NFC East: Rob Jackson
Observation deck: Redskins-Buccaneers
Aaaaanyway, this was clearly not John Beck's best work. The Redskins' 29-24 exhibition victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their final game of the 2011 NFL preseason was the worst of the three preseason performances Beck has turned in during his audition to be the Redskins' starting quarterback. He looked much better in each of the previous two games than he did Thursday night, when he was 10-for-21 for 108 yards and an interception.
The question, of course, is what it all means.
Certainly, if Beck's chances of being the starter were riding on his performance in this game, he didn't help himself. But I don't think he necessarily had to play well Thursday in order to win the job. As we have discussed many times on this blog, the competition between Beck and Rex Grossman is not as simple as a straight-up contest based on preseason performance. Mike Shanahan and Kyle Shanahan do not view Beck and Grossman as equal quantities. They like Grossman and feel certain he can operate their offense. But they believe Beck offers more upside, and they wanted to use the preseason to help them gauge how he would handle the pressure of his opportunity.
Beck surely did that in the Redskins' second and third preseason games (after missing the first with a groin injury). And he showed a couple of things Thursday night, too. There was the 2nd-and-9 play where he dodged pressure up the middle and completed the pass for a first down. He hit a big third-down completion to Donte' Stallworth while taking a hit. He showed his obviously quick release and made a couple of smart decisions, including not throwing to Stallworth a couple of plays later when he saw that Stallworth was in double coverage.
But he also did some bad things, including a couple of bad-decision throws into crowds and the interception in the end zone. He looked as though he could have had a touchdown pass to Niles Paul, but he threw the ball to Paul's back shoulder while Paul was going up expecting the throw to be high. Not sure whose fault that was, but it didn't look good.
Now, Beck did play behind the Redskins' starting offensive line. But he didn't have starting wide receivers Santana Moss or Jabar Gaffney, who got the night off. And he had rookie running back Evan Royster, who's not the same factor in the passing game (as a blocker or receiver) as Tim Hightower is. It's hard for me to believe the Redskins' coaches would have sent Beck out there thinking he had to play well in this game to get the job and then not give him Moss or Gaffney to throw to.
Some time in the next nine days, Mike Shananan will name his starting quarterback for the Sept. 11 season opener against the Giants. I still believe, based on the conversations I had when I was at Redskins training camp and what I've seen in the preseason, that it'll be Beck because it's been Beck all along. But if it's not Beck, I don't think he lost the job Thursday night. And I seriously doubt it means he won't be the starter at any point (or even for the majority of the games) in 2011.
Some other observations from the Redskins' final preseason game:
1. Ryan Torain is a good running back. Hightower is sure to open the season as the Redskins' starting running back. But Torain, who missed the bulk of this preseason with a broken hand, will remain a threat to steal carries and maybe the job itself. Torain entered the game late in the first half after Royster started the game, and he ran with obvious power. Torain's issues have been health-related, and if he stays healthy and continues to show something in limited action, don't be surprised to see him get a turn as the starter at some point this season.
2. Josh Wilson got an interception on a nice leaping catch, and it had to feel good. Wilson was brought in to be a starting cornerback, but he's had injury issues this preseason and hasn't looked great when he's been in there. As good as the Redskins' defense has looked overall, Wilson must have enjoyed being a productive part of it going into the season. Still think the secondary as a whole will improve once the starting safeties are in there.
3. Oh yeah, Brandon Banks. After an injury-plagued preseason of his own, Banks got into Thursday's game and showed what he can do on returns, running one back 95 yards for a touchdown. He's so fast and such a sharp runner when he's got a head of steam, and as he crossed the goal line you couldn't help thinking, "Yeah, that gets the guy on the team." Then you saw the replays they were reviewing and that Banks hot-dogged it across the goal line and very nearly dropped the ball before crossing that goal line because of his hot-dogging. And even though the call wasn't overturned and he did get credited with the touchdown, you couldn't help thinking, "Yeah, that's why there's a chance a guy with that kind of speed and talent might not make the team." Good lesson for Banks. Would have been a better one if they'd taken away his touchdown.
