RGIII. Peyton Manning's rookie year. And what we can all learn and take from the comparison.

[Botched]

Matt Stafford started out slowly his rookie year as well. He averaged 2 picks per game and had a rating of 61.

Fast forward two years and he averaged 315 yards, 2.5 TDs ,1 pick, and a rating of 97. He also added 10 points to his completion percentage.

That's a decent improvement.

[Gurgeh]

Good posts all round. I think the important thing from Peyton's stats is that in general he improved as the season progressed, and for me that's what you want to see from a rookie QB. RGIII by all accounts is smart and a hard worker, so I expect that he will improve over the course of his first season. In other words, it's not how you start, it's how you finish. In the longer term, going into the second and third seasons. it's also important that we have stability on the offense so RGIII isn't having to repeat the learning process each year.

[UK SKINS FAN '74]

If RG3 puts up numbers like Peyton's in 1998, I would expect a much better record that 3-13. Our Defense should contribute much more than his did back then.

[Boston Skins]

This was a good read and just adds to need for patience for things to develop. We haven't even seen the kid play in the regular season yet....

[Skinsfan4life83]

I just want to see steady improvement by RGIII and the offense. I don't care what his numbers are at the end of the year as long as I see progress. I want to see him recognize mistakes and learn from them. I want to see a more polished player in week 16 than I did in week 1.

Great post by the way GHH.

[Mursilis]

Honestly, the game isn't played the same way now, like it was in 98'.
QB's were still managed the same way or very similar to that of the past.

I think with the game becoming pass happy, like it is

I agree with this. Look how many rookie QBs have been to the playoffs as starters their first year: Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco, Ben Roethlisberger, and Andy Dalton. Heck, even Vince Young was 8-5 as a starter, and he's been dumped by multiple teams these days. I think the bar has been raised for rookies since Peyton was drafted.

[Skinz4Life12]

this is a good thread and comparison. we need to give RG3 time to develop and continue putting pieces around him and I'm sure he will be fine

[darrelgreenie]

Just wanted to extend one point you made:

...But being as many here think Griff is gona' be better than Luck, and Luck was widely acclaimed to be the best coming out since Manning...

I don't think as many people think Griff is gonna be better then Luck as you think.
Sure, more Redskins fans will say that now that we drafted Griffin.
But if you think back to before the draft their was a very small handful that considered Griffin a better prospect then Luck.

Wrap you head around these genreal perceptions:

Andrew Luck is considered the best prospect since Peyton Manning.
Peyton Manning is one of the greatest QBs in the NFL, and his rookie season was the bench mark.
Cam Newton broke Peyton Mannings rookie records.
Yet, many consider Robert Griffin a better prospect then Newton.
And Luck is still considered to be a better prospect then both Griffin and Newton.

[pointyfootball]

One number I think will be significantly different is that "sacks" statistic. Only taking 22 sacks as a rookie is a testament to the OL & also to the rookie QB. Seems to me, keeping the number of hits on your rookie QB is probably a pretty good indicator of how they do through that first season. Incredible that Manning only was sacked 11 times in the last 11 games.

Question is: Can the Skisn OL keep RG protected, and allow him to progress thru the year?

[pointyfootball]

Just wanted to extend one point you made:
I don't think as many people think Griff is gonna be better then Luck as you think.
Sure, more Redskins fans will say that now that we drafted Griffin.
But if you think back to before the draft their was a very small handful that considered Griffin a better prospect then Luck.

I agree with this. If someone watched Luck vs. Steelers (admittedly a preseason game), with the sound off, you wouldn't have been able to tell he was a rookie. He looked like a vet out there. That being said, Eli is nowhere near as good as Peyton, but he's beating him where it counts, same can hold for RG.

[Boss_Hogg]

Like most rookie QBs, RG3 is going to struggle. I just hope our fellow fans and mediots realize this and grind with him as learns and develops.

[Mursilis]

Like most rookie QBs, RG3 is going to struggle. I just hope our fellow fans and mediots realize this and grind with him as learns and develops.

Every QB struggles sometimes - even Peyton had bad games well into his career. But there's a huge gulf between that and Blaine Gabbert-level struggling. I hope it doesn't get that bad, and I don't expect that it will.

[IrepDC]

I appreciate posts like these, but I am certain our fanbase will not learn from it. It's very unfortunate, but I already know that fans won't have patience if Griffin has a rocky start like that.

[hawgboy]

Great post... I have no illusions about rookie hiccups. Even though a 5-1 start would RULE, it's not likely. Anyway... who is under more pressure:
Andrew Luck- #1 pick and following an icon?
Robert Griffin III- #2 pick whose franchise made a deal with the devil after 4 lustra of losing and plays for a notoriously fickle fan base?
Cam Newton- #1 pick who excelled all expectations his rookie year and now faces the "sophomore slump"?

---------- Post added August-22nd-2012 at 10:43 AM ----------

Every QB struggles sometimes - even Peyton had bad games well into his career. But there's a huge gulf between that and Blaine Gabbert-level struggling. I hope it doesn't get that bad, and I don't expect that it will.

What little I've seen of Gabbert this preseason has looked good so maybe he's turning the corner as well and we should keep that in mind.

[CapnRedskins]

*Claps* Probably the best thread I've read regarding our rookie QB and putting it all in perspective.