Campbell Is a Square Peg, Skins Offense Is a Round Hole, and Zorn Keeps Banging Away

The reactions were swift and, well, reactionary following the Redskins' uninspired performance against the Giants on Thursday night. As always, the expectations are high, even with Joe Gibbs now doing the Lord's work, and his successor, Jim Zorn, never having even coordinated an offense much less coached up an entire team.

Still, with owner Dan Snyder's history of throwing around money for big-name players like he's Elliot Spitzer patronizing the services of the Emperors Club VIP, expectations are bound to be artificially inflated.

It's probably unfair to think quarterback Jason Campbell would have fully grasped Zorn's West Coast scheme in just a few months, but even the most measured observer had to be taken aback at what passed for offense against New York.

The Washington Post's Jason La Canfora writes that Zorn, who was able to sit through an entire film review without puking his guts out, had some thoughts on how to improve things going forward:

"He's so big, and I just want him to move faster," Zorn said of the 6-foot-5 Campbell, who completed 15 of 27 passes Thursday night for 133 yards with a touchdown and an 81.2 passer rating. "And we'll continue to work on it. I'm not discouraged with a lot of the things he did. I just want him to get better."

As long as we're wishing for stuff: Tom Coughlin would like David Carr to quit wearing mittens, Shawne Merriman would like his knee to not blow up during a game, and Michael Vick would like to be an NFL quarterback after he gets out of the joint.

There's a good chance nobody gets their wish, including Zorn. Which raises an important philosophical question: should the scheme fit the players, or should the players fit the scheme. Apparently, Zorn believes it's the latter.

Some scouts and executives believe Campbell is a poor fit for the West Coast offense, with his size and skills favoring seven-step drops and more deep throws, instead of the three-step drops and quick, rhythmic cadence of Zorn's style. "When I watch that team, I think something's going to have to give," said one NFL executive who has studied Campbell closely and believes he could succeed as a drop-back passer. "Is it the scheme or the quarterback? At some point either the coach is going to have to change what he does to fit the quarterback, or they're going to need a different quarterback."

When Jim Mora Jr. was the head coach in Atlanta, he tried to make Vick a WCO quarterback and it didn't work. To be fair, Campbell and Vick couldn't be more different as players, and it's not clear Vick would succeed in most offenses because he had such an abysmally low completion percentage, but the point remains: if the Skins are going to get the most out of their players, it makes sense to tailor the offense to their strengths.

Forcing a scheme down their throats because it worked in Seattle, where Matt Hasselbeck runs the West Coast offense better than anybody in the league, seems short-sighted. On the upside, it should hasten the "WE WANT COLT!" chants from the stands, so there's that.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

9-06-2008 @ 3:05PM

myra said...

Its too bad that Jason C. is on the Redskins. Perhaps he will land on a team that makes better decisions.

9-06-2008 @ 3:29PM

Dan said...

Campbell's been through so many offensive schemes in so many years wtih so many coaches since college I almost feel sorry for him. What Skins need most is stablilty IMO. That said, I see them getting restless with JZ already--- http://blog.ingamenow.com/2008/09/06/redskins-why-fans-arent-horney-for-zorny/

9-06-2008 @ 4:22PM

Brian C said...

Campbell is a bust.... As long as he is under center the skins will struggle every week , only being competitive because of the defense . And take Portis with you..Whoever is running this team has no clue.. i think they are betting against them or something!!! Really.. All Portis is is mouth..He canot back up his words...Anyone can break a decent run enery once in a while with their line...Marcus Mason showed lots of potential and should have at least been given a fair shot , and Ladell Betts is a beast who averages about five yards every time he touches the ball.. Pound the ball , dont fall down at the slightest bit of contact... Until they start playing Colt Brennan , they will continue to lose .. They have no running game with Portis ,and no passing attack to even draw some attention away from the run. Brennan will be a good qb when given the chance , but probably with some other team.By the time they play him , Snyder will probably have traded his o-line for some prize kicker from Brazil...Hell , Randle-el would even be an upgrade at qb.

