BALTIMORE — Redskins quarterback John Beck entered the game, dropped back to pass and unloaded a deep strike to Anthony Armstrong. Two plays later the Redskins scored a touchdown. And Beck appeared to have scored the starting job. But then …
Rex Grossman drove the Redskins downfield for a late touchdown, engineering a smart drive highlighted by good decisions and nice throws. Then he hit Santana Moss in the end zone for a 24-yard touchdown.
And Beck’s only completion against Baltimore’s starters was his first.
Call it a return volley in the battle for the Redskins’ starting quarterback position. Though several sources said coach Mike Shanahan considered Beck a better quarterback entering the preseason, he did not separate himself from Grossman — at least not on Thursday night in a 34-31 loss to the Ravens.
And if anyone made a move, it was Grossman. After what both quarterbacks did vs. Baltimore’s starting defense — and after the entire preseason — it would be difficult to say that Beck should be the starter. Much of his success Thursday came in the second half vs. Baltimore’s second string defense. In the first half, he completed just one of three passes for 33 yards.
The Redskins did exit with a big injury concern. Rookie defensive end Jarvis Jenkins sprained his right knee in the first quarter and did not return. He needed to be helped off the field.
However, neither quarterback has really dominated the competition, which gives Redskins fans at least some hope that one — or even both — can do the job. But which one remains the question. Both showed reasons why they should — and maybe shouldn’t — start vs. the New York Giants in the season opener.
“I thought the quarterbacks did a pretty good job,” coach Mike Shanahan said. “I feel very good about both quarterbacks, we can win with them. They played well enough for people to see that, even outside our organization. Hopefully they keep playing well.” But neither quarterback was ready to say they’ve done enough to win the starting job. “I’m not going to comment on that,” Grossman said. “I just feel good about what I’ve done.” Beck said, “I can’t really worry about that. If I do it’s just mental quicksand. I just do what I can, play when they say play and do the best I can.” Nor is Beck trying to read into anything that’s being said, or any actions that are made. “There are so many things you can get consumed with,” he said. “It’s better not to. I read a book by Bill Walsh and he talked about things that can cause mental quicksand. That’s one of those things. You just can’t get caught up. It’s like my first couple years in the NFL. They were frustrating as all get out but I couldn’t sit there and dwell on them. I wouldn’t move on.” For Grossman, who started the game, the last drive of the first half showed his strength as a passer. He’s adept at finding receivers between the hash marks — his percentage was much greater in this area last year than outside the hash marks. On the final drive of the half, Grossman completed six of nine passes for 85 yards and a touchdown, a 24-yard out route to Santana Moss.
Of those six completions, five were near the middle of the field. Grossman executed the drive well, throwing passes away under duress. However, he also showed that he has a tougher time escaping pressure than the faster Beck. On the final drive of the first half, Grossman had to make a long throwaway that was nearly intercepted. Grossman could not get outside the pocket fast enough to make a better throw.
Grossman said he wasn’t bothered by rotating every two series with Beck. “As I play back plays in my head, I don’t think I would have done anything different had I been in there,” Grossman said. “It felt more like I was in a rhythm. It was pretty easy actually.” But aside from his first completion, Beck couldn’t do anything vs. the Ravens’ starters. He missed on his other two pass attempts vs. the starters. Then, on his first pass of the second half, Beck tried to go deep to Donte Stallworth vs. Baltimore’s backups. However, corner Lardarius Webb had perfect inside position on Stallworth for an easy interception.
But Beck said he would make the same pass every time. “It was just a shot play,” he said. “Those are high-risk and can be high-reward,” he said. “Unfortunately that one didn’t work out. I told Donte on the sideline, don’t even worry about that man. I am going to do the same thing if I see you one-on-one…I like putting the ball up there.” And, he said, “I love the deep ball.” Early in the game, Grossman did not distinguish himself. He completed just two of his first six passes for 27 yards. But he finished strong. He ended the half 8-for-15 for 112 yards and a 99.9 passer rating.
Beck completed five of six passes for 75 yards in a 97-yard third-quarter touchdown drive vs. the Ravens’ backups.
