The Washington Redskins have long been plagued by offensive futility. Be it injuries, coaching changes, or just a plain lack of talent, points haven't come too easily for the 'Skins over the past decade or so.
Former coach Joe Gibbs was able to generate some offensive success during his second tenure, but inconsistency really hampered development. I often got the feeling that he was constantly overthinking and outsmarting himself.
First halves for Gibbs usually went smoothly. Last season, Washington led at the half in several games and then went on to lose due to conservative play-calling. Al Saunders never opened his playbook past page one, and the offense struggled to move the ball.
Jason Campbell was never handed the full reigns over his team or the playbook, which proved to be a serious error in judgment. Young quarterbacks learn from their mistakes, but Campbell always made his at the most inopportune times due to the fact that the coaching staff botched leads, resulting in putting all the pressure on Campbell.
So at one moment, Campbell was given almost no control, but then in the next, everything was expected of him. That certainly is not fair. The correct way to develop a quarterback is to gradually depend on him, little by little, to run the show.
The incorrect way would be to thrust the entire game on his shoulders after you display no trust in him throughout the first three quarters.
Joe Gibbs should have known better than to do this to his young quarterback.
However, new coach Jim Zorn has made it quite clear that this is now Campbell's team; something Gibbs never emphasized. Campbell will get to make his throws this season and will not be limited by the staff. Zorn cast his vote of confidence in Campbell's direction when he told the media that Campbell would start the season, regardless of the performance of backup Todd Collins, who is coming off a very strong 2007 season.
That is the kind of thing a young quarterback needs to hear. When a new head coach comes to town, bringing a new offense in the process, a young QB likes to hear that he will be the leader. This statement will be a nice shot in the arm for Campbell.
However, giving him the reigns doesn't mean all is well. Execution must improve tenfold. Receivers were plagued by drops last year, and careless turnovers occurred every week. Zorn must review these tendencies and cut down on them in training camp to ensure a cleaner performance on gameday.
Zorn's offense will be much better tailored to Clinton Portis and Campbell. Portis has gushed about Zorn's rushing attack, saying that he was "running into a brick wall of players" with Gibbs, and that this new system will allow him to exhibit his speed and elusiveness.
Meanwhile, Campbell will be learning an offense similar to the one he ran at Auburn the year he went undefeated. He has big receivers in Malcolm Kelly, Fred Davis, and Devin Thomas, and he has already established some chemistry with Chris Cooley, Antwaan Randle El, and Santana Moss.
Zorn's offense is very up-tempo and quick, which was not exactly what one might label Gibbs' offense.
"Once we get to the line of scrimmage, we are going," Campbell told Comcast SportsNet.
This change of pace should help get the offense comfortable with the flow of the game, as they seemed to be going through the motions for much of last season. They have to learn how to simply play the game without thinking so much.
Guard Randy Thomas is aware, though, that whatever changes the offense undergoes, the bottom line remains the same: score points.
"I don't care if [Campbell] has to drop back ten steps," said Thomas, referring to the shorter dropbacks Zorn uses, "we just need to score points."
Indeed you do, Randy.
Quick Hits...
Colt Brennan hasn't been receiving positive reviews on his mechanics, but should still make the team as the third-string quarterback.
Malcolm Kelly has been having a terrific camp, according to several sources. He could be on the fast track to becoming the No. 3 receiver. Devin Thomas, who might end up becoming the better player, is more raw; so don't expect him to make an instant impact considering Zorn demands outstanding route running.
Erasmus James is on the PUP list for now, but will eventually see some preseason action.
Clinton Portis will not be playing in the Hall of Fame Game. Portis has long detested the preseason, and Zorn complied with Portis' wish, saying, "I'm not going to hassle with it." A player like Portis needs to stay healthy and rested, so I'm all in favor of this move. We know he can play, so there's no need for him to play much, if any, preseason time.
Linebacker Matt Sinclair might be the depth at the position Greg Blache is looking for. The word is out that he is having an excellent camp. Also, Randall Godfrey is still on the market and could play in a pinch.
The player to watch in the preseason? Running back Marcus Mason spent last year on the practice squad after a tremendous preseason. Now he'll be looking to earn a spot on the final roster. He showed a great knack for avoiding tackles and ran well last year.
