Hall of Fame tackle Joe Thomas has defended Will Campbell after the New England Patriots offensive tackle received heavy criticism following the Super Bowl.
Campbell, drafted fourth overall by the Patriots last season, had an inconsistent rookie year. Despite showing promise at times, his performance in the Super Bowl drew scrutiny. The fact that he refused to speak to the media after the game did not help matters.
Thomas’s Analysis of Campbell’s Super Bowl Performance
Joe Thomas has come to Campbell’s defence amid the criticism. Thomas addressed concerns about Campbell’s short arms, which were raised before he was drafted and resurfaced after the Super Bowl.
“The problem in the Super Bowl had nothing to do with arm length,” Thomas said on the Ross Tucker Football Podcast. “It was the timing of his kick set and the timing of his feet as it relates to the player he was trying to block.”
Thomas added, “It was off, and I think that was part of the injury he sustained during the year.”
Thomas is considered a good authority on tackle play. He started 167 games at left tackle, earning 10 Pro Bowl selections and six First-Team All-Pro honours.
Campbell’s Injury and Future with the Patriots
Campbell suffered an MCL injury in Week 11. He missed time but played through the injury in the playoffs. After the season, he admitted the injury was worse than the media thought, but did not use it as an excuse.
Despite Campbell’s struggles, the Patriots plan to keep him at left tackle. Eliot Wolf and Mike Vrabel have both stated that Campbell will be the left tackle next season.
Aaliyan is a sports journalist who graduated from Mississippi State University. He covered MLB prospects for MLB.com. He has also spent time covering the Green Bay Packers as well as college sports in the SEC. His work features interviews with Gilbert Brown, Andre Rison, Mike Leach and multiple MLB executives.