Sexy Rexy named Starter for Game #1

[OrioleMagic]

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/6932915/rex-grossman-start-washington-redskins-season-opener-according-reports

[allstar1579]

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/6932915/rex-grossman-start-washington-redskins-season-opener-according-reports

I was going to post this, but I figured I'd just keep quiet and hope it wasn't true...<sigh>

[backwardsk]

Kind of surprised by this. I would have liked to see Beck with the lights on.

[allstar1579]

Kind of surprised by this. I would have liked to see Beck with the lights on.

Same here. I'm more afraid it means they wasted time splitting reps and that they are going to bounce back and forth between the two all season. Just kinda see it coming. Makes me worry that Shanny thinks his scheme is more important than the personnel and he will just interchange people as long as his scheme is there. Just reading between the lines, and I think it works with the Oline and the running game, but I question being able to do that at QB. Unless they are playing for A. Luck, I'm worried.

[SammyBirdland]

Makes me worry that Shanny thinks his scheme is more important than the personnel

I would say that is definitely what he thinks, considering who the candidates for the starting QB job were in the first place.

[allstar1579]

I would say that is definitely what he thinks, considering who the candidates for the starting QB job were in the first place.

I mean, there were a LOT of holes to fill in one offseason, I can get behind filling what he could (RB, LB, WR, OL, DL) and adding depth this year and waiting a year to focus on QB. Teams have won Super Bowls with mediocre QB all over the place, so I understand the thought process. I was just kinda hoping that Beck was going to be the right guy in the right scheme here. Rexy will be ok, he's not going to lose games by himself, but he's not going to be the difference maker in close games either. I guess it doesn't matter if we are running the ball 500 times this season.

[OrioleMagic]

I can't kick this defeatist attitude that I've had about this season all along... I can't wait to get it over with and dig into next years draft and FA pool. Rex won't take us anywhere special. Beck probably won't either, but I would've like to see him get his shot.

[SammyBirdland]

Teams have won Super Bowls with mediocre QB all over the place, so I understand the thought process.

Trent Dilfer agrees with you ;)

[allstar1579]

Trent Dilfer agrees with you ;)

He was first to come to mind, but then I thought of Rypien, Williams, B. Johnson, and a couple others.

[JDubs]

I'm pretty sure that Shanahan picked the guy who gives them the best chance to win week 1--not the best QB for the system. This means we will likely be rotating throughout the season and it is a bad sign.

[Dr. FLK]

Makes me worry that Shanny thinks his scheme is more important than the personnel and he will just interchange people as long as his scheme is there..

When you're choices are both mediocre, knowledge of the scheme should be the deciding factor. I think we'll see Beck at some point, but Rex was flat out better in the pre-season. And, it's not like Beck has a huge track record to justify him as the starter. IMO, this move is easy to make.

Long term, I still think Shanny knows he needs a better option. But that option hasn't been there yet. And, I'm glad that they are going with system guys (for now) instead of reaching for a guy they aren't sure is the answer. Picking the wrong QB can set you back for a long time (I'm looking at you Heath Shuler).

[Don Quixote]

When you're choices are both mediocre, knowledge of the scheme should be the deciding factor. I think we'll see Beck at some point, but Rex was flat out better in the pre-season. And, it's not like Beck has a huge track record to justify him as the starter. IMO, this move is easy to make.

Long term, I still think Shanny knows he needs a better option. But that option hasn't been there yet. And, I'm glad that they are going with system guys (for now) instead of reaching for a guy they aren't sure is the answer. Picking the wrong QB can set you back for a long time (I'm looking at you Heath Shuler).

This is a very reasonable view. Earlier in the preseason, their performances were quite comparable, but as game reps wore on, Grossman gained an edge, especially after Beck's less-than-inspiring performance last game (yes, he was surrounded by backup targets, but there were mistakes that were his own). Even though he is less mobile, his (I suppose) adequate handling of things and especially the prior experience tilted the balance in his favor. If Grossman tanks for an extended period or is injured, we'll get an idea of what Beck has to offer. I'm hoping they can get a good quarterback in the draft, though to do that they'll have to play pretty badly. They've been up to the challenge often enough, though....

[JDubs]

I also think that choosing Grossman sends the right message to the team. I think it was generally apparent that Grossman outplayed Beck. I know it is arguable, but it's what I saw with my scouting eye. Picking Grossman says: "We will play the best player. Period." Gone are the days when favoritism, draft status or paycheck mattered when putting together the depth charts.

As for the QBs themselves, I've always thought the competition would turn on how much Shanahan values game management. Beck is clearly the better game manager because he protects the ball better, but Grossman is the better "Quarterback," IMHO. Note that I said better, not necessarily good. I'm glad they chose Grossman out of the two.

[flashjordnk]

So really...who's the real Rex? The one we saw give up a TD the first play of the year all of last year? Or the one we've seen in the preseason.

Take away scheme and preparation and it's for a player to look good. But does Shanahan really think the check down slant to Moss is going to be open all year? It seems like every third throw from Rex was one of those this preseason.

Then again...if this is Mike Shanahan, I expect to see a lot of runs so maybe it won't matter.

[MikeAD]

So really...who's the real Rex? The one we saw give up a TD the first play of the year all of last year? Or the one we've seen in the preseason.

