Quarterback managed game well vs. the Colts John Beck didn’t want to focus on his passing numbers. Only one stat mattered to him: points. A few days before the Redskins’ 16-3 win over Indianapolis, Beck said that was how he would measure his night.
So here’s the tally: Beck led scoring drives on each of his four first-half possessions (they let the clock expire at the end of the half on a fifth). The negative is that three of those were capped by short field goals.
Nonetheless, Beck matched Rex Grossman’s strong preseason opener with one of his own. He completed 14 of 17 passes for 140 yards.
– John Keim
| Tale of the tape |
| » Terrence Austin should be in the lead for a roster spot after having yet another solid showing. He allows Washington to have a dependable returner if Brandon Banks can’t play or if they want to limit him. Austin’s footwork consistently allows him to slip the first defender on punt returns. And it allows him to create separation on pass routes, as it did on an 11-yard catch in which he started out and darted back inside. But his blocking needs improvement. This is where his size — or lack of it — works against him. Austin’s lack of blocking led to two bad runs; in this offense that needs to change. |
| » Nose tackle Barry Cofield, who wants more time in the nickel, showed he deserves it. Once, aligned over the right guard, he used his right hand to swat the guard inside, then went into the center and shoved him back into the quarterback. On a three-step drop and quick release, Cofield nearly got his hand on the quarterback. That will help a team whose blitzes can be defused by quick throws. |
| » Redskins guards Kory Lichtensteiger and Chris Chester had moments when they got shoved back or allowed pressure. But both of them contributed on Tim Hightower‘s 58-yard run on the second play of the game. First, Lichtensteiger blocked the defensive tackle, enabling center Will Montgomery to get control and seal him off. Lichtensteiger then blocked the middle linebacker, creating the opening. Meanwhile, Chester ran downfield and blocked the safety — possibly adding 45 yards to the run. The line remains a work in progress and often is helped by the scheme; left one-on-one, they’re less impressive. But on this play, both were allowed to use their quickness. |
“I know they have confidence in [Grossman] because they voiced that to me,” Beck told reporters after the game. “I hope they’re confident in me. I don’t know how it’s going to play out.”
Here’s what stood out about Beck’s night:
Patience or caution? » Beck managed the game well. Against a defense that keeps both safeties back, underneath passes work. Sure enough, 11 of his 17 throws traveled seven yards or less in the air, including two that were incomplete. But the Redskins gained 36 yards after the catch on these plays.
His longest throw in the air traveled 16 yards. And there were times when Beck failed to see open receivers downfield. In the second quarter, Beck had plenty of time, but rather than let the play develop longer he left the pocket — as receiver Terrence Austin appeared to break free over the middle. Beck then dumped off a pass to Logan Paulsen for 10 yards.
But those short passes in the first half helped result in 16 first downs and 277 yards of total offense.
And the question of caution vs. patience could apply to the red zone, too. Inside the Indianapolis 20, Beck was 3-for-4 for 27 yards, was sacked twice and took off running once. He made only one pass into the end zone.
It’s too soon to say Beck won’t go downfield, especially because the underneath throws worked. But it is worth wondering how aggressive he’ll be in the future. Is it a mindset or just a matter of following the take-what-the-defense-gives-you cliche?
Athleticism » One reason Beck seemingly held on to the ball longer than Rex Grossman would may be simple. He’s faster and can get out of trouble — most of the time, that is. Beck ran twice for 17 yards on bootlegs (on one of them, he could have passed to an open Fred Davis). This athleticism helps him get outside faster on bootlegs, giving him a run option that doesn’t usually exist for Grossman.
But sometimes it’s just about avoiding pressure. Beck hopped on one throw to elude defenders grabbing at his feet, completing a pass to Davis. Another time he was flushed to his left when left tackle Trent Williams was beaten and winged a sidearm pass back to Donte Stallworth for 23 yards.
Accuracy » Of his three incompletions, one was a throwaway and another was on target to be completed until the intended receiver, Mike Sellers, was tripped up in the back of the end zone. And Beck’s other incompletion occurred because the play-action fake was sloppy — he didn’t get close to the running back, going right. The linebacker wasn’t fooled and easily deflected the pass.
