The preseason opener rarely has contained so much mystery. The Washington Redskins face the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday with competitions all over the depth chart, highlighted by a starting quarterback duel. Considering training camp has been a two-week cram course for most players with no tackling, it projects to be a sloppy game.
Who knows what will happen?
“In the past, your first exhibition game, you felt like you could play it after your OTAs were over with,” coach Mike Shanahan said. “You could actually go into a game and play right away. Here it’s a little different. You’re going right up to the last minute.”
Appropriately, the Redskins probably will go right up to the last minute before the regular season to name their starting quarterback. Rex Grossman will get a chance to claim the front-runner status immediately thanks to John Beck’s sore groin. Grossman will start against the defending AFC champions, who reportedly will play their starters 10 snaps. That means Grossman could face mismatches by the third series when the subs come in.
A good outing would put Grossman squarely ahead of Beck, who hasn’t played since 2007. A turnover or two would keep things even. Offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan isn’t making any quick judgments.
“Let them play,” he said. “Give them both equal opportunity, and when you do that it usually plays itself out.”
Tim Hightower could claim the starting running back job while Ryan Torain’s sidelined by hand surgery. Torain started eight games a year ago, but Hightower has looked good in camp and is more durable.
“[Hightower’s] the exact type of runner we look for,” Kyle Shan?ahan said. “He presses the hole, and when he puts that foot down it’s violent. He gets downhill, and if someone’s in his way he tries to run him over.”
Mostly, Kyle Shanahan figures to let an offense with potentially six new starters simply show its skills rather than work on polishing its schemes.
“I’m not going to try to throw too much at them,” he said. “It will be really simple. Give these guys a chance to play so they can compete. This is about evaluating individuals. … Last year we kinda knew who our guys were [in the preseason opener]. We’ve got better depth this year, and there will be competition there from the first quarter to the fourth.”
Mike Shanahan echoed those sentiments for the defense. Well, they are father and son.
“We have to get used to our defense,” Mike Shanahan said. “They have to feel comfortable with our scheme. You may play some of those starters who haven’t been with our system for at least a year a little more than you normally would, but the key is to get them ready for the first regular-season game.”
Which is 30 days away.
Examiner columnist Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more on Twitter @Snide_Remarks or email [email protected].
