Five Things I'm Sure About (sort of)

Sorry, but Jason Campbell is not a starting WCO quarterback and he never will be. The dude's 28 and we're still making excuses for him. Hes too scared to throw anything other than a check down or crossing pattern. The guy has no balls, its as simple as that.

We need to sign Garcia to groom Brennan if we plan on sticking with the WCO another year. JC will fail in the WCO in 2009 and that will only hurt his trade value. We should move him now for whatever we can get. Jason Campbell is not the future here. The sooner we move on, the better.


I agree to some extent about JC and then some. JC definitely has the tools and I can understand some optimism about him if the line is upgraded for next season. The thing that bothered me was that during the last several weeks of the season, during the worst time of the collapse, he showed no leadership, or urgency. It took him almost the end of the year to learn to take off with the football if everyone was blanketed? God damn, Flacco did that all year!!!!!! You can say all you want about having 3 different offensive schemes thrown at you in 5 seasons, but you still should know how to run with it or show leadership at the NFL level. Also about JC is the fact Gibbs drafted him with HIS offense in mind, so JC just might be hindered by that fact you have mentioned that he might not be a WCO QB. At Auburn he was accustomed to an offense that was sort of like Gibbs, a strong running game with a downfield passing attack. I am hoping he can adjust to the WCO in '09 like the Goat thinks he will, but to me it is still a 50-50 proposition.

I agree to some extent about JC and then some. JC definitely has the tools and I can understand some optimism about him if the line is upgraded for next season. The thing that bothered me was that during the last several weeks of the season, during the worst time of the collapse, he showed no leadership, or urgency. It took him almost the end of the year to learn to take off with the football if everyone was blanketed? God damn, Flacco did that all year!!!!!! You can say all you want about having 3 different offensive schemes thrown at you in 5 seasons, but you still should know how to run with it or show leadership at the NFL level. Also about JC is the fact Gibbs drafted him with HIS offense in mind, so JC just might be hindered by that fact you have mentioned that he might not be a WCO QB. At Auburn he was accustomed to an offense that was sort of like Gibbs, a strong running game with a downfield passing attack. I am hoping he can adjust to the WCO in '09 like the Goat thinks he will, but to me it is still a 50-50 proposition.

I think that's a fair argument. I'll tell you what perplexed me more is why he looked so different from the first part of the season to the last. He looked very good for a while. So he can do it. Were going to have to wait and see

Thanks to 30Gut for a very informative/important post.

Just want to reiterate that it is Zorn as HC and QB coach that gives me more confidence in JC than anything else. My intuition is Zorn knows exactly what he wants in his QB, he knows what to look for, and already he's said Jason can be successful. Sure Zorn could be wrong but I think his history as a QB and QB coach indicates this is an area of real expertise. Also worth mentioning JC is an extremely hard worker/studier.

The two legitimate criticisms of Jason that may be impossible for Zorn to "coach" IMO are leadership and accuracy. I believe the leadership is coming. Have to give JC the benefit of the doubt on this one because he started here w/ the league's most outspoken RB and a coaching staff/FO that has always seemed to cow-toe to CP and his antics. Again just guessing here but Portis' antics regarding Zorn probably took him out of the leadership role. As the QB Jason is the natural leader and now is his time to establish this - I think we saw hints of it in SanFran from Jason's decision to move the ball on his own and his show of emotion. More of this to come I would guess.
That leaves the accuracy question. So many QBs and coaches have said you got it or you don't. JC does really struggle to be accurate w/ the long ball and it's a real concern. To his credit Jason got more accurate this year on short/intermediate passes. He did a nice job of getting more of his passes down to our shorty's @ WR. Hopefully this is indicative of his ability to improve accuracy in general.

... Jason throws such a nice deep shot - some describe it as pretty even - it would be a GD travesty for him not be able to guide it for completion on a regular basis.

1.) Addressing the offensive line must be the #1 priority. Actually tough to know where to begin here. Just consider for a moment the '07 unit, which endured an uncanny series of injuries, gave up 28 total sacks, while this season's relatively healthy unit gave up 38 total sacks. Certainly young talent is needed; however, am I the only fan wondering whether it's time for a new position coach? Absolutely no disrespect to Buges. Can't even imagine what he endured over the course of the season w/ his daughter passing away, but I wonder whether he is looking beyond football at this point (and rightfully so).

