Beating the Dolphins for his first win sure would be nice, though
ASHBURN — It’s not about getting a win against Miami, the team that drafted him and cut him two seasons later. John Beck needs a win against any team. He needs to validate the belief Redskins coach Mike Shanahan has in him. He needs a win to build confidence in the locker room.
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If it comes against the Dolphins? That’s great. But …
“I’ve been wanting to get a win in any stadium,” he said.
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| On Monday, coach Mike Shanahan said Anthony Armstrong needed to improve vs. bump coverage or he would be coaching soon. Armstrong isn’t ready for a change in professions. “We’ll worry about coaching later,” Armstrong said. “I’ve still got football to play.” Shanahan said Wednesday that he feeds that line to all his receivers. And he did talk about it with Armstrong earlier in the day. After practice, Armstrong worked on improving his release against receivers coach Keenan McCardell. “Initially I took it as a swipe, but then I also took it as a challenge,” Armstrong said. |
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» Safety LaRon Landry (Achilles), tackle Jammal Brown (groin), safety Oshiomogho Atogwe (toe/knee), linebacker Keyaron Fox (knee/skin infection) and linebacker Markus White (illness) did not practice. Receivers Santana Moss (hand) and Niles Paul (toe) already are out for Sunday’s game at Miami. Landry had soreness in his Achilles, which he ruptured last season and caused him to miss all of training camp. – John Keim |
Beck’s three starts with the Redskins have been inconsistent at best and a struggle at worst, evidenced by his 72.1 passer rating. He has led the offense to 11 points in the past two games — a 59-yard field goal and a touchdown late in a game that they trailed by 16 points. He has missed open receivers. He has failed to fool safeties, who instead read his eyes and intercept passes. Against the 49ers, Beck averaged 4.1 yards a pass attempt until his final two series (when he threw for 101 of his 254 yards).
But that’s not what coach Mike Shanahan sees. He sees a need to improve those around him. That’s why Shanahan is not about to back off his statement that he “stakes his reputation” on what Beck or even Rex Grossman can accomplish.
“I believe in both quarterbacks, and I have to give them the right supporting cast,” Shanahan said. “I understand there will be growing pains. But I have to give them the right supporting cast. When we do that I feel very good about our guys.”
The Dolphins did not feel the same about Beck when current coach Tony Sparano took over in 2008, Beck’s second season. As a rookie second-round pick, he started four games — all losses — for the 1-15 Dolphins.
“He was a really smart player, very, very bright,” Sparano said. “He moved well. He threw on the move well. He was a curious guy. He wanted to learn and soak up as much knowledge as he could.”
As for Beck’s starts in Miami, Dolphins end Jason Taylor said, “He was put into an unfair position and not given all the tools he needed to succeed, and that started from the top down.”
Beck has found himself in a situation in which he’s leading a wounded team with lots of new faces starting, just as he did in Miami. But there’s a difference: He’s no longer a young guy gaining experience. He’s a 30-year-old trying to prove, maybe for the last time, that he can start in the NFL. One scenario offers hope; the other leads to questions.
But Shanahan remains firmly behind Beck.
“That thought hasn’t crossed my mind,” Beck said. “It meant a lot when Coach said something like that because you want a coach that does believe in you. … [But] what stands out the most to me is that I’m trying to do the best I can because of me.”
But Beck needs to lead a win at some point.
“There’s always pressure every week, regardless of the situation you’re in,” he said. “It’s been a struggle because things haven’t gone well the past couple weeks. Regardless, I’m having an opportunity to play.”
And the best place for his first win? His original NFL city, where he struggled to mention any fond memories.
Said Beck: “Not that I can think of off the top of my head.”
