Beck plays, Grossman doesn’t in Redskins’ preseason finale

Posted by Mike Florio on September 1, 2011, 10:43 PM EDT
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At a time when the signs seemed to be pointing toward John Beck winning the starting quarterback job in D.C., Beck received backup treatment in the fourth and final 2011 preseason game.

Specifically, Beck started against the Buccaneers.  Rex Grossman, along with the starters on offense, didn’t.

Beck completed 10 of 21 passes for 108 yards and an interception in seven first-half drives.  Beck generated a passer rating of 43.4.

And so, suddenly, it appears that Grossman will be the Week One starter.  Unless coach Mike Shanahan opted to rest Grossman and play Beck in order to create the impression that Grossman will be the starter, even if it will be Beck.

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45 responses to “Beck plays, Grossman doesn’t in Redskins’ preseason finale”

  2. Great last paragraph! That is exactly what I was thinking. Is this a tip off that Shanahan has chosen his starter, or reverse psychology on the part of the master deceiver?? 🙂

    Just posted an article on this year’s LeGarrette Blount at mydailyff.com–check it out!

  5. I wouldn’t be surprised if you are reading this the wrong way. I think the thing that stands out the most is that the starting offensive line was in there with Beck for awhile (didn’t watch enough of the game to really see how long). You don’t risk injury to your starting OL guys … unless you are trying to make sure your starting QB is protected.

    Beck has had half as many pass attempts as Grossman. I think this was an attempt to get him work with the first offensive line unit.

    Only time will tell I guess. I doubt Shanahan will really let anyone know who is the starter until it gets close to game day. Planning for Beck is far different than Grossman, due to Beck’s mobility. At this stage of his career, Grossman is basically a pocket guy, as whaever mobility he once had simply isn’t there anymore.

  7. Maybe he thought everyone would suspect he was using Grossman as a red herring, thinking Beck is the real starter, and he’s really going to start….

    Oh never mind.

  8. Those that follow closely enough would not be surprised to see #8 under center on 9/11. John Beck was plenty good for media storylines, but Grossman is much more comfortable running Jr’s offense.

  11. I’m starting to understand what’s going on here. Beck will come in and play 2 minute drills. Secret weapon! Later on in the season, they’ll sign Rex to a nice big contract, and trade him to the Bills in the offseason. Shanahan has a master plan.

  12. so the giants will get to demolish grossman as opposed to beck in a week and a half…..whatever.

  14. Shanahan was once a great coach, with Elway’s help of course. lol With his current QB’s, he would be better served to just pack it in and try to enjoy the grandkids. The Hogs are just a fond memory.

  15. “Unless coach Mike Shanahan opted to rest Grossman and play Beck in order to create the impression that Grossman will be the starter, even if it will be Beck.”

    Shanny is the mastermind, after all.

  19. Mike Shanahan is a genius who will lead that explosive Redskins offense all the NFL is wondering.

  20. “Unless coach Mike Shanahan opted to rest Grossman and play Beck in order to create the impression that Grossman will be the starter, even if it will be Beck.”
    __________________________________

    If that was his plan, I bet he changed his mind after that performance by Beck.

  21. Which turd do I start? Maybe if I conceal which turd is going to start and it will confuse the Giants… alas, a turd is a turd is a turd and it makes no difference who starts after all….

  23. Rayrayjohnsonjr said

    Shanahan was once a great coach, with Elway’s help of course. lol With his current QB’s, he would be better served to just pack it in and try to enjoy the grandkids. The Hogs are just a fond memory.
    ___________________________

    He’s more likely to hire his grandkids.

  27. Im a skins fan and I know everyone is looking at this whole situation as being crazy. But I think if u are a honest skins fan u have to look at it as WHAT’S THE WORST THAT COULD HAPPEN? I actually do not think the skins will be to bad. At least the team is getting younger and actually filling defensive holes with correct personnel and it also looks like they have found a solid back in hightower. And helu shows flashes of being something special.

  28. What everyone doesn’t know is that shanahan is going for the ultimate trick. It will be clemens under center.

  29. In general, I think Shanahan is viewing this as his Jake Plummer years. I think he believes one of these two (likely Beck) can be a competent enough QB (Beck does have similarities to Plummer) and buy time for Shanahan while he rebuilds the team. All indications are that, as of now, Shanahan has been promised his entire 5 years. Obviously, if things get really bad, you never know, but I think, in Shanahan’s mind, he’s hoping to steady the ship/begin rebuild this year, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he made a Cutler-esque move next year if he liked a QB a lot.

  33. None of you know the deal. Beck will start and he will be fine. The Redskins will be much better than people think.

  34. Its still a mystery. I still think it has to be Beck. With an O-line built to zone block you need a QB who is mobile. That is Beck hands down. We will have to see though.

  35. ***Shanahan was once a great coach, with Elway’s help of course. ****

    Amazing how that is selectively applied. Shanahans success is qualified but Jimmy Johnson is God’s gift to coaching even though he had a stable of ridiculous Thoroughbreds. Then of course Switzer sucked even though he won a SB with *the same stable of ridiculous Thoroughbreds*. lmao at the dolts on this blog.

  36. Does it really matter which one of these homers starts?? This qb race is as important as an elite team deciding on a kicker.

  37. jstheconqueror says:
    Sep 1, 2011 11:43 PM

    I think that Shanahan wanted to give John Beck some reps so he can be ready if Grossman struggles during the season.

    —————————————————

    If?

  38. As a paying customer, under pressure when the running game gets stuffed, Rex can get it done because of his knowledge of the scheme and makes much better reads. Mobility doesn’t mean much if you can’t make the reads. Rex has shown that he can get it done even without a running game. As the poet in me and the bottom line is… “the o-line does not have to hold their blocks forever with Rex under center.”

    Against the Giants in game one, Rex should start. Later, in the season when the Skins are basically done, we will have the opportunity to see if Beck is the future, but not now!

  39. Play any of the QBs…theyll still be 1st in line to draft Andrew Luck.

    Redskins actually played a fair amount of starters including the entire O-line with Beck. They looked Ok against 3rd and 4th stringers. lol.

  40. How does Shanny still get doubted when it comes to QB’s? Look up Jake Plummers stats before he went to Denver. Tell me the man is not a miracle worker.

    How many QB’s has he sent to the pro bowl (Steve Young, John Elway, Brian Griese, Jake Plummer, Jay Cutler). I doubt any coach has had more pro bowl QB’s then Mike. Closest I can think of is Norv Turner with Aikman, Johnson, and Rivers. Also lets not forget the year Schuab had under Kyle.

    Think about it, 6 QB’s in the modern era have gone to Hawaii/Miami with a coach named Shanahan. And only 2 of them were hall of fame caliber players.

  42. it seems like Grossman, if it was still a big competition than we would’ve seen both guys in. i think it’s Rex who starts and if he looks bad, Beck replaces him.

  43. @tatmanfish

    Well the entire starting Offense and Defense looked very good, and held their own, against the Crows starters for the first half in pre-season game #3. But I understand, you just wanted to jump on the bandwagon right?

  45. As a skins fan who watched both play over the course of the preseaon, we have to go with Rex…its kinda like having to take a bite out of a crap sandwich, but it must be Rex.

    He was more efficient, he threw more TD’s, less INT’s…and looked like a better arm downfield. That said, Beck is more mobile and runs with the ball better, extends plays longer than Rex…trouble is, he makes rookie mistakes, throws across the the body when going the other way, bad underthrows, tries to force it. I’m in no way saying Rex is the savior, he’s just the lesser of 2 evils.

    Here’s to our D, and our running game getting us close to .500

    Hail!

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