Campbell named Redskins starting QB (1 Viewer)

[redman]

Here's a video of Campbell's passing from the Tampa game. In some respects I'm actually more impressed in the re-viewing of this than I was in the live viewing. The second TD pass to Yoder in the back of the end zone in particular was simply outstanding. He showed in this game that he can make every throw he needs to.

You'll note there were a lot of 7-step drops. I think that was because the Bucs really couldn't get much pressure without blitzing given Simeon Rice's absence from the lineup. It will be interesting to see how he deals with the Panthers' imposing front four this weekend.

 

[pgreenfan]

Here's a video of Campbell's passing from the Tampa game. In some respects I'm actually more impressed in the re-viewing of this than I was in the live viewing. The second TD pass to Yoder in the back of the end zone in particular was simply outstanding. He showed in this game that he can make every throw he needs to.

You'll note there were a lot of 7-step drops. I think that was because the Bucs really couldn't get much pressure without blitzing given Simeon Rice's absence from the lineup. It will be interesting to see how he deals with the Panthers' imposing front four this weekend.

I watched the video just to see the 2nd td pass that you thought was outstanding. My thoughts after watching, he is being given everything underneath and the 2nd td pass was actually pretty ugly and dangerous really. He threw the ball behind the receiver and was bailed out by a nice adjustment.

 

[redman]

Here's a video of Campbell's passing from the Tampa game. In some respects I'm actually more impressed in the re-viewing of this than I was in the live viewing. The second TD pass to Yoder in the back of the end zone in particular was simply outstanding. He showed in this game that he can make every throw he needs to.

You'll note there were a lot of 7-step drops. I think that was because the Bucs really couldn't get much pressure without blitzing given Simeon Rice's absence from the lineup. It will be interesting to see how he deals with the Panthers' imposing front four this weekend.

I watched the video just to see the 2nd td pass that you thought was outstanding. My thoughts after watching, he is being given everything underneath and the 2nd td pass was actually pretty ugly and dangerous really. He threw the ball behind the receiver and was bailed out by a nice adjustment.

Wow, I totally disagree. He rolled out, bought time while reading the field and working through his progressions (we may safely assume that Todd Yoder was NOT the primary receiver), got some pressure in his face, and going to his right and slightly upfield fired a bullet into a very small window that allowed the receiver to adjust to it. This was a first class play and demonstrated all of the things you'd want from a QB: mobility, field awareness, arm strength, accuracy, knowledge of the offense. Basically, either Yoder was going to adjust and catch that pass, or nobody would. We see passes like this by Peyton Manning all the time where he throws behind a receiver because of where the defender is positioned, knowing that his receiver can more easily adjust to the throw than the defensive player can, and people (correctly) praise Manning for that. That's what happened there, which is why I'm so impressed.

 

[Yitbos69]

I like what I saw from Campbell. He has a live arm and can move when he feels the pass rush getting to him.

When Moss comes back I think he will be even better with a WR who get alot of RAC. Seeing how good he looks just makes me wonder why we did not see this kid sooner?

 

[redman]

Here's a very nice breakdown of Campbell's performance in Tampa by Ron Jaworski, as printed in the Washington Post; it also has some nice info on some of the Redskins' offensive problems:

To Analyze Campbell, 'Jaws' Goes Straight to Video

Former Quarterback Mostly Likes What He Sees After Film Session

By Howard Bryant

Washington Post Staff Writer

Friday, November 24, 2006; E01

MOUNT LAUREL, N.J. -- In the inner sanctum of NFL Films, former all-pro quarterback Ron Jaworski is performing video surgery on Jason Campbell, an intense battery of cuts, freeze-frames and rewinds designed to meticulously dissect the quarterback who now is the Washington Redskins' most important player.

