Will Campbell's a God

[DaBruinz]

It’s a Boston accent joke. State mentioned this, but, the way I remember it, there was an article about Drew Bledsoe during his rookie year about adjusting to the NFL and living in New England. Bledsoe told a story about a meet and greet with fans. A high schooler in a football jacket got to the front of the line and Bledsoe asked what position he played. The kid said “I’m a god.” Bledsoe had to stop and think for a minute before he realized the kid meant that he was an interior offensive lineman.

It would have been more obvious if he'd spelled in GAWD..

 

[DaBruinz]

Perhaps @BTTA values his sanity more than some of us do

I have a bunch muted or blocked, though it's been a while since I used those functions..

 

[DaBruinz]

Hmm you have a bunch of posters muted? Muted posters and replies to them are hidden.

I see replies to people I have blocked all the time. I use the "Show ignored content" button now and then to get context if I can't tell what's being talked about. Most of the time, when the content is shown, it re-confirms why I have the poster blocked.

 

[40yrpatsfan]

the arm/wingspan issue is over blown.
footwork, technique and strength are equally, if not more important.
also, working in tandem with the OL next to you

When Campbell did struggle, it was inside as well as outside speed. he also miscommunicated some with Wilson.
I am willing to bet he cleans things up and is again very good.

I am also thinking Lomu simply is not yet ready to play. Look at last years rookies, all graded higher coming out than Lomu.
They all struggled, with everyones binkie Simmons struggling quite a bit. (Campbell was top 2 for rookies)

In one of the big plays of the SB where Maye got sacked in the first half, Campbell had his guy blocked, then Wilson knocked the defender free of Campbell and that's how the guy got the sack.

 

[40yrpatsfan]

Wingspan is a data point, all of it's important.

Like when I told you Vederian Lowe and Chuks Okorafor were wide, but were a poor athletes.

Lowe (really wide) became a middling level backup, Chuks (less wide) just stunk.

Lowe was okay at pass protection because he was really wide, but gave you nothing in run blocking... poor/average athlete.

You don't just need athleticism, strength, smarts and width... it's a combination of all these things.

I don't know why people are so personally invested in Campbell playing tackle, I just want a dominating offensive line and frankly don't care how they get there or what draft picks were used.

At this point I agree. I think the defensiveness was was in response to people making too much of the arm length & wingspan. He's overall a good and promising LT, but tbh Lomu looks like a more natural LT, and who cares if the coaches decide to switch it up? Happens a lot.

 

[BennyBledsoe]

In one of the big plays of the SB where Maye got sacked in the first half, Campbell had his guy blocked, then Wilson knocked the defender free of Campbell and that's how the guy got the sack.

Yeah, I saw that. If it wasn't for the result, it was almost comedic.

 

[RxJock1120]

I was thinking the same thing, especially considering the analysis of the original post.

Perhaps talk-to-text came out as 'God' rather than 'Guard'?

I was going to guess "Good" vs "God", but guard also makes sense

 

[VJCPatriot]

Gotta move the big guy inside. That SB performance? Mark Morse excuses it by saying he was playing on one leg. Isn't that the OL coach, Dougie Marrone, and his two or three acolytes job? To make sure their player can physically perform?

VLowe, esp in pass protection, would have played better.

If Campbell had wanted to throw the game in the Seahags favor, could he have improved on his play?

No. Never again. Unless it's an emergency. You're a guard now. Wanna try center?

Campbell's arms are just over 32"--Don't trust that homecooking measurement at his pro day--BUT more worrisome is his paltry 77" wingspan. Wingspan is the more important measurement of the two.

He's got some upper torso issue. I mean this is the shortest in nfl recorded history for an OT. This is short even for a QB.

He's like a Dr Frankenstein experiment. His lower half is immense and immensely powerful. Incredible athleticism on Thunder Thighs.

But his upper half is almost delicate. Feminine even. At least by OT NFL standards. (Some clever person might say Why don't you say that to his face.)

