The only things holding the skins back...

[PatrickRamsey]

I hate to be negative... but lets get back to reality....

1. Injures

This is true for every team, so if the Skins were to lost some key players they could be in trouble, but on a positive note they have some depth in key positions, especially with the Duckett trade, if Portis were to get hurt even worse, Saunders may still be able to handle it. Nevertheless, injuries is the first thing.

[b]2.The Quarterback Position

Sure, its great that the WR's are so great now, but, uh one problem? Who is going to throw them the ball? The Skins aren't great at the most position on the field (stop, dont debate, it is). Brunell hasnt looked good (even if it is [I]only[I] preseason), and he has never been lights out as a Skin, Campbell is still too young, and Todd Collins, well he might as well be a coach.


[b]3.Special Teams[b]

I got a name for you-Derrick Frost. Derrick Frost. Derrick Frost. IF this team were to make it to the superbowl, watch out for this guy to screw up BIG. The same goes for John Hall, he HAS been great in the past, but coming off injuries, how will he do? 3 of the last 5 superbowls (2 of them in the last 3 years) have been decided by 3 points.

Other then that, this team is superbowl material

[JPM36]

I worry a lot about both Hall and Frost. I don't trust either of them.

Hall's next injury is inevitable and Frost's next 15 yard punt is right around the corner as well.

[Mursilis]

[b]2.The Quarterback Position

Sure, its great that the WR's are so great now, but, uh one problem? Who is going to throw them the ball? The Skins aren't great at the most position on the field (stop, dont debate, it is). Brunell hasnt looked good (even if it is [I]only[I] preseason), and he has never been lights out as a Skin, Campbell is still too young, and Todd Collins, well he might as well be a coach.

Not to start yet another QB thread, but I've been pretty happy with Campbell, from what I've seen of him in preseason. Should Brunell go down, I think JC can quickly fill the void. The supporting cast is there - it's not like Alex Smith in SF, or other rookies who don't have a quality WR corp and running game to help carry the load. Big Ben in Pittsburgh managed a 98 QB rating (higher than Brunell's last year) his rookie year; there's no reason JC can't do the same.

[sch1977]

I too have been happy with Campbell's showing thus far. A few timing issues, but they will work themselves out with time and practice. He shows good zip on his passes, and his accuracy is great!

[JPM36]

I'm really not that worried about the QB situaton.

Brunell did a fine job managing games last year, throwing for 3,000 yards and had an excellent TD-INT ratio (23-10)

I also like Campbell but I think he's about a year away.

[Gibbs4Life]

Campbell will start for us this year bet on it.

[Fios]

Not unless Brunell goes out with an injury

[crazyhorse1]

Campbell will start for us this year bet on it.

I'd be a whole lot happier if we still had Patrick. Just don't trust Brunell as far as injuries go, and to keep his zip all season. Sorry, Campbell doesn't look ready yet. Maybe he'll improve at a faster rate if Pattten's benched when Campbell's out there. Campbell needs confidence. I would play him a lot in the next two games-- maybe three quarters each game, and get him used to throwing to our better wide receives.

Gibbs won't do that, of course-- because of chance of injury to wr's and Campbell, but mostly because he thinks Brunell's the guy. He's probably not. Sorry, again.

[JPM36]

I don't understand the Brunell detractors. I really don't.

I admit that I used to be a HUGE anti-Brunell guy but last season he threw for 3,000 yards and we went 10-6, 5-1 vs. NFC East, and won a road playoff game.

What more does the guy have to do to convince you people that he's good enough to be our QB?

[yupchagee]

I don't understand the Brunell detractors. I really don't.

I admit that I used to be a HUGE anti-Brunell guy but last season he threw for 3,000 yards and we went 10-6, 5-1 vs. NFC East, and won a road playoff game.

What more does the guy have to do to convince you people that he's good enough to be our QB?

I agree. He came through last yr even with a busted up WR corps. I also like what I saw of Campbell. I'd like to see him get lots of reps the next 2 games.

[spenser]

Campbell will start for us this year bet on it.

I'd be a whole lot happier if we still had Patrick. Just don't trust Brunell as far as injuries go, and to keep his zip all season. Sorry, Campbell doesn't look ready yet. Maybe he'll improve at a faster rate if Pattten's benched when Campbell's out there. Campbell needs confidence. I would play him a lot in the next two games-- maybe three quarters each game, and get him used to throwing to our better wide receives.

Gibbs won't do that, of course-- because of chance of injury to wr's and Campbell, but mostly because he thinks Brunell's the guy. He's probably not. Sorry, again.

Have to disagree with you 100%. I think one of the things that JC doesnt lack is confidence. To me he has looked Very poised and calm in the pocket. If anything He just needs experiance, not confidence.

[JPM36]

I'd definitely play Campbell a ton against the Pats and probably basically the entire game against Baltimore. The other 2 guys don't really need pre-season at their age.

However, once the real games begin, Brunell is absolutely the guy.

[Mursilis]

I don't understand the Brunell detractors. I really don't.

It's not that Brunell is a bad quarterback at this point in his career - it's just that he's not great either. Everyone raves about his year last year, but how is he much different than, say, Drew Bledsoe? Brunell had almost 600 less yards overall, less yards per attempt, and a lower completion percentage. Both QBs had 23 TDs, but Brunell managed to have 7 less picks, which is why his QB rating was 2 points higher. Still, Bledsoe and Brunell were nearly identical overall, and yet people here say Brunell is great and Bledsoe is awful. That's just homerism talking.

The other frustrating thing about this situation is that we've got Campbell just sitting there. It's like having a new sports car in the garage, and everyone wants to drive the minivan! Brunell's getting on in years and hasn't finished a full season in 4 of the last 5 years. Thus, the odds say he won't finish this one either. What's the better situation - Campbell comes in now and gets in a groove, or he comes in two weeks from the playoffs? Sure, people will say JC's too new, needs time to learn, he'll struggle in his first year, doom our season, etc., but history says otherwise. Heck, Brunell in his first year as a starter in Jax wasn't much worse than Brunell now (85 v. 82 QB rating). Brady was better in his FIRST year as a starter, so was Big Ben, so was Marc Bulger, so was Culpepper, so was Farve, so were a lot of QBs. The simple fact is, where there's a strong supporting cast (as there is here), a young QB can flourish right away, if he's got talent. I believe JC has that talent. He played at Auburn - heck, that's practically a pro program, or as close as you'll find at the college level. Daunte Culpeper became a full time starter his second year, after throwing no passes in regular season games his rookie year (just like JC). That second year, he posted just under 4000 yards and 33 TDs, for a 98 QB rating. That's better than any year Brunell ever had. Same with Big Ben. If given the chance, I predict the same for JC.

[SkinzCanes]

Not unless Brunell goes out with an injury

Based on the last few seasons it's not "if" Brunell will get hurt but "when". When healthy Brunell is more than capable of getting the job done but I have absolutely no confidence whatsoever to stay healthy and play at a high level for all 16 games (hopefully more in the playoffs).

[Mursilis]

Not unless Brunell goes out with an injury

Based on the last few seasons it's not "if" Brunell will get hurt but "when". When healthy Brunell is more than capable of getting the job done but I have absolutely no confidence whatsoever to stay healthy and play at a high level for all 16 games (hopefully more in the playoffs).

Which goes back to what I've been saying - you want JC coming in now, where he's got 16 regular season games to gain experience, take practice with the first team, etc., or two weeks before we start the playoffs (or whenever Brunell goes down)?

[PatrickRamsey]

Not unless Brunell goes out with an injury

YEa really, i mean Gibbs was so anti-Ramsey, theres no way he gives JC the job, Gibbs is like this, "Go with a veteran 90 percent of the time all the time"

Veteran QB>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Young QB

thats how he is.

[Mursilis]

Not unless Brunell goes out with an injury

YEa really, i mean Gibbs was so anti-Ramsey, theres no way he gives JC the job, Gibbs is like this, "Go with a veteran 90 percent of the time all the time"

Veteran QB>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Young QB

thats how he is.

And that bit this team hard in '04, when Gibbs preferred an injured and ineffective vet to a healthy youngster. Hopefully, we don't see the same this year.

[Dangerfield]

Not unless Brunell goes out with an injury

Or unless we start 2-4 and Brunell looks like he did in 2004.

[yupchagee]

I'd definitely play Campbell a ton against the Pats and probably basically the entire game against Baltimore. The other 2 guys don't really need pre-season at their age.

However, once the real games begin, Brunell is absolutely the guy.

I agree, more importantly, I think Gibbs & Saunders do as well.

[PatrickRamsey]

i think what u do is start brunell, WHEN he gets hurt, if he does, i dont think its definite that he does, you bring in campbell, if its in the playoffs thats unfortunate..

BUT THIS BRINGS UP THE MAIN POINT HERE:

MAKE THE RUNNING GAME THE BASE! If you can rely on portis, Duckett, Betts and that O line, The QB position wont matter as much, the skins SHOULD be a run first team, with their runningbacks and such, i mean, let the runningbacks take over the game, opens up the pass, there you go, you are unstopable.

