Washington Redskins Fanatics

Rex Grossman is returning to the Washington Redskins for a one-year deal, fully expecting to spend the season helping groom Robert Griffin III. Rex Grossman isn't returning to be the starter and he'll be the perfect tutor for whichever QB Washington selects with the No. 2 pick.

Grossman told ESPN 980 that he's fully aware the Redskins are going to draft a quarterback -- probably Heisman Trophy winner Griffin -- with the No. 2 overall pick next month. But Grossman said he wants to remain a part of the team and play a part in its turnaround after another last-place season.

"I know they're going to draft a franchise QB," Grossman told the radio station. "If I'm on the team, I'm gonna help out that guy get up to speed, but I'll also be ready to play. I'm gonna be a good soldier, and I'll be busting my butt to help him out."

With 7 picks in the upcoming draft, Washington’s selections should hopefully go something like this: 

Round 1. Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

Many would argue that Griffin III is not only the most physically gifted quarterback in the 2012 draft, but also that he is the most talented player overall. His intangibles are making so many general managers swoon. Griffin, because of his athletic ability and Joe Montana-like ability to extend plays and remain focused on moving the ball downfield, not to mention his hurdling ability, could stand to be the better physical prospect than presumed No. 1 pick Andrew Luck. Griffin is a talented quarterback who was built for the position. His athletic ability lends well to him being an NFL-type quarterback who can make plays with his feet, extend plays, make the deep throw and lead a team down the field. Griffin overcomes a slight size deficiency by simply being so athletic that defenders rarely get a shot on him. It is apparent that Griffin, once a high school hurdler, is extremely explosive. He drops back with absolute ease. He is able to feel comfortable enough in the pocket to step into a throw in traffic or reset outside the pocket. At this point, unlike Luck, he can also move the ball downfield with his feet.

Round 3. Bobby Massie, RT, Ole Miss

Size is Massie's best friend, as he was able to excel as a blocker in the run game simply from being able to maul his man. Has a strong anchor that he sits nicely in after his pass set. He has decent range in his pass set and controls his man once engaged.

Round 4. Greg Childs, WR, Arkansas  

Childs understands how to use his body in the short game to create the space needed to be effective. He builds up his speed throughout the route and can battle with corners underneath when trying to gain position on slant and drive routes, will use his big frame to shield when necessary. He can make any catch and can torque his body when running in-phase. When running the fade route, he understands how to use the sideline to his advantage.

Round 4. Antonio Allen, SS, South Carolina 

Allen is a superior run defender who played in close to the box often at South Carolina. He is efficient at shuffling and working over the top of linebackers, and then triggers a drive step to break on short passes or gets after a runner outside. He is a very firm and reliable tackler in space, which gives great added value to teams as a safety. He can blanket-cover tight ends out of press which was his specialty at South Carolina.

Round 5. Josh Norman, CB, Coastal Carolina

Norman has great size for the cornerback position and parlays this with an ability to move fluidly and match up with big, athletic wide receivers. He can play man and zone equally well and was a physical presence on the outside. He understands when to take risks and when to play back, and he is physical when he makes his decision to come up. He supports the run well and is a reliable tackler.

Round 6. Audie Cole, ILB, NCST

Cole is a strong player who is noticeably explosive when throwing his body into linemen. He is best-suited for playing in close and flying to the line of scrimmage from inside the box. He can make good tackles when playing in the box and when the play comes to him. He is an obviously competitive player who seems to enjoy taking on linemen and fitting up with them before using his arm strength to shed. He can maul a tight end on the line but has difficulty running with them.

Round 7. Ryan Miller, RG, Colorado

Miller did everything well on the front line for Colorado as he is able to come off the ball quickly and bend well despite his immense height. In the parts of three years he spent at tackle, he sustained on his blocks well and often finishes through the play. Some will consider Miller a tweener and wonder if there is a hidden aspect to his ability that made him play inside despite prototypical tackle size. 

With all that’s going on in the Redskins’ organization this offseason, the penalty for “over spending” in a ‘cap free’ season, a new starting QB (rookie even), and all before the draft, there’s a lot to talk about. The Redskins cannot dive into the offseason, free spending looking to fill holes with free agents because of their reduced cap space. This could be a hindrance after losing their second round pick this year to the St. Louis Rams in an effort to trade up to get the second overall pick. Hopefully this will lead to the Redskins being not only competitive in the NFL’s toughest division, but also to a trek into the playoffs, past the first round. The Redskins can do it, with7 picks.

References:

Graziano, Dan, Rex Grossman returns…, ESPN, Mar 2012, http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7
704680/rex-grossman-back-washington
-redskins-1-year-deal

Tracker, Draft, NFL.com, Apr 2012, http://www.nfl.com/draft/2012/track
er/by-name

Category: NFL

Are the Redskins ever going to be relevent again? I am sick and tired of losing! We need A QB we need an O-line and some receivers.
How long to we stay with Shananhan? I would be happy just to make the playoffs at this point! Lets go Skins! How about bringing Drew Brees in as A free agent this offseason?


