Robert Griffin III: 5 Reasons He Will Win Offensive Rookie of the Year

Congratulations, Washington Redskins fans, you finally have something to cheer for. Robert Griffin III did everything he possibly could to ease any doubts we had about whether or not he was ready for the big-time stage of the NFL. Winning Offensive Rookie of the Year will be within easy reach if he can even come close to replicating such a performance on a weekly basis this season.

Griffin led his Redskins team into one of the toughest venues in the NFL for visitors and got the win. The New Orleans Saints are a juggernaut who many thought would be out for revenge after the tumultuous offseason that they had in 2012. It seemed that everyone expected to see a superior team soundly defeat a less talented squad led by a young rookie quarterback.

Instead, we watched Griffin control the game in its entirety.

He toyed with the Saints’ defense and made big play after big play. He even outplayed his opposing counterpart, future Hall of Famer Drew Brees, with 320 yards and two touchdowns through the air. The fact that he completed 19 of his 26 passes just shows how great a game he played.

It may be unrealistic to expect him to perform this well every week throughout his rookie season, but he has shown us that he has the ability to be a massive star in this game. Using this game as a window into what he could be, it is not so hard to predict that he will win the 2012 Offensive Rookie of the Year award. Here is why.

5. The Talent

Of all the uncertainties anyone had about Robert Griffin III, this area was not one of them. As highly as most scouts regarded Andrew Luck heading into the 2012 NFL draft, Griffin was the only player that made people question who was the best prospect in that draft. Based on his Week 1 performance, we would say that was for good reason.

Griffin is already one of the most athletic quarterbacks to play in the NFL, even as a very green rookie. He is a former track star who has lightning speed and can outrun just about any defender. However, what makes him so special is the arm he has to combine with that speed. He has a rocket launcher of an arm that can put a ball exactly where he wants it 50 yards down the field.

Obviously, it takes talent to win Offensive Rookie of the Year, and Griffin has it. He has the ability to create offense and also work within the offensive system making him dangerous in a plethora of ways to opposing defenses. That multi-faceted talent is what wins the award, and he has it.

4. The Coach

Mike Shanahan’s star has fallen somewhat since he led the Denver Broncos to back-to-back Super Bowls during the late 1990s. His time in the league since then has been pretty mediocre, both in Denver and in Washington. However, coaching offense has never been a big struggle for him as long as he has had the talent to work with.

As we established in the last slide, he definitely has some talent to work with at quarterback now. Shanahan was at his best when he had John Elway, one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. While Griffin clearly is not at that level yet, he is certainly an upgrade over anything Shanahan has had since he has been in Washington.

An old, overweight Donovan McNabb and Rex Grossman had been his best options he’d had so far. Now he has a young, dynamic player whom he can build a powerful offense around. Shanahan knows how to do that, so his presence will certainly benefit RG3.

3. The Competition

Let’s be honest about this and ask ourselves exactly who is going to seriously compete with Griffin for this award. Of all the high-profile offensive rookie players in the league, none look like they will be able to compete with him over the entire season.

Andrew Luck is on an Indianapolis Colts team that has been almost completely rebuilt, both on the field and in the front office. Expecting anything great from him would be expecting a miracle.

Brandon Weeden and Trent Richardson are on a Cleveland Browns team that is not ready to be very good yet. They have a decent defense, but it was clear from their Week 1 performances that they have a long way to go on offense.

Ryan Tannehill looked alright for Miami at certain points during their first game, but he has virtually no help on that team.

Robert Griffin III got the luxury of being drafted high in the draft, but he still went to a team that had a decent amount of talent. This team can protect him pretty well and has a decent defense that is developing. No other highly talented rookie can say that, and that is why he is on the fast track to win this award.

2. The Weapons

Robert Griffin III has the weapons to really make some noise on offense this season, and he showed that in a big way during his Week 1 win over the Saints. For a rookie to have a really good season on offense, he must have other players around him who can make plays as well.

Pierre Garcon is a big part of this equation. He caught four passes for 109 yards, including an 88-yard bomb that he took to the house for a score. Acquiring him in the offseason was a bit of a risky move for the Redskins, but Garcon is on his way to proving that he was not just a by-product of playing with Peyton Manning.

Santana Moss is also a big-time talent, and young receiver Aldrick Robinson also played well in Week 1. Running back Alfred Morris also had a strong showing against New Orleans.

Griffin can help carry the rushing load throughout the year, too. All the young backs really need to do is not lose yards consistently.

1. The Poise

The biggest reason Robert Griffin III will win Offensive Rookie of the Year this season is poise. On Sunday, Griffin looked unflappable in his drive and determination to get his team down the field and get a win. Calm and collected, he made big play after big play, leading his offense.

Few rookies have ever shown such command of the game and such poise so early in their careers. Of all the rookie quarterbacks to play on Sunday, Griffin looked the best by far. In fact, he even looked better than most of the veteran quarterbacks who played.

It is still too early to tell whether or not Griffin is going to be a superstar. However, he showed us that he has what it takes to get there. His poise, talent, supporting cast and coach are all working in his favor to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. Even his competition looks unable to stop him. The only man that is capable of doing that is himself. Luckily for him, he is on his own side.