Quarterback John Beck’s final audition did not go the way he planned. Nor did it the outcome match the feeling he had before the game.
“I felt very zoned in when the game started,” he said. “I felt I was going to have a very good game.”
That’s not what happened. Beck completed 10 of 21 passes for 108 yards and one interception in Washington’s 29-24 preseason finale win over Tampa Bay. He had his moments where he was fine, completing a 16-yard strike to Donte Stallworth under a heavy rush on third and 12.
But he had his moments where he was not so fine, throwing an interception – also under heavy duress – in the end zone on a third down.
“Tonight wasn’t necessarily my best,” he said. “There were some throws that, at my best, I would have made…There were some throws that I don’t usually miss that were just a little off. Looking back, the first thing that comes to my mind was that I didn’t quite get that done the way I would have liked.”
Beck said he didn’t even realize he’d thrown an interception in the end zone until he reached the sideline.
“I got hit, I didn’t see the final play,” he said. “My first thought was that I was falling back and that you have to overcompensate a little bit. …I was telling Kory Lichtensteiger at the end that if I put even three more feet on that ball, even if it’s incomplete, we kick a field goal.”
Coach Mike Shanahan said of Beck’s performance: “It’s a little tough to go out there with a lot of different people playing a lot of different positions. … It gets a little ugly.”
Beck’s best showing came in his first preseason start at Indianapolis. Against Baltimore he only attempted three passes vs. the Ravens’ starting defense, completing one. And Tampa Bay did not play its defensive starters.
Beck showed that he could be a patient passer, as he was vs. the Colts’ two-deep zone. He also showed that he’s willing to take shots downfield, as he did vs. Baltimore and again vs. Tampa.
“I feel good,” he said. “I would have liked for it to end on a higher note because I felt going into the game that I was very zoned in.”
Shanahan naturally would not say if either quarterback separated themselves this preseason. He still isn’t sure when he’ll announce who won the starting job. Shanahan also said he gave Rex Grossman the night off because he’d thrown 53 passes this preseason to Beck’s 27.
Beck is confident he can handle the position.
“I will always believe that I can be a starter in this league,” he said.
