Washington Redskins: True Quarterback or Bust in 2011-2012

It's amazed me, as I'm sure it has amazed the rest of you, the way the Indianapolis Colts have imploded this season. Everyone expected the offense to be lacking without Peyton Manning calling the shots in the backfield, but his absence has impacted more than just the offensive side of the ball. 

Indianapolis, like New England, or Green Bay, subscribes to something that I like to call "Quarterbackcentricity." Think back to junior high science and put the pieces together. The same way everything in the universe revolves around and is anchored to the sun is exactly how those teams revolve around their signal callers.  

Such a dependency on a quarterback is either a blessing or a curse. In Green Bay's case, it could be deemed a Godsend, and in Indy's case, the latter. But the recent success that these franchises have achieved can all, irrevocably, be traced back to a star quarterback at the helm. 

Then we get to Washington. What unfolded Sunday and the weeks leading up to Sunday is a snapshot of what has plagued the Redskins for going on two decades.  

The Redskins haven't had a legitimate threat under center since the Brad Johnson days, and Johnson was already eight years into his career by the time he reached Washington. Of course, for every crisis there is an applicable remedy. For the Redskins, the answer may well lie in the draft.  

We hate that word around DC, and for good reason. Until the last few years, the Redskins' draft has consisted of ultimate risk, minimal reward. Things have improved since we've taken Brian Orakpo, Trent Williams and Ryan Kerrigan in the early rounds of the last few drafts, and their impact has been felt, especially on defense. 

But the need to revamp and rebuild the Redskins according to the Shanahan blueprint has failed in one of the most key categories. Case in point: John Beck and Rex Grossman.  

Beck is a five-year veteran who, as of this week, is 0-7 as a starting quarterback. Much to the Shanahans' chagrin, Beck has not been the diamond in the rough as predicted in the preseason. Then there's Rex Grossman. While Beck arrived in Washington as a relative question mark, Grossman's resume was well known across the league as an inconsistent passer and reckless decision maker.  

Yet maybe, just maybe the personnel installed around these two would help offset any inconsistency (or in this case inability) in their play. Needless to say, the personnel hasn't provided any cushion at all and, add a slew of injuries to key skill positions and the hard, ugly truth is glaring to say the least.  

There won't be much in the win column. Not this year. Not to sound disparaging but to hope for a sudden turnaround in the second half of the season is just, well, ludicrous. Luckily, the incoming draft class is deep with talent at quarterback, perhaps as deep a talent pool as there ever has been. As a committed Redskins fan, it would be hard to watch the draft roll by and Shanahan not pull the trigger on one of the many talented signal callers that will be on the table.  

Obviously, there is a certain quarterback in Palo Alto whose name is whispered reverently amongst those who run the draft boards, but Andrew Luck is not the only quarterback getting ready for Sundays. Landry Jones, Matt Barkley, Brandon Weeden and Case Keenum are all hot prospects at the moment. Weeden is interesting because of his age; At 28, he's not exactly primed for longevity at the next level.

Keenum is a gunslinger out of Houston who has lit fire to the stat sheets this season and, like Weeden, is a product of the Dana Holgorsen school of offense. Jones is a tried and tested junior who no doubt has the leadership credentials and the arm strength to produce in the NFL.

Barkley has the disadvantage of steering the USC offense during the rebuilding period of Lane Kiffin's tenure but having the distinction of being the only freshman to ever start at quarterback for the Trojans certainly goes a long way in showing how talented he is.  

Kellen Moore seems an attractive choice on the outset, but a closer look reveals a small frame that worries most draft analysts and an arm that certainly won't be an improvement over anything that we currently have in Washington.

Robert Griffin III from Baylor is more of an unconventional choice, and not necessarily one I can see Shanahan going for.  While Griffin is a phenominal athlete he is not a pure passer and even though Kyle Shanahan's offense allows its signal caller to be mobile, it certainly favors the guy who can settle in the pocket and throw the ball downfield.  

In a perfect world, the Skins wouldn't have to lose out the rest of the way in order to be a front runner in the "Luck lottery." But this world isn't perfect and the way things are playing out in Indianapolis, it seems very likely Luck will trade in his red and white for royal and white. That doesn't necessarily mean that Washington has no shot in getting Luck to take his talents to D.C..  

If the season doesn't improve and continues down the path that it is likely headed, the Redskins will likely have one of the first five picks of the draft. If Luck is still, by some miracle, on the table by pick four or five—take him.

If he isn't, I like Matt Barkley for the Skins' offense. He's experienced, and having played under both Pete Carroll and Lane Kiffin, he knows how to run a pro-style offense. He would have to learn fast as neither Beck nor Grossman make for the greatest of mentors, but Barkley seems to have brains and character in great and equal measure.  

Whatever the Redskins end up doing to amend their woes at quarterback, it won't be quick fix. That means that Grossman will more than likely be under center for the Redskins for at least part of next year. Personally, I don't see Beck being an NFL player for much longer. The few redeeming qualities he has as a player are far overshadowed by his shortcomings.  

While this is all speculative and nothing more than a glimpse at some potential stars out of this coming draft class, all of this resolves around one simple, unavoidable fact: Washington needs a quarterback for the future.

That doesn't mean an unproven journeyman or a once great field general who has slid too far from his prime. It means that Shanahan might have to roll the dice in favor of potential.  THAT is a scary word but, right now, it may be exactly what Washington needs.  

If we're subscribing to the theory that any and all things within an NFL franchise revolve around the quarterback then the Redskins would certainly be exceptions to the rule.  Simply put, neither Grossman nor Beck possesses enough gravitational pull to harness the lesser bodies around them. It's only right then, that you substitute someone in their place who can emanate such a force.  

Taking a chance on a quarterback in this coming draft class could be an ideal way for Mike Shanahan to add another stamp to his legacy. The notion of having a franchise quarterback succeed in Washington for years on end would not only satisfy even the most fervent Redskins fan, but also pose as a beacon to talented free agents elsewhere on the lookout for a franchise whose offense is truly growing and looking forward.  

It's only a theory, of course. There's no formula that can draw up a guaranteed plan to fix the type of problem the Redskins have. As a Redskins fan, though, I think back over the years and can't remember pointing the television and saying "That's my quarterback."

I think it's about time for the fans in D.C. to be able to say that and beam. While this is all just a theory, I can't help but feel Beck and Grossman are doing nothing but proving me more and more right.