Jason Campbell: Third Leading Rusher on Team

[12thMan]

I was checking Clinton Portis' stats YTD (629 yds), and happen to notice that JC is the team's third leading rusher behind Ladell Betts. Now 131 yds rushing isn't earth shattering by any means, and we could obviously attribute that stat to a number of things, both good and bad. But I think it also speaks to another aspect of Jason's game, that being , he's pretty darn good when running with the ball under his arm.

Quite frankly, I'd like to see a bootleg or two designed for him. This Sunday could very well be a game where Campbell rips off a few long runs.

[BleedBurgundy]

I'd like to see the same thing but like anything else, I reserve the right to change my opinion if he hurts his knee...

[70Chip]

I think they should try running the option read that is so popular at the college level now. You know, the shotgun fake handoff where the Qb takes off. Not as a staple but just once in a little while as a gadget.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by 70Chip

I think they should try running the option read that is so popular at the college level now. You know, the shotgun fake handoff where the Qb takes off. Not as a staple but just once in a little while as a gadget.

Options don't work in the pros. Too much speed at linebacker.

[70Chip]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

Options don't work in the pros. Too much speed at linebacker.

The play I'm thinking of is not the old triple option, but the designed run off of a play action, usually from shotgun. I think Campbell runs well enough to try something of a designed nature, especially in the red zone. Certainly, I've seen plays in Goalline where Campbell could have faked the handoff and walked in the endzone.

[SC Skins Fan]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

Options don't work in the pros. Too much speed at linebacker.

Tennessee and Atlanta (pre-dogfighting) run/ran the play pretty extensively. Not sure I'd put Campbell in the Young/Vick category just yet and I'd be pretty surprised if you see him running any read options (or designed runs of any kind) any time soon.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by 70Chip

I think they should try running the option read that is so popular at the college level now. You know, the shotgun fake handoff where the Qb takes off. Not as a staple but just once in a little while as a gadget.

The problem is that we can't really get that play blocked up with the guys we have up front. If we ever called that, we'd be banking on the fact that they would buy the handoff fake and give up backside contain.

It's worth a shot maybe once, but there's no way we could have consistent success with that play.

[70Chip]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

The problem is that we can't really get that play blocked up with the guys we have up front. If we ever called that, we'd be banking on the fact that they would buy the handoff fake and give up backside contain.

It's worth a shot maybe once, but there's no way we could have consistent success with that play.

As I said, I don't think it should be the bread and butter, but if our running game continues to improve, the likelihood of defenses losing contain increases. We've run enough of draws this year that it will be tough for the defense not to bite.

Another play that exploits poor discipline by the DE is the fake to Sellers with the quick weakside pitch to Portis on the edge. This worked well against Dallas last year. We've given it to Big Mike so much in the 2nd and 5 area that any defense that looks at film will be looking for the FB dive.

[saden1]

Option in the pros only works if the defense doesn't play with discipline...you have to catch the DE cheating and the LB playing soft zone otherwise you're QB is going to get killed every single time. Plus your QB has to be pretty damn fast to be effective at all.

The only time I'd let JC run the option is if we need 1 or 2 yard.

[70Chip]

Just so there's no confusion, this is the option read I'm talking about (and yes I know Campbell is not Vince Young and I understand the difference between college and pros etc.) I just think they could catch the defense sleeping once every three games or so:

[Schneed10]

I wouldn't design runs for the guy. When he has chosen to run, he has run well because he saw a wide open plot of grass right in front of him, where he can run for a bit and slip out of bounds, or slide. On a designed run, defenders will be there to attack him.

He's athletic and everything, but on a designed run that makes me very nervous, he doesn't quite have the athleticism to escape huge hits if defenders hone in on him. I'm perfectly content letting him look downfield for the pass, and take off running if the defense gives it to him.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

I wouldn't design runs for the guy. When he has chosen to run, he has run well because he saw a wide open plot of grass right in front of him, where he can run for a bit and slip out of bounds, or slide. On a designed run, defenders will be there to attack him.

He's athletic and everything, but on a designed run that makes me very nervous, he doesn't quite have the athleticism to escape huge hits if defenders hone in on him. I'm perfectly content letting him look downfield for the pass, and take off running if the defense gives it to him.

I can live with that, but I'm talking about making him Mike Vick either. Every now and then close to the goal line wouldn't be a bad idea though.

[offiss]

We need to design more plays off the roll out, which will open the field up for him a little more, which in turn will give him more of an option to run if nothing is open, to just run the guy wont last to long, the occasional naked bootleg wont hurt but it has to be the right time in the game to use it.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by offiss

We need to design more plays off the roll out, which will open the field up for him a little more, which in turn will give him more of an option to run if nothing is open, to just run the guy wont last to long, the occasional naked bootleg wont hurt but it has to be the right time in the game to use it.

I think you're on to what I'm getting at here. I'm not suggesting that we increase his rushing attempts, per se, but design a play or two, here and there, that take advantage of his ability to cover large chunks of ground. A naked bootleg would be nice.

[freddyg12]

Originally Posted by offiss

We need to design more plays off the roll out, which will open the field up for him a little more, which in turn will give him more of an option to run if nothing is open, to just run the guy wont last to long, the occasional naked bootleg wont hurt but it has to be the right time in the game to use it.

I've thought that for weeks too. Seems a good way to keep a d on its toes & gives the line a different way to block if they're getting beat straight up.