The flashes reveal themselves at opportune moments, allowing the Redskins to gauge his progress.
Jason Campbell gets in trouble in the pocket; so he takes off for a 10-yard gain. Campbell throws an interception; he shakes it off. Campbell can’t hear the play; so he calls another one then delivers a strike that results in a touchdown.
All of it is part of the process. And they’re notblind to the other reality: before his game-winning pass Sunday, Campbell had thrown for only 52 yards. Mark Brunell was booed lustily with better numbers.
But, though the Redskins have faint playoff hopes, the final five games remain as much about Campbell’s development as anything. If he, and the team, finishes strong then 2007 looks brighter. If not, the rebuilding could take a few years.
Campbell clearly has a ways to go. His timing with the receivers is off — wideouts have combined for just 12 catches in his two starts. The lack of timing has led to inaccurate throws.
But, for the second straight game, he led his team to a tying or go-ahead score in the fourth quarter. And he makes enough plays to whet the Redskins’ appetite.
“He’s making plays that we’ve seen him make before,” Redskins guard Randy Thomas said.
In the second quarter, Campbell eyed open territory on a third and 10. With no one open, he took off for a 10-yard gain. His only mistake: throwing his fists in the air and exulting. On the next play, he badly missed a wide-open Brandon Lloyd.
“I missed Brandon because I had a lot of adrenaline running at the time,” he said. “I have to learn to control myself more.”
On his four-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter, Campbell patiently waited for someone to get open. Receiver Antwaan Randle El finally did and Campbell, who considered running but stayed calm, threw a dart to Randle El.
“He was able to get rid of the ball in a hurry,” Redskins coach Joe Gibbs said. “It was accurate. Hopefully, that’s what we’re going to see and he’s demonstrated that in the two games.”
There’s also the winning touchdown on which he couldn’t hear the play on the headset, so he took a stab at what the coaches wanted. Fortunately for him, the veterans in the huddle told him to, “Just call a play!” He listened.
He also showed pocket savvy on numerous plays.
“He can feel pressure without ever looking at it,” Gibbs said. “That’s a gift and I hope that shows up a lot.”
Week 13 Notes
» Nick Novak still has a job.
The Redskins signed kicker Sean Suisham to the practice squad on Tuesday. But, as of now, it’s likely he would only serve as a kickoff specialist if promoted.
He also has the same agent as Mike Vanderjagt, cut Monday by Dallas. But, a Redskins source said the team has no interest in Vanderjagt. Other published reports suggest that Vanderjagt was not interested in signing immediately with another team, preferring to hang out in his hometown of Toronto.
Still, Novak is on shaky ground. He’s made just five of 10 field goals and his kickoffs have not been as deep as the coaches would like.
“Obviously, I brought it upon myself,” said Novak, the ex-Maryland kicker.
After watching film Tuesday, Novak said he’s noticed minor technical flaws that have aided his struggles. For example, on the 37-yard miss Sunday, Novak said he pulled his head up too soon.
“They’re just minor things that are fixable,” he said. “But they will be fixed. I’ve shown I can make the big kick, it’s a matter of [making] the routine kick consistently. That’s what I’m working on.”
» The Redskins cut Ryan Hoag, who was signed to the practice squad last week.
