It’s all about quarterback Jason Campbell when the Washington Redskins open training camp on Friday.
Fans may glance at the 2007 first-round draft pick, safety LaRon Landry. They’ll watch for Clinton Portis, Santana Moss and Chris Cooley. Coach Joe Gibbs gets plenty of attention, too.
But, this season is all about Campbell. Can he enter the season as a true starter after a midseason switch last year? Is the third-year passer ready for the real pressure?
Is Campbell good enough to return the franchise to the playoffs?
Washington is a town of politics and football. The president and the passer. Bill Clinton joked the woes of Redskins quarterbacks were the only thing that tempered the pressure on him some days. Maybe if the Redskins reached the playoffs in January 1998 instead of finishing 6-10, Monica Lewinsky might be better known for handbags. Reason No. 7,123 to hate Norv Turner.
Paris Hilton doesn’t get the attention Campbell garners around Washington. The bloggers and believers, columnists and even Cowboys fans will monitor Campbell closer than a border patrol agent on the Rio Grande at sundown.
It doesn’t matter that Portis is a game-breaker. That Moss is a downfield playmaker and Cooley is the team’s best tight end since Jerry Smith 30 years ago. The biggest cheers during public practices at Redskins Park over the next two weeks will come on deep passes from Campbell.
“The game is built around the quarterback,” said Redskins Hall of Fame quarterback Sonny Jurgensen. “He has to run the offense. He’s got to step up big time this year. If he doesn’t, the rest can’t do their job.”
Jurgensen is Washington’s most beloved athlete since arriving in 1964 for 11 seasons. He never won a Super Bowl, but no one ranks Joe Theismann, Doug Williams and Mark Rypien even close to Jurgensen — despite their rings. John Riggins is the only athlete who comes close to same fan appeal. Agent Zero? You must be kidding.
Jurgensen knows how intently quarterbacks are followed as fans still line up for his autograph. He also watches the Redskins passers intently as the team’s radio analyst and has seen enough of Campbell to believe the young quarterback has the potential to be very good.
“I think he has all the tools that it takes to play the position,” Jurgensen said. “He has the right demeanor. Now, it’s what happens when the lights click on. Does [he make plays] or not? That’s what we have to see.”
Campbell’s physical stature and throwing style are remindful of Williams, who led the Redskins to a record 35 points in one quarter of a Super Bowl victory. Williams was an experienced vet when arriving in Washington versus a first-round pick who watched for 1 1/2 seasons before playing. Has seven games and seven months of offseason study sessions prepared Campbell to replicate Williams’ success?
Well, that’s something we’re going to debate … every day for the next five months.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Contact him at [email protected].
