5 Reasons Robert Griffin III Failed with Redskins

Injuries

The only thing that marred Robert Griffin III’s rookie season was his devastating knee injury. He was initially injured earlier in the season with a LCL sprain against the Baltimore Ravens.  He missed a start with Kirk Cousins taking over while he was out.

But it appeared as though Griffin never really got over the LCL Sprain and that eventually led to him tearing his ACL.  Although Griffin rehabbed and returned from that injury to start week one of the 2013 season he clearly was not 100% and he struggled most of that season.

Not only did the injury affect him as a runner as he was never quite as explosive as he was as a rookie but his ability as a passer was affected as well.  Shanahan benched Griffin in favor of Cousins late in 2013 claiming he wanted to give RGIII time to recover from injuries.

However, he actually wanted to give Cousins a chance to prove he was better than Griffin but at the time Cousins wasn’t up to the task.  Shanahan was then fired and Jay Gruden was hired to become the Redskins head coach.

ALSO ON RIGGO’S RAG: NFL Mock Draft 2016 – Complete First Round Projection

In week two of the 2014 season Griffin went down with a dislocated ankle and that cost him six games that season.   That injury not only affected Griffin physically but mentally as well as when he returned to the lineup he never seemed quite comfortable in the pocket.

Before the 2015 season Jay Gruden named Griffin as the starter going into week one.  However before the season began RGIII suffered a concussion in the preseason against the Detroit Lions and the plan for him to be the starter was scrapped.

Griffin was in the concussion protocol but it took a longer time than normal to clear him to play.  Along with the injury and Griffin’s inconsistent play in the preseason, this led Gruden to name Kirk Cousins as the starter for the 2015 season.

Griffin never played another down for the Redskins.

Next: The lack of development beyond his rookie season