4. Second-team defense. Guys like Keyaron Fox and Rob Jackson looked very fired-up and very effective, making you think the Redskins have some interesting depth on defense. But then you remember they're playing against backups on the Tampa Bay defense and that there's no way to know what you're really watching in preseason, and we'll just leave it at that.
The Redskins had a nice preseason. Stallworth's fingertip catch for the touchdown that sealed this meaningless win was a fun way to end it. The way they played this month should help their confidence. No idea if it means they'll have a good regular season. Right now they need to be thinking about how to beat the Giants. And yeah, settling on a quarterback.
The Redskins moved to a 3-4 scheme last season, but London Fletcher wasn’t fazed by the scheme change and just kept up his steady pace. He is a true professional and one of the most consistent linebackers of this generation. The Redskins could lose Rocky McIntosh in free agency. McIntosh started next to Fletcher on the inside, and a change of scenery and scheme could do him well, as I think he fits a 4-3 front better than Washington’s 3-4.
On the outside, Brian Orakpo again showed why he can become one of the better pass-rushers in the league, but he wasn’t the same player during the second half of the season. I would also be remiss if I didn’t mention the problems that Orakpo had versus the run this year. There was little to get excited about opposite Orakpo, and adding another outside linebacker who can get after the quarterback might free Orakpo up to really wreak some havoc. This is a major need.
For the second time in his career, Andre Carter showed that he is not a fit in an odd front. He could be playing elsewhere next season, and for the most part, was replaced by Lorenzo Alexander. A liability as a pass-rusher and in coverage, Alexander is best suited as a backup on the outside and as a core special-teamer rather than in a starting role.
Others worth mentioning are Perry Riley and H.B. Blades on the inside and Chris Wilson and Rob Jackson on the outside. The undersized Blades is an extremely poor-man’s version of Fletcher and had a solid 2009 campaign. Wilson is a pretty good special-teams player and shows promise as a pass-rusher. Jackson could get a chance at more snaps going forward.
Scouts Inc. watches games, breaks down film and studies football from all angles for ESPN.com.
Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 17:
Are the New York Giants playing for Tom Coughlin's job Sunday against the Washington Redskins? If the Giants somehow lose this game at FedEx, there will be immense pressure on co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch to fire Coughlin. And even a win doesn't guarantee Coughlin will return. The Giants dominated the Redskins at the line of scrimmage in their last meeting and Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw both had big days running the ball. The Skins have shown a lot more pride on defense in recent weeks, though, so I don't expect another blowout. Coughlin has asked his players to show more intensity early in this game. He was embarrassed by how his team was physically whipped by Green Bay last Sunday. If that happens against the Redskins, we could be reporting about a coaching search next week.
Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesWith another strong performance, Stephen McGee could be Tony Romo's backup next season.Could this be Kevin Kolb's last start with the Eagles? We all thought Kolb was the heir apparent to Donovan McNabb, but that was before Michael Vick began his MVP campaign. Kolb will have an opportunity to put some more work on film for the teams that are desperate for quarterback help. I think Andy Reid and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg will keep things pretty vanilla with this game plan against the Cowboys, but Kolb will still take a couple of shots downfield against Dallas' cornerbacks. If the Eagles can get a first-round pick for Kolb, they'd have to think about moving him. And if you're the Cardinals or the Vikings, I think Kolb might be a better option than some of the rookies in this draft. And it's not like he'd break the bank since he's already earned the bulk of his money from the Eagles.
I'll be watching the interior of the Cowboys' offensive line Sunday. There are several players -- Kyle Kosier, Leonard Davis, Marc Colombo -- who could be replaced up front this offseason. If the Eagles let defensive tackle Antonio Dixon play for at least the first half, he'll pose a great test for Kosier and center Andre Gurode. Dixon took over as the starter in Week 5 and Brodrick Bunkley's not been able to regain his spot. The Cowboys' interior linemen have had trouble moving their feet and creating any push in the running game this season. Dixon's tough to move and I could see him being a difficult matchup for Kosier.
