PHOENIX -- Washington Redskins coach Jay Gruden recognizes it’s not just about Robert Griffin III. Everyone on their roster must improve. Every other quarterback must take steps in a positive direction. When a franchise wins a combined seven games in two years and when your rookie year as coach results in four wins, it’s not about one player.

However, that one player is the one who can help elevate them to a much better spot. Hence the heavy focus on Griffin. It’s about Gruden learning more about Griffin; it’s about Griffin doing more of what Gruden wants. It didn’t help that Griffin missed six games because of a dislocated ankle last season. Nor did it help that it was his first season in Gruden’s system. Conversely, he could help himself with better play. It’s a merry-go-round of issues that has continued to plague the franchise. It’s never one issue; it’s always a lot.

But developing a fourth-year quarterback would go a long way towards returning to success.

“Robert has a good understanding of our system and what we want and I think I have a good understanding of what he is as a quarterback,” Gruden said. “He’s a quarterback still in the developmental stages. I have a good understanding of what he needs and he has a good understanding of what we’re looking for, and hopefully, moving forward, he’ll be a more confident and decisive quarterback, and I’ll have a better understanding of what he’s comfortable with and give him opportunities to succeed.”

Gruden already named Griffin the starter entering this season, but has also made it clear if he doesn’t play well that backups Kirk Cousins and Colt McCoy will be ready.

“I don’t know how much of his confidence has wavered up and down,” Gruden said of Griffin. “You’ll have to ask him. But I think Robert has always been a very confident guy, a very confident quarterback, and I don’t think he’s ever lacked in that department. But if he has wavered a little bit because of the last couple years, then it’s good for him to come into this year, knowing that he’s the starter and that the guys are behind him, and the coaches and we’ll see what he can do. He’ll have every opportunity to succeed.”

Hiring Matt Cavanaugh to serve as quarterbacks coach can only help. Gruden and offensive coordinator Sean McVay handled that job last year, but eventually found it taxing. Cavanaugh will focus harder on the details for all three quarterbacks. For a quarterback still adjusting to passing more from the pocket, that can only help Griffin.

“Sometimes as a coordinator, you have to really work on the big picture,” Gruden said. “You have to read defenses, you have to audible here, you’ve got to do this, this and this. Well what about my footwork? And that’s where Matt comes in and can really hone in on the finer details of the position. You know, your hands, how you’re going to stand in the shotgun, six-inch step. There are so many details that a quarterback has to understand that are vital to the success of the play.”

For Griffin, he’ll make another trip soon to see quarterbacks guru Terry Shea and also get together with teammates for a workout. He can watch film on his own, but is not allowed to talk football with his coaches.

Gruden said one area he wants Griffin -- and the other two quarterbacks -- to improve in is becoming more decisive. It was a big knock last season. They’d also like to see him stay healthy.

“It’s just a matter of maintaining that health and keeping him upright in the pocket,” Gruden said. “We’ve got to do a good job of protecting him, obviously, and I’ve got to a good job of calling plays that are conducive to getting the ball out of his hands, and he’s got to do a good job of protecting himself. It’s a touchy subject.”