This is what I learned after watching the game again:
1. John Beck typically made good decisions and, all together now, managed the game well. That’s a good thing and if you can complete 14 of 17 passes while doing so, that’s even better. But does this win him the job? Well, no. It shouldn’t. But there’s little doubt Mike Shanahan was higher on him than Rex Grossman entering camp (everyone I’ve talked to who spoke to Shanahan about this says the same thing). Beck matched Grossman’s preseason opener (albeit against a lesser defense). It would make sense if Beck started vs. Baltimore. Grossman got his audition late last season; Beck needs to prove a lot and facing this defense would help.
2. Of Beck’s 17 passes, 11 traveled seven yards or less through the air. And the longest pass went 16 yards in the air. Make of that what you will. It appeared that he had some chances downfield, but the Colts also play that cover 2 zone, which typically forces teams to throw underneath. But is Beck willing to take shots downfield? It’s something to pay attention to vs. Baltimore. For now we’ll call it a smart, patient game.
3. Beck dropped back to throw seven times in the red zone. Only one of those plays resulted in a throw into the end zone. Officially, he was three of four for 27 yards in the red zone. No, not every throw in the red zone must cross the goal-line. What I don’t know is how often Beck had to look away from a potential target in the end zone and go elsewhere. I know a couple times he did.
4. Liked his athleticism. Because of this, he often has that run option on bootlegs that Grossman does not. Beck is quicker to execute it, often giving him the corner. Problem is, he missed Fred Davis being open one time when he tucked and ran. And his ability to run or avoid pressure sometimes causes him to hold onto the ball a bit too long. Still, that athleticism was evident on his 23-yard pass to Donte Stallworth, in which Beck slid to his left to elude the rush, kept his eyes downfield and made the connection. Later, he hopped up slightly with pressure at his feet and completed a pass to Davis (later nullified by a penalty).
5. His one other negative was a poor play-action fake in which he didn’t get within a few yards of the running back. The result? The linebackers never bit on the fake, Gary Brackett in particular. Why is that important? Because Brackett tipped the pass that was headed for Anthony Armstrong. Need to execute the play fakes better.
6. 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 poor blocking led to two bad runs; in this offense that needs to change. On a Shaun Droughn run to the left, Austin got shoved back and lost his man, who made the tackle (while also committing a facemask penalty). Austin lost his block on another Droughn run later in the half, allowing the defense to pinch the hole.
7. Can’t say that I liked Jabar Gaffney’s block attempt on a second and 10 run in the first quarter. Just didn’t put much into the block and it prevented a possible decent run. Had another one later where it wasn’t good.
8. Offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan was more balanced on first down calls in the opening half. He called for a pass 11 times and a run nine times, though two were nullified by penalties.
9. Roy Helu is good. Yes, out on that limb, I know. He’s shown the ability to cut hard and make guys miss since camp opened. Now he’s doing it in games. Yes, his long run was a thing of beauty, showing his ability to balance on a tight line, then stop and start in a hurry. Yes, he was caught from behind but it’s hard to get back to full speed after what he already had done. Few backs make that run. I also liked a couple other runs by Helu. On one, he showed excellent patience running out of the I-formation; he waited for the play to develop, then he cut inside for six yards. Not a great run, but a solid one. Later, he showed his burst on a run around right end. Logan Paulsen had a poor block — he had a few in this game — but Helu hit the edge so fast that it didn’t matter; he gained 11 yards. Incidentally, he received a good block from Leonard Hankerson, who has a knack for knowing when to let go of his man to avoid a potential hold. Hold the jokes about his hands here.
10. Helu still needs to work on his pass protection skills. A lot of it stems from still keeping his head down as he approaches the defender. Had one where he went to help Chris Chester, but Helu didn’t keep his head up and bumped into Chester instead. This is why Helu will remain a change of pace guy for now.
11. Has Tim Hightower done enough to win the starting job? Well, the fact that he’s durable and can pass protect suggests he should. Let’s not forget how well Ryan Torain ran at the end of last season. However, Hightower’s ability to pass protect and catch the ball make him a more well-rounded back.