This is an important game for Mike Shanahan because of the evaluation process. Shanahan loves the fact that New York is still fighting for a playoff spot. He wanted the chance to have one last true evaluation of quarterback Rex Grossman heading into the offseason. Giants coordinator Perry Fewell will bring pressure from a lot of different areas, so Shanahan will see how Grossman responds. It's hard to imagine the Skins heading into 2011 with Grossman as the starter, but for now, that's still a possibility. I also think this game will give the Redskins a chance to see how young players such as outside linebacker Rob Jackson and safety Kevin Barnes build on last week's game against the Jaguars. Starting outside linebacker Brian Orakpo will likely return to the lineup, but Jackson will receive plenty of reps. Barnes made a big play against the Jaguars in overtime, but Shanahan wants to see him improve in other areas. He has to do a better job of tackling in the open field.
Wrap-up: Redskins 20, Jaguars 17 (OT)
What it means: If the Washington Redskins could just take every game to overtime, they'd be in good shape this season. The Redskins (6-9) hurt the Jaguars' playoff hopes with a 20-17 win. It was the Skins' fourth overtime game this season, and they've won three of them. Quarterback Rex Grossman made some important throws, but you have to give the defense a ton of the credit. Washington was missing 13 of its 22 opening day starters. They had to start Kevin Barnes and Macho Harris at safety, and it was Barnes who made the interception that set up Graham Gano's game-winning field goal in overtime. The Redskins have lost all four coin flips heading into overtime, but they've managed to hold their own.
The backups: Coach Mike Shanahan has been criticized for how he's handled a couple of high-profile players, and he's deserved almost all of it. But give Shanahan and defensive coordinator Jim Haslett credit for putting together a game plan that caused so many issues for the Jaguars. Outside linebacker Rob Jackson made the first start of his career for an injured Brian Orakpo, and he had a sack and forced a fumble. Barnes missed a tackle on David Garrard's game-tying touchdown run in the fourth quarter, but he bounced back with the huge interception.
What's up with Cooley? Redskins tight end Chris Cooley should be Grossman's best friend these days, but he dropped four passes, including a certain touchdown, in the first half alone. It's remarkable that Washington was able to overcome such an uneven performance from one of its best players.
Moss is The Man: Santana Moss continues to be the most consistent playmaker on this team. He's now surpassed 1,000 yards. He had five catches for 85 yards. Kyle Shanahan has done a nice job of putting him in motion and lining him up in different spots. Moss never cares what the Skins' record is during the season. He played his heart out last season, and he's doing the same for the Shanahans now.
What's next? The Redskins will host a New York Giants team that will likely be fighting for a playoff spot considering the way things are going Sunday in Green Bay. Everyone knew the Jags had more to play for than the Skins, but a lot of reserves went out and played an excellent game. Those players gave Shanahan something to build on as he prepares for the final game of the season. If the Redskins could upset the Giants, it could set the tone for the offseason.
Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 16 games:
Can the Giants shake off last Sunday's devastating loss to the Eagles? Giants quarterback Eli Manning requested time alone with his teammates Monday, and coach Tom Coughlin was happy to oblige. His speech was short, but it grabbed everyone's attention. Defensive tackle Barry Cofield told me Thursday that he couldn't believe how much energy he saw in the locker room this week. The Giants have done a nice job of recognizing their obvious failure late in last Sunday's game and then moving on to Green Bay. Offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride has tried to get his unit to come out with a sense of urgency in recent weeks, and I think you'll see that against the Packers on Sunday afternoon. New York will want to take the crowd out of the game as soon as possible.
