Om Field: Review - Six Campbell Pass Plays
 

[B]Review: Six Jason Campbell Pass Plays[/B]
[I]August 15, 2009[/I]


A lot of people seem to think there was a football game played at M&T Bank Stadium Thursday night. I’m not one of them.

Don’t worry. I’m not going to go on about NFL teams approaching preseason games so differently, and using them for such different purposes, that projecting any regular-season meaning onto them—final score or otherwise—is a straight waste of time.

And I won’t get into how these preseason affairs are glorified scrimmages at best, and at worst, slickly packaged, almost criminally overpriced hype passed off as “games” to a football-starved public.

Not today. Today I’m going to parse the only thing I had any real interest in (Brian Orakpo and no injuries notwithstanding) ... Redskins QB Jason Campbell and the offensive line’s performance on passing plays.

There were six. Here’s how I saw them:

[SIZE=3][B]First Possession[/B][/SIZE]

[B]1st-10, WAS 15.[/B] Ravens put four on the LOS. Redskins OL holds firm—no penetration. Campbell takes a 3-step drop, looks far right at Devin Thomas on a slant, short middle at Fred Davis, short middle left at Chris Cooley, then finally to Ladell Betts in the left flat. Four options. The OL is doing its job. Campbell might have chosen to go to Cooley at the first down marker (with a LB about a yard off left shoulder), but he chooses Betts instead, alone in the left flat with blockers. Campbell’s throw is on target as he leads Betts up field for 11 yards (-2 catch, 13 RAC).

[I]Campbell and OL both solid.[/I]


[B]2nd-9, WAS 27.[/B] Ravens put four on the LOS. Redskins OL holds firm—no penetration. Campbell takes a 5-step drop (play-action fake to Betts), then looks right side toward Thomas & Cooley ...

[I][URL="http://www.theomfield.com/2009/08/quick-review-six-campbell-pass-plays.html"][B]CLICK HERE[/B][/URL] to read more[/I]

Re: Om Field: Review - Six Campbell Pass Plays
 

[quote=-Om-;576180][B]Review: Six Jason Campbell Pass Plays[/B]
[I]August 15, 2009[/I]


A lot of people seem to think there was a football game played at M&T Bank Stadium Thursday night. I’m not one of them.

Don’t worry. I’m not going to go on about NFL teams approaching preseason games so differently, and using them for such different purposes, that projecting any regular-season meaning onto them—final score or otherwise—is a straight waste of time.

And I won’t get into how these preseason affairs are glorified scrimmages at best, and at worst, slickly packaged, almost criminally overpriced hype passed off as “games” to a football-starved public.

Not today. Today I’m going to parse the only thing I had any real interest in (Brian Orakpo and no injuries notwithstanding) ... Redskins QB Jason Campbell and the offensive line’s performance on passing plays.

There were six. Here’s how I saw them:

[SIZE=3][B]First Possession[/B][/SIZE]

[B]1st-10, WAS 15.[/B] Ravens put four on the LOS. Redskins OL holds firm—no penetration. Campbell takes a 3-step drop, looks far right at Devin Thomas on a slant, short middle at Fred Davis, short middle left at Chris Cooley, then finally to Ladell Betts in the left flat. Four options. The OL is doing its job. Campbell might have chosen to go to Cooley at the first down marker (with a LB about a yard off left shoulder), but he chooses Betts instead, alone in the left flat with blockers. Campbell’s throw is on target as he leads Betts up field for 11 yards (-2 catch, 13 RAC).

[I]Campbell and OL both solid.[/I]


[B]2nd-9, WAS 27.[/B] Ravens put four on the LOS. Redskins OL holds firm—no penetration. Campbell takes a 5-step drop (play-action fake to Betts), then looks right side toward Thomas & Cooley ...

[I][URL="http://www.theomfield.com/2009/08/quick-review-six-campbell-pass-plays.html"][B]CLICK HERE[/B][/URL] to read more[/I][/quote]

Good one. I feel a little better now.

