Sunday, May 6, 2012

Redskins HC Mike Shanahan Names Robert Griffin The Starter



At the conclusion of the Washington Redskins' rookie mini-camp, head coach Mike Shanahan confirmed that No. 2 overall pick Robert Griffin would be the team's starting quarterback, Mike Jones of The Washington Post reports.

Given the freight the Redskins paid to move up to the No. 2 overall pick -- first round picks in 2012, 2013 and 2014 along with a 2012 second round pick -- and the fully guaranteed $21 million contract he will eventually sign, naming Griffin the starter is not unexpected.

"Any time you pick a player with the second pick of the draft and you give up another two No. 1’s and No. 2 and you move up four spots, you’ve got a game plan in mind," Shanahan said. "We’re going to adjust our system to what he feels comfortable with, and we’ll watch him grow, and we’ll do what we feel like he does the best.

"We’re going to put him with the first team when we come back," Shanahan said of the OTAs, which get underway on May 21. "We’ll have our first team on one field, working against our second defense, and we’ll have our second team on the other field, working against our first defense.

"I thought it very important to start with Robert with our first unit. He’s able to do it and pick up the system as quick as he has, which is always good, to go out there and be able to call plays and feel good with what you’re doing, and I’ve seen that over the last five practices."

With Griffin starting and likely taking as many reps as possible to get up to speed in Shanahan's offense, Rex Grossman, John Beck, Jonathan Crompton and 2012 fourth round pick Kirk Cousins will have to make the most of limited reps in their competition for the No. 2 job this summer.

source:  Mac's Football Blog
author:  Brian McIntyre



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