AP Photo/Evan PinkusEli Manning held a players-only meeting on Monday to address the failures of Sunday's loss to Philadelphia and to get the team focused on Green Bay.Jason Garrett needs this win to finalize his campaign to become permanent head coach. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones admitted last week that a loss to the Washington Redskins would've given him pause about Garrett's future. But the Cowboys pulled out a 33-30 win with a late field goal, so Jones didn't have to worry about that. Dallas should dominate the Cardinals, who are playing with a rookie quarterback. If the Cardinals somehow pull off a Christmas miracle and beat the Cowboys, fans will call for Jon Gruden and Jeff Fisher as the next head coach. But I'd be really surprised if the Cowboys found a way to lose this game.
Eli Manning needs to have a big-time game in Green Bay. As I wrote in Thursday's column, Manning has struggled in December throughout much of his career (14-16). He played well against the Eagles last week, but still has a good shot at leading the league in interceptions. The good news for Giants fans is that Manning has wonderful memories of Lambeau Field. He's said that he actually enjoyed winning the '07 NFC Championship Game (played in Jan. '08) more than the Super Bowl. Those wins helped define his career, and I think he'll draw on that experience from three seasons ago in beating the Packers on Sunday.
Can Mike Shanahan get something accomplished in Jacksonville? We learned Friday that Pro Bowl outside linebacker Brian Orakpo (hamstring, groin) will miss a game for the first time in his NFL career. Orakpo will be replaced by Rob Jackson, who will make the first start of his career. And there's also a chance that Kevin Barnes and Macho Harris could be the starting safeties. Reed Doughty is out with a concussion and Kareem Moore will be a game-time decision. I don't know if the Skins have much hope of winning, but Shanahan will have a chance to evaluate some young players. And it will be interesting to see how Rex Grossman performs following his excellent second half against the Dallas Cowboys. Shanahan will make massive roster changes this offseason, but a few players could help their cause with strong performances against Jacksonville.
Losing Cooley was a big setback for the Redskins, but it's also given them the opportunity to take a long look at former second-round draft pick Fred Davis. The former USC player is making the most of his opportunity.
"It would be great if we could be in there together, but you knew there was a chance he would [miss the remainder of the season] when you saw him get hurt," David told reporters Monday. "It's just up to all the guys to keep trying to pick up the slack for the rest of the year."
Davis broke through along the sideline for a 29-yard play against the Eagles and he's given quarterback Jason Campbell a consistent target. Davis and Cooley could end up being a pretty formidable duo in the league.
Skins announce five practice squad names
Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley
The Washington Redskins have added five players to their practice squad: Safety Lendy Holmes (undrafted), defensive end Rob Jackson (seventh round in '08), wide receiver Trent Shelton (former Baylor player), defensive end J.D. Skolnitsky (undrafted) and fullback Eddie Williams (seventh round in '09).
So where is Chase Daniel? I was assuming he'd be added the Skins' practice squad, but maybe he's interested in signing with another team. Daniel was pretty impressive against the Patriots -- and that team happens to need a backup quarterback. We'll let you know if anything develops.
Redskins sign another familiar face in Wynn
Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley
Free agency is turning into old home week for the Redskins. First, they signed former guard Derrick Dockery and now they've welcomed back defensive end Renaldo Wynn. ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli confirmed the one-year deal for the 34-year-old Wynn, who played for the New York Giants in 2008. Wynn played for the Redskins from 2002-05 after beginning his career in Jacksonville.
He's certainly not an every-down player at this point in his career, but he gives the Redskins some much-needed depth behind Andre Carter and Phillip Daniels -- if they ever get around to re-signing him in free agency. Behind those players, the Redskins have Alex Buzbee (returning from an injury), Chris Wilson and Rob Jackson. Wynn's a player who can give you 10-15 defensive plays, and he's still fairly solid against the run. But if Albert Haynesworth turns Wynn into an elite pass-rusher at age 34, then he truly will be the best defensive player in the league.
It's easy to laugh and point to another aging player the Redskins are bringing in, but it looks like Wynn signed for the veteran minimum. If that's the case, this is probably a solid move. I know that some Eagles fans hated to see Wynn go, although they might not admit it now.
All in all, this is a smart move by the Redskins. Now about that right tackle spot?
