A split second could be the difference between quarterbacks Rex Grossman and John Beck. Grossman said now that he’s in his third season under Washington Redskins offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, instinct has taken over. They were together in Houston before both came to Washington last season.
“Any time you’re in an offense for consecutive years, your body kind of takes over of ‘OK, I’m getting pressured. I need to get to a quick route or immediately know where an outlet route is or this route is faster than the one I’m looking at, so I need to get off of that and get to the quicker throw,’?” Grossman said.
“You don’t have to think about it. You just react. Those are some of the better things that have helped me in an offense for consecutive years to grow.”
That’s Grossman’s biggest advantage over John Beck as the Redskins end the preseason against Tampa Bay at FedEx Field on Thursday. Grossman’s ability to make split-second decisions is ingrained. Beck’s isn’t.
Players practice every day not so much to get better but to convert a complex game to instinct, to act rather than react. That half-second often is the difference between success and failure.
Not needing the extra time is the difference between completions and turnovers, between touchdowns and field goals and maybe between a 10-6 season and a 6-10 one.
It really is that important. Defensive coordinators spend their entire lives preparing to stop quarterbacks, so either Grossman acts quickly enough or he’s 13-for-35 for 128 yards and two interceptions and Beck is playing the next week.
Coach Mike Shanahan and Kyle Shanahan study every practice looking for that instinct in the scheme. It isn’t always there. Talented passers sometimes rely more on their arms than brains. Jeff George was a golden-arm passer in practice, but Marty Schottenheimer canned him after two games in 2001 because George didn’t have the right instincts behind a bad offensive line.
Beck has spent one year with Washington, but the lockout meant there were no offseason workouts or study sessions. As the third-string passer last year, he only took a snap or two during midweek practices. His busiest day each week was Tuesday, when he threw to Anthony Armstrong during the team’s day off.
Beck is still finding that instinct, though he’s not far behind Grossman. That Beck is more mobile buys him extra time occasionally, but he still needs to read the defense instantly. Beck may be a better gambler than Grossman, who seems to be more deliberate, but will Beck be able to watch multiple routes simultaneously, a skill that only comes with experience?
A throwaway preseason finale may decide a handful of roster slots for players who mostly will be inactive each week. However, it’s Grossman and Beck’s last chance to show who has the instincts for the job.
Examiner columnist Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more on Twitter @Snide_Remarks or email [email protected].
