Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III knows whose support he needs most, so shortly after the Redskins drafted him in April, he went about securing it.
In individual text messages, Griffin introduced himself to last season’s starting offensive linemen. Just a little personal touch to show he knew their names and quickly establish something important: He can’t revive the Redskins without their help.
A living archive of everything the Washington Post has published on Robert Griffin III — blog posts, articles, columns, photos and video.
“It’s the old cliche: Your linemen are your best friends. They protect you,” the wise-beyond-his-years rookie said Thursday after offseason practice at Redskins Park. “If you can be good friends with them, show them that you care about ’em, they’ll pass protect harder for you.”
Even if the Redskins’ offensive linemen don’t wind up being all buddy-buddy with Griffin, the group still needs to be better next season than it ever has been.
The Redskins mortgaged their future to move up the draft and select Griffin, who has been every bit the energizing figure Coach Mike Shanahan envisioned. The Redskins’ usually mundane offseason workouts are now must-see sessions because of Griffin’s obvious-on-every-play talent.
The offensive line — among the team’s weakest position groups for years — will have the biggest role in determining whether the promising new show becomes a long-running hit. As anyone who owns a Cheesehead hat or oversize foam finger knows, success along the offensive line is integral to winning at every level of the game.
In pass-protecting and run-blocking, the biggest of football’s behemoths attempt to provide a bedrock-sturdy foundation for the offense. If the offensive line doesn’t do its part well, the RGIIIs of the world often won’t have enough time to do theirs, either. It’s a symbiotic relationship if there ever was one.
Long ago, the Redskins set the standard for offensive line excellence. During Joe Gibbs I, the Hogs were District A-listers with a cult following to prove it (though I still find the sight of grown men in dresses, wigs and strap-on pig snouts to be a bit unnerving). Because of poor judgment and injuries, however, the latest edition of the Redskins’ offensive line is facing about as many questions as euro-zone nations.
Left tackle Trent Williams will likely face interrogation-light scrutiny for the remainder of his career. That’s part of the price the line’s cornerstone player must pay because of his four-game suspension for drug use last season.
With one more failed drug test, Williams would receive a season-long vacation. “It was a mistake that was made and I have to live with it,” Williams said. “I know it’ll be the last mistake I make to that magnitude.”
Williams was the first pick of Shanahan’s tenure. Shanahan has continued to support Williams, whom he expects “to play at a pro bowl level. I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t have an incredible year.”
Shanahan is less certain about right tackle Jammal Brown, who has struggled with hip problems since the Redskins acquired him from the New Orleans Saints before the 2010 season. After he joined the team, it was immediately clear that Brown, once among the NFL’s elite tackles, hadn’t recovered fully from 2008 hip surgery.
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