Agreed, though I'm sure Buges still has it in him. It being the ability that is.

2) Shawn Springs will not be a Redskin in '09. Way too much time on the sideline, and his final showing was anything but impressive. Also, consider the cap hit.

Man he was money at the beginning of the season, unfortunately, he was too much money for a sideline player.


3) Smoot... holy crap! I can't believe this is the same player I watched pick off passes left and right opposite Bailey. He's gone or there's some kind of conspiracy.


He's alright for a nickel

... implications of Springs/Smoot: Hall will be signed and Rogers retained. I think the rumors surrounding Rogers departure must be bogus. The guy's only real issue was the hoof-hands and he finally makes a pretty impressive INT to end the season. C'mon, we have to keep him. But we need a third corner, and here's where cutting Torrence was a mistake IMO.

We definitely need to keep Rogers, especially if Springs and/or Smoot is gone. Need to find out if Blache is dogging him and what's up with that. If you start putting D. Hall onto number 1 WR's all year long we're not gonna be nearly as happy with Hall. All CB's should have mandatory practice with Collins and/or Colt, more than last year where it was only mentioned during one week.


4) Stan Hixon must go. Nuff said.

Someone's gotta take the fall. Is it his fault? Maybe. Should we find out? Yep.



5) Campbell will be money next year (mark it, dude). He's started coming into his own. I loved the way he took off for yards when everybody was covered. But most importantly, Zorn has committed to developing JC into a great QB. JC will be much improved therefor, so long as we make some smart personnel/staff changes, our offense will be much improved.

Hail.

Here's to hoping. I think that he will be, especially if Zorn lets off of the reigns a bit, especially when we have some sort of momentum going. Campbell looked good when he was pretty much running his 2 min drills year before last, if we were getting past the markers at least.

The thing that bothered me was that during the last several weeks of the season, during the worst time of the collapse, he showed no leadership, or urgency.

C'mon bro, you didn't see leadership?

Why because JC doesn't yell at lineman when they miss blocks or receivers when they drop passes?

I saw leadership when he marched down the field and scored against the 49ers.

I saw leadership when he lead the team down the field against the Bengals. (Sellars couldn't get in for the score though)

I saw leadership when he was delivering passes on target in the face of oncoming rush then getting blasted by defensive lineman and getting right back up.

I saw leadership in the comeback victories.


It took him almost the end of the year to learn to take off with the football if everyone was blanketed? God damn, Flacco did that all year!!!!!! You can say all you want about having 3 different offensive schemes thrown at you in 5 seasons, but you still should know how to run with it or show leadership at the NFL level.

Did you watch the games? B/c JC has been picking up yards all season.

Flacco rushing yards: 52 attempts 180 yards 3.5 avg 2 TDs
Campbell: 47 attempts 258 yards 5.5 avg 1 TD

Actually QFT:

Campbell is one of the best quarterbacks in the league in terms of carrying the football, only Matt Cassel was a more effective runner this year according to Football Outsiders.


so JC just might be hindered by that fact you have mentioned that he might not be a WCO QB.

Not a good fit huh?

Do you just ignore the posts that you don't agree with?

2001: 176/321 54.8%, 2,023 yards, 7 TD, 8 INT, 70.9 rating
^^Hasselbecks 1st year running the WCO after a year watching in GB

2008: 315/506 62.3%, 3,245 yards, 13 TD, 6 INT, 84.3 rating
^^ JC 1st year in Zorn's WCO

It would appear that our QB is ahead of the WCO learning curve huh?
Looks like he's a good fit huh?

"I thought Jason would eventually play well under Jim Zorn," ESPN Monday Night Football analyst Ron Jaworski says. "I didn't think he'd play this well, this early.
"I've seen his game ascending. He can make every throw a quarterback has to have, the tough stick throw, the deep out, the seam route. He has great anticipation. I thought he'd become a rock-solid quarterback.
"That it's happened this quickly really is a tribute to Jim Zorn."

