National Football League

RGIII held the ball too long and faced most pressure in 2014

Published May. 20, 2015 2:01 p.m. ET

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For Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III, the 2014 season was a disaster. After dislocating his ankle in Week 2, he missed nearly the following two months of the season. He later returned for three games only to be benched for journeyman Colt McCoy. Griffin's slow adaptation to head coach Jay Gruden's offensive scheme, his poor footwork and bad mechanics were all to blame for his lack of production.

Now, thanks to the game charters at Pro Football Focus, we know another factor that played a role in Griffin's struggles. Griffin simply worked too slowly through his progressions and he held on to the football too long in 2014. According to PFF, Griffin had the fifth-highest time to throw, and he faced the highest percentage of pressure.

In order to take the next step as a quarterback, Griffin will have to prove that he has a better grasp of Gruden's offense this summer. Holding on to the football too long is not a winning recipe for a quarterback who tends to have struggled with poor mechanics under pressure like Griffin has. 

Gruden expects to see a major improvement in this area in 2015.

"You’re not really thinking about who’s where, what’s my footwork," Gruden said Ryan Kerrigan's Leukemia Golf Classic at Lansdowne Resort earlier this May. "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."

Redskins fans can only hope that Griffin can master the offense so he can spend less plays under pressure in 2015.

(h/t Pro Football Focus)

Photo Credit: Geoff Burke/USA TODAY Sports

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