"Tailg8" Over: Brunell loses job to Campbell

[Mursilis]

I will root for JC but there's a reason why he's been on the bench for two plus years now. Look at Dallas, you heard before the season that Romo was pushing Bledsoe for the starting job. Did you ever here that in D.C.? JC was 3rd on the depth chart coming into the season...I think we are about to see why.

First of all, he's only been on the bench for a year and a half, not 2+. Second, was he ever really given a chance to compete in training camp, or was, as I suspect, Gibbs fixated on Mediocre Mark as the starter, no matter what? I suspect the latter; Gibbs was determined to stick with Mark, Mr. Supersmart Veteran, who gave us the best chance to win now (except without all the winning), and I don't think he even considered starting The QB Of The Future until yesterday, when the future arrived. So don't state Campbell's lack of playing time is a reflection on his skills. Seems Brady rode the bench for a while until Belichik was forced to play him, and he's ridden that horse to three SB rings ever since.

[EA7649]

I'm so excited to see him play, the Campbell era has begun!

[DaSkins24]

I feel like a kid on Christmas who got an awesome new gift.

[air_hog]

I feel like a kid on Christmas who got an awesome new gift.

And hopefully you won't wake up the next day realizing Christmas is already over...

[The Hogster]

Lets just hope no one clothesline's Jason on the first drive, and out trots Brunell. Heard it all before.

[crazyhorse1]

best statistical season of his career

Not so. Some of the numbers are high because of dinks and screens, but the yards per pass number is one of the lowest, if not the lowest, in the league. It's around 4yds per pass, which is average for running the ball, dismal for passing. The league average is a little over 7yards per.

[crazyhorse1]

What does everyone honestly think about Campbell? He did have one of the best backfields in NCAA history. He really was a nobody until his last year at Auburn. Skins thought more highly of him than seemingly every other team. What do we really know about him? Just playing devil's advocate here.

I hope he's a great player, but don't trust management's draft decisions. Before the season started, I was certain Brunell whould lead us to the bottom and/or collapse and opposed trading Ramsey because of my doubts about Campbell (based only on management's track record).

Now I hope I don't win the right to say, "I told you so!" twice.

[DEHog]

I will root for JC but there's a reason why he's been on the bench for two plus years now. Look at Dallas, you heard before the season that Romo was pushing Bledsoe for the starting job. Did you ever here that in D.C.? JC was 3rd on the depth chart coming into the season...I think we are about to see why.

First of all, he's only been on the bench for a year and a half, not 2+. Second, was he ever really given a chance to compete in training camp, or was, as I suspect, Gibbs fixated on Mediocre Mark as the starter, no matter what? I suspect the latter; Gibbs was determined to stick with Mark, Mr. Supersmart Veteran, who gave us the best chance to win now (except without all the winning), and I don't think he even considered starting The QB Of The Future until yesterday, when the future arrived. So don't state Campbell's lack of playing time is a reflection on his skills. Seems Brady rode the bench for a while until Belichik was forced to play him, and he's ridden that horse to three SB rings ever since.

Gibbs is not being forced to start JC also I think he would have already played him if he felt he gave the Skins the best chance to win..in fact he made him third on the depth chart coming out of camp. Please tell me your not comparing JC to Brady?

I want JC to suceed as much as anyone, what scares me is whats around him. A line that leads the league in holding, no running game with Portis gone and no D. When you look at the young gunslike Rivers, Roelisthberger, Palmer, Brady, Romo who are suceeding look at what they have around them??

[Chris Luva Luva]

I want JC to suceed as much as anyone, what scares me is whats around him. A line that leads the league in holding, no running game with Portis gone and no D. When you look at the young gunslike Rivers, Roelisthberger, Palmer, Brady, Romo who are suceeding look at what they have around them??

I THINK we all would want things to be a bit better around him but can we really wait to start him in 2008?

