RG3 Struggles vs the Cowboys - 27/41, 336 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs

The Redskins decided to use the read-option as a part of their game plan a lot more against the Cowboys than previous weeks.

Play 55
Situation: 2nd and 6 at WSH 24
Description: Q2 - (7:32) (Shotgun) RG3 right end to WAS 29 for 5 yards (B.Carr).
Sideline View

RG3 runs read-option to the outside where Garcon does not do his job and the defenders stops RG3. What a disgrace of a block by Garcon. He has to do better on CB39 Carr to seal the edge.

Other read-option plays can be seen in Plays 59 and 98.

Play 62
Situation: 1st and 10 at DAL 29
Description: Q2 - (3:17) (Shotgun) RG3 pass incomplete deep left to S.Moss.
Sideline View

In this play, RG3 forces the deep ball to WR89 Moss when he was clearly covered the entire way. There is no excuse for this pass when he should have found an alternate recevier.

Play 83
Situation: 4th and 4 at DAL 37
Description: Q3 - (11:05) (Shotgun) RG3 pass short middle to J.Reed to DAL 34 for 3 yards (B.Carter; A.Spencer).
Sideline View

In this play RG3 stares down Reed across the middle instead of moving on to Roberts who was breaking free directly to the left of Reed.

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RG3 needs to move on and not force the ball. It’s 4th and 4, so he needs to make this conversion, but RG3 throws it to the wrong guy causing a turnover on downs.

Play 104
Situation: 4th and 1 at DAL 7
Description: Q3 - (2:35) (Shotgun) RG3 pass short middle intended for P.Garcon INTERCEPTED by B.Carter at DAL 5. B.Carter to DAL 40 for 35 yards (Tren.Williams).
Sideline View

This is the interception RG3 throws on 4th down near the endzone.

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RG3 just completely misses the underneath linebacker sitting in zone coverage as he throws the ball to Garcon on the slant route.

Play 112
Situation: 3rd and 6 at WSH 29
Description: Q3 - (:18) (Shotgun) RG3 scrambles left end pushed ob at WAS 32 for 3 yards (B.Carter).
Sideline View

In this play, RG3 scrambles outside and doesn’t keep his eyes up the field looking for the play.

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This is a busted play, so RG3 should have watched downfield for the receivers to adjust to his scrambling.

Play 120
Situation: 3rd and 10 at DAL 16
Description: Q4 - (12:32) (Shotgun) RG3 pass short middle intended for A.Roberts INTERCEPTED by B.Carter (O.Scandrick) [T.Crawford] at DAL 7. B.Carter to DAL 11 for 4 yards (A.Roberts).
Sideline View

In this play, RG3 finds WR12 Roberts over the middle instead of seeing the receiver who was wide-open running to the endzone for the easy score.

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As you can see, RG3 is looking in the right direction, but just doesn’t see the correct man. Another missed opportunity.

Play 125
Situation: 1st and 10 at WSH 42
Description: Q4 - (10:44) (Shotgun) RG3 pass short middle to J.Reed to DAL 49 for 9 yards (C.Lawrence; S.Moore).
Sideline View

Even though most of this game was bad for RG3, he did look good in a few of his plays that we will analyze further in plays plays 57, 64, and 151.

Play 57
Situation: 1st and 10 at DAL 49
Description: Q2 - (6:11) (Shotgun) RG3 pass short right to A.Morris to DAL 47 for 2 yards (B.Church).
Sideline View

In this play RG3 actually does a good job of recognizing the coverage by the Cowboys to find the checkdown receiver. RG3 does this again in Plays 77, 82, and 96.

Play 64 - RG3 finds Reed over the middle for a beautiful pass.

Play 151 - RG3 passes to Roberts on the sideline who drops the ball that hits him right in the numbers.

Overall, RG3 looked like a rookie on the field. The game-plan seemed very basic; lots of screens and easy first read passes, but anything more complicated RG3 looked lost. He needs to stop staring down his receivers and stop hesitating with the football. I think RG3 would do better if he allowed himself to take more chances with the football. This would remove his overall hesitancy and give him a chance to make plays with an arm that is clearly talented.

As this is Week 17, this confirmed to me that the Redskins have to have a quarterback competition this off-season with McCoy, Cousins and RG3. RG3 clearly didn’t perform well enough to win the position outright and needs extra motivation to prove he’s the Redskins’ quarterback of the future or the Redskins’ need to move on.