Jaworski sits in front of a large television holding a laser pointer, reviewing the same game film used by all 32 NFL teams. For the next two hours, Jaworski, an analyst for ESPN and its "State Farm NFL Matchup," and NFL Films senior producer Greg Cosell, nephew of legendary broadcaster Howard Cosell, will deconstruct all 34 of Campbell's passes from Sunday's 20-17 loss to Tampa Bay, focusing on five key sequences. The session provides a rare glimpse into top-level evaluation and film study that is as illuminating for its exposure of the Redskins' flaws as a team as it is for its study of Campbell.

First and 10, Washington 26 13:21, First Quarter

On the Redskins' first play from scrimmage, Campbell fakes to Ladell Betts and throws 53 yards in the air to a streaking Brandon Lloyd; the ball drops through his hands. Jaworski shakes his head. On the first play of the game, Lloyd has left a big gain on the table, but Jaworski likes Campbell's poise.

"The good thing he does here is that he looks down the middle of the field and keeps the safety honest," Jaworski says. "A lot of young guys, if they're throwing the ball there, when the ball is snapped, they stare at him. . . . The term is, 'If the receiver beats the corner, the quarterback's got to beat the safety,' and he did that by keeping him in the center of the field."

The play is perfect, Jaworski says, but Lloyd has blown it.

First and 10, Washington 46 3:42, First Quarter

Play-action. Campbell throws to Betts for 14 yards. Checking down to a running back is the habit for which his predecessor, Mark Brunell, was vilified. But Jaworski loves it.

"Exact read, and a good, accurate throw. When I'm talking about quarterbacks, I'm not talking about a guy trying to go 8 for 8," Jaworski says. "I'm talking about what it's going to take to play at a championship level consistently. He makes this throw, and people say, 'Oh, nice throw.'

"To me, this is a great throw. He puts the ball on the outside hip, allows the back to turn up the field and get extra yards. I've seen this with quarterbacks and the ball is behind him. They have to stop. What should be a 10-yard gain becomes a one-yard gain because of the accuracy of the throw."

The coaches have discussed tweaking Campbell's throwing motion. Mechanically, quarterbacks are taught to begin their throwing motion at mid-chest; a big windup that starts under the belt is a red flag. Jaworski notices Campbell throwing consistently at about his belt or hip, which could cost his release critical milliseconds.

"I think he drops it a hair low here, but nothing I'd be overly concerned with," he says. "I played with Randall Cunningham for a few years, and Randall had a real big arc. . . . If you want to look at an elongated delivery, look at [Jacksonville's] Byron Leftwich. . . . This is not a major problem."

Cosell adds, "It's not like he drops it to his knees, like Leftwich."

First and 10, Tampa Bay 40 3:12, First Quarter

Trailing 3-0, associate head coach-offense Al Saunders goes for the home run.

"They're going to try for the big play here," Jaworski says. "This is a big-play design. Two-receiver route, eight blocking, and they're going to have it, too."

Campbell uses a play-action fake to Betts. Wide receiver James Thrash runs a square-out to the left, but tight end Chris Cooley is open deep in the right seam. Safety Jermaine Phillips blitzes. Center Casey Rabach slides the wrong way, allowing Phillips a clean shot, but Campbell spins away from the sack and hits Thrash for 15 yards and a first down.

For Jaworski, this is the play of the game. He loves Saunders's game plan, but says the pass protection, particularly tackles Jon Jansen and Chris Samuels, is preventing touchdown opportunities. Jansen, Jaworski says, is "getting pushed backwards more than I've ever seen him," while Cosell considers Samuels "a nice player, but not an anchor over there."

"You've seen two breakdowns in protection that have cost them," says Jaworski, the red laser zeroed on Rabach. "But that's a big-time play. That's a hell of play. You've got the blitz coming in clean, unblocked, off play-action. He turns back. That's really good. You see the arm strength. With all due respect to Mark, he doesn't make this play."

Third and Seven, Tampa Bay 22 1:44, First Quarter

The cornerbacks cut off the inside routes. The linebackers creep toward the line. Ronde Barber practically is standing over the nose of the ball. The look is completely different.

Tampa is in an all-out blitz, the first of the game.

