Are RG3's Recent Struggles Correctable?

The tape of the Washington Redskins' 27-7 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this past Sunday makes it clear that quarterback Robert Griffin III has some things to clean up on the field.

We can all see that when studying RG3 inside of the pocket, looking at the missed opportunities in the vertical passing game or breaking down the plays he left unfinished.

But let’s not close the book on RG3 after a subpar ballgame—because these mistakes are correctable.

Griffin played hesitantly at times versus a defense that stuck to its core coverages while bringing limited pressure out of both the base and nickel packages.

Tampa coach Lovie Smith’s unit showed its single-high safety looks (Cover 1, Cover 3) while also playing its standard Cover 2 shell against the Redskins.

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Those zone looks created opportunities for Griffin to target inside-throwing windows or work the deep hole (between the cornerback and Cover 2 safety) on the corner route. Plus, Griffin had some chances to make plays over the top of the defense when DeSean Jackson separated down the field versus man coverage.

Think technique and eyes here. That’s where I start with Griffin. Whether we are talking about his footwork at the release point or his ability to identify throwing windows, Griffin has to be better (and quicker) based on the tape from this past Sunday.

See the coverage, plant the foot, and get that ball out.

The Bucs did a nice job of taking away some of the intermediate-level throws in Washington coach Jay Gruden’s offense because of the depth of their underneath defenders in Cover 2 and Cover 3.

But that just means Griffin has to come off that read, move his eyes and find an alternate throwing lane.

Here’s an example on the 7-route (corner) versus Cover 2, with the cornerbacks squatting underneath versus the flat routes. It's a classic two-deep beater that allows Griffin to read the cornerback's depth and deliver a strike in front of the safety on the deep outside cut.

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There’s a window here to target the 7-route with the cornerback sitting short and the safety coached to play “top-down” in this situation. However, despite the clean pocket to work with, Griffin pulls the ball down and slides to the edge.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

That forces an incomplete pass on a play where Griffin and the Redskins should have produced an explosive gain on a route concept designed to beat the coverage.

That’s a throw we’ve all seen Griffin make during his career—and he has the arm strength to fit that ball in the deep hole every time. But he has to stay in that pocket and make the play.

Griffin missed on two deep balls to Jackson that could have completely changed this game on the inside-seam route (from a slot alignment) and the deep, multiple-breaking post.

Take a quick look at the post route to Jackson with the Bucs in panic mode before the snap as they try to rotate the strong safety down to the tight end. That forced the free safety to be late getting to the middle of the field and opened up a sweet opportunity to throw this ball over the top.

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As you can see here, Jackson separates within the route and stacks on top of the cornerback with no immediate help over the top. But Griffin puts too much heat on this ball (just like he did on the inside-seam route) and misses in the end zone.

That’s six points. Gotta have it on Sundays.

Earlier in the game, the Bucs showed a double A-gap look in their pre-snap alignment before dropping the "Mike" 'backer out with the "Will" 'backer on a "green dog" stunt (rush to coverage). That created a five-man pressure for Tampa, but it was the Mike dropping underneath that forced Griffin into a turnover.

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With the Redskins running "all slants" from a two-by-two formation, which is a smart call given the field position, Griffin wants to work the boundary side (short side of the field).

However, he has to identify that Mike 'backer, who is coached to sync and read the quarterback—just find the ball.

This allows the linebacker to simply step into the throwing lane to get a hand on this pass before it falls into the cornerback’s lap on the way to a pick-six.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

If Griffin does see that linebacker underneath, he can target the slot or come back to the open side of the field to work the slant against defensive backs playing with outside leverage.

These are just a few examples, and while they are negative plays, let’s not kid ourselves about the overall tape. Griffin showed positive signs throwing the football and running this offense.

But it’s those negative plays that stand out when you lose a football game and leave opportunities on the field.

Now, there are questions about Griffin’s speed (coming off yet another lower-body injury) and how that impacts his ability to make plays in the zone read or when he breaks contain.

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We aren't seeing that same electric ability Griffin once displayed when he would turn the corner and outrun everyone on the field wearing a pair of shoulder pads. The burst (or acceleration) isn’t quite back, and I don’t know when Griffin will regain that same level of explosive speed with the ball in his hands.

But as I look at this tape with a focus on his ability to manage that pocket and make the necessary throws based on the coverage look in the secondary, there are corrections that he should address as a pro. And it's on RG3 to make the necessary adjustments to improve his game. 

Seven-year NFL veteran Matt Bowen is an NFL National Lead Writer for Bleacher Report.

Follow @MattBowen41