Tom Coughlin knows better than most his Giants have trouble with the Washington Redskins. Last year, the Giants lost both games to Mike Shanahan’s club. The Skins went on to win only five games while the Giants ended up in the Super Bowl.

That was then. This is now. The Redskins have changed some things around since then, to put it lightly.  They put together a package of picks before the draft and sent it to the Rams for the second overall pick.  They used the pick to select the Heisman Trophy winner – Baylor QB Robert Griffin III.

All “RGIII” has done is make the Redskins relevant again. He can pass, he can throw and he can lead. He’s the total package and he’s made the Redskins’ offense nearly unstoppable.

The Washington offense ranks fifth overall in the league and first in the NFL in total touchdowns (22), completion percentage (69.4%), yards after catch average (7.1), rushing touchdowns (11), yards per pass attempt (7.5) and return touchdowns (5). They are tied for first in the NFL in yards per play (6.3) and second in the NFL in give-aways (5).

From the Redskins:

• RGIII is the first player in NFL history with a touchdown run and a touchdown pass of at least 75 yards in the same season.
• Through 6 games, RGIII already holds Redskins team records for rushing yards (379) and rushing TD (6) in a season by a QB in team history.
• Last week, RGIII joined Michael Vick as the only NFL quarterbacks since 1970 to rush for at least 130 yards and two TD in a game.

“Robert Griffin III has energized their offense,” Tom Coughlin said today. “They’ve done a lot with creativity, he runs the option, but he’s just as dangerous when, as he did the other day, for 76 yards, just pulls the ball down in drop-back fashion, and runs and gets outside, and no one can catch him. He’s probably the fastest guy on the field.”

The Giants have already faced two of the game’s most mobile QBs this season in Cam Newton and Vick. Coughlin was asked how similar Griffin is to those players.

“In terms of the type of option that they run, his option is similar to the one with Cam Newton. Michael Vick is a whole different… Each individual brings to the table something very unique. So, yes, they are different.”

The team is preparing for RGIII, but their fastest LB – Jacquian Williams – will miss this week’s game with an injury, so Coughlin said Keith Rivers may be assigned to spy Griffin. He was asked how the team was attempting to simulate Griffin’s speed in practice.

“How do you do it?” the coach asked out loud. “You do the best you can. We have two or three guys that can hopefully do it. David Carr is slick enough to do it, and quick enough to do it, and give us that look. Jerrel Jernigan has given us a few plays over there last week, and the week before.”