Redskins: Three Quarterbacks and a Battle for Backup

When the Washington Redskins begin training camp on July 30, they will have the same group of quarterbacks that were on their 2014 roster: No.10 Robert Griffin III ( 6′ 2” 222 lbs.), No.8 Kirk Cousins (6′ 3”, 202 lbs.) and No.16 Colt McCoy (6′ 1”, 215 lbs.). As many already know, there is no quarterback battle for the starting position looming. The competition will actually be for the number two and number three slots on the depth chart.

Back in February, Redskins head coach Jay Gruden stated that Griffin would be the starting quarterback going into the 2015 season. Since that time, he has also said that the player who will fill the backup position has not yet been decided.

The feeling among some is that it is the starting job that should be up for grabs, with an open competition among the three quarterbacks. Redskins General Manager Scot McCloughan said that it doesn’t matter who takes the first reps in practice but who actually wins the job in camp that counts. This conflicts to some extent with what Gruden said.

That being said, at this point, RGIII is the named field general for the Burgundy and Gold. The job will basically be his lose and rightfully so. Even though he struggled at times over the past two years, this team must find out if he is the future of the franchise. Obviously if Griffin comes out with real issues in the preseason, he could lose the starting job to Cousins or McCoy.

All signs during OTA’s and mini camps were that Griffin looked pretty sharp. He appeared to be having fun, for instance, getting fired up when making a nice play on the practice field.

A successful starting quarterback is important obviously, but it is also vital for a team to have a solid backup quarterback… one that isn’t just a fill-in but that can lead the team to victory. Gruden will be watching McCoy and Cousins compete for the right to be the next guy in line and these two will likely engage in a heavyweight battle for that position during training camp.

Both of these quarterbacks started during the 2014 season because of injuries or ineffective play at the position and Gruden has made it clear recently that he wants more stability at the signal-caller position. McCoy, a six-year veteran, started four games for the Redskins in 2014, helping the team grab two of its four victories. The most memorable of his games was a Monday Night Football matchup during which he led the Redskins to a 20-17 overtime victory against their long-time rival Dallas Cowboys.

Then there is Cousins who is entering his fourth NFL season. He started five games in 2014 but was only able to secure one victory. His best performance was against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Interestingly, he did not start that game but rather came in for the injured RGIII. Cousins completed 22 of 33 passes for 250 yards and threw two touchdowns. That day he had his best quarterback rating of the season; a 94.3 in that 41-10 home victory.

Both McCoy and Cousins have been very inconsistent in their overall play on the field and this makes a decision between the two for the backup position very difficult for the coaching staff.

Accuracy and ball security are major issues when it comes to the quarterback spot and both backups had their problems with turning the ball over.

Last season Cousins had a bad case of “fumblitis,” committing six, and his kryptonite was the interception. Mistakes ― especially interceptions ― appeared to weigh heavily on him during games, causing him to look dejected on the sideline and indecisive in his decision making. This often led to inaccuracies and a stagnant passing offense. The Michigan State product threw nine interceptions last season and four of them came in one game.

Even though McCoy’s ball security issues may not have been to the extent of Cousins’ (McCoy committed three interceptions and four fumbles), his poor decision-making impeded the offense in its ability to sustain drives by converting on third down.

During these past 2015 OTA’s and minicamps, neither McCoy nor Cousins has really set themselves apart from each other to win the battle for the number two spot. There were some days when McCoy would look solid, making impressive throws on the practice field. On other days it would be Cousins that would impress with his accuracy and clear decision-making.

Neither put it together consistently however. Regardless, Gruden noticed improvement and progress with both quarterbacks, just as he did with Griffin.

“I think all three of them really have done some good things as far as just general knowledge of where to put your eyes and your fundamentals, as far as your drops and all that, and your progressions go, man,” Gruden said during the off-season. “I think they’re all just getting a better understanding of the scheme. When we call a play, what to expect on that play versus this coverage, versus blitz, versus Cover 1, versus Cover 3… what have you. I think all three of them are starting to just gain momentum in that regard.”

One thing that will really help the development of the Washington Redskins quarterbacks is the addition of quarterbacks coach Matt Cavanaugh. There is nothing like having a guy whose sole job is to watch and work toward improving a quarterback’s fundamentals.

“You know, sometimes as a coordinator or the head coach, I’m watching the defensive backs or the linebackers or the line play,” Gruden said. “[OC] Sean [McVay] is watching the total picture, and now we have a set of eyes strictly on the quarterback. I think that’s important. Every snap, every hand-off, every drop back is being critiqued and making sure we do it the right way.”

July 30 is the first day of Washington’s training camp and the quarterbacks will operate under rotations similar to those during OTAs and the minicamps. As the competition continues for backup QB, Cousins and McCoy will alternate with the second and third teams. Gruden has confidence in both men and feels they both can be effective players in this league.

It will be up to these two players to develop the level of consistency and decision-making that proves that they can be the next man up… the one that must be able to step in in a moment’s notice and lead the Redskins to victory.