"First zero coverage, total blitz. Now they're going to test him," Jaworski says of Campbell. "They're bringing everybody."

Slot receiver Antwaan Randle El sees it and looks at Campbell. He's the hot read. But Campbell freezes on the snap, drifting back five steps. It's over. Barber spins past Betts and gets the first hit. Defensive end Greg Spires finishes him off for the sack.

A yard off the line, Randle El is waiting for the football.

"That one is on the quarterback. The ball has to come out or he's going to get killed. On the third step, that ball has got to be out of his hand," Jaworski says. "It's not going to be pretty. Whatever you have do, jump in the air, but get him the football. And I'll tell you what, [Randle El] is one-on-one with Juran Bolden. I'll take him one-on-one in space any day. There's a good chance he could wheel back outside and score, and there goes your big-play opportunity. I think he panicked there."

The Redskins settle for a field goal.

First and 10, Tampa Bay 41 12:10, Third Quarter

A seemingly innocuous play. Campbell throws incomplete to Cooley at the 20. But the laser pointer is focused on Jansen, guard Randy Thomas and fullback Mike Sellers, and Jaworski shows how the Redskins have blown another opportunity for Campbell.

In the far slot, Randle El runs a deep post across the field, 10 yards past Cooley. But the safety in coverage, Phillips, follows Cooley underneath, leaving Randle El wide open in the seam at the 10-yard line.

But at the line of scrimmage, Sellers, Jansen and Thomas allow two Tampa Bay defenders -- Spires and Jon Bradley -- to beat them and rush Campbell.

"They have the guard, the tackle and the fullback, three guys on two defenders. How they handle it, I don't know, but this leakage shouldn't happen," Jaworski says. "There's your touchdown. . . . They beat the defense. The problem is that the defense beats the protection."

The pass floats out of bounds. Randle El is in the seam at the 5-yard line, shaking his head. He knows he had a touchdown.

"This is the kind of stuff that always seems to happen to teams that are having bad years. This is a great designed play, really set up beautifully," Cosell says. "They broke down the safety they were trying to break down, and the protection prevents the play from being executed. And then someone will say, 'Bad play-calling.' That's a touchdown."

The game progresses and Jaworski sees more flaws with the Redskins than with Campbell.

"He has NFL ability," Cosell says. "There is no doubt about that."

There are some concerns. Campbell waits for his receivers to finish their routes before throwing the ball -- "He can't be out of his route and have the ball still be in the quarterback's hands," Jaworski said -- and he seems less comfortable in three-step drops than in five-step drops.

The surgery is over, but the operation is a success.

"I'd say he's been solid. The game plan was well designed and played to protect him. His receivers need to stand up and help the young guy. Make some plays for him," Jaworski said.

"I thought it was the right time. I really like Mark, and for the most part thought he played pretty well, maybe a little inconsistent. But you have to look ahead. You have to find out if he can play. Is he your future or not?"

 

[redman]

From KC Joyner's Insider article:

Jason Campbell

The interesting thing about Campbell's performance this season is how he has performed against the blitz. Here are his passing metrics against a blitz, and against no blitz:

Jason Campbell

Defense Att Comp Yds TD INT Pen P-Yds YPA Sacks

Blitz 33 13 214 2 3 0 0 6.5 4/29

No blitz 66 35 317 3 0 0 0 4.8 0/0

All of Campbell's interceptions and sacks have occurred against blitzing defenses, so that says the only way to get a big play against him is to bring pressure.

The flip side of that argument is that six of Campbell's 13 completions against the blitz have been for 15 or more yards, and two of those have been for 40-plus yards. One of these was the 66-yard touchdown pass to Chris Cooley near the end of the Carolina game that gave Washington the win. In contrast, Campbell has only four plays of over 15 yards when not facing a blitz. Blitzing Campbell seems to be a double-edged sword at this point.

