in the NFL who are better than Griffin I should start covering NASCAR or something. I could do some extended analysis here but it's so obvious that Griffin is one of the best players in the game that anyone who even casually watches games would know.

Just a heads up here to beware of such lists and rankings as the dead of the offseason approaches. Riling up a fan base or two (Prisco ranked Russell Wilson one spot ahead of Griffin, certainly rankling Seahawks fans) is a good way to generate conversation and page views as the dead period from mid-June to late July. Consider yourselves warned.

Talking OTA’s, Cousins, and safeties

In case you missed it

• RG3’s knee not the only injury concern
• Should the Redskins go no huddle?
• Redskins sign Chris Thompson
• Roster churn continues

Days until: OTA’s 4; Training camp 70; Preseason opener vs. Titans 84

Need to Know: RG3 is USA's most marketable athlete

Here is what you need to know on this Tuesday, May 14, six days before Redskins OTA’s start.

RG3 most marketable American athlete

Robert Griffin III ranks No. 4 on the list of the most marketable athletes in the world and he is the top American in the rankings compiled by the website SportsPro.com.

Here is what they said about the Redskins’ quarterback, who is entering his second year:

Robert Griffin III joined the National Football League (NFL) last year as the number two draft pick, but he ended it as undoubtedly the most marketable player in the world’s richest league, with sales of his number ten Washington Redskins jersey setting a new single-season NFL record.
. . .

Off the field, RGIII already has a keen sense of his own value, creating his own company, Thr3escompany, in 2012 and successfully trademarking a variety of phrases, including ‘RGIII’ and ‘RG3’.

Two soccer players, Neymar (Brazil) and Lionel Messi (Argentina) are 1-2 on the list and British golfer Rory McIlroy is third. The only other American athletes in the top 10 are tennis player Sloane Stephens and NBA star Blake Griffin.

RG3 is the only NFL player on the list, which seems odd given the popularity of the sport in this country. But what’s popular in the USA is not necessarily what is popular around the rest of the world. SportsPro.com lists the criteria as follows:

Athletes from across the world have been ranked according to their marketing potential over a three-year period from this summer.

• Value for money
• Age
• Home market
• Charisma
• Willingness to be marketed
• Crossover appeal

Alex Ovechkin of the Capitals was 19^th on the list.

Ryan Kerrigan talk before Caps Game 7

In case you missed it

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• Pass defense will face tough early tests
• Redskins 53-man roster projections, offense
• All hands on deck in Ashburn

Days until: OTA’s 6; Preseason opener @ Titans 86; Eagles @ Redskins 118

Tandler on Twitter

Chances RG3 takes a preseason game snap < 50%. Maybe way less RT @dridings: Do you think they would hold him out of the preseason? #Redskins

— Rich Tandler (@Rich_TandlerCSN) May 13, 2013

Is offense more important that defense?

The Redskins had one of the top offenses in the NFL last year. They led the league is rushing and yards per offensive play and they were fourth in points scored. Meanwhile, the Washington defense was 22^nd in points allowed 28^th in yards given up, and dismal 30^th in passing yards.

In last week’s draft, however, the devoted nearly as many assets to the offense as they did to the defense. They did take a cornerback with their first selection but they followed with two offensive picks, taking players who are capable of taking the ball to the house any time they get their hands on it. In all, four draftees play defense, three play offense. If you consider the fact that the Redskins’ first-round pick was part of the trade for the rights to Robert Griffin III, they spent their draft picks equally on both sides of the ball.

Why not throw all of your resources, or at least more of them, into building up the weaker area of the team? Because having a good offense is more important than having a good defense.

Say again?

Go here to read the post on CSNwashington.com

 

Need to Know: Cousins' view of RG3-Shanahan

Here is what you need to know on this Saturday, May 4, 16 days before OTA's start at Redskins Park.

Cousins have best view of RG3-Shanahan

Adam Schefter of ESPN is connected all over the NFL but he is especially well connected with the Redskins. He was a Broncos beat writer when Mike Shanahan was the coach there and he authored a book with him. In the wake of the ESPN Magazine article about Robert Griffin III, Schefter threw in his two cents on how he believes things went down during the Seattle playoff game that ended with Robert Griffin III in need of reconstructive knee surgery. Or, more accurately, he backed up Kirk Cousins’ two cents on the situation.

Read the fine @rgiii piece from my friend @jrmoehringer. Best observation of what happened vs. Seattle came from Kirk Cousins. That is all.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 3, 2013

Here is the relevant portion of Moehringer’s article:

But Kirk Cousins, the Redskins' talented backup, who relieved Griffin in the Baltimore game and again in the Seattle game, recalls eavesdropping on an intense sideline conference between Griffin and Shanahan: "Robert, you're clearly limping, you're not at full strength, do you think you need to come out? And I'm not quoting anybody, I'm just paraphrasing. And Robert's attitude was: I'm okay. I understand there's a limp, but I'm going to be okay. I brought us this far, I want to finish this thing."

Cousins adds: "I think it was tough for Coach Shanahan to tell him no. And it was tough for Robert to back down. Both of them were in a tough spot, each guy's word against the other."

This apparently was the pivotal moment. Griffin could have said, coach, take me out, I’m hurting the team and I could further hurt myself. Shanahan could have said, sorry, kid, I don’t like what I see; you’re done for the day.

So it looks like Schefter is saying that, in the heat of the competition, both the player and the coach took the wrong turn at the critical juncture.  

