Jason Campbell Has the Oakland Raiders Right on Schedule

I have heard rumblings to the contrary, but the Raiders are right where they should be with Jason Campbell. Many have said, "Jason Campbell isn't a great quarterback."

Last year, Campbell threw for 3,618 yards with 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.  He completed 64.5 percent of his passes and posted a quarterback rating of 86.4.

That doesn't put him in the elite group of quarterbacks. However, the Raiders would have been much better last year with Campbell's numbers at the quarterback position.

As a team, the Raiders threw for 2,557 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 18 interceptions. You do the math on how much better the Raiders would have been on offense.

Campbell is also a young quarterback who has managed to improve every year in the league. We have yet to see him get everything he can out of his immense talent.

Campbell is really the perfect replacement for JaMarcus Russell. He has the same skill set and he's about where Russell would be if Russell had put in the work.

Just last year, Campbell played for his fifth offensive coordinator in as many years. The offense Campbell had to play in with the Redskins didn't even suit his strengths.

Campbell lost franchise left tackle Chris Samuel to retirement. He also lost tight end Chris Cooley to injury. The running game in Washington was also ineffective.

Santana Moss was his only real threat on offense. Yet Campbell was still able to have his best season in the NFL, which is much better than what Raider quarterbacks accomplished last year.

He is now in Raider Nation with a team that was built around him before his arrival.  That is a recipe for instant success. 

New Raider offensive coordinator Hue Jackson brings a vertical offense to Oakland. He will take advantage of Campbell's big arm the same way he did with Joe Flacco.

Add that to the fact that he will be throwing to Chaz Schilens, Louis Murphy, and Darrius Heyward-Bey. All three of them are sub-4.4 40 guys.

Campbell also has one of the best young tight ends in the game today with Zach Miller at his disposal. Checking down to the speedy running back Darren McFadden completes his arsenal.

The offensive line has been addressed this offseason as well. Campbell shouldn't have to run for his life as he did the past year in Washington.

The help up front should lead to running backs McFadden and Michael Bush breaking out. Success in the vertical passing game usually works off of that.

Campbell now has the perfect offensive coordinator and weapons around him. With those tools, he is looking to improve upon his 3,618-yard season.

He also comes complete with a chip on his shoulder. The Redskins decided to sign Donovan McNabb instead of building around the underappreciated Campbell.

They received only a 2012 fourth round pick in return. That is the ultimate indication that the Redskins saw Campbell as part of the problem and not the solution.

This brings Campbell to Raider Nation with fire in his eyes and hunger in his belly. There is no doubt that he wants badly to prove the Redskins organization wrong. 

In doing so, he is sure to gain the respect and adoration of Raider Nation. President of Raider Nation Al Davis is sure to give him the world for his efforts as well.

It is also encouraging to know that Campbell played well against the San Diego Chargers last year. He threw for 281 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions.

What does this all mean?

Campbell is on schedule to break out, just like many of his offensive weapons.

If Campbell keeps up his career rate of improvement, a 4,000-yard season is attainable.

Raider Nation hasn't seen that since Rich Gannon in 2002.

Raider Nation also hasn't seen the Raiders in the playoffs since then.