Samuels: Campbell has 6-7 games to prove himself (radio quote)

[firstdown]

Well last year he looked great after 6 to 7 games.

[MTK]

Does JC hold the ball too long at times, sure. But the OL was clearly the primary problem down the stretch last year.

[Bill B]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Does JC hold the ball too long at times, sure. But the OL was clearly the primary problem down the stretch last year.

This is spot on. I would add also that in the second half of the year the running game kind of came to a halt. Many would probably agree as well that part of the problem with the running game is when you can only effectively run to one side most defense in the NFL will be able to stop you after a while and studying tape. I would agree that if the offensive line gives Campbell time to throw it will only make him more effective, but I would also add that if the offensive line actually allows the team to run to the other side more effectively than it will make us that much more difficult to defend - if we don't teams will simply stack the side we do run to and our offense will be average.

[GTripp0012]

One thing I can do with the data I have is look only at the distance of completed pass, without the YAC. Following are Campbells longest air pass attempts--any pass that traveled 30 yards in the air or further--and the weeks they occurred in, who it was thrown at, and whether they were complete, incomplete. or intercepted.

1. 59 yards, incomplete, week one, intended for S. Moss
2. 37 yards, incomplete, week one, intended for J. Thrash
3. 32 yards, incomplete, week one, intended for S. Moss
4. 45 yards, incomplete, week two, intended for S. Moss
5. 51 yards, complete (TD), week two, S. Moss
6. 32 yards, incomplete, week three, intended for D. Thomas
7. 33 yards, incomplete, week three, intended for S. Moss
8. 33 yards, complete (TD), week three, D. Thomas (play nullified by personal foul)
9. 44 yards, complete, week four, S. Moss
10. 30 yards, illegal contact foul, week five, intended for J. Thrash
11. 37 yards, incomplete, week six, intended for A. Randle El
12. 46 yards, incomplete, week six, intended for S. Moss (pass dropped)
13. 30 yards, incomplete, week nine, intended for S. Moss
14. 37 yards, incomplete, week nine, intended for D. Thomas
15. 50 yards, incomplete, week eleven, intended for S. Moss
16. 38 yards, incomplete, week twelve, intended for S. Moss (pass dropped)
17. 32 yards, incomplete, week twelve, intended for M. Kelly
18. 55 yards, incomplete, week twelve, intended for J. Thrash
19. 38 yards, intercepted, week thirteen, intended for A. Randle El (QB hit on release)
20. 36 yards, incomplete, week fourteen, intended for S. Moss
21. 63 yards, incomplete, week fourteen, intended for S. Moss (pass marked 'thrown away')
22. 43 yards, incomplete, week sixteen, intended for S. Moss
23. 43 yards, incomplete, week seventeen, intended for A. Randle El

First half: 11 bomb attempts, 3 completions + an illegal contact penalty (league average numbers)
Second half: 11 bomb attempts, 0 completions, no penalties drawn (waste of offensive plays)

Zorn called deep passes at the same if not a more frequent rate in the second half, we just didn't complete any.

[GTripp0012]

We actually didn't have a single good result after the first Eagles game, which is when our offense actually dropped off the table. However, the Santana Moss TD against the Lions traveled 28 yards in the air, and just missed this analysis (though, against the Lions defense, anything is possible).