Re: Om Field: Review - Six Campbell Pass Plays
 

[quote=-Om-;576180][B]Review: Six Jason Campbell Pass Plays[/B]
[I]August 15, 2009[/I]

1st-10, WAS 24. Ravens put four on the LOS. The OL holds—no penetration. Campbell takes a 7-step drop (play-action to Betts). He steps and throws in rhythm to his first option, Randle El, in the intermediate middle, for 14 yards (14 catch, 0 RAC). Campbell had Cooley available in the right flat at the LOS with a 5-yard cushion to run, but elected to go with the deeper option. The pass was a little low, forcing a good to-ground catch by ARE, but the ball was on time and on target, covering 23 yards without ever getting more than 3 off the ground. The man has an arm.

Campbell and OL … solid.
[/quote]

On this play, Devin Thomas was streaking down the far sideline in single coverage. IMO, Campbell needs to find these match-ups more often instead of settling for the safe 5-10 yard pass. Campbell could and should have aired it out to Thomas, at least giving him a chance to make a big play. None of the Ravens safeties were even in the vicinity of DT. It could have even gone for a score, but we'll never know. Campbell, not solid.

Re: Om Field: Review - Six Campbell Pass Plays
 

Good work, Om. Pretty much spot on.

That Ravens zone blitz that ended the first drive had me fooled. I thought, initally, that I had seen a six man blitz, On future review, it's the same 4 man zone blitz the Redskins killed last year.

The offensive line did a pretty good job of picking it up, and I attribute the pressure on Campbell to a very veteran move by Ray Lewis. Rabach was beat off the snap, but to his credit, was able to recover and ride his guy past Campbell with no help from Betts, allowing Betts to release into the flat. With Samuels taking the RE out of the play, Dockery got the initial punch on Ray Lewis. But instead of trying to beat Dockery, Lewis just sort of waited (almost like he was waiting for Betts to leave), and as Rabach forced Campbell to step up, it gave Lewis a clean path to the QB.

This seems pretty unavoidable in the future. Campbell had enough time to get through his entire progression, which means the offensive line didn't screw up, but ultimately the throw was impossible to make while being drilled.

I guess that's why the Ravens are so good defensively year after year.

Re: Om Field: Review - Six Campbell Pass Plays
 

[quote=44Deezel;576208]On this play, Devin Thomas was streaking down the far sideline in single coverage. IMO, Campbell needs to find these match-ups more often instead of settling for the safe 5-10 yard pass. Campbell could and should have aired it out to Thomas, at least giving him a chance to make a big play. None of the Ravens safeties were even in the vicinity of DT. It could have even gone for a score, but we'll never know. Campbell, not solid.[/quote]Because the 15% chance at the 40-yd completion is obviously more valuable than the actual 13 yard completion on first down. Epic fail.

Re: Om Field: Review - Six Campbell Pass Plays
 

The other issue on that Devin Thomas overthrown ball is that, Campbell only seems to overthrow that pass when DT is running it. Not to argue that Thomas screwed up on that specific play, because nothing necessarily suggests that's true, but going back to last year Thomas is the only receiver who consistently turns the 5-yard hitch into a wasted play.

We can put it on Campbell for not giving Devin Thomas more chances, but then we're ignoring the elephant in the room.

Re: Om Field: Review - Six Campbell Pass Plays
 

[quote=GTripp0012;576219]Because the 15% chance at the 40-yd completion is obviously more valuable than the actual 13 yard completion on first down. Epic fail.[/quote]

If they can only complete a pass in single coverage 15% of the time, they're in trouble. It's a pretty routine play for a lot of teams. A completion or a pass interference call on a 20-40 yard pass attempt is a better outcome than a pass in the dirt to a WR who has 4 defenders around him. If not in a meaningless pre-season game, when?

Re: Om Field: Review - Six Campbell Pass Plays
 

[quote=44Deezel;576229]If they can only complete a pass in single coverage 15% of the time, they're in trouble. It's a pretty routine play for a lot of teams. A completion or a pass interference call on a 20-40 yard pass attempt is a better outcome than a pass in the dirt to a WR who has 4 defenders around him. If not in a meaningless pre-season game, when?[/quote]Never. That's when.

Devin Thomas in single coverage is not a mismatch right now. It may never be a mismatch. I agree that you want to go vertical with a guy who isn't Moss every now and then, and probably at a 2:1 ratio (Moss to everyone else), but going deep for the sake of going deep is how offenses turn the ball over and get into second and ten situations.

There certainly will be shots taken this year, after a 13 yard completion is probably not the best time to complain.

