Endorsement confuses Campbell
By: John Keim
Examiner Staff Writer
December 31, 2008
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Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell threw 13 touchdowns against six interceptions in his first season working in the West Coast offense. (Getty Images)
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ASHBURN —
Zorn, teammates believe QB is on the right track
The endorsement puzzled him more than it thrilled him. And here’s why: Jason Campbell can’t understand why he even needed one.
To him, it’s a no-brainer. In reality, the Redskins lack any other legitimate options. Todd Collins is a backup; Colt Brennan isn’t ready. That leaves Campbell, who took every snap at quarterback this season for Washington.
“Every year it seems to be a question around here and I don’t understand why,” Campbell said. “You compare me to a lot of other quarterbacks ... and I feel I’m on the right track. I would love to have 28, 30 touchdown passes this year. But that wasn’t who we were as an offense yet. We’ll get to that point and it will be exciting. So hearing that, to me, is not any different because it was what I expect.”
In other words, go away, folks, there’s no story here. But until Campbell leads them to the postseason and has gaudy numbers, this being Washington, there will be questions. Zorn ended any doubt with his comments about Campbell on Monday.
Besides, this will be the first time as a starter Campbell will play in the same system for a second consecutive season.
The learning curve of the West Coast offense was evident: Campbell threw for just 13 touchdowns, but only tossed six interceptions. Campbell averaged just 6.4 yards per pass attempt. Of the eight other quarterbacks who attempted more than 500 passes, seven had at least 21 touchdown passes.
However, though some players wondered if he was indeed the quarterback of the future, others said they saw his leadership qualities grow.
“He started to show more intangibles,” said one offensive veteran.
Campbell and the offense certainly endured growing pains. In the second Giants game, for example, Campbell said he nearly threw an interception on a play in which he and Santana Moss read a different coverage. Moss, who read it correctly, broke one way while Campbell threw to the area the receiver would have been under a different coverage.
“Those are things you iron out by spending more time in an offense,” Campbell said.
Zorn said he wants to improve the rhythm of Campbell’s throws, getting him to plant and release at a better tempo.
“His footwork was poor when I got here last year,” Zorn said. “It got a lot better.”
And that’s what Campbell hopes happens to the offense. It can’t get much worse; the Redskins ranked 28th in points.
“Now you can expand the offense,” Campbell said. “We can be more creative downfield and grow to the next phase.”
First and 10
1 » Wouldn’t it be nice if the Redskins somehow landed Jeremy Maclin, the playmaking, and punt-returning, receiver at Missouri? He might go, maybe should go, in the top 10, but if enough juniors come out perhaps he could fall to 13. They have many needs, but playmaking wideout is among them.
2 » Yes, it would be hard to go this route, no pun intended, after drafting two receivers in the second round last April. Problem is, one has a history of bad knees (Malcolm Kelly) and the other still does not look fluid (Devin Thomas).
3 » Actually, they need any playmaker on offense. The Redskins had no plays of 30 yards or more in their last seven games. You can’t blame it all on the offensive line. You just can’t.
4 » But the Redskins must address one of the lines or linebacker with the 13th pick. As much as anything, they need a playmaker in the defensive front seven. Two years ago, one NFC GM questioned the Redskins decision to build their defense from the back end first. Even corner Fred Smoot said Monday games are “rarely won in the back end.”
5 » Jason Taylor’s comments and body language suggested one thing Monday: “Why did they bring me here?” It was a poor fit from the start; Greg Blache loves run-stopping left ends. Taylor is a pass-rushing right end who was willing to play the left side.
6 » And they surrendered a second-round pick. This is major hindsight as even other evaluators and scouts said the move was necessary, but the loss of that second rounder will sting. It’s very clear now that there’s a reason Bill Parcells was willing to trade Taylor. At the time Taylor’s lack of explosiveness was cited by others.
7 » Few players were more ready than Carlos Rogers to get out of town. He expressed that sentiment before the finale. Part of the reason is that he had been here all of the previous offseason rehabbing. But the big part is how his season ended. He’s still confused, but wants to see how the offseason unfolds before pressing the issue.
8 » How average were the Redskins? They were 5-5 against teams that finished with a winning record — and 3-3 against teams were .500 or worse.
9 » The Detroit Lions will interview secondary/corners coach Jerry Gray in Ashburn. If Gray doesn’t get the job, he could always be in line for the Lions’ defensive coordinator position as well. Gray is tight with ex-Redskin, and current Lion decision maker, Martin Mayhew. Gray would be a tough loss.
10 » Tight end Fred Davis showed the most promise of the three second-round picks. By the end he looked like he could help in the future, as a blocker and a receiver.
