Who Will Be The Redskins 2011 Opening Day Starting QB?

Has anyone mentioned Vick? He's a free agent at the end of the season, and it's not a big secret that the Skins pay more than any other team. I know that the smart money is on Vick returning to Philly, but it's worth mentioning. That being said, he's not a proven fit for Shanny's offense (though many prognosticators were saying that McNabb would be more suited to Shanny's West Coast offense than what he came from in Philly).

A few things. For starters if you were the Eagles how can you even think of letting him go? On top of that if you're Vick why would you want to go anywhere else? You finally have a coach that has turned you into a top passer and a supporting cast that has allowed you to flourish.

So long as the Eagles pay market value, which they will, Vick will stay. The only conceivable way that Vick leaves Philly is if someone gives him a significantly higher contract that allows him to get out of debt but I doubt after this season that the Eagles would low ball him enough to force Vick to make that decision. At the very least they will franchise him.

Now the thing is with the recent failures of Donovan McNabb odds are that Vick wouldn't fair much better as a passer in this system. Word from McNabb's camp is that Shanahan's system is so rigid that it causes problems for a QB like McNabb who likes to improvise. Personally I don't know what that means granted that he's not much of a scrambler anymore but thats what McNabb's camp continues to stress.

This leads me to assume that part of the reason Vick has been so successful in Philly is because Vick is given a little bit more freedom to let the play come to him without having to worry to much about precise reads. This also leads me to believe that hypothetically if a guy like Big Ben were to become available (which he won't) then we would have similar problems.

From the recent Sally Jenkins Article:
The word from inside Redskins Park was that the Shanahans have been frustrated for weeks by the fact that McNabb either couldn't or wouldn't absorb Kyle Shanahan's offense and make the correct reads, and that he only wanted to do the things that made him comfortable. His inflexibility limited the play-calling options, and his inconsistency too often put them in difficult long-yardage situations. Hence, he never improved in 13 games. Those judgments now seem correct.

The word from the McNabb side is that the Shanahans didn't do enough to accommodate his improvisational talents, that Kyle Shanahan still has a lot to learn that he didn't do enough to make the freelance-happy McNabb more effective, and also protect him from sacks behind a vulnerable line. Perhaps a valid point, given that Grossman was sacked five times.


Apparently the key to being successful in this system is staying within the system. Something that McNabb doesn't do.

The beat reporter from ESPN 980, Chris Russell, got word from some within the organization who said that there was a world of difference with Grossman at the helm. There was so much better execution of the offense, a smoother calling of the plays from Kyle Shanahan to the QB -- and the efficiency with which they were communicated in the huddle, to the grasp of the plays, not having to have the play repeated from Shanahan, no awkward delays; all thanks to Grossman's superior knowledge of the offense. All luxuries that they haven't been able to enjoy all season.

Here's this from Chris Cooley:

"Rex is so fast getting in and out of the huddle," tight end Chris Cooley said. "He is so intense. There is nothing laid back. He has a quick tempo and he gets us to the ball as fast as he can get us to the ball. He called a lot of plays on first down; he called a lot of plays quick. He got to the ball when they were moving around on defense and they weren't able to make adjustments. When he finally got into a rhythm, we got into a good rhythm."

AP: Grossman gives Redskins offense a better rhythm (http://espn980.stats.com/fb/story.asp?i=20101220191338833573008&ref=rec&tm=28&src=NFL)

The beat reporter from ESPN 980, Chris Russell, got word from some within the organization who said that there was a world of difference with Grossman at the helm. There was so much better execution of the offense, a smoother calling of the plays from Kyle Shanahan to the QB -- and the efficiency with which they were communicated in the huddle, to the grasp of the plays, not having to have the play repeated from Shanahan, no awkward delays; all thanks to Grossman's superior knowledge of the offense. All luxuries that they haven't been able to enjoy all season.

This all goes back to my own VIP experience at this years OTA's. Rex looked sharp and finely tuned like he had a year or ever more under his belt of this system.

Dmac looked lost for the most part of practice. Did I think this would carry over, of course not but clearly dmac didn't get it as the whole world could see from week to week the inconsistency and the inability to grasp the Offense.

As to your post that was pretty obvious to most during the second half, thats what the team has been looking for all season. If Tana makes the catch (That he has to make) in the 4th w/5 mins to go HIGH PROBILITY we come home with a W.

Or if our Defense/Special Teams could have just played a middle of the road game w/the same 2nd half Offense output.

The beat reporter from ESPN 980, Chris Russell, got word from some within the organization who said that there was a world of difference with Grossman at the helm. There was so much better execution of the offense, a smoother calling of the plays from Kyle Shanahan to the QB -- and the efficiency with which they were communicated in the huddle, to the grasp of the plays, not having to have the play repeated from Shanahan, no awkward delays; all thanks to Grossman's superior knowledge of the offense. All luxuries that they haven't been able to enjoy all season.

That all sounds nice, but what is a bit disconcerting is that the Shanahans are unyielding in how they want their players to walk, talk, eat, sleep, drink, etc. And at what cost? The two most talented players on the team have been marginalized. When one creates a system in which Rex Grossman is more productive than Donavan McNabb, one has to question the system.

That being said, if the Skins can groom a young QB in that system from day one, they won't have to face many of these issues. Jake Locker could be a good fit; he's a better athlete than he is a quarterback, and a player like that benefits from a structure heavy, scripted offense.

That all sounds nice, but what is a bit disconcerting is that the Shanahans are unyielding in how they want their players to walk, talk, eat, sleep, drink, etc. And at what cost? The two most talented players on the team have been marginalized. When one creates a system in which Rex Grossman is more productive than Donavan McNabb, one has to question the system.

That being said, if the Skins can groom a young QB in that system from day one, they won't have to face many of these issues. Jake Locker could be a good fit; he's a better athlete than he is a quarterback, and a player like that benefits from a structure heavy, scripted offense.

Really? One can't possibly question the player?

Rex simply knows the offense better, and is perhaps more coachable than DM.

Grossman will be going into year 3 in this offense, I think he can get us by in the short run until a rook is ready. Beck will be back as the #2.

Mike Vick.......... I bet it all on him! Unless we can draft Cam Newton!

Mike Shanahan said (and most people know) that an offense takes more then a 13 games or a year to master.
Other QBs like Culter and Cassel stuggled in their 1st years of a new system.
Grossman himself has said that it gets easier the in year 2.
Oh wait McNabb won't get a year 2.

Something w/ this whole situation ain't kosher.
After furhter review I want to change my vote to: Rex Grossman will be the starter next year

I think Shanahan wants to pick his own QB and at some point next year Mallett starts.

The Miami and S FLorida stations are buzzing with the possibility of getting a vet QB in the off-season. McNabb has been bandied about.......often