Ed Reed: Stopping RGIII from running is ‘like telling Superman not to fly’

Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed said that a number of elements factor into the success that Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III has enjoyed as a rookie. Reed also believes that containing Griffin in the ground game could be nearly impossible.

Griffin ranks among the league leaders in quarterback rating and accuracy. He has thrown 17 touchdowns and only four interceptions, and rushed for another six touchdowns. He owns the NFL rookie record for rushing yards by a quarterback.

“He’s a playmaker and an athlete. He has all the attributes of a quarterback to get the ball to his receivers and also to scramble with that running ability,” Reed said Wednesday in a  conference call.

Reed, an 11th-year veteran and future Hall of Famer, leads the Ravens with four interceptions this season. Asked what he sees in Griffin that has enabled the quarterback to minimize his turnovers, Reed credited Griffin’s mental makeup and the Redskins’ offense.

“He’s pretty precise on getting rid of the ball. [And] he seems to have guys open, that’s the key to it really,” Reed said. “You see him throwing to guys that don’t have tight coverage on them. He’s throwing to open guys for the most part. And when he does throw the ball to guys that are covered, you can see that they’re accurate. He’s an accurate quarterback. And he’s a decision maker. To run the option and those plays, you have to be a good decision maker. … He still has a lot to learn, obviously, but the offensive scheme that they’re running, it helps him out a lot.”

Reed said the Ravens must work to ensure that Griffin doesn’t beat them with his legs, but admitted that isn’t exactly an easy task.


(washingtonpost.com)