Thursday, September 24: Jason Campbell And Jim Zorn, Up Close
There are a lot of commenters here who like to speculate about Jason Campbell. About his intelligence, about his leadership abilities, and most of all about his relationship with head coach Jim Zorn. And I can insist that Campbell is better than people suspect in every one of those categories; I can write it until my hands cramp up and I can't type any more, but it was always tough to present evidence to the contrary beyond anecdotal evidence.
Fortunately, NFL Films had both Campbell and Zorn miked up during Sunday's game, and this resulting video makes things much clearer in just five minutes. It also makes me feel a lot better about the Rams game as a whole. Just fascinating stuff all around.
You can watch it in even higher resolution at NFL.com, but the most impressive parts come through loud and clear here:
• Zorn and Campbell, unified in their analysis of the long-pass-that-wasn't:
Zorn: "We just had a touchdown if we'd'a blocked that one. Man. That's too bad."
Campbell: "Hey great call on the noose, that's a freakin' touchdown, man."
• The coach and the players, just as frustrated by the lack of scoring as the fans were. After Sellers' dropped TD-that-wasn't:
Zorn: "K, there's two opportunities gone." Then, to Campbell over the headset, "Well, you can't catch the ball for the guys." And then, maybe a little later, as Eminem's Lose Yourself comes over the stadium P.A. "God! Can we score a touchdown? I don't think they've stopped us yet."
• On the fourth-and-1-that-wasn't, Campbell slapping the guys in the huddle on the helmet and saying, "Gut check time, let's go, here we go."
And then Campbell relaying Zorn's encouragement to the guys in the huddle -- and adding his own emphasis. "Hey, we get this, game over," he says, as per Zorn. Then, "But forget that junk; let's go score."
• And Rams coach -- and former Giants defensive coordinator -- Steve Spagnuolo, not only thanking Zorn for taking the knee instead of punching the ball in on the final series, but making an observation about the game that makes the lack of scoring seem much less troublesome. "That was like an NFC East game," he says.
"Unbelievable," Zorn responds.
Fortunately, NFL Films had both Campbell and Zorn miked up during Sunday's game, and this resulting video makes things much clearer in just five minutes. It also makes me feel a lot better about the Rams game as a whole. Just fascinating stuff all around.
You can watch it in even higher resolution at NFL.com, but the most impressive parts come through loud and clear here:
• Zorn and Campbell, unified in their analysis of the long-pass-that-wasn't:
Zorn: "We just had a touchdown if we'd'a blocked that one. Man. That's too bad."
Campbell: "Hey great call on the noose, that's a freakin' touchdown, man."
• The coach and the players, just as frustrated by the lack of scoring as the fans were. After Sellers' dropped TD-that-wasn't:
Zorn: "K, there's two opportunities gone." Then, to Campbell over the headset, "Well, you can't catch the ball for the guys." And then, maybe a little later, as Eminem's Lose Yourself comes over the stadium P.A. "God! Can we score a touchdown? I don't think they've stopped us yet."
• On the fourth-and-1-that-wasn't, Campbell slapping the guys in the huddle on the helmet and saying, "Gut check time, let's go, here we go."
And then Campbell relaying Zorn's encouragement to the guys in the huddle -- and adding his own emphasis. "Hey, we get this, game over," he says, as per Zorn. Then, "But forget that junk; let's go score."
• And Rams coach -- and former Giants defensive coordinator -- Steve Spagnuolo, not only thanking Zorn for taking the knee instead of punching the ball in on the final series, but making an observation about the game that makes the lack of scoring seem much less troublesome. "That was like an NFC East game," he says.
"Unbelievable," Zorn responds.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
9-24-2009 @ 9:06AM
dyin2 said...
I love that stuff. That makes me feel better about the Skins.
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9-24-2009 @ 9:35AM
Graham said...
This is excellent, i really enjoyed seeing this. Was this a one time thing or something that will keep getting posted?
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9-24-2009 @ 9:39AM
Steve H said...
OK, now I feel better about the game! I still need to see more production out of the O-line as it relates to the running game though!!
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9-24-2009 @ 10:03AM
Gnome said...
NFL films is amazing.
How can you watch that and not feel like they both 'get it'. Unfortunately it's not about 'getting it' it's about 'getting it done'.
Still, makes me want to root for them even harder.
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9-24-2009 @ 10:20AM
punchdaclock said...
Too Much Information is right. Zorn could dial it back a little, but I think that is just his personality. I think Jason understands that and has learned to adjust to Zorn.
The NFL Films footage (or the edit) is better then what was shown on Showtime Inside the NFL.
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9-24-2009 @ 10:25AM
YH said...
