Cleveland Browns: 4 offensive takeaways vs. the Atlanta Falcons
By Joel W. Cade
Robert Griffin III showed improvement as a quarterback from the first to second games this preseason, especially on the little things.
The long ball continues to shine as Griffin has amazing accuracy and touch when throwing deep. Browns fans should be genuinely exciting about the potential of the vertical passing game this fall.
Against Atlanta, Griffin shortened his pass drops, which were too long against Green Bay as he often ended at the bottom of the pocket. Offensive tackles are taught to push a speed rushing defender around the quarterback at the bottom of the pocket, but Griffin was dropping into the lane where the tackles were pushing the defenders. By shortening the pass drops, Griffin created a cleaner pocket for himself and reduced the hits he took.
Griffin has also learned to slide. During his time in Washington, Griffin would run any time there was an opportunity. Now Griffin runs when there is a lane open, on a called run, or when a run will help open up a passing lane. When running, he also slides to avoid hits, demonstrating a marked improvement in this area from the days of running with reckless abandon.
“I’m fully committed to (sliding). It’s something that coach has emphasized to me,” Griffin said. “It’s something I’ve learned over my career just with situations that I’ve been in. I can’t thank everybody who has helped me get to that point where it’s hammered in. I’ve learned my lesson from mistakes in the past.”
Next: The run game looks better