Quarterbacks May Not Pass Test for Redskins

Yes, it’s true, quarterbacks get too much of the credit, too much of the blame and way too much attention. But since one more column isn’t going to reverse that phenomenon, let’s rush right past both sets of linemen, the linebackers, backs, receivers and special teamers; let’s cut to the chase and get right to the only preseason topic worth discussing.

The quarterbacks, of course.

If you eliminated the quarterback from discussion just for a moment, and considered the other 21 positions, who would have the best team in the NFL? Probably Buffalo, then the Redskins.

There are at least a dozen reasons why the Redskins should make it to the Super Bowl in January, including having the best group of receivers, best group of runners and one of the best offensive lines in the game. There is one reason, though, why we are all reluctant to state categorically that the Redskins will get there. The quarterback, of course.

There, he’s back in the discussion. In case you, like many of us sitting in Three Rivers Stadium Sunday night, fell asleep midway through the kickoff, here’s what you missed:

Mark Rypien, the incumbent, completed three of eight passes for 74 yards. The numbers aren’t good, but three passes could be called drops. He did what Rypien does best, throw deep.

Cary Conklin, the second-year man, played most of the second quarter and completed six of nine passes for 89 yards and the team’s only touchdown. The fact that he got to play catch with exciting newcomer Ricky Ervins didn’t hurt.

Stan Humphries completed three of eight for 38 yards, and apparently decided that a relief quarterback should have a motion like a relief pitcher. Unfortunately for Humphries, he chose Dan Quisenberry, and had three deliveries disappear into Steeler belly buttons at the line of scrimmage.

Jeff Rutledge completed two of eight passes for 11 yards. ‘Nuf said.

Rypien was so-so, Conklin was impressive, Humphries caused confusion, and Rutledge is around because Joe Gibbs likes to have a veteran quarterback; how do you think Doug Williams got to Washington in the first place?

The question is, can Conklin or Humphries beat out Rypien? And if so, will it do the team any good?

One preseason game doesn’t tell you much about any quarterback, but this much we already know: Rypien is Gibbs’s starter. Rypien is bright, he’s tough, he’s had brilliant moments. Not many quarterbacks can throw deep as accurately as he can. However, he’s 28 and he still hasn’t shown he can really grab the team by the throat and take it where he wants.

We’ve seen that Rypien has trouble with short and medium-range passes. Throwing deep and throwing in tight spots, between coverages, are completely different talents. As we saw with Jay Schroeder, Gibbs is great at hiding a quarterback’s deficiencies, which means we should look for a more limited passing game, one that allows Rip to go deep, but stay away from the stuff over the middle and to the sidelines.

Gibbs isn’t the kind of coach who gets goo-goo eyes every time the backup comes in smoking. But Conklin has a certain presence that can’t be ignored. Club officials say he’s had a good camp, and because Gibbs is performance-oriented, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Conklin surpass Humphries on the depth chart before long.

It would be a shame if Conklin had to spend another season on injured reserve. But do you want a virtual rookie going through growing pains while trying to lead a veteran offense?

Again, because Gibbs is performance-oriented, Humphries has slid a long way since taking over for an injured Rypien last season. Given the chance, he threw nine interceptions in four games. After a knee injury, Humphries didn’t work as hard as the coaches think he should have and got out of shape.

What often gets overlooked in these quarterback analyses is that the club got itself into this situation. Had the Redskins not passed on Boomer Esiason out of Maryland, there’d be no quarterback controversy. He’d have stepped in for Joe Theismann and been the starter for a dozen years.

As is, an awful lot is being expected from two sixth-round picks (Rypien and Humphries) and a fourth (Conklin).

If the Redskins are to challenge for the Super Bowl this year, it would seem they’ll have to do so with Rypien, who has lost 18 pounds and worked about as hard as you can to overcome physical limitations.

Look for the Redskins to run the ball nearly as much as the Giants or Bears, and why not when any of four backs is capable of rushing for 1,000 yards?

This won’t have the glamour of Sonny-Billy, Billy-Joe or even Doug-Jay, but as the season develops, this newest Redskins quarterback quandary could be just as important.