This morning I listened to the Junkies debating whether Shanahan would be here through the end of his 5-year contract and discussing how badly he has managed the QB situation. I'm no Shanahan apologist, but I do tend to disagree with them.
Shanahan inherited a team fraught with the misgivings of Vinny and Zorn. He didn't believe in Jason Campbell and, frankly, neither did this city. So he did what he thought was best. He brought in a veteran at QB1 and backed him up with two journeymen(-ish). It seemed liked a safe move, one that would buy some time while they worked through changes and challenges on the rest of the roster and prepared for a big 2011 draft.
Unfortunately, the plan imploded. McNabb was not in peak condition. He paid lip service to the media but showed very little progress in learning our playbook and becoming a team leader. We now know we had him midway into what is clearly the downward spiral on which he will end his NFL career. He got the bench and we got Rex.
For all intents and purposes, it seemed clear that Rex got the start because he and Kyle had a relationship from their time in Houston, he knew the offense, and had more on-field experience than Beck-the-Unknown. Ultimately, however, Rex played like Rex plays and we ended the season 6-10.
Enter the 2011 Draft and cue commentary that Shanahan missed an opportunity by not drafting a QB. It is hard to argue against such claims, but I believe he was right to continue to build a core of young players, on both offense and defense, who will have a year to learn the system and develop as professionals in the NFL, making us a better team and a better place for a young QB in the future. We needed positions on both sides of the ball, a lot of them, and trading down for more picks was the unpopular, but healthy decision.
And all of that is to say, now is the time.
In addition to great defensive additions, we now have two classes of offensive players with potential - Austin (2010), Paulsen (2010 Undrafted), Hankerson, Helu, Paul, and Royster. Now is their time to show us what they've got.
Cooley is on IR, possibly having seen his last snap as a Redskin (though I, for one, hope not). Hightower is also on IR, with no guarantees for a return to the Redskins next year (one year contract, though, if healthy, I'd like to see him back). Moss is out for 5-7 weeks, possibly the next candidate for IR depending on his progress (is it worth bringing him back in week 10?).
Now is the time to let our young guns have at it. Put them out there. All of them. Give them their chance. Give them time with the first team and lots of it. We need to take time to develop these guys. We'll need patience, but we have the veterans on the squad to help them along.
Beck has a year and a half with this offense, runs the team efficiently, and can spread the ball around to give opportunities to all the young studs. Our QB situation is bad, no doubt about it, but I like that we have this time to build a stronger team for a new QB. I know a rookie won't solve all our problems, but any rookie will fare better with teammates that are more comfortable in their roles, routes and responsibilities.
And yes, I understand that if we had drafted a rookie, he too would have an extra year under his belt, but would it have been worth it at the expense of draft picks at other positions and depth chart issues in 2012? A QB may be a team's offensive leader and the key component of any winning offense, but where are we without talent and depth on the rest of the team? I'll tell you where - St. Louis.
Shanahan inherited a team fraught with the misgivings of Vinny and Zorn. He didn't believe in Jason Campbell and, frankly, neither did this city. So he did what he thought was best. He brought in a veteran at QB1 and backed him up with two journeymen(-ish). It seemed liked a safe move, one that would buy some time while they worked through changes and challenges on the rest of the roster and prepared for a big 2011 draft.
Unfortunately, the plan imploded. McNabb was not in peak condition. He paid lip service to the media but showed very little progress in learning our playbook and becoming a team leader. We now know we had him midway into what is clearly the downward spiral on which he will end his NFL career. He got the bench and we got Rex.
For all intents and purposes, it seemed clear that Rex got the start because he and Kyle had a relationship from their time in Houston, he knew the offense, and had more on-field experience than Beck-the-Unknown. Ultimately, however, Rex played like Rex plays and we ended the season 6-10.
Enter the 2011 Draft and cue commentary that Shanahan missed an opportunity by not drafting a QB. It is hard to argue against such claims, but I believe he was right to continue to build a core of young players, on both offense and defense, who will have a year to learn the system and develop as professionals in the NFL, making us a better team and a better place for a young QB in the future. We needed positions on both sides of the ball, a lot of them, and trading down for more picks was the unpopular, but healthy decision.
And all of that is to say, now is the time.
In addition to great defensive additions, we now have two classes of offensive players with potential - Austin (2010), Paulsen (2010 Undrafted), Hankerson, Helu, Paul, and Royster. Now is their time to show us what they've got.
Cooley is on IR, possibly having seen his last snap as a Redskin (though I, for one, hope not). Hightower is also on IR, with no guarantees for a return to the Redskins next year (one year contract, though, if healthy, I'd like to see him back). Moss is out for 5-7 weeks, possibly the next candidate for IR depending on his progress (is it worth bringing him back in week 10?).
Now is the time to let our young guns have at it. Put them out there. All of them. Give them their chance. Give them time with the first team and lots of it. We need to take time to develop these guys. We'll need patience, but we have the veterans on the squad to help them along.
Beck has a year and a half with this offense, runs the team efficiently, and can spread the ball around to give opportunities to all the young studs. Our QB situation is bad, no doubt about it, but I like that we have this time to build a stronger team for a new QB. I know a rookie won't solve all our problems, but any rookie will fare better with teammates that are more comfortable in their roles, routes and responsibilities.
And yes, I understand that if we had drafted a rookie, he too would have an extra year under his belt, but would it have been worth it at the expense of draft picks at other positions and depth chart issues in 2012? A QB may be a team's offensive leader and the key component of any winning offense, but where are we without talent and depth on the rest of the team? I'll tell you where - St. Louis.
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