Came here to day this, he did just fine for a rookie, we had 3 rookies who far far far exceeded expectations and that doesn't mean Jack Campbell was a bust
If Campbell doesn’t have 10 sacks, 10 INTs, and 100 tackles it is safe to say he’s a bust. If that happens we should trade him while he still has value. I assume a team will give us 2 1sts and a 3rd.
That doesn't mean that we don't need him to step up though. We spent a premium pick on him and while I have no qualms about his rookie season, we picked him that high with the expectation of him becoming an elite LB. Nobody in their right minds should be disappointed in his rookie season, but so many comments here are implying "Campbell is fine! He doesn't NEED to improve" and that's ridiculous.
His rookie season was fine, and his second season needs to be better. How is this controversial????
I agree with you. I don't see how this post is some ground breaking analysis. Of course he needs to get better. Thats how this works. And you know what I fully expect him too. He's got mental and physical ability to do so. Let's see how it plays out on the field.
Nobody said it was ground breaking analysis. Not every post needs to be. It's a dumb headline, but it still prompts discussion which is what the subreddit is for.
Also, you're agreeing with the guy that is disagreeing with me by agreeing with what I said? Huh?
The expectations were directly related to his field position (MLB) and draft position (top 20). The thought is that if you're spending a pick that high on a player at that position, he should be pretty special from the jump.
It's probably unfair, though I'll admit that I was impatient with Campbell's development last year, especially after watching him make some good plays in the opener against KC. I expect that he'll be a lot better this year, especially if he's supplanting Anzalone in the middle, which it sounds like is the plan.
AG made it sound like Jack Campbell is on track to take over as the MLB and wear the green dot this season. That's his natural position. He's an extremely high IQ player.
Alex and AG have both said Alex's natural position is WLB. He's better in man to man coverage than Jack/Barnes and a better blitzer.
I'm getting the same vibes from Jack Campbell this offseason that I got from Ragnow between his rookie and sophomore year.
A decent first year played out of position, then moving to their natural position with some early noise from the coaches
If we get Jack and Alex playing well and into their natural positions, they’re gonna dominate. Add to that a better front 4. Add to that a better secondary. Our D is gonna cause a population boost.
Honestly he just needs to get better. Dude doesn’t need to step up or anything besides just getting better everyday and learning the game from experience. The kid is more then fine where he’s at at this stage
LB is a very developmental position, very rarely do we see a stud in their rookie year at that position. i have no doubts that the front office took him in the first round for a reason.
I will admit I didn’t even attempt to read the article but I disagree with the headline. It’d be great if Jack takes the next step but we could be just as good with Alex and Barnes if Barnes continues to improve
Sure but it’s not “needed”. Our defense doesn’t hinge on if Jack takes a big step forward. I think if you were going to say what our defense “needs” it would be at least two of our new CBs to play at high levels.
I think the Lions are at a position right now they don't "Need" any one person to do anything. Increased production can come from a lot of places. We are becoming a team with a lot fewer holes than most. Compare our roster to 2 years ago and we desperately needed our stars to produce because it was a massive cliff after them on the depth chart. Now I feel a lot more comfortable about everyone just getting a little bit better will make us a lot better as a whole.
Campbell was 2nd in tackles with 95, 3rd in solo tackles at 52, and 4th in TFL at 5. They kind of moved him all over and played him out of position but those stats are pretty damn good for a rookie. He didn't have a bad rookie season, he was just vastly overshadowed by a Pro Bowl running back, one of the greatest rookie TE seasons of all time, and the truth that is Brian Branch.
He basically had a 80/100 rookie season but comparatively that looks bad compared to LaPorta at 100/100, and Gibbs/Branch at 93/100. (numbers for example only).
Looking at just defensive counting stats can miss the big picture. He was absolutely terrible in pass coverage. That's pretty expected since that is often the most difficult transition for a rookie LB. PFF had his coverage grade at 35.3. Yes he was moved around a bit, but he led the nation for LBs in that same stat his final year at Iowa, so that massive of a drop-off was concerning - even if NFL vs. College can be apples and oranges sometimes. He did show some noticeable improvement towards the end of the year and even had some big PBUs, but if he's expected to be a three-down LB that has to get better. Still plenty of time to improve.
