Will Campbell Watch

[Steve102]

 

[Huckleberry1]

If we were one of the worst teams in the NFL again and we were picking top 5 again where there was some obvious stud LT there, I'd consider taking him and moving Campbell to LG and Wilson to C. But even then, considering how Campbell has played at LT why not just play the new stud OT on the right side where Maye likes to scramble to so it might actually be just as if not more important anyway. Or maybe move Campbell there instead of inside. Or maybe someone else who has a greater need for LT offers you a draft pick haul you can take since you don't have the same desperate need for a LT.

The bottom line is you don't just move guys who have played like Campbell off of LT other than extremely rare circumstances where maybe you're blessed to fall into someone even better. And if you do move them, you try RT before inside because OT play is much harder to find. I was nervous about the projection on him not because of the actual arm length but because of how that translated to the tape of him reaching more than ideal since NFL players better take advantage of that. The only time that's really hurt him excessively was against Myles Garrett who is an all time great player and they exasperated his issue in the first half by putting a TE in line to that side which widened MG out further so it was even tougher for Campbell to reach. in the 2nd half they switched off that and he was more respectable.

People shouldn't be too stubborn to change their opinions when presented with new evidence. Campbell was super productive in college but lots of guys who are in college struggle in the pros if they can't adjust. He had some reach tendencies in college that he could overcome with strength/technique and his short arms indicated it was a physical deficiency he'd always have to compensate for against NFL players where it's tougher to do so with strength/technique. It was a valid concern. He's played his way past those concerns so far and talk of him needing to be moved off LT should be put to bed now.

It's not about his play, they can't contest that, it's about wanting to be right. Campbell has proven them 100% wrong and they want him moved to guard so they can say " see, we were right all along, he's a guard." Fortunately Vrabel isn't that stupid, and he isn't going create a massive hole at LT when there is absolutely no reason to.

 

[Huckleberry1]

A bit selective to pick out that one and ignore what @UGAPatsfan said 40 posts earlier in the same thread.

( .... and I think it would be nice if you put

"[ q u o t e ]" around his actual quote; so i didnt feel the need to go check behind you ..... but look what I found when i did; so i guess it was worthwhile. )

For the record, I never said that UGA or any of the others " hate" Campbell, I said that they didn't want him, there's a significant difference. And I checked their draft weekend posts before making that claim. And it is the same people who didn't want him on draft weekend who are now suggesting he should be moved to guard, which is really really stupid. Left tackles are really hard to get, and they have no need to look for one now because they already have a franchise left tackle.

 

[WhatJustHappened]

I dunno, I can say that I wanted Campbell.... I'm sure folks can dig that up.

I just happened to be right...for once.

 

[Gumby]

For the record, I never said that UGA or any of the others " hate" Campbell, I said that they didn't want him, there's a significant difference. And I checked their draft weekend posts before making that claim. And it is the same people who didn't want him on draft weekend who are now suggesting he should be moved to guard, which is really really stupid. Left tackles are really hard to get, and they have no need to look for one now because they already have a franchise left tackle.

From my side; I 100% agree w your opinion on Campbell at LT. [ Who takes out a guy playing as a rookie at top 5 of 32 in league AS A ROOKIE, with the hope to replace him w a guy who plays at 15-16 (avg) ] I almost always prefer drafting big-heavies first, so had no issues with selection back then either.
(& preferred Campbell over Hunter if we had had that choice.)

I just am not really into this personal-level back-forth that happens sometimes. If it happens, I just thought it disingenuous to only post one of his several multiple-sid3d opinions from back then. So I added that context.

No worries. Carry on.

 

[n1997y]

… I almost always prefer drafting big-heavies first, so had no issues with selection back then either.
.

that got me wondering what kind of results would ensue if a team religiously spent their first pick on the best O lineman available.

Every year spend your first pick, regardless of round, on the player you believe is the best offensive lineman available. For the rest of the draft, and free agency, follow your normal team building philosophy.

What would you say would be the most likeky outcome? Why?

 

[ctpatsfan77]

that got me wondering what kind of results would ensue if a team religiously spent their first pick on the best O lineman available.

Every year spend your first pick, regardless of round, on the player you believe is the best offensive lineman available. For the rest of the draft, and free agency, follow your normal team building philosophy.

What would you say would be the most likeky outcome? Why?

Depends. Do you already have a franchise QB?

 

[Huckleberry1]

that got me wondering what kind of results would ensue if a team religiously spent their first pick on the best O lineman available.

Every year spend your first pick, regardless of round, on the player you believe is the best offensive lineman available. For the rest of the draft, and free agency, follow your normal team building philosophy.

What would you say would be the most likeky outcome? Why?

It always comes down to the actual player you pick. You don't become the best team by always going need, or by focusing on one unit. As far as drafting goes you become the best team by drafting the best players/ people, as character really matters once they get to the pros. There are tijes when need trumps bpa, such as QB and left tackle, but even then you have to get the right guy or itvwont work out. In the Patriots case they were able to address their biggest needs the last 2 years, snd got the right guys. Now i would go best player available more than anything else. Simply focusing on need is how guys like Ed Reed end up going in the 20's, and you miss out on great players by focusing too much on need. I have no problem with making the lines a priority, and would love to see them build both the best offensive and defensive lines in football, but they still need to be smart about it. They had a great offseason earlier this year by not forcing thr issue in free agrncy and going D heavy there, and yhen addressing the offense early in the draft. They need to take a similar approach this coming offseason, don't force anything and bring in the best players available to them in both the draft and free agency.

 

[Huckleberry1]

From my side; I 100% agree w your opinion on Campbell at LT. [ Who takes out a guy playing as a rookie at top 5 of 32 in league AS A ROOKIE, with the hope to replace him w a guy who plays at 15-16 (avg) ] I almost always prefer drafting big-heavies first, so had no issues with selection back then either.
(& preferred Campbell over Hunter if we had had that choice.)

