Ex-Redskin Of The Week: Jason Campbell, Quarterback, Oakland Raiders
One week after earning Ex-Redskin of the Weak honors, Jason Campbell merits a return engagement after the Raiders’ point-a-minute beatdown of AFC West rival Denver Broncos. Yes, Darren McFadden had more to do with the 59-14 win than Campbell did, but Jason opened the party with a 43 yard scoring strike to TE Zack Miller. As Football Outsiders points out:
“Campbell doesn’t get credit for handing the ball off, but he did have six plays of 20 yards or more, five of which came on the left side of the field. That’s the side struggling rookie corner Perrish Cox plays on…. Four of the six passes Campbell threw to his running backs resulted in first downs.”
Campbell endured cruel treatment last season at the hands of his own team, the Washington Redskins, who boldly entered the sweepstake for Jay Cutler against the Chicago Bears. Neither Denver nor Chicago would consider Campbell in any trade formula. Denver accepted Kyle Orton and multiple draft picks for Cutler. They’ve gone 10-13 since, including 0-2 against Campbell.
In more evidence of Karma, Campbell finished the game with a QB Rating of 127.9. That’s the exact sum of the day’s ratings for Cutler (54.3) and Orton (73.6).
Ex-Redskin Of The Weak: Norv Turner, Head Coach, San Diego Chargers
I am reluctant to name Turner as Redskin Of The Weak now. It’s only October. Turner is gifted at guiding the Chargers to a late-season peak and the playoffs. The Chargers are the NFL’s best team in total offense and total defense. They’ve scored 177 points. Phil Rivers is their quarterback. Who’s to say they are not on the verge of a 9-0 run to clinch the division after an unimpressive 2-5 start? Not I quacked the duck.
GM A.J. Smith’s hard-line negotiating tactics and the decline of Shawne Merriman has more to do with the Chargers’ swoon than Turner does. No other ex-Redskin sunk to the honor, unless you count Denver’s Brandon Lloyd who was held to a single reception in that blowout loss to Oakland. But Lloyd and his Broncos cohort had to defeat Raider CB Nnamdi Asomugha, a tough task for anybody, and Lloyd’s one catch was for 46 yards.
By default, this week’s (weak’s?) honor goes to Turner.
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