SIAP: Will Campbell's Status ?
Apologies if this has already been posted on, but I didn't see Big Will play on the line at all yesterday. Does anyone know why? Is there an injury, or was this just due to his performance in practices?
I guess it would really throw ND for a loop if we were not to play him against WMU, and then start him in the ND game, but that really isn't very plausible.
Hard to hide someone his size, so I'm just curious about the disappearing act . . .
September 4th, 2011 at 2:51 PM ^
He played. I didn't really notice him though.
September 4th, 2011 at 2:53 PM ^
I don't remember seeing him before or after those plays, but I wasn't specifically looking for him.
It's asking too much to think he'll be starting anytime soon. I'm rooting for the kid, and I hope he develops into a contributor (and gets his degree), but I'm not expecting any production in the very near future.
September 4th, 2011 at 2:52 PM ^
He played at least 2 plays on defense that I remember. He was pretty awful on both plays. The 2nd play was a pretty big gain by WMU because BWC couldn't hold his position and the running back ran in the space that Big Will was pushed out of. He was pushed off the line both plays.
September 4th, 2011 at 5:20 PM ^
He was also put in to block on extra points. Which doesnt seem too promising for his future on the d-line. I hope he finally puts it all together. We could really use a body like that on defense.
September 4th, 2011 at 4:55 PM ^
was a WMU run to the right side of the line. I noticed WC getting double teamed by either the Center-Guard or the Guard-Tackle and got pushed back to let the RB through.
September 4th, 2011 at 2:52 PM ^
I saw him in on at least one play but don't remeber which it was. I don 't remember how he faired on the play either, but he definitely got in on at least one.
September 4th, 2011 at 2:53 PM ^
They've been talking for weeks about how the walk on (I forget his name, Brink maybe?) was beating out Campbell in practice, and seeing that we didn't even see him on the Goal Line package (at the end of WMU's first drive), I'm pretty sure he's just officially become a bust.
September 4th, 2011 at 3:10 PM ^
Brink was in and out on a few defensive stands too. I feel like yesterday was very much a feeling out process. At least we finally seem to have some luck on our side.
September 4th, 2011 at 2:53 PM ^
He played...didn't do anything of note. I seriously am starting to doubt him ever being a significant part of our rotation.
September 4th, 2011 at 2:53 PM ^
September 4th, 2011 at 2:59 PM ^
On one pass play where he was just holding his position to maintain the pocket rather than really looking like he was going after the QB (I assume by design). On another one it looked like he was actually dropping into coverage on a zone blitz (so hoping for a BWC pick six this year).
Not much to go on. Hardly think he can be labeled a bust based on a lack of noticeable productivity in this game (if so, Mike Martin with his one assisted tackle is doomed to eternal failure as well).
September 4th, 2011 at 3:04 PM ^
I appreciate the responses. I know he dressed and I saw him a bit. STs, I think, but I really didn't see him much on the line.
This may sound unlikely, but I had been wondering if the Brink love was just to motivate BWC, who they planned to start all along. Turns out that was not the case at all. As several posters mentioned, maybe he really won't be starting for us this year.
That would be unfortunate, as we could really use that big body for depth, if not as a starter. Have to wait and see, I guess.
September 4th, 2011 at 3:06 PM ^
Overall, the defensive line was pretty quiet, and this worries me. I thought for sure Mike Martin, Roh, and Van Bergen would have thier way with a pretty patchy WMU offensive line. However, they just didn't seem all that active. I didn't really see Roh do anything. I only heard Van Bergen's name mentioned a couple times.
This seems pretty problematic going forward, as the line is supposed to be our strong point, especially in this new improved scheme. Never mind BWC or our other rotation players; I think we need a bit more production from our starters.
September 4th, 2011 at 3:08 PM ^
I agree. Just afraid to say what I really thought of the D after yesterday. I will say it was way better in the third quarter and seemed to be hitting a stride.
September 4th, 2011 at 7:52 PM ^
It's way too early to be worried. Especially in three quarters.