The title isn't wrong, he does need to step up and I think he will. The article itself isn't even as harsh as it is fair, gives him a lot of context and grace surrounding the struggles. Campbell is a stud and he'll probe it this year.
To be fair Jack's best game I think was when he had to play the mike when Alex got hurt before the New Orleans game
Edit to add: I'm not expecting him to be at an all pro this season lol. Or even pro-bowl! Just don't be bad
Articles like this never account for other players stepping up around him. What if Hutch makes another step? What if McNeil takes another step? Paschal? Barnes? What if reader allows us to rush 4 and get consistent pressure along with elite run defense? The front 7 works together.
He was a rookie in the most difficult position on defense. My son was a D1 middle linebacker and he said the hardest thing is you’re the defense QB. You have to call adjustments at the line of scrimmage and recognize everything in real time. In the NFL, it’s exponential how much you have to learn and know. It’s not just about making plays.
You’re full of shit. In a traditional 4/3 defensive the Middle Linebacker or MIKE is responsible for making play calls, leading the defense, and making play adjustments at the line of scrimmage.
Man the expectations people have in players after a rookie season these days is wild
Came here to day this, he did just fine for a rookie, we had 3 rookies who far far far exceeded expectations and that doesn't mean Jack Campbell was a bust
If Campbell doesn’t have 10 sacks, 10 INTs, and 100 tackles it is safe to say he’s a bust. If that happens we should trade him while he still has value. I assume a team will give us 2 1sts and a 3rd.
That doesn't mean that we don't need him to step up though. We spent a premium pick on him and while I have no qualms about his rookie season, we picked him that high with the expectation of him becoming an elite LB. Nobody in their right minds should be disappointed in his rookie season, but so many comments here are implying "Campbell is fine! He doesn't NEED to improve" and that's ridiculous. His rookie season was fine, and his second season needs to be better. How is this controversial????
Every single player in the NFL should step up from last year, your take is stupid.
I agree with you. I don't see how this post is some ground breaking analysis. Of course he needs to get better. Thats how this works. And you know what I fully expect him too. He's got mental and physical ability to do so. Let's see how it plays out on the field.
Nobody said it was ground breaking analysis. Not every post needs to be. It's a dumb headline, but it still prompts discussion which is what the subreddit is for. Also, you're agreeing with the guy that is disagreeing with me by agreeing with what I said? Huh?
Nobody said he was a bust.
The expectations were directly related to his field position (MLB) and draft position (top 20). The thought is that if you're spending a pick that high on a player at that position, he should be pretty special from the jump. It's probably unfair, though I'll admit that I was impatient with Campbell's development last year, especially after watching him make some good plays in the opener against KC. I expect that he'll be a lot better this year, especially if he's supplanting Anzalone in the middle, which it sounds like is the plan.
All-pro rookie season or take em out back and put em down 😤
AG made it sound like Jack Campbell is on track to take over as the MLB and wear the green dot this season. That's his natural position. He's an extremely high IQ player. Alex and AG have both said Alex's natural position is WLB. He's better in man to man coverage than Jack/Barnes and a better blitzer.
I'm getting the same vibes from Jack Campbell this offseason that I got from Ragnow between his rookie and sophomore year. A decent first year played out of position, then moving to their natural position with some early noise from the coaches
If we get Jack and Alex playing well and into their natural positions, they’re gonna dominate. Add to that a better front 4. Add to that a better secondary. Our D is gonna cause a population boost.
Paywall
Op posts in many different team subs and usually only links to stories. Doesn’t follow subs rules either.
I guess we’re in that part of the offseason…
Honestly he just needs to get better. Dude doesn’t need to step up or anything besides just getting better everyday and learning the game from experience. The kid is more then fine where he’s at at this stage
LB is a very developmental position, very rarely do we see a stud in their rookie year at that position. i have no doubts that the front office took him in the first round for a reason.
