Monday AM Pundit Report on the Redskins
The Washington Redskins dropped yet another home game, this time to the 5-0 Atlanta Falcons, 24-17. The Redskins lost sensational rookie QB Robert Griffin III in the second half due to a 'mild' concussion after a hit from Sean Witherspoon. Fellow rookie Kirk Cousin made his NFL debut and K Billy Cundiff misss another field goal under 35 yards. However, we suspect, most pundits will talk about the RGIII concussion. Here we go . . .
ESPN, John Clayton, Last Call
With the score tied at 7 with 6:22 remaining in the third quarter, Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III scrambled to the sideline on third-and-goal from the 3. Falcons linebacker Sean Weatherspoon charged to the sideline, lowered his shoulder and crashed legally into Griffin, knocking him out of the game with a mild concussion. The Redskins settled for a field goal to take a 10-7 lead, but the loss of Griffin led to the Falcons' 24-17 victory.
Mike Shanahan decided before the season to make rookie Kirk Cousins his backup instead of veteran Rex Grossman.
Going from rookie to rookie left the Redskins vulnerable. Even though Cousins hit Santana Moss for a 77-yard touchdown on a play in which the Falcons blew the coverage, Cousins couldn't match Griffin as a threat. He had two three-and-outs and threw two interceptions in his other possessions, giving the Falcons enough of an edge to mount a 17-point surge in the fourth quarter.
You wonder if the outcome would have been different if Shanahan had Grossman as his backup.
Reaction: Clayton seems to be calling out Mike Shanahan for placing Rex Grossman on the inactive list for the sixth consectuive week. Hwoever, Shanahan has clearly turned the team over to youth. It is evident with his trust in RGIII and RB Alfred Morris. So far that trust has been well placed. Although we believe RGIII will be ready for Sunday, it will be interesting to watch if he is not ready if the Redskins go with rookie Kirk Cousins or give the start to veteran Rex Grossman.
CBS Sports, Clark Judge, Judgements
An injury was waiting to happen for RG3, and it happened sooner. So here's my question: What next, Washington? I mean, when Griffin returns from a concussion how do the Redskins play him? I watched Steve Young spiral downward as he suffered repeated concussions, and that can happen when you run like Young ... or Griffin. But it happened at the end of Young's career. This happened in Griffin's fifth game. So what next, Washington?
Reaction: Judge bring up another interesting point on the RGIII concussion fall out. Will it change the way the Redskins use him? Have they already adapted to change? RGIII obviously did not run the ball near as many times as the prior five weeks. Will this change the game plan?
CBS Sports, Week 5 Grades
Surprisingly impressive effort by the Redskins defense for most of this game, but they eventually just got worn down. Robert Griffin III's injury should be a major concern for this team. Alfred Morris continues to run the ball very, very well. We might very well find out how smart the Kirk Cousins pick was last week.
CNNSI, Don Banks, Snap Judgments
Well that was predictable. The inevitable scenario we all saw coming in Washington finally arrived in Week 5: The sight of Redskins rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III being knocked out of the game with a concussion, courtesy of a clean but violent hit delivered by Falcons linebacker Sean Weatherspoon.
Griffin simply won't last physically if he continues to run the ball as often as he has in the season's first month or so, exposing himself to contact in a manner that seems to invite punishment. On the third-quarter play he was hurt on against Atlanta, Griffin could have gotten out of bounds and likely avoided the hit, but he instead started to slide somewhat belatedly on the field of play, and wound up catching Weatherspoon's left shoulder in the area of his jaw. Griffin reportedly needed some stitches to close a cut on his face, and he looked dazed after the blow, with Mike Shanahan saying afterward that Griffin didn't know the score or what quarter the game was in when asked immediately after the hit.
NFL.com, First and Ten
Not much information readily was available shortly after Robert Griffin III left the Washington Redskins' loss after taking a blow to the head. Now the NFL wants to know why that was the case.
