Thursday, January 6, 2011

Another year, Another coach

So goes the story when you play in the NFL and your name is Jason Campbell.  After the Raiders 31-10 victory over the AFC West Champion* Chiefs, I began working up an article asking if Coach Cable and QB Jason Campbell could co-exist in Oakland next season. Well, now that Coach Cable will no longer be with the Raiders that write would be pointless.

Jason Campbell standing with OC Hue Jackson 
It was a roller coaster season for Campbell and the Raiders, who finished 8-8 and 6-0 in the AFC West (yet placed 3rd in the division). According to numerous sources, this is the first time since the NFL merger that a team has swept their division without making the playoffs. Side note: It’s also the first time in NFL history that a sub .500 team won their division to host a wild card playoff game at home (Seattle Seahawks). Perhaps it’s all just a part of the parity in the NFL or maybe this season was all a strange oddity. Either way, its already been written into the history books and unless your name is Roger Goodell, you can’t do much about it.
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Was Shanahan wrong in DC?

When Mike Shanahan (HC) and Bruce Allen (GM) took over in Washington, it didn't take long to quiet the Jason Campbell debate. After dodging questions concerning the QB all off season, and bringing in a highly respected Donovan McNabb, Campbell was traded to the Oakland Raiders on draft day. For whatever reason, Shanahan and Allen did not see enough in Campbell, although he had progressed statistically in his 5 seasons as a Redskin (under 4 different Offensive Coordinators). He was traded for the cheap cost of a 2012 4th Rd pick.


Honestly, I couldn't blame Shanahan for wanting to bring in a QB with the track record of McNabb. I've always liked McNabb and respected his game. He never fully got the credit he deserved in Philly. It was tough to see Campbell shipped off to the, yes, pun intended, Black Hole of the NFL. I was expecting to see Carolina or a Minnesota make a move for Campbell. Both of which I thought, would have given him more of a chance to develop into the first round pick Joe Gibbs felt he was, in 2005.

Week 1 Raiders v Titans. Campbell's first outing as a Raider. 
It's now Week 16 in the NFL, two games left to play and Jason Campbell is this unquestioned starter in Oakland. The unquestioned part could be arguable, but with Tom Cable's love affair (Gradkowski) currently on IR, who else does he really have to turn to, St. Pierre? As the Raiders starter, Campbell has a record of 6-4. If you consider the first Chargers game where in came in early to replace the injured Gradkowski, you can argue Campbell is 7-4. Meanwhile, Tom Cable's "Coaches Pet" is a dismal 0-3 as the starter. This debate is whole other topic, so I'll stop with all that here. 


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