Jason Campbell

The interesting thing about Campbell's performance this season is how he has performed against the blitz. Here are his passing metrics against a blitz, and against no blitz:

Jason Campbell Defense Att Comp Yds TD INT Pen P-Yds YPA Sacks Blitz 33 13 214 2 3 0 0 6.5 4/29 No blitz 66 35 317 3 0 0 0 4.8 0/0All of Campbell's interceptions and sacks have occurred against blitzing defenses, so that says the only way to get a big play against him is to bring pressure. The flip side of that argument is that six of Campbell's 13 completions against the blitz have been for 15 or more yards, and two of those have been for 40-plus yards. One of these was the 66-yard touchdown pass to Chris Cooley near the end of the Carolina game that gave Washington the win. In contrast, Campbell has only four plays of over 15 yards when not facing a blitz. Blitzing Campbell seems to be a double-edged sword at this point.

 

[moleculo]

From KC Joyner's Insider article:

Jason Campbell

The interesting thing about Campbell's performance this season is how he has performed against the blitz. Here are his passing metrics against a blitz, and against no blitz:

Jason Campbell

Defense Att Comp Yds TD INT Pen P-Yds YPA Sacks

Blitz 33 13 214 2 3 0 0 6.5 4/29

No blitz 66 35 317 3 0 0 0 4.8 0/0

All of Campbell's interceptions and sacks have occurred against blitzing defenses, so that says the only way to get a big play against him is to bring pressure.

The flip side of that argument is that six of Campbell's 13 completions against the blitz have been for 15 or more yards, and two of those have been for 40-plus yards. One of these was the 66-yard touchdown pass to Chris Cooley near the end of the Carolina game that gave Washington the win. In contrast, Campbell has only four plays of over 15 yards when not facing a blitz. Blitzing Campbell seems to be a double-edged sword at this point.

Jason Campbell

The interesting thing about Campbell's performance this season is how he has performed against the blitz. Here are his passing metrics against a blitz, and against no blitz:

Jason Campbell Defense Att Comp Yds TD INT Pen P-Yds YPA Sacks Blitz 33 13 214 2 3 0 0 6.5 4/29 No blitz 66 35 317 3 0 0 0 4.8 0/0All of Campbell's interceptions and sacks have occurred against blitzing defenses, so that says the only way to get a big play against him is to bring pressure. The flip side of that argument is that six of Campbell's 13 completions against the blitz have been for 15 or more yards, and two of those have been for 40-plus yards. One of these was the 66-yard touchdown pass to Chris Cooley near the end of the Carolina game that gave Washington the win. In contrast, Campbell has only four plays of over 15 yards when not facing a blitz. Blitzing Campbell seems to be a double-edged sword at this point.

Couldn't the same be said for almost every NFL QB? I think Campbell has pregressed nicely and can be considered a middle of the road NFL QB at this point.

 

[redman]

From KC Joyner's Insider article:

Jason Campbell

The interesting thing about Campbell's performance this season is how he has performed against the blitz. Here are his passing metrics against a blitz, and against no blitz:

Jason Campbell

Defense Att Comp Yds TD INT Pen P-Yds YPA Sacks

Blitz 33 13 214 2 3 0 0 6.5 4/29

No blitz 66 35 317 3 0 0 0 4.8 0/0

All of Campbell's interceptions and sacks have occurred against blitzing defenses, so that says the only way to get a big play against him is to bring pressure.

The flip side of that argument is that six of Campbell's 13 completions against the blitz have been for 15 or more yards, and two of those have been for 40-plus yards. One of these was the 66-yard touchdown pass to Chris Cooley near the end of the Carolina game that gave Washington the win. In contrast, Campbell has only four plays of over 15 yards when not facing a blitz. Blitzing Campbell seems to be a double-edged sword at this point.

