Campbell Not Ready?

At this point whether the offensive starters play a few series or the entire first half it's not going to make or break the season.

In the last preseason game you have to be smart, I don't see where the potential benefits outweigh the potential risks involved with playing the starters more than a few series.

So wait, are you blaming the offense or the defense? Because I think we were talking about the offense. I think it's a well-documented stat that if our defense made one more stop we scored plenty of points.

Woulda Coulda Shoulda

:doh:

Always. ALWAYS.

Campbell should play a quarter, no more
The O line should play a half...especially with a new LG.
Is Samuals gunna play LT?
If not....there is no point in trying to get the Oline to gell....cause it wont without him for at least a half.

everybody needs practice.manning,brady,brees,and the other 29 starting qbs in the league need to get in a rhythm with the backs,oline,and receivers.he just needs more before the wins and losses count.

I think the reward of getting an almost non-existant O going before the games actually mean something is worth the risk of letting them play the 1st half.

We're missing our starting running back, quarterback, and two members of the offensive line. We shouldn't be panicking.

Do you even remember what our offense looked like in pre-season LAST year? While I don't think we're leaps and bounds above what we were last season, we actually have a reason not to be this year. Al Saunders doesn't have all the pressure in the world, and this year it ISN'T a new system. Last year we did great on the ground, without Portis.

The sky isn't falling yet, because we just simply don't know enough. To assume we can judge this offense yet is a mistake. If you ask me, I'd rather we not risk injury, and lose a superstar running back.

What would your thoughts of the preseason be if Campbell's knee was a torn ACL? I think we're making the right call to limit his time.

Bottom line - if Campbell's knee is still bothering him, then Gibbs should gladly sacrifice the work for Campbell's long range health. Playing JC a series or two in the final preseason game will look very foolish if he subsequently can't go in the opener.

Who cares about rushing stats, they are meaningless. What was the team's final record? Did they make the playoffs?

The answer to both is No. It didnt work. Even Gibbs said so.

You can't say our offense was totally ineffective last year. As TMC noted, we had the 4th best rushing attack in the NFL last year. Our backup RB tallied more yards in the final 8 games than any other back except Larry Johnson.

You note that our record is all that matters, but that doesn't take account of the team's horrible defense. So, I don't know why you say that, in evaluating the effectiveness of the offense, we should disregard the rushing stats and consider the record, but consider the record when the record is a better indicator of how BOTH units are playing.

As for the offense's general effectiveness, I think we need to take a wait-and-see approach. With the LT (Samuels), RB (Portis), and LG situation being unclear and given that we've been going against some stellar defenses, I think we should think twice before using the preseason to definitively predict how our offense will fare in the regular season.

For what it's worth, from JLac:

JC Says He Will Play

Jason Campbell says he's good to go Thursday night, has been cleared and though he still feels some "soreness" in his left knee, it's not enough to keep him out.

Coach Joe Gibbs says he will see how Campbell gets through practice Tuesday and then make a decision. JC says he is not 100 percent yet but expects to be by Thursday. Gibbs says the kid ain't playing unless he is 100 percent.

So all indications at this point are that he will play.

Samuels says he won't play and Marcus got the sling off his elbow and hopes to be back for Sept. 9 , but will not play.
Portis is going to do more at practice this week, Gibbs said, and will be a game-time decision, though it would be pretty surprising if he did much of anything Thursday.

Springs should practice this week, too, Gibbs said.

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