By Ryan O’Halloran
A few takes on what Redskins coach Mike Shanahan had to say Friday following the final practice of the year:
Much like I did with offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan on Thursday, I asked Mike about, when evaluating a draft-eligible quarterback, what is the starting point?
Mike went in a different direction. That’s not new.
He went in an informative direction. That is new.
The answer:
“What I do, I’ve probably looked at 10 or 15 them already. I’ll take a half hour a day, early in the morning, the tapes are made up and I’ll take a look at 75-80 plays, just a guy throwing the football in game situations and at least the good passes during the season to get a feel for the guy. I do a little bit of that every day.”
Shanahan added he started the process at the season’s halfway point.
It was stunning he offered this and three other reporters agreed with me (it was a small group of diehards at Redskin Park; heck, CSN was the only camera present besides the team’s website).
Guesses on what Mike was trying to get out there (we guessed on the quotes):
* Much like he did early in the week when he said the rebuild has taken longer than he expected, it was Shanahan’s way of saying, “Hey, we know what the record is, but we didn’t exactly inherit a playoff team and we haven’t had a full off-season of practices and free agency activity yet.”
* It was him saying to the fans – a message we were happy to relay: “We know you want us to draft a quarterback in the first round and we know we have to set up the future with a passer so I got on it a little earlier than usual.”
* A day after Kyle said starting a quarterback with no experience in the Shanahans system next year was not a big deal (hello, RG3), Mike took it a step further by admitting the head start. The Redskins must be sure of who they pick.
Contact O’Halloran at rohalloran@comcastsportsnet.com
Did KS say experience in the shanahan system is or isn't a big deal? I thought he said it wasn't a big deal?
Posted by: Diwigit06 | Saturday, December 31, 2011 at 06:37 PM
Sorry, key word omitted there. Should be no experience in the system not a big deal. Edited, thanks.
Posted by: Rich Tandler | Saturday, December 31, 2011 at 06:56 PM