Redskins vs. Ravens: Report Card for The Redskins First-String Offense

Washington Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan announced his main two quarterbacks, Rex Grossman and John Beck, would rotate two series each against the Baltimore Ravens in the third game of the 2011 preseason game.

The results were mixed, because Beck was only able to attempt three passes in the first half while Grossman ended up getting the majority of the work.

The Washington defense was solid in the first quarter, despite missing leader London Fletcher and losing second-round draft pick Jarvis Jenkins to a knee injury early on.

The best part of the Redskins offense in the first half was the offensive line. Though Will Montgomery and Chris Chester were just added to the starting lineup this year, the unit looked cohesive against a tough Ravens defense.

Washington picked up huge chunks of yards on the ground, which caused the Ravens to huddle on the sideline and try to rally. Baltimore then began blitzing Redskin quarterbacks often, getting some positive results.

Tim Hightower is showing he loves being home, having grown up in a nearby suburb of Virginia. He gashed Baltimore for 56 yards rushing and a touchdown on nine attempts, showing he most likely has secured the starting job for the beginning of this season.

Washington's tight ends spent most of the time blocking as well as missing injured Pro Bowler Chris Cooley. Fred Davis, who now looks like a wide receiver after trimming down a lot of weight during the offseason, had one catch for 19 yards.

The wide receivers were active and productive. The expected main trio of Santana Moss, Anthony Armstrong and Jabar Gaffney had seven receptions for 120 yards and a score. Terrence Austin, who was cut a few times in his 2010 rookie year, also did a good job.

Washington's starters were leading Baltimore's starters 21-14 at halftime, but the Ravens quickly tied the game in the second half by playing their starters against the Redskins reserves. Baltimore won the game in the final minute 34-31 to claim victory in the "Battle of the Beltways."

ESPN analyst Jon Gruden, a former NFL coach, announced he was going on record to predict Beck would win the starting quarterback job. Grossman had some nice moments, especially fitting the ball nicely to Armstrong, but he also made the same mistakes that has made him a journeyman in the league.

Beck, who only has four 2007 games on a lousy team highlighting his resume, has spent the last two weeks showing what Shanahan saw in him. Beck was a Raven in 2009 and was traded to the Redskins last year for a practice squad player who later ended back on the Redskins practice squad after Baltimore cut him.

Shanahan told reporters earlier this week he will not decide on a starting quarterback until the Redskins open the regular season against the New York Giants, so expect him to possibly rotate the quarterbacks again next week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Here are the grades of the Redskins offensive starters in the first half:

Offensive Line: B

Though Grossman took a few shots on blitzes, the quarterback also held onto the ball too long a few times. Washington's blockers did a fine job against an excellent Ravens defense.

Wide Receiver: A

The trio of Moss, Armstrong and Gaffney did a fine job getting open most of the time. Armstrong caught a deep pass on Beck's first attempt of the game as the Redskins went over 70 yards in three plays for a score. Moss, who has been excellent all preseason, also scored.

Running Back: A

Hightower averaged 6.2 yards per carry—excellent against a team of Baltimore's acumen. He wasn't used in the passing attack, even though he was open in the flat several times.

Tight End: C+

Davis only had one catch, but he, Logan Paulsen and Derek Schouman did fine jobs blocking. Still, you'd like to see more of what Davis can do with his new frame.

Quarterback: C

The rotation was straight out of the 1950s, when Hall of Famer Y.A. Tittle shared snaps with Frankie Albert. Hall of Famer Roger Staubach and Craig Morton once alternated each play for the Dallas Cowboys in 1971.

Grossman and Beck both missed a few passes they should have made, yet Beck was active and mobile. Both took sacks and were greeted with pressure.

Though Gruden made his statement, it came in the second half after Beck performed well with reserves on the field. Beck really didn't seem to get enough snaps to get into any flow, while Grossman was able to.

Grossman completed eight of 15 passes for 112 yards and a score, while Beck completed one of just three attempts. Hopefully this situation will reverse next week to give Beck more opportunities, assuming Shanahan continues with this rotation.

The Redskins may have lost their first preseason game, but the effort is obvious. It is an effort not often seen the past few years. Washington fans are beginning to get comfortable with the idea of having a team that won't quit in any of the 60 minutes the Redskins play each week.