I owe Will Campbell an apology.

[aluminum seats]

After I read your comment I was like WOW, dude is a young kid that just got his ass kicked and has an injury. I thought your comment was a **** move. But that fact that you recognized it and gave a public mea culpa is a sign that you sir a good dude and I apologize for the things I thought about you after reading it.

And you know, I was angry for what you thought about @UGAPatsfan but now that you’ve apologized to him for thinking that and he’s apologized to Will Campbell for saying that about him, then I think I should apologize to you for thinking that about him saying that.

 

[dliverey44]

And you know, I was angry for what you thought about @UGAPatsfan but now that you’ve apologized to him for thinking that and he’s apologized to Will Campbell for saying that about him, then I think I should apologize to you for thinking that about him saying that.

I knew that you knew I thought those things

 

[UGAPatsfan]

Honestly there is only one poster I literally despise and blocked long ago, and one new one who crossed a line (unrelated to football) during the game that derailed the GDT who I will now forever ignore because I don’t respect or entertain blatant racists.

I’ve had disagreements with plenty of folks here over the years but most are decent posters who love the team.

We all just have different hot buttons.

 

[jan08]

I couldn't care less if any player wants to speak to the media after a game. Was amazed the "story" became a thing. Has anyones enjoyment of a game been amplified or nullified because of a post game interview?

 

[patman12]

Good on you, UGA.

 

[Horace's Ivories]

Will Campbell is a great dude. He and Drake were hampered by injury and they never used it as an excuse. Love these guys..

 

[Ross12]

He is a very mature individual for his age. He will be a locker room leader with time. I still feel confident that with one or two years of full offseason NFL conditioning, he will be able to develop his body and his technique to better deal with the types of DEs that he struggled with this year. I don’t think he will ever be an All Pro, but he can be Nate Solder level with some moxie who is also a main figurehead of the identity of the team and that is good enough for me.

 

[UGAPatsfan]

I couldn't care less if any player wants to speak to the media after a game. Was amazed the "story" became a thing. Has anyones enjoyment of a game been amplified or nullified because of a post game interview?

Actually, yes.

I agree with your general take but I absolutely enjoy post game interviews and podcasts etc. enhances the experience for me.

 

[EddardSnow67]

Respect.

 

[TomPatriot]

Good on you, UGA.

I completely agree and now let’s move on. Time for the team to work on getting better.

 

[bormio]

Maye having Campbell’s back is a sign of a leader. Obviously the coaches decide who plays where, but Maye speaking out when I’m sure he is dying inside about his own play will earn Maye great respect on the team.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

We all just have different hot buttons.

Now that we have all hugged it out, we are going to talk about hot buttons??

 

[dliverey44]

Now that we have all hugged it out, we are going to talk about hot buttons??

Hugging it out with him was my hot button...if you know what I mean

 

[PatsfanTN]

I took major issue after the game with him refusing to speak to media after having an awful game.

I called him weak and maybe even a ****y…if I didn’t, I thought it.

Most of that came from a personal belief that you need to be accountable and visible when things go poorly just as when things go well. I also didn’t love that Drake sat there and took the lumps, while Will didn’t.

But this quote today (courtesy of BSJ) changed my mind:

“ I'm not gonna give any sound bites today, but the guy in the locker room [after the game] is a young man who has a lot of emotions, who probably doesn't care what he says," Campbell explained. "I'm trying to think of the best way to say this ... . When I get emotional, I tend to have no mind, and that's not the way that I need to approach this thing. And like I said, I know myself, and if I would have spoken after, I would have said something that I didn't need to say. So I slept on it. I watched it. I know what I gotta get better at and move on."

I now realize the kid knows himself and exercised sound judgement that he was better off saying nothing than what he likely would have said in the moment.

That’s actually impressive.

I was unfair to him, and I was wrong.

His performance remains another issue entirely, but his post-game handling of it wasn’t what I thought it was.

Hey dude, thank you for posting this. I didn’t see this from him and it really is amazing his maturity level at 22. Me at 22….would have been a disaster in the media after that game. It really did look like boys playing against men and I agree with others….he will get stronger and smarter. Thanks again, good post!

