Washington Redskins wide receiver Joshua Morgan knows better than any NFL experts what Redskins' quarterback Robert Griffin III and San Francisco 49ers' quarterback Colin Kaepernick have in common.
He is the only player in the NFL that has ever caught passes from both men, having spent 2011 with the 49ers before signing with the Redskins before last season.
"Arm strength; they both have big, strong arms. I think their arm strength is the same," he said in comparison. "They both can basically make any throw on the field because of their arm strength.
"They both have, I think, learned that they've got that touch pass too and just drop it in there to receivers."
The Redskins and 49ers have both embraced the Pistol formation which allows an offense to employ more mobility and trickery before the snap. Both quarterbacks also excelled at the read-option offense.
What makes the comparison so intriguing is that it could be the difference between a Super Bowl visit, as the 49ers did last season, and losing in the first round of the playoffs as the Redskins did.
What both players have in common is the ability to make big plays through the air and on the ground with their feet.
"I think Robert [Griffin III] is faster, but I think Kaepernick is a lot bigger up top," Morgan said. "Kaepernick's a big guy. I think Kaepernick is a little bit taller, little bit stronger, a little bigger up top, but Rob [Griffin III]'s faster."
So who gets the edge? Morgan wisely gives the close call to his current quarterback, Robert Griffin III.
"I saw Rob [Griffin III] do some things that I never saw Kaepernick do—that's all I'll say," he said with a grin. "I've seen Kaepernick make some throws, but I've seen Rob do some things, get through some creases and things that I've never seen Kaepernick do."
Given the possibility that Griffin III may still be sidelined when the Redskins host the Philadelphia Eagles for Week 1, Morgan explained why he was comfortable with Kirk Cousins under center for the Redskins.
"As a receiver, I want to say [Cousins and Griffin III] pretty much have the same type of ball. Strong arms get it there when they need it to go," he said. "Of course the foot speed is a little bit different, so if the decision is a little iffy for Rob, he knows he can make some positive yards with his legs. Rob can really break the play down and create more time.
"Kirk [Cousins] has more confidence in his arm, so he's going to put it in there. Kirk's more like a computer; he's going to get through all four of his reads before he throws it away. Robert [Griffin III] gets through one or two of his reads and then says, 'I'm just going to make a play myself.'"
When the Redskins prepared with Kirk Cousins under center last season, the team stayed away from the read-option offense and let Cousins run a more traditional drop-back scheme.
Morgan explained that while it may look different on the field, the offense Cousins ran was also a staple in the playbook.
"Prior to the Cleveland game, we ran the all the same plays in practice and they still were kind of not really telling us who was going to play," he said. "I think that's kudos to Kyle Shanahan recognizing that and trying to really use them where they need to be used.
"The coaches opened up the playbook to both our quarterbacks' strengths. We didn't really prepare differently at all."
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