Improving the left side of the line

n1997y · Feb 12, 2026

DaBruinz said:
I took it as Zuma referring to the fact that Will Campbell decided to forego surgery, came back and played numerous games with an injured knee. There is no telling how the Pats would have done if Lowe had played LT in the play-offs.

That may be what @Zuma meant, but it’s certainly arguable that Campbell playing on a bum knee was a good idea for either him or the team.

The team might have been better in the short term with him playing hurt, or it might have been better with an uninjured Lowe playing instead of Campbell.

It also remains to be seen how much the consequences of Campbell playing on a bad MCL cost him and the team in the future. It seems obvious and inevitable that it has some cost, just from delaying his healing process, plus possibly adding additional harm to his knee by playing on it in a damaged and weakened state. It seems likely that this will delay and interfere at least somewhat with his offseason program, potentially seriously compromising his development at a critical time in his career.

Looking at all that it may be that shutting him down totally and leaving him on IR was a far better idea than having him come back as they did.

imahobgoblin · Feb 12, 2026

stephens44 said:
True, Vrabel nipped that idea right away, probably a good thing. Hopefully Campbell's technique issues can be solved this offseason/training camp and everything is all good. There's multiple current and former veteran OT's saying that its very possible. I hope so.

Campbell's issues won't be resolved in one offseason. That is a ridiculous expectation for a 22 year old that just went through what he did. Oh, he can substantially improve in an offseason but his issues will not be resolved. And its not all technique like you suggest. It strength, healing from injury, technique, and psyche. These things take time. He was what the front office was best in the moment and they are committed to the process.

DaBruinz · Feb 12, 2026

imahobgoblin said:
Campbell's issues won't be resolved in one offseason. That is a ridiculous expectation for a 22 year old that just went through what he did. Oh, he can substantially improve in an offseason but his issues will not be resolved. And its not all technique like you suggest. It strength, healing from injury, technique, and psyche. These things take time. He was what the front office was best in the moment and they are committed to the process.

I don't expect Campbell to turn into an All-Pro in the off-season. But I disagree with your take that he can't correct all the things you've mentioned. The Strength and Healing from injury can go hand in hand. The technique is always a long-term thing, but he could easily make big strides. Especially since he was among the best LTs prior to his injury. I don't think his psyche was damaged at all. Unless he suffers a setback during his injury recovery, I expect him to return and be better than he was this year.

MrBigglesWorth · Feb 12, 2026

n1997y said:
Yes,
COTY HC and COTY OC were both outcoached.

They couldn't run the ball when they wanted. Their qb got crushed. The online needs serious attention and needs to become the strength

MrBigglesWorth · Feb 12, 2026

imahobgoblin said:
Campbell's issues won't be resolved in one offseason. That is a ridiculous expectation for a 22 year old that just went through what he did. Oh, he can substantially improve in an offseason but his issues will not be resolved. And its not all technique like you suggest. It strength, healing from injury, technique, and psyche. These things take time. He was what the front office was best in the moment and they are committed to the process.

Depends what is asked of him. Will he be on an island? Will we actually get a tight end that can block? What about a big back or shifty back? They need to run more next year

DoubleDeluxe · Feb 12, 2026

MrBigglesWorth said:
Depends what is asked of him. Will he be on an island? Will we actually get a tight end that can block? What about a big back or shifty back? They need to run more next year

He's a LT who was drafted 4th overall, of course there will be many times he's on an island, that comes with the position.
Yes scheme can help, but you can't have your LT getting driven into the QBs lap on every pass rush set.
I'm a believer, I think he will be great eventually, but LT is a lonely position. You don't draft a guy 4th overall if he needs help on every snap.
We ended the season as the 6th best rushing team in the NFL on a yards/game basis and total attempts, let's not pretend we didn't run the ball.

imahobgoblin · Feb 13, 2026

DaBruinz said:
I don't expect Campbell to turn into an All-Pro in the off-season. But I disagree with your take that he can't correct all the things you've mentioned. The Strength and Healing from injury can go hand in hand. The technique is always a long-term thing, but he could easily make big strides. Especially since he was among the best LTs prior to his injury. I don't think his psyche was damaged at all. Unless he suffers a setback during his injury recovery, I expect him to return and be better than he was this year.

He can significantly improve. Thats what I said. It takes a few seasons for lineman to find themselves. The upper body strength is not related to the injury. Will has narrow shoulders and needs to improve up top. That's not happening in one offseason. Of course his psyche was damaged. That was evident is the way he totally abandoned his technique and panicked, which let to pressure. Its also why de wouldn't talk to the media, not that I blame him for that. He did man up the next day. Losing a SB like we did does hurt the psyche. Brady says his losses still haunt him, especially the Giants. I think Will will be fine, but he has a lot to work on.

stephens44 · Feb 13, 2026

imahobgoblin said:
Campbell's issues won't be resolved in one offseason. That is a ridiculous expectation for a 22 year old that just went through what he did. Oh, he can substantially improve in an offseason but his issues will not be resolved. And its not all technique like you suggest. It strength, healing from injury, technique, and psyche. These things take time. He was what the front office was best in the moment and they are committed to the process.

Agreed of course, I didn't feel the need to write a comprehensive post covering every last obvious detail as if this is being graded. The wonder of forum one uppers at work once again...

Huckleberry1 · Feb 13, 2026

Toofy said:
What if we just go big and sign the best LG and center in free agency spending 40 million $ on the line

Campbell, D edwards, linderbaum, onwenu, Moses

There is no way any team can shoot through our gaps. Rham and maye design runs will be insane. Good luck with 4 front attacks.

I'm all for it. Loading up the OL should be priority #1. It should be addressed in free agency and the draft. I would love to see them sign Lindebaum and McGovern, and then draft. RT high in the draft. As it stands right now both Lomu and Freeling will be available late first round early second round. That will change, but there should be good OL options when they pick at #31.

MrBigglesWorth · Feb 13, 2026

DoubleDeluxe said:
He's a LT who was drafted 4th overall, of course there will be many times he's on an island, that comes with the position.
Yes scheme can help, but you can't have your LT getting driven into the QBs lap on every pass rush set.
I'm a believer, I think he will be great eventually, but LT is a lonely position. You don't draft a guy 4th overall if he needs help on every snap.
We ended the season as the 6th best rushing team in the NFL on a yards/game basis and total attempts, let's not pretend we didn't run the ball.

You didn't run the ball well. Short yardage when you needed 1, 2, 3 was garbage

DoubleDeluxe · Feb 13, 2026

MrBigglesWorth said:
You didn't run the ball well. Short yardage when you needed 1, 2, 3 was garbage

I can’t disagree with short yardage running, it was bad.
But overall we ran the ball plenty.

Zuma · Feb 13, 2026

One-If-By-Sea said:
The guy is a hero? Campbell did his job for which he gets millions. A multi- million dollar salary guy doing his job is now a hero?

Hero

One-If-By-Sea · Feb 13, 2026

Zuma said:
Hero

When celebrities in the entertainment industry become heroes, I think that society has an issue.

Zuma · Feb 13, 2026

One-If-By-Sea said:
When celebrities in the entertainment industry become heroes, I think that society has an issue.

Malcolm Butler certainly became a celebrity

One-If-By-Sea · Feb 13, 2026

Zuma said:
Malcolm Butler certainly became a celebrity

I agree. A celebrity, not a hero. A celebrity in an entertainment business.

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Improving the left side of the line

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