Re: Om Field: Review - Six Campbell Pass Plays
 

[quote=GTripp0012;576223]The other issue on that Devin Thomas overthrown ball is that, Campbell only seems to overthrow that pass when DT is running it. Not to argue that Thomas screwed up on that specific play, because nothing necessarily suggests that's true, but going back to last year Thomas is the only receiver who consistently turns the 5-yard hitch into a wasted play.

We can put it on Campbell for not giving Devin Thomas more chances, but then we're ignoring the elephant in the room.[/quote]

Tripp I watched Mark Sanchez do something that I've never seen JC do in 4 years of being a pro. Sanchez looked one way, pumped faked to the left and got the safety to move, then threw a perfect bomb down the right sideline for a huge gain. I know JC only got a few possesions but for an offense that can't score points, don't you think it's time to start taking more chances downfield? So why not start in a meaningless pre season game? Every first team offense I watched did it. Why can't we? Why did we drafted Malcom Kelly? To run pass patterns short of the 1st down marker? Let the guy run down field and try and jump over someone or get a PI?

Re: Om Field: Review - Six Campbell Pass Plays
 

[quote=skinsfan69;576265]Tripp I watched Mark Sanchez do something that I've never seen JC do in 4 years of being a pro. Sanchez looked one way, pumped faked to the left and got the safety to move, then threw a perfect bomb down the right sideline for a huge gain. I know JC only got a few possesions but for an offense that can't score points, don't you think it's time to start taking more chances downfield? So why not start in a meaningless pre season game? Every first team offense I watched did it. Why can't we? Why did we drafted Malcom Kelly? To run pass patterns short of the 1st down marker? Let the guy run down field and try and jump over someone or get a PI?[/quote]Because, who cares? I'm not getting the viatrol towards the offense, specifically. I don't understand why the preseason is an ideal time to start airing it out.

As for Sanchez, beatiful ball, but my god, let's not put him in the hall of fame yet. Jason Campbell did that exact same thing on his first regular season NFL pass, but so far Campbell's story is that he's had to deal with the likes of Brandon Lloyd and Devin Thomas to date.

We obviously need to see some improvement from the receivers, but no, I would not say that taking more chances downfield is a cure all decision or even a step in the right direction. It's not a thing that this offense is very good at, so I don't understand why anyone would think that moving out of our comfort zone more often is for the good of the offense.

Re: Om Field: Review - Six Campbell Pass Plays
 

[quote=44Deezel;576229]If they can only complete a pass in single coverage 15% of the time, they're in trouble. It's a pretty routine play for a lot of teams. A completion or a pass interference call on a 20-40 yard pass attempt is a better outcome than a pass in the dirt to a WR who has 4 defenders around him. If not in a meaningless pre-season game, when?[/quote]

A 40 yard pass is never routine. It is never a given. Besides, ARE was JC's first read. It is hard to criticize players for connecting for a first down on the first read. If you want to criticize Zorn for the play's design, that would be more appropriate.

Re: Om Field: Review - Six Campbell Pass Plays
 

[quote=GTripp0012;576223]The other issue on that Devin Thomas overthrown ball is that, Campbell only seems to overthrow that pass when DT is running it. Not to argue that Thomas screwed up on that specific play, because nothing necessarily suggests that's true, but going back to last year Thomas is the only receiver who consistently turns the 5-yard hitch into a wasted play.

We can put it on Campbell for not giving Devin Thomas more chances, but then we're ignoring the elephant in the room.[/quote]

I wondered about the same thing. I like DT more than you do but the boy seems to run poor routes or be in the wrong place too often.

Re: Om Field: Review - Six Campbell Pass Plays
 

[QUOTE=44Deezel;576208]On this play, Devin Thomas was streaking down the far sideline in single coverage. IMO, Campbell needs to find these match-ups more often instead of settling for the safe 5-10 yard pass. Campbell could and should have aired it out to Thomas, at least giving him a chance to make a big play. None of the Ravens safeties were even in the vicinity of DT. It could have even gone for a score, but we'll never know. Campbell, not solid.[/QUOTE

13 yards vs. possible big play, u take the 13 yards, but the major gripe here is the continous lack of attempts for the big play and I totally agree with that. Clinton Portis I love to death, but not a big play guy. Our recievers, Moss is big play guy but he gets doubled all the time. JC got the arm. We need to start throwing to the young guys down the field, we wont know there big play players unless we attempt it. This dink and dump crap is old, bottom line we got to get the ball down field a couple times a game.

