Jason Campbell is still the future

by Skin Patrol on Jan 4, 2008 11:40 AM EST in Redskins Analysis

There's a discussion over at Football Outsiders over Mike Tanier's Wild Card preview that aberrated in part to a brief conversation on whether or not Jason Campbell is the future of the team. My position appears here explicitly: Jason Campbell is the future of the team. That is not said to take anything away from Todd Collins or even to suggest that a healthy JC should supplant Collins in the playoffs. I think Todd has played well enough the past few weeks and believe that Campbell requires enough recovery where we'd all be better off with The Todd closing out the season. But no matter what happens, a healthy Jason in 2008 is the one we start on week 1. That's my position and I justify it thus: As impressive as Todd has been, the sample size is small enough at the moment where I'm unwilling to claim with authority that he's better than Jason. Remember that JC is still learning this offense and there's no reason to yet believe that he won't become the familiar-with-the-system game manager that Collins has played as for the past four weeks. Once he does gain that same level of familiarity, he offers far more than Todd does, of note, his youth and physical ability. And facial hair.

But what I think doesn't matter. What Al Saunders thinks does and the Post informs:

"Coach Saunders talks to me all the time and says, 'This is your team, this is your offense, all the things going on now are the same things you would have been doing,' " Campbell said. " 'It was building up to this and now all the guys are healthy and everyone is playing at a different level.'

"He said, 'You're the biggest part of it, so don't feel like you're not part of it or not part of anything, you're a big reason why we're in the playoffs and you went through all the tough times, and things happen sometimes.' "

He would say that about his young, injured quarterback, but I happen to believe it anyways. The other quarterbacks are saying all the right things, as well:

Collins said: "This is Jason's team and then through circumstances out of his control he can't play. It must be awful, and I hope he gets healthy so he can make a contribution, too." ...

"I'm sure it's frustrating for Jason, but this is Jason's team," quarterback Mark Brunell said. "Todd's just renting. This is Jason's team and he's got a bright future and every guy in here to a man knows that if he didn't hurt his knee we'd still be going to Seattle."

And that's good, since the article also mentions that Jason Campbell is "depressed" over the entire affair, though it doesn't sound that much like mopey dwelling. The team and coaching staff appreciate what Todd Collins is doing as much as we do, but they've gone out of their way to stress that Jason is Your Washington Redskins quarterback of the future and that this is still his team.

The question to reader(s), and I've now made clear my own position, is whether that should actually be the case. What could Todd Collins do to earn that spot? What would Jason Campbell have to do, this year or the next perhaps, to lose that spot? What is the threshold -- if it hasn't already been reached -- for JC to lose control of this team?

I think we are miles away from that point and support him, but I hate to monopolize the conversation on an issue as important as who starts under center for my favorite team.

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Because of our talk the other day...

I looked up Collins' contract. The Washington Post reported the following on March 15th, 2006:

the Redskins signed veteran quarterback Todd Collins to a two-year, $2.5 million contract yesterday to join Jason Campbell as a backup to Mark Brunell.

Also, our good friends over at thehogs.net have a 0 for the '08 cap hit for Collins.

So, he's playing for a final shot at starting and one last big pay day. The team can't afford him and Brunell (for the record, I think Brunell is done... I think the shoulder cannot compete in the NFL anymore) and probably won't be able to pay the money he'll be looking for. I see this playing out like last year's Garcia-Eagles-McNabb thing did.

Collins will probably not be here in 2008, which will eliminate any sort of QB controversy. Play on, for your future and the Skins in '08!

by TexSkins on Jan 4, 2008 12:13 PM EST reply actions

I'm almost in tears...

Seeing that we have people on the team dilusional enough to belive that with Campbell at the helm the last few weeks, we'd see the post season. If JC didn't have a pesky habit of "throwing the game away" (YES, PUN REALLY INTENDED)in the closing minutes, then that may be relatively so. With JC, we were 5-7, with collins, 4 going on 5-0. I expect this to be a decent game, but for the Skins to win by a decent margin. I'd say 24-10. Would we have Dallas next week?? I hope so-need to shut up these Dallas fans at my job talking all manner of smack.

by JustinU804 on Jan 5, 2008 11:27 AM EST reply actions

I would agree

Collins has been winning by an average margin of about 15 points also. Much better than JC, which were all very close at the end, win or not.

I still think with JC at the helm next year after watching how this offense should be run can make us a powerhouse at some point. Its good to have somebody come in there and let it all hang out like collins has. I think Gibbs was holding JC back some and it was a lot of tension for Jason.

After JC got hurt Gibbs just said F... it and low and behold look at was has happened.

by Sincethebeginning @ Hogs Haven on Jan 5, 2008 12:31 PM EST reply actions

Yeah...

I mean JC had all his weapons healthy, especially Moss. He just kinda disappeared when Collins took over.

And the team was running the ball so well up until JC got hurt.

And the defense... it seems like they just disappeared when JC got hurt.

Collins, man, he's like a savior. If it weren't for him, this team would be doing so bad. Because everyone else on the team totally has not in any way started playing better since JC went down.

by TexSkins on Jan 5, 2008 1:12 PM EST reply actions

Its hard to say that we would be in .....

the playoffs if JC was still the QB. Literally since the play he went down we have looked different.

Collins is on his last legs and cant afford to be indecisive and in my opinion it has exposed some of JCs confusion in this system. Gibbs always talks about Campbells smarts so i think this will only make Campbell better after watching that he doesnt need to rifle every throw. Instead he needs to work on his timing and trust with the routes, as TC has clearly shown that you dont need the best arm for Saunders system.

I agree that the defense is playing lights out right now and that makes it easier on the O.

I agree that Moss is much healthier and has also made it easier on the QB.

I will add that the O line is playing better now also.

But remember, next year when JC starts the season everyone will be looking for the same type of play as TC is providing right now.

I havent jumped the wagon on JC, i think he should be the starter no matter what next year and probably the following year to, no matter what happens next year.

by Sincethebeginning @ Hogs Haven on Jan 5, 2008 3:23 PM EST reply actions