September 4th, 2011 at 3:07 PM ^
He played on at least four or five plays. The reality of the situation is that he was massively overrated. It's a shame , he's a big dude.
September 4th, 2011 at 3:08 PM ^
Maybe he needs a redshirt year with good, solid coaching?
September 4th, 2011 at 6:37 PM ^
Campbell has gotten plenty of "good, solid coaching." HIs HS coach seems to think he would be a lot better going back to offense and redshirting this year. He could have a "debilitating thumb sprain," show up with it taped every game while sitting on the bench, and be eligible for a medical.
September 4th, 2011 at 3:08 PM ^
I saw Brady Hoke getting in his face a bit after a special teams' play. Brady kinda knocked on his helmet, so it seemed like a "get your head in the game!" sort of thing.
September 4th, 2011 at 5:17 PM ^
I was on the home sideline and saw Brady call out to Campbell as he was returning to the bench and it looked like he was giving BWC some on the field coaching (I believe after an extra point). I took it as more motivational and the "slap" to the helmet was one of encouragement.
September 4th, 2011 at 8:42 PM ^
Watched the whole thing from the away sideline. Hoke demonstrated what BWC should have been doing, and slapped him on the helmet in a very fatherly way afterwards.
September 4th, 2011 at 3:12 PM ^
I may be wrong but I think our coaches thought we could stay vanilla and get the job done. GM obviously adjusted well!
So....how can the recruiting services be so wrong about a kid like BW?
September 4th, 2011 at 6:44 PM ^
There's no doubt that WC has 5 star potential. No one in the world can guarantee who is going to live up to their potential and who isn't.
September 4th, 2011 at 7:55 PM ^
O and D line are guess work because you generally have two types coming out of HS. The first is physically dominate without much or any technique ie BWC. The other is undersized (for college not HS), but with good technique. The question is will the physically dominate learn the technique to go against those as strong or stronger than him and can the undersized gain enough size/strength to play at the same level in college as HS.
Personally, I like my DTs a little shorter than BWC (6'5") just so they have a lower center of gravity. Thomas Wilcher, his HS school coach, did mention on WTKA that BWC did most of his damage at the combines playing on the Oline and maybe that is where he belongs if the coaches can't break him of his tendency to stand up to try to find the ball.
September 4th, 2011 at 3:13 PM ^
With quick 3 step drops and lots of bubble screens and short routes, WMU was trying to avoid the UM line. They did a good job of this, because the D-line had no time to get to the qb early in the game. Once the team started blitzing, the line was occupying blockers to create holes for the blitzers to get through (Kovacs and Demens etc). The line didn't have a lot of opportunities to shine on passing plays.
However, the D-line could've done much better on running plays.
September 4th, 2011 at 3:54 PM ^
i agree that Western's running game gashed us on a couple occasions.
But looking at the box score, I believe they only averaged 3.8 ypc. Which isn't bad.
I think that climbs up to around 4.5 or so without the sacks. Which against WMU is a little troubling.
it will be interesting to see what the UFR shows though, because on some of their big(er) runs, we were definitely in nickel or dime and had almost no one in the middle of the defense behind the line.
I'm sure ND will be in lots of 3 and 4 WR sets too though, so we'd better figure it out.
Maybe we will just big a blitz heavy team this year?
September 4th, 2011 at 4:26 PM ^
But there were also some longer QB drops where our 4 guys didn't do much
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<br>Our ends got sucked in and blew contain on several outside counters (at least they looked like counters), a fairly clever offense WMU had. And we were rotating at a furious pace all over the field on D. Not sure if that helped or hurt.
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<br>Interesting on the blitzes, that lineman occupy blockers so the blitzers get through. This seems obvious now, but hadn't thought about it before - it did seem to work yesterday.
September 4th, 2011 at 3:21 PM ^
He just didn't play that much because his high school coach never taught him how to prepare for a real game. Atleast that is what Drew Sharp said.
September 4th, 2011 at 3:47 PM ^
mick mccabe's prep reporting is the highlight of the freep sports section
September 4th, 2011 at 3:49 PM ^
That may be the weakest O-line we see for a while, if not all season, so it wasn't overly encouraging, especially for Campbell. The D-line wasn't overly impressive but there may have been some hesitation/uncertainty the first few series. Credit to Mattison for not sitting back and waiting - he got aggressive when he had to. At least ND didn't see much.
