Uh-Oh Jason Campbell Owners: East Coast Redskins Sputter With West Coast Offense
We all knew that Jason Campbell was going to have to work very hard to absorb yet another offensive system under Jim Zorn and the rest of the Redskins’ new coaching staff. But last night, we saw just how unpolished and hesitant the Redskins are coming out of the gates during 2008.
Washington converted 3 of 13 third downs last night. Washington crossed the 50-yard line into New York territory a grand total of 3 times - and the only score was mostly due to a big kickoff return by Rock Cartwright (which got the Redskins’ offense started at the NYG 45), rather than due to Campbell and his team mate’s efforts.
”A team held us to three and out for over half the game,” commented Clinton Portis after the loss. “We have to be better than that.” (Portis managed 23/84/0 rushing during the game, 3.65 yards per carry, and didn’t catch a pass last night).
One of the Redskins’ best offensive weapons, Chris Cooley, was (stupidly) rarely targeted and only caught 1 ball for 7 yards. Though Santana Moss did reel in a TD, he also made some huge drops in critical situations during the contest.
Campbell finished the night with 15/27 for 125 net yards, 1 TD and 0 interceptions, but he garnered 9 of the completions on dink-and-dunk passes during the 4th quarter as he (ineffectively) tried to hurry up the offense - highlighted by a failed 4th-down conversion and then a failed 2-minute drill (the final Washington drive started at 1:31 in the 4th, at the Washington 33, and sputtered to a halt as time ran out at the New York 32). Campbell was harassed by the pass rush for most of the night and, excepting the one scoring drive, fairly inept during this first contest.
The Redskins - and fantasy owners heavily invested in Washington’s lineup - are in for a long September, at the minimum, it appears. This offense has a long way to go, folks.
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