Jason Campbell

The interesting thing about Campbell's performance this season is how he has performed against the blitz. Here are his passing metrics against a blitz, and against no blitz:

Jason Campbell Defense Att Comp Yds TD INT Pen P-Yds YPA Sacks Blitz 33 13 214 2 3 0 0 6.5 4/29 No blitz 66 35 317 3 0 0 0 4.8 0/0All of Campbell's interceptions and sacks have occurred against blitzing defenses, so that says the only way to get a big play against him is to bring pressure. The flip side of that argument is that six of Campbell's 13 completions against the blitz have been for 15 or more yards, and two of those have been for 40-plus yards. One of these was the 66-yard touchdown pass to Chris Cooley near the end of the Carolina game that gave Washington the win. In contrast, Campbell has only four plays of over 15 yards when not facing a blitz. Blitzing Campbell seems to be a double-edged sword at this point.

Couldn't the same be said for almost every NFL QB? I think Campbell has pregressed nicely and can be considered a middle of the road NFL QB at this point.

Not necessarily IMHO. There are certain QB's who do poorly against the blitz and others who eat it up. What pleases me as a 'Skins fan is that this is precisely what you'd want to see. He takes what the defense gives him. When there's no pressure, he doesn't throw picks (not every QB can say that); when there is pressure, he can be forced into errors but has already shown he can make hot reads that makes the defense pay for what it lost in coverage when it blitzed (again, not every QB can say that - Brunell sure couldn't this year). I agree - he's middle of the road at this point. I'm not pimping him so much as keeping track of him in this thread. He's currently my third string dynasty QB behind McNabb and Romo (not sure how I got so married to NFC East QB's, but I did. )

 

[redman]

New article.

Redskins' Saunders Is Helping Campbell Speed Up the Process

By Jason La Canfora

Washington Post Staff Writer

Thursday, December 14, 2006; E03

When Washington Redskins associate head coach Al Saunders studies tape of quarterback Jason Campbell, part of him must wish he could keep a thumb pressed on the fast-forward button. Saunders is enthused by Campbell's unflappable presence, resiliency and talent, and envisions great things for him in the future. But to get there, nearly everything Campbell does from the moment he hits the huddle must be sped up, Saunders said.

The Redskins need to simplify things enough to give Campbell the best chance to succeed over the last three games of the season while also identifying and correcting the flaws in his technique that must be refined for long-term success, Saunders said. The coaches cannot overload Campbell with too much information, and they admit it is hardly ideal to groom a young quarterback on the fly.

"You start with his feet and we've said that since training camp, and move up," said Saunders, who oversees the Redskins' offense. "His drops have got to be quicker, his rhythm has got to be quicker, his release has got to be more compact, his decision-making process has got to speed up. He's a victim of his own great physical ability. In high school, he could stand back and wait for a receiver to get open and the velocity of the ball would get there before a little guy who just came from chemistry class could go and break it up. And he played against Vanderbilt [in college], and he's flushed out of the pocket and throws downfield and the ball gets there before the nuclear physicist two years down the road can get there.

"In this league, throw a route like he did there [in Sunday's loss] coming out of the end zone, and if you're a tick late the [defensive back] knocks it down. So everything is a speeded-up process. His mechanics and techniques need to be speeded up, and that'll all come. It's hard to work on things like that during the course of the season."

Campbell has been at the mercy of others since being drafted 25th overall in 2005. He was the No. 3 quarterback for half the season, doing little beyond running the scout team. He never practiced with the first team, ran the opposing offense rather than Washington's and was adjusting to his sixth straight year dating from college with a new offense and new offensive coordinator.

He is a willing and eager worker, coaches say, and, more than anything else, is desperate to get to work with the same coaches and personnel through the offseason. Hearing Coach Joe Gibbs say earlier this week that he planned to keep Saunders next year encouraged Campbell.

"It would be the first time I'm going into a second year with the same coach and people around me, so that should be fun," Campbell said. "I don't even want to think about any changes, because it always seems to happen when you think it's not going to. I don't even want to think about learning another new offense. I really hope I don't have to, because Coach Saunders has some great stuff."