Inactives for tonight's game: Taylor up, Springs down
Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The biggest news of course for the Redskins is that defensive end Jason Taylor will play in tonight's game against the Giants. Because of that, rookie defensive end Rob Jackson will be inactive, and I think Jim Zorn's willing to live with that.
The other inactives for the Redskins: Emergency QB Colt Brennan, WR Malcolm Kelly, CB Shawn Springs, S Kareem Moore, LB Alfred Fincher, G/T Chad Rinehart, TE Fred Davis and Jackson. With Springs down, Fred Smoot will start across from Carlos Rogers.
No real surprises for the Giants: K Lawrence Tynes (we knew that), RB Reuben Droughns (nice special teams guy), CB Terrell Thomas, CB Sam Madison (that means R.W. McQuarters is going), LB Jonathan Goff, T Adam Koets, DE Dave Tollefson (hello McDougle) and WR Mario Manningham.
Biggest surprise: The only thing that really surprised me was rookie punter Durant Brooks beating out Derrick Frost at punter. From what I could tell, Frost outperformed Brooks during the preseason games. But the Redskins spent a draft pick on Brooks, and must've seen enough to stick with him.
I know some Redskins fans are probably surprised to see running back Marcus Mason on the list since he put up nice numbers in the exhibition season. The problem for Mason, other than the fact the Redskins are stacked at his position, is that he wasn't an excellent special-teams player. He needs to find another team's practice squad. Preferably a team that's not loaded at running back.
The Redskins kept all 10 of their draft picks, which is somewhat of a surprise. Billy McMullen could've helped the team at receiver, but it's not like they were going to cut Malcolm Kelly, who's apparently not going on IR with a knee injury. And people that watched a lot of practice during training camp tell me that cornerback Matterral Richardson clearly outperformed fourth-round pick Justin Tryon.
No-brainers: No surprise to see quarterback Derek Devine released, although Jim Zorn thinks he has a gun and would like to add him to the practice squad. I thought Rob Jackson (seventh-rounder) looked pretty active early in the preseason, so I wasn't surprised to see him make the team. Others didn't share that opinion. Center Justin Geisinger was the last lineman to make the team.
What's next: Well, they have to play a game Thursday. As we speak, Vinny Cerrato & Co. are scouring the waiver wire to see if they can find help at defensive end or receiver. The Redskins have five wide receivers, and two of them (Kelly and Devin Thomas) aren't ready for prime time. The 53 today might not be the 53 tomorrow, but it's like that with most teams
I've spent much of the morning looking over NFC East rosters. Teams are required to cut down to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET, although most of them have already made decisions.
But just because you read a list of 22 people who've been cut this afternoon, don't think anything's final. Teams will be studying the waiver wire to see if someone can help them. For instance, the Cowboys will probably release third-team quarterback Richard Bartel and might try to sneak him onto the practice squad. But they tried that with Matt Moore last year, and the Panthers alertly signed him to their active roster.
OK, let's take a look at what the Redskins might do. Avid NFC East Blog reader Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post has cut the following 20 players:
Askew, Matthias DT
Boschetti, Ryan DT
Brooks, Durant P
Broughton, Nehemiah FB
Clark, Devin OL
Crummey, Andrew OL
Devine, Derek QB
Gant, Horace WR
Gatewood, Curtis LB
Ghee, Patrick S
Holloway, David LB
Jackson, Rob DE
Mann, Maurice WR
Mason, Marcus RB
Matua, Fred OL
Mix, Anthony WR
Tryon, Justin CB
Danny, Verdun-Wheeler LB
Washington, Tavares OL
Westbrook, Byron CB
I thought Rob Jackson (seventh-rounder out of Kansas State) might have a good chance with the depth issues the Redskins have at defensive end. It's also interesting to see fourth-round pick Justin Tryon (spelled Tyron on Madden 09) get the heave-ho. I think both of those players could end up on the practice squad.