12. Hankerson’s issue isn’t his hands; it’s his eyes. I know that’s been pounded to death but it’s true. On his drop Friday, his head turned to the right as soon as the ball hit his hands. He does this a lot; one of his catches resulted in the same thing. He just held onto it this time. But on his first catch after the drop, he did not turn his head until he had caught the ball.
13. Saw Niles Paul put on a terrific block, running inside. Wasn’t a crackback. But what I liked is that he continued to drive his man; you don’t always see a receiver finish that way. I wasn’t wowed by his returns; just didn’t show much explosiveness. I think his best bet is as a cover man on special teams. I’d like to see him return some kickoffs; that might be more his style. On punt returns, you need to make the first guy miss and he hasn’t done so. Still think he’s a practice squad type.
14. What will happen with Keiland Williams? He’s not one of their top three runners, that’s for sure. Like him, but he failed to press the hole on one of his runs. Instead, he tried to beat defenders outside with his speed, which he is not known for. Had he pressed the hole, he could have gotten one of the defenders off-balance and created an opening outside.
15. The struggles in the red zone might be attributed to a couple things perhaps. It starts with not having a lot of major playmakers. The Redskins have many players who fit this scheme and do well because of it; but they lack that one player who makes a play when everything breaks down. Also, the passing game is heavily predicated on the bootleg action. But if you try that too often in the red zone, you cut down half the field. And this line is still best on the move; leave them in straight-up pass blocking and their effectiveness diminishes.
16. The offensive line is still a work in progress. There is good and bad to look at from this game. In some cases, very good and very bad. By the same guys no less. I also think this line is not impressive individually, but collectively can help. And the scheme will help them. Anyway, at times I think Will Montgomery is an upgrade and other times? I don’t know. He did have a couple nice blocks and was able to help seal the cutback lane on Tim Hightower’s run. Another time he did something Casey Rabach could not do last year: Hook a defender shaded to the side the play was going. But I also saw him get moved back on multiple occasions; once Shaun Droughn could not execute a draw play because when he received the ball he was about a foot behind Montgomery, who had been pushed back. That killed the play. On a red zone run, Montgomery got shoved back because he was too upright. By the way, on this play, four offensive linemen were at least a yard behind the line of scrimmage as the play developed. He also failed to block starting DT Antonio Johnson on a stretch run to the left. Chester had hit Johnson before heading to a linebacker and Montgomery needed to then control him. The play was blocked to be a big gain, except Johnson stopped it. But, as I said, there were a few times where Montgomery did a nice job. He is definitely stronger than Rabach.
17. Kory Lichtensteiger and Chester had their moments where they got shoved back or allowed pressure. But both of them contributed on Hightower’s 58-yard run on the second play of the game. First, Lichtensteiger blocked the defensive tackle, shaded just inside him, enabling Montgomery to then 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.
18. Trent Williams did a nice job hooking Freeney on Hightower’s run. He also gave up a few pressures, including one where Freeney bull rushed him and sacked Beck. Williams also whiffed on block attempt of the immortal John Chick and gave up pressure inside. He also gave up another pressure off the edge, almost resulting in a stripped ball.
19. Williams and Jammal Brown try to stop defenders very differently. Williams is all about moving his feet; they are quick. Brown, though, is more about trying to swallow up a guy in his arms. Williams is better at keeping his shoulder square; Brown does more reaching. With Brown, he once allowed a pressure to Robert Mathis because he reached. But on the next play his man tried to go inside and he stopped him with his left arm.
20. Big Mo Hurt needs to stop lunging into guys. Did it twice and got beat both times because of it. But the pile mover did move out a tackle on his first snap of the second half. Another backup lineman, center Erik Cook, gets moved back too often. This is against backups. He’s the No. 2 center. What happens if Montgomery gets hurt?
21. Don’t want to make too many judgments off Grossman’s game, playing with backups. His lone issue was making a pass over the middle to a guy who wasn’t open. The linebacker read the play easily and was moving before the pass was thrown. Easy interception. Really, the rest of the preseason is about seeing if Beck builds on this performance.
22. A quick point about the red zone issues. The Redskins bootleg plays do a good job of allowing them to move between the 20s. But in the red zone it cuts down half the field. At some point a playmaker must make a play. Also, the line is not as good when it has to just drop straight back and block. But the first thing a team must do is move the ball and the Redskins are doing just that.
