'Connected' Ex-QB Shares Dirt on Why Broncos, Russell Wilson Failed

Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III knows all about risking his safety in an effort to carry a team. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2012 draft, Griffin's roller-coaster NFL journey establishes him as a credible voice on how Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson can resuscitate his career.

In Griffin’s opinion, how Sean Payton shows Wilson some tough love when required will be central to resurrecting the Broncos' offense.

“With Russell, I think he can bounce back. I think he’s going to pay more attention to the injuries that happened last season, and he will be healthier,” Griffin said via Troy Renck of Denver7. “And cutting down on the (55) sacks, part of that is the play calls. Payton understands this. He’s going to be hard on Russ. A lot of people are saying Russ doesn’t have it anymore. Sean is going to make sure Russ doesn’t hold onto the ball too long and put his line in bad situations.”

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At times last season, it was plain to see that Wilson was pressing — perhaps in a futile attempt to justify his worth to his new fan base and employers. Nagging injuries and a nasty concussion also conspired against the nine-time Pro Bowler, but a fundamental lack of understanding of how best to utilize Wilson's battle-tested skills bordered on coaching negligence.

Griffin feels that Nathaniel Hackett gave Wilson little or no chance to succeed by attempting to directly transport the Aaron Rodgers offense over to what he was doing in Denver.

“Listen; when you have Aaron Rodgers, he’s a particular type of quarterback. He’s going to beat a lot of people with ball placement and essentially calling plays or changing plays at the line of scrimmage,” Griffin told Renck. “Russell has never been that guy. Russ, for the majority of career, he beats you when you blitz him. He beats you with play action and has the prettiest moon ball in the NFL. But that’s off boots and waggles and keepers. For him to drop back and throw the ball 35 to 40 times and try and pick you apart in that way, that’s not what he’s done. I think Hackett came in and tried to force that system on Russ. I have a lot of connections to that tree of coaches. There was a lot of conversation that they were trying to ask him to do this and he was really not comfortable with it.”

Building around what Wilson can bring to the table facilitated Denver's league-leading free-agent spending, which filled the immediate roster needs along the previously lackluster offensive line. Constant rumors that GM George Paton might trade wide receivers Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy ahead of the draft would only derail the greater mission to get Wilson back on track, at least according to Griffin.

“We know one thing that they don’t need receivers unless they trade Jeudy or Sutton,” Griffin told Renck. “And there have been ebbs and flows in those conversations.”

For all the signings, coaching hires, and front office smoke and mirrors, Griffin is of the firm belief that Payton provides is the key missing component required to turn a nucleus of talented players around. Of course, Payton’s entire project will come to depend on how well he can get Wilson back on the horse.

“With Russell, he’s the main piece in all of this,” Griffin told Renck. “At running back, you have pieces. At receiver, you have pieces. The offensive line is improved. What are you missing? A coach who can get through to the quarterback.”

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