[Mursilis]

I want JC to suceed as much as anyone, what scares me is whats around him. A line that leads the league in holding, no running game with Portis gone and no D. When you look at the young gunslike Rivers, Roelisthberger, Palmer, Brady, Romo who are suceeding look at what they have around them??

We don't lack for talent on offense; what we lacked was a QB with the ability to utilize our talent. IMHO, our offense (minus the ex-QB) is at least as good as New England, Dallas, Cinncy, Pittsburgh, and maybe even San Deigo. Sure, LT is amazing, but our running game is solid and our receivers can be explosive. I think our line will be fine with a more mobile QB who will force defenses to respect the deep ball more than Mediocre Mark ever did. Mr. Dink and Dunk was getting pressured because everyone in the league (except Gibbs) knew that he rarely looked or threw deep, and was rarely accurate when he did.

[SkinsFreak]

One thing really stood out to me in Gibbs presser when he announced Campbell as the starter.

Many have wondered about how ready Campbell will be after learning a new offense. Gibbs said that during all of the practices, the plays were given to Campbell by Bill Lazor and Campbell would then call them into Brunell. This was very smart in my opinion. He will have learned the verbiage and language much faster and will have had the benefit of seeing the play run by the offense on the field.

Good coaching strategy. Also confirms that they have been grooming Campbell to be the starter.

[cleg]

Look at the still to be determined but promissing start of careers of Romo and Phillip Rivers. Let's hope the two years on the bench helps Jason as much as it did those guys. I just can't wait to see him play - I don't care if we win of lose I just want to see him play and take his lumps so we can come back strong next year. Next year, hopefully AA and our other new additions will have become used to being here and J Camp will be able to get the ball down field to our other playmaker. So, lets see how he does, and Clinton - you rest my friend, just rest.

[roybus14]

I think that you will see both sides of the ball pick up their play a little with Campbell in there to protect him. I suspect that the guys in that lockerroom have been waiting for this for awhile but have never said anything about it because Gibbs has drilled into them not to speak out.

I think that Saunders will open up the play book a little instead of scaling it down. Tampa still has a good defense but I think that Al with test them deep early to plant the seed and then run the crap out of Betts (on the edges) and Duckett (up the gut).

Nobody can tell me that Moss, Lloyd, and ARE are not extremely happy about the possibility of catching the ball down field......


But no matter how much sideline reporting or analysis we boarders do, we have to wait until Sunday to see. I can't wait....

[Redskin in Canada]

Look at the still to be determined but promissing start of careers of Romo and Phillip Rivers. ...

I have seen enough comparisons in this board between Jason Campbell and other young, talented and successful QBs that a word of caution is warranted.

PLEASE people, before you start judging Jason consider the fact that the GREAT successes by young QBs such as the 1st years of Brady, Roethlisberger, Rivers and Romo are predicated under the fact (not the assumption) that they have GREAT defenses on their sides. Jason does not. Our defense appears to have more holes in it than a thin slice od Swiss cheese. HUGE difference.

There have to be improvements on defense over which the switch to Jason Campbell has NOTHING to do with. It takes more than one player to get this thing working.

[REDEEMEDSKIN]

I think that Saunders will open up the play book a little instead of scaling it down.

Are you kidding? In JC's first game? Perhaps against the Panthers, at friendly FedEx field, will he feel a lot more comfortable opening the playbook. I suspect Gibbs will have a conservative game plan of the run setting up the pass, and taking shots down field, as they open up with the run.

I'm pretty certain, though, we won't be seeing to many end arounds and screen passes. I believe with JC's throwing motion, he's not suited for the short stuff, as he seems to throw them on a line.

Look for some intermediate stuff, and plenty of running vs. Tampa.

Ball control will be the word of the day on Sunday, and JC will reign triumphant!!!!!!!

It's a 7-week season, and the Skins will be 1-0 after Tampa!!

