In an attempt to get something going against the Pittsburgh Steelers offensively on Sunday, Mike Shanahan decided it would be a good idea to try a little trickery with Robert Griffin III. The Washington Redskins called for a play that appeared to be a reverse to receiver Josh Morgan, but instead Morgan became the quarterback and Griffin the receiver. And RG3 got lit up by Steelers safety Ryan Clark (video here).
Griffin was also called for offensive pass interference, so the play was a bust all around. In hindsight, Shanahan realizes that it’s probably not wise to put your franchise player in a compromising situation like that when it can be avoided.
“After looking at that play, you feel like a complete dumb-sh** because you want him to be wide open,” Shanahan said Monday according to the Washington Post. “I’ve run that play probably 10, 15 times with (John) Elway, probably 20 times or more with Steve Young, and with Robert, what you usually do is against the right defense – which is man coverage – no one usually accounts for the quarterback and he’s by himself out there.”
RG3 has already taken some pretty significant hits this season as a result of his style of play, so putting him in a vulnerable position like that is a poor choice. Shanahan said if he had to do it over again he would instruct Morgan to not throw the ball unless Griffin is “wide open,” but my guess if Morgan won’t have to worry about running the play again this season.
GIF via The Big Lead
