Okay, I am really starting to become sick of the pervasive assertions that the Redskins lack a solid quarterback, and that Jason Campbell is no good. All it shows is a extreme ignorance of him, and I would like to shed some light on the subject.
Jason Campbell was selected twenty-fifth overall in the 2005 NFL Draft, so there are some pretty high expectations of him.
In his first year he sat out while Mark Brunell held the starting position. Patrick Ramsey may have been worked in a little that year; I don't remember.
In 2006, once again, Mark Brunell was the starter. But, as the year went on, Brunell was really playing poorly, so Coach Joe Gibbs decided to give Campbell his first start two thirds of the way into the season.
He played okay, having a losing record in those last five games. But, that's acceptable. It is rare that a quarterback performs well in his first few starts.
The 2007 season was Campbell's first full year as the starter. In the twelve-and-a-half games he played, he was, let's say, satisfactory. He totalled 2,700 yards, twelve touchdowns, and eleven interceptions.
This is nothing special. I am aware of this. But, I don't think it was a talent problem. Here is why:
I hate Al Saunders. There, ya have it. I can't stand him. I knew last year that this team had talent, plenty of it. But the conservative play calling of Saunders coupled with the conservative coaching style of Joe Gibbs meant week after week of frustration for me.
Let's just say that his seven-hundred-page playbook is full of "I'm afraid to take any sort of risk of turning the ball over" plays. This was his "tactic" for maintaining leads. In other words, Al Saunders is an idiot.
By the way, in all but three games, the Redskins led at halftime. Three. That is how successful Saunder's play calling was at maintaining leads.
The run game was overused, forced even. When Portis wasn't getting the job done, Saunders would send him up the middle of the line only to be stopped.
Then, on third down, Campbell would be forced a throw a pass on a conservative play when the defense was likely blitzing.
Simply put, Saunders wouldn't let Campbell be himself. Clearly, the coaching staff didn't have enough faith in him.
I mean, look at the last four games when Collins started. Looks like Saunder's faith was fully in him. Saunders unleashed his risky plays for Collins like he never did for Campbell.
To top it off, in games like the one at Tampa Bay, the never-ending conservative play calling would lead to three-and-out after three-and-out, allowing the opposing team to catch up.
By the last minutes of the game, the 'Skins are down, and the ENTIRE game is left on the shoulders of a growing quarterback. Folding under pressure is not only possible; it is likely. It happened to Campbell at least twice.
And, guess what? Not once was I ever mad at Campbell. Instead, I would be yelling at Al Saunders. Because I hate him. It was his fault, not Campbell's.
Fortunately, things are different now in Washington. No longer will conservative play calling surround the team, and Campbell will have the chance to truly take command of this offense.
The man ran a West Coast Offense in his Senior year at Auburn where he won SEC Player of the Year and went undefeated. Perhaps this is a sign that Zorn's offense will work for him.
People are really seeing this year as a make-or-break year for Campbell. If he were under the same offense, I would absolutely agree. He is, however, learning a completely new one. It is expected to run with disease.
Is it fair to blame Campbell if the offense doesn't run smoothly in 2008?
1 comments Last one added 11 months ago — Leave a Comment
Rohit Banerjee 11 months ago
dude seriously...i love you. you have hit the nail right on the head...didnt u always feel as if the play calling was 1st down: run up the middle for 1 yard. 2nd down: run up the middle for 2 yds 3rd and 7 throw the ball. NOw thats fine once in a while but every single offensive series?? they just did not trust jc and then when they asked him to throw, he had to be perfect. With this pass first offense, I fully believe campbell will show himself to be among the top tier qbs in the league
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