What to Make of Jason Campbell

As if there was some notion by anyone that circumstances had changed, let us confirm for all that Redskins QB Jason Campbell is still very much on the hot seat. One of the most intriguing stories of the NFL preseason was how JC would respond to his own team attempting to trade him not once, but twice, the second time for a rookie QB who had never played an NFL down. If that doesn’t light a fire under a player, then nothing will. Unfortunately, if you’re a Redskins fan, his response in his first two preseason games has not been encouraging: 4 of 13 on passing attempts in five series for 43 yards. Not exactly catastrophic, but catastrophe was never Jason Campbell’s problem. His play has always resulted in more three and outs than interceptions, more of Coach Jim Zorn reluctantly sending out the punting unit, rather than slamming his clipboard to the ground over a costly turnover. He probably won’t do anything to lose the game for you, but he won’t conjure up any heroics to win the game either. It may be unfair to judge JC on five series in the preseason, several of them without his best offensive weapons. But thus far, the Redskins have seen essentially the same results that led them to attempt to trade him in the first place, albeit against the two most feared defenses in the NFL in the Ravens and Steelers (but hey, that’s what you’re up against in this league).
I’m not trying to turn up the heat, but the first pass attempt of the preaseason for Jets Quarterback Mark Sanchez (the aforementioned rookie who Redskins owner Dan Snyder apparently preferred to Campbell enough to attempt to trade for him) resulted in a 48-yard completion, outdoing Jason Campbell’s entire preseason performance in one play. Along with the lack of offensive starters (namely Clinton Portis and Santana Moss), Jason Campbell’s ragtag offensive line is a popular scapegoat for his pedestrian numbers. The lack of a deep and dependable receiver corps is also a legitimate disadvantage JC is facing. But unfortunately for him, Snyder isn’t going to wait around for an ideal situation to develop around the QB position; he wants results now. Typical Dan Snyder impatience: it is perhaps unreasonable, but then again, is it reasonable to believe from what we have seen that Campbell would flourish behind a strong O-line? Maybe it is, but it is a moot point because that scenario is unlikely to unfold during Campbell’s tenure as Redskins QB, he will have to play the cards he has been dealt.
No starting QB in the NFL needs a morale boost like Campbell. Fortunately, he has two more practice games before the real season starts, before every game that falls into the “Loss” column brings him closer to losing his starting job. Maybe the best thing that has happened for Campbell in the preseason has been the lackluster play of most of his backups, leaving the question of who could replace him for a full season with no clear answer. Campbell will not lose the starting job before week 1 of the NFL season, he should enjoy that wiggle-room while he can and play loose against the Patriots on Friday, take some chances downfield, regardless of his deathly fear of interceptions (it’s the preseason JC, take a chance!). A lack of offensive starters, a poor offensive line, another top tier NFL defense to battle against, will we be quoting one or all of these excuses for another forgettable outing by Campbell? Or will we be exhaling as Campbell goes out there and gets it done, regardless of who he is playing with, or against. It isn’t do-or-die time yet, but it’s fast approaching.

Pro Bowl Redskins

For the first time ever, EVER, there will be a lot of Redskins making the Pro Bowl.  It's about bloody time.  Obviously the best part of Zorn getting the most out of our highly-talented roster is the winning record, but it will be nice to see a lot of our ProBowl caliber players get recognition.  Here are my predictions:

DEFINITELY making the Pro Bowl

-Carlos Rogers

-Clinton Portis (even tho he 100 yard games streak might end vs the Steelers)

-Chris Cooley

Most Certainly making the Pro Bowl

-Chris Samuels (He makes it every year and probably deserves more than ever before right now, just the last game he missed troubles me)

-Santana Moss (There's a lotta good receivers around, but I'd be shocked if he didn't make it)

Maybe making it

-Jason Campbell (it's possible)

-London Fletcher (I think he might get the 'well he really deserves it' nod, but he's having a pro bowl year nonetheless)

-Mike Sellers (Same deal as Fletcher I guess, especially when you're blocking for the leading rusher in the league right now)

-Chris Horton (this spot is always reserved for that idiot Roy Williams of the Cowboys, but he's out and I don't recall this being a terribly deep position, so HEY, if he adds another pick or fumble recovery before voting ends then why not??)

Roy Williams and Sarah Palin

I just realized that Roy Williams is the Sarah Palin of the Dallas Cowboys.  It's the exact same scenario:  A sinking ship (Dallas Cowboys/GOP) is losing ground to a hip, cool up-and-coming rival (Washington Redskins, or the whole NFL or NFC East anyway/Barack Obama) and things are generally looking disastrous.  So, in a panicky all-or-nothing move, each of them go after a partner that nobody expected (Roy Williams/Sarah Palin) to shake things up and distract everybody from the bad.  The media and fans were initially won over by the sheer shock  and excitement of the move, but not long after, reality set in and both newly-acquired stars were clearly not up to the job they are gunning for (being VP/being TO).  And all of this tomfoolery because an old man whose best days are behind him says he will do anything to win, but he just can't keep a level head (Jerry Jones/John McCain).  And come January, neither will be anywhere in sight...