But that top half reminds me of the mom in the 1977 Triscuit commercial.

Length matters. The Patriots acknowledge that now. Just look at this year's draft.

I think we could debate Campbell's length until the cows come home.
There's no doubt that was a real concern going into the draft, his short arms and lack of wingspan.
The issue did show up sometimes on his college tape.
But besides the wingspan weakness there is the question about him losing to raw power.

A point in Campbell's favor, he did perform well in the NFL regular season against the majority of pass rushers.
BUT he got absolutely dumpstered by elite players such as the Browns Myles Garrett.
In the playoffs, he was just terrible. Was that because Campbell was coming off injury or was it the length issue again?

Honestly I don't know if Campbell should be moved. Maybe he would fare better at Right Tackle or inside as Guard.
I suspect he will be competing in training camp with Lomu but most likely he will keep his job if he can show he has recovered from injury and Lomu will end up taking snaps at Right tackle.

Long term I wouldn't mind Lomu at LT and Campbell at RT. Right tackle is a less demanding position, and maybe it's easier for an LT to flip to the Right Side then for an RT to flip to the left side.
Keep in mind this move in position wouldn't be an indictment on Campbell, rather it just might be the best way to maximize the talent on the OL. Also consider that at Utah Lomu played LT while Fano played RT. Fano was taken ahead of him which means some NFL talent evaluators considered Fano to be more talented.

I say for now just let them compete in training camp and our OL coach will need to figure out the jigsaw and put them in the best position to succeed.

 

[Patsfan1645]

I think we could debate Campbell's length until the cows come home.
There's no doubt that was a real concern going into the draft, his short arms and lack of wingspan.
The issue did show up sometimes on his college tape.
But besides the wingspan weakness there is the question about him losing to raw power.

A point in Campbell's favor, he did perform well in the NFL regular season against the majority of pass rushers.
BUT he got absolutely dumpstered by elite players such as the Browns Myles Garrett.
In the playoffs, he was just terrible. Was that because Campbell was coming off injury or was it the length issue again?

Honestly I don't know if Campbell should be moved. Maybe he would fare better at Right Tackle or inside as Guard.
I suspect he will be competing in training camp with Lomu but most likely he will keep his job if he can show he has recovered from injury and Lomu will end up taking snaps at Right tackle.

Long term I wouldn't mind Lomu at LT and Campbell at RT. Right tackle is a less demanding position, and maybe it's easier for an LT to flip to the Right Side then for an RT to flip to the left side.
Keep in mind this move in position wouldn't be an indictment on Campbell, rather it just might be the best way to maximize the talent on the OL. Also consider that at Utah Lomu played LT while Fano played RT. Fano was taken ahead of him which means some NFL talent evaluators considered Fano to be more talented.

I say for now just let them compete in training camp and our OL coach will need to figure out the jigsaw and put them in the best position to succeed.

Pretty much agree with all your points. I am not worried who plays where on the line, I trust the staff to construct the line to be the best it can be with the talent they have on the roster. I think guys like Doug Marrone understands better what he sees from the players day in and day out then the fans.

 

[Huckleberry1]

the arm/wingspan issue is over blown.
footwork, technique and strength are equally, if not more important.
also, working in tandem with the OL next to you

When Campbell did struggle, it was inside as well as outside speed. he also miscommunicated some with Wilson.
I am willing to bet he cleans things up and is again very good.

I am also thinking Lomu simply is not yet ready to play. Look at last years rookies, all graded higher coming out than Lomu.
They all struggled, with everyones binkie Simmons struggling quite a bit. (Campbell was top 2 for rookies)

Are you saying that they found Simmons?

That may be the first time putting a face on milk cartons actually worked.

 

[Huckleberry1]

I think we could debate Campbell's length until the cows come home.
There's no doubt that was a real concern going into the draft, his short arms and lack of wingspan.
The issue did show up sometimes on his college tape.
But besides the wingspan weakness there is the question about him losing to raw power.

