The Status of Aaron Kampman

by Brandon on Nov 10, 2009 12:31 AM CST in News Comment 12 comments

I noted in the Green Bay Packers game recap that LB Aaron Kampman was bad in coverage on the TD pass to RB Derrick Ward in the 1st quarter. It was a surprise that he was ineffective against the Buccaneers. His main opponent was RT Jeremy Trueblood, who as far as I know is good but not heading to the Pro Bowl. But Kampman occasionally has a game when he doesn't make a big impact.

It turned out he suffered a concussion on the 4th play of the game, but he played until the middle of the 4th quarter. He might not play at all next Sunday against the Cowboys.

With only 2.5 sacks this season, the transition to the 3-4 hasn't been a huge success for him. Something he apparently was worried about when he didn't speak to the media back in May. But he has had many opportunities to lineup as a down lineman, and he hasn't often taken advantage of those opportunities either.

The big problem with his absence is that he'll be replaced by some combination of LB Jeremy Thompson and LB Brady Poppinga. Due to various injuries, Thompson has rarely played outside LB in a game this season or preseason. He's an unknown in some respects, although we've seen him play some at defensive end last season. I know what Poppinga can do, and he's a significant step down from Kampman, but the coaches seem to love him. Rookie LB Brad Jones is another option, but he's an unknown too.

There's not a lot of good options here if Kampman can't play. Who's the best one?

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Kampman...

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

"stay (green and) gold"

by Green and Bold on Nov 10, 2009 1:11 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

To replace Kampman

Move Barnett or Hawk outside to take Kampman’s spot and put Desmond Bishop in the resulting empty middle position.

It’s not like you can get worse than Poppinga out there.

by Dhampir on Nov 10, 2009 8:59 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Jeremy Thompson

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.

by Jabooty on Nov 10, 2009 9:09 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Thompson

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.

by packallday555 on Nov 10, 2009 11:27 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

As long as Matthews stays in...

He’s got great potential.

by Drew C on Nov 10, 2009 12:25 PM CST via mobile reply actions 0 recs

Kampman

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!

by Strohman on Nov 10, 2009 1:33 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

Your spot on about us needing a more explosive, athletic guy to play the LOLB position. It needs to be a guy who is 5’ 11" to 6’ 0", with great speed and explosiveness.

by packallday555 on Nov 11, 2009 1:20 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Thompson

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.

by ilovethegbpackers on Nov 10, 2009 9:09 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

hmm

moving hawk to the outside might work. He seemed to play much better when he was an OLB in past years but when asked to move inside (to fill in for Barnett and now this year) he seems to be pretty ineffective. I think our LBs get better if they go Hawk, Barnett, Bishop, Matthews.

by TrevorR on Nov 11, 2009 3:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

True

But the Olb spot in the 4-3 is very different from that in the 3-4. You have to be able to rush the passer and shed a block, which is something that I’m not sure Hawk can do.

I really think we need to see what Thompson can do. He is an athlete, which is something we lack in our LB corps. But I guess I really wouldn’t mind seeing what Hawk can do either. I’m just praying that it won’t be Poppinga starting there..

by packallday555 on Nov 12, 2009 10:33 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs