1. The Redskins will be better at quarterback this season than last, if only because they have two players familiar with the system and who work much more to the coach’s liking than a year ago with Donovan McNabb. Forget who deserves the blame; the bottom line was that their desires and goals didn’t mesh. That’s why it may not completely matter which player they pick at quarterback, whether it’s Rex Grossman or John Beck. Either one will run the offense better. The problem is, they still lack big-time playmakers (which is why Brandon Banks needs a roster spot; he scares opponents on returns). So regardless of who is playing the offense will struggle at times.
2. Beck offers a lot of positives. He’s athletic, but it shows up in subtle ways at times. Against Indy, he sidestepped a rush and flung a pass to Donte Stallworth for 19 yards. Against Tampa Bay, Beck had one play in which a blitz came up the middle. Evan Royster clipped the rusher enough to allow Beck to step back as the rusher reached for his leg, then reset and fire a strike to Niles Paul for 19 yards. Athleticism isn’t always about running away from defenders. Against Indy, Beck made many good decisions and was accurate. For the most part, he also had a good pocket.
3. There’s no doubt that Mike Shanahan liked Beck going into camp; I’ve heard that from several sources. He has more physical skills than Grossman. He’s a bigger, better, faster athlete. If they’re close now – and I don’t know in their minds if they are — shouldn’t you pick the guy who gives you the best chance down the road, without sacrificing a lot in the present? Beck is not a rookie who needs more grooming. That’s why I don’t subscribe to the theory of starting Grossman now just on the chance that Beck might fail. Beck is pushing 30; he knows how to prepare and he understands the game and defenses. Also, know this about Shanahan: he doesn’t think in terms of failure. He is firm in his belief that he can win with either quarterback. If that’s the case, then Beck should be the guy. Did he play poorly enough to fall behind Grossman?
4. So it’s Beck, right? Well, hold on. Turns out Beck is flawed too. One game he looks accurate, the next he does not. Guess what? That’s how it was in practice too, whether it was in the spring workouts or in training camp.
5. And all of Beck’s inconsistencies were displayed Thursday night. A couple times he locked onto receivers, once resulting in a near interception along the outside in which he’s lucky he was facing backups. He hesitated a bit on the throw, but it was clear where he was going all along; he tried to look off the defenders but did so barely. He looked rushed. When Beck was pressured, he completed two of seven passes and was intercepted. That’s not all on him, but the confusing thing is that there were times Beck seemed to feel the rush and other times he did not. He did not feel it on his third-and-12 pass to Stallworth, resulting in 16 yards. A blitzer bore down on him; Beck waited for Stallworth to break and hit him just as he was getting hit.
But then there were other times he handled it differently. On the interception, maybe Beck would have been helped by throwing to a more veteran receiver, whose instincts might have been sharper and he’d have broken the play up by getting inside. Still, he tried to throw it 30 yards in the air while backpedaling and getting hit. Tough deal; low chance of success. Bad decision. And on the pass Beck had batted down, he looked too nonchalant. There wasn’t a massive rush, but Beck didn’t step into the throw and tried to sidearm it. But what also was troubling: instead of stepping into the throw he almost leaned and his left foot ended up nearly a yard to the side and behind his right one. A zipped throw equals a completion. One knock from those who have scouted him this summer: He moves from his first receiver to his second too quickly. Other times he held the ball a bit too long; that’s a criticism that seems true of mobile quarterbacks. Then again, that mobility helps him get out quick on bootlegs (though the running lanes he had vs. Indy have not been available in the past two games).
6. So it’s Grossman then, right? Well… He, too, had his positives. He is, right now, a better passer. When he has time in the pocket Grossman is probably more effective. Against Pittsburgh Grossman looked poised; he helped the line by making quick decisions under pressure and he has a terrific rapport with Santana Moss and Jabar Gaffney. Makes a difference when you work with guys you trust; maybe Beck didn’t get enough time with those two. Grossman looked off defenders, checked down when necessary. The offense was more fluid with Grossman, for the most part.
7. And also know this: While Shanahan and his staff know that Grossman had a penchant for mistakes in the past, they won’t condemn him for it (though it could ultimately be a difference in the decision). Again, Shanahan has a firm belief in himself and his system; remember, he thought he could get more out of McNabb by changing his habits. Same with Albert Haynesworth. So just because Grossman did something in a completely different offense, one not as QB friendly, doesn’t mean he thinks the same will happen now.
8. But hold on. The evaluator who scouted Grossman saw enough plays with bad mechanics, inaccurate throws and questionable decisions – he displayed both good and bad vs. Baltimore – to give him pause. What does Grossman do under duress? That’s always been a knock. He’s not as nimble as Beck (which also is why he sometimes makes faster decisions).
9. So Kellen Clemens then? Sorry, a little QB controversy humor (very little, you say). Heck, I’m not confident that Clemens will make the final roster. There’s a real chance they will keep seven wideouts, which probably means two quarterbacks (could also get there with four backs and three tight ends, provided Mike Sellers is one of the three so he could help at fullback; that versatility helps massage the roster). And it would mean Niles Paul on the roster.
10. The bottom line: Both QBs offer something to build upon. But there’s also a lot of unknowns: Will Beck get worse or better the more he plays? After the initial scripted drives end, can he make plays to help them win? Don’t know; haven’t seen. My guess is teams would blitz him often through the interior, which led to breakdowns Thursday. The more I think about it, the more my season prediction is not based on which of these two is the quarterback. It’ll be the same whether it’s Grossman or Beck. Both can run this offense; both have positives; both have negatives. It could come down to this: if your goal is to beat the Giants, go with Grossman If it’s to have a stronger team by season’s end, roll the dice and opt for the guy with more upside (and more downside, too). That is, after all, why they liked Beck in the first place. Regardless, make a pick and live with it. And if it gets that bad go with the other guy.
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