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Jason Campbell has some |
LANDOVER, Md.--Clinton
Intrigue was everywhere at FedEx Field last night. Whether it was guessing what trick play Jets rookie coach Eric Mangini would call next or which Redskin would limp off the field, there was rarely a dull moment.
The biggest question, though, centered around Washington quarterback Jason Campbell, who was given his longest--and most telling--audition yet. But like almost every other development in the past month, it wasn't what Redskins fans wanted to see.
In the first 20 minutes of play, Mangini called a reverse that rookie Brad Smith took 61 yards for a touchdown (against the Redskins' first-team defense); a subsequent (but unsuccessful) onside kick; and a quasi-fake punt that Ben Graham pooched out of bounds 8 yards downfield when he was pressured.
Such antics are usually verboten in preseason games, where "vanilla" isn't just the flavor of ice cream served at the concession stands. Most coaches (including Joe Gibbs) are terrified of tipping their hands
Mangini, who's in his first gig as an NFL head coach, apparently didn't get the memo. And for that we should be thankful.
Still, Redskins fans didn't come out to learn the subtleties of the Jets' playbook. They wanted
The answers weren't encouraging.
Working with the second-team offense for the first time in the preseason, Campbell showed an NFL quarterback's arm on two consecutive sparkling plays in the second quarter.
He hit a well-covered David Patten on a 15-yard out pattern where the ball traveled 40 yards. Then he avoided one pass rusher and, with another in his face, connected with James Thrash for a 20-yard gain to the Jets' 1. Rock Cartwright plunged in on the next play to cap an efficient scoring drive on which Campbell was 3-for-3.
That was the good news. Ah, but Campbell also showed why he's not yet ready for prime time. He underthrew a couple of open receivers and made a poor decision on a pass to Thrash that Jets cornerback David Barrett intercepted.
Campbell wasn't alone in looking shaky. Washington's vaunted first-team defense didn't exactly remind anyone of the 1985 Bears, either. The Redskins did harass former teammate Patrick Ramsey, whose backside was reacquainted with some familiar swatches of FedEx Field turf. But the entire first-team group was fooled on the end-around to Smith, the former University of Missouri quarterback.
And backup Brooks Bollinger led a nifty second-quarter drive for a field goal against a hodgepodge of Redskins starters and backups that included Sean Taylor and Marcus Washington. He also engineered a 23-play march to a field goal that ate more than 11 minutes off the third-quarter clock.
Granted, the Redskins' defense wasn't at full strength. Standout cornerback Shawn Springs missed the game after undergoing abdominal surgery last week, and Washington fans held their collective breath when defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin was helped off the field early in the first quarter with a sprained right knee. The injury didn't appear to be severe, but Griffin sensibly did not return.
As important as Portis is to the Redskins' offensive plans, Griffin may be even more vital to the defense (and to the team in general). Washington's 2005 playoff surge began in earnest when Griffin returned to anchor a suddenly stingy run defense. Without him, the Redskins' defense looked ordinary--especially with newcomers Mike Rumph, Jeff Posey and Antuan Edwards still learning their roles.
At least that was a step up
When Portis partially separated his left shoulder in the first quarter of last week's preseason opener, he questioned the need
To reach STEVE DeSHAZO:
Email: sdeshazo@freelancestar.com