Saunders is stressing that Campbell should spend as much time as possible around his receivers and at Redskins Park. In the offseason, Campbell is planning to fly to Miami to work with Santana Moss at least once, and wants to get a group of teammates to join him for an offseason passing camp that Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb conducts at his Arizona home. Saunders's offense calls for the passer to trust his targets, releasing the ball quickly and into a window downfield before the receiver actually gets there; Campbell has been slow to get the ball to receivers many times and is feeling his way through the process.

"That's something we're going to talk about in the offseason," Campbell said. "Even if you don't see the receiver, sometimes you just have to know he's going to be in that spot, in that area. And that comes with being in the offseason for a while and being in there for a long time. It's like I said to Santana. The other day I couldn't see him on that one play, but when we get to the point where we continue to work better, then I'll just know he's there."

Moss said: "I think that'll probably be a little better leading into next season. By then we'll really have a grasp of him. But right now he's just doing what he has to do to go out there and give us a chance to make plays."

Campbell can make plays others cannot, but the Redskins want him to be sound fundamentally as well. Sometimes he has taken as many as nine steps back before getting rid of the ball, and coaches spent one week harping on his first step out from under center. Campbell's looping delivery, which can allow a defender an extra split second to reach him, is something the coaches will look at as well.

Gibbs said he does not consider the prolonged delivery to be a significant issue, although there is always room for small adjustments and Campbell has echoed those thoughts. "Right now I feel very comfortable with the way I'm throwing," he said. "I don't feel like it's affecting any of my throws and my ability to get it there. I probably make up for a lot of it because I have a strong arm."

Saunders believes that in the offseason Campbell can tweak the process slightly -- not enough to affect his accuracy or alter his natural throwing motion -- to ensure the ball gets away more quickly.

"He'll come along in that regard," Saunders said. "He's not as elongated as say [Jacksonville's] Byron Leftwich is, and he's not as compact as Peyton Manning. Somewhere in there will be his stroke to hit singles all the time instead of going for the fences all the time. That's part of his development process."

This week's game will be particularly memorable for Campbell, as the Redskins visit New Orleans, a 90-minute drive from his home town of Taylorsville, Miss. Campbell, who is completing 51.6 percent of his passes with 6 touchdowns, 5 interceptions and a 68.8 passer rating, expects 30 to 50 friends and family members to attend the game.

"That's the only time all year I'm really going to get that close to them," Campbell said. "It's an opportunity to come out and support you and watch you play. Of course, you want to go down there and do the best you can do for them and for your teammates, and we need everything we can get right now."

 

[Keg]

New article.

Redskins' Saunders Is Helping Campbell Speed Up the Process

By Jason La Canfora

Washington Post Staff Writer

Thursday, December 14, 2006; E03

When Washington Redskins associate head coach Al Saunders studies tape of quarterback Jason Campbell, part of him must wish he could keep a thumb pressed on the fast-forward button. Saunders is enthused by Campbell's unflappable presence, resiliency and talent, and envisions great things for him in the future. But to get there, nearly everything Campbell does from the moment he hits the huddle must be sped up, Saunders said.

The Redskins need to simplify things enough to give Campbell the best chance to succeed over the last three games of the season while also identifying and correcting the flaws in his technique that must be refined for long-term success, Saunders said. The coaches cannot overload Campbell with too much information, and they admit it is hardly ideal to groom a young quarterback on the fly.

"You start with his feet and we've said that since training camp, and move up," said Saunders, who oversees the Redskins' offense. "His drops have got to be quicker, his rhythm has got to be quicker, his release has got to be more compact, his decision-making process has got to speed up. He's a victim of his own great physical ability. In high school, he could stand back and wait for a receiver to get open and the velocity of the ball would get there before a little guy who just came from chemistry class could go and break it up. And he played against Vanderbilt [in college], and he's flushed out of the pocket and throws downfield and the ball gets there before the nuclear physicist two years down the road can get there.

