Washington Redskins fans, John Beck is your man.
(John McDonnell – The Washington Post)
John Beck rolls to his left in his own end zone, fires a deep long ball to Donte Stallworth in single coverage, Lardarius Webb makes an unbelievable play and comes down with the interception. Normally I’m none too pleased when the Redskins throw interceptions, but this is an exception. After enduring countless games where Jason Campbell would rather take the sack and fumble than throw up a 50-50 ball, it was refreshing to see a quarterback take a chance.

That’s all Santana Moss could say during Campbell’s tenure; give the receivers a chance to make a play. If the defense isn’t worried about big play potential then say goodbye to the running game and quick passing routes. I’ll take a punt-like interception over a sack and a fumble every single time.

Say what you want about Rex Beck. Far from Rodgers and Brees, further from Manning and Brady, light years from Montana and Marino. Even with a Super Bowl win this year they wouldn’t be close to Hall of Fame consideration. Closer but still out of reach are Joe Theismann, Doug Williams and Mark Rypien. Is that such a bad thing? The Redskins had their untouchable superstar quarterback in Sammy Baugh, but they’ve proven they don’t need one to win it all.

I convinced myself before pre-season began that Beck needed to win the starting job quickly and unanimously for me to believe the Redskins had a snowball’s chance in Dallas to get this team winning again. Oddly, the only logic supporting my wishful thinking towards Beck derived from a fuzzy memory of people being high on him when he was drafted, Shanahan’s unabashed confidence in him, and the fact that I knew very little about John the man and Beck the quarterback.

Rex, on the other hand, is no mystery. He’s been consistently inconsistent, showing flashes of brilliance marred by bad decisions and poor throws. Forty career touchdowns and 40 career interceptions subliminally translates into an 8-8 season. Even though that would be an improvement from 4-12 and 6-10, I think that most Redskins fans want to believe at least 10-6 is attainable. Is Grossman capable of a 10-6 season? Of course. He led the 2006 Bears to the Super Bowl with a 13-3 record, heavily-scrutinized after every interception and rarely congratulated after every touchdown. He’s also been in Kyle Shanahan’s offensive system for three years, which is more time with any system since the Brad Johnson era. But Rex isn’t the guy.

Beck did not win the starting job quickly and unanimously, but whether this is because Beck was over-hyped or Grossman exceeded expectations is unclear. They’ve both looked sharp and solid in the pre-season, in part to the upgrades at offensive line, running back, and receiver. Forgive me Rex, but I’d like to see Beck start against the Giants and I personally think this decision has already been made. Rex’s start would signify a second chance for himself. Beck’s start would signify a new beginning for the Redskins. If the competition is too close to call then symbols become much more significant, especially for a franchise and fanbase that is desperately hoping for a clean slate.

By Gareth Rees

– Staff Writer

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Aug 31, 2011 – The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be live on television in the Tampa Bay area for just the second time this preseason as they tackle the Washington Redskins in the nations capital this Thursday at 7:30. Unfortunately, fans won’t get to see Josh Freeman or any of the first team as head coach Raheem Morris has already stated that he will be resting his starters during the preseasons final exhibition match. 

With the third preseason game, a 17-14 victory over the Miami Dolphins, usually considered the final tuneup for starters and first teamers, expect to see a heavy workload for backups, rookies, and undrafted free-agents attempting to secure a precious roster spot. Earlier this week, the team made 10 roster cuts bringing the total player number down to 80, but there are many tough decisions still to be made for the front office as they must get the roster trimmed down to 53 before the Detroit Lions come to Raymond James on September 11th. 

Even without the premiere players on the field there will be interesting battles unravelling on Thursday night. Here are some things to watch for:

• Running game: The Bucs have struggled to move the ball on the ground all preseason long with LeGarrette Blount unable to flash that bruising style that catapulted him to a 1000-yard rookie season. Perhaps it’s just something that the players are saving till the games count but the fact that the Buccaneers leading rusher so far is the backup quarterback is worrisome.
• Wide Receivers: It’s looking like the Buccaneers may keep only 5 wideouts on the active roster and with Mike Williams, Arrielious Benn, and Sammie Stroughter having three spots virtually locked up there will be battles for the last two slots. Veteran Michael Spurlock will have to show he can hold off newcomer Preston Parker and breakout player Dezmon Briscoe if he wants to remain a Buccaneer. Ed Gant and Maurice Price are also in the mix, but considered longshots.
• Defensive Line: Most of the defensive positions look filled but defensive end George Johnson has made things very interesting for the Buccaneers front office when it comes to pencilling in end rushers. Johnson has lead the team in sacks this preseason and played his way into the conversation at DE. If he can continue his hot play against the Redskins he may well find himself on the active roster come Sunday’s instead of the practice squad.
• Finally, stay healthy: Most important is that the players who project to end up on the active roster stay healthy. That’s why you won’t see Freeman or any of the skill position starters Thursday night. Even though it may diminish the quality of the game for the fans, it’s worth it to not have anyone get injured in a game that means absolutely nothing.

