Robert Griffin III: Upset over Oklahoma Magnifies Baylor QB's NFL Potential

We've known all along that Robert Griffin III was an accurate passer with superior athleticism.

We know that he can put up gaudy statistics, single-handedly carry his team to victory and make all the throws necessary.

We even know that, despite his elite athleticism, he is a quarterback that wants to throw the ball rather than run it.

His record-setting performance in Waco on Saturday was more than just Baylor's first-ever win over Oklahoma. It was more than a late bump for serious Heisman consideration.

Saturday's performance was a spectacular showing of what separates RG3 from other dual-threat/spread quarterbacks that enter the NFL.

The Sooners were third in the nation in sacks coming into the Big 12 battle last weekend, and Griffin had been sacked 22 times already on the season. Just as a basis of comparison, opposing QB Landry Jones had been sacked only five times all season.

Jones has thrown 10 interceptions; RG3 has thrown only five.

In fact, Griffin has thrown only 16 interceptions his entire college career.

That isn't just attributed to accuracy, rather it is attributed to making smart decisions with the football when plays break down.

Where others will throw into the triple coverage off their back foot while falling to the ground, RG3 finds ways to keep the ball away from opponents.

When playing against a sack-happy team like Oklahoma, which prides itself on pressuring the passer, quarterbacks that operate a spread offense and who are accustomed to having time and predetermined reads can get frazzled.

Not RG3.

The Baylor quarterback isn't just calm in the face of pressure, he's effective on more than just the stat sheet.

Griffin understands the importance of throwing the football away. He understands what is happening in front of him, he understands where he can and cannot go with the football and he understands that momentum is as much a part of the game as anything else.

Turning the ball over not only kills momentum, but also gives the opposing team momentum instead.

RG3 is blessed with unique physical attributes that players can only dream about, but he also has the ability to maximize his talents by playing smart football.

This is a rarity—something that others who play in the spread system don't always have.

Stats are always exciting and we can tell a lot about a player because of them, but what separates RG3 is that he can up better numbers than Landry Jones and can look like a better NFL prospect because of the things not on the stat sheet all in the same day.

There is no substitution for smart quarterback play, and when you add statistics, a great arm and unique athleticism, there is a lot for the NFL to fall in love with.

Robert Griffin III has been one of the best in college football this year. He's also making a strong case to be one of the best prospects in the 2012 NFL Draft.