"In this league, throw a route like he did there [in Sunday's loss] coming out of the end zone, and if you're a tick late the [defensive back] knocks it down. So everything is a speeded-up process. His mechanics and techniques need to be speeded up, and that'll all come. It's hard to work on things like that during the course of the season."

Campbell has been at the mercy of others since being drafted 25th overall in 2005. He was the No. 3 quarterback for half the season, doing little beyond running the scout team. He never practiced with the first team, ran the opposing offense rather than Washington's and was adjusting to his sixth straight year dating from college with a new offense and new offensive coordinator.

He is a willing and eager worker, coaches say, and, more than anything else, is desperate to get to work with the same coaches and personnel through the offseason. Hearing Coach Joe Gibbs say earlier this week that he planned to keep Saunders next year encouraged Campbell.

"It would be the first time I'm going into a second year with the same coach and people around me, so that should be fun," Campbell said. "I don't even want to think about any changes, because it always seems to happen when you think it's not going to. I don't even want to think about learning another new offense. I really hope I don't have to, because Coach Saunders has some great stuff."

Saunders is stressing that Campbell should spend as much time as possible around his receivers and at Redskins Park. In the offseason, Campbell is planning to fly to Miami to work with Santana Moss at least once, and wants to get a group of teammates to join him for an offseason passing camp that Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb conducts at his Arizona home. Saunders's offense calls for the passer to trust his targets, releasing the ball quickly and into a window downfield before the receiver actually gets there; Campbell has been slow to get the ball to receivers many times and is feeling his way through the process.

"That's something we're going to talk about in the offseason," Campbell said. "Even if you don't see the receiver, sometimes you just have to know he's going to be in that spot, in that area. And that comes with being in the offseason for a while and being in there for a long time. It's like I said to Santana. The other day I couldn't see him on that one play, but when we get to the point where we continue to work better, then I'll just know he's there."

Moss said: "I think that'll probably be a little better leading into next season. By then we'll really have a grasp of him. But right now he's just doing what he has to do to go out there and give us a chance to make plays."

Campbell can make plays others cannot, but the Redskins want him to be sound fundamentally as well. Sometimes he has taken as many as nine steps back before getting rid of the ball, and coaches spent one week harping on his first step out from under center. Campbell's looping delivery, which can allow a defender an extra split second to reach him, is something the coaches will look at as well.

Gibbs said he does not consider the prolonged delivery to be a significant issue, although there is always room for small adjustments and Campbell has echoed those thoughts. "Right now I feel very comfortable with the way I'm throwing," he said. "I don't feel like it's affecting any of my throws and my ability to get it there. I probably make up for a lot of it because I have a strong arm."

Saunders believes that in the offseason Campbell can tweak the process slightly -- not enough to affect his accuracy or alter his natural throwing motion -- to ensure the ball gets away more quickly.

"He'll come along in that regard," Saunders said. "He's not as elongated as say [Jacksonville's] Byron Leftwich is, and he's not as compact as Peyton Manning. Somewhere in there will be his stroke to hit singles all the time instead of going for the fences all the time. That's part of his development process."

This week's game will be particularly memorable for Campbell, as the Redskins visit New Orleans, a 90-minute drive from his home town of Taylorsville, Miss. Campbell, who is completing 51.6 percent of his passes with 6 touchdowns, 5 interceptions and a 68.8 passer rating, expects 30 to 50 friends and family members to attend the game.

"That's the only time all year I'm really going to get that close to them," Campbell said. "It's an opportunity to come out and support you and watch you play. Of course, you want to go down there and do the best you can do for them and for your teammates, and we need everything we can get right now."

back in october in one of my dynasty leagues I dealt Hawk/Alston for Campbell/Hodge/JJArrington, 6th round pick and $2....my hope was that campbell would get his shot this year and prove that he should be the starter next yr....the kicker for me is SAUNDERS, for some reason I think people forget he is there and what his offenses can do...the skins O is only going to get better with time under Saunders and Campbell very well could sneak into the top 10 QBs in a couple of years(or at least that is my hope)