By By JOSEPH WHITE, AP Sports Writer
ASHBURN, Va. — See Jason run. See Jason take on a defender. See Jason carry a would-be tackler on his back.
See Jason slide? Please, no!
With Washington Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell calling his own number more often in recent games, one thing is becoming painfully evident: The dude can’t get down.
Opponents and teammates alike are getting a good laugh at Campbell’s awkward attempts to end his own runs. The word ‘‘elegant’’ did not spring to mind during his clock-killing, fourth-quarter meander in Sunday’s 20-17 victory over the Seattle Seahawks.
For Redskins coach Jim Zorn, this development is particularly mortifying. The gadget guy who taught quarterbacks using a Slip ’N Slide as an assistant coach in Seattle tried the same tactic in Washington this year, only to have Campbell catch his cleat because he couldn’t lift his feet up.
Zorn’s assessment of Campbell’s effort on Sunday?
Campbell is hardly the most agile of runners, but good things have happened recently with the ball tucked under his arm.
He audibled into a quarterback draw on third-and-8 against Dallas two weeks ago and ran for 22 yards, dragging tacklers in his wake. He converted a third-and-1 against Seattle with a mini-bootleg, hurdling over a defender at the line of scrimmage. He also had a 17-yard scramble in the first quarter against the Seahawks, showing no fear of contact.
But he knows he can’t go on like that forever.
Zorn certainly isn’t giving up, although he said he next round of serious sliding lessons might have to wait until the offseason.