Robert Griffin III's Player Profile

RG3 has electrified college football fans all the way to a heisman trophy award and top NFL draft prospect. Griffin has certainly benefited from the success of Vick and Cam Newton the last 2 seasons who have a similar electrifying skill set. Griffin is a phenomenal athlete, he was in the US Olympic Trials at age 17 during his record breaking track career and he translates that athletic ability on to the football field where he has the speed and agility to extend plays from the qb position or even make big plays scrambling when plays break down and you can even use him on design runs to pick up yards. The athleticism really stands out on film, he can really drive defenders and coordinators nuts with his ability to slip tacklers and throw deep passes on the run when plays break down. His statistics are close to mind boggling as well finishing his Sr season with over 4,000 passing yards and over a 70% completion. Robert played in a spread out system and spreads the ball around really well. I think what has helped scouts give him passing grades is how easily he completes the sideline routes to his outside receivers which are so foundational in NFL systems. He can also take the top off the defense with the deep ball. As a runner or a passer RG3 is a threat to score on any play, but he can also play conservatively, moving the chains on intermediate passes and being very efficient in the red zone with all of the many ways he can beat you. He also shows good touch on throws in the end zone, and has great confidence in trusting his teammates to make plays when putting the ball in tight spots. I think what scouts learned this season is that RG3 is not just an athlete playing QB, even though he is often times the best athlete on the field he has a strong arm that can make all of the throws that NFL scouts look for with accuracy, (good over the top, fluid delivery), even when his feet are not under him he can get the ball out with velocity. Also, RG3 is going to be great in the interview process. He has great leadership skills, intelligence, and no off the field or character baggage to speak of. He is really a class act person and a great talent which is what you want in a high 1st round pick. I also do not want to forget to mention that Griffin shines at the end of games and is always calm and poised.

The negatives start with his size. Griffin lists at 6-2 220lbs but on film he looks closer to 6ft, 190lbs, so that comes with durability concerns. I think at the next level they will have to scale back on design runs and probably learn to slide when running or else he could have the same dilemma that comes with Michael Vick which is he will get knocked out of games. There is going to be a big transition for Griffin when going to the next level, he almost never takes snaps under center, he can be lazy with his footwork and throwing motion, he can hold on to the ball too long and during stretches of games he can stop going through progressions, he will look for his #1 option, if it is not there he will tuck it without checking for a 2nd option. All of these concerns can spell trouble in the NFL. Athletically gifted QBs in college can get away with playing outside of their system and make plays but in the NFL their skills are not honed in the mental side of playing QB and reading defenses than their could be injury and turnover problems.

Like Cam Newton last year, Griffin is going to have a big transition as his college system is not known for breeding NFL QBs and on tape his fundamentals can look a little rough around the edges but are covered up with his amazing athleticism. However, like Newton, Griffin has a tremendous work ethic, he is smart and should be able to adapt to NFL playbooks and reading schemes and put in the hard work to make a successful transition to the next level. Im not going to say RG3 is the next Cam Newton as Newton led an Auburn team all the way to a National title, but I think he has a chance to be a tremendous athletic QB and worthy face of a franchise.
Profile submitted by: Tom Patterson

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Robert Griffin Videos

2011 Heisman Winner Robert Griffin III Highlights

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