Former Favre 'bodyguard' still watching out for QB

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=641061

Former Favre 'bodyguard' still watching out for QB
Campen stays on the job as offensive line coach

By TOM SILVERSTEIN
tsilverstein@journalsentinel.com

Posted: July 31, 2007

Green Bay - Green Bay Packers offensive line coach James Campen started 42 games for the Packers from 1989-'93, including the very first one that quarterback Brett Favre started, and his No. 1 priority was always to protect No. 4.

It's not surprising, then, that his priority now in his first year as line coach is to protect the same guy he kept clean for the better part of two seasons. So much so, that he has raised the bar on what he considers to be adequate protection for Favre.

"It doesn't matter if it's 8 seconds after the quarterback lets go of the ball, they want us to take pride in keeping guys out of our quarterback's face, off of him, eliminating hits," center Scott Wells said. "Really, they're expecting more out of us this year."

The emphasis isn't only because Campen has taken over for Joe Philbin, who after last season was promoted to offensive coordinator. Philbin and Campen, who was assistant line coach last year, stressed the same kind of commitment to protection in 2006.

But this is Year 2 for the three offensive linemen the Packers took in the draft last year, two of whom - guards Daryn Colledge and Jason Spitz - are in the starting lineup. There are no rookie excuses and Campen has raised the standard to reflect that.

Not only is he watching for hits on the quarterback during grading sessions, he's looking for hot breath on Favre's neck.

"If there's a thread on the jersey flinging off in the wind and the defender hits it, that's a quarterback hit for us," Campen said of his grading system.

"We want to make sure it's clear. We'll count it that way for practice purposes and we'll count them same way in games."

What's more, Campen has made it mandatory that every player be on guard until the whistle blows, and maybe a few seconds after it. Too many times as a player, coach and spectator, he has seen linemen relax when they think their man is soft-rushing or they think the quarterback has released the ball.

The result can be a hit on the quarterback.

So even if their man takes off in another direction or appears to have given up on the play, Campen wants them in a blocking posture ready for anything.

"We use a basic training concept that if you're blocking and you disengage and make the defender turn and run, you take a couple of check steps and put your body weight down; just a confirmation," Campen said.

"Because you know and I know, you get into games, you get crafty players, (Michael) Strahan and these older players.

"You get the old okey-doke. I don't want to be okey-doked."

It's an age-old trick left tackle Chad Clifton has seen countless times; a defender slow rushes off the snap and then all of a sudden takes off, leaving an unsuspecting lineman in the dust. It's one of those things Campen won't stand for.

"Every offensive line coach, that's a big part of their interest, keep the quarterback clean, keep him off the ground, no blind hits," Clifton said.

"But Jimmy is very adamant about it; he wants to keep him clean."

Last year, the Packers gave up only 24 sacks, fifth-fewest in the National Football League, but they allowed too many hurries and had to load up the backfield to make sure Favre was protected.

With seven men kept in to block on most third downs, the Packers' passing game was severely limited, especially underneath where tight ends and running backs roam.

Coach Mike McCarthy would like to open up his offense, but to do so his starting five up front are going to have to prove they can handle the job.

Clifton, Wells and right tackle Mark Tauscher are reliable and Colledge had a fairly strong year protecting the passer. However, all of them had help last year, and if Favre is going to improve his numbers, he's going to need his running backs and tight ends in the secondary instead of the backfield.

"There's always an emphasis on not hitting the quarterback and finishing the blocks," Spitz said.

"It's part of our job. We have to work on it."

Campen wants protecting Favre to become a mental exercise as well as a physical one, which means taking offense to anyone laying a hand on him. Whether it takes visualizing No. 4 as a cherished loved one or a Ming vase or a brand new red Corvette, he wants his linemen to commit themselves to allowing nary a scratch.

"One's too many," Campen said of quarterback hits.

"Is that realistic? It should become realistic. If you visual and think about not touching the quarterback, you're going to minimize it. It's got to come from a mental process. My guy is not going to touch you."

GO PACKERS !!