The-Hogs.net - Washington Football Discussion, Redskins to Commanders Era

Was this qb swap his original plan all along? Was it planned out from the begging naming Beck as his guy to get him pumped and on the ball -training w Mr Breese workin out w the starters snaps w ones in preseason till he get that happy feeling of being number one then take it away all his dreams of starting in the NFL again making a mid/late career comeback like his mentor Drew Breese? Test his character out for when a bump comes a long and how he not only keeps his composure but where his work ethic goes and how he moves forward? Very similar to how a qb takes an int and how he bounces back be it throw three more or March down the field and put up six? I think this whole situation strengthens Becks resolve his drive and his passion to win and be the best. This "chance" is the ultimate for Beck his golden ticket to show the world he IS the guy. Was it Mikes intent to build Becks mental game then challenge him after grossman does what he does? Tiger woods' dad used to drop is bag of clubs during his back swing to build tigers mental game and focus.... Is Shanny really THAT smart?

I don't believe that Shanny planned this or was part of a plan. Grossman looked good in preseason and in practice and he had the command of the offense, I am sure better than Beck. If he started Beck, inexperience might have caught up to him in the early going and cost us a game or two. The safe bet was to ride Rex as long as he could. In game 1, Rex made that decision pay off. In game 2, Bad Rex showed up, but enough Good Rex showed up to win the game. The Cowboy game is probably where Shanny started to say, I won't be able to ride Rex much longer. Then came the Rams game and of course, Philly game was enough, already. A key thing Shanny said on his Saturday show is I don't look at just the interceptions, I look at the balls that should have been intercepted.

I do believe that Shanny is happy with this decision, because Beck allows them to open up the playbook more. The change is made with us still having a winnning record and there was enough evidence to support Rex's benching and not disrupt things in house. Even Santana was singing a different tune today.

Red_One43 wrote:I don't believe that Shanny planned this or was part of a plan.

Agreed.

Shanahan is about getting the job done... not about Machiavellian games.

If Shanahan has showed anything, it's that he'll admit something's not working and move on, with no playing around in the meantime:

Campbell: Wasn't going to be a good long-term fit for the team. Didn't even mess around with him for a season. Gone.

Haynesworth: effectively benched and sequestered from the team so he did the least amount of damage. Gone.

McNabb: Wasn't getting it done. Even though this one was 100% on Shanahan (since he had the final say), he at least admitted the mistake and moved on while we could still benefit from seeing Grossman play. Benched, then gone.

Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelley: Gave both a chance to shake off their sense of entitlement. Can probably be blamed on the softness of the former coaching/GM regime, but whatever it was their cases were terminal. Gone.

Carter: Good player, bad fit for the scheme. Gone.

Jarmon: Same thing. Gone.

Beck: Word was he would be the starter and was Mike's favorite. Still, he had to earn the spot and he didn't. Benched. Now he's getting his shot because . . .

Grossman: Showed a little something last year, and looked improved this preseason. Played his way into the starting spot, but has since been one of our main problems on offense. Benched.

Cooley: He didn't covet his spot enough, IMO, and Fred Davis has stolen it. Cooley may be going on IR, but he was going to be seeing much more bench than grass anyway. Wild speculation: I'd be surprised if he's on the team next year. I think we'll get a draft pick for him.

Macintosh: Despite the reputation for being a solid LB, Rocky very nearly lost his roster spot to a no-name player. Fortunately (for him and for us), he responded to the pressure this offseason and is stronger for it. Just a positive case to show that it's not all about cutting everybody.


The point of this rather egregious digression is this: Shanahan isn't doing some sneaky power move. The best player plays, period. Is there any position for which this isn't true? That does mean movement on the depth chart, but not in the chaotic way that we were used to with Spurrier, who thought he was a tactical genius by bringing quarterbacks in and out of the game. And it's not in the chaotic way that Zorn did it, where you could just tell he had no control of the situation.

It really is Mike's way or the highway.

I agree with In-Bru. He isn't trying to be crafty here. He is probably just as sick of Grossman as we are.

Ya I hear ya but you kinda even elude to what I was getting at. He rode Rex as long as he could which would have been cut short if we lost week one or went 0-2. If its agreed he was using Rex as long as he could while getting Beck more familiar w the system/playbook knowing the day WILL come soon enough that he takes the reins... Why is it so far fetched that part of his reasoning for not coming out the gates w beck was to test him and see if he tries harder or folds like Rex has all sad "I like me even if the whole stadium doesn't whaaaah"
I think becks demeanor w how he handled the start of the season was perfect. I can't vouch for him stepping it up in practice but every time I saw him on the sideline he was looking at the book and or talking w a coach. Not like Dmac and grossy holding their collar/shoulder pads all pouty like an Eli manning.
Maybe he did maybe he didn't. I wouldn't put it past him to pull a stunt like this on a rebuilding year with hopes of more.
I can't buy that he thought Rex was a great qb after preseason and hands down better then beck. I mean all this talk of football shape and Rex looks like a fan at hooters? Moves lke little Timmy on crutches?

