We Can’t Wait
The feedback on Jason Campbell and the entire QB situation, on this blog as well as on The Redskins Blog has been most vigorous. I’d like to offer my own comment for discussion and/or feedback that is in reference to a number of posts, like the one below.
‘JClarke’ / ‘Campbell Sucks’ says:
Did the Redskins magically get healthy in the 2nd quarter of the Bears game last year? Thats when Collins came in and the offense was playoff caliber. Most teams don’t give a QB this much time. 4 years is pretty much the limit. So we can’t wait till next year. When Campbell was drafted I said he would not be a skin in 09. Because he is not a NFL QB!
To that, I say let’s remember that Todd Collins had been in the same offense for like 10 years. He followed Al Saunders around the league and I’d bet he could teach that offense just as well, if not better than Mr. Saunders himself. So, I don’t believe it to be a fair comparison to judge Campbell’s performance last season to Collins performance during our playoff run.
Let’s have fun and extend this conversation a little bit…
If Saunders was still here as the O.C., I’d bet dollars to donuts that there would have been an open competition between Collins and Campbell for the starting job this year. Without fear of contradiction, I think everyone would agree that Collins would have won that battle. And, although I have nothing to base this on, I’d bet you even further that for that specific, and primary reason, Saunders was kicked out.
Still, and for whatever reason that is still unclear to me, we insisted on paying top dollar for Collins to backup Jason Campbell this season, even though Collins has ZERO experience in this offense, too. So, if Campbell goes down, what do we really have in our backup? Is he capable, sure. I believe he is. But, at the same time, I think he would be struggling just like Campbell.
Now, let’s walk down memory lane…
Steve Spurrier brought a no blocking, no structure offense to town. Nearly everyone, including me, thought that he was overmatched, especially after the Eagles emasculated us on Monday Night Football. But, as I recall, he said that with the right QB, his offense would be proven to work. And, you know what, he might have been correct. If Danny Wuerffel could have been more physically ‘gifted’ and sturdy, Spurrier may have proven us all wrong. When Wuerffel was in the game, limited as it was, and when he wasn’t running around scared, he knew how to get the offense in the right play, get the ball out of his hands, and move the team down the field. But, one hit from a LB or a DE and he was done.
What’s my point - the knowledge of the offense is the number one key for any QB to be successful. Regardless of physical ability, if a quarterback knows the offense and can stay healthy, they can manage the game successfully. Case in point: Wuerffel. And, even another example: Trent Dilfer with the Baltimore Ravens.
Jason Campbell doesn’t know much of anything, relatively speaking, right now with regards to how Jim Zorn wants his offense executed. Personally, I’d like Zorn simplify things. And, perhaps that is exactly what he is trying to do by allowing Campbell to play from the shotgun. As he becomes more comfortable in the offense, his natural abilities, such accuracy, arm strength, intelligence, intuitiveness, recognition, etc., should take him to the ‘franchise QB’ level. At least, that’s the hope.
If the argument is that “Campbell sucks” because he hasn’t shown us anything, I’d continue to say, be patient. If the argument is that Campbell is lacking the natural abilities to be a QB in this league, well that’s a matter of subjective opinion.
