Washington Redskins: Santana Moss OK With Beck At Quarterback by Diane Chesebrough

Washington Redskins’ head coach Mike Shanahan has made a change at quarterback after former starter Rex Grossman had a very bad day in the loss last Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles and announced it this morning.  John Beck will be starting quarterback Sunday when the Redskins travel south to face rookie quarterback Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers.

Right after the loss, questions abounded about a possible change at QB and wide receiver Santana Moss publicly voiced his support for Grossman.  He indicated that the former Chicago Bear signal caller should not lose his job over throwing those four interceptions in last Sunday’s defeat.

“I think that he deserves to start,” Moss had said earlier in the week.  “[Eagles QB Michael] Vick threw four picks last week, came back and had a hell of a game. Tom Brady threw four picks two weeks ago. … I feel like for the flow of the game, it worked and kind of got a spark from bringing Beck in. But I just feel like you can’t just give up on a guy because he had a bad outing.”

Today, reporters asked Moss how he felt about Beck being named the starter.  The receiver was pragmatic, neither jumping up and down with excitement nor showing any sort of serious consternation about the change.

“Like I told ya’ll on Monday, there’s nothing we can do about it,” the Pro Bowler reiterated. “Whatever Coach decides to do, we’re going to go with it. I told ya’ll on Monday that we had two quarterbacks that we were very confident in and we know that when the decision was made of who was going to start or who was going to play, we were going to have to go with it. And that’s how I feel.”

The way Shanahan spoke at his press conference on Monday – stating the same types of things that Moss had about very good quarterbacks having bad days – it looked a little like he might keep Grossman as the starter. But, when it comes down to it, it’s all about who gives the team the best chance to win and, in this case, the head coach obviously thinks Beck does.  Moss understands that.

“Mike felt the same way,” Moss said. “But when it comes down to the decisions about our team, that’s where he comes in. He has to make the right decision for the team.  Therefore, whatever decision he makes, it’s for the team.

Asked how he felt about John Beck, Moss was candid.

“I think he’s a very talented quarterback that really hasn’t had his shot yet to prove who he can be in this league. I think he had a shot and hasn’t really done anything since he had that shot… hasn’t really had a chance since then. So, you know, he’s one of those guys that wants to prove stuff.  You watch him every day and he’s amping with some of everything. He’s one of those guys who really gets into everything he does so I’m just looking forward to the opportunity.”

Although he did not say outright that it was a good enough reason to pull Grossman from the starting job, Moss agrees with the majority of fans and media that Beck’s mobility will be a big plus in games moving forward.

“I’m pretty sure his mobility is going to make a big difference,” the receiver said when asked if injuries along the offensive line will make that mobility important. “When you have a mobile quarterback, when anything breaks down, the next best thing to do is use your legs. I’m pretty sure he knows that and we saw him use it in the preseason a number of times and we saw him use it last week.  He has enough in his game that he can do whatever he wants to do.

“He can throw the ball,” Moss went on, “he has a pretty strong arm and he can run. So I’m pretty sure he won’t think twice if it’s time to use any one of those.”

Santana Moss has been around long enough to adapt to pretty much anything thrown his way (pun intended). With Beck having been in this system now for a season and five games, as long as he can get it near Moss, the former “U” standout will be the exciting receiver he has always been, no matter who is throwing the ball.

“We feel we’re a pretty good team with both of those guys,” he said as he left the podium today. “Right now it’s John’s shot and we’re going to go for it.”

And then, as he walked out of the room a media member asked him the difference in the type of balls that Grossman and Beck throw. Moss, thought a second and, ever the diplomat had a good answer.

“You know, John can throw it pretty far, Rex can throw it pretty far. John can throw it pretty hard… Rex can throw it pretty hard.  They’re pretty similar.”

Hail.