If he can do it again, he might find his way onto the team.
Another guy to look at is cornerback Byron Westbrook, who also played well last year in the preseason.
That's the latest from Redskins Park. I'll be back with more soon.
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28 days ago
EXACTLY....Great article
28 days ago
I didn't disagree with a single thing you said. Great job.
28 days ago
I'm looking forward to seeing how Thomas and Kelly can contribute to the offense...
28 days ago
your definatly right
28 days ago
Rookie recievers rarley make a difference in their first years.. Randy Moss, Steve Smith (Panthers), Jerry Rice. It will be tough to turn things around in one season.
28 days ago
Thanks very much for the compliments. Be sure to check out my new blog skinstalk.com. I'll be posting on there soon.
28 days ago
Devin Thomas pulled a hamstring today in camp. I'm hoping he'll get back quickly.
28 days ago
Yeah I just saw that. Zorn said it wasn't serious though.
28 days ago
As a long-time skins fan, I'll believe that the system is fit to Portis' running style and similar to the Auburn offense in which Campbell made a name for himself when I see it. For every new coach we've had, the optimists (including me) have always been so ready to expect big things based on a coach's track record as this kind of coach or that kind of coach. I want to see things gel as much as the next guy who still wears his childhood '87 superbowl champs shirt, but for now I'm commiting to a prediction of a mediocre 12-4/NFC East champs record for the skins.
from 28 days ago
You've gotta be kidding me. there is no way that Washington can beat out both the Giants and the Cowboys without a solid QB and a rookie as their biggest recieving threat.
from 28 days ago
Actually, I'm not. That was all 100% serious. Especially the part about 12-4 being mediocre.
from 28 days ago
Vinny, the top receiving threat is cooley not thomas/kelly/davis. Cooley, in the ridiculously conservative gibbs offense still emerged as a top 5 tight end. In this wider open offense, look for him to put up numbers comparable to the Todd heap of a couple of years ago.
from 27 days ago
Vinny, last year was Campbell's FIRST whole year as a starter. He hasn't been playing long at all. Stop with this "not a solid QB" nonsense.
from 27 days ago
Tanner, thats exactly my point. Campbell could turn out to be the next Tom Brady, but as of right now, hes not solid. There are 4 solid QB's in the NFL right now. Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, and Carson Palmer, and maybe Big Ben and Eli Manning... maybe. You don't know what your gonna get outta the other guys. I don't mean to rip Campbell, but hes not solid as of now.
28 days ago
Vinny do you realize that we have solid threats across the board on offense. One player does not need to stand out because there are seven legitimate threats on the offense. Cooley, Davis, Moss, Randle El, Thomas, Kelly, and Portis. The Giants can't boast that many players on offense. They have a good team, but on paper, which is all we have to work with right now, they just aren't as good as the Redskins.
28 days ago
I'm not a Skins fans but Vinny you do realize this team made the playoffs last year with their backup QB right?
It's not like this is a bad team looking for a turn around season, they are good on both sides of the ball. On offense, Cambell played well last year as a rookie starter and should do better this year. We all know about Portis and Betts is a solid backup. Both Moss and Randel El are good WR but they just aren't very tall. That's why they took Kelly, and Thomas in the draft. The skins need bigger WR for when they get in the redzone. It's hard to throw a jump ball to a 5,10" WR.
On defense, they have solid players like Taylor, Laundry, Roger, Smoot, Carter, Fletcher, and Springs.
This is a team that could win 10-12 games if things go right. However, they play in the hardest division in football. It's all going to come down to who can beat up on who in that division.
28 days ago
Yes, my fault, i forgot about Cooley. But on paper, i still take the Giants. With the exceptions on TE and RB, the Giants have better players at all postitons. Santana Moss had a melt-down year last year, while Plaxico Burress had one of the better years for a reciever, on one leg, and without even practicing. Portis is a hit or miss RB, although most of the time is a hit. Jason Campbell hasnt proven anything yet, and is still a large question on the Redskins mediocre at best offense.
from 27 days ago
Moss was battling hamstring and heel injuries all season.
from 27 days ago
Didn't know that
28 days ago
REdskins are going to do good this season and this coming from a dallas fan
28 days ago
Vinny,
You do realize David Tyree is recovering from a bum knee and in the worst case scenario might miss the first six weeks of the season. That's the guy who made "the catch" to keep the Giants Super Bowl winning drive alive. Without him all you have is Plexiglass Burress.
