Some optimism on the 'Shanaplan'

[REDSKINS4ever]

One thing bothers me and that's Mike Shanahan's ego. He said before the preseason and during the NFL lockout that he was going to stake his reputation on John Beck. But Beck lost the QB competition in training camp/preseason to Rex Grossman. Grossman actually played well the first three weeks. But by the forth game, his play began to decline. After the bye week, Grossman was benched after tossing 4 picks against the Eagles defense. Then Beck takes over after Grossman is benched and plays worse in terms of how the position should be played. He checks it down to his halfback on 3rd and 20 instead of finding a WR open down field. Then Shanahan switches back to Grossman and Rex has actually played satisfactory the last two outings against the Dolphins and Cowboys.

Where am I going this this, you ask?

Mike Shanahan won't admit that he made a mistake going with Grossman and Beck atop the depth chart at the start of preseason. So, how does he draft a QB without admitting that he was wrong from the start? Until he does that, Mike Shanahan may still delude himself into thinking that Grossman may improve and Beck is the QB of the future.

[Bucket]

You guys are funny..

So Shanahan was suppose to come out in the first press conference this year and just say..

"Hey guys, look.. I understand we have two mediocre QB's on this football team, but I'm hoping for the best and that we can win a few games with talent around him untill we can draft our QB in 2012. Since we went for defense in this draft"

I'm sorry, but you guys act like he's suppose to come out and throw his team under the bus lol. He's the head coach, and would you want to play for a guy that basically would just say you suck or you're not good enough to play? What coach in the NFL actually says he's not confident in his team/players?

Of fcking course he would state his reputation on his QB's.. It's his freaking football team...Get a brain!!!!!! I'm so tired of reading half wit comments.

[REDSKINS4ever]

Originally Posted by Bucket

You guys are funny..

So Shanahan was suppose to come out in the first press conference this year and just say..

"Hey guys, look.. I understand we have two mediocre QB's on this football team, but I'm hoping for the best and that we can win a few games with talent around him untill we can draft our QB in 2012. Since we went for defense in this draft"

I'm sorry, but you guys act like he's suppose to come out and throw his team under the bus lol. He's the head coach, and would you want to play for a guy that basically would just say you suck or you're not good enough to play? What coach in the NFL actually says he's not confident in his team/players?

Of fcking course he would state his reputation on his QB's.. It's his freaking football team...Get a brain!!!!!! I'm so tired of reading half wit comments.

Well, if Shanahan knows whether he was wrong or not in thinking so highly of Beck, I guess he knows better now. Of course he's not going to admit that he was wrong. But with all of the pop warner level QB play this season, and the criticism that Shanahan, Beck, and Grossman has received, you would think that he would draft a QB in the 2012 draft.

You have 31 other head coaches in the NFL that would not have gone with either Beck or Grossman atop their teams depth charts. So Shanahan was either planning to lose this year in order to draft high the next off season because he knew the level of collegiate QBs was going to be there for him, or he's a moron who doesn't know quarterbacks.

[Paintrain]

Originally Posted by REDSKINS4ever

Well, if Shanahan knows whether he was wrong or not in thinking so highly of Beck, I guess he knows better now. Of course he's not going to admit that he was wrong. But with all of the pop warner level QB play this season, and the criticism that Shanahan, Beck, and Grossman has received, you would think that he would draft a QB in the 2012 draft.

You have 31 other head coaches in the NFL that would not have gone with either Beck or Grossman atop their teams depth charts. So Shanahan was either planning to lose this year in order to draft high the next off season because he knew the level of collegiate QBs was going to be there for him, or he's a moron who doesn't know quarterbacks.

Hate to be cliche but actions speak louder than words. The fact that neither are signed past this season or to significant money clearly indicates they weren't viewed as anything long term. You always want to win but smart planning says win as much as you can with what you have even if they are just here as a placeholder.

[MTK]

Some people put way too much stock into coach speak.

[freddyg12]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

Some people put way too much stock into coach speak.

True, however the head coach is the spokesperson for the team & by default has PR duties. What he says publicly can impact his players. I don't know if that was the case w/the McNabb debacle; were players upset by comments about his conditioning last year?

In hindsight, given what's been said about the players lack of support for Beck, was Shanahan setting himself up for failure by publicly supporting Beck early on?

I realize there's a big difference between public & private statements that coaches will make, and Shanny is very tight lipped on details w/the press. Still, what's said to the media can impact the team IMO, even if on the surface it seems benign.

