The Status of Aaron Kampman

is gone. I guaran-fricken-tee it. Let’s just pray he doesn’t end up in MN.

When drafted, he was declared by many scouts to be better suited to play as a hybrid LB in the 3-4, so lets give him some experience. The few times he did play he lacked intensity and aggressiveness, which was in Preseason. Hopefully he can provide more pressure this time. Neither Hawk, Chillar, or Barnett are physically capable of playing as an OLB in the 3-4.

Should replace Kampman if he can’t go. We already know what we have in Poppinga, and what that is very average. All I heard about was how good Thompson looked, and “how he was going to turn some heads around the league this year”- McCarthy. I want to see what this guy has. It’s believed that he is best suited to play a 3-4 Olb, so let’s give him a shot.

I love Kampman for his leadership and everything he brings to the team. He is our best pass rusher, weather as an OLB or a DE, but he is NOT the dominating type of player that we need! Most of Kampman’s sacks even as a DE came from his intensity and tenacity, he just never quit on a play and therefore he ended up w/ his share of sacks. But we need an OLB for the 34 who is a physically dominant pass rusher! Matthew has a real chance to be that, but for the 34 to work it needs another one on the opposite side! D. Ware, Harrison, Woodley, and Merriman are the type of explosive, aggressive athletes needed to play 34 OLB. Kampman simply is not that type of player.

I say give Thompson the start. He needs to play more physically, but he may have the type of explosiveness necessary! We just don’t know yet… Greene needs to bring that out of Thompson! Thompson showed that kind of explosiveness at the combine, he hasn’t learned to play that way on the field. If Greene can get that out of him he would be the most likely candidate to succeed. Jones seems like a good all around OLB, but may lack the explosiveness. We need to find out if either of them can become that!

Kampman will be back in a week, but for this game we need to see if Thompson can turn it on!

No doubt. Although Dhampir made a great point with moving hawk to outside, which I like. Hawk has been consistently O.K. in my eyes at middle, and with Bishop seeming to make plays all over the field, he can be an x factor on that defense, give ’em a spark. But with that, Hawk may be a bit stiff and upright to be an outside.

With Thompson, you can give this guy a tremendous amount of experience against a good offense. If he gets overwhelmed, take him out for a series calm him down. But he’s an athlete, something we’re missing at linebacker.