If I try to do anything here at Get More Sports, it’s be educational. Lessons were learned this past weekend, the third in our four and a half week NFL Preseason journey. We’re going to talk about some of those things.
Robert Griffin III probably won’t start for the Redskins in Week One
In fact, if Kirk Cousins plays well at all, RG3 will likely never start for the Washington Redskins again. Diana Russini is reporting that Washington has pulled out the knife and is prepared to cut bait with Griffin and has already named Cousins the starter for Opening Day.
Team was told by staff Cousins will start against the Dolphins this morning. #Redskins
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) August 31, 2015
Cousins played well in his start over the weekend, going 20-for-27 for 190 yards and a TD. Cousins has outplayed Griffin all preseason which is not only a smack in the face to Griffin, but to the Redskins fans and organization since both guys were taken in the same draft. The same draft in which Washington gave up three first round picks and a second rounder for Griffin. Cousins was picked in the fourth round. I’m sure that stings.
It’s no secret around the league that Redskins head coach Jay Gruden dislikes Griffin. It’s also no secret that Jay Gruden shouldn’t be a head coach and somewhere out there a Car Wash/QuickLube is missing out on the best assistant manager they could have ever hoped for.
If the Redskins do move on from Griffin in the offseason, they’ll save $16.1 million that they can then use to sign an overpriced free agent to under-perform for their team. Just like Dan Snyder likes.
Last year Cousins played in six games, completed 61.8 percent of his passes for 1,710 yards, 10 touchdowns and nine picks. Griffin appeared in nine games, completed 68.7 percent of his passes (a career high) for 1,694 yards, four touchdowns and six interceptions.
The Bills have a legitimate quarterback problem
According to Jay Glazer, the Bills have made the call and decided on Tyrod Taylor as their Week One starter. That doesn’t mean the competition is over.
The Bills will start QB Tyrod Taylor for Week 1 against the Colts, source confirms for @RapSheet pic.twitter.com/YOMPq7bgTG
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) August 31, 2015
This is not a problem anyone foresaw before the preseason began. When the Buffalo Bills hired Rex Ryan to be the head coach he brought in his own coaching crew to remake the offense and offensive coordinator Greg Roman may have turned out to be a steal.
After a couple of seasons trying his best to make Colin Kaepernick not look like a moron with the San Francisco 49ers, Roman has flourished calling plays for all three Bills quarterbacks. E.J. Manuel, Matt Cassel and Tyrod Taylor have not only looked good in the preseason for Buffalo, they’ve all looked like NFL starters.
Manuel was especially impressive over the weekend, completing 7-of-8 passes for 170 yards and two touchdowns. Both touchdowns were legit NFL throws, the first a 67-yard TD to new tight end Charles Clay and the second a 37-yard pass to Tobias Palmer.
How did Taylor do? How about 12-for-13 for 122 yards and a 20-yard touchdown run. Cassel was 6-of-7 for 38 yards, but just played two series. If you’re keeping count, that’s three total incompletions for the Bills’ top three QBs.
Cassel would have been the safest option, but Manuel and Taylor easily have the most upside. Manuel is the better passer of the two, but Taylor can do more on the scramble and with his legs when plays break down.
Peyton Manning might regret coming back for his senior year in Denver
Peyton Manning, many moons ago, made the call to forgo the NFL draft in 1997 to remain at the University of Tennessee for his senior season. It was a decision that made Tennessee fans love him like a religious figure to this day and also kept him from being drafted No. 1 overall by the New York Jets. A Hall of Fame NFL career, multiple Pro Bowls and a Super Bowl title later, you can say it all worked out.
His decision to play another year in the NFL for the Denver Broncos may not go as well. Not only is Manning 39 years-old and coming off an injury and interception-riddled end to his 2014 campaign.
Kickin' it with Kiz: Peyton Manning may not fit so well in this offense: Manning is getting squeezed by Kubiak… http://t.co/35tr28i6H2
— Huntsville News (@HuntsvilleANews) August 30, 2015
Manning is breaking in a new head coach and new offensive coordinator in what will likely be his final year in football and so far in the preseason at least, it’s not looked good. Saturday night Manning went 14-for-21 for 124 yards, which wasn’t bad, but what was bad was that he was sacked three times by San Francisco 49ers linebacker Navarro Bowman alone. There were plent of dropped passes and missed assignments too, so Manning and the offensive coaches will have plenty to go over with the receivers, backs and offensive linemen in the film room before the season starts.