September 4th, 2011 at 3:36 PM ^
Unfortunately, in the 2 plays i saw, he looked like he got manhandled, but to his credit he was being double teamed.
September 4th, 2011 at 4:02 PM ^
Well, on the Carder draw that picked up a first down he was definitely doubled and helf his ground decently.
I think, but could be wrong, that JB Fitzgerald made the big mistake there. He turned and ran with a receiver instead of diagnosing the draw. If he had stepped into the hole, Carder would have been dead to rights.
Then again, Carder could have pulled up and thrown. Not sure if that's an option for him on that play.
September 4th, 2011 at 4:18 PM ^
wow, confirmed my memories from the game. He gets absolutely plowed off the ball.
September 4th, 2011 at 4:50 PM ^
It looks to me like he engages with the lineman on the first play, then sees the play is going away from him and begins flowing down the line (maybe a little too far, but not the sin that getting smoked would be). The play only gains yardage because (I think) Ryan tackles Carder from behind and knocks him forward.
On the second play he pretty much stands his ground against a double team. The play works because we're blitzing from the other side, Fitzgerald bails, and they have two pulling blockers to drop the defensive end (the only other guy besides Campbell on that side of the play).
I don't see anything to warrant panic or negativity about a back-up DT.
September 4th, 2011 at 3:31 PM ^
i too saw him get blown off the line on an off tackle run. maybe it's time to change course with this guy again. let him get to 350+ like some of those NFL nose guards, so he at least can't get pushed around.
September 4th, 2011 at 7:11 PM ^
September 4th, 2011 at 3:41 PM ^
I was surprised I didn't see him more either...
Unrelated, but does anybody know how Darboh's visit went, and wasn't Garmon visiting as well?
September 4th, 2011 at 3:42 PM ^
You were looking in the wrong place. He replaced TWolf at corner.
September 4th, 2011 at 3:55 PM ^
until midway through the game. Mattison made some good adjustments once it was obvious that every play would be a quick pass. All the different looks we gave them really wore them down and the qb was pissed halfway through the 3rd quarter for ending on his back and losing his helmet so much. Most of the pressure was by the lb's and Kovacs, though.
September 4th, 2011 at 4:26 PM ^
Maybe he had something to do with the one being blocked - not sure on that. But it was very disappointing to not see him get more plays yesterday. The whole D-line needs to do a better job of getting into the backfield next week. I thought for sure with this weak WMU o-line, we'd be more effective.
September 4th, 2011 at 4:56 PM ^
The other night my high school team played Walton High a team with the 16th DT in the nation and 6'4 320 FSU commit Delvon Stuckey and he was a non factor getting blocked by our 170 pound center all night. My point being maybe Big Will was a super motivated beast in high school and then being a highly recruited player he thought he was a big shot and lost his fire and hustle. Just a thought
September 4th, 2011 at 6:54 PM ^
Didn't see him get any tackles but did see 1 J.O.P.(jump on pile).
September 4th, 2011 at 7:04 PM ^
I heard he has a hurt shoulder. It was taped up for the game.
September 4th, 2011 at 9:33 PM ^
He has no leg drive. no burst off the line. stands right up. He might need to lose more weight and workout a whole lot more on agility. His hieght works against him because he doesnt bend well or get low enough. he has this year to grow and play all season. I can see why DickRod gave him a shot at oline. he plays like a short armed guard at D tackle. he's just gumpy for lack of a better word. no nasty streak either. I hope he matures this season and we can count on him in some capacity next year. Go BLue!
September 6th, 2011 at 2:50 AM ^
Can i get the low down on what I did to get the flamebait tag? Im asking purely so I can avoid it in the future. Is it my DickRod comment or calling Bwc gumpy? or something Im missing? If anyone cares to help a brutha out I would appreciate it. thanks in advance.
September 4th, 2011 at 11:24 PM ^