Give Mike Shanahan credit for one thing. His timing for benching quarterbacks has improved. Shanahan pulled Rex Grossman in the fourth quarter of the Washington Redskins-Philadelphia Eagles game after Grossman threw his fourth interception.
Last season, Shanahan benched Donovan McNabb for Grossman with about two minutes to go with Washington trailing the nascent Detroit Lions. Grossman had little time to warm up and fumbled when hit on his first play. Ndamukong Suh scooped up the ball and rumbled for the Lions touchdown that put the game out of reach.
This time, John Beck entered early in the fourth-quarter to lead the Redskins to a touchdown that kept faint hope alive for a comeback. The Eagles killed the clock with three straight running plays to their left followed by Michael Vick’s one-yard sneak to convert third down to protect a lead.
Eagles back-up safety Kurt Coleman turned the tables on the Redskins, victimizing Grossman for three interceptions. With one more, Coleman would have joined Redskins CB DeAngelo Hall for tying the NFL record for four interceptions in one game. Hall turned the trick against the Chicago Bears in 2010. As it was, Coleman settled for being the first Eagles player in 46 years to snag three picks in a single game.
Coleman, a second year player, struggled early in the season. Andy Reid benched him when Coleman did not improve. Injuries forced the Eagles to start him against the Redskins who did just what an offense is supposed to do against a weak link. With Nnamdi Asomugha, Asante Samuel and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie in Philly’s secondary, Washington went hard after Coleman early and often.
Coleman made Washington pay the first time they tried him. Grossman’s third down pass went right to Coleman on the Philadelphia two-yard line. It was Washington’s first possession and the turnover set the tone for the rest of the game.
Washington lost LG Kory Lichtensteiger on that play and would lose LT Trent Williams later in the half. Neither returned. The make-shift line struggled with run blocking. Ryan Torain, who gained 135 yards on 19 carries two weeks before, managed no better than 22 yards on 10 tries against the Eagles. He finished as Washington’s leading ground gainer.
Thus, the Eagles’ early lead and Redskins injuries backed Washington into leaning on the passing game to win. The game plan called for targeting Coleman. Shanahan did not stop until he pulled Grossman. Beck’s mobility helped with a struggling offensive line. But, Shanahan’s real favor to Beck was to ask him to challenge Coleman less.
The Redskins found success in the match-up of WR Jabar Gaffney against Eagles DE Justin Babin. Beck completed a 32-yard pass to Terrence Austin to his right to set up his two-yard scoring run on the next play.
Left unanswered is whether Beck would have been any better at targeting Coleman than Grossman was.
Redskins fans are in a foul, anyone-but-Grossman mood. Coaches do not think like fans. By now, Shanahan has looked at the coach’s video and assessed what role critical line injuries played in the lack of running success and how it altered Grossman’s timing. Since quarterbacks attempt passes and receivers complete them, the coaches would have graded both quarterback and the receivers for breakdowns on the interceptions. If faults rest with the receivers, Shanahan may be less inclined to keep Grossman in reserve.
Coleman said he was able to read Grossman. That suggests two issues, either Grossman is telegraphing his passes, or opposing defenses have figured out Washington’s passing game. A player can be coached out of telegraphing throws. Grossman is more pliable than Donovan McNabb was, so he may get another shot after a little “guidance.”
Opposing teams with the book on the Redskins offense are harder problems to solve whoever is under center. The fix means changing the playbook or throwing in new wrinkles. No team has a book on Beck, an argument in his favor.
Mike Shanahan will ignore fan sentiment to go with his hot hand, the same approach he uses for his running backs. Shanahan is applying the logic of golf to his player choices. He will pull the right club for the lay of the land and the distance. He will not tell you the club until right before he swings.
Washington is stronger elsewhere than quarterback. Whether the call goes to Beck or Grossman, the 2011 Redskins are built to play with a lead.
