Gruden: RGIII growing more patient

We live in an era of instant gratification. 

Every virtue and vice lay only a click away and commentators in every medium routinely decry the present generation has one of entitlement.

Patience, then, is rendered a kind of social sin, an awkward and unpleasant feeling to be evaded as soon as possible.

A sentiment Redskins head coach Jay Gruden would like to disassociate from his starting quarterback, Robert Griffin III. Entering his fourth professional season, Griffin has seen himself as destined by his lofty draft status and natural ability to be an NFL quarterback almost by right.

Jay Gruden needed some convincing.

He hasn't been afraid to sit his quarterback when he thought his performance didn't warrant his starting, and hasn't been shy about voicing his opinions on his progression, or lack thereof, in public. He's the second 'Skins head coach to sneak something negative in conversation with reporters about the kid. 

After naming him the starter for 2015, Gruden said he would give Griffin the opportunity to find his own way in his second go-round in the offensive scheme. For the plan to work, the coach said, he himself has to be as patient as he expects his quarterback to be.

That, he says, could take some work.

"He's not used to failure," Gruden said. "He's very competitive. It has an effect on him. He wants to be the best, and he's got a long way to go to be that. But he still has the confidence and still the swagger where he thinks he can be, and he's starting to realize he has to put the work in and he has a lot to learn."

So Gruden's No. 1 job this preseason is to coerce that swagger and ability into waiting for the play to develop in front of him rather than he making the play himself every time. His unwillingness to do that at times in his brief career has compromised his chances in becoming what the team hoped he would be when they made those trades for him on draft day, 2012.

Griffin has shown that improvement so far in the spring, establishing himself with more confidence in the pocket in OTAs, locating receivers with greater ease, staying patient, and making better decisions overall. Training camp revealed some inconsistencies, but it has only been two days.

"[F]or the most part, when you play quarterback in this league, you're gonna have to stand in there and make some throws on third down and in the red zone," Gruden said. "Anticipate some windows -- make your reads and change your protections, pick up a blitz, make some things happen off-schedule. That's just continuing to grow as a quarterback."

But no man is an island.

Gruden is also hoping the improvements the Redskins think they made at the positions around Griffin this offseason will help ease him into his starting role as he finds himself in it.

"We can't put all the pressure on the quarterback," Gruden said. "There's only a few quarterbacks in the league that can handle that, and those guys are gonna be first-ballot Hall of Famers.

"The rest of them, they need help. They need help with the running game, some quick-element throws where the receivers do the work for them, screens, good play-action shot plays, good strong defense. If we win 17-13, who gives a [expletive]? We just gotta win."

It's that simple. Especially for a 4-12 team manned by an oft-injured signal caller. He got his fifth-year option, but it's guaranteed for injury, and that $16.2 million that comes with the signature won't be in the mail if Griffin isn't much more the player they imagined they got when they drafted him.

And that means his being patient. The Redskins certainly have been.

Redskins: Jay Gruden likes what he sees from Brandon Scherff

With defensive end Leonard Williams still on the board when the No. 5 overall selection came around, and the Redskins picking tackle Brandon Scherff instead, some of the eyebrows that adorn the faces of draft predictors found themselves raised.

And with anyone taken that high usually presumed to start on Day 1, current Washington right tackle Tom Compton may be finding himself nervous for his job as rookie camp starts. Especially after what head coach Jay Gruden said about Scherff on Saturday.

"We'll find a spot for him, but obviously we start him out at right tackle," Gruden said, via CSN Washington, adding, "Tom Compton is going to have something to say about that."

Scherff featured at Iowa on the left side and Compton in Washington last year on the right alongside Morgan Moses, but inexperience would likely not put a rookie out on the blind side, where any line must be its strongest and surest.

That said, Gruden likes what he sees already from their first-round pick, maturation-wise.

"He studies very hard, he takes coaching extremely well, and he's got the best coach to coach him up," he said. "But I think you see the progress from yesterday [Friday] morning to yesterday afternoon to today, it's a significant change for him already. And I think he's going to continue to get better."

A welcome prognosis for any protection that stands between Robert Griffin III and his would-be fourth NFL injury as the Redskins look to tussle in a very competitive NFC East.

@MrJamesParks

Redskins: Jason Hatcher really likes Brandon Scherff

ASHBURN, Va. - When the Redskins picked offensive lineman Brandon Scherff with the No. 5 selection in the NFL Draft, most saw it another solid fundamental pickup by general manager Scot McCloughan, a "meat and potatoes" pick as Bill Polian would say.

Or, as defensive end Jason Hatcher would say more bluntly, "a hell of a pick."

Hatcher, picked up by the team in March of last year, sees the Scherff addition as a return to the tough-playing style that harkens back to the team's heritage.

"We're slowly but surely getting back to our old 'Hogs' Redskins days," he told CSN Washington. "Our offensive line has gotten bigger and bigger every year."

He noted Scherff could be one of the guys opening up "huge holes" this year for Alfred Morris and Robert Griffin III. 

"He's nasty," Hatcher said of the unanimous All-American. "I like that. He's a rookie, but just watching him, man, he's really gained my respect. He loves to play the game of football. I'm looking forward to see what he can do this year."

Scherff was a pocket-sealing blocker at Iowa, equally adept at protecting the run and pass, something Washington has needed for some time, finishing at the bottom of the NFC East race in five of the last six seasons. And anything that will keep RGIII on his feet a second or two longer in the pocket will be a welcome addition this fall.

Jay Gruden says RGIII should make a "big jump" this year

ASHBURN, Va. - When the Washington Redskins picked up the fifth-year option on quarterback Robert Griffin III, many took it as a sign the club still had faith in him to repeat his rookie season exploits.

