Ramsey and Brees
Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2005 7:39 am
Aug. 8, 2005
By Clark Judge
CBS SportsLine.com Senior Writer
BALTIMORE -- The consensus around Washington is that quarterback Patrick Ramsey is as much a sitting duck as he is a lame one.
His coach isn't sold on him. The organization seems to have given up on him. And his successor is sitting to his right, awaiting his chance to step in and effectively end Ramsey's career with the Redskins
But if there's hope for Ramsey, it isn't in his so-so play during last weekend's scrimmage with Baltimore; it's in last season's performance by an embattled quarterback. And I'm not talking about Patrick Ramsey here.
I'm talking about Drew Brees.
The San Diego quarterback was in the same boat as Ramsey, with the Chargers drafting Philip Rivers to take his place. Only Brees never gave Rivers the chance, leading San Diego to the playoffs and earning the league's comeback player of the year award.
Now he starts, Rivers watches and the question is out there to ask: Can Patrick Ramsey be this year's Drew Brees?
"I think with the changes we made, that's my goal," said Ramsey. "Not only to play as well as he did last year but to get our team to the playoffs -- and I think we have the talent to do so."
Ramsey is in the minority there. The Redskins, who finished 6-10 a year ago, are a popular pick to finish fourth in their division -- largely because there's little faith in Ramsey or the passing game. But look where people had San Diego ticketed a year ago. The Chargers were considered not only the worst team in the AFC West; they were considered one of the worst in football.
Yet they won the division and made it to the playoffs for the first time since 1995. Patrick Ramsey, pay attention.
What I like about (Brees) is that he really thrived under that pressure," he said. "I don't think had he not done it I would have felt it was any less attainable. But the fact that it happened so recently in such a similar situation, then obviously you can point to it and say, Hey, that can definitely happen."
The odds are against it, but they were against Brees, too. The Chargers hadn't had a winning season since 1995, and Brees was coming off an underwhelming year. Washington hasn't had a winning season since 1999, and Ramsey -- in his fourth year, as Brees was a year ago -- did so little to ingratiate himself to the coaching staff that Washington chose Auburn quarterback Jason Campbell with the 25th pick of this year's draft.
The idea is to make Campbell the starter. The only question: When? You had better check with Ramsey. He will have plenty to do with the decision.
"To be perfectly honest with you, the situation is not that tough for me," Ramsey said. "If I play well, all that takes care of itself. If I don't play well then I don't deserve to be on the football field. You don't want a quick leash or anything like that, but if you're playing poorly you can't expect to have every opportunity to play."
It's too soon to get a read on Ramsey, but coaches and teammates like what they've seen in practices. He had little opportunity to excel in Saturday's scrimmage, spending much of his time avoiding a furious Baltimore pass rush, but coaches believe he's making faster, smarter decisions with the football this summer -- and that, along with an improved offensive line and a change of wide receivers, could boost the league's 29th-ranked passing attack.
"Now, hopefully, he'll have a chance to take some shots down the field," said assistant head coach Gregg Williams. "The one thing I've seen him do is he's dropping off the ball underneath better in practices than at anytime last year. And he's letting his team around him do more for him instead of feeling the pressure of having to do it himself."
Despite what Ramsey said, there is pressure. Brees felt it a year ago. Ramsey will feel it in the weeks and months ahead. It's how he responds that will determine his future, and maybe the future of the Washington Redskins.
"There is no better opportunity than what I have to come in here and start for this team with a great defense, two great receivers and a great running back," said Ramsey. "I feel like I have the opportunity of a lifetime."