RG3, Skins Seek Right Mix
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By DERON SNYDER
The Washington Redskins and their star quarterback face a dilemma that’s unlikely to fade as the season progresses. It’s not a choice between equally undesirable alternatives because clearly there’s an advantage in using Robert Griffin III to his fullest.
But utilizing him to that significant and magnificent extent leads to a perplexing problem for RG3 and his coaches alike: How much is excessive and how much is enough?
Unfortunately, that’s a question best answered in hindsight. When RG3 didn’t get out of bounds before suffering a concussion-inducing hit against Atlanta a week ago, that was a bad decision. When he took off for 13 carries — several by design — in Sunday’s 38-26 victory against Minnesota, that was brilliant strategy.
Coach Mike Shanahan actually heeded the masses and scaled back Griffin’s runs against Atlanta. The fact that he got hurt anyway merely proves that the game’s inherent perils are unavoidable — in or out of the pocket. But there’s a heightened sense of danger whenever RG3 tucks the ball and essentially becomes a halfback, a position that doesn’t enjoy the protection designed for quarterbacks.
