Not enough protection for Campbell along with Campbell's inexperience=offensive woes

[hooskins]

This has been mentioned in several threads across the board, but I thought it was important to organize the thoughts. I feel that the offense struggled to be consistent because of two main things.
1-
After the first quarter it seems that the Falcons figured out how to stop our offense, pressure JC. After a while they figured out how to stuff the run, and forced us into passing downs. It seemed like on every passing play, especially 3rd and longs, they brought the house, and JC looked like a deer in the headlights.

Not adjusting to this was Saunders biggest mistake IMO. He should have changed things so that JC would have more protection when passing, especially on third downs.

He also ran play action way too much, and JC was getting hammer right after he faked the handoff. I understand why he did that, seeing that we were running all over them. But after a couple failed PA passes, he should have tried to straight pass to give Campbell more time. Of course this isn't all his fault, because Campbell is a young QB, and even he has admitted it takes him a while to make his reads. Either way, Saunders should have adjusted based on Campbell's skill level.

2-
It seems like everyone is ready to blame Gibbs/Saunders when Campbell didn't have a great game. Of course we shouldn't expect him to be amazing, but that doesn't mean we absolve him of all blame. He had three basic errors.

a)His selection of passes were very predictable, and almost Brunell-like. He went Moss nine times I think, going 7-9. While his percentage with other recievers was quite low. Cooley did drop a few, so that is not Campbell's fault, but other passes were simply bad. They were off target, low, etc. Some of this is due to pressure but some are just a young QB's errors. He threw to a double covered Moss once, when he wasn't under pressure.

b)Campbell took too many steps back, instead of releasing quickly. This is a combination of the playcalling and Campbell being uncomfortable. Saunders should have told him to do quick three step drops, but at the same time if he isn't yet comfortable doing so, how can Saunders force him to? I think he is taking 7 step drops because he is still young, and he feels he needs time and space to read the D. 2-3 step passes may be a bit too quick for him.

c)The windup. Yes I said it. He takes a bit too long to release the throw. I expect this to be changed in the offseason, and I don't expect or want it to be fixed now. JC is just throwing how he feels is best. Nevertheless, the extra half second it takes him to windup can easily be the difference between a TD and a sack.

[hooskins]

Thoughts?

[Luxorreb]

well said hooskins. I was at the game and noticed his long drops every time he passed the ball. And by the end of the game the defense was cluing on that.

[MTK]

The lack of good protection is what was most obvious to me. Too often he had guys running at him totally unblocked. That's a tough task for any QB let alone an inexperienced one.

[irish]

Maybe I missed it but why wont the coaches let JC run out of a shotgun? It would give him more time to read the D and not have to worry about dropping back. Its these little things this coaching staff just does not do that makes me wonder about them.

[The Zimmermans]

Originally Posted by Luxorreb

well said hooskins. I was at the game and noticed his long drops every time he passed the ball. And by the end of the game the defense was cluing on that.

haha yeah, it's almost like we need a combination of brunell and campbell, cause now campbell is struggling on the short quick throws that brunell made so effortlessly. JK, but seriously, we only threw that slant rout once, we needed to utilize that on third down when they were sending all their linebackers.

[hooskins]

Another point that most people here seem to miss is that Betts and Sellers seem to whiff their blocks when they are suppose to protect JC. I think JC got pressured even more because Portis was a great blocker, much better than Betts.

The Redskins are nothing without Portis. I still can't believe people want him out of here.

[hooskins]

Originally Posted by irish

Maybe I missed it but why wont the coaches let JC run out of a shotgun? It would give him more time to read the D and not have to worry about dropping back. Its these little things this coaching staff just does not do that makes me wonder about them.

Well I think they wanted to keep the D honest, and make them expect run. This way they could pass more effectively, but they should have thrown that plan out by the forth quarter.

[VTSkins897]

Agreed.

Too many offensive woes and not enough offensive WHOAS!

[JGisLordOfTheRings]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

The lack of good protection is what was most obvious to me. Too often he had guys running at him totally unblocked. That's a tough task for any QB let alone an inexperienced one.

AMEN! What's the point in wanting your QB to do well and pass well if you aren't going to try and protect him? Lets face it. We miss Portis. Betts is good, dont get me wrong, he had a great GAME. He doesnt block as well as Portis does and that hurts. Just please guys, give JC a little time. He's young and getting a little wiser I think, even though its hard to say that after the 1st Int he threw. Regardless, protect JC, end of story.

[dmek25]

campbells drops in the pocket are what he has practiced. the only difference is the line isnt blocking. im ready to go back to max protection and 2 wide receiver routes

[jsarno]

Originally Posted by hooskins

b)Campbell took too many steps back, instead of releasing quickly. This is a combination of the playcalling and Campbell being uncomfortable. Saunders should have told him to do quick three step drops, but at the same time if he isn't yet comfortable doing so, how can Saunders force him to? I think he is taking 7 step drops because he is still young, and he feels he needs time and space to read the D. 2-3 step passes may be a bit too quick for him.

c)The windup. Yes I said it. He takes a bit too long to release the throw. I expect this to be changed in the offseason, and I don't expect or want it to be fixed now. JC is just throwing how he feels is best. Nevertheless, the extra half second it takes him to windup can easily be the difference between a TD and a sack.

Campbell seems to be in slow motion on his delivery. He has great velocity, but man that ball takes forever to get out. I think we will need to live with it. It's hard to break down a QB's mechanics and rebuild.

Campbell had some time on plays and missed. It's no big deal, it's to be expected. Let's not throw the OL under the bus. They weren't that bad. Campbell showed some sparks that have been missing. I think he'll be good next year when has the rest of this season to learn, and all the offseason to learn the books and take the snaps under center during practice / preseason. Campbell has the intangibles that we've been looking for. Just be patient guys. The best way to look at it is "our season is done", as soon as we all come to grips with that, the better we can see what we need and who is showing sparks of greatness. When we lost our 7th game, I had the mental mindset that the season was over. It's easier to see the team for what they are. Beleive it or not, we're not that far away from being a superbowl caliber team. Time and a couple key free agents will be the answer. CB and Kicker should be our area of focus for the free agents, then get a quality draft. The rest will come together. We were too optimistic to beleive that we could succeed with a new offensive system and a lot of injuries on the defensive side of the ball and no depth.

[hooskins]

Originally Posted by JGisLordOfTheRings

AMEN! What's the point in wanting your QB to do well and pass well if you aren't going to try and protect him? Lets face it. We miss Portis. Betts is good, dont get me wrong, he had a great GAME. He doesnt block as well as Portis does and that hurts. Just please guys, give JC a little time. He's young and getting a little wiser I think, even though its hard to say that after the 1st Int he threw. Regardless, protect JC, end of story.

I don't think people are done with Campbell lol. He is the future and we know he has potential. But that doesn't mean you baby him and not point out his flaws.

[Longtimefan]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

The lack of good protection is what was most obvious to me. Too often he had guys running at him totally unblocked. That's a tough task for any QB let alone an inexperienced one.

That's where we miss Portis in the backfield, and Betts shows his liability, a couple of plays in Sunday's game is an example of what I'm talking about.

[Longtimefan]

Originally Posted by hooskins

Thoughts?

The amount of steps the QB takes in his drop is predicated on the design of the play. Some plays call for a three step drop, and others may call for anything from a five to seven step drop. However many steps the play calls for, you must have protection beyond a couple seconds. Jason Campbell got in trouble a couple times Sunday because the backs in the backfield were not efficient at picking up the blitz. There's no way you can throw it if you don't have time, and by Jason being young, he panicked, tried to make something happen, and wound up making a costly mistake.