There’s little question that Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III came into his rookie season as one of the more physically gifted players at the quarterback position. Griffin threw for 3,200 yards and 20 touchdowns while completing 65.6-percent of his passes en route to winning offensive rookie of the year honors.
When a play broke down, Griffin could always rely on his physical skills to create a play out of thin air - until he injured his knee in December that is. Being hobbled late in the year made Griffin realize how much more he still needs to learn about playing the position at the NFL level. According to Mike Jones of the Washington Post, Griffin has focused more on film study and the mental side of the game with his leg still recovery from ACL surgery in January.
“A lot of film work, watching the film – alone and with the coaches, within the rules of the CBA,” Griffin said. “That part of it helps, and I was talking to the guys about [it] toward the end of last year, being slowed down kind of slowed the game down for me, because I had to slow down, and it made me have to get through all of my reads. That’s what I’m getting forward to doing this upcoming season: getting through every single option that I need to get through, and while at the same time, being able to use my legs as a weapon.”
At times Griffin was quick to break the pocket and take off running because of his faith in his ability to make a play with his feet. If Griffin can add an element of increased patience in the pocket with more awareness for his reads in the passing game, Griffin can still take another sizable leap forward as a player.
With Griffin still limited by his recovery on the field, Griffin hopes the increased focus on the mental side of the game will help pay dividends in the fall.