Category: NFL

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) - John Beck and Rex Grossman took turns at the burgundy podium expressing excitement and frustration, just as they did six weeks ago.

Only, this time, the roles were reversed. Beck was pumped, anxious to start an NFL game for the first time in four years, while Grossman was the one with the uncomfortable pauses in his answers.

"Things change," Beck said, "in the blink of an eye."

Beck was anointed as the new Washington Redskins No. 1 quarterback Wednesday, chosen by coach Mike Shanahan to start Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers. The 30-year-old former second-round pick gets the nod for the first time since 2007, when he was a rookie for a Miami Dolphins team that went 1-15.

"Definitely excited. There's been a lot of hard work that's gone into this," Beck said. "You never know when your opportunity's going to come, and you've always got to stay ready. I've tried to do that."

Grossman gets the demotion after throwing four interceptions in a 20-13 loss to Philadelphia. He was benched after three quarters; Beck came in and led the Redskins' only touchdown drive of the game.

Shanahan called the quarterbacks into his office Tuesday to inform them of the switch.

"I was frustrated," Grossman said. "Not completely surprised, but I'm disappointed that I wasn't able to come back off that game."

Although the Redskins (3-2) have a winning record, Grossman hasn't been able to shake reputation as a turnover machine. His nine interceptions tie him for the NFL lead with Carolina's Cam Newton, who has 42 more attempts.

Grossman has 11 total turnovers - including two fumbles - through five games this season, and 18 in eight Redskins starts dating to last season. He has 46 touchdown passes and 49 interceptions in a career that reached its peak when he led Chicago to the Super Bowl after the 2006 season.

Grossman's 66.5 quarterback rating ranks 32nd of 33 quarterbacks in the league. He's ahead of Indianapolis' Kerry Collins, who hasn't played since Week 3.

Yet Grossman on Wednesday repeatedly defended his body of work leading up to the Philadelphia game.

"I thought I played well in the first four games," he said. "But you can't have games like that against the Eagles. The frustrating part about it is I do think that they were good performances. The frustrating part is they should have been great.

"I had an opportunity to make it clear as day, and it wasn't," he said. "For the first four games, I played well. And I could show you to prove it, but it doesn't matter."

Grossman admitted that he gave an "unacceptable performance" against Philadelphia and that he perhaps need to change his mind-set when it comes to turnovers.

"The only thing I could do that could maybe encompass all turnovers - just have a little more conservative approach to the fact that, hey, turnovers are bad, but they're emotional mistakes that create emotion in the stands, create an odd emotion everywhere," Grossman said.

"Ultimately," he said, "I'm responsible for the ball."

Beck becomes the 21st quarterback to start a game for Redskins in 19 seasons, reflective of the franchise's overall lack of stability. He will be the third starter in 22 games under Shanahan, who whiffed last year with Donovan McNabb and said at the beginning of the season that he would stake his reputation on both Grossman and Beck.

"I don't ever want to convince somebody from a microphone," Beck said. "I just want to go out on the field and play the way I can play."

Shanahan was expected to discuss his decision after Wednesday's practice.

Grossman beat out Beck for the starting job in a competition that lasted throughout training camp and the entire preseason. Beck said he's improved since then, having learned more about the offense as the No. 2, making up for study time lost during the NFL lockout. He completed 8 of 15 passes for 117 yards in relief against the Eagles and scored on a 2-yard run.

That gave him a modest QB rating of 79.0 - much better than in any of his five games with the Dolphins. He went 0-4 as a starter in 2007 and made one relief appearance for a bad team.

He's been waiting for another chance ever since.

"The situation I stepped into as a rookie was a very difficult one because we were winless, the organization had been through a lot of struggles that year," Beck said. "We were already 0-9. This is still the beginning part (of this season), and this team has a good feel about it."


We will see what happens after this week my Redskin fans but like we say down south (THE PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING) !!!



 

Category: NFL

Hightower 'preparing' to be starter: Redskins RB Tim Hightower was asked on Thursday by reporters if he is still the team's starting running back heading into Week 6 against the Eagles. "I'm preparing to be," said Hightower, who has been limited in practice this week due to the shoulder injury he suffered in his team's last game in Week 4 against St. Louis. Hightower, who has an interesting history against the Eagles as he hauled in the game-winning touchdown catch for Arizona in the 2008 NFC Championship game, has only managed 22 rushing attempts for 65 yards the last two games for the Redskins as Ryan Torain emerged last week as another viable rushing option along with rookie Roy Helu. 


I myself think that we have a pretty decent RB core and w/time Hightowers injury, touches, and yardage will get better and improve. We all know that a healthy Torain and Helu can give Hightower the time needed to heal and also be productive enough to put points on the board for the skins as well. So it is what it is and once they are all healthy and in position we will most definately not have the NFL's worse RB core.



 

Category: NFL