In case you missed it, my Redskins Camp Confidential article is now featured on ESPN.com. I have a ton of stuff that I couldn't fit into my 1,300-word allotment, so I'll try to drop some of those notes into a hefty mailbag Friday.
Here are a few of the players I took extensive practice notes on:
- DE Rob Jackson
- TE Fred Davis
- G/T Chad Rinehart
- DT Kedric Golston
- LB Matt Sinclair
- LB H.B. Blades
- S Chris Horton
- CB Matterral Richardson
- S Vernon Fox
- RB Marcus Mason
- WR Anthony Mix
- QB Colt Brennan
- QB Jason Campbell
Feel free to ask me about any of these guys.
Redskins Replay: Looking at Zorn's debut
Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley
- As Jason La Canfora reports in the Washington Post, Redskins head coach Jim Zorn certainly looked the part in his first preseason game. I'm headed to Ashburn, Va., this afternoon to visit with Zorn and the rest of the Redskins. Let me know if there's something you want me to ask.
- Jason Reid of the Post has a recap of Zorn's head-coaching debut. The main thing was that Washington avoided any serious injuries and that all the quarterbacks looked sharp. Colt Brennan's sidearm delivery looked strange, but he was highly effective, going 9-of-10 for 123 yards and a touchdown. And I'd like to see more of this Marcus Mason. He was playing against backups, but you have to like his quickness and hands. The Redskins appear to be stacked at running back, but perhaps Mason can sneak onto the roster if he can play special teams.
- Nice column by the Post's Mike Wise talking about how Zorn doesn't need to be haunted by the past:
"The slate is clean, the last vestiges of those halcyon Redskins days committed to memory, upstairs from the life-size statue of Jim Thorpe, stiff-arming museum visitors for eternity," writes Wise.
"If Zorn can be glad about anything when he leaves Canton this weekend, he can be glad about this: It is time for this franchise and its legions to move forward after 20-odd years of memorably looking back."
- Redskins linebacker Matt Sinclair said the mic inside his helmet was bothering him last night, so he yanked it out. Someone explain to me again why the second helmet with a two-way device has to be kept in a box on the sideline. Is that the backup plan?
- Durant Brooks got off to a strong start in the punting competition with a 46-yard average on four punts.
- Was it just me or did Chris Horton look pretty impressive Sunday night? Also liked Rob Jackson out of Kansas State.
Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley
What a nut that Tony Dungy is with an onside kick on the first play of the Hall of Fame game.
- Colts quarterback Jim Sorgi has been given the hook after one series. Sorgi was 7-of-10 for 66 yards before turning things over to former Jaguars quarterback Quinn Gray.
- Redskins have to be pleased with what they saw from seventh-round defensive end Rob Jackson, who sacked Sorgi in the first quarter. I watched Jackson in person at least twice when he was at Kansas State, and he's one of those high-motor guys that could give the Redskins some much-needed depth behind Jason Taylor and Andre Carter.
- By the way, Taylor has turned his new jersey into a muscle shirt. Sort of an odd look. When the Hall of Fame class was introduced before the game, Taylor set up shop just a couple of feet behind them.
- I like the way Jason Campbell looks so far. He looked like Peyton Manning on that playfake where he ended up hitting Santana Moss downfield. Too bad Malcolm Kelly and Devin Thomas are both sitting this one out. Those are the guys I really want to see. I know what Moss and Antwaan Randle El are at this point: speedy guys who don't get it done in the red zone.
Jim Zorn has been working with Campbell on taking bigger strides and then getting lower in the pocket. So far he looks a lot less stiff than I've seen in the past.
I love seeing guys like Art Monk and Darrell Green talk about what the Hall of Fame means to them. Remind me to tell you a great Green story that Michael Irvin told me last week.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Dan Graziano
Graziano joined ESPN.com in 2011 after two years as a Senior NFL Writer for AOL FanHouse. He covered Major League Baseball, the Olympics and various other sports during his time at the Star-Ledger and the Palm Beach Post. A New Jersey native and author of two published novels, he now lives in Ridgewood, N.J., with his wife and two sons.
