Grade Jason Campbell

Missing the short throws bothers me. he short hops too many throws for a guy with a "strong arm".

I think he has a good future because he has all the intangibles.
But I'm not grading his future, I'm grading his past.
I can overlook the usuall rookie mistakes but I can't overlook his struggles on third down and his missthrows.
He really struggled with the must fundamental part of being a QB, Getting the ball to the WR.

That's a pretty harsh grading curve granted he's only been in for seven games.

Last night he out played Eli hands down. Heck, I think in the last few games, he's even had a better pctg than Phillip Rivers in San Diego. And he's thrown for a TD, in some very tight spaces, I might add, in nearly every start.

Not to take this thread off topic. But I didn't really understand that comment about Cooley last night. Because what I got out of it was that guys like El, Moss, Thrash, etc. aren't giving their all in practice. And it struck me as odd (and unfortunate) that that would be allowed to happen when there's a new QB here trying to develop a rythym with these guys.

By the way, I give Campbell a C. He's getting better though

I don't think it's a negative shot at anyone, some guys just practice different than others. The comment about Cooley going full throttle is probably only half the story. Young QBs always tend to focus more on the TE, it's the safer throw and the underneath stuff is what they are more comfortable with early.

Campbell gets a B- from me at this point.

Curve based on his youth and inexperience. If he had been starting all along making some of the mistakes he has made his grade would be around a C-.

I like the upside, I like the confidence, I like the arm strength, and the seemingly leadership abilities. Not to mention the way he steps up in the pocket.

I dont like some of the decision making, some of the accuracy issues, although I think these things can be fixed.

I give JC a B+. All he needs is more reps with the 1st team. He can make ALL the throws necessary to be a successful NFL QB, plus he has mobility. All in due time. He's only had 7 starts. I'm excited about next year's offense!

vote and discuss, here are his numbers for his 7 starts this year

att: 207
comp: 110
%: 53.1
yds: 1297
TD: 10
INT: 6
rate: 76.5

Also:

23 rushes, 112 yards (4.89 ypc) -- know this isn't a primary stat and he's no Mike Vick, but it does give another dimension to the numbers. Note that last year Brunell had 42 rushes for 111 yards (2.64 ypc)

Projected to a full season, Jason's numbers would look like this:

ATT: 472
CMP: 251
PCT: 53.1%
YDS: 2964
TD: 22.8
INT: 13.7
(don't have a good rating calculator handy, but I assume it would remain consistent)
RSH: 52
YDS: 256

This puts him the Grossman-Rivers-McNair-Losman tier with regards to passing stats (though his % complete is down in Bruce Gradkowski territory). His rushing numbers would be on par with an Aaron Brooks or David Garrard. Again, not Vick-like (or even McNabb-like) numbers, but not a statue in the pocket either.

Also, just for the sake of grading his progression, here is his QB rating each week (number in parentheses is ranking of that team's pass defense)

Wk 11 vs Tampa: 92.3 (19)
Wk 12 vs Carolina: 74.2 (5)
Wk 13 vs Atlanta: 52.2 (26)
Wk 14 vs Philly: 57.9 (10)
Wk 15 vs New Orleans: 83.0 (3)
Wk 16 vs St. Louis: 82.2 (8)
Wk 17 vs Giants: 96.2 (28)

I gave him a B+ (which wasn't an option). He's making the mistakes I would expect him to (like not sliding - man, that was scary), and he is showing flashes of greatness (TD pass to Moss a couple weeks back). All this with minimal first team practice. My expectations next season, however, are going to be through the roof compared to this season.

As of his quaterback play in general I would have to give Campbell a "C-" his play last night brought his grade up but as far as potential I would give him an "B" to an "B+"

Well with all other things considered, I'd give him a B. I think his scrambling ability to just buy some extra time and pick up some short first downs is a great asset to this team. He has some timing issues to work on, and become a little smarter, but I couldn't be happier with what I have seen from him thusfar. I thought he played very very well and I'm excited to see him next year.

Also, just for the sake of grading his progression, here is his QB rating each week (number in parentheses is ranking of that team's pass defense)

Wk 11 vs Tampa: 92.3 (19)
Wk 12 vs Carolina: 74.2 (5)
Wk 13 vs Atlanta: 52.2 (26)
Wk 14 vs Philly: 57.9 (10)
Wk 15 vs New Orleans: 83.0 (3)
Wk 16 vs St. Louis: 82.2 (8)
Wk 17 vs Giants: 96.2 (28)

Here's more comparisons of current NFL QB's in their first 7 games as the starter:

Chad Pennington ('02) First 7 Games as starter
Wk 5 vs KC: 108.3
Wk 6 vs Minnesota: 124.7
Wk 7 vs Cleveland: 101.9
Wk 8 vs San Diego: 102.6
Wk 9 vs Miami: 80.3
Wk 10 vs Detroit: 126.9
Wk 11 vs Buffalo: 99.0

Season Stats: 275/399 (68.9%) - 3120yd - 22TD - 6 INT - 104.2 rating

Carson Palmer ('04) First 7 Games as starter
Wk 1 vs Jets: 105.2
Wk 2 vs Miami: 53.5
Wk 3 vs Ravens: 43.4
Wk 4 vs Steelers: 52.1
Wk 5 vs Browns: 63.2
Wk 6 vs Denver: 85.0
Wk 7 vs Titans: 65.4

Season Stats: 263/432 (60.9%) - 2897yd - 18TD - 18 INT - 77.3 rating

Matt Leinart ('06) First 7 Games as starter
Wk 5 vs KC: 91.7
Wk 6 vs Chicago: 88.6
Wk 7 vs Oakland: 36.3
Wk 8 vs Green Bay: 51.7
Wk 9 vs Dallas: 47.7
Wk 10 vs Detroit: 101.7
Wk 11 vs Minnesota: 76.0

Season Stats: 214/377 (56.8%) - 2547yd - 11TD - 12 INT - 74.0 rating

There are plenty of other young QB's you can dig up who had pretty bad first years (I posted a comparison of Jason's first season to Peyton's first season a while back), and went on to become really outstanding. Jason's QB rating through his first 7 games is pretty good, IMO -- smack in the middle of Leinart/Palmer territory, and for my money, I'm extremely happy with that.

I know a lot of guys here are saying they have astronomical expectations for the kid next year, and I think we all want to have those, but I don't think it's that uncommon for a good QB to take an extra year to develop fully. I just hope when that happens, Jason is still wearing burgundy and gold.