Re: Om Field: Review - Six Campbell Pass Plays
 

Great write-up. After watching the NFL replay Friday, the game wasn't as bad as I thought (at least the first quarter or so). The first team did reasonably well facing a legendary defense. Our O-line was good (?!!), and JC completed several passes and moved the chains.

I'd love to see JC make that completion to Hagans. Otherwise, sure I'd like to see him throw downfield, but honestly I agree with GTripp and others -- a first down moves the chains. As long as he isn't throwing 6-7 yards when we need 10, like he used to do last year.

Sure, next several games -- let's air it up to DT or MK. As he gets more comfortable and trusts the young guys, he may start letting them win toss-ups in 1-on-1 coverage. But I'm not going to complain about a 13 yard completion for first down. That may have been one of the few things that went *right* all day..

Re: Om Field: Review - Six Campbell Pass Plays
 

[quote=GTripp0012;576230]Never. That's when.

Devin Thomas in single coverage is not a mismatch right now. It may never be a mismatch. I agree that you want to go vertical with a guy who isn't Moss every now and then, and probably at a 2:1 ratio (Moss to everyone else), but going deep for the sake of going deep is how offenses turn the ball over and get into second and ten situations.

There certainly will be shots taken this year, after a 13 yard completion is probably not the best time to complain.[/quote]

That's not why he didn't throw it. He didn't throw it, because he didn't see it. If we have wide outs that aren't going to get the ball thrown to them when they're in single coverage, because they can't be trusted, then why have them on the roster at all. I don't agree that Campbell was "solid" on that play, just because he completed the pass. Even the worst defenses in the league last year held our offense in check. It would be nice to see a little more aggressiveness from Campbell. Maybe we will in the regular season, but his play on Thursday was uninspiring. Troy Smith looked better.

Re: Om Field: Review - Six Campbell Pass Plays
 

[quote=skinsfan69;576265]Tripp I watched Mark Sanchez do something that I've never seen JC do in 4 years of being a pro. Sanchez looked one way, pumped faked to the left and got the safety to move, then threw a perfect bomb down the right sideline for a huge gain. I know JC only got a few possesions but for an offense that can't score points, don't you think it's time to start taking more chances downfield? So why not start in a meaningless pre season game? Every first team offense I watched did it. Why can't we? Why did we drafted Malcom Kelly? To run pass patterns short of the 1st down marker? Let the guy run down field and try and jump over someone or get a PI?[/quote]

I agree. And there's nothing wrong with wanting to see the first team offense take a few shots in Thursday's game, especially when they were there to be taken. It's not "vitriol" or hate. The offense was inept last year, so why not expect to see a little more aggressiveness from the first unit, especially with all the excuses about the O line, receivers, first season in the system, etc.

Re: Om Field: Review - Six Campbell Pass Plays
 

I think/hope we'll see this offense open up as we go along.

Re: Om Field: Review - Six Campbell Pass Plays
 

[quote=44Deezel;576290]That's not why he didn't throw it. He didn't throw it, because he didn't see it. If we have wide outs that aren't going to get the ball thrown to them when they're in single coverage, because they can't be trusted, then why have them on the roster at all. I don't agree that Campbell was "solid" on that play, just because he completed the pass. Even the worst defenses in the league last year held our offense in check. It would be nice to see a little more aggressiveness from Campbell. Maybe we will in the regular season, but his play on Thursday was uninspiring. Troy Smith looked better.[/quote]Well, now you are just positioning yourself as an authority on NFL offenses. So tell me, was DT running a go route, or was he running a clearout? Seems to me, if he's running a route that's in the progression, then Campbell has a chance to see him, if he's not in the progression, then he doesn't.

Also, as noted before, the play you are talking about was a pass we completed for 13 yards. The "if not now, then when" argument is stupid. How about, any other time? At the very least, stick to plays where the number one read wasn't open. Otherwise, it's just being pissy. You're arguing that the quarterback was not "solid" on a simple well executed play action pass that netted 13 yards and a first down. This ain't Madden, brotha.

