Eight-year veteran Case Keenum has a considerable edge in NFL quarterbacking experience on the Redskins’ No. 1 draft pick, Dwayne Haskins. But just like the rookie, he’s new to coach Jay Gruden’s offense.
So it’s not surprising that both quarterbacks have had some rocky moments so far in voluntary workouts. Haskins threw three interceptions last week during OTAs, while Keenum was picked off once. And each signal-caller has been guilty of holding the ball for too long.
None of these mistakes are reasons for either to panic, but the Redskins will try to clean them up as the offseason progresses. Washington’s three-day mandatory minicamp begins Tuesday.
“The defense is pretty good right now, they’re at full strength,” Gruden said. “Offensively, we are not quite at full strength. … When we get into team periods, it is kind of been a little tough, (the) defense is doing very well.”
Haskins told reporters on May 20 that he has to take “baby steps” when picking up the offense.
Though the first-rounder has said he feels like the process is going great, Haskins is still getting used to Washington’s play-calling terminology. At Ohio State, the Buckeyes relied on signals in a fast-paced offense, whereas with Washington, the team huddles and often takes snaps from directly under center.
For Keenum, the 31-year-old said he has to do a better job of progressing through reads to match up closer with Gruden’s play design. As with Haskins, there are also protection calls that Keenum can clean up.
Keenum, though, says Gruden’s offense is a “quarterback-friendly” system.
“It’s a lot of really, really good offensive minds in that room,” said Keenum, who is on his fifth team since 2013. “I’m trying to soak it up, all that I can, and apply what I’ve known in my experience and what I’ve known and done before. I’m coming at this with a fresh start.”
The Redskins plan to take their time with this quarterback competition — with Gruden saying the team will go through a thorough process to determine the starter.
On the practice field, that translates to patience with Haskins. Miscalled plays are often stopped mid-drill.
“It’s all really new to him as far as transferring what I say or what coach [Kevin] O’Connell says to the huddle,” Gruden said. “There might be one key word that he might mess up, which is a critical word — 14 instead of 15 — so it’s a big word.
“So, we have to just clean him up a little bit, slow him down, be patient, but it will come for him. It’ll come soon.”
Wideout Josh Doctson said Haskins is a quick learner.
“I don’t know what they did over there at Ohio State, but they were doing something right,” Doctson said. “Because he just came in here and hasn’t really hesitated.”
Both quarterbacks have also had moments to shine.
Keenum looked poised and more comfortable in the workout that was open to reporters last week, while Haskins has had a noticeable zip on his throws.
It can be also hard to evaluate both players when Washington is far from full strength, as Gruden noted. The Redskins, for example, have played Ereck Flowers primarily at tackle in team drills — despite signing him to play left guard — because Trent Williams isn’t at practice.
Defenses, too, typically have the advantage over offenses this time of year.
But the Redskins must see how each quarterback adapts in the coming weeks.
“I think they are just progressing nicely,” Gruden said of the quarterbacks. “Just have to keep at it, keeping throwing things at them.”
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
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