Dude the Giants won it all on defense. Justin Tuck and Usi Umenyora have competition this year in the form of Andre Carter and Jason Taylor. The Redskins could push the Cowgirls to the limit if they stay healthy and lose that play not to lose mentality of the past four years (Sorry Joe... still the greatest in my mind) I'm excited about Portis' commitment to the offseason and the return of Randy Thomas, Jansen only provides him the space to lateral move his way to the endzone.
Zorn we're counting on ya!
Go skins!
from 27 days ago
Who cares about David Tyree missing 6 weeks. What is he the 4th string WR on the Giants. They still have Burress, Tomer, and Smith. Besides they have a very good running game.
28 days ago
Jennifer,
You do realize David Tyree did absolutley nothing all last season until the superbowl, right? He only played in the superbowl because Sinorice Moss was hurt. The Giants still have Plaxico Burress, Amani Toomer, Brandon Jacobs, and Ahmad Bradshaw. Bradshaw hel the NFL's longest play from scrimage with an 88 yard TD run. Tyree's injury will have little to no affect on the Giants season
28 days ago
Doubt the injury to Thomas is major, it looked to me(I was at camp this morning, will be back tomorrow)like it will turn out to be fairly minor. This team could be very good. If the running game can stay powerful(this means healthy O-Line, Portis and/or Betts) it will give Jason Campbell and the WRs time to learn the offense and each other. If the Skins can end up at least 4-4 at mid-season, they will be competing for the Division by week 16.
Coach Zorn will be tested, but he'll be fine.
Hail! Skins!
from 27 days ago
It's going to be difficult to go 4-4 when we play three division road games in the first five weeks.
27 days ago
Update: Thomas will be out ten to fourteen days. So he won't play in the Hall of Fame game.
from 27 days ago
Oh bummer he's gonna miss the Hall of Fame Game! sorry couldn't resist showing my contempt for one of our eight billion preseason games :)
from 27 days ago
Heh. :)
I'm just concerned because he's a rookie, and he needs to learn the offense.
27 days ago
Vinny,
Your receivers aside from Burress are huge question marks. I watched enough Giant games to realize that Toomer is washed up while Sinorice and Tyree were invisible. I can see Steve Smith being a solid player, but that's only two viable options at WR.
The Skins have Moss who when healthy is very dangerous; Randle El who developed nicely with Campbell last season; and the rookies. I would say we have comparable WRs.
Btw our offense only needs to be so good because our defense will certainly remain in the top ten this season. A little more production would easily put us over the hump.
27 days ago
Sinorice and Tyree both battled injuries all last season. Toomer, though i agree is getting old, still was a solid reciever. Smith should some good flashes, but still is a bit raw. And they also have Kevin Boss now, who is still un-proven, but showed he has great hands.
from 26 days ago
I like Boss, but Moss has never done anything in three seasons. It's safe to call him a bust. We have much more depth at WR and TE.
27 days ago
HMPH! Malcolm Kelly slightly hurt his hamstring today. He won't be out very long at all, but Coach Zorn has said he likely will not participate in the scrimmage tomorrow. I'll be there tomorrow, and I really wanted to see him play. <:^(
from 26 days ago
These hamstring tweaks always worry me. WRs always have trouble recovering from them. Btw I will be there tomorrow too Tanner. Hopefully i'll see you there. I'll be wearing a white Moss jersey :)
24 days ago
Some Hall of Fame game this will be. Preseason is supposed to be a showcase for the younger guys (rookies) trying to catch on as backups or make the special teams unit. But will all these hamstring issues and broken right hands on the Skins side of the ball, we are going to end up watching bubble RB Marcus Mason, getting tackled ,by some third-stringer on the Colts, that I can't name, bc I have no idea who they will play.
Manning, Harrison and Freeney weren't gonna see many reps, and since they are nursing various ailments the fans are stuck watching guys that will be bagging groceries next week. I guess I'll have to adopt the old adage "Football is like pizza even when its bad its still pretty good. "
The real fun begins in 38 days. Look out Eli. 1, 2 JT's coming for you.
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