Quarterback looks to win starting job
ASHBURN – They conducted their quest in different ways. John Beck let it be known how much he wanted to start. He became the offseason star. Rex Grossman did not. He participated in offseason workouts, answered a couple questions, then retreated to Florida.
Now that Grossman is back with the Redskins, he knows that anything he has to say doesn’t matter. Not when it comes to winning the starting quarterback job.
“I’m going to try to prove it with how I perform,” Grossman said. “Not with anything else.”
Grossman signed a one-year deal and reported to camp Tuesday, though he can’t start practicing until Thursday. Because he knew he couldn’t start until then, the urgency to get a deal done was not great. However, Grossman did not want to sign for longer than one season, wanting to “see how the year played out.”
He said he never talked to another team, though it’s possible his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, did. Still, Grossman knew this was his best chance to start. That’s why in his mind there was never a doubt where he’d end up.
“This is where I was gonna go,” he said.
Nor is he bothered by having missed three practices and three days’ worth of meetings.
| POSITION REVIEW |
| Defensive backs |
| CB Josh Wilson |
| Wilson is anxious to play in this defense, mainly because the Redskins play a lot of zone coverage. That enables corners to read the play more rather than just the receiver. “I like to play with vision,” Wilson said. “I saw DeAngelo [Hall] get all them picks; I want to have that Chicago game too. The ability to see the ball, to make a play on the ball is huge.” Wilson also said he’s comfortable covering in the slot, something he had to do in Baltimore. The Redskins like to blitz from that position. |
| CB Kevin Barnes |
| With Phillip Buchanon suspended for the first four games of the season, Barnes will get a shot to play. It may be his only chance for a while, with Wilson and DeAngelo Hall also on the roster. Barnes, entering his third season, must prove that he can play. But if the Redskins had more confidence in him, they would not have signed Wilson and re-signed Buchanon. One thing that won’t happen is a move to free safety. Though he played it some last season, that was only in an emergency. His slight build is not suited for that position. |
| SS Chris Horton |
| Horton has missed 17 games the past two seasons because of injuries, including nine last season. But he’s anxious to return to the success of his rookie year when he intercepted three passes in 10 starts. “The lockout situation gave me a chance to get healthy and get in better shape,” said Horton, who is working with the first team defense with LaRon Landry sidelined. “Now I’m having fun and back to myself. I’m ready to go.” |
“I’ll stay late and watch every practice [on film],” he said. “I’ll get caught up real quickly.”
While Beck has received the most attention, Grossman enters as the most experienced quarterback on the roster — both in the league and in this offense. Beck hasn’t played since 2007 and has only played in five games and started four. Grossman has started 34 games, including three at the end of last season for Washington.
“He knows the playbook and has a good feel for the system,” Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said. “Now he gets the chance to compete.”
Grossman’s starts came at the end of last season when he threw for all seven of his touchdowns and four interceptions. The Redskins went 1-2 in those starts. What Grossman hopes, though, is to duplicate the second half of a 33-30 loss in Dallas. In that half, he completed 18 of 30 passes for 214 yards and three touchdowns. The Redskins scored 23 points in that half.
“When I’m in a groove or in a rhythm, it’s pretty tough to stop this offense and this team,” he said. “I’d like to do the second half of the Cowboys game through 16 games and through the playoffs. That’s my challenge, to be consistent and not have any lulls in any games.”
Grossman studied those three games in the offseason and also watched tape of Houston quarterback Matt Schaub, who thrived in this system. Grossman worked out at a facility in Tampa. He’s happy to be reunited with former University of Florida teammate Jabar Gaffney. More important, he’s anxious to enter the season as a starter for the first time since 2007.
He knows what he must do.
“Just run the offense the way it’s supposed to be run and do what exactly what the coaches ask,” he said, “and play with a little bit of a swagger and score points. If I do that, then whatever happens, happens.”