It's about to get worse for the Cowboys

...That's hard to believe after getting smashed by the revived St. Louis Rams in Texas Stadium, but this coming Sunday should be even more depressing for the Cowboys.  They will face the Bucs, one of the toughest teams in the league, and a coach who knows Brad Johnson's style as well as anyone does.  Brad Johnson is so  terrible by now that this really is just unfair, Jon Gruden is going to destroy him.  I'm predicting 2 picks thrown by Johnson at the very least and probably  (definitely) more, something around 4-5 sacks and throw in a few fumbles too.  We all know that crazy look that Jon Gruden gets in his eye and somehow I feel like he's got it in for the QB that won him a Superbowl.  This game would be a statement, saying "Brad Johnson filled in at the position to allow us win the big game, but it was my Defense that won everything", which we all already know, but what better way to prove it than smashing BJ into the ground A LOT this Sunday.  I happen to be the biggest opponent of playing OLD Quarterbacks (old is anything over 36) in the world.  Obviously prolific passers such as Favre and Kurt Warner are an exception, but think about this: Jon Gruden benched Brad Johnson's sorry ass in 2004, when he knew he couldn't cut it anymore.  That was four years ago, imagine how unafraid Gruden is right now of Johnson's arm.

So one of two things will happen, or likely both: Brad Johnson has a horrible, ghastly 0.0 QB rating sorta-game OR he will be injured by the menacing Buccaneers.  Like I said, I can see both these happening...actually, possibility 1 is a sure thing, so the only question is will he be injured?  My question is what can the Cowboys possibly do when they realize they can't win a game with him?  I have no idea, and if I was a Dallas fan, I think I'd even be beyond the point of denial by now.  With the Giants and Redskins leading the NFC East and the Eagles giving everyone trouble as well, their season could be over. 

Pittsburgh Steelers

In the below entry I said that the Bills and Titans were the teams to beat in the AFC.  Completely forgot about the Steelers.  I think Big Ben and crew could beat both of these teams back to back.  Unfortunately, the Steelers especially violent brand of football seems to backfire on them and every single game is a dogfight.  Somehow I just don't see them two and a half months from now without some serious injuries.  Then again, I'm surprised they've lasted this long so maybe they'll prove me wrong.

Can the Pats repeat as AFC Champs?

...Probably not, but the chance is definitely there.  When Tom Brady went down in Week 1, I immediately wrote the Pats off as a team of no consequence, but last night MNF drubbing of Denver might have changed my mind.  I'm probably reading too much into a solid performance against the worst pass-defense in the league, but Matt Cassel showed that he's a capable NFL Quarterback.  It's such an important position (back up QB) that it is amazing some teams overlook it (ie the Packers with two rookies behind Rodgers, or the Cowboys with Brad Johnson...I have no idea why they thought HE could still play, didn't they learn their lesson with Drew Bledsoe?).  And to excuse a loss by saying "Well it was their backup QB" is a total cop-out.  That position is a vital part of the team,  don't put him on the roster if you aren't comfortable with him leading your team.  Funny how everyone seems shocked and suggests a QB controversy when the backup does well in place of the starter, even though that is his job!

     So now the Pats are 5-2 if I remember correctly, which makes them one of the better teams in the league.  And with the Colts and Chargers floundering this year, the Bills and Titans are left as the teams to beat in the AFC, so it's not all that hard to believe that Bellicheck could get the Pats to the Superbowl again.  I scoffed at the comparison of how Brady was simply filling in for the starter and got them to the big game in 2001, but if Cassel can have another good performance next week then I'll say it's possible.

Small Note:   This Denver collapse shouldn't be surprising, like the one we saw either last year or the year before, when they went 7-1 or something and then fell apart.  Am I crazy or should their defense be A LOT better than they are?  Seems like they have decent personnel and good coaching.  How a team with Champ Bailey and Dre Bly ranks last in pass protection is beyond me...

Jason Campbell and the Interception-Free Season

At this point in the season, and with the way that the past two or three games have played out for the Redskins, I'd almost prefer if Jason Campbell had thrown at least one interception by now.  Having watched Gibbs-run games for the past four years, I know what being too conservative is, and Zorn most definitely is not.  But still, the Rams beat us and we hardly scraped by the Browns, and going back to the Eagles game, JC has thrown only 1 TD in the past 3 games.  Hardly a concern when you consider the priority of "team-ball" as Portis calls it, but I guess what I'm saying is...well, let's just get the ball to Santana Moss, ok??