Washington Redskins: What We Learned from RGIII's Debut

For the past decade at least, the nation's capital has craved consistent quarterback play more than any sort of political reform or legislation. 

Because unlike political policy, everyone in Washington can agree that the annual disappointment courtesy of the Washington Redskins has grown unbearable. 

D.C. is, and always will be, a football-centric town.

So when the organization decided to mortgage the future (two future first-round picks and one second-round pick) in hopes of selecting Robert Griffin III this past offseason, the weight of an entire city (and perhaps more) was placed abruptly upon the shoulders of a 22-year-old infatuated with flashy socks. 

Thursday night marked perhaps the most highly anticipated debut in recent D.C. sports history. And despite all of the pressure and attention attached to Griffin III, Washington's new quarterback largely lived up to the hype. 

The man whom some have labeled the "franchise savior" and "R-Jesus" went 4-of-6 with 70 yards and a touchdown against the Bills' first-team defense. But for many fanatical spectators, there was much more to examine than a stat line. 

For me, I wanted to see each and every snap. Twice. 

I wanted to see his demeanor behind center, his poise in the pocket and, of course, the raw talent and polished skills that made him one of the most prized QB prospects in recent memory. 

Because for diehard Skins fans like me, Robert Griffin III represents more than Washington's newest first-round draft choice. He is more than just another quarterback.  

He represents the only hope we have. 

Here's what we leaned from RGIII's Redskins debut. 

Not Afraid of the Spotlight

One of Griffin's most desirable qualities when evaluated by pro scouts had nothing to do with the game of football. 

A remarkable level of maturity and an overall charismatic personality helped rocket the Heisman Trophy winner up draft boards and solidify him as the clear-cut second pick behind Andrew Luck. 

To some, those same attributes pushed Griffin ahead of the Stanford product. 

Fortunately for the Redskins, RGIII's exceptional profile dropped to second as expected, and the new face of the franchise sparkled in his debut.

With unimaginable amounts of media attention and unrealistic expectations, Robert Griffin III appeared composed and unnerved in his first live NFL action Thursday night. 

He seemed to hold a firm command of the offense, and he completed three series without any noticeable mishaps (I'll take the liberty of correctly crediting the fumble to Evan Royster).

Griffin stood tall in the pocket during his few downfield pass attempts, and could very easily have finished with six or seven completions if his receivers made plays.  

The former track star didn't take off and run when his first option was covered, and he even made a change at the line that proved successful.

Griffin's postgame comments suggesting that games are easier than practice may come off as cocky or arrogant to some. However, it undeniably reveals his comfort level within the schematics of the offense and on the football field in general. 

We've been left with only seven pass attempts to analyze over the course of this week. But even from such a small sample size, I think RGIII's debut performance was fairly telling in terms of his maturity and intangibles. 

Pocket Passer

As I alluded to in the first slide, it was interesting to note Robert Griffin's composure within the pocket on Thursday night.

Despite possessing world-class speed, RGIII avoided using his legs to bail him out of trouble and showed no signs of rolling out. 

With such talents in a quarterback, comparisons to players like Michael Vick are unavoidable. But when you have an arm like Griffin's, many agree the team is best suited when he is throwing the football. 

I think the Shanahans have figured that out, too. 

All signs from Game 1 indicated that the Redskins intend on using Robert Griffin III as a pocket passer only. Aside from the occasional roll-out sideline dash, running plays centered around the quarterback likely won't consume much, if any, of the playbook. 

After throwing for nearly 4,300 yards in his final season at Baylor, I don't think this realization is surprising to many. But with such a dynamic athlete at your disposal, it must be tough to exclude such indefensible plays from your call sheet. 

Of course, the rookie's health takes top priority in this situation. Considering the package that Washington offered St. Louis to acquire Griffin, plays designed to expose the franchise centerpiece on the middle of the field would be ludicrous. 

So the main questions that remain mostly concern RGIII's ability to develop into an elite pocket passer. And early action has delivered promising hope. 

Unfortunately for now, hope is still all that we have.

No. 1 Option

Surprisingly, not all of the positive energy that resulted from Thursday's preseason game related to Robert Griffin III. 

As a team with low expectations outside of the market, the rest of the Redskins' roster didn't exactly have to impress in order for fans to be pleased. 

But they did. 

Again, I know it is ridiculous to make any conclusions after three series from the starters. But even in limited action, it appeared as though the Redskins may have found the No. 1 receiver they've been looking for. 

Pierre Garcon accepted $42.5 million from Washington this offseason to be just that.

The former Colt caught three balls for 58 yards on Thursday, including a touchdown pass on the third series of the game. 

The score, which resulted from a Griffin screen pass, displayed Garcon's ability to run after the catch—a part of his game that largely enticed the Redskins into signing him. 

More importantly, however, was the noticeable chemistry between Robert Griffin III and his No. 1 option. The two appeared in sync throughout the entirety of their playing together, despite an incompletion on a beautifully designed crossing route on the team's first drive. 

In recent years, Washington's most reliable targets have predominately been tight ends. And after releasing last year's leading receiver, Jabar Gaffney, in the offseason, it was clear that the Redskins needed to upgrade. 

The signings of Pierre Garcon and Josh Morgan could potentially have significant impact. 

And if the first few snaps of the season are any indication as to how those deals will turn out, I think fans in D.C. might have something to smile about in coming years. 

Worth the Wait

In the 20 years since the Redskins last delivered glory to Washington, 21 different men have lined up under center on Sunday. 

Not one of them was able to make a name for themselves. 

Recent moves by the organization to move up in this year's draft were based on hopes and prayers that Robert Griffin III possessed the tools to divert that trend. 

Five months later, those dreams are coming to fruition, and the rookie sensation out of Baylor is turning heads at training camp.

I am aware of the universal understanding about preseason—it's insignificant. 

But in my personal opinion, those who discount the preseason entirely are shortsighted. It extends far beyond the stats. 

I agree that few, if any, conclusions can be drawn from a meaningless matchup between the Bills and the Redskins. I acknowledge the fact that both teams game-plan differently for an exhibition. 

But that doesn't take away from the fact that, on Thursday night, RGIII looked the part. 

He looked like he had been there before, and he seemingly did it with ease. 

Nitpickers might be able to find minor flaws in Griffin's mechanics or footwork on tape, but in a general sense, the Heisman Trophy winner lived up to the hype that made him this year's second overall pick. 

It is FAR from a fact. It's by no means certain.

But on Thursday night, RGIII showed us glimpses of why all in Washington are ready to rest the future of D.C. football on his shoulders.