Redskins coach Jay Gruden: RGIII can scramble as often as the situation dictates
By Jack Crosby
Many folks within the Washington Redskins are obviously hoping that Robert Griffin III can return to his 2012 form this season. However, given the severity of his past knee injury, a lot of people will hold their breath whenever he does one of the things that he does best, and that’s tuck the ball and run.
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But, that’s not stopping new head coach Jay Gruden from letting his quarterback decide when it’s best to do that.
On Thursday morning’s edition of NFL AM, Gruden told the panel that Griffin, while improved as a pocket passer, will be turned loose to tuck the ball and go down the field, as long as the situation dictates it.
“As far as him running in the pocket, quarterbacks make those decisions, not me,” Gruden explained. “On game day, it’s hard for me to tell them, ‘Stay in the pocket — don’t scramble!’ But we’ll have some designed plays where we get him outside, let him use his legs, obviously it would be stupid not to.
“I feel good where he’s at. He made some serious strides just in the spring working in the pocket and delivering throws and pulling it down and running when he had to run. That comes naturally but also comes with a lot of reps and playing the position.”
Gruden is putting his full confidence in his quarterback to make all the right decisions, but that is what’s expected from your franchise quarterback.