Robert Griffin III didn’t stand out in his second preseason game, showing the need to develop more of a pocket presence. But he’s still placed in a different category than the other rookies. He’s a rookie QB trying to develop certain habits against starters.
The good news for Washington is that other members of its nine-member draft class have played well at times. Here are the top 3:
1. QB Kirk Cousins: Hard not to put him in the top spot after he threw three touchdown passes in the fourth quarter vs. Chicago. But that came against backups (though keep in mind that Cousins is a rookie backup, too). However, Cousins, a fourth-round choice, showed pocket savvy and excellent timing on his throws. When receivers were breaking, the ball was arriving.
2. CB Richard Crawford: He continues to look good – he played well throughout training camp. Crawford nearly intercepted a pass (it would have been a pick-six) because of his patience at the line and technique. He stays balanced in press coverage, enabling him to react well. He stayed on the receiver’s inside hip and made it a tough throw for the QB. Crawford does not look like a seventh-round pick.
3. RB Alfred Morris: His first run was a beauty in which he gained 20 yards by breaking three tackles, including running through Chicago’s Lance Briggs. Morris was pedestrian thereafter, but too often he’s forced to make deep cuts in the backfield because of penetration by the defense. Morris needs to improve in pass protection.
John Keim covers the Redskins for the Washington Examiner. Follow him on Twitter @CBSSportsNFLWAS or @John_Keim.
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