Make Or Break In 2009: Jason Campbell's Future in Washington

Draft day, April 23, 2005. The Washington Redskins are on the clock for the second time in the first round with a wealth of talent available to them, ripe for the picking (pun intended). Having addressed the cornerback position with the ninth pick, the team could have used the 25th overall pick to fill any number of other position needs.

The perpetual void at defensive end, the weak wide receiver position, the vacated middle linebacker position, or even another corner to give some young depth to the secondary. Plenty of options at their fingertips, yet who do they choose?

"With the 25th pick in the 2005 NFL draft, the Washington Redskins select...Jason Campbell, quarterback from Auburn University."

Many Redskins fans, myself included, were unsure as to who this kid was, let alone whether or not he merited a first round selection. And did the team really need a quarterback? They had Patrick Ramsey, Mark Brunell was brought in to back up the very passer the Redskins drafter a few years prior. They were set at quarterback. Why Campbell?

Four years later the same question is being asked by football analysts and fans alike. Why Campbell? Why should he be the starter? What has he done?

To sum it up, he has done absolutely nothing. At least not as a professional starter. Coming out of college his senior year, Campbell had everything going for him. Undefeated as a starter his senior season, a major bowl win, and some of the most prestigious college quarterback awards. He was drafted for a reason.

He was big, strong and had a cannon for an arm. Even with all the accolades and physical tools to succeed at the next level, he has yet to break through.

Since he became a Redskin in 2005, Jason Campbell has started 36 games, thrown for over 7,000 yards, 35 touchdowns, 23 interceptions and has an overall quarterback rating of 80.4. His statistics average out to roughly 195 yards and one touchdown a game. He hasn't exactly lit up the stat sheet game after game, but he has had some highlights worth looking at.

After the opening day loss of the 2008-09 season, he followed his lackluster performance with three straight wins over Arizona, New Orleans, and Dallas with an impressive 745 yards, five touchdowns, zero interceptions and an average rating of 108.2 over that span. Those may not be Brett Favre in his prime numbers, but they are good enough to merit being the starter for the Redskins.

Not that the team should settle for mediocrity, but the team should be patient in Campbell's development. Development that should come full circle after another off season and training camp concludes. As has been the case for Jim Zorn, he is good at working with quarterbacks. Just ask Matt Hasselbeck now that Zorn is gone.

While I may have highlighted Campbell's better days, I don't want to overlook his bad one's. Against Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and New York, Campbell threw for a decent 654 yards, but an abysmal zero touchdowns, six interceptions, with an average rating of 58.9. Nothing to write home about.

Those numbers are worthy of the fans calls for young upstart Colt Brennan, who might I add is not the answer to the Redskins' problems. But there's no sense in dragging that into the mix.

Jason Campbell has shown some of his best and some of his worst over the course of this past season, and the question that comes to mind now is; which Campbell is the real Campbell?

The answer to that question lies in the 2009-10 season. No one can possibly predict what is in store for Campbell, or the Redskins for that matter. There is still free agency to get through, and the Draft, mini-camps, training camp, and preseason. A lot of things have to happen before anyone gets any answers about the constant Campbell question.

The only certain thing is that this next season will be one worth watching. For better or for worse, Jason Campbell is the starting quarterback for this team, and the successes and failures thereof are going to be placed squarely on his shoulders.