[SkinsFreak]

[quote="roybus14"]Nobody can tell me that Moss, Lloyd, and ARE are not extremely happy about the possibility of catching the ball down field......quote]

I agree. I've been wondering for some time now, how they feel after running pass routes play after play and never having the ball thrown their way. I'm sure that they were angry running back to the huddle after a 2 yard dump off by Brunell when they needed 7 or 8 yards to pick up the 1st down.

[SkinsFreak]

BTW - Even though it appears that Jason will be starting for the rest of the year, can I still blame Brunell for everything?

[roybus14]

I think that Saunders will open up the play book a little instead of scaling it down.

Are you kidding? In JC's first game? Perhaps against the Panthers, at friendly FedEx field, will he feel a lot more comfortable opening the playbook. I suspect Gibbs will have a conservative game plan of the run setting up the pass, and taking shots down field, as they open up with the run.

I'm pretty certain, though, we won't be seeing to many end arounds and screen passes. I believe with JC's throwing motion, he's not suited for the short stuff, as he seems to throw them on a line.

Look for some intermediate stuff, and plenty of running vs. Tampa.

Ball control will be the word of the day on Sunday, and JC will reign triumphant!!!!!!!

It's a 7-week season, and the Skins will be 1-0 after Tampa!!

No I am not. Here's why:

This week's game is a Kasparov Vs. Big Blue in that Monty Kiffin and Al Saunders will be dueling out in game-planning. My suspicion is that Saunders will try to punch Kiffin in the mouth early with deep balls just to put the threat in his head and then run Duckett up the gut. And when Kiffin makes the adjustment, go single-back backfield and empty it out because if Campbell doesn't have an open guy, which I doubt, he will be instructed to make the safe scramble.

Remember, even though Campbell is wet behind the ears, Kiffin still has to game plan for the unknown because this kid has not played and he doesn't have enough tape on him to effectively game plan for him. My guess is that Al will take advantage of that and put Campbell in a position to be safe but also keep Tampa off-balance. The general thinking is to have the kid just hand-off but that won't work against Tampa because they are too good against the run so I think that Al will mix it up, spread the field, and take advantage of JC's abillity to run. Remember, this kid is still a pro football player. He played in a very good conference in College in big games so it's not like we have drafted a kid from SW Missouri State who's only real competition was against one ranked opportunity on their entire schedule all year.

[Chris Luva Luva]

I think the playbook will be scaled back a lot, its what JC chooses to do with his plays that may give the illusion of it being opened up. MB04 could have been on page 699 of the playbook and still go out there throwing dump offs.

[1niksder]

I think the playbook will be scaled back a lot, its what JC chooses to do with his plays that may give the illusion of it being opened up. MB04 could have been on page 699 of the playbook and still go out there throwing dump offs.

I listened to BLloyd last night and from what he was saying it sounds as if the big plays have allways been in the scheme, Mark chose not to take his shots(he didn't say it in those words but that's what I got out of it). I also came away with the impression that not only will Jason take those shots but that he has no doubts as to if he'll complete these type of passes or not.

[roybus14]

I think the playbook will be scaled back a lot, its what JC chooses to do with his plays that may give the illusion of it being opened up. MB04 could have been on page 699 of the playbook and still go out there throwing dump offs.

Good point. Also, the other factor that has led to Brunell's demise along with him being over-the-hill, is the Skins offense reluctance to allow the QB to audible or change plays on the fly. Campbell may fare better than Brunell on blitzes because he is younger, quicker, and stronger but the fact that he, like Brunell won't be allowed to check off, may get the same results. With the speed on the edges that we have, a simple signal for an out to Moss or Lloyd when the Safeties come up could result in big plays or even a check off to a delayed draw. If nothing else, this would make defense's pick and choose their spots when to blitz and when not to blitz a little more carefully.

[joebagadonuts]

I think the playbook will be scaled back a lot, its what JC chooses to do with his plays that may give the illusion of it being opened up. MB04 could have been on page 699 of the playbook and still go out there throwing dump offs.