[The Goat]

Originally Posted by Paintrain

Just curious, which veteran QB that were available this offseason or rookies (again that were available in 2010 or 2011) would have made a better long term decision than what we currently have. Please don't mistake this for me embracing Rex/Beck as anything more than a one season stopgap as both of their contracts are done at the end of the season so we have $0 invested at that position for 2012.

In answering that question, remember that if we drafted a QB at 10 we wouldn't have Kerrigan, Hankerson or Helu and would have had to give up 2012 picks to move up in the 2nd round for Dalton. One big failing IMO was not drafting a depth QB in the later rounds of either 2010 or 2011.

Not picking on you but the revisionist history of 'we should have done better' without citing specifics always strikes a nerve.

I'll meet you half way on the devil's advocate line of thinking and (grudgingly) say retaining Rex was ok. There's no excuse for Beck. Could have brought in Vince Young and had a real QB competition...although IMO he's better than either Beck or Rex.

And per the Kerrigan, Hank, Helu situation I'm glad we didn't trade up and give away more picks in the process. Drafting the best prospect QB is tough as hell unless you have the first pick IMO.

[htownskinfan]

Originally Posted by REDSKINS4ever

Well, if Shanahan knows whether he was wrong or not in thinking so highly of Beck, I guess he knows better now. Of course he's not going to admit that he was wrong. But with all of the pop warner level QB play this season, and the criticism that Shanahan, Beck, and Grossman has received, you would think that he would draft a QB in the 2012 draft.

You have 31 other head coaches in the NFL that would not have gone with either Beck or Grossman atop their teams depth charts. So Shanahan was either planning to lose this year in order to draft high the next off season because he knew the level of collegiate QBs was going to be there for him, or he's a moron who doesn't know quarterbacks.

Im going to go with this statement.
Ask any Denver fan,the thing that got Shanahan fired was his talent evaluation,not his coaching

[redsk1]

Originally Posted by Bucket

You guys are funny..

So Shanahan was suppose to come out in the first press conference this year and just say..

"Hey guys, look.. I understand we have two mediocre QB's on this football team, but I'm hoping for the best and that we can win a few games with talent around him untill we can draft our QB in 2012. Since we went for defense in this draft"

I'm sorry, but you guys act like he's suppose to come out and throw his team under the bus lol. He's the head coach, and would you want to play for a guy that basically would just say you suck or you're not good enough to play? What coach in the NFL actually says he's not confident in his team/players?

Of fcking course he would state his reputation on his QB's.. It's his freaking football team...Get a brain!!!!!! I'm so tired of reading half wit comments.

Exactly. The media fueled this Beck thing. Of course, MS is going to come out and talk highly of his QB's. I think he's smart enough to know a good QB when he sees one.

Yes, people see too much into coach speak and player speak for that matter.

[SkinItup]

Originally Posted by REDSKINS4ever

\
You have 31 other head coaches in the NFL that would not have gone with either Beck or Grossman atop their teams depth charts. So Shanahan was either planning to lose this year in order to draft high the next off season because he knew the level of collegiate QBs was going to be there for him, or he's a moron who doesn't know quarterbacks.

Seattle might have gone with Grossman, he is better than T. Jackson.

[GTripp0012]

Well, there's always this week for deciding such important matters.

[skins89moss]

Originally Posted by SFREDSKIN

Hankerson, Moss, Paul, Austin, Gafney. I believe in these guys.

Armstrong having a bad year and Austin the light has not come on or he is just not very good. I like Gafney as a #2 or #3 Moss a #2 and Hankerson is a #2 thus far. We dont have a #1 on the roster so far.

[REDSKINS4ever]

Armstrong missed some games because of injury earlier in the season and he just hasn't come on yet. Austin isn't on the field enough. Austin does possess talent, which is the reason he's made the roster two years straight. He's just third on the depth chart. Hankerson could very well end up as the #1 receiver next season. Moss is coming back so he'll be the # 1 receiver while Jabar Gaffney will no doubt be the #2 WR.

[Big C]

armstrong should be cut imo. he has brought nothing to the team whatsoever this year. he had a good year last year because he just blew by people. now they jam him and hes not able to get off the jam. his stats this year: 5 catches for 47 yards and 1 touchdown. he is 28 years old, its not like hes a young guy with loads of potential. he was a one year wonder, i see no reason to save a spot for him.

[IrMitchell]

Originally Posted by Big C

armstrong should be cut imo. he has brought nothing to the team whatsoever this year. he had a good year last year because he just blew by people. now they jam him and hes not able to get off the jam. his stats this year: 5 catches for 47 yards and 1 touchdown. he is 28 years old, its not like hes a young guy with loads of potential. he was a one year wonder, i see no reason to save a spot for him.

Shanahan knows this.