This Week @ The Park

I had a good time taping "This Week @ The Park", an online-only discussion show about the Redskins. Unfortunately, the video can't be embedded so I will link it below.

It's a bit longer than most videos I post here are but it's Saturday so sit back, relax, and enjoy.

This Week @ The Park, Vol. 2 05.02.13

In case you missed it

• Thompson 'makes things happen'
  
• Point-Counterpoint: Battle of the backs
• Need to Know: Getting to the next level

Days until: Minicamp 16; Training camp 82; Eagles @ Redskins 128

Need to Know: Will RG3 play at less than '100 percent'?

Here is what you need to know on this Thursday, April 24, one day before the Redskins begin to participate in the NFL draft.

When is 100 percent not 100 percent?

After the questions revolving around the draft were exhausted at Mike Shanahan’s press conference on Wednesday the talk turned to, you guessed it, Robert Griffin III and his recovery from knee surgery. While answering a question on the decision to allow him to keep playing against the Seahawks while he was obviously hobbled and what had been learned from that, Shanahan said the following:

“At the end of this year, when we go into next year, one thing we want to make sure of is Robert never plays if he’s not 100 percent, so if he does tell me something, I’m not going to believe him this year compared to last year…That was a joke. That was a joke, I think [laughter]. But anyway, we’ll have fun with that.”

I tweeted out the main part of the quote and the immediate responses were that Griffin wouldn’t play very much if he had to be 100 percent healthy in order to take the field. Even after a few preseason games most players collect bumps, bruises and strains that would cause him to be classified as being less than 100 percent. By the time December rolls around the fortunate ones are at about 80 percent of full capacity.

So, clearly, Shanahan can’t really mean that RG3 will be sidelined if his body suffers some of the normal wear and tear of a football season. Otherwise he’d have to declare Kirk Cousins the starter right now.

So what does it mean? It looks like Shanahan is referring primarily to Griffin’s knee. At the first sign of trouble with that right knee—and probably the left one for that matter—RG3 will be sidelined until the issue is cleared up. It also is safe to assume that the same caution will apply to Griffin’s other vital body parts—his throwing shoulder and elbow, his neck, etc.

Many fans and observers will be skeptical about Shanahan’s words here. It is one thing to say them in spring and another to live by them with the playoffs on the line in winter.

Trade up or down?

In case you missed it

• Breaking down the Redskins draft
• Redskins injury update
• Weighing risk vs. reward in the NFL draft
• RG3 won’t play at less than 100 percent
• CSN final mock draft
• CSN draft board: Safety
• Redskins draft outlook: Defense
• Could a QB on the board spur a trade down?

Days until: Redskins on the clock in NFL draft 1; OTA’s 25; Training camp 91

Need to Know: More weapons for RG3?

Here is what you need to know on this Friday, April 19, 6 days before the NFL draft.

A wide receiver at 51?

On his conference call with the media yesterday, NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock said that if the Redskins didn’t get a safety with their first pick in the draft (a possibility I covered in depth yesterday) they could take a wide receiver.

And as much as they need a safety and could use a cornerback there is no reason to think that they will not hesitate to take a wide receiver in the second round if one is the best player on their board.

There is doubt surrounding two of the team’s top four receivers. Both Josh Morgan and Santana Moss will be free agents. There seems to be a good chance that they can bring Morgan back but Moss will be 35 next season and this year could be the end of the line for him. On top of that, Aldrick Robinson and Dezmon Briscoe, the fifth and sixth receivers, are both entering make or break training camps.

But even without the pending upheaval at the position, the fact that the Redskins gave up so much to get Robert Griffin III requires them to invest resources in offensive skill positions. “I think you can get a quality receiver at 51, and you cannot support your quarterback enough,” Mayock said. “You put a lot of money and a lot of draft picks into your quarterback.” 

Certainly, if there is not a safety on the board who can contribute heavily in 2013 it makes sense to put another draft pick into a weapon for RG3.

What are the Redskins looking for during Round 1?

In case you missed it

• Redskins will open season in prime time
• Is the Monday night opener a clue to RG3’s rehab progress?
• Predicting the Redskins’ schedule
• Mayock: If not safety, a WR at 51?
• Supply and demand at safety in the draft
• CSN draft board—Outside linebacker
• Prime time possibilitites

Days until: NFL draft 6; Training camp 99; Eagles @ Redskins 143

RG3 on his signature play

RG3 throws passes, shoots hoops

Yesterday, running back Ike Williams, a former teammate of Robert Griffin III at Baylor, announced via Twitter that he was going to get a tryout with the Redskins. Then today, he tweeted that he got in some preparation for that tryout with his rehabbing friend.

Just Finished A Massive Workout Ended It With Ah Few Games Of Horse On The Court And Caught 80 Footballs From @rgiii #WeWorking

— Ike Williams (@I_Williams4) April 6, 2013

Williams said that he was successful on the court against his more-famous friend. . .

Whooped On @rgiii 4 Games To 1 In Horse Lol 😂😭😂😭...👀

— Ike Williams (@I_Williams4) April 6, 2013

. . . although Griffin disputes Williams' account.

“@i_williams4: Whooped On @rgiii 4 Games To 1 In Horse Lol 😂😭😂😭...👀” Please tell them the truth....

— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) April 6, 2013

There was a report last week that Griffin should start running on the field soon. We don't know if that has started yet but he's apparently keeping his arm in shape.