Daily Madden: Is RGIII The Best Player In The NFL?
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) - Rookie QB Robert Griffin III dazzled in his NFL debut, leading the Redskins to a 40-32 victory over the Saints in New Orleans Sunday.
"This is probably early, too stupid, too soon," John Madden told the KCBS morning crew, but "I was watching him and I said 'RGIII is the best player in the NFL.'"
Redskins coach Mike Shanahan's game plan relied on the read-option Griffin played in high school and mastered in college at Baylor.
"I think that whole idea is the reason that more young quarterbacks can come in and not only play early, but play well early and win," the former coach said. "He reminded me a lot of a Tim Tebow that could pass...He may hand the ball to the runner, he may keep the ball and run himself or he may keep the ball, run himself and then throw it. It really puts the defense in a place and make them stay in place."
Madden was asked how an opposing coach should play the Redskins.
"You ignore the run and just go after him," Madden said. "If you try and defend everything... you're going to be very, very average. I would eliminate the run and if they beat you running the ball to the running back, then they beat you, but I'd make them beat me that way right now."
John said the Raiders will have a new long snapper by Sunday's game against Miami, following two botched snaps and a blocked punt in their Monday night loss to the Chargers.
"They shouldn't have been in that position in the first place. That's something that they should have thought about in training camp and fixed. You shouldn't have to go through that to know that you need a backup long snapper." (7:30)
Listen to the John Madden segment live weekday mornings at 8:15 on KCBS All News 740 AM/106.9 FM. And catch John's extra report at 9:15 a.m. Mondays and Fridays during the NFL season.
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