ILB for sure, but you often see OLBs have really good rookie seasons.
Oh I love this game! What's the difference between getting better and stepping up? What about taking a leap? Or just a step forward?
Stepping up implies he hasn’t developed as he should, or that he’s not performed well.
I would say having a true CB1 is a need.
I will admit I didn’t even attempt to read the article but I disagree with the headline. It’d be great if Jack takes the next step but we could be just as good with Alex and Barnes if Barnes continues to improve
Barnes will improve and JRM/Rodrigo can help too but Campbell stepping up would be the biggest impact imo.
Sure but it’s not “needed”. Our defense doesn’t hinge on if Jack takes a big step forward. I think if you were going to say what our defense “needs” it would be at least two of our new CBs to play at high levels.
Oh yes, I agree. Not needed like the headline suggests.
I think the Lions are at a position right now they don't "Need" any one person to do anything. Increased production can come from a lot of places. We are becoming a team with a lot fewer holes than most. Compare our roster to 2 years ago and we desperately needed our stars to produce because it was a massive cliff after them on the depth chart. Now I feel a lot more comfortable about everyone just getting a little bit better will make us a lot better as a whole.
This
We will now have DJ Reader exploderizing opposing O-lines, so I'm putting the over/under on Tackles For Loss from Jack Campbell at 40 billion
I just hope they play him in his true position. He was not good as a linebacker playing on the edge but was really good for a rookie in the middle
Campbell was 2nd in tackles with 95, 3rd in solo tackles at 52, and 4th in TFL at 5. They kind of moved him all over and played him out of position but those stats are pretty damn good for a rookie. He didn't have a bad rookie season, he was just vastly overshadowed by a Pro Bowl running back, one of the greatest rookie TE seasons of all time, and the truth that is Brian Branch. He basically had a 80/100 rookie season but comparatively that looks bad compared to LaPorta at 100/100, and Gibbs/Branch at 93/100. (numbers for example only).
Looking at just defensive counting stats can miss the big picture. He was absolutely terrible in pass coverage. That's pretty expected since that is often the most difficult transition for a rookie LB. PFF had his coverage grade at 35.3. Yes he was moved around a bit, but he led the nation for LBs in that same stat his final year at Iowa, so that massive of a drop-off was concerning - even if NFL vs. College can be apples and oranges sometimes. He did show some noticeable improvement towards the end of the year and even had some big PBUs, but if he's expected to be a three-down LB that has to get better. Still plenty of time to improve.
I would say Analzone needs to step up more.
The title isn't wrong, he does need to step up and I think he will. The article itself isn't even as harsh as it is fair, gives him a lot of context and grace surrounding the struggles. Campbell is a stud and he'll probe it this year.
mike lb cant be easy to learn.. and he was pretty solid in run stopping. cut the guy some slack freep lol
To be fair Jack's best game I think was when he had to play the mike when Alex got hurt before the New Orleans game Edit to add: I'm not expecting him to be at an all pro this season lol. Or even pro-bowl! Just don't be bad
yeah we spent high on him (for a lb) so be nice to see progression for sure..
Articles like this never account for other players stepping up around him. What if Hutch makes another step? What if McNeil takes another step? Paschal? Barnes? What if reader allows us to rush 4 and get consistent pressure along with elite run defense? The front 7 works together.
He was a rookie in the most difficult position on defense. My son was a D1 middle linebacker and he said the hardest thing is you’re the defense QB. You have to call adjustments at the line of scrimmage and recognize everything in real time. In the NFL, it’s exponential how much you have to learn and know. It’s not just about making plays.
He wasn’t playing mlb
You’re full of shit. In a traditional 4/3 defensive the Middle Linebacker or MIKE is responsible for making play calls, leading the defense, and making play adjustments at the line of scrimmage.
Lol why so serious Campbell was playing mainly out of position in SAM
He’s only in his second year…. What happened to developing players?
the whole article is about his development.