Re: Om Field: Review - Six Campbell Pass Plays
 

I thought I heard JC say Hagans wasn't part of the progression on the pass play that was a little high to Hagans. I don't claim to be an expert on offense. Only on defense. :) Was Hagans running a clearout on that play? If so, you have to give it to JC for spotting Hagans. I thought it was a catchable pass by the way.

Re: Om Field: Review - Six Campbell Pass Plays
 

[quote=53Fan;576296]I thought I heard JC say Hagans wasn't part of the progression on the pass play that was a little high to Hagans. I don't claim to be an expert on offense. Only on defense. :) Was Hagans running a clearout on that play? If so, you have to give it to JC for spotting Hagans. I thought it was a catchable pass by the way.[/quote]Hagans was definitely not one of the first three places Campbell looked. But I would think if he was clearing out, he wouldn't have been where he was.

It might have been a sight adjustment on his part to just kind of stop at the sideline. I don't really know.

Re: Om Field: Review - Six Campbell Pass Plays
 

[quote=53Fan;576296]I thought I heard JC say Hagans wasn't part of the progression on the pass play that was a little high to Hagans. I don't claim to be an expert on offense. Only on defense. :) Was Hagans running a clearout on that play? If so, you have to give it to JC for spotting Hagans. I thought it was a catchable pass by the way.[/quote]

Good comment. Notice as well the important point: JC DID go downfield, Hagans just didn't catch it. You can't say that JC didn't take any shots downfield.

I would like to see the offense take more downfield shots, too, but it is really hard to critique the Ravens game in this light, especially in terms of the first team offense.

Re: Om Field: Review - Six Campbell Pass Plays
 

[quote=GTripp0012;576297]Hagans was definitely not one of the first three places Campbell looked. But I would think if he was clearing out, he wouldn't have been where he was.

It might have been a sight adjustment on his part to just kind of stop at the sideline. I don't really know.[/quote]

Fair enough. I also heard JC say they were just trying to get a rhythm going in their limited time in there and would get into going deeper later. It's obvious to me the coaching staff were looking at particular things they wanted to see and Zorn seems pleased with JC's performance.

Re: Om Field: Review - Six Campbell Pass Plays
 

Hagans wasn't even a read on that respective play and this offense's progressions is one that focuses on ball control, so that's why Thomas wasn't looked at. If your first progression is open, then you freaking take it.

Re: Om Field: Review - Six Campbell Pass Plays
 

[quote=53Fan;576303]Fair enough. I also heard JC say they were just trying to get a rhythm going in their limited time in there and would get into going deeper later. It's obvious to me the coaching staff were looking at particular things they wanted to see and Zorn seems pleased with JC's performance.[/quote]

I'm sorry but I'm getting sick and tired of this "get in a rhythm" nonsense. Where is the urgency? How about make some big plays and put some points on the damn board??? Freakin Mark Sanchez did it. I still can't believe that after all the off season OTA and mimi camp stuff they came out and ran the same stupid ass offense. I guess why I'm so mad is because I watched NE come out and they were not messing around. They have the best QB and WR in football and they meant business....they threw it downfield and scored and we threw passes short of the 1st down marker.

Re: Om Field: Review - Six Campbell Pass Plays
 

[quote=GTripp0012;576266]Because, who cares? I'm not getting the viatrol towards the offense, specifically. I don't understand why the preseason is an ideal time to start airing it out.

As for Sanchez, beatiful ball, but my god, let's not put him in the hall of fame yet. Jason Campbell did that exact same thing on his first regular season NFL pass, but so far Campbell's story is that he's had to deal with the likes of Brandon Lloyd and Devin Thomas to date.

We obviously need to see some improvement from the receivers, but no, I would not say that taking more chances downfield is a cure all decision or even a step in the right direction. [B]It's not a thing that this offense is very good at, [/B]so I don't understand why anyone would think that moving out of our comfort zone more often is for the good of the offense.[/quote]

But it's something we SHOULD BE good at. We've got the QB to do it and we've got two wr's that run 4.3's and a wr that's 6'4 and has good hands.

