J. Campbell as DE in 2021?

C

CP87

Well-Known Member
He is a stud at LB, no doubt there. But we have some pretty good potential there (Benson, Jacobs, Higgins, possibly Colbert). Our DL has flourished over the last few years, largely because we have had at least one freak that draws a ton of attention (first AJE, then Nixon). Assuming Nixon leaves, do we have someone like that for next year?

So as great as Campbell could be at LB, would he be more valuable as an edge defender? The NFL certainly pays more for edge-defenders than MLBs, does the same apply in college?

It seems like he could be dominant on the order of Matt Roth or Jared DeVries, but not sure if he is down with it, and not positive if it is what is best for the team. Thoughts?
 
This is a tough one. The issue typically with 6'5" linebackers is that they may not have the short area quickness to play linebacker. He has it in spades. There was a play he made at Illinois where he made a bad decision and stepped in a gap on the wrong side of where the ball carrier was going...bad read...yet he reversed and came back and made a tackle on the other side of the formation...for like a 4 yard gain. It would have been a big play for Illinois, but he made a great play to get back in it. It was incredible quickness.

I think it just depends on what his natural body is going to do. If he's going to go to 260 without much effort or through natural progression of his development...he's going to likely end up or be on the edge.

I honestly think you may see him play the middle, yet be on the edge in passing situations.
 
He is 6'4 with length and runs like a fucking deer. His frame looks like he could put the weight on, but I love him at linebacker. Reminds me of Anthony Nelson, but he is just a better athlete. However, I see more AJ Edds, Chad Greenway than I do Anthony Nelson. I want him to stay at linebacker, but will defer to people who know more than me, if his hand needs to be in the dirt so be it.
 
He would be a prototypical 3-4 OLB...which is what A. Nelson became in NFL.

Parker has already shown a willingness to blitz him a bunch, if he can continue to be creative with Campbell, then he can be a stud at MLB and still benefit us in the pass-rush.
 
He might out grow LB.

But right now, if Jack wants to line up at LC, I will support him and believe he would excel.
 
It could happen. There was some scuttlebutt about that really early on in the season. We are losing a ton on the DL this off-season, so team needs could force the issue, and, as noted above, our talent at LB is solid.

That said, I love tall MLBs as long as they have that lateral ability. Jack reminds me a lot of the Cowboys' Leighton Vander Esch. Guys with that kind of size and ability don't come around very often. That inside length combined with quickness can be incredibly disruptive for QBs trying to survey the middle of the field.
 
I absolutely love Campbell and Benson. Benson's sack yesterday where he rolled on the ground was priceless. I love these guys...next year...it could be that both are on the field at the same time...with Neiman's departure...there is alot of young talent in the LB room right now.

I know Colbert is slated to come back...he's going to be fighting to get on the field.
 
WinOneThisCentury said:
I absolutely love Campbell and Benson. Benson's sack yesterday where he rolled on the ground was priceless. I love these guys...next year...it could be that both are on the field at the same time...with Neiman's departure...there is alot of young talent in the LB room right now.

I know Colbert is slated to come back...he's going to be fighting to get on the field.
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Do you think Jacobs would hang around for another year as backup? If not, then we have to ask, is Jacobs more talented and impactful than whoever would be DE2?
 
WinOneThisCentury said:
I absolutely love Campbell and Benson. Benson's sack yesterday where he rolled on the ground was priceless. I love these guys...next year...it could be that both are on the field at the same time...with Neiman's departure...there is alot of young talent in the LB room right now.

I know Colbert is slated to come back...he's going to be fighting to get on the field.
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I highly doubt we will ever see Colbert in an Iowa uniform again.
 
CP87 said:
Do you think Jacobs would hang around for another year as backup? If not, then we have to ask, is Jacobs more talented and impactful than whoever would be DE2?
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Jacobs is definitely a concern here. He and Brents were the guys where I kind of felt like I was holding my breath, and now Brents has entered the portal. I hate to say it, but I'd put the odds on Jacobs being on the team next season at around 50:50.

It definitely will be interesting to see how the front seven shake out next fall. There will be huge losses on the line, but the roster has some intriguing young talent waiting in the wings. Waggoner will be adding size, and the two Logans, Lee and Jones have big potential. I'm also really intrigued by Deontae Craig and Yahya Black at the end spots. Also, Ethan Hurkett is a lot like Campbell, and is already bulking up for the move to DE.
 
CP87 said:
He is a stud at LB, no doubt there. But we have some pretty good potential there (Benson, Jacobs, Higgins, possibly Colbert). Our DL has flourished over the last few years, largely because we have had at least one freak that draws a ton of attention (first AJE, then Nixon). Assuming Nixon leaves, do we have someone like that for next year?

So as great as Campbell could be at LB, would he be more valuable as an edge defender? The NFL certainly pays more for edge-defenders than MLBs, does the same apply in college?

It seems like he could be dominant on the order of Matt Roth or Jared DeVries, but not sure if he is down with it, and not positive if it is what is best for the team. Thoughts?
Click to expand...

I think right now he has the speed to make plays sideline to sideline in the linebacker position. He is 245 pounds which could play the edge but also might get pushed around against the running game.

Awesome player but I think by having him on the edge rush eliminates all the big plays he could be making in a lot of gaps and in coverage like yesterday. If he fills out to 270 and gets a tad slower then yes the edge
 
CP87 said:
He would be a prototypical 3-4 OLB...which is what A. Nelson became in NFL.

Parker has already shown a willingness to blitz him a bunch, if he can continue to be creative with Campbell, then he can be a stud at MLB and still benefit us in the pass-rush.
Click to expand...

If he can blitz the qb a few times a game while patrolling the linebacker positions I think that is best right now. He is impactful in the blitz
 
CP87 said:
He is a stud at LB, no doubt there. But we have some pretty good potential there (Benson, Jacobs, Higgins, possibly Colbert). Our DL has flourished over the last few years, largely because we have had at least one freak that draws a ton of attention (first AJE, then Nixon). Assuming Nixon leaves, do we have someone like that for next year?

So as great as Campbell could be at LB, would he be more valuable as an edge defender? The NFL certainly pays more for edge-defenders than MLBs, does the same apply in college?

It seems like he could be dominant on the order of Matt Roth or Jared DeVries, but not sure if he is down with it, and not positive if it is what is best for the team. Thoughts?
Click to expand...
This is actually a great idea. SInce we run the 4-2-5 more often (which brings more ahtleticism to the field, which is needed), and we are loaded at LB, and we might (once again), lose some DL to the NFL. He has the size and height and NEEDS to be on the field.
 
GesterHawk said:
Not sure about place kicker. But I bet he run a fake back there pretty well.
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I thought that too, but I remembered that a guy I used to coach with (who's in the Iowa Coaches HOF) said that, if you don't have a kicker, make your tallest and fastest kid your punter and kicker.
 
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