Another Mediocre Performance Casts Doubt on RG3's Future with Redskins

I know this is yet another lost season for the Washington Redskins, but you just can't lose at home against one-win opponents like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, especially by 20-point margins. That's exactly what happened Sunday, and a lot of that falls on quarterback Robert Griffin III. 

Griffin had two interceptions—including a first-quarter pick-six—and was sacked six times. He completed 72 percent of his 32 passes but averaged only 6.5 yards per attempt.

Despite getting a solid performance from running back Alfred Morris (96 yards on 20 carries), Griffin and the offense were just 4-of-13 on third down, and the third-year quarterback completed zero passes that traveled 15 yards or more. 

Put simply, he was mediocre against a defense that came into this week ranked dead last in the NFL with 30.2 points per game allowed.

His 73.3 passer rating was the second-lowest mark a quarterback has posted against the Bucs this season, which is unacceptable, especially considering that he and the rest of that offense had two weeks to prepare for this game. 

“It was a travesty," said Griffin after the game, according to The Washington Post. "It was a travesty out there today."

This is a guy working with a stacked receiving corps, a Pro Bowl-caliber left tackle and a fair amount of support on the ground, and yet he's been held to fewer than 270 passing yards in all three of his full games this season. 

All three of those games were losses to sub-.500 teams. Per Pro Football Talk's Michael David Smith: 

Griffin is supposed to be fully healthy now. He's 22 months removed from reconstructive knee surgery, and the ankle he injured in Week 2 is supposed to be 100 percent. But he continues to look like a so-so quarterback.

As a No. 2 overall pick and as someone who represents the largest investment in the history of this franchise, he's supposed to be doing so much more. 

But he continues to look as though he lacks confidence, he continues to make questionable decisions and he continues to spend too much time in the pocket. That explains why he's lost eight of his last nine starts and has us wondering if he'll ever learn. 

Stat	Rookie season	Ever since
Record	9-6	4-13
Comp.%	65.6	62.2
TD-INT	20-5	19-16
YPA	8.1	7.1
Rating	102.4	83.1

That's why you have to wonder if Griffin is in fact the right man to lead this franchise going forward. He's arguably only a starter by default right now after backup Kirk Cousins struggled mightily in his stead during the first half of the season, but the Redskins have to be willing to consider other options this offseason. 

Per PressBoxDC.com's Rick Snider:

Griffin came back from injury with eight weeks to prove he can be the franchise quarterback in D.C., but with six games remaining in that audition, he's yet to convince anybody that he's worthy of reclaiming that title. 

Now he has to go on the road the next two weeks to face a pair of strong opponents—the San Francisco 49ers and Indianapolis Colts.

If he can't begin to make some major progress in those tough matchups and can't start carrying the team on his shoulders before the regular season concludes on Dec. 28, the Redskins will be forced to, at the very least, bring in some rookie and/or free-agent quarterbacks to compete for the job in 2015. 

At this point, nothing should be out of the realm of possibility—including the prospect of using yet another top-10 draft pick on a quarterback. 

"After today’s performance," said head coach Jay Gruden after the game, per The Washington Post, "nobody proved they deserve to start anywhere."

And that's the way it should be, Griffin included. 

Brad Gagnon has covered the NFC East for Bleacher Report since 2012.

Follow @Brad_Gagnon