Let It Go (Frozen QB) - RGIII

Football season is upon us!
Football season is upon us!
Football...OK, you get it.

Very quickly. We have two quarterbacks that have experienced devastating knee injuries: Sam Bradford and Robert Griffin III. That's, if I am not mistaken, all of the ACL's that a human has in his body...injured. Two ACL's per athlete. Four. Four anterior cruciate ligaments injured. Four injuries and two knees (counting the same injury for one knee).

Yet, one QB is getting all of the hype and inspiration from a coach and organization that says, "You can be our guy (QB) despite the injuries because we believe in you. Our system believes in you. Our training staff believes in you. The people of our city believe in you." The other QB is getting all of the hype, media attention, distrust from the locker room, clearly apparent dislike on the field from his offensive line because he scrambles more than eggs, and now a front seat to the back-up roll.

There is definite disconnect.

I'm not a football team owner, but I do not need to be one in order to understand this scenario. I will just park myself as a fan and strength and conditioning specialist to say that there still needs to be a concrete connection between the owner, coach, the team's system, and training regimen. For example, in Robert Griffin III's case, if he has trouble learning to be a pocket passer, especially due to his dwindling QBR rating over the past three seasons, then it is imperative to physically train him like a pocket passer while maintaining his strengths as a QB (i.e., speed and arm strength). Hopefully, RGIII understands and grasps the change.

What does a pocket passer need? Agility. Hey, he's in the pocket. So, if the blitz comes from the left, then RGIII needs to move right, backwards, forwards, and repeat some agile sequence of that matter, very well, in order to avoid getting sacked. Does he feel comfortable moving like that? If yes, then proceed to successful practice. If no, then show him how it is done. A pocket passer needs an arm. OK, he has that. But, he also needs an accurate arm. So, if accuracy is not there, then practice it. If it already exists, then create other difficult options to continue developing an already accurate arm. Does RGIII's footwork agree with his throwing accuracy? Have you ever seen an athletic QB with great footwork, throw abysmally? Have you seen the opposite...a not-so-as-athletic QB throw with great accuracy? Sure, they're riddled throughout the NFL and college.

Well, right there, an entire conditioning program can be practiced and individualized for a QB like Robert Griffin III, which may give him more confidence in the pocket. As for now, the scrambling will be on hold.

To the injuries...how does one quarterback with two past ACL injuries potentially work for a completely new team and system, but another one with two ACL injuries is on the brink of release? Disconnect. Definite disconnect in more than one facet.

With heart,
Derek

Derek Arledge, MS, CSCS       www.teempt.com          TEEM Performance Training