Awesome sound byte! I hope we can see this on a weekly basis. Go Skins - you can do it J.C.
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9-24-2009 @ 10:33AM
pez dispenser said...
JZ "That was our best play guys".
A stretch play on 4th and 1? That was their best play??? I guess that half back option was their second best play. Scary stuff.
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9-24-2009 @ 12:05PM
Bhqmiller said...
If you had any clue about football you can tell that, a strectch play was not called in that situation, CP was supposed to cut up, and you can CLEARLY see that in the video, the guys on the O-line missed their assignments and CP had to stretch it. Also, with that being said, that run (not the stretch like you may think) but having CP go between Dockery and Samuels is their best play, that is their bread and butter run play. So don't get caught up in what you think you know.
9-24-2009 @ 11:08AM
Willie said...
Thanks Matt, this was an eye opener for a lot of people who don't know what really goes on in the huddle and on the sidelines.
It IS good to see and hear what kind of relationship Zorn and Jason have.
Thanks again
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9-24-2009 @ 10:56AM
adam.russell.ext said...
wow....that was pretty realistic. im glad that i saw that cuz ive been burying these guys pretty good all week. its just we "the fan" want to see a coming out if you will. a massive beat down on another team. win by double digit points. and to play these garbage teams and squeek out wins - thats where the frustratio lies. but enough. the lions are next and lets take it out on them. go skins and as always....Hail
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9-24-2009 @ 11:06AM
Mike said...
It's good to see Zorn and Campbell are just as frustrated as the fans. Also it shows the class of our organization and sportsmanship of Zorn at the end. The offense did play well this game and if the first ball wasn't under thrown and a few other mistakes didn't happen this would have been a blow out victory. This makes it seem even more shameful that fans booed but now it's over. Time to smash some lions. Enjoy your trip to detroit matt.
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9-24-2009 @ 3:27PM
rymensch said...
Agreed. And at least Z adjusted and we threw the ball! I think we are really close to being a decent team, we just need to figure out how to get the ball in our playmaker's hands in the zone. I also liked how JC was visibly frustrated after some miscues on offense.
9-24-2009 @ 11:11AM
HZ said...
I like the part where Zorn tells campbell "If you see cover 6, then run".
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9-24-2009 @ 11:13AM
danieljsmilack said...
Too much information? For all you Zorn haters out there the guy called his shot. He told JC to run or hit the backside if he sees the 6 man cover. The guys a good coach, alot of you are simply impatient. Hail!
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9-24-2009 @ 11:25AM
brandon252006 said...
I dont like how he pretty much tells him where to throw the ball.. But other than that its a good clip and a very revealing one at that with all the coaching and never knew jason didnt curse thats impressive with all the critisism..
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9-24-2009 @ 12:11PM
BrianNjRedskinFan said...
this was much needed.
Lets go skins!
Reply
9-24-2009 @ 12:11PM
Bhqmiller said...
I have to admit, I was throwing Zorn and the team under the bus after last Sunday, but listening to Zorn, Campbell on Mondays on 106.7 The fan, and just the other sound bites coming from the media, I began to change my way of thinking, this was the dagger for me, very nice to see that Zorn is not as clueless as some (including) myself think. Seems like Santana Moss was open on that one play where JC had to throw the ball away, just from both of their reactions (Zorns and JC) I also enjoy when he tells JC that he can't catch the ball for them, Very optimistic from this video AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME
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9-24-2009 @ 12:59PM
dragunzmail said...
You know this is the kind of material any so called Monday Quarterback out there needs to see before they start spewing their venom all over the place. Lets not forget we won the game! Was it ugly...heck yes...but a win is still a win. I watched the game, and thanks to high def and the ability to pause and rewind the game my friends and i saw pretty much what you see here. An offense that had its chances, but missed by just a bit, and a defense that has to worry almost any team we face. They will get better, and as long as our defense plays with that passion we will right this ship....HAIL!
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9-24-2009 @ 1:40PM
raymond.thom said...
As a former player, coach, and current fan of the SKINS, I applaud the footage of this game. It comes at just the right time. In my eyes, the interchange between coach and player defeats all arguments AGAINST both Jim and Jason. I would go to battle with these guys any day of the week, month or year in any environment because I can recognize the intellect, heart, and tenacity to achieve more... The SKINS will rise or fall based upon these too... not CP, Cooley or the other players, no disrespect intended for they are all exceptional in there own right. But JZ and JC will close the deal. As a fan who has suffered through the lows since 72 to the highs of the 80's and back again, good days are coming. Just keep the faith for the promised land is near... and we are about to leave the wilderness.
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9-24-2009 @ 1:15PM
tdye29 said...
Man I love this stuff.
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