Will it be Brunell or Campbell for the Redskins in 2006?

By Connor Byrne  |   Monday, April 03, 2006  |  Comments( 0 )

Washington Redskins
Got something to say?

Sign Up and be the first to comment on this article!
For fans of the Washington Redskins, one of the few questions surrounding their favorite team's roster concerns who exactly will start at quarterback in 2006. The Redskins' top three quarterbacks as it stands right now are Mark Brunell, Jason Campbell and newly signed free agent Todd Collins, a former member of the Kansas City Chiefs. However, the only two with realistic starting aspirations for next season would be Brunell and Campbell. The only way Collins would start in '06 is if both Brunell and Campbell decide to sit out the season and join Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams on a "holistic medicine trip" to India.

At this point, the Redskins' incumbent quarterback from 2005's playoff run, Mark Brunell, is the frontrunner to retain the position next season.

Last year, the 35-year-old tossed 23 touchdowns against 10 interceptions, and compiled a very respectable 85.9 efficiency rating in 15 starts. Brunell's performance was certainly unexpected since he was essentially left for dead by many after his less-than-pedestrian 2004 season in Washington. Few preseason prognosticators had Brunell leading the Redskins anywhere in '05. However, he managed to help steer a Washington team that was once 5-6 all the way to the NFC divisional playoff round. The only reason Brunell has come under such scrutiny this offseason is because of his below-average performances in the Redskins' two playoff games. Against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Seattle Seahawks, Brunell completed 29-of-52 pass attempts for 283 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Many are worried that his tank is officially running on empty after giving it all for the Redskins' playoff push last December and January. Only time will tell on that front.

As for the 24-year-old Campbell--the Redskins' other option at quarterback for 2006--he was drafted in the first-round out of Auburn in last April's draft.

After a tremendous 2004 season in which he was named SEC offensive player of the year and helped lead the Tigers to a 13-0 mark, Campbell headed for the NFL with high hopes and aspirations. At an impressive 6'4" and 230 pounds, he certainly has the size to take the helm of a team at the NFL level. It definitely doesn't hurt that he ran a pair of 4.75 40-yard dashes at the '04 combine, while proving to scouts that he possesses solid arm strength to boot. Deeds like those erase the doubt as to why so many within the D.C. area want Campbell to replace Brunell next season. He was able to sit and learn behind the veteran for the entire season, but the only way a young player can truly learn is by actually playing.

Despite Campbell's accomplishments in college and the combine, it's still extremely risky for Washington Redskins head coach Joe Gibbs to put the youngster in. It could either turn out incredibly well, or turn into a train-wreck. In the past couple of years, when thinking of young, inexperienced quarterbacks starting for their teams, one example of brilliance comes to mind, and one example of chaos comes to mind. Of course, I'm speaking of Ben Roethlisberger's 2004 season in Pittsburgh and J.P. Losman's 2005 season in Buffalo.

After a victory in the first week of the '04 season, veteran Steelers quarterback Tommy Maddox was knocked out of a blowout loss in Week Two, courtesy of the Baltimore Ravens' snarling defense. Roethlisberger, the upstart first-round rookie from Miami of Ohio, came in and led Pittsburgh to an unprecedented 13-0 regular season record before losing in the AFC title game to the New England Patriots. Last season was Roethlisberger's second and he led the Steelers to their first Super Bowl title in 27 years for an encore. Perhaps Campbell can experience that type of success at such an early period in Washington; however, for every Cinderella story on the NFL level, there's a Three-Mile Island calamity.

In 2005, the Buffalo Bills were supposed to be a Super Bowl contender; they had what was perceived to be a great running game with Willis McGahee, solid receivers with Eric Moulds and Lee Evans, and one of the league's most fearsome defenses. Because of those factors, former Bills GM Tom Donahoe ditched solid veteran quarterback Drew Bledsoe in February of 2005 so he could put in second-year man and former first-rounder J.P. Losman. Unfortunately for Donahoe, little did he know that McGahee wouldn't play up to par, the defense would go from fearsome to 29th in the NFL, and Losman would spend half the season watching as career backup Kelly Holcomb quarterbacked the Bills; in this example, the team with title aspirations went just 6-10. Donahoe has since lost his job, and Losman is reportedly on the trading block. How's that for risk-reward?

Similarly to last year's Bills, the '06 Washington Redskins have a great running game with Clinton Portis, solid receiving targets (led by Santana Moss, Antwaan Randle-El, Chris Cooley and Brandon Lloyd) and one of the league's most fearsome defenses. Eerily analogous? You bet. However, because the Redskins' players are more team-centric, more talented and much better coached than those Bills, their fans probably needn't worry about a possible 6-10 season.

In the event that Gibbs does elect to go the Campbell route in '06, it would have to be subsequent to a rigorous quarterback competition in the summer between he and Brunell. The biggest mistake the Bills of last season made was to hand Losman the job over from Bledsoe without so much as an unbiased competition. Should Campbell defeat Brunell in said competition, then he undoubtedly deserves to be the starter. Either way, expect Gibbs and his coaching staff to be fair and balanced, and not to pull any punches.

In the city most famous for its politics, Gibbs' version of "Decision '06" will begin in earnest this summer. Let the best candidate win.

--Connor Byrne can be reached at cbyrne@realfootball365.com
Got something to say?

Sign Up and be the first to comment on this article! (0)

About Connor Byrne

Sorry, Connor Byrne's bio is currently not available. Please check back soon!
read more
Article Tools Share!   |  RSS  |  Bleacher Report About Bleacher Report