Former Washington Redskins quarterbacks coach Matt LaFleur has expressed his belief that Robert Griffin III will benefit from having two years' experience in the league.
Griffin enjoyed a fine debut season in 2012 on his way to being named Offensive Rookie of the Year but followed that up with a disappointing campaign in 2013 as the Redskins won just three games.
However, LaFleur believes that the increased experience will help the 24-year-old to speed his game up and improve his understanding of defences.
"There's a strength and weakness to every play. Plays are designed to attack certain coverages and schemes. If you know that inside and out, what each play is and why we're running this play and you don't have to think about it when you're at the line and you just react, you're going to be light years ahead of where you were," LaFleur told reporters.
"You watch the great quarterbacks like Peyton Manning and Drew Brees and Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers. They all play so fast but it's under control because they know what the defence is presenting to them before it happens. It allows them to anticipate things a little quicker and that makes all the difference in the world. If you're a little off and you're late, it's the difference between a completion and an incompletion.
"He has a better understanding, having two years in the league. He'll have a much better understanding of what defences are trying to do to him and he'll be able to recognize and play the position faster. That will allow him to be better in the pocket, just recognition so there's no hesitation to progress from your No. 2 to No. 3 [target]."
"If you watch most quarterbacks in the league if you take more than two hitches there's a good chance you'll be sacked. By recognizing things it allows you to get to your fourth or fifth read on your second hitch and get the ball out of your hand. Like all quarterbacks the more experience you get the better you're going to be."
LaFleur was fired as Redskins coach at the end of last season and is now the quarterbacks coach at Notre Dame.
Barney Corkhill
