The anticipated quarterback battle will have to wait a week, but when it resumes John Beck will have some work to do.
Rex Grossman started the 16-7 preseason opening win over Pittsburgh and did what the Redskins needed him to do: make good decisions and move the ball. It didn’t always result in points, thanks to two bad field goal attempts from Shayne Graham. But it was effective. The Redskins gained 452 yards of offense, includign 312 through the air compared to 186 total yards for Pittsburgh.
Grossman led the Redskins to 259 total yards, but only seven points.
“He did a great job,” Redskins running back Tim Hightower said. “He stood in the pocket, he delivered, he moved around a little bit and foudn some open guys.”
Grossman played the first two quarters and completed 19 of 26 passes for 207 yards – much of it against Pittsburgh’s second string defense. But he engineered an 88-yard drive on his first series, taking the Redskins from the 1-yard line to the Steelers’ 11 before Graham hooked an ugly kick.
“Anytime you start the season backed up on the 1-yard line and get it all the way down, that’s a good start,” Grossman said. “We got into a rhythm and pretty much played consistent throughout the first half.”
Grossman also led a touchdown drive in the second quarter, capping it with an eight-yard pass to Santana Moss. Beck did not play because of a sore groin suffered in practice on Aug. 6.
“Rex had a good game,” coach Mike Shanahan said. “He managed the game well. I was pleased with the way he managed the two-minute offense at the end of the half. Still like to get in the end zone a few more times, but overall, pleased with the effort.
“We have said from day one this is an ongoing process up until game time. We’ll give everyone a chance and see what they do in practice, see what they do in games and we’ll make a decision.”
The rest of the offense was up to placekicker Graham Gano, who made all three of his field goals in the second half and gained a decided edge in his battle vs. Graham, who also missed wide right from 49 yards to end the first half.
“You don’t wish bad on anyone in any competition,” Gano said. “It’s unfortunate to see the night [Graham] had, but I’m sure he’ll bounce back.”
Hightower had a strong first half with 10 carries for 44 yards and several excellent blitz pickups. Backup running back Evan Royster, who played ahead of Roy Helu, gained 64 yards on 15 carries.
Hightower said he knew this offense was a good fit for him before he arrived in Washington.
“That’s what I did in college, a lot of the zone schemes,” he said. “But being here and playing a game and seeing how it goes together and how our O-line works together, it’s right up my alley. It’s perfect.”
The Steelers only used starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for one series and their starting defense only played two series.
