BLANK HELMET FOOTBALL REPORT WEEK 8

BLANK HELMET FOOTBALL REPORT

They're down to their 3rd quarterback.   Brandon Weeden is 0-4 and firmly benched.  Brian Hoyer won 3 games (actually Weeden won one, but he didn't start the game), but is now out for the season.
Now what, oh Cleveland Brownies?  Into the breach steps Jason Campbell.  Remember him?  I bet you don't.

The last time the Oakland Raiders were 2 games above .500 was in 2011, at 4-2, and Jason Campbell was the starting QB (because the Jamarcus Russell purple drank flame-out was complete).  Though not flashy, Campbell seemed to have gotten his smarts into his game, and was intelligently running the offense.   Campbell then conveniently broke his collar bone, which caused the Raider front office to go completely bonkers and sign disgruntled 'all-star' QB Carson Palmer away from Cincinnati, and get the Silver and Blacked Out back to playing some atrocious football.    Palmer and Kyle Boller teamed up to throw 5 interceptions in their first game together.  It's been great ever since.

Since then, for Jason it's been the dark obscurity of 3rd string quarterback, where, in this day and age of technology you still have to hold a clipboard, and your locker is down the hall in that unused corrider full of discarded gear from the '70's.   It's even more exciting when you think you're the 2nd string guy, but when the moment comes you find out, NO, here's your clipboard and take off that blank helmet.  You're not worthy.

BUT NOT ANYMORE.   Last season, the San Diego Chargers finally got the message that Norv Turner's 'downfield' passing game is suitable for Division II college football, where you can get away with a seven-step drop and checking down through 18 receivers.  They fired his sorry rump,  and of course the Cleveland Browns immediately called him up!  Let's get that sorry rump over here and ask our QB to hold onto the ball for the absolute maximum and then, with 400 pound goons in your face, throw a perfect strike 35 yards downfield.    So,  Brandon Weeden can't deliver Norv's offense, but Philip Rivers couldn't either.

Jason Campbell, it's your turn.   I'm rooting for this guy, because the Raiders threw him so far under the bus that he ended up in the bike lane with wiry guys in snappy sweaters shaking their iPhone holders (formerly known as fists) at him.   If the Brownie line can hold off the KC line for .3 seconds, Campbell might have just long enough to notice how really really loud the crowd is.

Blank Helmet Football marches into Arrowhead,  with their Doormat Pride held high...and maybe as far away as an arm can hold it.