Will Kampman succeed at linebacker?

[Harlan Huckleby]

the arguments were already made in another thread:

http://www.packerrats.com/ratchat/viewtopic.php?t=16544&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=40

I don't see Kampman being as good at LB as he has been at DE. Don't have any evidence, really just a hunch. He was good at using leverage and movement against a big tackle, that was his specialty. I think the DE position is his best fit, and he is unlikely to play at such a high level at another position.

[rbaloha1]

Agreed.

Kampy is an impact 4-3 end that needs to rush the qb every passing down. Requiring Kampy to drop into coverage is not a great idea.

A G-bay sportswriter was optimistic about Kampy playing olb due to Greg Ellis at Dallas. The writer claims Kampy is a better athlete than Ellis thus the conversion to olb should not be a problem. LOL!

IMO Kampy is a one gap 3-4 dt.

[Partial]

I think Kampman will be a very good 3-4 OLB. I think Julius Peppers was born to play our other 3-4 OLB spot. I also think we're a top 10 defense next year as a result!

[HarveyWallbangers]

IMO Kampy is a one gap 3-4 dt.

What?

[steve823]

kevin green bro. hes a great coach and will help him transition to it..so ya he will suceed

[Harlan Huckleby]

kevin green bro. hes a great coach and will help him transition to it..so ya he will suceed

will he ever be as good as his pro-bowl years at DE?

possibly, but I say the odds are against it.

[sharpe1027]

kevin green bro. hes a great coach and will help him transition to it..so ya he will suceed

will he ever be as good as his pro-bowl years at DE?

possibly, but I say the odds are against it.

True, but the odds are against him ever being that good again, even in a 4-3.

Is the question 4-3 Kamp vs. 3-4 Kamp or old Kamp vs. young Kamp?

I voted yes in that he will succeed. I don't know how to fairly compare his effectiveness between the two positions.

[Harlan Huckleby]

I voted yes in that he will succeed. I don't know how to fairly compare his effectiveness between the two positions.

WEll, you set the bar lower than the question intended. I said "just as effective." That would mean just as much QB pressure, no weaknesses. Kampman was good at all phases of the game at DE. Will coverage be a weakness in his game at LB? Quite likely.

[texaspackerbacker]

I'm still not completely convinced they will move Kampman to OLB. I could see him bulking back a little bit--he was more effective with the more weight anyway--and stay at DE in the 3-4.

I voted true, though, because I think it's 60/40 he does play OLB, and if he does, I think he will handle it and be effective--against all odds, just like when people originally didn't think he was athletic enough to be a top quality pass rusher in the 4-3.

[Partial]

kevin green bro. hes a great coach and will help him transition to it..so ya he will suceed

will he ever be as good as his pro-bowl years at DE?

possibly, but I say the odds are against it.

He'll probably be better. He will be doing about the same amount of rushing the passer, but he won't have to beat a tackle play after play. A good amount of the time he will have a TE to beat, an RB to beat, or best case scenario, a guard that is dropping back trying to catch him from behind the tackle, opening up a huge hole for the LE to get to the QB.

IF they land a capable pass rusher at the other OLB spot, and the DL stays healthy, I think he'll be more effective.

[Harlan Huckleby]

I could see him bulking back a little bit--he was more effective with the more weight anyway--and stay at DE in the 3-4.

OK, but you can't just flip a switch and "bulk up." Well, I've demonstrated that ability, but I think we're talking more muscle mass here. They have to commit one way or another NOW, I should think.

[sharpe1027]

I voted yes in that he will succeed. I don't know how to fairly compare his effectiveness between the two positions.

WEll, you set the bar lower than the question intended. I said "just as effective." That would mean just as much QB pressure, no weaknesses. Kampman was good at all phases of the game at DE. Will coverage be a weakness in his game at LB? Quite likely.

An interesting way to look at it.

If he is able to get anywhere near the same amount of pressure, while at the same time breaking up some passes, wouldn't he be more effective even if pass coverage was a weakness?

Not unlike a comparing the effectiveness of a WR that is forced to return kicks. That WR may suck at returning kicks and therefore has a weakness because he is asked to do something else. Does that mean he is any less effective even if he gets the same amounts of catches/yards/tds?

[Waldo]

I think he's going to get better. His natural position is LB, not DE.

[mission]

Let's be honest. Kampman hasn't been exactly DOMINANT for us on defense. He has got his sacks in bunches but I don't see him as a guy that opposing offenses really worry about. Sometimes he has just been plain silent and I see more creative scheming finding a way to create mismatches for him.

I agree with Waldo in that I think he'll be actually better than at 4-3 D and be more involved in making plays around the line of scrimmage.

DE is more than just end-of-season sack numbers.

[Harlan Huckleby]

Kampman had a down year in 2008 because the whole defense was down.

You can't ask for much more from a DE than what Kampman delivers. He's very good against the run, they usually don't run at him. He's not a dominant pass rusher, but he's very good.