Redskins QB Robert Griffin III flexes leadership skills

Redskins QB Robert Griffin III is always upbeat and positive, which is one of the reasons he has become a team leader even though he's a rookie. (AP)

Redskins QB Robert Griffin III waited a bit until he had proven a thing or two. He's not waiting anymore. When it comes to team leaders, Griffin is asserting himself after only eight games in the NFL.

His numbers help. He has thrown for 1,778 yards and rushed for 717, breathing life into an offense that has been mostly dormant for a decade. But so, too does his work ethic. And his demeanor.

“Robert has been the same every Monday,” Redskins offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan said. “Whether he's been good or bad, whether we've won or lost, he comes in upbeat and eager to get better. He comes in wanting to know what he did bad. He enjoys football. He enjoys the guys. He's fun to be around.

“When you go through something like this, it's human nature when you don't have a real good record for guys to get down, but you have to have guys who can stay upbeat and still stay positive. It's a long year.”

Griffin knew that during Sunday's loss to Pittsburgh, there wasn't much he could say to his receivers. The Redskins dropped approximately 10 balls, though some were contested. His leadership style is reflected in the fact that he stayed upbeat and kept trying to hit the open guy.

“I sat there and I was trying to figure out what to say to these guys because these guys are in the NFL for a reason,” he said. “So if they drop a ball, they know, ‘Hey, I can't drop that ball. I have to catch it.' So what am I supposed to go say to them? ‘Go catch the ball?' Or whatever I'm supposed to go say to them.

“It's tough in those situations, but throughout the game, repeatedly they came to me and told me they were going to continue to fight for me, even through the drops and all the bad plays we did have. I have bad plays myself, so it's good to hear them say that. I think they definitely know that I've got their back, and I know they've got mine.”

John Keim covers the Redskins for the Washington Examiner. Follow him on Twitter @CBSRedskins or @John_Keim.