Washington Redskins Position Focus: Quarterback

As the Washington Redskins begin their journey into the 2015 season there are many areas on this football team that coaches would like to see improve. There is no other position on the field that they are more focused on than the quarterback.

In Washington’s first preseason game of the year against the Cleveland Browns, Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin, III completed four of his eight passes for 36 yards. He rushed once for three yards to convert on a huge third-down play.

Backup signal caller Kirk Cousins came out slinging the rock and went 12 of 14 for 154 yards. He also had one rush for four yards and a touchdown. Fellow back up QB Colt McCoy came in for a short time as well, completing four of six passes for 33 yards.

In that first preseason game it was easy to see that all of the Redskins signal callers have a better grasp on head coach Jay Gruden’s offense this year than they did last season. Griffin, in particular, did a better job of standing tall in the pocket and showing that he had an understanding of where to go with the football as the coverage dictated.

Cousins, now in a battle with McCoy for the No. 2 spot, really set the tone for the backup QB battle. The Michigan State product made a strong case for himself, coming out and looking sharp as he fired darts down the field.

This Thursday these Redskins quarterbacks will face another formidable opponent in their first home preseason game against the Detroit Lions at FedEx Field. As the preseason progresses, there are some simple facts that people need to keep in mind when watching this team as a whole.

Mainly, remember that this is only the second of four preseason games, all the while recalling that the key word here is, in fact, “preseason.”

Washington’s coaching staff will not be looking to establish an elaborate game plan for the opposition. They will simply be looking to accomplish the simple things of football, maintaining a level of consistent play and cohesiveness; and evaluating the many talented young players currently on the roster.

Looking at the play of each quarterback then, what should fans be looking for?

If thinking of RGIII, the words “progress” and “comfort” are uppermost in the mind and Griffin showed that having quarterbacks coach Matt Cavanaugh around is paying dividends. His footwork and fundamentals have improved. While he made some mistakes, against the Browns he stepped more into his throws, setting and resetting his feet when necessary. These things will help him to be more accurate with his passes.

Something to look for in the upcoming game against the Lions is his ability to scan the field and get the ball out of his hands more quickly. He must make quality decisions with the football.

As a rookie, Robert seemed to have the ability to play carefree football. It was his thing to be natural and play the quarterback position the way he knows how with the perfect scheme that Mike and Kyle Shanahan set up for him in 2012. This is something that has been missing from his game recently… the simple joy of playing football and just letting things flow. People underestimate the power in being happy about what you’re doing has but it’s very important if one wants to produce a quality product.

Here’s an example: many people have had a job that they loved but either fellow employees, possibly poor management or being overworked caused them to lose their joy for what they loved to do. That, in turn, affected the way the job was done and even the preparation that went into any given task. When there is pure joy in one’s natural abilities, however, many times a quality product is the result. This joy is one thing that has been missing from Griffin’s game.

With regard to the backup quarterback position, what important aspect should be examined?

The answer is a level of consistency.

Both Cousins and McCoy have had their share of problems with this. Neither has separated himself drastically during this past training camp. But against Cleveland, Cousins was the one who impressed. This has to continue if he wants the No. 2 position on this team.

The Michigan product must pick up where he left off against the Browns and show that he can be consistent and handle adversity. With Cousins it’s never been a question of his fundamentals. It is his decision-making skills that haven’t been up to par. He cannot be a roller coaster quarterback, flashing every other game. He must be sharp in his delivery and make the right decisions depending on what a defense gives him in any given situation.

On the other hand, McCoy must command the huddle with confidence. He needs to move the ball and make the correct throws on time and to the right place, giving his playmakers a chance to make plays. Both must show a progressive nature if they want to be the backup QB to the named starter, Robert Griffin, III.