This is what Big Will Campbell can DO

Submitted by Bodogblog on

This has been mentioned on the board, but I don't think anyone has isolated the video in a thread.  I saw it last night on the BTN replay and couldn't believe my eyes.  Want to see where our 5 star DT has been hiding?  He was just waiting for 3rd & 1 under the lights.

Irish has #75 Taylor Dever (senior) as a fairly decent player, especially against the run.  Not here.  Campbell stays low, explodes through him, and bends him over backwards.  The guy has no chance, and doesn't know what hit him.  Ryan makes a great play and the entire defense is WIN (Demens was going to blow this RB to pieces if Ryan doesn't tackle), but this post isn't about them.

Our man starts low, stays low, and keeps his legs driving, depositing the RT 3 yards in a heap in the ND backfield.  Yes it's one play and all the other caveats.  But this is what all that potential with BWC is talking about.  Would be great if it came together in the next few weeks. 

<iframe width="560" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/03iHQdJATHE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

(sorry for the lame link, embedding didn't work out for me here.  Additional attempts will be made, but start it at 8:10)

Beavis

September 12th, 2011 at 5:50 PM ^

Now, I was pretty hammered for this game, but i do believe the following to be true:

ND LOTS of running yards in the first half.

Will Campbell plays much of the second half.

ND not so many rushing yards.

Coincidence?  Perhaps.  

JT4104

September 12th, 2011 at 5:54 PM ^

If he can do that sometimes and also keep the point of attack and force double teams it opens a whole lot for RVB/Martin.

The key for our D to be decent is BWC....if he can be a solid contributor it moves RVB to a more natural position on the end and makes our Dline the best it could possibly be.

Bodogblog

September 12th, 2011 at 6:09 PM ^

(and even Sapp didn't do it every play) OC's are going to have to think about it... Leave him single-blocked and he does that, and he can single-handedly blow up your entire play.  What if he starts doing that 2-3 times a game? 

Besides he now knows he can do this - it's in color under the lights.  He can do it again.  And again.  And again.

MGoPHILLY

September 12th, 2011 at 6:01 PM ^

The play at 8:10 is about as good a football play as your going to see.  BWC kills the tackle and then takes on another blocker.  We'll be in good shape if he starts to contribute like that.

Starko

September 12th, 2011 at 8:23 PM ^

Agreed.  It took me many viewings to really see it, but his taking on the second block is what kills that play, I think.  If the RT holds him up, 18 is free to move into the hole and block demens, and Ryan's arm tackle doesn't knock the RB into him. It's hard to say for sure if Ryan would have even brought him down if WC doesn't stop the whole pile right there. Awesome play. Now we know what he's capable of.  Very refreshing.

HartAttack20

September 12th, 2011 at 6:02 PM ^

I was wondering if people would mention Big Will on the board. I noticed him a few times Saturday night, and I came away impressed overall. IIRC, he also had a fumble recovery. He may have had some negative plays that I didn't pay attention to, but the positives he showed seem to show that he is turning the corner with the new coaching staff.

Grumpy52

September 12th, 2011 at 6:19 PM ^

steps up. This year he can learn and be part of the rotation. However, next year with RVB and Martin gone, he has to make an impact. Otherwise, the interior of that defensive line is going to be scary bad/unproven.

HAIL-YEA

September 12th, 2011 at 6:19 PM ^

#18 was forced to move to BWC to help and Ryan came unblocked and finshed..without BWC that doesn't happen. I think the next 2 games he should start..if he keeps getting better then keep playing him..if not we are no worse off then we are now.

ken725

September 12th, 2011 at 6:26 PM ^

That would be ideal because that mean that Van Bergen can actually play the SDE where I think he might be better suited.  I think having BWC at 3-tech and sliding Van Bergen to 5-tech is an upgrade from the Heininger/Brink combo that we have seen in two games. 

Hank Scorpio

September 12th, 2011 at 7:11 PM ^

Any dude with that kind of size just needs the proper motivation & technique before he becomes an unstoppable force. Hell, they have to double him now and he's relatively green.

It's honestly just a shame that Hoke didn't get him as a freshman.

Mr. Yost

September 12th, 2011 at 7:33 PM ^

He's be able to do do this, but it's about consistancy.

 

It's about not having THIS happen 2-3 times a game:

@3:02

@3:35

http://youtu.be/DRyS5tDv-bA

 

That was an INCREDIBLE play BWC made against ND, probably the best of his career. However, if he plays with the wrong technique against these Big Ten DLines he's going to get MANBALLED 2-3 times a game and his 2-3 big plays like he had vs. ND won't matter. Coach Mattison has been saying all summer/fall long, it's consistancy.

Bodogblog

September 12th, 2011 at 9:37 PM ^

It has been for a while.  He was a true freshman, right?  How about Morgan on the goal line against ND?  When he's blowing up fullbacks 2 years from now, are people going to pull that youtube clip of him being buried in the end zone, and play it over and over? 

Obviously Hoke and GMAT know more than anyone on this board, and they don't have BWC in more.  But that was not a high school player he rolled like a bag of potatoes on that play, it was ND's right tackle.  The point is that if he can do that, he can do it again.  Maybe even consistently.

JC3

September 12th, 2011 at 9:12 PM ^

There was another play in the game where Will was double-teamed. He pushed both of the blockers backwards and Cierre Wood ran into them, and essentially Michigan was able to clean up the play. I don't remember where it was, I think it was in the third quarter. Will was fired up afterwards.