YOu could also take the kinda similar approach of the steelers. Play a good mix of run and pass, get the lead, then run it all day long to waste time combined with a grat defense, that usually leads to win, but im all for saunders hopefully taking over and doing it well, i think Gibbs has noticed that he isnt doing the best job on offense, who could say thats all his fault though...

[PatrickRamsey]

I don't understand the Brunell detractors. I really don't.

It's not that Brunell is a bad quarterback at this point in his career - it's just that he's not great either. Everyone raves about his year last year, but how is he much different than, say, Drew Bledsoe? Brunell had almost 600 less yards overall, less yards per attempt, and a lower completion percentage. Both QBs had 23 TDs, but Brunell managed to have 7 less picks, which is why his QB rating was 2 points higher. Still, Bledsoe and Brunell were nearly identical overall, and yet people here say Brunell is great and Bledsoe is awful. That's just homerism talking.

The other frustrating thing about this situation is that we've got Campbell just sitting there. It's like having a new sports car in the garage, and everyone wants to drive the minivan! Brunell's getting on in years and hasn't finished a full season in 4 of the last 5 years. Thus, the odds say he won't finish this one either. What's the better situation - Campbell comes in now and gets in a groove, or he comes in two weeks from the playoffs? Sure, people will say JC's too new, needs time to learn, he'll struggle in his first year, doom our season, etc., but history says otherwise. Heck, Brunell in his first year as a starter in Jax wasn't much worse than Brunell now (85 v. 82 QB rating). Brady was better in his FIRST year as a starter, so was Big Ben, so was Marc Bulger, so was Culpepper, so was Farve, so were a lot of QBs. The simple fact is, where there's a strong supporting cast (as there is here), a young QB can flourish right away, if he's got talent. I believe JC has that talent. He played at Auburn - heck, that's practically a pro program, or as close as you'll find at the college level. Daunte Culpeper became a full time starter his second year, after throwing no passes in regular season games his rookie year (just like JC). That second year, he posted just under 4000 yards and 33 TDs, for a 98 QB rating. That's better than any year Brunell ever had. Same with Big Ben. If given the chance, I predict the same for JC.

I agree with your first paragraph, some of ure second. Dont ever compare people like Big Ben to Campbell, ever. Also, in terms of Auburn being at the pro level, meh, i think USC is close, but really its a stupid argument, theres nothing in COLLEGE close to the PRO level, because well, they are different levels . Also in regards to campbell in Auburn, no one had even heard of the kid before his senior year. And look who he had, two FIRST ROUND draft picks, great college backs, he had plenty of run support it opened up the pass, not saying JC is a bumb, he could be a plesent suprise but he has more of a bust factor IMO because he came out of nowhere his senior year and was supported by a superb run game.

[Gnome]

Here's the Gnome's take. Ramsey was the same statue for the Jets Saturday night he was for the Skins - check that - statues manage to stay upright. Bruenell lead us to the playoffs last year. The Skins poor offense in the playoffs was as much about the offensive line being a patchwork lineup as Mark being spent. And Jason Campbell is a true star in the making - he reminds me of a young Dan Fouts or Warren Moon, tall in the pocket with a smooth, on a dime, spiral.

[yupchagee]

Dont ever compare people like Big Ben to Campbell, ever.

OK, Big ben has a super bowl ring. That was a team effort. I'm not disputing that he's a rising star, but to catagorically state that Campbell can't EVER be compared to him is absurd.

[yupchagee]

Not unless Brunell goes out with an injury

YEa really, i mean Gibbs was so anti-Ramsey, theres no way he gives JC the job, Gibbs is like this, "Go with a veteran 90 percent of the time all the time"

Veteran QB>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Young QB

thats how he is.

Gibbs anti Ramsey? Who started at QB at the beginning of last season?
Assuming he was "anti Ramsey, what does that have to do with Campbell this year?

[Mursilis]

Not unless Brunell goes out with an injury

YEa really, i mean Gibbs was so anti-Ramsey, theres no way he gives JC the job, Gibbs is like this, "Go with a veteran 90 percent of the time all the time"

Veteran QB>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Young QB

thats how he is.

Gibbs anti Ramsey? Who started at QB at the beginning of last season?
Assuming he was "anti Ramsey, what does that have to do with Campbell this year?

Gibbs isn't anti-Ramsey, he's anti-young QB. Ramsey got about 1.5 quarters as the starter in '05 before he was benched, whereas Brunell got, what, 9-10 games before he got the hook in '04? Huge difference.