Take away scheme and preparation and it's for a player to look good. But does Shanahan really think the check down slant to Moss is going to be open all year? It seems like every third throw from Rex was one of those this preseason.

Then again...if this is Mike Shanahan, I expect to see a lot of runs so maybe it won't matter.

Thats the thing though..if this is a Shanahan team then the ball will be in the hands of the HB most of the game. Lots of Play Actions. Beck is the best to run that style of offense. Grossman will get you more big plays but also likely cause more turnovers.

Not sure why this is the way it has turned out.

[allstar1579]

I also think that choosing Grossman sends the right message to the team. I think it was generally apparent that Grossman outplayed Beck. I know it is arguable, but it's what I saw with my scouting eye. Picking Grossman says: "We will play the best player. Period." Gone are the days when favoritism, draft status or paycheck mattered when putting together the depth charts.

As for the QBs themselves, I've always thought the competition would turn on how much Shanahan values game management. Beck is clearly the better game manager because he protects the ball better, but Grossman is the better "Quarterback," IMHO. Note that I said better, not necessarily good. I'm glad they chose Grossman out of the two.

See, I don't really see that. People keep pointing out the stats and saying Rex's were better, but until that last game where Beck played and he didn't Beck's stats were actually better. Beck looked more crisp in the offense, and had less chances (a couple times where the other team controlled the clock opposite his drives and he didn't get as many chances).

I don't see much difference between the two, just slight ones, but I think Beck has a little more upside than Rexy. Hopefully I'm wrong, but we'll see.

[JDubs]

See, I don't really see that. People keep pointing out the stats and saying Rex's were better, but until that last game where Beck played and he didn't Beck's stats were actually better. Beck looked more crisp in the offense, and had less chances (a couple times where the other team controlled the clock opposite his drives and he didn't get as many chances).

I don't see much difference between the two, just slight ones, but I think Beck has a little more upside than Rexy. Hopefully I'm wrong, but we'll see.

Yeah, I have to think that this is a matter of personal preference. I felt like Rex looked better, but then, I hate check down QBs. I also don't really value game management over deep threat potential. Jason Campbell pretty much solidified my opinion on that when he went on that stretch with 1 INT, but few wins. They performed about the same, so I thought Beck's game management would put him over the top. I guess Shanahan preferred to have a better down-field arm over the game management. That's how I see it anyways. I have no idea how Shanahan sees it.

[allstar1579]

Yeah, I have to think that this is a matter of personal preference. I felt like Rex looked better, but then, I hate check down QBs. I also don't really value game management over deep threat potential. Jason Campbell pretty much solidified my opinion on that when he went on that stretch with 1 INT, but few wins. They performed about the same, so I thought Beck's game management would put him over the top. I guess Shanahan preferred to have a better down-field arm over the game management. That's how I see it anyways. I have no idea how Shanahan sees it.

Yeah I get exactly what you mean. You're right, it's tom-a-to, tom-ah-to. I liked that Beck was cycling through options quickly and would take the short passes but keep moving the ball. He seemed to have more of those multi-play big yard drives, where Rex will have more 3 and outs but will hit that big play more often than Beck will.
I think my thing was 3rd down success and I like Beck's odds there better than Rexy's. I'm almost positive we are going to see both of them this season, but the problem with that is we know we are going to lose some games for that to happen. It's just depressing before we've played a game.

[MikeAD]

Yeah, I have to think that this is a matter of personal preference. I felt like Rex looked better, but then, I hate check down QBs. I also don't really value game management over deep threat potential. Jason Campbell pretty much solidified my opinion on that when he went on that stretch with 1 INT, but few wins. They performed about the same, so I thought Beck's game management would put him over the top. I guess Shanahan preferred to have a better down-field arm over the game management. That's how I see it anyways. I have no idea how Shanahan sees it.

In this offense though, game management is a big deal. The deep threat can be great off of a play action, but its better to just move the chains. They'd be running 60% of the time at least.

Anyway, the decision has been made, we will see how it plays out. Shanahan knows what hes doing.

[JDubs]

Yeah I get exactly what you mean. You're right, it's tom-a-to, tom-ah-to. I liked that Beck was cycling through options quickly and would take the short passes but keep moving the ball. He seemed to have more of those multi-play big yard drives, where Rex will have more 3 and outs but will hit that big play more often than Beck will.
I think my thing was 3rd down success and I like Beck's odds there better than Rexy's. I'm almost positive we are going to see both of them this season, but the problem with that is we know we are going to lose some games for that to happen. It's just depressing before we've played a game.

Agreed on all points. We're just going to have to cross our fingers. There is not a lot to be optimistic about at the QB spot. At least we have some other storyline that should be interesting this year.

[ccbird]

You guys should just punt the year to win the Luck sweepstakes. Seriously, I just want it to be an NFC team and not an AFC team, especially the Bengals or Browns.

[JDubs]

You guys should just punt the year to win the Luck sweepstakes. Seriously, I just want it to be an NFC team and not an AFC team, especially the Bengals or Browns.

It would take an epic amount of fail to get the first overall pick next year. The fact that the Redskins would have to tank to get the top pick should only serve to prove the degree of failure that is necessary. We'll have to settle for awful rather than historically bad.