As a sports fan, it’s easy to get emotional about the past. The past can be a magical place to return to. I spent a good portion of a recent evening returning to the past. I watched, enthralled, as RGIII and the Redskins tore apart opposing defenses, to the tune of some motivational Youtube highlight music. The videos brought me back to the fall of 2012. Times were good back then. RGIII looked like he was panning out as the second pick in the 2012 Draft, and the city of D.C. was buzzing with life. Finally, after years of suffering through the likes of Donovan McNabb, Mark Brunell, Patrick Ramsey, and Jason Campbell, we had been blessed with a true talent.
One highlight that remains a particular source of happiness for me came in Week 6 against the Minnesota Vikings. With 2:34 left in the 4th quarter, and the Redskins nursing a five-point lead, RGIII dropped back at his own 37-yard line. The play looked somewhat routine. Then RGIII did what few humans, few NFL players have the capacity to do. He exploded; his 21-year old legs carried him through the line of scrimmage, past the Vikings linebackers and deep into Viking territory. He was untouchable. The city of D.C. on his shoulders slowed him down very little on the electrifying run. At about the Vikings’ 20-yard line, with a Minnesota safety bearing down on his heels, he entered another gear and high-stepped his way into the end-zone. Triumphantly, our hero jumped into the loving arms of adoring fans.
Now it’s back to reality; those days are gone. Following a MCL-tear at the end of that season and a laundry list of concussions, RGIII has only shown the occasional glimpse of this explosiveness. Very quickly, the conversation changed from one of adoration to constant questioning and skepticism. Griffin is entering the fourth year of his contract, and the team recently picked up his fifth-year option, supposedly to show their total support for their franchise QB. It seems that the Redskins have little choice but to support their QB seeing as they have invested three first round draft picks and $21 million in the 25-year old.
The ‘skins are currently employing both Kirk Cousins and Colt McCoy behind Griffin on the depth chart. Following two dismal preseason appearances by Griffin the media is clamoring to give Cousins or McCoy a shot at the starting job. It’s bad news if you’re having quarterback controversy in Week One or Two, even more so if you’re hearing these gripes in August. Jay Gruden’s hands are tied; he has to stay committed to RGIII considering the franchise’s huge investment. RGIII will take the field on Saturday, August 29 against the Ravens with a significant amount of pressure on his back. While most QB’s are looking to rest up before regular season play, RGIII will have the skeptical eyes of the media trained squarely on his shaky footwork and wobbly left knee.
Sadly, time may be running thin for the District’s 2012 sweetheart. Last season, RGIII completed seven games in their entirety, and won only one of those games. In addition, he threw more interceptions (six) than he did touchdowns (four). The Redskins’ fan base and coaching staff is no doubt becoming weary of his lack of production.
The harsh reality of professional sports is now staring Griffin directly in the face. No matter how quick those adoring fans were to wrap him in their arms in 2012, the next game is always the most important one. The talent surrounding RGIII this year is not top-caliber, and the offensive line in particular struggled to protect his wiry frame against the Lions in the Redskins’ last preseason game. Hopefully, the return of OL Trent Williams will help some against the Ravens on Saturday. After two seasons of weak production from Griffin it’s likely that the blame will fall directly on his shoulders if the ‘skins can’t produce this year.
In an interview from his rookie season, a fresh-faced RGIII, still sporting the shine of a newly crowned Heisman winner, said that he had realized his dream of being in the NFL. He continued, saying that it was now up to him to make what he could of his childhood dream. The time has come, this season, for RGIII to return to the mind-blowing realm of his rookie season. Jay Gruden will attempt to mold Griffin into a pocket passer, and the results will be interesting. Maybe RGIII is truly capable of being a pass-first QB.
I’m not the praying type, but if there’s one thing to pray for this season, it’s got to be for RGIII. He seems like a stand-up guy and it’s hard to see his career veer so far away from the success he had his rookie season. As we approach the start of the Redskins 2015-16 campaign I pray that the city of D.C. and RGIII can enter that magical embrace of 2012 once again.