Bruce Campbell's combine showing impressive, worthless
by Mocking Dan on Feb 27, 2010 2:08 PM EST
in 2010 NFL Draft
46 comments
The unquestioned star of the NFL Scouting Combine on Saturday was Maryland left tackle Bruce Campbell. That picture doesn't show it, but Campbell showed up in Indianapolis how everyone expected. He's a rock of an offensive tackle. He's got Dwight Howard shoulders is probably the leanest offensive lineman in the draft.
The buzz around Campbell began when he weighed in. Coming in at 6-foot-6 with 36 1/4-inch arms, Campbell has a good of length as you'd want.
Then, he stepped onto the field. He ran an official 40-yard dash time of 4.85 seconds. Since 199, Football Outsiders notes that only Allen Barbre has run a faster time. He also put up 34 reps in the 225-pound bench press.
All of this caused people to go nuts. People on Twitter went bananas. Adam Schefter called him an Adonis. Agent Drew Rosenhaus said it was the fastest 40 ever for an offensive lineman and that he'd be a top 10 pick. Some random guy called him a "beast."
But Ross Tucker of Sports Illustrated summed Campbell's performance up best:
Bruce Campbell's 40 time is very impressive but it has no bearing on whether or not he can, ya know, block people.
Ding, ding!
Why anyone is impressed with Campbell's performance, I'll never know. Everyone expected this. But would people have thought less of Campbell's performance if it wasn't as impressive? Hopefully not.
In fact, the most telling part of Cambell's performance came when he was interviewed by the NFL Network crew. They asked where he needs to improve and Campbell said his leverage and technique. He can run all the great 40-yard dash times, but if he doesn't improve those two things, he won't make it in the NFL.
Check out our scouting report on Campbell for more on what actually matters.
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Yeah exactly...
Life without knowledge is death in disguise
by Zoltan from Budapest on Feb 27, 2010 2:55 PM EST up reply actions
I'm confused. So what is the point with the combine anyways?
Campbell does everything great and then people turn around and question whether he can block. Last year, Andre Smith does everything horribly, leaves early and still gets picked at #6. Would he have gone at #2 if he nailed the combine drills? Who knows?
It will be interesting to see where Campbell gets picked. I would be surprised if he drops past #13 but anyone who says he will go to Oakland at #8 will not get an argument from me.
at the same time, smith dropped b/c some of the similar questions about blocking (that was one reason he dropped at least).
I agree with going to oakland, especially considering that 40 time.
It is a definite question with campbell and it is completely legitimate. so is the fact that he only had 17 career college games…He just doesn’t have the experience to be a lock like Okung.
Just because it doesn’t show his ability to play the position, doesn’t mean it is not impressive.
I agree people shouldn’t be freaking out and proclaiming him an Elite Tackle over this, but it is exciting to see someone that big and strong be that athletic. I’m cheering for him and all the other workout warriors to go high in the draft. Drop some of the better players down guys, go make your money!
Okung isn’t receiving the hype Campbell is, but outside of the pure athletic events he’s doing just as well or better, and he has great film. Depending on how Suh and McCoy do he could end up the top non-QB pick because of how well he did before having trouble. Really, a high jump and 40 time is what Bruce Campbell owned, good to know he can get back on defense and get a hand in the face of shooters.
I also love how all the non-combine attenders are free-falling to the bottom of the draft losing tons of money because they aren’t there right now, at least until their pro-day where they will go right back up as if non of this happened.
You Kidding? This is HUGE
This means one more top ten prospect will be left on the board by the Oakland Raiders when they pick Campbell at 8 overall.
exactly!!!!
best news I’ve heard from Combine so far.
Opus smart , lascivio magis , intereo gauisus...
I dunno about worthless….
Bruce was a first rounder regardless of what he did in Indy…all this just means he’s a lock to go top 15.
The Raiders could use an OT…I dunno how Al will pass on him. Its not a bad pick either…if Campbell is healthy he’s got All-Pro potential
Master of the squeegee
Exactly
Worthless is a bit strong. Yes, it does not mean he is now the top OT on the board, but it does show he has elite athleticism. He still needs to work on his technique and consistency, but the tools are obviously there.
Game Tape
Not for nothing, but you can get some taste of Campbell’s struggles with the pass rush here.
Cal’s fairly weak pass rush racked up 6 sacks against Maryland including at least one against Campbell (first on the tape). However, the more concerning issue in my mind would be around the 1:01 mark when he is clearly out played by 5’ 11" 218 (and a very generous 5’ 11" if you ask me) Jarred Price. Allows Price to get inside his reach and then spin around him.
front to back
is different from side to side running. and like said before, Can he block? too many questions. Makes me think Al Davis is going to pick him even more. Good news for my team. more likely to get who we want.
True…tho, with my team…getting Bruce Campbell would be OK with me.
Campbell’s “inconsistency” wasn’t when he was out of the field…he was very good out on the field.
His problem was that 17 game thing…“injury prone” type thing.
“Blocking” is not his problem I don’t think.
Master of the squeegee
by FreeBradshaw on Feb 28, 2010 1:46 PM EST up reply actions
I saw the name and thought "BRRRUUUCCCEEEEE"
Bruce Campbell? Awesome! Bubba Ho-Tep was the bestest movie I never seen!
…wait, it’s not THE Bruce we’re talking about here…?
…oh.
Relive the shocking NOOOOOOOO of April 25 2009 at Witty's Draft Review and laugh laugh laugh...
