The best quarterbacks often find a new reality on the field in their later years. Experience turns the game into more than men smashing into each other, but opportunities in zones to conquer. The smarter man survives the day.
After 13 years of playing, Washington quarterback Dwayne Haskins has some old wisdom in a 23-year-old mind. He sees Drew Brees and Tom Brady scanning the field like some spreadsheet rather than reacting to pass rushers. It's that eureka moment that never comes for some, but is a magical formula for those who grasp the game.
Haskins hasn't crossed over to that level yet. Indeed, he's many seasons away from it. But, playing chess has taught him to look beyond the obvious. Set up your opponent with one move when it will later fuel a bigger one later. Former Washington coach Norv Turner used to run a play so future opponents would see it on tape and obsess on a Trojan horse. Haskins now sees how to play several snaps ahead.
"I love chess," Haskins said. "I learned how to play professionally in college. Not playing professionally, but learning how to play professional — knowing how to castle, knowing how to do certain maneuvers in order to win in eight or 10 moves. Just finding ways to think ahead of the person you're playing is just like playing quarterback.
"You don't want to be in a position where you're caught reacting. You kind of just want to be able to anticipate what's going on and just knowing if I get this, like I said earlier I know I have this, this, this to retaliate to or go to without having much thought or effort about it. Just having it already trained in my head. So, chess is an alternative for me to be able to ignite my process and think about ways and things to do things faster. So that's why I play chess."
And that's why learning to watch game film with a keen eye was so important over the offseason for Haskins. Few players enter the NFL knowing how to watch film for its nuances. They're just looking at their position. But, longtime pros like Washington quarterback Alex Smith can show Haskins other places to watch simultaneously to find weaknesses.
"I think when learning an NFL offense, it isn't about memorization because then you get caught up in just memorizing the play or memorizing the concept," Haskins said. "But, you have to be able to work the play and understand conceptually: 'This is my first, second, third read on Cover 2; this is my first, second, third read on Cover 3; this is my first, second, third read on Cover 4; this is my first, second, third read versus Cover 2, Cover 3, one-fire, two-fire, to invert Philly, zero.' Just a whole bunch of different things that can happen on one play.
"Where's my zero answer? And it happens with .05 seconds. Just knowing that when you're prepared for everything when it comes to a play so when Scott calls a play and I hear this is the look, I get the matchup I want. I can alert him. If this is Cover 2, I'm working this. If it's Cover 3, I'm working this. If it's Cover 4, I'm working this down here. Versus pressure, I have a hot answer here. Versus zero, I've got my back."
Still believe the myth of dumb football players?
Haskins is now waiting for the opposing pawns to come at him with an eye for taking out the major obstacles. Patience and experience will eventually blend so he can strike effectively.
"Just knowing that if I go into the game, the plays will come to me when they're supposed to be made and I throw the check downs, I throw the screens and throw the completions out of the air," he said. "When it's time to throw the ball on the field and [receiver] Terry [McLaurin] or whoever is there on the field, make the throw and make a pretty damn good throw. That's what I look forward to doing all year long."
Checkmate?
Rick Snider has covered Washington sports since 1978. Follow him on Twitter: @Snide_Remarks
