Everyone loves RG3, regardless of his hat selections (Getty)
Robert Griffin III ranked second among all quarterbacks in rush makes an attempt (a hundred and twenty) and speeding touchdowns (7) final yr, and he led his position in dashing yards (815). Griffin was also a remarkably productive passer in his first pro season, establishing a brand new rookie document for QB-score (102.4). But the key to RG3′s fantasy worth, without question, was his rare expertise as a ball-service.
And then his knee bent the unsuitable way. After which it occurred again.
Griffin underwent surgery in January to repair a damaged right LCL, and to re-repair an earlier ACL tear. His rehab and restoration have gone well, in line with just about every report. Griffin hasn’t yet made a preseason appearance, however he’s a full-go in practice, taking part in eleven-on-eleven drills. No identified setbacks. At this level, it might be a surprise if Griffin didn’t start Washington’s Monday evening opener versus Philly.
But starting and starting at full capacity are different things. Questions stay about Washington’s publish-surgical procedure plan for Griffin, and about the team’s willingness to show him to open area hits.
We should be careful not assume the teaching employees will dramatically scale back its use of possibility runs. As offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan mentioned back in June…
“You simply have a look at all of the zone learn clips. I mean, not many massive hits happened on that. Normally everyone is blocked for… The three injuries were cross performs. They weren’t the zone read. The zone read is something that I learned going by the yr that I believe actually helped us. It’s the least go rush I’ve ever seen as a coordinator — guys just sitting there scared to dying, just watching everyone, not shifting. I really loved sometimes, actually, with the ability to drop back and not have 4 guys simply teeing off on the quarterback, all attempting to hit him within the pocket.”
Realistically, opposing defenses shall be trying to gentle up quarterbacks whenever potential on possibility runs in 2013, as a part of a technique of deterrence. It is not as if designed runs involve zero risk. However you’ll be able to perceive Shanahan’s higher point concerning the alternatives created by the threat of Griffin as a rusher.
So we should not anticipate RG3 to be anchored to the pocket this season. Let’s simply hope he’ll play with a higher sense of self-preservation. He obviously cannot proceed to hunt contact on the ends of runs, as he did final season — an injury really appeared inevitable for him, and he was fortunate to have misplaced just two fumbles. (He put the ball on the bottom 12 instances.) Washington’s gameplans had been tilted heavily toward the run last 12 months, as the crew ranked third in the NFL in total rush attempts (first in yards) and thirtieth in passes. Griffin might not reach 120 carries once more, however he’ll be more than a mere supporting player in this floor recreation — assuming he’s healthy. Or wholesome-ish.
Griffin’s draft value isn’t outrageous in the intervening time (QB7, ADP 44.eight), but he is going well forward of several quarterbacks who don’t necessarily carry the identical degree of threat, and who will lead productive attacks — guys like Ryan (forty eight.5), Stafford (sixty three.zero), Luck (79.2), Romo (88.9), Eli (a hundred.1) and Vick (one hundred fifteen.four). To this point, I have not been in a position to pull the set off on RG3 when so many other appealing names are on the board.
Also, I’m viscerally repulsed by Griffin’s receiving corps. That’s a problem, too.
More hat! Also pictured, Pierre Garcon (Getty)
Pierre Garcon is a pleasant enough participant, but we do not but have a lot proof to recommend that he is a no-doubt, should-begin WR1. He had a pair of one hundred-yard performances last yr — both against horrible pass defenses (NO, NYG) — in an harm-plagued, 10-recreation season. Garcon had a very good-not-nice marketing campaign for a fetid Colts offense in 2011 (70-947-6), and he was serviceable in 2010 and 2009. He is now tied to a passing attack that put the ball in the air solely 27.6 times per game last season. For those who can land Garcon as an inexpensive WR2/three, wonderful. However I won’t pay a top-50 price for his companies.