Read More: Josh Freeman (QB – TAM), Washington Redskins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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With all the energy of a little kid, with all the authority and saltiness of a drill sergeant, the 58-year-old special teams coach commands the turf for the precious 37 minutes or so he gets during a typical two-hour practice.

He’s got a lot to teach over the course of a preseason, from standard techniques on how to block during punt returns to the bizarre-looking onside punt that maybe — just maybe — might be needed one day following a safety.

He is a man who operates only in high gear. No one can even imagine him trying to relax.

“It’s fast and faster,” Smith said. “I’m relaxed when I’m on the field, to be honest with you. Because I enjoy what I do. I don’t have a lot of hobbies and things like that. I’m not a golfer. I love the beach when I can get away and those kind of things, but I’m not a movie guy. I just love football and I love being around these players.

“The lockout killed me from a personal standpoint because what the (heck) kind of coach is it that don’t have no players? And I miss the players, and they think that’s a little bit corny and those kinds of things, but when the players weren’t in this building, I really missed ‘em.”

Smith has been with the Redskins since 2004, and this is his hardest week of the year.

The team by Saturday evening must cut its roster to 53, and he’ll be in the meetings fighting for returners, cover guys, gunners and jammers — players that may or may not fit into the plans for the offense or defense. When he loses his case, it’s tough to break the news.

“It is hard because I do take it personally,” he said. “The guy’s out there that I respect, that busts his butt for me, that does what I ask him to do, I hate to see them go. And I do cry. I really cry. That’s just the nature of the beast, and I don’t like that part of it.”

Smith is almost nerdy about his job. He combs the rule book looking for oddities — and there are many when it comes to special teams. He keeps meticulous notes. It’s almost as if his job were a five-star Sudoku that he has to solve.

“Relax? Not in here,” said linebacker Lorenzo Alexander, one of the Redskins’ top special teams players. “I’m never seen him relaxed. He’s always either in there watching film, walking around popping some gum, trying to figure out something, scheming. He’s got all those notebooks in there. I mean, he’s a workaholic.”

Of course, most NFL coaches are workaholics, but special teams assistants are often a breed apart.

“They’re usually high energy,” coach Mike Shanahan said. “Everybody that comes into the NFL, they’re not coming in to play special teams. Everybody wants to be a starter, offensively, defensively. Usually when they came out from the collegiate level, they never thought about playing special teams and they didn’t play special teams because they were usually a superstar. So for them to get into it, you’ve got to have a guy that motivates people.”

Read More: Malcolm Kelly (WR – WAS), Xavier Fulton (OT – WAS), Ben Chappell (QB – WAS), Jarvis Jenkins (DE – WAS), Dante Barnes (DB – WAS), Tyrone Grant (DB – WAS), Eric McBride (LB – WAS), Joe Torchia (TE – WAS), Washington Redskins

The Washington Redskins have completed their round of NFL roster cuts, getting their squad down to 80 players prior to the 4 p.m. Tuesday deadline. The four most recent players released are defensive back Dante Barnes, defensive back Tyrone Grant, offensive lineman Corey O’Daniel and tight end Joe Torchia, according to a team release. They join quarterback Ben Chappell, offensive lineman Xavier Fulton, linebacker Eric McBride and wide receiver Malcolm Kelly as the players released on Tuesday.

Kelly is the most significant of the nine cuts, given his status as a former second-round pick of the team back in 2008. He ended up receiving an injury settlement from the club stemming from his hamstring and knee issues that have plagued him. The Redskins also cleared a roster spot by sending defensive lineman Jarvis Jenkins to injured reserve following an ACL tear.

The Redskins now have until September 3 to get down to the 53-man roster they will carry into the NFL’s regular season.

We’ll be keeping track of all the roster moves that the Redskins make, on Tuesday and throughout the week, in this StoryStream, but check out Hogs Haven for more information.

Read More: Malcolm Kelly (WR – WAS), Xavier Fulton (OT – WAS), Clint Stitser (K – WAS), Ben Chappell (QB – WAS), Jarvis Jenkins (DE – WAS), Eric McBride (LB – WAS), Washington Redskins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Washington Redskins continue to make a series of roster cuts as the 4 p.m. deadline to get down to 80 players looms. In a press conference after practice on Tuesday, Mike Shanahan confirmed five of the seven players the team needed to cut. They are Malcolm Kelly, Ben Chappell, Clint Stitser, Eric McBride and Xavier Fulton.

The first three on the list were previously reported, with Kelly being the big one. McBride is an outside linebacker from Richmond who didn’t do much during camp, while Fulton was a spare offensive lineman that was drafted by the Buccaneers in the fifth round in 2009. Neither release comes as a surprise.

The Redskins also placed defensive lineman Jarvis Jenkins on injured reserve, freeing up another roster spot and allowing them to release one less player.

We’ll be keeping track of all the roster moves that the Redskins make, on Tuesday and throughout the week, in this stream, but check out Hogs Haven for more information.