Matt Cavanaugh hired as QB coach.

[riggofan]

If the Cousins stuff is true, that is a shame. He is the best QB on the roster for Gruden's offense, no question. He's got a quick trigger and goes through progressions very fast; I'd love to see what he can do with a good OL. I can say the same for RGIII, but even with a good OL, I still think RGIII will have the same issues.....

I'm kind of with you on this, man. I think it might be a different story if RGIII was playing for the Seahawks. You know? Playing behind a decent line, with a solid defense to bail him out. He might have a chance to develop. As it is, I think Cousins would probably bring a little more stability while the team is rebuilding, and it would be better for the team to have a true pocket passer than having them try to adjust to Robert running around. Just my personal opinion.

and seeing RGIII getting chance after chance after chance after chance..... while Cousins getting PERMANENTLY benched after having 1 bad game, then 2 mediocre ones plyaing against the best 2 DEFs in the NFL ---- I'd be pissed too.

Yeah that was Joe T's point too. I think the way he put it was that Cousins basically played two bad quarters of football and Jay wouldn't let him near the field again after that.

As far as JT's RGIII comments --- it is nice of him to say, but the old "new coordinator", "new offense", "injuries" excuses are the oldest and most commonly used in the book. And if by the term "improvement" he meant going from an 8 QBR to a 30, then I guess he's right..... but a 30 QBR still puts him 30th in the league, just below Geno Smith and Josh McCown......

True. I think I misrepresented the way Theismann said it though. In the interview, Grant was asking him about how RGIII had regressed last year. Theismann said it was unfair to say he had regressed because you can't regress when you're doing something for the very first time. This was really Robert's first year to try to learn the position as a pocket passer.

[SkinsJock]

I would think that Cousins should be looking forward to becoming the starter here - maybe I'm not listening to the DC radio but from all accounts Cousins ended the season as the front runner to be #1 here - what's changed

Hmmm. I'm not sure that's true at all. Cousins didn't even dress for those games that Robert started at the end of the season. He was only dressed in the last game because McCoy was injured. How could he be considered the front runner?

Like Theismann said after those bad games vs the Cardinals and Giants: "Jay just never gave Kirk a chance to get back on the football field. And I don’t think he’s going to be given a chance to compete for the job, because he wasn’t given a chance to play during the regular season."

I'm not down there but I thought that Gruden was both very disappointed in Griffin's 'progress' and he also felt that while Cousins needed to also get better, he was closer to becoming a QB that the Redskins could 'cultivate'

I'm glad that Matt is here and hope that he will help both these guys - I still feel that Cousins is starting out as the #1 QB because RG3 has not shown much - if he does not walk the walk and talk the talk like he should that would not be good for his future here

I'm a Griffin fan but I'm a Redskin fan first - I think Griffin has the talent but he's been his own worst enemy in how he's handled things

it sounds like Cousins needs a huge reality check as well ...

[riggofan]

I still feel that Cousins is starting out as the #1 QB because RG3 has not shown much - if he does not walk the walk and talk the talk like he should that would not be good for his future here

Man I'd just love to see them run a truly open QB competition this off season. Whoever shows he is most ready to play - let him be the guy. Forget about who was drafted where, what was invested in RGIII, how much was paid for whoever the third QB is, etc; Start the guy who is playing the position the best!

[SkinsJock]

the franchise only benefits if they give the all of the players the opportunity to play and let them compete to be starters each and every week - those who play and practice well enough to win the starting jobs should also continue to earn that ...

[markshark84]

I think it might be a different story if RGIII was playing for the Seahawks. You know? Playing behind a decent line, with a solid defense to bail him out. He might have a chance to develop.

Not too sure I can agree with this part. Did you see Wilson last night? He was running around quite a bit. The pass protection wasn't that decent. Wilson didn't have the ability to sit straight and tall as RGIII historically does (unsuccessfully) and wait for his guys to make a play. Wilson was also able to move laterally and stay behind the line and make a pass. He only ran when the room in front of him was wide open -- averaging 13 ypc. I don't see RGIII pulling in anything close to a 90.8 QBR based on the OL play and pressure Wilson saw --- not even half that. He would have been sacked 7-10 times last night.

As far as the good OL, great DEF thing --- that is just being a game manager QB. Teams with "game managers' generally don't make the playoffs. And he's going into his 4th year. The time to "develop" is over. You either have it or you don't at this point --- whether it is in a new system or not.

[riggofan]

I think it might be a different story if RGIII was playing for the Seahawks. You know? Playing behind a decent line, with a solid defense to bail him out. He might have a chance to develop.

Not too sure I can agree with this part. Did you see Wilson last night? He was running around quite a bit. The pass protection wasn't that decent. Wilson didn't have the ability to sit straight and tall as RGIII historically does (unsuccessfully) and wait for his guys to make a play. Wilson was also able to move laterally and stay behind the line and make a pass. He only ran when the room in front of him was wide open -- averaging 13 ypc. I don't see RGIII pulling in anything close to a 90.8 QBR based on the OL play and pressure Wilson saw --- not even half that. He would have been sacked 7-10 times last night.

You could be right about that, I don't doubt it. My point was just that I might be more in favor of putting RGIII out there to develop if he had more of a complete team (like the Seahawks) surrounding him already. With the current state of the Redskins, its hard to see how he can be successful. I like Cousins a little more while in rebuild mode.

[SkinsJock]

what Griffin might have been is not as important as what his upside is with the right coaching and preparation ...

Coaches can make a huge difference - we need the Griffin that can be not the Griffin that we've seen - the haters will always be there ...

I don't know if Griffin can become the passing QB that also has the speed to use when he needs it but I do know that Griffin did not benefit as much as Wilson did by going to a franchise that had been assembled by people that knew what they were doing ....

oh! that's right ...

[Prowl33]

Im curious to see how camp works out this year. Cavanaugh should have a huge say in who starting qb will be after working with them for a couple months. He will likely know very quickly who the better qb will be.

[SkinsJock]

I'm hopeful too but the new CBA prevents a lot of what you're implying ...

I do think that it was a big mistake by someone not to have had a QB coach here last season - especially given the QB situation we had

whatever - I hope that Cousins and Griffin really approach this opportunity with the same attitude - 'I want this job and I'm going to find a way to be the starting QB' - Cousins is 'closer' IMO in that he needs to just make better decisions - Griffin has a lot more to overcome

Griffin has the physical talent but he needs a huge change in the way he sees the field and reads what the defense is doing

Hopefully they're both here and pushing each other - they are both good QBs