Former Patriot David Andrews Believes Lomu Will Push Campbell For Starting Role

[WhatJustHappened]

Anyone saying Lomu is replacing Campbell… at absolute best YOU ARE A YEAR EARLY.

And Andrews said „push“ NOT „ REPLACE“ so don’t say I’m challenging an expert.

WC hit the rookie wall & was injured at start of playoffs. So now the Wile-E-Coyote short arms crowd want to say a 3d round less aggressive, younger, less strong kid should replace WC….. and then we HIT THE EXACT SAME WALL IN GAME 18. …. Genius I tell you.

And that is ONLY IF EVERYTHING GOES RIGHT in this imaginary short-Arms suck universe. ….. If everything goes as I expect; WC is not only healthy but also bigger stronger more durable than last year.

Yeah, great deal if Lomu pushes WC to do an extra rep in weight training, run hill 1 sec faster. But at end of day ….. PUSHING IS NOT REPLACING.

 

[Huckleberry1]

everyone is entitled to an opinion, even Andrews
but everything I read and see says Lomu is no where ready to play, and needs a minute, as most rookies do (Campbell did not)
unless Lomu comes in and plays well beyond expectations, I assume he will play is some situations to spell other players, play if someone injures. otherwise, learn, improve his technique and get stronger. year 2 will be big for him

Lomu, like Campbell is an outstanding athlete with a great attitude and work ethic, he's going to be a great addition for years to come.

Patriot fans need to get used to the reality of the Patriots taking the time needed to develop young players. Some, like Jacas, are close to pro ready, others, the bulk of their young players, are going to take 2-3 years to become the players they want them to be. Vrabel said it took him until his 4th year to really become the player he wanted to be. And the better their roster gets the harder it's going be for these guys to get on the field early in their careers, or make the team for that matter. This year is going to be much more difficult than last year for players to make the Final Cut. Even making the practice squad is going to be much more difficult. But to survive and thrive developing layers is going to be critical to their long term success, especially when young star players are getting absurd contracts, which seriously limit the ability to build a strong 53. Fortunately Vrabel and Co. are committed to developing the kids, and this coming season will start to show whether those investments are paying off. I'm really looking forward to the roster battles.

 

[p8ryts]

They are the same size and play the exact same way. The length? Arm length? That's what you're hung up on?

Campbell was clearly playing injured last year.

AND besides all that, Lomu is developmental. He's nowhere near as advanced as Campbell was coming out of college.

I'm not saying he won't eventually play there if Campbell flubs, but I am saying that Andrews wasn't saying that he would, and also that Andrews recognizes that the team has no intention of moving Campbell (he's been told this by key people behind the scenes).

I'm sick of this Campbell was injured stuff. If he was so badly injured, why was he on the field. I don't care what you think of Lowe, he had to have had a better game than Campbell. If he was that injured, then Magic Mike let us all down by putting him out there. I give Campbell zero excuses. If he earns it, good for him. He has to prove it to me.

 

[upstater1]

I'm sick of this Campbell was injured stuff. If he was so badly injured, why was he on the field. I don't care what you think of Lowe, he had to have had a better game than Campbell. If he was that injured, then Magic Mike let us all down by putting him out there. I give Campbell zero excuses. If he earns it, good for him. He has to prove it to me.

In the game of football, players play injured.

Thus it will ever be.

Is it an excuse? It doesn't matter whether it is or not.

It just is.

If Logan Mankins wasn't out there with an ACL tear, we might've won another Super Bowl! If Gronk wasn't out there with a high ankle sprain, we might've won another Super Bowl.

 

[TheRainMaker]

I'm sick of this Campbell was injured stuff. If he was so badly injured, why was he on the field. I don't care what you think of Lowe, he had to have had a better game than Campbell. If he was that injured, then Magic Mike let us all down by putting him out there. I give Campbell zero excuses. If he earns it, good for him. He has to prove it to me.

Campbell is widely overrated by many here, but there was a clear difference to his play pre and post injury. This isn’t Madden where they are 100% after returning from injury.

I’m quite shocked Vrabel didn’t shut him down after the Chargers and especially the Texans game.

 

[Triumph]

When I say this, people go crazy

Now ****ING ANDREWS is kinda agreeing with me

What a time to bell alive

Campbell is Mayes BFF.

 

[mgteich]

Campbell is a starting OL in NE for the next 4+ years. Folks really need to get used to this fact. I really don't care if staff has him as our 2026-2028 current and future starting LT, LG or RT. Ditto for Lomu and AVT. AVT could possibly even start at RG; he's played the position.

 

[n1997y]

I'm sick of this Campbell was injured stuff. If he was so badly injured, why was he on the field. I don't care what you think of Lowe, he had to have had a better game than Campbell. If he was that injured, then Magic Mike let us all down by putting him out there. I give Campbell zero excuses. If he earns it, good for him. He has to prove it to me.

You answered your own question. Coaching staff screwed up. Twice, imo. First when they chose to start him over Lowe despite Lowe having had good games when he was forced to play while Campbell was injured. Then again not making a change when Campbell was getting beat like a drum showing he wasn’t sufficiently recovered.

Campbell is widely overrated by many here, but there was a clear difference to his play pre and post injury. This isn’t Madden where they are 100% after returning from injury.

I’m quite shocked Vrabel didn’t shut him down after the Chargers and especially the Texans game.

Agree totally! I’ve wondered if in his heart Vrabel saw the team as inadequate to win the Lombardi and Campbell getting beat with the rest of the OL underperforming just confirmed that so he didn’t do anything to change it.

