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

[Real fan 02]

I personally would keep Campbell at tackle until proven otherwise. I think he would be a fabulous RT.

Are you sure Mayo.. I just got drafted..

 

[mayoclinic]

I said tackle. I didn't specify which side.

I'd personally like to see Caleb Lomu win the LT job, and Will Campbell move to RT in 2027.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Are you sure Mayo.. I just got drafted..

I hope he dances like this after he blocks the defender and Maye gets rid of the ball.

Channel his inner Chris Canty.

 

[Real fan 02]

I hope he dances like this after he blocks the defender and Maye gets rid of the ball.

Channel his inner Chris Canty.

LOL.. the only way I want to see him dancing is after...

 

[Huckleberry1]

Kyed's take makes no sense. How are supposed to play as well on an injured knee against the best defenses in football as you did before getting injured?

If Lomu ends up being the better tackle by all means swap sides with them, but creating a hole at tackle they will need to use another high pick to fill is stupid. They can get a very good guard prospect on day 2 of next year's draft, or they can fill it in free agency, there is no need to creat holes at critical positions when they don't exist.

 

[Thelonious]

The best man plays. A variety of factors, sometimes tough to balance, often impossible to quantify, go into determining what "best" means, and you have to be patient in allowing what's up to reveal itself, but if you're in charge of the roster, it's your job to figure it out.

Campbell's struggles post-injury are a factor worth considering, but only in quite a qualified way. That decline is almost certainly more attributable to his injury than it is a true reflection of his potential.

 

[40yrpatsfan]

It's preliminary to be having the Campbell-Lomu discussion. After this season is when that will happen. Can't see them putting another 21 yo rookie at LT, which would also create a logjam at RT or Guard where competent veterans already man those spots.

This year, Lomu develops as a swing tackle, and Campbell picks up where he left off before his knee injury.

 

[Wozzy]

Kyed's take makes no sense. How are supposed to play as well on an injured knee against the best defenses in football as you did before getting injured?

I think this injury talk and how well Campbell played prior to it is overblown. He got hurt in week 12, weeks earlier in Cleveland Myles Garrett abused him and got 5 sacks in a game… at least three of those were on Campbell including a strip sack.

It’s easy to play well against the dregs of the NFL, not as easy to play well against the best of the best. Campbell needs to prove he can do that, otherwise slide him inside to guard.

If Lomu ends up being the better tackle by all means swap sides with them, but creating a hole at tackle they will need to use another high pick to fill is stupid. They can get a very good guard prospect on day 2 of next year's draft, or they can fill it in free agency, there is no need to creat holes at critical positions when they don't exist.

If Campbell continues to struggle with speed, I don’t think moving him to the right side is the answer. They have other tackle prospects that could play in Bryant or Crownover if Moses is not available.

 

[Diffs4]

Campbell struggled in the Houston game too. You are correct.



The Texans DL was constantly pushing Campbell into Maye and the Houston DL was able to get a hand on the ball knocking it out. That's 2 games where WC was shaky and not what you want to see from a starting LT. The Broncos game wasn't a real barometer to judge Campbell by since half the game was played in the snow giving the defense poor footing.

Will Campbell’s playoff struggles hit new low to start AFC Championship Game vs. Broncos

The first quarter hadn't even ended, and Will Campbell was already seen struggling once again on the offensive line.

sports.yahoo.com

Post AFCC, Will Campbell fans were whistling all the way to Santa Clara. Then reality paid a visit. The Pats obviously have concerns because to don't draft a OT with the first pick for the following season when the left side of your OL was destroyed in the Super Bowl.

"Will Campbell fans" what does that mean. Do you mean Patriot fans hoping that Campbells play was injury related. Yes I plead guilty. Most want what is best for the team. Some just want to be right either way. I do not dismiss the idea that if he struggles again this year that he will not be the left tackle going forward despite what the Pats have said. They have to say that. I like Lomu a lot. You do not have to look very hard to see a future where he is the left tackle and Campbell is the right tackle or a guard. If that makes the Pats a better team I think most would be fine with that even ones like me who want Campbell to succeed at LT. If Campbell comes out and balls he will likely stay at LT. Let's see how it plays out but the haters taking a victory lap may or may not be premature. He was much better in the regular season than the playoffs. I am hoping it is injury related. It may not be, we shall find out. But these declarative statements either way need to wait.

 

[TheRainMaker]

"Will Campbell fans" what does that mean.

It means exactly what it says. There are posters or fans in general that get too attached to a player and become hellbent on defending him no matter what - even if it means putting the team 2nd.

Isaiah Wynn was a LT and was so terrible it got to a point of consecutive games he was getting thrown to the ground at least once per game. Posters here would bust out the pitchforks if anyone dared to criticize him. He eventually moved to G which has kept him around the NFL.

Cole Strange was the previous OL that was not well liked among many, but a small % of posters would try their hardest to defend him. He's now on his 3rd team.

Devin McCourty was a 1st round pick CB who was getting torched at such an alarming rate starting in 2011 and didn't stop in 2012. This forced BB to find some way to stop the bleeding. There are posters to this day that are still in denial at how bad McCourty was at CB (even during his rookie season). After Chung got injured, BB moved McCourty to FS where his play improved. That's when Talib got traded for and the secondary was immediately stabilized.

There seems to be a trend with fans in general that if their team drafts (insert player) that means they must be good and won't be a bust. It's insanity because there are busts every year. Pre injury, Campbell wasn't that good, but posters don't want to hear that because he was 4th overall pick. Just like Jaguars fans don't want to hear how bad Travis Hunter was his first season where the team traded up to get him. Abdul Carter is another player stat geeks try any word salad they can to deny how bad he was as the 3rd overall pick. I was pissed when the Pats allowed him to break his 12 game streak without a full sack.