He is a Terrapin
We are all the fastest players in the world. Bruce is the man and is the most ripped up Lineman anyone has ever seen. Ive seen this guy in person many, many times around campus and he has the body of a jacked up CB, but just happens to be 6’7" 315 pounds. How many OL you know have a 6 pack?
His 40 time though just solidified his spot to Oakland though.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
I thought piplines only existed in highschool to college. haha
Scientific research has proven that you lose exactly 5.37 billion brain cells every time you listen to Todd McShay.
by TheRealSlimShady on Feb 28, 2010 12:36 AM EST up reply actions
i know a dl with six packs..bunkley
Desean Jackson- Im Number 1, the real deal, The 1(0)ne to Watch.
Interview while at Cal.
I thought you Terrapins were more the slow but steady type, or is that just in academics.
Oh snap!
by Phantaskippy on Feb 28, 2010 8:43 AM EST up reply actions
The Combine is just one step in the process.
It all starts with game film. People initially set their boards based on performance.
Then the players play in the bowl games and senior bowl,ect to show what they can do against better competition.
And then they come to the Combine to be measured on a neutral site with no homerisms going on.
And then they demonstrate their athletic ability, workout regiment, intelligence, and some ball skills.
And then they go home and show off on their own turf.
Few GMs will drastically change their board unless they find out something different about the players they are examining. Those things might be good ( Clausen is really 6’2" tall) or they might be bad ( Petrus arms are only 32" long). In any event the combine does serve a useful function and we should use it the same way.
Winning is not everything but it sure feels like it sometimes
I thought that Petrus arms were like 33.5? source?
Scientific research has proven that you lose exactly 5.37 billion brain cells every time you listen to Todd McShay.
by TheRealSlimShady on Feb 28, 2010 12:37 AM EST up reply actions
It was an example off the top of my head.
All I know is they said he had short arms and that is why he could bench press so well. I have no idea if they are correct. Didn’t mean to throw you off Slim.
Winning is not everything but it sure feels like it sometimes
by lifelongvike on Feb 28, 2010 8:27 AM EST up reply actions
What it means
His performance means that we will no longer read a mock draft that refers to his knee problems. And maybe he will be the first player to go from football to basketball.
I disagree on the value of the combine. How easy is it to compare a guard from Nebraska with a guard from North Carolina State? They may never have played an opponent in common. One guy blocked Suh and McCoy. A guy from Chadron State runs past everyone he plays against. How do you tell if this translates to NFL speed? By watching them all do the same drills, one after the other, you can more easily compare certain attributes.
A 40-yd dash can give a general idea of athleticism for a tackle, but it is not that important. Instead, you need to watch the drills moving them side to side and back. Davis and Bulaga may not have the fancy numbers of Okung and Campbell, but you watch them do the simulated tackle moves and you see that they have enough foot speed to play left tackle.
I hadn't heard he had knee problems
I heard that he had a whole bunch of injuries that limited him to 17 games in his college career. The fact that he ran a fast 40 will do nothing to reduce concerns that he is injury-prone. Luckily for him, Al doesn’t care about anything but the 40.
no..he just cares about the combine in general…how many combine warriors has he taken?
Jamarcus didn’t have a blazing 40 speed but he wowed everyone at the combine by throwing 60 yards from his knees.
Maybe he should throw all his passes from his knees? LOL
Boller was one of the first to do that. After watching him play QB you would think NFL GMs might realize how worthless that trick is.
Bills
If Jauron was still in Buffalo, Campbell would be a lock for the Bills if he went past Oakland. Nothing like picking an althletically gifted but talently average guy.
Trample the weak, hurdle the dead!
Sounds like a catch 22 to me...
He does great in the combine and it’s considered worthless and they question his blocking. He does terrible and they say he has no heart and drops in the draft…wow.
yep
Gholston’s name gets mentioned every 15 minutes. No one talks about the guys like Johnny Knox. Like the regular media, the sports media finds it easier to be negative than positive.
the difference:
Vernon Gholston was inconsistent on the field but had a ridiculous combine and jumped up the draft boards.
Johnny Knox was from a tiny college (Albiene Christian) and put up great stats there but it was a DII school…
Not that the combine is worthless but it is extremely useful for the smaller school guys. these guys didn’t have the scouts watching them on every play. if they perform like knox, then the scouts go back and look at his tape. it can build up draft status for players for smaller schools.
what bruce campbell did is similar to gholston, but he might not rise as much. they were both guys who were known commodities and didn’t produce consistently on the field however, had a spectacular combine.
these announcers are IDIOTS.
they just praise everyone they like.
this is basically what they said about spiller not doing stuff like 3 cone drills and other stuff
“oh, its smart to do the 40 now and the other stuff later. the other stuff uses lateral quickness. he can train up for those at his pro day”.
personally, I think that you should show speed and lateral quickness at the same time or else it looks suspect (b/c you can train in between)
WOW…4.39 for Best???
Gholston had agreat worjout at the combine too
Different positions, I know but I’m just sayin.
2009 NY Phin PhansFantasy League Champion
2009 Best Regular Season Record in NYPPL.
2010 The Jim Mandich NewsFlash Award Winner.
To say this didnt improve his stock is crazy
He was impressive in every drill. It only takes one team. To say it didnt is crazy.
That is just an athletic freak type of body. Absolute speciman.
Would he be served better by changing positions? I mean, DT, DE, FB, TE…. basketball, pro wrestling?
Coffee. The NEW Performance Enhancing drug for Sport's Writers. Just ask Ken Rosenthal.
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