With Bruce Allen now in charge of the personnel – and with Mike Shanahan the front-runner to become the next coach – the Redskins face numerous changes on offense. The defense, in terms of personnel, might not change much, though reports have suggested Shanahan would bring aboard one of his former coordinators, Bob Slowik.

Offensively, Campbell is the starting point because of his recent play. One draft guru, Russ Lande, a former scout who is in charge of the Sporting News’ draft coverage, said if Shanahan comes aboard, a quarterback such as Cincinnati’s strong-armed Tony Pike might make sense.

But Campbell fits the description of what Shanahan, who uses the West Coast offense as well, likes: big, strong-armed and elusive. Questions persist from some around the league, about missing opportunities and his instincts. Those who work with him say something different.

“He’s emerged as one of those top-10 guys in the league coming into the offseason,” said Redskins offensive assistant Chris Meidt, who works with the quarterbacks. “When Sherman [Lewis] came in he said he was amazed at his arm strength and athleticism. Now you’re seeing the system come together for him to where his natural ability is becoming more obvious.”

In the past six games, he has a quarterback rating of 92.5. Ironically, two of his better games came when he finished with passer ratings under 74 (at Dallas and at Philadelphia).

“I would never say anything is a good stretch,” coach Jim Zorn said. “[No player] is so lucky that you have a few good games and that would be it.”

“I definitely see him playing better,” center Casey Rabach said. “He’s getting time to throw and when he has that time, he’s dangerous and he’s hitting open guys. He would have been a lot stronger earlier in the season if he had this protection. He understands the offense.”

Not that Campbell is consumed with thoughts of his future, or, at least, not publicly.

“I’m just staying positive and moving forward,” he said.

He’s not alone. Allen and whoever the next coach is — Allen wasn’t brought in to keep the status quo — must also settle other offensive questions. They could use at least one starting tackle and maybe two, depending on Chris Samuels’ retirement decision. Rabach is a free agent; right guard Randy Thomas turns 34 in January and is coming off his second major injury in three seasons. It’s conceivable that Washington could have four new starters along the line.

The running back situation is equally muddled with Clinton Portis’ contract situation and the fact that Shanahan traded him once before. Of the 11 opening day starters, as many as seven could be elsewhere next season.

So an offense that has averaged 24.4 points per game in its past five — which includes a six-point effort — might be disbanded. Had they produced earlier, that wouldn’t be the case. They did not.

“Yeah, it would be nice [to stay together],” Rabach said. “But that’s the business of the NFL.”

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