Why John Beck May Be the Answer

Through the offseason John Beck had been talked about as a potential starter, but when he eagerly showed up at Redskins Park on the day the collective bargaining agreement was reached, he was promptly turned away by Redskins security who did not recognize him.

Beck gets his first start for the Redskins this Sunday and there is plenty of reason to doubt his chances of success. But he also may have all the ingredients to make it in this league.

On tangibles, he has all the necessary traits. He moves well in the pocket and has 4.7 speed, which will prove useful as Shanahan likes to move his quarterback out of the pocket. His scouting reports give him decent arm strength, solid accuracy, a quick release, good pocket presence and strong decision-making ability. He was the second true freshman to ever start for BYU ending with more than 11,000 yards and 79 touchdowns.

But the intangibles may be his greatest strength. NFL scouts are nearly unanimous that great teams today are built on pro-caliber talent that has intangibles like character, intelligence and work ethic.

Beck’s test scores were high, he spent two years as a missionary and he speaks fluent Portugese. It may seem like another odd intangible reference, but the fact that he is an Eagle Scout may also help him as a Mike Shanahan quarterback. Becoming an Eagle Scout is no small chore in terms of discipline and persistence and it’s exactly that kind of “boy scout” style Shanahan likes. He wants a quarterback who is disciplined, averse to risk-taking and is willing to closely follow the direction of his coach.

Super Bowl MVP’s like Brees (released), Warner (Arena Football) and Brady (sixth round backup) were all under-recognized talents in their own rites. So were Washington’s own MVP’s named Theismann, Williams and Rypien. I am not suggesting Beck will be an MVP, but there are plenty of reasons to believe that he can succeed with smart coaching and solid players around him. Let’s not forget Mike Shanahan went to the AFC Championship in 2003 with Jake Plummer, the NFL’s worst quarterback in 1999. Beck is clearly in good hands.

It may take a couple starts to find out but we’ll soon see if John Beck has what it takes. If he does, there will be plenty of people who recognize him, especially Redskins security.


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