Redskins' passing woes go beyond Robert Griffin III's struggles

ASHBURN, Va. - Robert Griffin III reiterated that the bruised left knee he suffered Sunday after being leveled by 335-pound Denver Broncos defensive tackle Terrance Knighton loss was a scare, nothing more.

'I felt good today in practice,' RG3 said Wednesday. 'I'll just keep being out there on the field. I'll be ready for the game on Sunday.'

Though Griffin has shown flashes of reverting into an electric threat while running the ball, there is growing concern regarding his regression as a pocket passer in his second season. Heading into this weekend's home game against the San Diego Chargers (4-3), Griffin is looking to rebound from a career-low 45.4 passer rating crafted during the 45-21 Week 8 loss to the Broncos in Denver. He completed just half of his 30 passes for a season-low 132 yards with two interceptions and a touchdown. Griffin is completing 59% of his passes on the seasons for his 2-5 team after hitting on 65.6% last year, fourth best in the NFL.

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'It sucks,' Griffin says. 'There's a lot of things that go into it. It's not for me to discuss that stuff up here. We have to go fix that out there on the practice field and the game field.'

He's not using January surgery to reconstruct his knee as an excuse, either.

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'I feel better. But it takes all 11 of us out there,' said RG3. 'One thing we're going to do is run the football. We just have to make sure we stay true to who we are. And the passing will come. ... There's no secret sauce, no secret weapons. We've just got to go out there and execute.'

A number of things that have factored into the dip.

Griffin said his receivers have faced more press man coverage, which entails cornerbacks jamming them at the line of scrimmage. Continuity could also be an issue given a revolving door of No. 2 options opposite top wideout Pierre Garcon, who leads the team with 47 receptions. There have been more dropped passes, Griffin has been locking too long on primary reads and sometimes just missed open targets.

And it's apparent all that missed offseason practice time during RG3's recovery from two torn knee ligaments is showing up in a lack of synergy.

'Part of the growth of the quarterback is getting as many reps as you can,' coach Mike Shanahan said. 'He didn't get a lot of reps this offseason. ... Defenses know Robert is not exactly the same as he was a year ago. So we're getting different defenses.

'But at times, you can see that speed has come back and he's showing more comfort.'

Garcon was asked how the passing game can start clicking.

'Defenses have adjusted to us,' Garcon says. 'You just have to make tough plays down the field and get some confidence back with this offense.'

Meanwhile, Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers has made a dramatic reversal after throwing 35 interceptions combined during the 2011 and 2012 seasons.

First-year San Diego head coach Mike McCoy and offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt have revitalized Rivers, who is completing a league-best 73.9% of his passes with 15 touchdowns and five interceptions, thanks in part to getting the ball out quickly on three-step drops.

The Redskins can only dream of such consistency.

'We've struggled at times, we've been really great at times,' Griffin said. 'We have to execute the downfield passing a lot better.'

How does that happen?

'Teams are doing a better job with their corners and what the refs are allowing guys to do, bumping and holding on routes,' RG3 said. 'That's not an excuse. If they're going to allow it, we have to play through, get to the spots they're supposed to and make throws.'

Finally, Griffin conceded the team's slow start 'is very trying. It's a test. ... I choose to be positive. I don't go out and scream at guys. ... The minute you change, it feels like the ship is sinking.

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'We're 2-5. We're not where we want to be. You have high expectations. We still do for our season. When things go wrong, it tests your character. ... I just make sure no one becomes a cancer on the team. Your job as a quarterback is to know how to manage people.'

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