Washington Redskins in 2011-2012 season

The Donovan McNabb experiment in Washington was a colossal failure last year so Mike Shanahan and the Redskins are headed in a new direction at quarterback. Is your sportsbook underestimating the Skins?

**10/26/2011** Update

Washington Redskins (3-3)

I had given the Redskins credit as being a good team but they've lost their last 2 games and have just found out that leading running back, Tim Hightower, will be out for the season. This is a team on the decline with many questions that need to be answered. In their last game, a 33-20 loss to Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers, the Skins started veteran John Beck due to the poor play of veteran Rex Grossman. Beck had a good game, throwing for 279 yards and throwing for 1 TD, but it wasn't enough. This team lacks a true offensive leader, and with Hightower out, and no "real" starting quarterback, they will continue to struggle. They've only scored 116 points this season.

Tower of strength?

The Skins have capable receivers in Fred Davis, Jabar Gaffney, and Santana Moss (injured). The problem is, how are they going to spark a running game?

Ryan Torain (3 games, 152 yards,1 TD) and Roy Helu (131 yards) have both shown that they have decent ability but Tim Hightower will be difficult to replace. In his last game, Hightower had 17 rushes for 88 yards.

The play of John Beck might be a determining factor concerning the rest of the Redskins season. Injuries have taken a toll, but this is a team that's competitive.

**Original Article**

John Beck, the former BYU great and career backup for the Miami Dolphins and Baltimore Ravens will be the starter in D.C. That is unless Shanahan finds someone more attractive through free agency or does a complete 180 and gives the job to Rex Grossman.

If Beck ends up being the man for the Washington Redskins then the ESPN generated ‘conspiracy theory’ might hold some water. The way we hear is that that has the Redskins won’t be disappointed if this turns out to be another losing season IF it improves their chances of landing Stanford QB Andrew Luck in 2012. It’s just a rumor but it does get you to thinking especially with Shanahan’s erratic decision making at the quarterback position.

Mike Shanahan has always struck me as being too competitive of a coach to not try and win every game he plays. It also seems that the NFL would probably frown on a team not giving a full effort every week. Maybe you could get by with it a couple of times but an entire season? I don’t see it.

The John Beck Show

If Shanahan is to be believed Beck will be his starter in 2011. He was a star at BYU career where he finished as the second all-time leading passer with 11,021 yards and 79 touchdowns. Beck was a second round draft pick of the Miami Dolphins in 2007 and spent two years in mostly a back-up role.

After his release by the Dolphins he was signed by the Ravens as a back-up to Joe Flacco but was traded to the Redskins in 2010. Depending on how you look at it, he’ll either be rusty or plenty rested. He hasn’t started a game or thrown a pass in an NFL regular season contest since his rookie year with the Dolphins. In other words John Beck has had as many snaps as Glen Beck over the past three years.

Washington’s needs are many but their shortcomings on defense are the most glaring. The Redskins were 31^st in yards allowed (389.2) and in passing yards (261) and were 26^th in rushing yards (127.6). Despite the fact the Skins desperately need a franchise quarterback they opted instead to use their first round draft pick on Purdue defensive end Ryan Kerrigan while taking Clemson D-lineman Jarvis Jenkins in the second round.

The Redskins did add some skill players later in the draft choosing Miami Hurricanes receiver Leonard Hankerson, along with running backs Roy Helu Jr. and Evan Royster.

Soap Opera

The whole Donovan McNabb saga was just plain weird.

It was a season full of twist and turns for the veteran quarterback who was released by the Redskins at the conclusion of the 2010 campaign but not before what seemed to be lifetime of drama.

McNabb, the Eagles longtime QB was traded the Redskins following the 2009 season and became the starter. The wheels started to wobble in Week 8 when he was replaced by Grossman with two minutes to play in a loss against Detroit. But a mere 10 days later he was given a new incentive laded five-year contract worth $77 million dollars.

Inexplicably just five weeks after getting the huge deal, Shanahan relegated McNabb to third team and he didn’t play a down after that. McNabb finished with team high’s in passing yards (3377) and touchdowns (14) but he also had 15 picks. Grossman started the final three games throwing for 884 yards and seven touchdowns. 

Dead Last

When it was all said and done, the Redskins finished at the bottom of the NFC Eastern Conference (6-10 SU & 8-6-2 ATS). They lost five of their last six games losing fans but did have a Week 5 victory over the Super Bowl champion Packers. They also beat two other playoff teams in Chicago and Philadelphia.