I just am not really into this personal-level back-forth that happens sometimes. If it happens, I just thought it disingenuous to only post one of his several multiple-sid3d opinions from back then. So I added that context.

No worries. Carry on.

No problem. I could have been clearer about my point, as most of those who didn't want Campbell started rooting for him once he became a Patriot. However those who are now talking about moving him to guard are also the people who didn't want them to draft him because they claimed his arms were too short, and he proved them completely wrong about that, but they still won't let that go. So when someone says " move him to guard" I go check where they stood during the draft, and so far the people who want to move him to guard are the exact same people who said he wasn't a tackle. Campbell has proven them wrong, but they still want to be right.

 

[sb1]

Wouldn't it make more sense to look for a really good G prospect in the draft instead of creating a hole at LT that doesn't exist today so they can pretend that Campbell is the next John Hannah at guard?

 

[patfanken]

UGA, let me explain to me the myriad of reasons why this would NOT be a good idea, even if you are right and Campbell could be a better G than LT and I'm not sure you are right about that, as I think he might end up being JUST as good a LT as a LG.

Back in the days of the first dynasty I religiously wrote 3 or 4 post a year, proclaiming that Matt Light would be an all world LG instead of a solid yet unspectacular LT who always needed help with speed rushers. BB failed to listen to me and over time I have come to realize why, so I KNOW where you are coming from and I will try to explain to you the error of your ways

1. BB understood just how hard it is to find a capable and dependable LT in this league and Will Campbell has FAR more potential than Matt Light as a LT. Bill also believed it is FAR easier to find a quality LG than a LT and proved it by having 2 great ones in a row with , Mankins, and Tuney over a period of about 15 years starting in 2005 and running till 2020, when Tuney left for the 2021 season to be the highest paid OG IIRC. In the meantime, good but not great men manned the LT spot well (Light followed by Solder, though Solder left after 2017 for the biggest OL contract in the league. The point here is that Bill valued a solid LT over an all pro LG. That is how important he felt a decent LT was and how hard it was to find one. When it was time to replace Light, he used the highest pick he'd had in years (17) to get him.

2. The other point is that you would use the #4 pick in the entire draft to get an exceptional athlete to play a PREMIUM position then move him inside to play a position that has been easily filled at a much lesser cost of draft assets makes no sense. The idea of just trading down to pick up Membu, Banks or Simmons adds the element of risk to the job. Once you trade down you are no longer in control of getting the player. Besides Membu had never played LT in his career and still hasn't. Simmons was a serious injury risk, and Banks, though pretty good, has not been as good as Campbell this season. The same for Ersery. Also, IIRC, Campbell has been rated higher than his rookie counterparts until his injury

3. At just 21 and not even fully grown, the upside of Campbell isn't nearly reached. He's been a quality LT this season. He will be even better next year with a year of strength training and the knowledge he's picked up this year

4. Bottom line - Even if you are correct and Cambell became a great LG, you do NOT use the 4th pick in the draft to get a LG. You just don't. Many years ago, I trod the path you are on now. I was wrong then just as you are now. Learn from my error while there is still time.

 

[Gumby]

that got me wondering what kind of results would ensue if a team religiously spent their first pick on the best O lineman available.

Every year spend your first pick, regardless of round, on the player you believe is the best offensive lineman available. For the rest of the draft, and free agency, follow your normal team building philosophy.

What would you say would be the most likeky outcome? Why?

For the record: I said “big heavies”.
- I absolutely did not say “ONLY on the OL”. DT/DE (for ex: Wilfork) are also big heavies.

 

[n1997y]

For the record: I said “big heavies”.
- I absolutely did not say “ONLY on the OL”. DT/DE (for ex: Wilfork) are also big heavies.

Understood.

I choose to specify drafting OL because I believe it is unlikely that any truly outstanding OLinemen will be available in free agency at any reasonable price. They will either be resigned by their present team or they will be looking for top dollar.

And I was focusing on building the highest quality OL depth possible. A consequence of my view on the free agent OL market is that high quality OL depth will be too expensive to acquire through FA, so the way to get backup OL players that are better than JAGs is through the draft.

I think DL is a little different. Elite D linemen are also going to either be locked up by their present team or getting top dollar, but some really good players can still be found at reasonable prices in free agency. Tonga is an example.

 

[Huckleberry1]

According to Doug Kyed on Twitter Dec.8th Will Campbell was seen walking through the locker room with nothing on his keg, and later put a sleeve on his knee.


Campbell is going to beback for the playoffs.

 

[The Gr8est]

According to Doug Kyed on Twitter Dec.8th Will Campbell was seen walking through the locker room with nothing on his keg, and later put a sleeve on his knee.


Campbell is going to beback for the playoffs.

I really hope he wears a knee brace, but not my decision.

 

[Huckleberry1]

I really hope he wears a knee brace, but not my decision.

I'm sure he will, I won't be surprised if Vrabel tells him he has to if he wants to play.

 

[Raccoonsuit]

Y'all really want to love campbell to guard?!

Patriots Guard Slams Beers vs.

Patriots Tackle Slams Beers

I mean come on.

 

[imahobgoblin]

Y'all really want to love campbell to guard?!

Patriots Guard Slams Beers vs.

Patriots Tackle Slams Beers

I mean come on.

No. It is not happening regardless of what idiots say. And that is what this idea is - idiocy. Will Campbell is our franchise LT as long as he is healthy. He has had a very good year and will just continue to improve.

 

[Real fan 02]

 

[Betterthanmost]

He has a long way to go if he is going to be the LT protecting Maye. This was similar to his performance against the Browns. Houston, if we get them will be licking their chops.