Obviously we may never know unless shanny puts out an autobiography after winning three SBs with the skins and retires but it is interesting to think.

Where I differ from you is I don't think it was part of a plan. The words, "ride Grossman as long as he can" are my words. I really think that Shanny believed that Grossman gave the Skins the best chance to win coming out the gate. His preseason performance and his command of the offense, gave Shanny the veteran experience that he likes to trust. No question that he loves Beck and I am sure that it was a tough decision to not start Beck because this is Year 2 of the plan and we could afford to groom Beck, BUT I think the team is ahead of where Shanny though they would be this early in Year 2 and Grossman appeared to give us the best chance to win coming out of the gate.

True, Beck has had 5 games and a Bye week to study up on the offense and learn more by watching what Beck was doing. Just like Shanny said, he has confidence in both QBs, - "I'd stake my reputation on it."

It was just time to move on from Rex because he is getting worse with each game. I don't think that Shanny has lost confidence in Grossman, should Beck get injured, he will have to call on him again.

I just don't agree Rex commanded or ran the offense better then Beck at all. See Ravens game

There is room for debate who played better in the Ravens game, I would go with Beck, but then I saw the TB game. It was not so much that he had trouble connecting with his receivers in the TB game, it was him throwing boneheaded Grossman like INTs in the game, especially the one off his back foot into the end zone.

I think that Beck learned a lot from the TB game and is better for it, but that performance helped make the decision that Grossman was the right move coming out the gate. With the exception of the fumble late in the game, Grossman didn't disappoint in the Giants game.

I think that at the time, Shanny saw himself in a no lose situation (remember he has an ego), but he had more confidence in Grossman starting out this season because of his experience. He could have played Beck to get him the experience, but why do that when this team had a chance to win coming out the gate, which they did.

Even if we agree that Beck played better in the Ravens game, I would not categorize Grossman as having a worse game than Beck. Their stats were pretty close and they both moved the ball. In fact, Grossman showed toughness in the face of blitzes and hung in there for that TD to Moss before the half.

I don't see Shanahan playing games with his players. Regardless of whether it is Beck or Grossman, there is not a qualified quarterback on the team. Neither is gong to be the franchise quarterback needed. Somehow, the Redskins have got to find a competent quarterback. Next years free agent crop isn't gong to do it. Jason Campbell will probably be the top rated quarterback. Not a fit.

Red_One43 wrote:There is room for debate who played better in the Ravens game, I would go with Beck, but then I saw the TB game. It was not so much that he had trouble connecting with his receivers in the TB game, it was him throwing boneheaded Grossman like INTs in the game, especially the one off his back foot into the end zone.

Plus, there were a few weeks of practice between the Ravens game and opening day. Grossman may have dominated there, too.

Sorry ckRED - as the others have made clear - Mike's NOT into anything but what he thinks will work the best

ZERO 'games' or 'scheming' with this guy - he's so into what happens on each and every practice that he grades each and every player - EVERY practice

just accept that Mike is really focused into what he does and what he thinks is best for this franchise - ALL THE TIME

accept him for what he is - A VERY, VERY, INTUITIVE & FOCUSED HC

Ok I hear ya.. I mighta drawn it out and spiced it up a little bit I'm jus saying this had been prepared for and even expected if not designed to happen. Even with the TB game Beck looks better... In the ravens game I believe it was stallworth that gave up on a DEEP ball and it ended up picked.. Next drive marches some 90 yards for a score. That's how you respond to a pic and Rex should take notes. Shanny knew this day would come and it happening sooner then most expected is what I think

no worries ckRED

- the fact is that Mike does things his way ONLY - his ego is such that there's no 'games' - he's knows he's the best

I honestly think Shanahan saw a little bit of McNabb in Grossman this year. Remember last year how the Shanahan's were vilified for benching McNabb, but they said it was because he didn't want to run the offense the way they wanted only the way he wanted? And when he did get benched he was shown stewing on the sidelines most of the time. Same with Grossman this year. Despite the fact that he leads the league in INTS thus far, he still is saying he's "played good" all season long in every press conference? And what did Grossman do when he got benched against Philly? Stewed on the sidelines holding his shoulder pads. He didn't even take his helmet off. So I think the move to Beck was also about attitude. Grossman continued to believe that he was good enough to not alter his playing and it cost him his job. Showing up to camp out of shape probably didn't help matters much. All the while you've got a "student of the game" type in Beck, who's showing up first and leaving last, studying film after film, etc. Who would you go with?

But I do not think this was planned all along, although I do find it interesting that now the reason given for going with Grossman initially was because Beck's thigh injury set him back a weeks practice, and since Grossman had more practice than Beck he was the better choice at the time.

StorminMormon86 wrote:He didn't even take his helmet off.

I think he feared taking a beer bottle to the back of the head.

ATX_Skins wrote:I agree with In-Bru. He isn't trying to be crafty here. He is probably just as sick of Grossman as we are.

grossman =