As a former QB himself, coach Jim Zorn gives Jason Campbell some advice on taking lots of hits. Advice that includes the phrase “hunky-dory.“

“I try to prepare our QBs. I tell them, ‘You are going to get hit at least seven times this game. And they’re going to be tremendous hits. And you’ve got to get back up.‘ Because quarterbacks get hit. I don’t want them going into any game thinking its going to be hunky-dory or a walk in the park. When they do get hit and they don’t know where it came from, I try to give them the correct information. ... I think that helps the QB. ... If you can tell them what happened, it gives them a chance to say, OK, we’ll get that taken care of. He’s not going to whiff twice. Or we’re going to help the guy who wiffed.“

Zorn added that the physical toll of all those hits, while great, isn’t necessarily apparent at the time. He said that a rusher who comes from in front of you will be noticeable enough that you can step away, and one from the blind side comes too quickly to worry about.

“When you don’t see them coming, you hit the ground so fast that it doesn’t hurt, you just wonder why you’re on the ground. It’s about falling correctly, securing the ball, and letting the coach dial up the next play. .. that’s part of maintaining your poise.“