Robert Griffin III: Washington Redskins Need to Start RG3 from the Get-Go

The Washington Redskins would be foolish to start out the 2012 season with Robert Griffin III holding a clipboard on the sidelines. He needs to be the starter from Week 1.

NFL.com reports that RG3 isn't taking it for granted that he'll be the starter once camp rolls around—provided the Redskins take him with the No. 2 overall pick.

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You can't come in thinking that you're a big dog...Rex Grossman is the quarterback in Washington right now, and I've got to go beat him out. I've got to prove to those guys that I'm there to work and I will, it's who I am. I'll be the first one in, last one out, and it won't be a cliché with me.

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While that's a tremendous attitude that showcases the maturity we've come to expect from the Heisman Trophy winner, there is only one good reason that Grossman should start in 2012: RG3 would have to be unable to play due to injury.

Everyone knows what Grossman's capable of doing on the field. He has a great arm and pulls plays out of his behind when you least expect it, but the bottom line is that Grossman is an inaccurate turnover machine. 

Per ESPN, throughout his nine-year career, Grossman has completed only 55.3 percent of his passes, and even in his best year only completed 57.9 percent of his throws. Furthermore, he has thrown more interceptions than touchdowns, many of them coming at the worst possible time for his team.

Conversely, Griffin III has proven to be extremely accurate, albeit against lesser competition in college. But the fact remains that he improved his completion percentage every single year at Baylor—from 59.9 percent in his rookie year to 72.4 percent during his Heisman-winning senior season (H/T Sports-Reference.com).

Griffin III was also careful not to turn the ball over during the course of his college career, throwing 78 touchdowns through four years while only accumulating 17 interceptions during the same stretch of time.

As it stands right now, RG3 is better than Grossman—even without any NFL experience. Grossman has tapped out, and we've seen the best he has to offer. 

I certainly don't expect Griffin III to be able to put together stats comparable to his college days once he goes up against NFL defenses, but he can't do any worse than Grossman. 

That's a fact.

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