It has been a very long time since my last post, for many different reasons, but I'm going to try this again. Unfortunately, I didn't pick the best time to do this, the Redskins just having lost to the Panthers 33-20, in a game they should have won.
After coming off a similar loss to the Eagles, with a very bad performance by Rex Grossman, the Redksins started this game with John Beck at the helm. One might ask, who is John Beck? Simple answer is, one of the many QB's in the NFL that do not stand out. Normally that isn't a high praise for your starting QB, but in this scenario, it can be. Beck won the job over Grossman because Rex had made it to the group of QB's that do stand out and get talked about. However, Grossman's admittion to that group was because of his 4 INT's in the game against the Eagles, and his 11 total turnovers this season, compared to only 6 TD's, with almost 56% completion percentage. Those numbers would not be too horrible if the team was able to run the ball, and make plays that way. This team does not, even though they have 3 very good RB's in Tim Hightower, Ryan Torain, and Roy Helu. Not because the RB's aren't doing their jobs, or because the O-Line isn't blocking. No. The Redskins are not good at running the ball simply because they are not running the ball. In the loss to the Eagles, the Redskins had only 13 rushing attempts by their RB's. Only 13. Many RB's in the league would like to have about 20-25 attempts by themselves, so that they can get going and wear down the D. 13 attempts between 3 RB's is pathetic, and will lead to your QB, who is not the most accurate and mobile QB's, to throw 4 INT's. Granted, Rex did make bad decisions and bad throws, but if the team had tried to run the ball more, maybe he wouldn't have had to make those throws.
In any event, Rex got benched, and Beck is the starting QB for the moment. His performance in the loss to the Panthers was average. He had a fumble, a late INT, threw a TD and ran for one. He completed 60% of his passes, and ran for 10 yards. Those are not bad numbers for the first game, only having practiced with the first team a few times leading to the prior week, specially considering that the Redskins' passing game is all about timing and route running. The QB and the WR's have to be in synch, and know where they are and where they are going. If John Beck continues to be the starter, and gets more rep with the first team, his numbers will improve. I do not think that he is going to be a star QB in this league, but he can manage the game. He can be the QB that does not lose the game for you, and will give you points from time to time. He has shown that he can drive the ball, given the right plays, and score. He simply needs more time at the helm, and good plays called for him.
So yes, the John Beck era has begun in DC, and it started off with a loss. But the loss was not simply because of what Beck did or did not do, it was a team loss, from the players to the coaches. If Beck, and the Redskins, are going to have success this year, and at the very least end up with an 8-8 record, the play calling has to improve greately, and the players have to execute those plays to the best of their abilities. Yes, this team does not have superstar talent, but in this league you can win with average to above-average players, if you call the right plays and execute those plays. I'm hoping that Mike and Kyle Shanahan can put away their egos and make the right calls, if they are going to have any chance of not being the last team in the NFC East.