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E16 Sunday, July 29, 2007 S The Washington Post Professional Football

MIKE WISE Here’s a Change: Quarterback Is the Same

WISE, From E1 whole lot of experience, don’t try to take the pressure that dubbed Ramsey, everybody is trying to put on another youngster with a cannon you, that you’re the reason why of a right arm, his team’s everybody is going to win games. unquestioned starter. I had sat Don’t do that. You’re still a down with Mark Brunell a year young quarterback, but you can ago after he was named the be a winner.’ ” unquestioned starter. Dating Johnson also told him: “I know from Johnson and on to Jeff it was tough last year, but that George, Tony Banks and beyond, happens at this level. But just I’m guessing they all believed turn it around and help the team they were the one at some point, turn it around.” the next Jurgensen, Kilmer or Said Campbell: “He’s like, Theismann. ‘Just build the guys.’ He said the But in the eight seasons since year they went to the playoffs Johnson passed for more than they went through ups and 4,000 yards and 24 , downs but they won as a whole there have been 10 changes at team.” the position. As believing and Campbell’s obsession with genuine as the 25-year-old kid learning ’s playbook from Taylorsville, Miss., sounds, and putting in the hours during what makes Campbell immune to the offseason has been recent history? At some point, well-documented. He said he he’s got to hear the unrealistic went home to Mississippi for a chatter about the season riding mere five days, where he slept, on his young shoulders. ate good barbeque and knocked “Is it on you?” I asked, like any on Brett Favre’s door to see if the caller from Miserable Suburban legend of Hattiesburg was home. Guy radio might. After he was drafted, “I don’t feel like it’s on me,” he Campbell bought a home for his said. “But that’s the way it’s mother and father about a mile always been. People always say, from Favre’s house. Campbell’s ‘It all depends on the father, now retired, sometimes quarterback,’ but you need a works as a teacher’s assistant team doing their job also. So you and had Favre’s daughter in class can’t put that kind of pressure on one day. yourself to think you can go out When he was a junior in high there and win games [alone].” school, Campbell worked out That last line is a telling with Favre and an athletic trainer statement. The problem with during the summer. This Ramsey, I always felt, was that he summer he wanted to catch up truly believed his failure at any with Favre, whom he had not had crucial moment was going to an opportunity to speak to in lead to the season blowing up person for a while. because of him. He tried to play “I went to his house but you it off, but he always had this can’t get to it,” Campbell said. weight-on-his-shoulders feel to “You have this gate about 300 his game and his demeanor. yards long surrounding his Maybe the worst thing that house. I called from the call box. can happen to this team as they I tried to get in but no one was attempt to rebound from an home to answer.” 11-loss eyesore is for anyone to Presumably, he wanted to ask put the season’s outcome solely Favre about what to expect going on Campbell’s conscience. into the season as a starter. Or People have to learn to maybe how to conquer America’s manage their expectations of most popular sport when you PHOTOS BY PRESTON KERES — THE WASHINGTON POST Campbell like Campbell has to come from a backwoods nook Here, Redskins wide receiver Brandon Lloyd (85) is in front of Antwaan Randle El (82). On the depth chart, however, it is the other way around. learn how to manage a football and cranny that has 7,000 people game. His only worry should be and five stores. about marshaling his team The good thing for Campbell forward. He’s often going to have is, he doesn’t have to be Brett to rein in his talent to ensure his Favre tomorrow. The hope that Now a Reserve, Lloyd Seeks New Start development. he is going to be good or even Efficiency rather than great this season is misplaced. REDSKINS, From E1 twice a day. electricity, that whole He needs to be stable and they’ll “I can’t think of too many guys move-the-chains game that Gibbs have a shot. If he was so Moss in the starting lineup. I’ve ever played with that have loves and has won with in the fortunate to complete 61 percent Lloyd last started in the 24-14 the ability that Brandon has,” past. of his passes and have a 2-to-1 loss to the Falcons last season. Springs said. “That’s why I want- Johnson told Campbell that, -to- ratio, “Antwaan is the starter and ed to work out with him as a vet- too, when they sat down this that might be good enough for Brandon is the backup because eran guy. He can do anything he summer at a quarterback 10-6 and the playoffs. that’s the way we ended it last wants on a football field. He’s challenge in the Caribbean. After 10 changes in eight year,” Saunders said. got that much talent.” “He was very helpful,” he said. seasons at quarterback, Jason Yesterday, Lloyd made his In March, Lloyd and Gibbs “He’s like: ‘Even though it’s your Campbell should know: being first public comments since his met at the Biltmore Hotel. third year and you haven’t had a Brad Johnson today is okay. December meeting with Gibbs, Gibbs said the meeting was and he was stoic. He said he had productive. “no idea” how his first season in “We expect him to be an im- Washington could have gone so pact player,” Gibbs said. “He wrong, and that he did not see looked very good in the OTA being placed third on the depth days. He’s a big part of this team, chart as particularly significant. and we are counting on him. We “That doesn’t mean a lot to invested a lot in him and I would me. We run so many three-wide certainly hope that he has a great situations,” he said. “Last year Including his stint with the 49ers, Lloyd’s teams are 10-31 when he starts. year. Hopefully he steps up and we started every game three- Currently he is third on the depth chart, behind Randle El and Santana Moss. we have a great year.” wide and probably ran 90 per- The fit in 2006 was not ideal. cent of our plays in three-wide thing.” Bureau, Lloyd’s 23 catches tied Lloyd chafed that quarterbacks sets, so I’m going to get my Physically, Lloyd looks consid- him for 146th in the league. Mark Brunell and later Jason share of passes and whatever I erably larger than last year. He His 365 yards left him in sole Campbell were not looking for need to do to help the team, I’ll said he would play at about eight possession of 111th place. him enough; the coaches began do it.” pounds over last year’s weight. Meanwhile, Lloyd clashed on gravitating toward Randle El be- The Redskins started nine According to NFL.com, Lloyd the sideline with coaches and cause of his apparently greater games in three-wide sets last sea- suffered through the worst sea- teammates during games at Indi- willingness to go over the mid- son and on a team that tradition- son for a starting receiver in the anapolis and New Orleans. dle. ally attempts to play down the era. In his career, Lloyd’s teams “Santana Moss is an estab- significance of the starting role, He was healthy for the major- are 10-31 in the games that he lished receiver as far as playmak- Saunders made the clear dis- ity of the year, yet did not score a has started and yet after his ing ability and all-pro status. An- tinction. touchdown. No starting No. 2 meeting with Gibbs, he said, “I twaan Randle El is established “I just need to go out and wide receiver in the NFL started have an attitude that is good for and experienced and has a Super catch balls, continue to run good more games (12) while produc- a winning team.” Bowl ring,” Lloyd said. “James routes, continue to make big ing less (23 catches, 365 yards). He does, however, have sup- Thrash has played in the league plays,” Lloyd said. “I feel like I Lloyd did not rank in the top 60 port. Shawn Springs for 11 seasons, and we have a need to continue to run routes in the NFL in either yards or re- and Lloyd worked out together handful of guys that are leaders. BY JOHN MCDONNELL — THE WASHINGTON POST and continue to block. Every- ceptions. in Scottsdale, Ariz. Lloyd said he You just fall in place and try to , now in his third season with the Redskins, is hoping that thing. I need to improve at every- According to the Elias Sports worked out six days a week, learn as much as you can.” he can bring some long-awaited stability to the quarterback position.

