Author: Gerardo Orlando (Page 18 of 75)

After all of the hype and attention from the draft and the offseason, most football fans can’t wait to watch the heralded rookie quarterbacks play for the first time. It’s only a preseason game, but I was anxious to see if Robert Griffin III passed the eyeball test. He did.

RG3 was able to lead the Redskins to a touchdown on their third drive, which should give Skins fans plenty to get excited about this week.

Moments later, there was Griffin, not just alive — but enraptured. Well before Pierre Garcon, on the receiving end of Griffin’s screen pass, somersaulted into the corner of the end zone, Griffin had his arms raised to the sky. He circled around toward midfield, grabbed a knee, crossed himself and pointed quickly to the sky. Then, he used his sprinter’s speed to chase down Garcon in the end zone, engaging his new favorite receiver in a running, leaping chest bump.

The third of Griffin’s three drives during his abbreviated appearance in the Redskins’ exhibition opener against the Buffalo Bills, a 7-6 Washington victory, transformed his night from a sobering exercise in reduced expectations to an unqualified success that will only enhance his standing with title-starved Redskins fans as the franchise’s new savior. Taking the ball from his 20-yard line, Griffin led the Redskins down the field in eight plays, three of them crisp completions to Garcon, the last of which, from Buffalo’s 20, resulted in the touchdown.

I only saw the highlights, but RG3 looked pretty comfortable in the pocket and he made some nice throws. Griffin definitely has a weapon in Garcon, but as Dave Sheinin pointed out in his column, the Redskins have some issues on the banged up offensive line. We’ll all be watching closely to see how he progresses leading up to the season.

From a fantasy point of view, Griffin has those incredible wheels, so you know guys will be looking to grab him as a #2 quarterback as he should run for more than a few TDs this year.