RGIII places Jay Gruden in frustrating situation

Robert Griffin III played another dreadful game on Sunday, his third disappointing performance in as many attempts since returning from a fractured ankle in early November. Despite everything the team has invested in the young quarterback, it appears Griffin is running out of opportunities to turn things around in Washington..

Against the San Francisco 49ers, Griffin attempted just 19 passes, completing only 11 for 106 yards and no touchdowns. He was similarly unproductive running the ball, gaining 11 yards on four carries. Griffin's struggles kept the offense in neutral most of the day, with only running back Alfred Morris providing any life to the moribund unit.

Though Griffin played under duress for much of the afternoon with starting left tackle Trent Williams sidelined with a knee injury, the team cannot expect to win when he performs so poorly. Griffin's inaccuracies and penchant for holding into the ball too long have even crept into Washington's play calling. As Jason Reid of the Washington Post noted, head coach Jay Gruden called for a draw play on a critical third-and-13 play, effectively conceding that he had no faith in Griffin to convert.

As with former head coach Mike Shanahan, the relationship between Gruden and Griffin has been heavily scrutinized. After getting dismantled by the hapless Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Gruden remarked, "Robert needs to worry about himself" in response to a statement Griffin made that seemed to call out his teammates. The quarterback reacted by giving a robotic press conference in which he repeated the phrase "focused on San Francisco" ad nauseam. Soon after, a report emerged that ownership had authorized Gruden to bench Griffin should he deem it necessary, suggesting the team and player were heading towards divorce.

If Gruden decides to use that power, his options for a replacement are fairly limited. Kirk Cousins started a handful of games earlier this season, though he threw nearly as many interceptions (nine) as touchdowns (10). Colt McCoy fared better during a two-game stretch, completing over 85 percent of his passes and averaging 10.2 yards per attempt. Still, McCoy's physical deficiencies -- namely his weak arm and lack of mobility -- limit what Gruden and coordinator Sean McVay can do offensively. The better plan may be to stick with Griffin until the end of the season, though that scenario is clearly not what Gruden favors.