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Redskins' Jay Gruden on RG3: 'You can't give up on him'

The Washington Post / Getty

Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden may have benched Robert Griffin III this week, but that doesn't mean he's giving up on him.

"This is a game-by-game league, man," Gruden said during a conference call Wednesday. "We're focused in on Indianapolis, and we're going to play with the Colts and see how it goes. I expect (new starter) Colt (McCoy) to prepare like a pro, I expect Robert to prepare like a pro, and I figure both of them will be ready to play, and they have to be ready to play."

It's easy to forget Griffin has only started five games in Gruden's system because of an ankle injury, and his coach feels he needs more time to learn it. 

"Robert has done some good things at quarterback, but I just think he needs a little bit more time in this system with the verbiage and the plays to sit back, take a step back and learn, and when he gets back in there he'll be a lot more decisive, hopefully, and ready to roll," Gruden added.

Decisiveness could be the key, as Griffin has been sacked 20 times this season.

"I have a lot of respect for Robert as a quarterback and Robert as a person," said Gruden. "We just want him to take a step back, work on his craft a little bit more, study the game a little bit more so the next time he's in there he's raring to go and has a little more faith and confidence in what he sees."

Based on Gruden's comments, we may not have seen the last of Griffin this season and it's a long way until May 3 when the Redskins will have to make a decision on offering him a fifth-year extension.

"It's not going to be perfect all the time. You can't give up on him, we're not giving up to him."

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