9-07-2008 @ 4:50PM

richard said...

the only player on the field that deserved to be paid was portis...when he's in the game the opposing coordnator knows that he's gonna be getting the ball and gets the personel out to stop him...his pass pertection is, if not the top, one of the best for backs in the league...he runs hard and pounds the ball everytime hes in there. betts is a beast but he gets more openings than CP

9-06-2008 @ 7:55PM

none of your business said...

First off CP is one of the best overall backs in the league if not the best back period. Secondly CP had to change his game and running style to fit joe gibbs offense, which is why his numbers aren't better than what they are, but he is still on his way to hall of fame numbers. His numbers would be off the charts had he still been in denver, so don't put that bs on him. How could you say that all portis is, is mouth, anybody can break a decent run every now and then? CP talks a good game and he backs it up. Lets see your punk ass get out there and try to run the ball, and see how many decent runs you break off. The only thing thats gonna break is your bones, or the opposing teams foot in your ass. I do agree that Mason should have made the team and has a load of potential, but he's not better than CP and he will tell you that out of his own mouth. Betts it's ok, but better in a spell roll then an every down back. It's a reason why he been backing up CP for the last 4 to 5 years, it's very simple CP is better. Yeah betts pounds the ball hard, but why is he always running into his own men? I do agree that we will continue to lose until Colt Brennan is in, unless the defense scores all the points. But for you to say CP looks for somewhere to fall is just stupid, you must be mistaking 26 for 82

9-06-2008 @ 10:19PM

jimmy kubas said...

you r absolutely right bro,they are gonna give us another head aching year if they dont change the qb.there is too much talent on this team and wecant get the ball to them.i think they are wasting sellers career, he could be a beast if they would use him rightl

9-08-2008 @ 9:21AM

Don P said...

Think you just jumping the gun to fast slim... Yeah Ladell runs well, but can't hold on to the ball to save his life. Yeah i do think Portis falls entirely to much but gives the better chance to break lose if the offense gets opened up, instead of this nickel and dime passing attack..! Don't know if colt gonna solve the problem, this west coast crap sucks! We are the laugh of the NFC East..!

9-06-2008 @ 4:49PM

Terrell said...

Campbell is like a golfer with no finese around the greens...He can hit the long ball, but has NO TOUCH chipping & putting.....I think its time to bring in Collins. He moves the offense with no problems.....he proved it last year with his actions....We have a great set of athletes who are dying to bust loose....come on Coach, make the change!

andy said...

was it really the play calling or execution of the plays. this is supposedly a fast offense,didn'tlook that way to me. starting with slo mo jason campbell. quicker release for five to eight yards a play sets up the defense for a tiring game ,also please open up the playbook!!!!

9-06-2008 @ 6:01PM

Man a lot of people are talking about Zorn and what he should have done, or what he can't do. It's all a load of crap. I watched the game, and Jason campbell made the comment that he only locked in on one receiver once or twice and that's a load of crap also. I seen many plays that were perfect if the quarterback would have read the defense and surveyed the field when he dropped back, instead of locking in on one receiver almost every play. It's plain and simple, if were gonna win some ball games this year we have to play colt, because he don't care who gets the ball. he's gonna move the chains, put some points on the board, and just have fun slinging the ball around to anybody that's open, not to who the play is designed to go to.. That is what we need for Zorn's system to work, not for him to change to what fit the players, because it fits most of the players, just not the one who's getting them guys the ball. With Colt Brennan we got a chance to do some big things. Without him, the Redskins are now on the clock with the first pick in the 2009 NFL Draft.

9-06-2008 @ 5:01PM

Dan Stuckie said...

This O was brought here with Colt B in mind. I predict that kid will be starting before the season is over.
It's what management wants, its what the fans want....
As long as the skins are losing, they will want it more and more.

9-06-2008 @ 6:14PM

Ken said...

I have never liked Campbell, even in college. Put in Collins and if he doesn't work give Colt a chance. Brennen can't be any worse than Campbell and he looked good in preseason

9-06-2008 @ 10:20PM

that is what i have been saying all along. when will they wake up and do it

9-06-2008 @ 10:28PM

sandman said...

