Let’s cut straight to the subject that’s been buzzing around the message board and talk-radio world:
Should Jason Campbell be benched?
Clearly, his performance has fallen off in the past seven games. After the first five games of the year, Campbell’s QB rating stood at a very respectable 100 and he hadn’t thrown an interception.
Now, he’s at a mediocre 87.5 rating and he’s thrown four picks. After five games, ESPN’s Ron Jaworski said that he was a candidate for MVP. Now people are saying he’s the main reason the offense has been MIA.
So that has board posters and talk show callers calling for Campbell to be replaced. Put in Todd Collins, look what happened when he went in at this time last year. Put in Colt Brennan, look what he did in preseason.
Do either one of those but get another guy for next year. Campbell can’t make decisions, he holds the ball too long, he can’t make the throws, he can’t read defenses, he’s not a leader.
It’s important to note here that this outcry for Campbell’s ouster is coming strictly from outside of Redskins Park. Usually, when there is dissatisfaction among the players with the play of the quarterback, some off-the-record comments will be made to some of the media types.
I have checked with a couple of reporters who are out in Ashburn frequently and they both told me that there has been no grumbling about benching Campbell.
Let me repeat, none. Zip. Zilch. Zero. Nada. Not a whisper, not a grunt.
Now, I’m not going to go and try to put lipstick on the pig that has been the Redskins offense over the past month and a half or try to minimize Campbell’s role in it. A grand total of two touchdowns in three big November home games speaks for itself. The quarterback takes the snaps, he runs the show, and he gets Miss DC. A lot of it is on him.
But it’s not all on him, and that’s one of the two points I want to make here. This offense is not a well-oiled machine just needed a stud quarterback to take the wheel. Dropped passes, ill-timed penalties and missed blocks are problems that I can see with my own two eyes.
Yesterday, Jim Zorn went into detail about how Antwaan Randle El ran an 11-yard pattern when he should have run an eight-yard pattern. That made Campbell’s throw appear to be low when it was exactly where it should have been. Instead of being able to turn around and easily take a couple of steps for a first down, Randle El was touched down short of the first.
The second point to make here is directed at those of you who point to Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco and say, see, it shouldn’t matter that Campbell is learning a new offense, these guys can step right out of college and get it done.
Yes, Flacco and Ryan are having good years. That’s no guarantee that either of them will be good quarterbacks in the NFL for a long time. Did you ever hear of Daunte Culpepper? The learning curve is different for all quarterbacks. Let’s look down the list of the top QB’s in terms of rating and see how their careers have unfolded:
10 comments Last one added 6 months ago — Leave a Comment
Travis Evans 7 months ago
I don't care what any one says over and over I hear Campbell will make strides next or the next. A good qb makes strides as he plays
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Craig Garrison Sr 7 months ago
Good points Rich, your spot on with overall view of the "big picture". What fans (and the media for that matter) tend NOT to see is that it's not just about JC. There are 10 other guys who also have to do their jobs correctly on EACH AND EVERY play. Since that's not happening, JC looks to be the one not getting it done.
JC has made a number of plays over the last four weeks that SHOULD have been COMPLETED by another player on the offense. He made the throw, he stood in their under pressure and put the ball in a spot that a receiver could "make" a play, but what happened in each instance? The receiver DID NOT step up just a bit and ALSO MAKE A PLAY.
That's not on JC.
Moss, Kelly, ARE, Thrash, all have had opportunities to make a big play over the last four weeks. But none have gotten it done. Players make plays, and until these players get back to making the plays that are there to be made, this offense will continue to struggle.
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Edgar Antonio Nunez 7 months ago
Don't mean to stick my nose in a Redskins conversation, but I will :). Campbell has the physical attributes to be a solid QB in the NFL. He's got the height and the arm strength. He's still a young QB. If the mob would've gotten to E. Manning in only his second, third year... The question is, does he show flashes of brilliance? And does he have a supporting cast? I'm not a Redskins fan (thank God :)) but you guys know better.
From the little I've seen, he looks like he definitely has some raw talent.
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Zachary Ball 7 months ago
Thank God Campbell plays in D.C. and not NYC. If he had to put up with half of what Eli has put up with he would be running and hiding like Vince Young. I'm not saying he's a pansy or anything but he really needs to respond to this trying time with his play. Best way to shut everyone up. And believe me, NO ONE wants to see Colt Brennan TRY to throw over offensive and defensive linemen in a game that counts.
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Zachary Ball 7 months ago
And lastly, Campbell isn't responsible for a defense who can't knock down a pass
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Bill Newton 7 months ago
I want to see Colt Brennan try to throw over offensive and defensive lineman in a game that counts. But at this point, I would rather see Campbell throwing the ball when it counts instead of getting sacked 32 times this season. You play mediocre and win it's fine, but if you're team loses then fans call for your head. Hmmm, I wonder if Colt will get some play-time if the Redskins are out of contention?
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Mario Harvey 7 months ago
Your entire argument is that people should be more patient with Campbell. But if he continues to play mediocre or just plain bad when do you say enough is enough and give someone else a shot to see what they can do. I think that, yes people can be more patient, but Campbell needs to show that he is developing and I'm not really seeing it. Please don't cite the fact that he throws less picks because they barely throw over 10 yards to begin with.
Campbell is a nice guy but I don't think he is going to be a NFL caliber quarterback anytime soon. He may need 10 years playing for the Philadelphia Soul before something clicks but I don't want to wait 10 years to see the redskins score over 29 points.
Overall, this is results driven business and I'm supporting a team that I don't want to just to see the same anemic offense year in and year out. Somethings got to give.
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T W 7 months ago
I like Campbell. I'd let him baby sit my kids. He's a guy you trust. Good character. As an NFL qb he STINKS. His decision making and ability to read coverage and react are just not there. This guy is NOT a rookie! He get's treated with kid gloves, but even gibbs went with an 89 year old mark brunell over campbell. Now he's exposed and we see why. He's not getting better, he's getting worse and has never looked anything more than adequate. If Brennen's not the guy, give him a chance to prove that. Our season ended last night, so we have nothing to loose. Todd Collins was the qb last season when we looked best. Is it bad that everytime Campbell gets sacked, I pray he doesn't get up?
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Matthew Brown 6 months ago
You are right T, Jason Campbell is not a rookie. But how can you say he hasn't shown the ability to read coverages or that he has poor decision making? I will admit that he does tend to make an ill advised throw here and there, but need I remind you that one of the greatest quarterbacks in football, Brett Favre, tops the all time TD and INT list? Not that I condone making bonehead plays, but sometimes guys get in the mindset that if they don't force something, nothing is going to happen. And tell me how his ability to read coverages isn't there when he placed a perfect pass over the shoulder of 2 Dallas defenders and into Santana Moss' hands only to have him drop it? Plays like that tell me Campbell can bring it together and be the QB everyone thinks he should have been last year, and it also tells me some of the guys on this team are just mailing it in for the season.
And the reason Todd Collins played so well last season was because he had been on the bench with nothing else to do but study Al Saunders' offense, and when it came time for him to put those practice reps to work he looked stellar. But his end to last season mirrored Jason Campbell's start to this year. 1 or 2 touchdowns a game and limited turnovers. And yet, when Collins threw the INTs in the playoffs last year he didn't get run out of town. Why not? And while I like Colt Brennan and all, it is unlikely that he would be able to come in his first week off the bench and light anyone up. It isn't out of the question, but one game doesn't make a career, and for JC, one season should break one either.
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Marc McArthur 6 months ago
Jason Cambell is horrible. period. end of story. enough said!!!!!!
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