A point in Campbell's favor, he did perform well in the NFL regular season against the majority of pass rushers.
BUT he got absolutely dumpstered by elite players such as the Browns Myles Garrett.
In the playoffs, he was just terrible. Was that because Campbell was coming off injury or was it the length issue again?

Honestly I don't know if Campbell should be moved. Maybe he would fare better at Right Tackle or inside as Guard.
I suspect he will be competing in training camp with Lomu but most likely he will keep his job if he can show he has recovered from injury and Lomu will end up taking snaps at Right tackle.

Long term I wouldn't mind Lomu at LT and Campbell at RT. Right tackle is a less demanding position, and maybe it's easier for an LT to flip to the Right Side then for an RT to flip to the left side.
Keep in mind this move in position wouldn't be an indictment on Campbell, rather it just might be the best way to maximize the talent on the OL. Also consider that at Utah Lomu played LT while Fano played RT. Fano was taken ahead of him which means some NFL talent evaluators considered Fano to be more talented.

I say for now just let them compete in training camp and our OL coach will need to figure out the jigsaw and put them in the best position to succeed.

Ahhh yes, the Vitruvian man theory. The theory that the best way to block any oncoming pass rusher is to stick both arms straight out from your sides, no one can ever get past that.

 

[40yrpatsfan]

We may have lucked out in this draft in the sense that we were looking to draft a RT, with Miller or Max the favorites to slide to us in most mock drafts (and Lomu long gone). But then in reality Miller and Max were the ones taken early, and only the promising LT Lomu slid.

Now we have a decision we didn't expect to have to make. Campbell displayed the potential to be our long term starter at LT from his good rookie season, marred by the knee injury and rushing him back at least 2 weeks too soon. But Lomu is a natural left tackle, and it wouldn't bother anyone here if he took that job and we plug Will in at RT or G. It may be further complicated by Crownover falling to the 6th round and our possible future RT. Campbell is a great athlete and can probably succeed at any position, so we'll see what Marrone thinks.

 

[maust]

Are you saying that they found Simmons?

That may be the first time putting a face on milk cartons actually worked.

That's the steal of the F'n draft you're talking about my man

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

who cares if the coaches decide to switch it up? Happens a lot.

This is correct. Every position is a competition and can be switched up. No big deal. It happens a lot.

 

[Schmo]

Off the top of my head, the closest comparison I can think of is DMac.

He played man corner very well early in his career, but the switch was made to safety, and no one is complaining about that.

Will played great at tackle this season (twice as long as a college season, including preseason), fought injuries, and I believe he can have a successful NFL career playing there.

If he made the switch to LG, I'd expect a similar career to McCourty. He'd master the position.

 

[Triumph]

At LG.

Or RT.

Im glad that NE took a LT with pick # 1. They now have lots of options if Vera Tucker or Campbell struggle.

 

[Triumph]

Against lesser competition. Then lost them all in a SB performance that was so very, very bad.

Ten years from now it'll be all that's remembered from that game.

That was all the post SB radio shows talked about was Campbell getting blown up.

Campbell faced lesser competition in 2025 with the exception of Cleveland. The signs of impending disaster were visible in the 2025 post season. Houston pushed Campbell around and into Maye more than a few times. Surely Seattle studied that film and it factored into their gameplan.

 

[TinhWoodhead]

I don't understand how this makes him a God?!

click b…

 

[Huckleberry1]

This is correct. Every position is a competition and can be switched up. No big deal. It happens a lot.

If someone outplays Campbell it just makes them that much better.

 

[Huckleberry1]

click b…

Yep. State just posted this because he has a hair across his ass and wants to start ****. And given his track record the past couple of years he should have just stayed in hiding. Spencer Rattler couldn't beat out Tyler Shough and State was babbling about what a star he is, and how he has a better arm than Mahomes, and is a better QB than Maye. No wonder he disappeared, that's truly stupid ****.