ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown host Chris Berman and analysts Cris Carter, Mike Ditka, Tom Jackson and Keyshawn Johnson previewed today’s NFL action with Insiders Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter. Mike Shanahan also joined the show as a guest, discussing Robert Griffin III, Jay Cutler and more. Excerpts:
On Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III – are you surprised he’s had as much trouble in year three or is it going to take more time?
Shanahan: “I think anytime you get into a new system it takes some time. You know, when you take a look at Robert trying to make the transition to more of a drop-back quarterback, there’s a process there; it doesn’t happen overnight. And it will take some time. But I think you can see yesterday he felt much more comfortable, played well. But this is going to be an ongoing process. I think the one key to that quarterback position is getting comfortable with that pocket, especially when there’s pressure, being able to slide and step up from side to side. And that doesn’t happen overnight.”
More on RG III – can he still be the franchise quarterback the Redskins hoped he would be?
Shanahan: “Oh, he has that type of ability. I think he’s in charge of that though, himself. It takes a lot of work, a lot of studying. He’s going from a system where there’s a lot of play-action, a lot of screens out of college. Utilized a lot of those type of plays his rookie year. Then with injuries and adopting a new system, there’s a process that’s involved and I think he could be as good as he wants to be, but he’s got to make a commitment there in that film room like he’s never done before.”
On coaching in Washington – what are the problems there that maybe we don’t see?
Shanahan: “Anytime you look at an organization that has won multiple Super Bowls, the expectation is getting back and anything less that that is not successful. Felt the same way in San Francisco. Felt the same way in Denver. And that’s good to have. You have to have the standard. People have to believe. And that’s what you like about it, going in that type of mindset. But when you don’t win, there’s some growing pains with it. You gotta fight through it. You gotta believe in your players. You gotta believe in your coaches. And what you gotta do is just take it day by day and try to get better. But it’s not gonna happen overnight. It’s gotta be a group involvement.”
On Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler – where does he go from here?
Shanahan: “I’m a little bit surprised. Anytime that you’re not with an organization it’s really hard to say what Jay Cutler has done in Chicago. I just know bein’ with him in Denver, you know, as a rookie, second- and third-year guy, that he’s got all the intangibles. Now, can you get that out of him? Obviously he’s going through some growing pains right now with turnovers. I really believe in Jay, that the future’s ahead of him, but he’s got to make a commitment that he’s gonna get better and better, and it’s gotta be a group decision to get him over the top to where he can be, but he is a franchise-type quarterback.”
On whether he wants to coach in the NFL next year…
Shanahan: “The one thing I want to do is win. It’s not just coaching, but going to the right organization that will make a strong commitment. ‘Cause there’s only one team that’s happy at the end of the year and that’s the team that wins the Super Bowl.”
On Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray and his injured hand…
Johnson: “I think if he’s capable of playing, obviously he should play… I don’t think a lot of people realize, DeMarco Murray predominantly carries the football in his right arm; he doesn’t carry the ball much with his left. Even when he’s going to the opposite sideline, to the left, he keeps that ball in his right hand.”
Jackson: “I want him to play. I want him to play great. I need him to be available right now to do what he does… This time of year, great players, make your legacy. Do what Emmitt Smith did back against the Giants. Make your legacy today. I’m hurt and I played great.”
Carter: “DeMarco’s had a good year, but if he wants this to be a great year… if he wants to be one of the players that turns the whole image of the Dallas Cowboys, man, today is the day.”
On the Green Bay Packers road woes…
Jackson: “The big question for me would be the Packer defense when it’s on the road; they play particularly better at home than they do on the road, but I would not worry about Aaron Rodgers in a playoff situation – I think that he’s gonna play great.”
On what needs to change for Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler…
Ditka: “He has to play better football. He has to be more in tune to what’s going on. You can’t turn the ball over 24 times, do the things that he’s doing. He’s not providing the leadership. He’s not providing the confidence that he really has to do at that position. I don’t see it. His teammates don’t see it. The coaches don’t see it. The fans don’t see it. What’s the coach to do?”
On the Detroit Lions…
Jackson: “I want to mention Jim Caldwell. You know, you think about all the things that were wrong with the Lions – the penalties, and all of the things, and the over-the-top attitudes and Jim Caldwell came in there and just settled everything down and got them thinking about winning.”
On Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant…
Johnson: “Because of the position and the passion and the attitude that this young man has, he gets the, you know he just gets a bad rap. I mean he does some things or he has done some things, but people just jump on him. But I’m telling you, everybody in the Dallas Cowboys organization from the head coach down to the trainer, the equipment manager, they swear by him and they love him.”
On playing through pain…
Ditka: “If I’m gonna to hurt my team, I shouldn’t be out there. That’s the way I felt as a player. But I never felt that way, so I always went out there.”
Jackson: “One of the great moments in Bronco history… Terrell Davis – I’m struck by it right now. I can hear it right now, ‘cause I was on the sideline. You know he’s gettin’ that migraine and he literally cannot see. And he goes, ‘Coach, I can’t see.’ And Coach was like – great moment – he goes, ‘I don’t need you to see, I just need you to carry out this fake.”
Shanahan: “He did look at me like I was half crazy…Terrell obviously being as tough-minded as he was, went in there and did what he had to do.”
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