At Auburn he was accustomed to an offense that was sort of like Gibbs, a strong running game with a downfield passing attack.

Wrong again. In JC final year when Auburn went undefeated and JC was SEC offensive player of the year and SEC Championship MVP JC under OC Al Borges ran the drum roll please...the WCO

1. Springs is a superior defensive back compared to Smoot. If cap issues don't matter, keep Springs and cut Smoot.

HOWEVER, since Tryon showed exactly ZERO readiness for NFL play in the exhibition games and never made the field for any meaningful defensive snaps this year, I have to think he has a lot of "developmental work to do" in order for the Skins to count on him as a nickel back next year.


2. Someone said Marcus Washington is great when he is on the field but he is hurt too much. Sorry, I think Marcus Washington used to be an excellent OLB but now he is in a serious decline. Maybe they can squeeze another season out of him as a part time player - - maybe not.


3. The three young pass catchers (Davis, Kelly, Thomas) all need to improve about 100% in the off season because at least two of them will need to catch about 50 balls next year to make last year's draft come up to the level of acceptable. The WRs were the weak link of the team in 07; the FO recognized that because they went out and spent three draft picks to make changes there; sadly, the FO drafted guys who contributed next to nothing in 2008. Don't tell me that's because they are rookies; Deshawn Jackson plays in a similar system and he contributed lots in 2008; Eddie Royal and Donnie Avery contributed plenty too.

Kelly and Thomas got chewed out by Zorn for showing up out of shape for OTAs/training camp and then never got with the plan all year long. They don't keep these kinds of stats but I think Kelly may have dropped more balls that hit him in both hands than any other rookie WR this year. Thomas scored a TD on a reverse in a game the Skins lost; that was his highlight for the year. Davis' main accomplishment for the year was sleeping late and missing meetings/practice. Oh swell... By the way, folks in SoCal were not shocked to learn that Davis had done something like that; he just may have had "similar incidents" whilst at USC...

If the 09 Skins play Moss, Randle-El and Thrash as the WR tandem more than a handful of times, then 2009 will be another year of sitting at home and watching the playoffs on TV for the Skins.

Someone suggested trading Randle-El. Maybe the Skins could get a used kicking tee for him given that he carries the back end of a $30M contract with him to wherever he may be traded...


4. Jason Campbell will be the QB next year barring injury - - and he should be. There really are not any great QBs out there on the FA market this year but it will take lots of money to sign one in any event. For the Colt Brennan acolytes, be sure to set your VCRs to record all the Skins exhibition games next year so you can go back and watch him play in those games. Barring catastrophic injuries - - such as the ones the Browns suffered at QB this year - - that is all you will see of Colt Brennan in 2009. Maybe 2010? Maybe not...


5. Offensive line needs major reconstruction. I am not enamored with any of the five starters beyond 2008 although Samuels and Thomas still have servicable years in their careers. The older offensive linemen are over the peak of their careers; the younger ones have shown nothing to make me think they will be the answer in 2009. Blame the FO for that. It is possible to get good offensive linemen who contribute in their first year or two in the league; this FO just hasn't found any recently.

I'm sure the coaches are being honest when they talk about how hard players like Heyer and Rhinehart work during the week. I'm equally sure that it hasn't mattered a whole lot when it comes to the ability to produce on Sundays - - which is the purpose of paying these guys in the first place.


6. If Brett Favre retires, Clinton Portis will move into the Top Five on the list of NFL divas in 2009.


7. The D-line needs some upgrading too. When it came to the question of a pass rushing DE, the skins FO passed on any bidding for Jared Allen in a trade last year. They thought what they had was adequate. Then injuries in training camp convinced them to spend resources (picks and dollars) on Jason Taylor. Question: Who is the better DE - - Allen or Taylor? Why no interest in the better one?


8. Skins are fine at MLB - - unless Fletcher gets hurt. Then they will be in the situation they found themselves in with Jason Taylor this year; they will have to go out and find someone to plug in on short notice. Anyone got Jeremiah Trotter on speed-dial?

any word on when they well start resigning and restructuring our players?

i agree. be like the nature of water...