What to Expect From This Week's Showdown Between Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin

Andrew Luck vs. Robert Griffin III will be the NFL's next great quarterback rivalry and we get a brief preview of it when the two meet on Saturday.

From the middle of the 2011 college football season, Luck and RG3 going 1-2 in the 2012 NFL Draft was a foregone conclusion. The only real concern was the historical implications derived from quarterbacks going 1-2 in the draft.

Most notably, Peyton Manning and Ryan Leaf.

Through two preseason games each, however, Luck and Griffin III have lived up to the hype. And for as little as that means right now, it's the least NFL fans can ask for prior to the regular season.

So, here's a breakdown of what to watch for when the Indianapolis Colts and Washington Redskins square off in our nation's capital.

Andrew Luck vs. Redskins Defense

Luck has to anticipate even more blitzing from the Redskins than the Pittsburgh Steelers or St. Louis Rams. Washington's strength is attacking and playing man coverage in the secondary, because DeAngelo Hall and Brandon Meriweather possess great instincts.

The interior of the Redskins' front seven won't apply nearly as much pressure as the outside, so we'll see Luck stepping up into the pocket quite often. In order for Washington to really test him, though, double covering Reggie Wayne and forcing other targets to produce is needed.

Wayne caught six passes for 74 yards against Pittsburgh, so guys like LaVon Brazill and Griff Whalen will earn more looks. Luck's ability to recognize blitzes pre-snap as we saw against the Steelers, as well as find his targets between the middle zones, will be the key.

Linebacker London Fletcher is an underrated pass defender and he won't get looked off so easily. This makes establishing the ground game even more important, thus leading to a more effective play-action.

Carrying out fakes on any kind of sweep, counter or draw increases the odds of getting the coverage 'backers to freeze. As obvious as this sounds, it's Luck job to do so in creating more open space for the receivers going across the middle.

One final area this development leads to is setting up double-moves downfield.

Luck attempting over the middle—regardless of play action—forces a defense to acknowledge the tendency. So, sending Wayne on a post and Brazill to the corner with a tight end flowing underneath widens and stretches out the coverage.

It's a simple route combo that works against Cover 2 and 3 looks, yet effective because it forces a defense to cover at all levels, instead of just letting it create a shield over the intermediate routes.

Robert Griffin III vs. Colts Defense

Much like Luck against Redskins defense, the Colts have to blitz RG3.

We know he's extremely comfortable taking snaps in shotgun as was the case in college. And in any kind of passing situation the Redskins have that advantage. The downside is when Griffin drops back from under center.

His poise in the pocket still needs work and feeling the rush off play-action has to improve as well.

So, against the Colts don't expect too many play-action fakes where Griffin's back is turned to the defense.

Because of outside rushers such as Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, Griffin becomes more vulnerable into rolling out right into them. If anything, dropping straight back to survey the defense will allow him to utilize the mobility which will first aid RG3 in cooling when inside the pocket.

The Redskins also need to come out firing as Griffin has attempted just 14 passes in the preseason. Mike Shanahan must give the kid the green light and allow RG3 to do what's best: spread the field.

Indianapolis presents some veteran safeties in Tom Zbikowski and Antoine Bethea, so providing the opportunity to get tested against them will only help RG3's progression. How well Griffin looks them off and puts the rock between an under-coverage linebacker and over the top defensive back is vital.

Much of what Griffin will also see is man coverage. Washington doesn't have that true No. 1 receiver established yet and the Colts can stick to a Cover 1/single high safety. So anticipate more quick passes such as slants, bubble screens and curls than anything.

Receivers like Pierre Garcon and Josh Morgan have the acceleration to get open fast and make things happen after the catch. Griffin will have the chance to send it deep in order to force Indy's coverage on its heels, but let the playmakers first take over so the pocket doesn't collapse as quickly.

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