Re: Om Field: Review - Six Campbell Pass Plays
 

[quote=skinsfan69;576314]I'm sorry but I'm getting sick and tired of this "get in a rhythm" nonsense. Where is the urgency? How about make some big plays and put some points on the damn board??? Freakin Mark Sanchez did it. I still can't believe that after all the off season OTA and mimi camp stuff they came out and ran the same stupid ass offense. I guess why I'm so mad is because I watched NE come out and they were not messing around. They have the best QB and WR in football and they meant business....they threw it downfield and scored and we threw passes short of the 1st down marker.[/quote]

I share your pain. :) All I can say is different teams have different plans about what they want to see. Each team is unique. I want to see the long ball often. It's the only way to spread the defense and keep them from stacking the line. But, and I'm guessing here, there are probably some basic things Zorn wants to see with this team before he opens things up. I just think it's too early to get excited. Apparently he wants to get the basics down first and I can't blame him even though I'm chopping at the bit myself to see this offense in high gear.

Re: Om Field: Review - Six Campbell Pass Plays
 

[quote=44Deezel;576229]If they can only complete a pass in single coverage 15% of the time, they're in trouble. It's a pretty routine play for a lot of teams. A completion or a pass interference call on a 20-40 yard pass attempt is a better outcome than a pass in the dirt to a WR who has 4 defenders around him. If not in a meaningless pre-season game, when?[/quote]
You can tell that to McNabb and his 2-for-24 completion-to-attempt ratio for passes over 31 yards last year.

Re: Om Field: Review - Six Campbell Pass Plays
 

[quote=skinsfan69;576314]I'm sorry but I'm getting sick and tired of this "get in a rhythm" nonsense. Where is the urgency? How about make some big plays and put some points on the damn board??? Freakin Mark Sanchez did it. I still can't believe that after all the off season OTA and mimi camp stuff they came out and ran the same stupid ass offense. I guess why I'm so mad is because I watched NE come out and they were not messing around. They have the best QB and WR in football and they meant business....they threw it downfield and scored and we threw passes short of the 1st down marker.[/quote]I still have no idea what you are so pissed about, but this reminds me of a funny Rex Grossman mock article about throwing downfield every play.

Let's sign Grossman after the Texans cut him.

Re: Om Field: Review - Six Campbell Pass Plays
 

Not to argue over Campbell's/Zorn's/DT/everybody who may have possibly not been perfect, but isn't it a small comfort to everyone that the OL was good against the Ravens front D, I would say that was the best part of this whole article. BECAUSE, when the Oline was good last year we found ways to win. Hopefully this year when the OLine is good, we can find ways to win big. But I will take the win either way.

Re: Om Field: Review - Six Campbell Pass Plays
 

[quote=GTripp0012;576343]I still have no idea what you are so pissed about, but this reminds me of a funny Rex Grossman mock article about throwing downfield every play.

Let's sign Grossman after the Texans cut him.[/quote]

I'm just venting cause I saw two freakin rookies ( Stafford too) throw the damn ball over 20 yards and our 5th year starter either can't or won't. I'm over it til next week. lol.

Re: Om Field: Review - Six Campbell Pass Plays
 

[quote=skinsfan69;576364]I'm just venting cause I saw two freakin rookies ( Stafford too) throw the damn ball over 20 yards and our 5th year starter either can't or won't. I'm over it til next week. lol.[/quote]Fair enough. Don't sweat it. It's the preseason.

Re: Om Field: Review - Six Campbell Pass Plays
 

[quote=skinsfan69;576314]I'm sorry but I'm getting sick and tired of this "get in a rhythm" nonsense. Where is the urgency? How about make some big plays and put some points on the damn board??? Freakin Mark Sanchez did it. I still can't believe that after all the off season OTA and mimi camp stuff they came out and ran the same stupid ass offense. I guess why I'm so mad is because I watched NE come out and they were not messing around. They have the best QB and WR in football and they meant business....they threw it downfield and scored and we threw passes short of the 1st down marker.[/quote]

I'm not worried about the urgency thing since it's the preseason. But dating back to last season, it definitely feels like we're unwilling to try to attack opposing defenses. We've got very little working for us vertically. Once Santana gets on the field and we can throw ARE in the slot with Thomas or Kelly at #2, that should change. It better change.

I hear what you're saying about NE, but Moss is one of the two or three best WRs to ever play the game, and Brady is in the same league at QB. You're talking about two first-ballot HOF'ers, and they also played an entire half, not just two series.