The-Hogs.net - Washington Football Discussion, Redskins to Commanders Era

Like predecessors Norv Turner (1994-2000) and Steve Spurrier (2002-03), new Redskins coach Jim Zorn is a former quarterbacks coach and plans to be very hands-on with the players at his old position.

"Jason's in for a lot of work," Zorn said of starter Jason Campbell, who was cleared to resume workouts two months after dislocating his left kneecap on Dec. 6 against the Bears. "I'm very eager to start working with Jason. The weather won't matter if we can use (the Redskin Park basketball court) to work on footwork drills."

Life in the NFL has already been plenty of work for Campbell, who's learning a third offense in four years.

The Redskins traded up to take Campbell 25th in the 2005 draft, but he didn't play a snap as a rookie after being the SEC Offensive Player of the Year as a senior at Auburn. The next year, Campbell went from standing on the sideline to becoming the starter after nine games.

Last year, Campbell was playing well when he was hurt, but replacement Todd Collins was masterful running Al Saunders' offense, winning NFC Offensive Player of the Month honors for December for leading the Redskins to the playoffs and leaving some to wonder whether the veteran should have been playing all along.

"Jason's had all these coordinators and these different (offenses), bummer," Zorn said. "I'm not going to worry about all the influences he's had. I'm going to try to dive in and teach him the influences he's going to have. I'm going to use the same techniques (that I always have) because they work. They'll work for him. I hope he'll be fired up. I hope you'll see a difference in how he plays."

NOTES, QUOTES

—QB Jason Campbell was never concerned that he wasn't the starter, not after watching Collins lead the Redskins to the playoffs and not after coach Joe Gibbs retired and associate head coach Al Saunders, who ran the offense the past two years, was fired.

"Deep down inside I know I'm the starter," Campbell said. "This is my team. I just want to focus on the things I need to do to become one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL and lead my team to the playoffs and try and bring home a championship."

Those goals are more foreseeable now that Campbell has recovered from the dislocated left kneecap that sidelined him for Washington's four-game run to postseason as well as the playoff loss at Seattle. Now the 26-year-old has to re-learn the West Coast offense he ran so well as a senior at Auburn in 2004.

"It's difficult to go through change a lot, but at the same time, it can be a positive," Campbell said. "I like the offense. That was one of my best years. I completed 70 percent of my passes. It's a quick-strike offense, an offense you can spread the ball out. Santana (Moss) and Randle El, the quicker they get the ball in their hands the better opportunity they have to make yards. You don't have to go for the home run hitters all the time."

—Coach Jim Zorn wants the naturally mellow Campbell to become more of a take-charge leader even though he has started just 20 NFL games.

"Whenever there's any change it's uncomfortable," Zorn said. "What I've got to do is make Jason get out of whatever's been comfortable for him, whatever that is. He's got a strong arm, an excellent presence. ... He'll become a little more vocal working the cadence, audibles, helping (his blockers) with protections."

—Zorn has some special plans for center Casey Rabach's rear end regarding Campbell.

"Jason's real tall (6-foot-5)," Zorn said. "The thing I haven't liked is how he has to squat up underneath the center. So I've got to get our center to (scrunching noise) get his rear end up a little."

—Safety Will Demps, who was expected to be the first prospective signee to visit the Redskins in free agency, re-signed with Houston.

Following the shooting death of starter Sean Taylor last November and the expected exits of free agent backups Pierson Prioleau and Omar Stoutmire, the Redskins are looking for a safety. Second-year man LaRon Landry, third-year man Reed Doughty and special-teamer Vernon Fox are the only safeties under contract for 2008.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We don't have anything planned. We're waiting for the market to come back to normal. I think we're being smart. We're not throwing money around to throw money around. We (don't) have to find three or four starters. Unless there's a unique situation, we won't be doing anything." — Redskins executive vice president Vinny Cerrato on the team's unprecedented lack of spending in the first days of free agency.