I've been a skins fan for sometime now and I'm tired of losing winnable games the Giants game was winnable Jason C. is not the answer I've watched him in College and he has not gotten any better Colt may not be the one either but he deserves the chance because he can move around and avoid the rush I only hope that Jim Zorn will make a choice soon

9-06-2008 @ 6:16PM

Yeah collins moved the ball last year and did some good things, but that was an offense he was in for the last 5 years or more. You can't even compare that offense to this one. Not to mention that we seen todd in this offense in the preseason, and he made completions, he just didn't really move the ball or score points. Colt is the guy for this offense, for this team, we need to cut all of the politics out and put him in. There is no need to lose 5 games before we put him in, It's clear that the other qb's are not as good as him.

9-08-2008 @ 10:51PM

Chease said...

The problem is this so called West Coast Offense. You guys think Colt looks so good but guys, Colt is not playing or was not playing Zorns West Coast offense. Colt is plying like Romo. Zorns West Coast style is hike 1-2-3 pass. Once Colt takes the snap he immediatley starts scrambling to hi right (ALA ROMO). Jason looks bad at this Zorns offense as well as Collins. The problem is Zorns version of the West Coast offense, no QB can play it correctly. A snap and a three step drop then throw! COME ON. Ask me why Jason is locking in on 1 receiver, you have no time to scan the field. Also we have no track stars playing WR or TE. How far do you expect a WR to get in 3 seconds. To me it is just a fast version of passing like Brunell. Other teams Defense (well the Giants) knew that our QB was not going to do much if he is forced to throw in three seconds. Why not send a blitz every down as if it were a running play. Zorn has been telling everyone in the league that "JASON IS NOT GETTING IT. JASON IS JUST HOLDING THE BALL TO LONG. THE BALL SHOULD BE GONE IN 3 SECONDS UNDER MY OFFENSE". As for Colt scrambling instantly is not the offense that Zorn is playing or trying to play. Im for Colt, keep doing what you doing. Jason should consider leaving because the skins holding his progress down. TOO many different coaches and offense to learn. Either of the two leave they will get paid. Collins is what he is and will be where he can get a spot but he will not be anybodies starter from game one to game 16. Besides guys Zorn is a seat warmer. He wont be coach next year. Daniel didnt hire the other too guys because of YOU KNOW WHO that is coming out of retirement in 2009. This is a rebuilding year. If they can win while rebuilding cool. The person that needs to be watched is Dan. If he remains cool headed throughout it is what it is.

tara said...

campbell is good - give me a qb that can run the ball and/or take a hit any day. it is a contact sport, folks. and brennan would make a great second. but collins? seriously? he didn't win any of those games late last season, he just managed not to lose (too many of) them - until january, when it mattered, of course.

Skinzwin08 said...

All you people leaving these comments are idiots who obviously have never played football in your lives. Yes, it is true that Campball's skills do not match the prototypical West Coast Offense quarterback but he is a skilled passer. There arent many in the game who have a stronger arm. He suits a 7 step drop much better than 3 and release. Also, this offense is built on rhythm. Campbell is more suited for viewing the fiels and finding the open man instead of what the play is called for. I like Campbell but the Zorn offense does not fit his skills. But to think Colt Brennan is gonna come in and be the savior, YOU GUYS ARE IDIOTS !!!!!!!! This offense takes a few years not weeks or months to master or even get a grip on. Case in point: Matt Hasselbeck. Study up next time before you idiots make stupid comments. Damn and I thought we have smart and loyal fans. Well, That, I was wrong about

9-07-2008 @ 12:00AM

Edgar Baker said...

You're exactly right, the rest of these people are idiots!!

9-07-2008 @ 1:14AM

even if it takes a couple years to learn the system...which it shouldn't for a "quarterback of the future" as what was JC got labeled from day one from when we drafted him...he should have the smarts and the athletic ability to get a firm grasp of the plot of the play...knowing where recievers are going and how much time to stay in the pocket and knowing where your checkdowns are... first play of the game on thursday he did his 3 step drop looked to the left side of the field, couldn't find anyone so he ran outta the pocket and right into the weak side blitz. that isn't smarts that is you un-sure about your teammates and the system which can't be done in a regular season. this all doesn't fall on him cause snyder wants a new system every year, but with our corps he should have been able to throw at least more than 1 td. im a cooley fan but a tight end, especially one of his size is able to make a good check down target, but JC wouldn't look his way. who's fault is that?

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