 

[Huckleberry1]

I'm sick of this Campbell was injured stuff. If he was so badly injured, why was he on the field. I don't care what you think of Lowe, he had to have had a better game than Campbell. If he was that injured, then Magic Mike let us all down by putting him out there. I give Campbell zero excuses. If he earns it, good for him. He has to prove it to me.

The same reason Logan Mankins played the Super Bowl on a torn ACL, because he was their best player at that position. And if you don't think recovering from a knee injury impacts performance then I would say that you either never played sports at any significant level, or never had to recover from an injury. I have had numerous, surgeries, and spent years rehabbing them. I was chomping at the bit to get back on the slopes and fields, and the rehabs always sucked, but it's the only way back, so you push through and get back out there. I respect Campbell for his willingness to play at less than 100%, as well as to have to put up with the **** from ignorant fans who don't know what they are talking about. When Gonzalez was held out by Vrabel people here called him soft, when Campbell plays injured people say he sucks. The players can't win, the fans talk **** no matter what they do.

 

[RxJock1120]

Yeah think?

Lomu beats out Campbell, who won't beat out Vera-Tucker for LG. A healthy VT that is, a perennial issue.

Lomu-AVT-Wilson-Onwenu-Moses.

Let Campbell ride the pine if it shakes out like this. Gotta play your best five.

A healthy AVT is ELITE. And I love Lomu.

Campbell could go to RG if we cut Onwenu, his contract is huge with no guaranteed money left.

 

[Huckleberry1]

That's not the issue. The year we had Brian Winters at RG he was clearly the most talented player on the OL. At guard. Not tackle.

But length matters. Nothing will ever change that on Stubby.

Lomu is very talented and has the length. Can't have another disaster like last year's SB.

If you are that concerned about a 1/3 of an inch then you are the person with " length" issues. And given your other hot takes over the last year it's safe to say that you don't know WTF you are talking about.

 

[Huckleberry1]

States " hot"! takes the past year. Verdarian Lowe is better tackle than Will Campbell. Spencer Rattler is a star with a better arm than Patrick Mahomes. Spencer Rattler is a better quarterback than Drake Maye. You are either hitting your own stash hard, or you had a severe head injury and haven't recovered from it. Either way your " hot" takes are sheer idiocy.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Campbell could go to RG if we cut Onwenu, his contract is huge with no guaranteed money left.

States a moron. Now he's claiming Campbell is a bench player.

 

[Huckleberry1]

The real bench player is Spencer Rattler, who will be asking if you want coke and fries with that before we even know it.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Campbell could go to RG if we cut Onwenu, his contract is huge with no guaranteed money left.

It's too late for that and the Pats are trying to get away from the musical chairs late BB and Mayo were doing with the OL. The line needs continuity and they made their decision to keep Owenu. Cutting him now would be idiotic.

 

[mgteich]

It's too late for that and the Pats are trying to get away from the musical chairs late BB and Mayo were doing with the OL. The line needs continuity and they made their decision to keep Owenu. Cutting him now would be idiotic.

???
I think that we need the BEST line and THEN we need a consistent line. Wilson's move will make the OL better.

If Lomu beats out Campbell in camp, I think that the team could consider moving Campbell to guard. although I would choose LG. AVT can play RG.

As far as Onwenu, in what way is it too late to trade or even cut him? I believe that the savings is the same as before the draft.

 

[p8ryts]

In the game of football, players play injured.

Thus it will ever be.

Is it an excuse? It doesn't matter whether it is or not.

It just is.

If Logan Mankins wasn't out there with an ACL tear, we might've won another Super Bowl! If Gronk wasn't out there with a high ankle sprain, we might've won another Super Bowl.

We definitely would have won if Gronk had played. Or if Tom hadn't thrown short for an interception in the end zone when gimpy Gronk was wide open. We might have won the other one if Justin Tuck wasn't playing for the Giants. Was Tuck opposite Mankins? I don't remember.

 

[hornetfb85]

Barring injury/a surpriseish retirement, the 2026 starting OL is set. Campbell is our LT for at least one more season. Whether he holds onto that spot past this season is squarely within his control. Onwenu is not going to be cut. Not going to create a hole when we don’t need too. Lomu has some body work to do before he’s thrust into a starting role barring injury. 2027 is the season where **** may get a little crazy.

 

[Joey007]

Is it weird to think Campbell might be a fine RT if Lomu is the LT? He won't see as many of the elite pass rushers on that side so his arm length is less of a problem, but he's still a very strong athletic dude who can get push. He might need to bulk up just a little but I feel like it'd be just fine.

People have some sunk cost fallacy that we’ll never forgive ourselves if Campbell doesn’t end up being the long term answer at LT.

But as I’ve said.. if Lomu ends up being just that, and Campbell ends up a quality starter at another position, who cares?

 

[Ross12]

People have some sunk cost fallacy that we’ll never forgive ourselves if Campbell doesn’t end up being the long term answer at LT.

But as I’ve said.. if Lomu ends up being just that, and Campbell ends up a quality starter at another position, who cares?

Some folks have that sunk cost fallacy about him needing to be an LT or else, yes. Other folks seem to have a need for him to be the LG so their draft opinion can be “proven right”. Ultimately, I think as fans we shouldn’t pull the plug on him at LT prematurely but should also be open to him playing anywhere if that ends up being the best option for the team. So, he should definitely still be the LT now - but if Lomu looks very good in camp, it’s worth thinking on. Until such a time, however, it’s Campbell’s job.