QB delivering the ball, and taking the shot
ASHBURN – He saw the linebacker headed his way, an unobstructed path to destruction. And Jason Campbell stayed calm, holding the ball an extra split second, tapping it once, allowing receiver Santana Moss to get himself more separation from his defender. And then — at the last second — Campbell hit Moss over the middle for a 17-yard gain.
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Then Campbell got decked.
But that scene in the 7-6 loss to Dallas is something he’s had to get used to this season. And it’s something he’ll face Sunday in Philadelphia. The blitz-happy Eagles rank second in the NFL with 30 sacks.
Truth be told, no one else did either. But Randy Thomas was hurt … and Chad Rinehart was hurt … and Mike Williams is hurting … and Will Montgomery lacks the girth to play fulltime at guard.
So Williams, an undrafted free agent, will make his first start Sunday.
This is not something he pictured in training camp.
“No, I really couldn’t,” said the DeMatha graduate and University of Maryland product. “I’m very optimistic, but I’m realistic as well. When you’re a rookie, you have to go through a process. You have to earn your spot and I really didn’t think that, in Week 12, I would be in the game plan about being a possible starter. It’s overwhelming, but it’s encouraging that the coaches have enough faith in me to go out and execute.”
Williams replaced Rinehart in the second half of Sunday’s 7-6 loss to Dallas. With Rinehart out for the season, Williams has a chance to seize control of the position. Mike Williams probably would have started if healthy and he could be active Sunday.
The Redskins turned to Williams because he’s bigger than Montgomery. He has a wider base, allowing him to anchor better after he gets knocked off-balance.
“He held his own,” Redskins coach Jim Zorn said. “He did a nice job. He was physical. He anchored well. He did not whiff and when he got his hands on a guy, he stayed with him.”
Williams will be playing next to fellow ex-Terp Stephon Heyer at right tackle. But they did not play next to each other at Maryland; Williams was a center and Heyer was a tackle. A reunion this soon was not on Williams’ mind.
“How could you imagine something like that?” Williams said.» Conerback DeAngelo Hall (knee) did not practice and will be listed as questionable for Sunday’s game. If he’s unable to practice Friday, then Carlos Rogers likely would start. Also, defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth (ankle) did not practice and will be a game-time decision. Linebacker H.B. Blades (knee) did not practice and likely will be listed as questionable.
“We know Philly is going to bring it,” Redskins receiver Antwaan Randle El said. “He is going to get some pressure. It’s hard to tell a guy to stand in there and deliver the ball and take as many shots as he’s been taking. That’s his job, but he’s been taking a lot of it.
“But you still have to expect him to do just that. We certainly need him to, like he did this past week in terms of getting to the hot read. It gave us a chance to make big plays.”
Campbell’s stats are rather pedestrian. He has completed 66 percent of his passes with 10 touchdowns and nine interceptions. His passer rating of 86.1 ranks 16th in the NFL.
However, in his defense, Campbell is playing behind a line that is starting its third left tackle and its fifth right guard. Also, right tackle Stephon Heyer has struggled. Left tackle Levi Jones had not started in a year when he was in the first unit two weeks ago vs. Denver.
And he has three different people calling plays at various points in the game. The starting running back also is sidelined, as is his backup.
“It could be a lot worse,” Campbell said of his stats.
He has his flaws. But one noticeable improvement in his game came vs. Dallas.
Six times a Dallas rusher, having been barely blocked or not at all, had a clean path at Campbell. That does not include the times when defenders beat Redskins’ linemen in one-on-one battles. Too often, the Redskins did not keep tight ends in to block, exposing problems up front.
However, Campbell’s biggest plays came with rushers in his face. A nine-yard screen pass to Rock Cartwright; the 17-yard pass to Moss; a 36-yard catch and run to Malcolm Kelly; a 29-yard catch and run by Cartwright.
“He handled the blitz well,” Redskins coach Jim Zorn said. “This is the best he’s handled those situations. … We’ll probably face several of those this week.”
Campbell said the young receivers improvement has helped him stay calm in the pocket, knowing they’re headed to the right area. If he’s uncertain about what they might do, it leads to indecision.
“Right now I feel comfortable with them,” Campbell said. “It allows me to play the game fast and find a way to get the ball out quicker.”
And then prepare for a pounding.
“Its part of playing in the NFL; you’re going to get hit in the mouth,” he said. “You just have to hang tough.”