 

[cmasspatsfan]

Sneaky good point about his body still developing. Remember the viral beer chug video of him shirtless at the Bruins game? I actually remember thinking…”kid needs work on that physique”.

But…compared to Onwenu , Campbell is Adonis.

Athletes hit their prime at 27, he's got a ways to go to get a lot better. Don't forget the Pats tried to sign a FA LT, forget his name and he didn't want to come here.

 

[Milloymam]

If this true, why was he playing? That is on the coaching staff. Vrabel should have sat him. He was pretty bad throughout the playoffs not just the SB !!

 

[Stu Pidassle]

And you know, I was angry for what you thought about @UGAPatsfan but now that you’ve apologized to him for thinking that and he’s apologized to Will Campbell for saying that about him, then I think I should apologize to you for thinking that about him saying that.

 

[javajunky]

So, if all this injury stuff is true, why didn't Lowe and Dobbs play instead? Lowe was arguable better than Campbell when he played (this year) and Dobbs has proven himself time and time again in the NFL. I would rather have had a healthy Dobbs than a Drake who couldn't hit the side of a barn. Lowe would surely have been better than Turnstyle T-Rex

Campbell and Wilson are just better run blockers who can get to the second level. I think the team was full of hopium that this would be a key to the game.

 

[Brotherblues]

Campbell refused to drive while drunk. He drove the next day with a clearer head.

 

[VJCPatriot]

I'm hoping this lights up a fire the same way ed oregons rejection fueled him. To think a 23 kid has maxed out on his strength technique and knowledge is foolish. Orlando paces are generational and when was the last great tackle

We don't need a generational left tackle. We need somebody who can keep Maye upright.

Matt Light was never considered anything above average physically but he was good enough at protecting Brady's blindside. Nate Solder had superior physical attributes to Light but was never a 'franchise' tackle either. He was more than good enough.

Let's look at the top 10 ranked tackles in the NFL as ranked by PFF.

#1 Malaita. Eagles. 7th round 2018 NFL draft. Clearly a homerun pick when you consider draft capital cost. Eagles lucked out here.
#2 Tristan Wirfs. Tampa Bay. #13 1st round 2020 draft. Tampa used a premium pick to obtain one of the best left tackles in the NFL today.
#3 Slater. Chargers. #13 1st round 2021 draft. Another premium pick but he was worth it.
#4 Trent Williams. 49ers. #4 1st round 2010 draft. Very early pick for a top player. 49ers only paid a 3rd and a 5th to get him. What a steal in hindsight.
#5 Lane Johnson (RT). Eagles. #4 1st round 2013 draft. Again taken very early but he has been a cornerstone of that OL for a while now.
#6 Penei Sewell. Lions. #7 1st round 2021 draft. He was a top 10 pick but has proven worth the price.
#7 Darrisaw. Vikings. #23 1st round 2021 draft. Solid player. Taken as a late 1st rounder.
#8 Tunsill. Packers. #13 1st round 2016 draft. Only cost Washington a 3rd and 7th pick for a solid LT.
#9 Zach Tom (RT). Packers. 4th round 2022 draft. Nice find in the mid rounds.
#10 Raimann. Colts. 3rd round 2022 draft. A great find for a starting left tackle and a big reason why the Colts had a strong regular season before falling off.

As we can notice most of the top left tackle prospects were found in the 1st round. Yes a couple of teams got lucky outside the 1st but it's hard to find a Raimanna or Malaita gem in the rough.

Based on historical data It is reasonable to move up into the middle of the 1st round to go after that franchise left tackle. The Patriots are picking 31st, 63rd, and 95th overall with their first 3 picks. And they have two 4th rounders as well.

Moving up from #31 to #13 just as one example would likely cost us the 2nd round pick plus the 3rd round pick. Or perhaps the 2nd round pick plus a future 2nd rounder.

For left tackle prospects the Patriots would probably be considering from a pool of tackle prospects such as Francis Mauigoa, Spencer Fano, Caleb Lomu, Kayden Proctor, and Monroe Freeling. Of course these are way early days, so guys could easily move up and down the rankings before the actual draft day.