Trent Dilfer on Robert Griffin III: ‘The old way needs to give way to the new way’

Unwilling to write off Robert Griffin III as a viable professional, former NFL quarterback and current ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer believes that Griffin, the Washington Redskins’ quarterback, should take his benching by coach Jay Gruden as a learning experience.

“Every quarterback needs to be broken like a stallion at some point,” Dilfer said by telephone. “Sometimes you get lucky and they get broken in college and they come in totally pliable and they’re like a sponge. Tom Brady, right? He came to New England, and he was like, ’Coach me, Coach. Coach me. Whatever you tell me to do, I’m gonna do.’ Then there’s Brett Favres that take three years before you can break them. Everybody’s different, and I don’t think there’s good, bad. Everybody’s different.”

Dilfer, the No. 6 overall pick by Tampa Bay in 1994, played 14 seasons in the NFL with five different teams and helped Baltimore win Super Bowl XXXV after the 2000 season.

It was during his tenure in Seattle, working with coach Mike Holmgren, that Dilfer learned that theory. In his experience, it also held true; he played three mediocre seasons before an awakening in 1997, helping the Buccaneers to a 10-6 record — their first winning season in 18 years — and, in turn, earning a spot in the Pro Bowl.

“At some point, the old way needs to give way to the new way,” Dilfer said. “That’s what [Griffin] has to do. I keep telling everybody, ’Let’s not write him off.’ I’m not willing to go there. Some say he’s going to be great. I’m not willing to go there. My full comprehensive comment on [Griffin] is that he needs to be broken. He needs to just say, ’Your way is better than my way. I will do whatever you tell me to do.’”

Griffin has played in five games this season, missing six because of a dislocated left ankle sustained in Week 2. He returned against Minnesota on Nov. 2 but played poorly over three games, failing to spot open receivers, mixing up his footwork and showing a lack of comfort in the pocket.

He also had two chances to embark upon a go-ahead drive with three minutes remaining, but the Redskins’ offense went three-and-out on both possessions.

That three-game skid prompted Gruden to turn to Colt McCoy, who led the Redskins to a come-from-behind victory over Tennessee on Oct. 19 and then won in overtime at Dallas on Oct. 26. While McCoy will start Sunday at Indianapolis, Griffin will be the backup.

Griffin sat for the final three games last season as Kirk Cousins earned the start. Should McCoy play well, he’ll remain the starter for the last five game this season.

It should be an opportunity for Griffin to take a step back, learn more about what’s required of him in Gruden’s offense and focus on preparing for next season, when he can compete for the starting role in training camp.

“It should have happened while he was hurt,” Dilfer said. “That would have been a great opportunity to go to graduate school, but yeah, after what’s happened these last two weeks, and after the ’On to whoever’ comment he kept saying over and over and over, ’On to San Francisco,’ you would think he’s gotten to the point where he’s like, ’You know what? This just hasn’t worked doing it my way.’”