Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan is adamant that relatively unknown John Beck can be his team's starting quarterback this season. The rest of Washington, D.C., has been a little slower to embrace him.
Beck showed up to Redskins Park on Monday to try to meet with offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, but he wasn't allowed to enter the building. The security guy at the gate had no idea he was the Redskins quarterback. From Mike Jones at the Washington Post:
He was turned away at the security gate by a guard, who didn't even know who he was.
Beck was told that players can't report until Tuesday morning, and left slightly disappointed, but not offended.
"I'm OK with that," Beck said of not being recognized when reached this afternoon. "I haven't done anything yet."
If I was in the security guy's shoes that day, I believe I'd have done the same thing. I'm not sure I'd recognize John Beck if he walked into my kitchen right now and started making me waffles.
Beck was drafted in the second round of the 2007 draft by the Dolphins. In two years with the Fish, he started just four games (with a spotless 0-4 record) and was unable to beat out Chad Pennington(notes), Chad Henne(notes) or the great Cleo Lemon(notes) for playing time. He spent 2009 wearing a Ravens uniform, but never got on the field.
In 47 days, he could be starting for the Redskins.
I don't really like the idea of Beck at QB. In fact, I don't like it so much that I would rather see Rexy as our QB. While I'm not enamored with Rexy, he seems like our best option. In the limited amount of time I have seen Beck, he seems to be trying to play the part of starting QB. I just don't buy it. I'm willing to give him a shot and see what he can offer but my expectations are pretty low with him.
Again, don't love Rexy but I think he gives us the best shot at winning and is an okay stop gap until we find someone better. Rexy can be very good the problem is that he can also be very bad (make the stupid throw for an INT and not feel the pressure and takes the sack and loses the ball).
5 comments:
Rex has shown the ability to play. Beck hasn't.
We'll see what happens.
I think there's two ways to look at the Beck issue. 1. Beck was considered to be one of the top QBs in his draft class. He's had some time to learn the ways of the NFL and grow into the leader he's trying to be. If he can't prove to be at least serviceable now, he never will. Shanny wants to see what he has.
2. Making Beck the starter is Shanny's way of gearing up for the Andrew Luck lottery.
Either way, we can't expect much out of Beck in his first season as a potential starter. 6-10 (or worse) - Here we come! HTTR!
I do like when QBs have the opportunity to sit and watch as opposed to getting thrown into the fire. They can benefit a ton by having the opportunity to watch.
However, Beck is like 30 years old and if he had the stuff to start in the league seems like he would've shown it by now. Particularly being a former high draft pick and having opportunities with multiple teams. This is not a Trent Green type situation.
Still, I'm fine with Beck competing for the starting job but I just don't see it. Hopefully he will prove me wrong. As strange as it sounds, I would rather have Rexy as the Redskin starting QB.
I really dont see Beck as the problem with the team. Its known that hes not a proven QB. The skins need more players like this. Unproven guys who want to prove. Their scouting team needs to be able to find these players. Rather than always going after past tense guys who might not have much more to prove and just want big contracts. In my opinion Redskins fans are negative about Beck because they are used to getting the big name guys which usually end up in failure. Its hard for redskins nation to accept a relatively unknown guy at a key position like qB. Its always got to be a big name free agent "has been" or a high draft pick that has been placed under immense pressure of succeeding that any result short of a playoffs, results in bashing (i.e. expecting Jason Campbell to win with no offensive line and no receivers and a dummy coach) I like what they are doing with giving Beck a shot. Hes not a toal aloof rookie. Hes been in the league, sat behind some starters and learned the ropes and now his time has come to prove. Reminds me of how Aaron Rodgers started his career. Shannys are smart coaches. theyve seen their share of QB's from elway, to plummer, to schaub, and if they think he has what it takes to be a starter, then its likely he does. he may not have much experience but the guy has the desire to prove... and he has some skills otherwise he would not have made it this far. that i think is enough to atleast give him a shot.
JSR, I am all for giving a guy a shot and being patient. I was a big JC fan and was actually disappointed to see him go. I don't care for the high profile sigining and the Skins have made more than their fair share of mistakes in FA.
However, the problem with Beck is that he has been in the league for several years with multiple teams and has not shown anything. Beck was drafted in the second round of the 2007 draft by the Dolphins. In two years with the Fish, he started just four games (with a spotless 0-4 record) and was unable to beat out Chad Pennington(notes), Chad Henne(notes) or the great Cleo Lemon(notes) for playing time. He spent 2009 wearing a Ravens uniform, but never got on the field.
Now maybe the Shannys know something we don't know and maybe they know how to hone his skills. If so, great. Again, I'm all for giving the guy an opportunity to win the job. It's just that from his past history, what I saw of him in last year's preseason, and my own subjective impressions of how he has been talking and trying to play the part of an NFL QB, I don't think he is the guy.
We'll see and hopefully he will prove me wrong.
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