Did the Washington Redskins’ quarterback competition end before even starting? Rex Grossman delivered a sharp effort in Washington’s 16-7 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday at FedEx Field. It wasn’t a knockout performance, but it sure gave Grossman the lead of a tepid passer competition over injured John Beck.
The Redskins’ starting offense faced the Steelers’ starters for only one series and scored just one touchdown in the first half under Grossman. Still, 19 of 26 for 207 yards with one touchdown and a 109 passer rating gives Grossman the chance to say “I told you so” — at least until the next game.
Grossman will make Redskins fans groan, perhaps as soon as Friday against the Indianapolis Colts. For now, though, fans will suddenly converge into Grossman’s Groupies. The Beckoning must wait.
“I thought [Grossman] managed the game well,” coach Mike Shanahan said. “I was pleased with the way he managed the two-minute offense right at the end of the half. Still like to get in the end zone a few more times, but overall pleased with the effort.”
There you go — a bigger compliment than Shanahan ever threw Donovan McNabb last year. Still, Shanahan isn’t naming a starting passer until shortly before the Sept.?11 season opener against the New York Giants. No sense letting Giants coaches study Grossman film now. Not that there’s much Beck film to review.
Grossman’s success largely came through patience and several nice catches by a receiver corps much deeper than past seasons. That’s all Washington is asking. Grossman found Santana Moss for seven catches and Jabbar Gaffney five times. The tandem, plus injured tight end Chris Cooley when he returns at preseason’s end, will be Grossman’s staple.
“I feel good about it for the most part,” Grossman said. “Anytime you start the season backed up on the one-yard line and get it all the way down to the [opposing] 10, that’s a good start. We got into a rhythm and pretty much played consistent throughout the first half.”
It was the most yards in a preseason game gained by the Redskins since 2002 when coach Steve Spurrier seemingly believed the exhibitions carried over into September. Washington mauled Pittsburgh in total yards 452-186. Seven different passers caught balls from Grossman, including a sizzling 38-yard slant by Anthony Armstrong.
Twenty-six tosses vs. 12 runs in one half shows the Redskins might be more of a passing offense than expected. The caveat is many passes were thrown against the Steelers’ second-stringers, but Grossman still exceeded expectations.
“[Grossman] did his job,” running back Tim Hightower said. “He stood in the pocket, he delivered, he moved around a little bit and found some open guys. I think he was pretty poised in the pocket.”
Not a bad start.
Examiner columnist Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more on Twitter @Snide_Remarks or email [email protected].
