Shanahan Caps Griffin's First Minicamp as a Redskin by Naming Him Starting QB

Mike Shanahan has been known to play games with the depth chart to motivate players, but he made it clear that he was going to be straightforward with No. 2 overall draft pick Robert Griffin III. Shanahan said, "He's the starter. Period," at the end of the three-day rookie minicamp.

The move was met with praise by veteran Redskins LB Brian Orakpo and WR Anthony Armstrong, according to Washington Post writer Mike Jones. Orakpo was pleased that the team could "move on," and Armstrong felt the job was "pretty much etched in stone" already.

Shanahan was excited about the possibilities Griffin's unique combination of abilities presents and indicated that he'll adjust his offensive system to make Griffin comfortable. Joseph White of the Associated Press reports Shanahan expects to "do some things that people haven't done" with Griffin's speed and throwing ability that "the NFL is not used to."

Griffin's ability to run the minicamp offense in the first practice without a busted play or formation drew praise from Shanahan according to White, with the coach saying he thought it was the first time that happened in his coaching career. 

And what about that competition that some tried to create between Griffin and fourth-round pick Kirk Cousins? The one that Shanahan squashed at the end of the minicamp? Griffin and Cousins are roomed together for the weekend, and Griffin said that they were "cool," according to White. They went over the playbook eating a burrito together, but not the same burrito, Griffin joked.

Shanahan might have made the somewhat early announcement to short-circuit any tension built by a perception of a competition between the two rookie quarterbacks, but Griffin seems perfectly able to do that on his own with his personality and sense of humor. Maybe he'll even get Shanahan to smile.