Commentary: Beck bears the heaviest QB burden

[DolFan619]

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/dolphins/content/sports/epaper/2008/07/28/a1c_elmore_0729.html

Commentary: Beck bears the heaviest QB burden

By CHARLES ELMORE
Palm Beach Post Staff Columnist

Monday, July 28, 2008

DAVIE — Dolphins coach Tony Sparano described quarterback John Beck as "bouncing back" Monday from three interceptions in 10 throws the day before.

But Beck must bounce a little higher if he wants to stay in the quarterback conversation. A string of two sacks and a batted-down throw on three straight pass plays Monday did not accentuate the strengths he must show to stay in the race.

One problem for Beck is he's the stepchild of the quarterbacking corps. He is the only holdover from a 1-15 regime, whose stench was so powerful nobody bothered to pick an MVP or hold a banquet. Beck is also not a Bill Parcells pick.

Any honest assessment after three days of training camp has to rank Josh McCown the starter if games started this weekend. The seventh-year pro is the guy threading the most throws into tight spots downfield, finding the likes of Derek Hagan and John Dunlap and Greg Camarillo for 20 yards or more Monday. He's playing loose, with confidence. He even went out for a pass on a double throw that didn't quite come off, and exclaimed, "Whoo, I want the rock!"

Beck had a miserable Sunday, when he threw three interceptions in 10 passes. Though he didn't throw any more interceptions in a workout Monday morning and completed some crisp slants and 10-yard routes. he suffered through another mini-funk of bad outcomes, the kind he can ill afford.

"I thought that John came out here today and he bounced back and had a little bit more of a solid practice," Sparano said. "What we need to remember about John is that John really is just a one-year player. He didn't have a lot of game snaps last year, so what he's getting out here is really valuable for him. I like the way he's coming along, and I think he's going to be fine. He'll get better and better. He's a pretty conscientious guy that way."

Rookie Chad Henne had his struggles, too, on Monday evening, when he and McCown worked the team drills as Beck watched. The Michigan product threw one interception to Will Allen and nearly gave up another when his arm was hit under pressure. He also took a sack.

"Right now I just have to keep learning and be consistent," Henne said.

Hagan, who had a standout day catching the ball, said it would be nice to have the quarterback situation all sorted out, but added, "it really doesn't matter because whoever we have back there is capable of getting the job. We have three good quarterbacks."

To win the job, though, Beck has to set himself apart. He has to look like the smart, sure-handed choice on a run-oriented team. He has to position himself as the steady alternative to the gunslinging McCown, who has 40 NFL interceptions against 35 career touchdowns. He has to live up to his second-round draft selection, based in large part on a 62.4 percent career completion rate at Brigham Young.

But early in camp, Beck is not distancing himself from last season's struggles, when he was surrounded by a skeleton crew and had one touchdown in five games, three interceptions, seven fumbles, five lost.

Now is the time Beck has to deliver, when three quarterbacks are being given rotating stints with the first-teamers in practice. Otherwise, he runs the highest risk of becoming the odd man out, the guy who does not fit, two inches shorter than McCown and three years older than Henne. He turns 27 on Aug. 21.

By his count, Beck threw one interception in 280 previous throws in mini-camps and the like this off-season. But trouble has come in bunches the opening week of training camp.

"I don't think as a quarterback you change," Beck said. "At least, I don't. For me, when you have a down practice, you're anxious for the next one. You're excited."

But some things do have to change for Beck. The early "oohs" and "aahs" belong to McCown. McCown hit Dunlap running toward the end zone, throwing the ball over the outstretched fingertips of Keith Davis. He stuck it in Hagan's hands in traffic down the right sideline.

McCown is the starter of the moment. Henne will get plenty of time to show what he can do.

But Beck has a shorter clock, and he must run away from last year as fast as he can.

[YoFuggedaboutit]

One problem for Beck is he's the stepchild of the quarterbacking corps. He is the only holdover from a 1-15 regime, whose stench was so powerful nobody bothered to pick an MVP or hold a banquet.

Wow.  All I can say is.... WOW!!!!!!!

Almost all teams have banquets after the season.  This new regime is really bending over backward to forget about last season. 

[gocowboys31]

Here's a prediction, if Beck and Matt Roth don't produce this preseason they will both be looking for jobs.