One of those who is starting to have faith in him is head coach Jay Gruden, who, despite hinting last season that Griffin may not be the right fit for his system, had some positive words for his quarterback coming into the 2015 campaign.

"Going into Year 2 in this system should be a big jump, you know," Gruden said through the Washington Post. 

"You're not really thinking about who's where, what's my footwork. Everything should come a lot more natural for you, and hopefully, we see that transition from year one to year two in this system with the terminology and knowing where to go with your footwork and anticipation of getting the ball out quicker. Hopefully, that comes."

All things Gruden worried his quarterback would be unable to muster last season.

That the team said "Yes" to his option should relieve some of thse worries Griffin had about his place within the franchise, and now some positive feedback from his coach seem to have the Redskins heading into a new season with some glimmer of hope.

Which could all change, of course, should he find himself sitting out with his fourth major injury.

Gruden: McCoy will start if healthy

ASHBURN, Va. - Colt McCoy will start at quarterback for the Washington Redskins if he is medically cleared to play, coach Jay Gruden said Thursday.

"We've had looks at all three quarterbacks," Gruden said Thursday. "Right now we feel like Colt is in the lead. If he gets a clean bill of health, he'll be our starter Sunday."

McCoy suffered a neck sprain in the fourth quarter of the Redskins' 24-0 loss to the Rams last Sunday, and noted the day after the game of his continued pain there, though tests taken this week revealed no structural damage.

He participated in the team's throwing drills and general practice Wednesday, saying a disc and some nerves in his neck were aggravated.

"I'm doing a lot better," he said after practice. "It has to continue to calm down. But I've seen significant recovery over the last few days."

Sources within the team have stated the injury is not a threat to McCoy's career.

McCoy is 1-2 as the team's starter and has thrown 4 touchdowns to 3 interceptions. Robert Griffin, whose relationship with Jay Gruden has been strained in recent weeks, is 1-3 as starter, and has been sacked 16 times in those games.

He relieved Colt McCoy after his injury, completing 3-of-4 pass attempts.

Washington (3-10) travels to play the New York Giants Sunday.

Reports: Jay Gruden done with RGIII

ASHBURN, Va. - Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden would like quarterback Robert Griffin to pursue his career elsewhere, according to reports.

Gruden feels Griffin is more concerned with enhancing his personal brand than about becoming a franchise quarterback, according to Jason Reid of the Washington Post.

The report also intimated that Gruden benched Griffin for the Redskins' game at the Colts last Sunday not merely because the coach felt Griffin was not the answer for this season, but long-term.

The Post article sites a number of unnamed sources, all in agreement that a large rift has developed between the coach and quarterback, and that Gruden believes Griffin lacks essential talents required of a pocket passer in the team's offensive scheme.

According to the Post, Gruden is dedicated to moving on from Griffin to so great a degree that, "Gruden may have to come up with an exit strategy even faster than Mike Shanahan did."

That, provided Redskins owner Daniel Snyder or general manager Bruce Allen do not pursue a trade for Griffin in the offseason.

It is unsure what position is held by Dan Snyder or Bruce Allen.

Though ESPN has reported in recent days that Snyder admitted to those within the program that he was "befuddled" and "confused" as to why the progress of Griffin had fallen so greatly.

Griffin has thrown for two touchdowns in five contests this season for the Redskins (3-9). He left their Week 2 game with a dislocated ankle, returning under center for the team in Week 9, though lost all three of those starts, a stretch in which he was sacked 16 times.

Gruden publicly criticized Griffin after the team's 27-7 defeat to the then 1-win Buccaneers, calling his play "not even close to good enough."

"He's auditioned long enough," the coach said following that loss. "Clock's ticking. He's gotta play. We'll see."

Jay Gruden: Griffin will start for Redskins

Ashburn, Va. - Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden has confirmed quarterback Robert Griffin will start for the team when they travel to the Colts this coming Sunday. 

"Right now, we have every intent for Robert," Gruden said, "but we'll look at the tape and make our evaluation here shortly."

That, after a two-game losing streak and candid public criticisms from Gruden that had many believing there to be a rift between he and Griffin. 

Gruden said his quarterback's performance was "not even close to good enough" after the Redskins fell 27-7 at home to the then 1-win Buccaneers, a game in which Griffin threw a touchdown and two interceptions and was sacked six times.

"Robert had some fundamental flaws," he said after that game. "His footwork was below average. He took three-step drops when he should have taken five. He took a one-step drop when he should have taken three on a couple occasions and that can't happen. He stepped up when he didn't have to step up, and he stepped into pressure. He read the wrong side of the field a couple of times."

That contest was the first game action Griffin saw since returning after nursing his dislocated ankle, and since falling 17-13 to the 49ers is now 0-3 in that time. Griffin was sacked five times in that loss and threw no touchdowns, and the Redskins (3-8) have now failed to score more than 13 points in three of the four games in which Griffin has started.

"We have a 24-year-old kid who has not had a lot of these concepts thrown at him," he said after the Redskins' loss to the 49ers. "We think we got him all sorted out, but he hasn't seen these concepts against different coverages."

Colt McCoy is the only quarterback on the roster who has completed an entire contest with a winning result this season, Washington's Monday night 20-17 overtime victory at Dallas, though he played the second half of their 19-17 win over Tennessee. His first pass attempt in that game was a 70 yard touchdown to Pierre Garcon.

And Robert Griffin has lost 17 of the last 20 full games he has started.

"He's auditioned long enough," Gruden said this week of Griffin. "Clock's ticking. He's gotta play. We'll see."