No other vast receiver on this crew’s roster deserves critical consideration in customary-size fantasy leagues. Should you’re concerned in a deep format, for example 14 or extra groups, then be at liberty to take a late shot with Leonard Hankerson or Aldrick Robinson, ideally in that order. Santana Moss and Joshua Morgan stay in the picture, however drafting either of these guys is like a sign to the remainder of your league that you intend to complete seventh. Please try to keep away from them, if in any respect attainable.
Tight end Fred Davis is a gifted athlete who’s made a couple of highlight plays in prior years, and his recovery from Achilles surgical procedure has gone in addition to anyone could have anticipated. Davis by some means did not visit the end zone in any of his seven games final season, though he caught nearly each ball thrown his means (24 of 32, 325 yards). He is a low-danger/modest-reward fantasy possibility at a place stacked with sleepers (ADP 114.5). Davis is only signed to a one-yr prove-it deal, so he does not lack motivation. Washington used a third-spherical choose on Florida tight finish Jordan Reed in April’s draft, just in case the team decides that Davis is not the long-time period reply.
Alfred Morris, shredding the Dallas D (Getty) If the ‘Skins are going to return to the postseason this 12 months, the journey will probably occur in 5 and 6-yard increments, with Alfred Morris carrying the ball 300-plus times. Again, Washington fielded the NFL’s best floor game last season, averaging 169.3 speeding yards per sport. Morris completed second in the NFC in rushing (1613 yards) and Griffin ranked tenth (815). If you seriously think Mike Shanahan goes to veer away from a run-dominant method now, with this roster, after claiming a division title.. well, wow. I can not see it.
Morris was a draft-day afterthought final yr, however he delivered an enormous fantasy line in Washington’s season-opener (28-ninety six-2), quickly establishing himself because the team’s featured again. He took 335 handoffs as a rookie and closed his season with a monster efficiency in opposition to a flat-lining Cowboys’ protection: 33 carries, 200 yards, 3 TDs. Morris only caught eleven passes in 2012, so — regardless of the offseason sunshine about his improvement as a receiver — you may’t realistically count on him to be a major weapon in the passing game. He’s less fascinating in PPR formats than in commonplace leagues, no doubt. It’s also a bit ludicrous to forecast another 1600-yard season for Morris, as a result of that’s merely a huge quantity. In a typical year, we only see one or two backs attain that plateau.
Still, Morris remains the early-down workhorse in a Shanahan offense, an excellent guess for 1200-1400 yards and 8-10 scores. He is a second-rounder on my board, but a first-rounder for many. Roy Helu is back within the mix this season, we should notice, having fun with a healthy, productive camp. Here’s a clip of Helu taking a zone-read carry to the top zone, towards the Steelers’ preseason JV defense. Helu seems to personal the third-down role for the ‘Skins, so he’ll certainly make some noise in PPR leagues. And if Morris have been to undergo an injury of any severity, fantasy gurus will likely be hyping Helu prefer it’s November 2011 revisited.
Washington’s defense was a superbly center-of-the-pack bunch last season, both in fantasy and reality. This group figures to be a match-up play, not a unit you may must roster all season. Own ‘em for the video games towards Oakland, San Diego and perhaps Kansas City. IDP house owners ought to take into account linebackers London Fletcher, Brian Orakpo, Perry Riley and Ryan Kerrigan, plus DB DeAngelo Corridor. In actual fact, Fletcher can head straight for the IDP Hall of Fame, whenever he decides to tap out.
2012 group stats: 27.three factors per sport (four), 229.1 passing yards per game (21), 169.three rushing yards per sport (1)
Previous Juggernauts: 32. NY Jets, 31. Oakland, 30. Jacksonville, 29. Buffalo, 28. Cleveland, 27. Tennessee, 26. San Diego, 25. Miami, 24. St. Louis, 23. Pittsburgh, 22. Arizona, 21. Minnesota, 20. Kansas City, 19. Chicago, 18. Baltimore, 17. Philadelphia, 16. Indianapolis, 15. Carolina, 14. Cincinnati, 13. NY Giants, 12. Detroit, 11. New England, 10. Tampa Bay, 9. Seattle
The Washington Redskins
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