“He’s doing a great job. He’s a guy that likes to prepare and likes to practice. He knows what it takes to win, and he’s got all the natural intangibles, and that’s what we expect out of our quarterback, and you couldn’t ask for more.”
Washington Redskins Head Coach Mike Shanahan
Last year’s Heisman trophy winner and the overall #2 pick in the NFL draft, Robert Griffin III silenced his critics with an impressive rookie season as the quarterback of the Washington Redskins. Griffin III, affectionately nicknamed RG3, proved an incredible football mind and mental toughness leading the Skins to the playoff. Following his stellar season at Baylor in 2011, Griffin fully met all expectations on his transition from the collegiate ranks to the NFL utilizing a tremendous athleticism and remarkable football confidence.
Griffin III definitely made a splash from his arrival in Washington. Known for his tenacious mental preparation for football, his team proved their belief in his leadership by electing him team captain. A rookie for a team captain is extremely rare, but proves his ability not only physically on the field but also his football mental toughness as the leader of the team. It is the first rookie captain in Coach Shanahan’s career, and he speaks highly of his young quarterback, “The more you get to know him, the more you’re just amazed with how he handles himself and how well he prepares. You don’t know that until you spend some time with him. He kind of surprises me almost every situation on how well he handles himself.”
Also known for his scholastic abiliity, Griffin III studies psychology in football and prepares to incorporate any necessary method to ensure his physical preparation and football mental game. He says, ““I don’t want people to say I’m a solid quarterback. I want to be the best, and I’ll continually work until I get there.” That kind of determination served him well at Baylor on both the football field, and in the classroom. He also ran track competing on the national collegiate level in both the 110 meter and 300 meter hurdles. Utilizing his explosive speed worked well with the Redskins, and offered Shanahan some added options to his already creative offensive game plan.
RG3’s signing with the Redskins not only revitalized the team, but his charisma and overall football mind united the fan base with excitement that hasn’t been seen in years. Washington Post journalist Sally Quinn wrote, “The guy was a political science major, he knows about politics, he’s clever, he’s smart, and he is funny. It’s what people talk about at dinner parties, it’s what people talk about in the office, and it has united Washington in a way that I have never seen before.”
Washington’s selection of Robert Griffin III during the draft and later as the starting quarterback proved a wise decision in rebuilding the Redskins to a winning team with playoff potential. RG3’s multi faceted talent coupled with a superior mental game of football sparks his teammates to strive for excellence and wins. The future looks bright in Washington.
