Next up for quarterback: Show his first start was no fluke ASHBURN — For someone who is in his ninth year in the NFL, has been to a Super Bowl and won a quarterback competition this summer, Rex Grossman still has an awful lot to prove.
Timing and opportunity are in his favor, with the Redskins’ offense riding high and set to face an aggressive Arizona defense that allowed 403 net yards in the air last weekend to Carolina rookie quarterback Cam Newton.
With his 305-yard, two-touchdown performance in last weekend’s 28-14 win over the Giants, Grossman topped 300 yards passing for the third time in his last four starts. But the first two 300-yards-plus outings came at the end of last year, and only twice in his career has Grossman earned back-to-back passer ratings over 100, both during his Super Bowl season with Chicago in 2006.
“I just think I’m in a real good spot right now from my experience level, the offense that I’m in and personnel around me,” said Grossman, who finished with a 110.5 rating against New York. “I feel good about it, and I’m going to make mistakes. Mistakes happen, but to be a quarterback and not be confused — I’m not trying to ‘what do I do now,’ that’s when bad things happen — and I don’t feel that very much.”
It’s a testament to Grossman’s belief that he’s still a gunslinger. But it’s harder to go wrong when the targets are plentiful and familiar and when the chemistry is strong with Redskins offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan.
“I think I’m just smarter about it because of the offense,” said Grossman, who was sacked by New York four times and fumbled once. “The offense allows me to do the things I like to do without trying to manufacture them myself.”
Six Redskins receivers caught passes against the Giants, and Grossman hit at least four different guys on each of Washington’s three touchdown drives, the longest a 39-yard catch to Jabar Gaffney.
In part because of their blitzing scheme, the Cardinals (1-0) gave up passes of 43 and 77 yards, the latter for a touchdown, but also sacked Newton four times.
Shanahan said it’s a give-and-take but that Arizona was better than the numbers indicate, forcing the Panthers into no better than third-and-7 all game.
“Anytime you can pick up a blitz, it’s always gonna be holes on the defense in the back end,” Redskins offensive tackle Trent Williams said. “Just picking up the blitz, that will be the hard part.”
Meanwhile, if there has been a theme to the first two weeks for the Redskins, it has been the faith in Grossman.
“It’s going to come down to us picking up the blitz and protecting and then Rex is being very solid on his decision-making,” Redskins receiver Anthony Armstrong said. “If we’re at the right place and the right time and he’s making the right decisions, everything should work out well. We’ll have some completions and big plays.”
