The statistics show that Washington quarterback Jason Campbell has improved every year since he has played in the NFL.  The problem is that he is just not doing it fast enough to satisfy everyone...
 

That puts him in a tough spot.  What is he supposed to say.... “I’m growing as fast as I can”?
 

The Redskins were hoping to find their franchise quarterback when they drafted Campbell back in the first round of the 2005 Draft.  They were so enamored with the Laurel, Mississippi product that they traded up to the 25th spot to nab him.
 

Washington had good reason to be so high on Campbell.  There was certainly a lot to like: He led Auburn to an undefeated season in 2004, he still holds the school’s record for career completion percentage (64.6%) and he threw for 45 collegiate touchdowns against some of the nation’s toughest defenses.  He possesses the ideal frame for an NFL quarterback (6'5, 233 lbs.), has a strong arm and is athletic enough to scramble for yardage.
 

Still, for all those impressive attributes, Campbell has not exactly delivered yet on the lofty expectations that many have for him.  His 201.2 Yards Per Game career average is among the lowest of any starting quarterback in the league.  He has thrown for 300-plus yards in a game just four times in 36 tries.  The most touchdowns he has ever thrown in a season is 13. 
 

Last year, Campbell started throwing eight touchdown passes and avoiding any interceptions as he led the Redskins to a 6-2 record halfway through the season.  During that time, he was a solid if unspectacular fantasy quarterback.  Unfortunately, the wheels came off in the second half and the team (as well as fantasy owners) quickly became dissatisfied.
 

Things got so bad that Washington was rumored to be seriously interested in moving up at the recent draft in an effort to obtain USC’s Mark Sanchez.  They also were reportedly part of the Jay Cutler Sweepstakes earlier this year.  The team has also refused to extend his contract past this season.  Clearly, the honeymoon is over.
 

So, can Campbell redeem himself this season?
 

In order to answer that question, one has to look at the greater picture.  Campbell has not exactly been put in a position to be a successful quarterback.  He lacks both opportunity and the correct personnel around him to expect all that much.
 

For one thing, Washington is a run-first team.  They have been for years and will remain so as long as Clinton Portis still has tread on his tires.  They ran the ball 478 times last season, eight most in the league.  Is part of the reason that they run so much because they don’t trust Campbell to win games for them?  Sure, but it’s hard to gauge how good he might be because he has only thrown the ball more than 40 times in a game three times in his career.
 

Secondly, outside of tight end Chris Cooley, Campbell lacks a great set of receivers.  Santana Moss is good but seemingly always struggling with an injury that hampers his production.  Antwaan Randle El is merely average and James Thrash is over the hill and "never was" to begin with.  To Washington’s credit, they have tried to upgrade their corps, but none of their recent draft picks (wide receivers Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly and tight end Fred Davis) made an impact last year.  It’s uncertain if any of them will emerge this year as reliable weapons.
 

In spite of the gloom, though, there is a scenario under which Campbell could blossom in Washington.  If Portis should somehow be sidelined, the Redskins have no one capable of taking on his workload nor do they have the requisite parts for an effective committee that could match his output.  They would have no choice but to put the ball in Campbell’s hands at that point.  Also, if any of the young guys could stay on the field, Campbell would have an improved bunch to throw to. 
 

Alas, the odds of that happening are not in his favor as Portis has missed significant time just once in his career.  Therefore, if history is any guide, one can probably pencil Campbell in for another sub-par fantasy year and count on him as nothing more than an emergency option.  At that point, it will be clear that he’ll need to move elsewhere in order to have any value.
 

You can safely wait past even the second wave run of quarterbacks in your draft to think about calling his name.

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