Ex-Washington Redskins coach: Robert Griffin III to regain rookie form

The Washington Redskins endured one of the worst seasons in the NFL in 2013 with reported in-fighting between former head coach Mike Shanahan and quarterback Robert Griffin III, but with Shanahan fired and new head coach Jay Gruden in place and RGIII not having to rehab all offseason, there is reason to be optimistic in the nation’s capital.

Former Redskins quarterbacks coach Matt LaFleur expects to see the quarterback who made jaw-dropping runs and precision passes during his rookie season in 2012 to make a big comeback in 2014 because he’s healthy.

"“I thought we would have seen a great jump from Year 1 to Year 2 if he wasn’t rehabbing the whole time,” LaFleur tells ESPN.com’s John Keim. “You can’t work on your craft when you’re rehabbing. Everybody will see a big jump in his game and he’ll look more like he did in Year 1 than in Year 2.”"

Not only is Shanahan gone, but so to will that bulky knee brace that Griffin wore as he struggled through an up-and-down sophomore season that was the embodiment of a sophomore slump.

With Gruden in place to bring out the best of Griffin and the quarterback able to train, study film and learn the new offense without having to rehab a torn ACL, the dynamic and electrifying quarterback could be making a return which could be enough to get the Redskins back to the playoffs.