Matt Barkley Stays (QB Draft Prospect Thread-Episode IV)

[skinsguy]

Originally Posted by mredskins

I think the idea a rookie must sit his first year and if he doesn't then the team will suck has kinda of gone by the way side. Many rookies have come out starting in the NFL of late with great success. It depends on their ability to shorten the learning curve and their supporting cast.

Your idea only makes sense IF your last sentence is true. Unfortunately, that's not the case across the board, and I'm not sure that would be true in Washington. I think it would be a moot point anyways, as I'm not sure Mike Shanahan would necessarily start a rookie quarterback unless he showed unbelievable skills from the start. And even though Rex Grossman is probably going to be as good as he has been this season, he's still going to be a tough man to bench simply because he knows the offense. It would be easier to bench him for another young veteran with playoff experience. Mike is not going to make that mistake again of benching Rex Grossman for an unproven commodity. Maybe even if the 'skins somehow got Andrew Luck, its not a given Shanahan starts him from day one.

I can't tell you the situations of other teams around the league, but this is the situation at Redskins park. You're going into Mike's third season on his five year contract. He has had two losing seasons so far. There is going to be pressure on him to show some legitimate progress in the win column this season. Not saying he's fired if season three is another sub .500, but I don't believe Dan Snyder wants this team to be losers throughout the whole rebuilding process. It's important the Redskins are no worse than 8-8 in year three and that's strictly my opinion, but I believe that to be true regardless who the quarterback is.

Just thinking realistically, I think it's a long shot for any rookie quarterback to be named the starter from week one. I would be very surprised, because that would be a bold move on Mike Shanahan's part. If that rookie is RG III, knowing what all we have learned about him - the good and bad - that's even more of a bold move. It's pretty much a common knowledge that Andrew Luck seems would get a free pass around the league if he's thrust into the starting role (not that I necessarily agree with it) but I think he's the only one.