DBUCHANON101
04-07-2010, 10:04 PM
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Shanahan on quarterbacks: an early look
During the course of the afternoon Wednesday, Mike Shanahan made the rounds and addressed every TV camera, appeased as many radio hosts as possible and talked to a group of beat reporters. Not surprisingly, he was asked at almost every stop about quarterback Jason Campbell, and for the most part Shanahan said the same thing: some variation of, "I'm looking forward to seeing more of him."
Depending on how you parse the words, though, Shanahan might have sounded committed to Campbell during one interview and not-so-committed in the next. It's probably not fair to read too much into his precise words on Day 1 of the new job because for the most part, Shanahan and Bruce Allen avoided anything specific Wednesday.
Here's what Shanahan said he likes to see in a quarterback:
"There's so many things. No. 1, you've got to be accurate. No. 2, you've got to be passionate with what you're doing. You've got to love what you're doing; you've got to study the game inside and out. You're looking at guys who carry that over to the football field. Some guys are talkers; other guys are quiet. I've seen people lead in a lot of different ways. The Joe Montanas, the Steve Youngs, the John Elways that I've been with. Each guy's a little bit different in their own way -- all Hall of Fame quarterbacks. Get a guy like Steve Beuerlein: Just go out there and find a way to win. Everybody had different characteristics, but you've got to have a burning desire to be the best at what you do."
Translation: He wants someone who can throw the ball and enjoys throwing the ball; is a loud leader, or a quiet leader; and who's like John Elway. Or Steve Beuerlein. So, yeah, pretty simple.
The buzz continues to be that Shanahan will nab a quarterback in the draft and try to mold him into something that suits his offense. If Jason Campbell doesn't get blown away with a multi-year free agency contract, the Redskins could bring him back next year for a relatively low cost.
But people who've spoken with Shanahan say he's not bowled over by Campbell, has some concerns about his mechanics and don't feel he's the long-term solution in Washington.
Time will tell whether that is indeed the case.
Shanahan on quarterbacks: an early look
During the course of the afternoon Wednesday, Mike Shanahan made the rounds and addressed every TV camera, appeased as many radio hosts as possible and talked to a group of beat reporters. Not surprisingly, he was asked at almost every stop about quarterback Jason Campbell, and for the most part Shanahan said the same thing: some variation of, "I'm looking forward to seeing more of him."
Depending on how you parse the words, though, Shanahan might have sounded committed to Campbell during one interview and not-so-committed in the next. It's probably not fair to read too much into his precise words on Day 1 of the new job because for the most part, Shanahan and Bruce Allen avoided anything specific Wednesday.
Here's what Shanahan said he likes to see in a quarterback:
"There's so many things. No. 1, you've got to be accurate. No. 2, you've got to be passionate with what you're doing. You've got to love what you're doing; you've got to study the game inside and out. You're looking at guys who carry that over to the football field. Some guys are talkers; other guys are quiet. I've seen people lead in a lot of different ways. The Joe Montanas, the Steve Youngs, the John Elways that I've been with. Each guy's a little bit different in their own way -- all Hall of Fame quarterbacks. Get a guy like Steve Beuerlein: Just go out there and find a way to win. Everybody had different characteristics, but you've got to have a burning desire to be the best at what you do."
Translation: He wants someone who can throw the ball and enjoys throwing the ball; is a loud leader, or a quiet leader; and who's like John Elway. Or Steve Beuerlein. So, yeah, pretty simple.
The buzz continues to be that Shanahan will nab a quarterback in the draft and try to mold him into something that suits his offense. If Jason Campbell doesn't get blown away with a multi-year free agency contract, the Redskins could bring him back next year for a relatively low cost.
But people who've spoken with Shanahan say he's not bowled over by Campbell, has some concerns about his mechanics and don't feel he's the long-term solution in Washington.
Time will tell whether that is indeed the case.