Quote:
Originally Posted by wilsowilso
Hey BHA I'm not sold on JC myself, but I certainly see a ton of good stuff that he does.
I want your analysis on what you like as a scout about JC. I'm serious. Tell us what he does well.
Don't give me some two sentence garbage because I know you like to go into detail.
What does JC do well in your opinion?
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JC has alot of great qualities ON the field, but when you asked me that question, the first thing that came to my mind what the guy he is OFF the field. The recent Cutler fiasco is a perfect example of character and class. Yes, the NFL is a business, and players get traded all the time - its a fact of life. But Quarterbacks are different. They deserve extra "respect" by the FO and Campbell had ever right to be pissed:
4 years ago we traded to get him to be our QB of the future. Then we sit him on the bench far too long when the guy in front of him was playing like doo-doo, weve made him learn 3 systems in 4 years and when he's finally been in a system two years in a row - a system he's perfect for - the HC retires, we fire the OC, and bring in a new coach, a new system, one that exposes his flaws and doesnt take advantage of his strengths (which i will discuss in a minute). Zorn specifically tells Snyder, Cerrato, the media, and Campbell that it will take AT LEAST 2-3 years for him to adapt to the system (as it took Matt Hassleback). Campbell has to start from scratch, but atleast its made abundantly clear, that he's not EXPECTED to be great in the system right away. Campbell accepts all of this, works his butt off, does everything asked of him, plays extremely effecient all year, despite a line that started a justin Geisinger at LT at one point, and gets no thanks for it. After only one pretty good year in a system management knows he needs atleast 2-3 years in, they refuses to commit to him and then tries to trade for a whiny diabetic with an alcohol problem behind his back. This team has done nothing but screw him over in one way or another at every turn. If I were Campbell, i'd want the hell out of Washington as soon as I could. What does Campbell do? He goes to work. He says nothing bad about this team publically, or to any friends that might be inclined to leak something to the media. He's handled everything with an incredible amount of intelligence, dignity and class, and i have immense respect in Campbell for that.
Now on to Campbells ON-field Strengths:
1. He's got a HUGE arm and deadly accurate deep ball. Unfortunately for a number of reasons (some of them his own and some of them outside of his control), its NEVER been taken advantage of in DC.
2. His size (duh)
3. He is willing to learn and learns very quickly.
4. He's excellent when he has an o-line that can consistently protect him while he makes a 5-7step drop.
5. He's very quick to escape blitzers and then run for big yards when his receivers arent open. I'm sure his coaches generally want him to only do this as a last resort, but it really is one of his biggest assets. Call more designed running plays and defenders will stay up closer and open things up more in the passing game.
6. He sells play action very well.
7. He's very careful with the ball, but i think he's almost too careful. Alot of this is overcompensation from when he was in college and threw it up to often. Alot of it is not being comfortable in a system and being too afraid to make a mistake, knowing what a short leash he is on. Alot of it is not trusting that his dwarf receviers will win in a fight for the ball.
8. He's showed steady improvement in a number of areas each year in the NFL. (The one i'm most impressed with is not fumbling the ball - id rather him throw 2 INTs 40 yards down the field than take one fumble behind the LOS.)
But steady improvement isnt enough. IMO, Campbells only chance to keep his job here or win one somewhere else is to say
"screw it" and start taking some chances. If he does this (and gets a some help from his receivers), he'll stop making "steady improvement" and take the giant leap he needs to propel him to the next level. At this point, Campbell doesnt have anything to lose. If he doesnt have a GREAT year, he'll never get another starting shot unless the starting QB of whatever team he's on gets hurt.
If Campbell had been drafted by almost any other team, he'd be someones franchise QB and have signed a lucrative multi-year extension by now. He'd be someones franchise QB, and he'd be set for life. Instead, at best (due to circumstances largely out of his control) he's got a 50/50 chance right now of being a career clipboard holder. Through constant change and stupid front office and head coaching moves, the Redskins have taken a player with enormous potential and completely screwed him up. If Campbell somehow manages to succeed this year, i hope he refuses to sign an extension with the skins unless he gets a 6+year contract and the skins extend Zorn as well.