Training Camp Tracker By Steve Yanda

COUNTDOWN SUMMER STORY LINES | CROWDED AT CORNERBACK FRESH FACE QUOTABLE INJURY REPORT TO KICKOFF As cornerback Carlos Despite the success played for “ is used in G Randy Thomas sat out both Rogers tells it, last Smoot had as a when he was practices with a sore knee. LB H.B. 42 season’s 5-11 Redskin, he hauled in a member of the , the same vein as we Blades left the morning practice with Days until the campaign would have only three but there was one practice used in cramps and did not participate in the Redskins host the been turned around in method the middle Kansas City. He’s a afternoon session. TE Tyler Ecker left Dolphins on completely were it not Minnesota. But Rogers did not quite recall. “I’m not the morning practice with a strained Sunday, Sept. 9 for a few of the said he is not worried used to those up-downs,” a grinning Fletcher said. multiple-threat receiver.” groin and did not return in the at FedEx Field. interceptions he about names or stats, Williams “didn’t do it at Buffalo. They didn’t tell me afternoon, either. DE Bryant Shaw sat dropped. Rodgers had Carlos Rogers vs. Fred Smoot just about about those until after I signed.” For the past five Al Saunders, out the afternoon session with TODAY’S 88 tackles but just improvement. seasons, the nine-year veteran led the Bills in associate head cramps. SCHEDULE one interception. His need to improve his A first-round pick in 2005 out of Auburn, tackles. According to linebacker Marcus Washington, coach-offense catching ability in the offseason grew when Rogers recorded two interceptions in his the Redskins will look to Fletcher for more than just a When: Open the Redskins signed free agent cornerback rookie season. He missed one game in 2006 physical presence on the field. “He won a Super practice, 4 p.m. Fred Smoot. Smoot played his first four because of a fractured thumb, an injury he Bowl; he’s been there,” Washington said. “He’s a (Gates open at seasons in Washington and led the team in said has healed fully. Through the first three leader, and that’s going to help us.” Prior to his stint 2 p.m.) interceptions in three of them. He spent the practices of training camp, Rogers has taken with the Bills, Fletcher played four seasons for the Where: Redskins last two seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. first-team snaps and appears sure-handed St. Louis Rams, including a Super Bowl win after the NEXT UP Park, Ashburn. “If he wasn’t here, I’d still be competing for during the ’ pass-catching drills. 1999 season. He signed with the Redskins on March Admission, my job,” Rogers said. “Him being here just “I’m just trying to stay consistent,” he said. 3 and said he’s been looking forward to training Scrimmage vs. Baltimore Parking: Free. makes the secondary more competitive.” The “Right now, it’s about us all getting on the camp since. “It gets me that much closer to the Ravens

Updates: job Rogers referred to is the starting same page.” season,” he said. And that much closer to being Noon Saturday, M&T Bank Stadium

703-726-7411. cornerback slot opposite Shawn Springs. through with those up-downs.

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