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Training Camp Preview: QUARTERBACK
Well, for the first time in a few years, we actually enter training camp with number 1 set. Third year QB Jason Campbell is the future of the franchise and the future has arrived. Campbell enters TC ‘07 solidified as the starter with former starter Mark Brunell not quite as solidified as backup and may face a curious battle with Todd Collins, but in the end, Brunell is expected to remain the bakup. So even though the starter spot is nailed down, number 2 is likely not a lock; the battle in camp will be for the third qaurterback roster spot, the clipboard holder and signal caller. The Redskins enter camp with 3 young quarterbacks vying for the final roster spot.
hR BACKUP PREDICTION: Won’t spend too much time here on the backup spot to Campbell. We think this will go to Mark Brunell easily.
CAMP BATTLE: Third Quarterback
Casey Bramlet enters his second training camp with the Redskins, being released last year at the end of Camp. Bramlet was re-signed this off-season to compete at the third spot. Bramlet was a 2005 seventh round draft chocie by the Bengals before coming to the Redskins in off-season 2006.
Bramlet is known for a strong arm. He showed it off this off-season in NFL Europe. As a Redskins signee in NFLE, Bramlet was assigned to Hamburg. Bramlet decided to use NFLE as a learning tool and did so by impressing NFL scouts and catching the eye of the Redskins coaching staff making the third quarterback spot in camp a renewed interesting battle. Bramlet led Hamburg to a thrilling 37-28 win over defending NFLE champs Frankfurt to claim the title. More so, Bramlet earned the championship MVP after tossing 4 TDs passes and passing for 347 yards. For the season, Bramlet was third in NFLE with a 100.6 QB rating, led the NFLE with the least amount of interceptions with just 5, second overall with 1,810 yards, and tied for the league lead with 15 touchdown passes. Bramlet’s strength entering camp is experience, it will be his second training camp with Washington, and he is coming off big success in NFL Europe that has caught the eye of Gibbs and Saunders. However, due to his presence in NFLE, Bramlet was not present at the OTAs, unlike newcomers Palmer and Hollenbach.
Bramlet’s comments on Camp …
“I’ve seen what’s going on [in Washington] but I’ve been trying to concentrate on what’s going on over here,” he said. “It’s going to be a battle, there’s great competition but I feel like I learned a lot over here.”
and snippets from Redskins.com
“I’ll get in the playbook and start learning the plays. It’s been a while since I’ve looked at [the Redskins playbook]. So now I just want to get as prepared as I can as I get ready for training camp.”
Bramlet will compete with two rookies, one drafted, one undrafted.
Jordon Palmer was drafted in the 6th round in this years draft by the Redskins. Palmer is the younger brother to Bengals superstar QB Carson Palmer, but is no where near the level of play of his older Bro, who went in the top of the first round. Palmer started at QB with UTEP since his sophomore season. Palmer completeed 58% of passes in 2004, 59% in 2005, and 65% in 2006. He also threw for 26 or more TD passes in each season at UTEP. Here are two scouting reports from the NFL draft on Palmer (both sites were listed in the hR Mock Draft Database).
Palmer is the prototypical pocket passer. He is big, with a strong arm, and a gunslinger’s mentality. He has the arm to make all the throws, and shows the athleticism to maneuver around the rush in the pocket and throw on the run … While the gunslinger attitude is a positive, it is also a negative for Palmer. He tries to throw the ball through the defense too often, relying on his arm to make plays. He needs to learn to take what the defense gives him more often, and not force the ball so much.
Palmer has been the starting quarterback at UTEP for the past 3 1/2 years. He is a hard worker who always strives for continuous improvement in his game … has prototypical size for an NFL quarterback. He displays good mechanics and has a strong arm with the ability to make all the throws required of a quarterback at the professional level. He is athletic enough to avoid the rush. He can get out of the pocket and has the ability to make an accurate throw on the run when needed. Playing in the WAC and Conference USA at UTEP, Palmer didn’t face top competition on a regular basis. He did have some accuracy problems early on in his career but he has improved greatly in that area as a senior. He lacks a quick release and has a tendency to force the ball into coverage, which has led to too many interceptions during his time at UTEP. He has all the tools to in time become a successful quarterback at the next level. He has a good deal of upside and should be taken in the mid-rounds by a team looking for a developmental quarterback.
Palmer was certainly drafted as a project for Al Saunders to possibly develop. His arm size and strength are clearly attractive skills that may have attracted the Redskins draft team. Living under the shadow of his older brother, Palmer di dput together a rather impressive career at UTEP and on most draft charts was listed within the Top 12 QB available.
Comments by Palmer on training camp …
“Now it is the first goal in a line of many. Really, the first step is making the team. That’s what I am excited about and that’s all I’m focusing on right now.” … ”I’ll have to be consistent and make every rep count. Also, a big part of it is, when you are not in, you have to take mental reps. “Being a starting quarterback for four years and coming into this system, it is different. I have to get back into the rhythm of basically being a freshman again. So I have to get used to taking mental reps when I am not in.”
Palmer’s work will be cut out for him in order to displace a 13 year NFL veteran and an MVP of the NFLE World Bowl. If Palmer fails to make the roster, he could be a potential target for the practice squad.
Finally, former Maryland product and undrafted QB Sam Hollenbach was brought and will be given an opportunity to compete. Hollenbach started his junior and senior seasons at cross town University of Maryland. Hollenbach’s stats were not that impressive throwing more picks in his junior year than he did TDs. In his senior year, Hollenbach tossed 15 TDs but added 11 interceptions. He completed 61% of his passes his junior year and 62% his senior year. Nearly all NFL Draft coverage sites had Hollenbach lower than the Top 12 QBs available.
Here are comments from Hollenbach on training camp…
A big part of playing backup quarterback in the NFL is being able to learn what’s going in on days like [those during minicamp] without taking reps,” Hollenbach said. “I need to be able to learn from other people’s mistakes on the field.”
“Coach Saunders is just saying: ‘You keep working. We know you aren’t getting as many reps as you want right now, but that’s life right now,’ ” Hollenbach said. “He kind of equated it to a redshirt year in college, where they’re looking for a quarterback who’s not necessarily going to take snaps this year in games, but [for someone] who’s going to be able to learn and progress and possibly play in the future.”
Hollebach’s biggest problem wikll be recognition and time to show coaches he belongs.
So, through several media sources, it appears the battle for number two will be between Brunell and Collins, but the Redskins do not plan on keeping both. Our prediction on that was listed above. That leaves Bramlet, Hollenbach, and Palmer battling for the third QB slot on the roster. So Hollenbach looked better than Palmer in the OTA’s, but Palmer’s postives outweigh Hollenbach’s. Palmer also has the edge of being a draft selection. Then you have Bramlet who seem to sprout wings in NFLE and put together fine numbers that the Redskins took notice.
So who is in the lead? The beauty of it, absolutely no one, they need to win the spot in TC 2007. What a battle it will be.
hR PREDICTIONS: Casey Bramlet will win the third QB slot and Jordan Palmer will land on the practice squad.
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