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Breaking Down Jason Campbell
Published: May 29, 2009
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If I had the chance to conduct a feature interview with any player on the Washington Redskins, I would choose starting quarterback Jason Campbell. To prepare for it, I would research his college days at Auburn, speak to his family and friends, and consult with his current teammates and coaches.
But I would also seek the counsel of a very good psychologist.
Entering his fifth NFL season and third as a starter, Campbell is young, talented and mature. In press conferences, he says all the right things and on the field, he seems to have the respect of those around him.
But despite all of his potential, he has not earned the trust of a majority of fans or the confidence of those who run the team.
Uncertainty within the organization became apparent before this year’s draft, when the Redskins made a play for Denver quarterback Jay Cutler. Cutler was eventually traded to the Chicago Bears, but Campbell got the message loud and clear.
Despite his eagerness to develop into a franchise quarterback, the Redskins are too impatient to wait. Despite his willingness to learn under head coach and former quarterback Jim Zorn, his results have not been good enough.
And although Campbell has shown the ability to learn three offensive systems since arriving in Washington, it is assumed that he is not as intelligent as some other quarterbacks in the league.
These opinions may prove to be false, but they certainly can have a detrimental effect on self-confidence and pride. Campbell may still be the starter in Washington. But how long will it take before he gets the hook?
Coach Zorn continues to speak highly of Campbell, but he also answers to owner Daniel Snyder, who made an uncomfortable situation worse, in the week leading up to the draft.
At that time, the Redskins revealed an interest in moving up in the first round to choose USC quarterback Mark Sanchez. Through his agent, Campbell responded by saying that he would request a trade to another team, if the Redskins got their wish.
Instead, Sanchez became a Jet, when New York traded up to land him and Campbell remained in Washington.
In my interview, I would attempt to examine the current psyche of Campbell, but I would do so cautiously.
Now 27, he has actually played in seven different offensive systems since his freshman year of college. That never-ending learning curve would force lesser athletes to quit. But Campbell is resilient. Instead, he has welcomed the challenges that he has faced and is determined to learn from them.
In a pair of recent interviews with the Washington Post, Campbell vowed to take a more commanding role in this year’s offense, as he looks forward to progressing in a system that will be familiar to him in 2009.
“We understand that it was the first year in a new [West Coast] offense,” said Campbell. “Now the guys are excited about the opportunity we have coming back, with everybody knowing what to do in the offense.”
Campbell also sounded re-energized in his quest to impress Snyder and a skeptical fan base. “I’m very positive about what I’ve done and what I can do better,” he said. “I’ve got to stay positive. I’m not going to let [criticism] break me, or even define me.”
My other questions would go something like this: “What qualities do you possess and what steps have you taken to be a successful quarterback in the NFL?” “How will the roles of those around you increase your chances of winning this year?”
“How would you describe your relationships with coach Zorn and Mr. Snyder?” “Do you think that Jay Cutler was treated unfairly in Denver and how did your situation compare to his?”
And finally, “What do you believe it will take to silence your critics?”
The answers to these questions will reveal a lot about Jason Campbell, as a person and as an athlete. But no matter how he responds, he will have to back it up when training camp begins in July.
Throughout his brief career, Campbell has shown flashes of brilliance, but he has also been inconsistent. Last year, he tossed six touchdowns in his first four games and had no interceptions during a 6-2 Redskins start. But he floundered in the season’s second half and so did Washington.
Campbell averaged 186 yards in the final eight games, threw six interceptions and added just five touchdowns, as the Redskins finished 8-8 and out of the playoffs.
Across the Internet and on sports radio, fans questioned his ability and his leadership skills. And Snyder must have been listening. Was the owner’s pursuit of a new quarterback a creative ploy to light a fire under the strong-armed Campbell? Or did it alienate the most important player on the team?
Campbell’s performance next season should provide the answers, but with free agency looming, his future as a starter anywhere in the NFL will be on the line.