Good point. Also, the other factor that has led to Brunell's demise along with him being over-the-hill, is the Skins offense reluctance to allow the QB to audible or change plays on the fly. Campbell may fare better than Brunell on blitzes because he is younger, quicker, and stronger but the fact that he, like Brunell won't be allowed to check off, may get the same results. With the speed on the edges that we have, a simple signal for an out to Moss or Lloyd when the Safeties come up could result in big plays or even a check off to a delayed draw. If nothing else, this would make defense's pick and choose their spots when to blitz and when not to blitz a little more carefully.

I may be mistaken, but I think the lack of audibles is simply inherent in Saunders' system, rather than being a statement about Brunell's lack of ability or willingness to audible. Plus, keep in mind that the coaches will want to keep things simple for JC so he can get his confidence up. I don't think audibles will be on the menu for quite some time.

[roybus14]

I think the playbook will be scaled back a lot, its what JC chooses to do with his plays that may give the illusion of it being opened up. MB04 could have been on page 699 of the playbook and still go out there throwing dump offs.

Good point. Also, the other factor that has led to Brunell's demise along with him being over-the-hill, is the Skins offense reluctance to allow the QB to audible or change plays on the fly. Campbell may fare better than Brunell on blitzes because he is younger, quicker, and stronger but the fact that he, like Brunell won't be allowed to check off, may get the same results. With the speed on the edges that we have, a simple signal for an out to Moss or Lloyd when the Safeties come up could result in big plays or even a check off to a delayed draw. If nothing else, this would make defense's pick and choose their spots when to blitz and when not to blitz a little more carefully.

I may be mistaken, but I think the lack of audibles is simply inherent in Saunders' system, rather than being a statement about Brunell's lack of ability or willingness to audible. Plus, keep in mind that the coaches will want to keep things simple for JC so he can get his confidence up. I don't think audibles will be on the menu for quite some time.

Joe,

You may be right but who knows with this 700-page playbook. Al may throw in some wriggles to make a simple running play look like something totally different.

[PulpExposure]

Look at the still to be determined but promissing start of careers of Romo and Phillip Rivers. ...

I have seen enough comparisons in this board between Jason Campbell and other young, talented and successful QBs that a word of caution is warranted.

PLEASE people, before you start judging Jason consider the fact that the GREAT successes by young QBs such as the 1st years of Brady, Roethlisberger, Rivers and Romo are predicated under the fact (not the assumption) that they have GREAT defenses on their sides. Jason does not. Our defense appears to have more holes in it than a thin slice od Swiss cheese. HUGE difference.

There have to be improvements on defense over which the switch to Jason Campbell has NOTHING to do with. It takes more than one player to get this thing working.

That's a very good point. Those guys had the luxury of knowing they didn't absolutely need to score points all the time, because their defenses just wouldn't let many points in.

Campbell isn't in that situation. At all.

Another thing is all of those guys except Brady, had the luxury of a offensive coordinator commited to the run game. I hope Saunders decides to run a bit more, because that will take a lot of pressure off of Campbell.

[FiveWidez]

I think the playbook will be scaled back a lot, its what JC chooses to do with his plays that may give the illusion of it being opened up. MB04 could have been on page 699 of the playbook and still go out there throwing dump offs.

Good point. Also, the other factor that has led to Brunell's demise along with him being over-the-hill, is the Skins offense reluctance to allow the QB to audible or change plays on the fly. Campbell may fare better than Brunell on blitzes because he is younger, quicker, and stronger but the fact that he, like Brunell won't be allowed to check off, may get the same results. With the speed on the edges that we have, a simple signal for an out to Moss or Lloyd when the Safeties come up could result in big plays or even a check off to a delayed draw. If nothing else, this would make defense's pick and choose their spots when to blitz and when not to blitz a little more carefully.

True. This offense hasn't looked anything like the KC offense when Saunders was there. Like CLL said, Campbells decisions may make it look more wide open. If, however, he converts on some of these plays, Saunders may give him more "open" plays.