It all comes down to Jason Campbell.
And it all comes down to Campbell’s confidence.
The Washington Redskins open Sunday against the New York Giants, and if they’re to make the playoffs, save coach Jim Zorn’s job and salvage Campbell’s career, they need a steady year from the passer. Sure, the offensive line must protect Campbell and his receiving corps can’t drop another NFL-high 39 balls like last year. The play-calling can’t suffer vapor lock when the game clock seems to move faster.
But most of all, the Redskins need Campbell to shut out the noise and play ball. Campbell’s not Tom Brady or Peyton Manning, but he’s good enough. There are enough playmakers around him and a defense that won’t force Campbell to throw three touchdowns every week to win.
Campbell knows this. And he knows haters on sports talk radio and message boards expect him to fail and become some other team’s backup next season. But what Campbell must understand is the old paradigm of success versus confidence.
What comes first? I’ve quizzed coaches for 15 years over this Catch-22 and received both sides. But it’s confidence that truly carries someone to greater success than deserved.
How many times have you wondered how some jerk in the office is the rising star when they’re a gas bag that produces nothing but unsupported opinions? Because they have confidence. You think Redskins owner Dan Snyder or Dallas owner Jerry Jones care what others think?
Successful coaches never consider failure. They write books for business leaders to replicate in everyday offices because the lesson is simple – believe in yourself and others will, too.
Even if you’re wrong.
Campbell lacks this gene. He lets too many things get into his head. When the Redskins tried to replace Campbell over the offseason with Jay Cutler and Mark Sanchez, Campbell felt hurt. He needed long discussions with the front office and coach. Campbell looked for support that first-rounders always receive but never appreciate.
What did Sonny Jurgensen do when the Redskins signed a successor? He played better. Same thing for Joe Theismann, Doug Williams and Mark Rypien, who weren’t the best passers of their time but hugged Lombardi trophies for the Redskins. Even Jeff George, who never did anything for the Redskins before fired three games into the 2001 season, sneered at critics.
Campbell needs to truly believe in himself. Only then will success follow.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com or e-mail [email protected].
