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FOXBOROUGH – It was locker room clean out day for the Patriots and rookie left tackle Will Campbell met with the media to discuss his performance in Sunday’s 29-13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX.
Campbell started off by apologizing to the assembled media for not speaking after the game. The NFL is reportedly going to fine Campbell for not meeting his post game media obligations. Campbell said he was too emotional to talk after the game.
“When I get emotional, I tend to have no mind. And that’s not the way that I need to approach this thing. I know myself, and if I would have spoken after, I would have said something that I didn’t need to say.”
Campbell surrendered 14 pressures in the game and looked slow and out of sorts. He has been widely criticized for his performance and accepts the responsibility that comes with playing left tackle and being a top five pick.
“It comes with the job. When you don’t perform, obviously, I was (drafted) high, paid a lot. So people expect a certain thing, and I expect more of myself. So whenever I don’t perform, I don’t expect everyone to be like, ‘It’s OK, buddy.’ I mean, obviously it sucks. But it doesn’t suck for anyone more than it sucks for me.”
In fairness to Campbell, he was not the only one out of sorts. The entire Patriots offense was. Drake Maye did not particularly play well and neither did the receivers. Josh McDaniels called arguably one of the worst games of his career. Campbell pointed out that ultimately, it was a collective failure and the Patriots didn’t deserve to win.
“Terrible. We didn’t deserve to win the way we played on offense.”
It did not help that Campbell was playing with a torn MCL, which he acknowledged. When you watch the film, you can clearly tell he is not 100% by the way he is moving. It is not making an excuse for Campbell, it is a fact.
Now the focus shifts to Campbell putting his playoff performance behind and getting better.
“I don’t think one performance defines a season…obviously there’s room for growth in every aspect in my game. I’m 22 years old…I’ll be honest, I’m learning…I’ll be ready to go when we get back.”
Patriots coach Mike Vrabel already announced that Campbell is the team’s left tackle next season and beyond.
“He is 22 years old. He’s our left tackle… we’re not moving him to guard or center or tight end or anywhere else. I don’t know what else to tell you.”
Campbell should be the left tackle next season. You do not move him after one season. Get him in the off-season program and get him working with a line coach who can work in conjunction with Doug Marrone and the offensive line staff to fix him technically.
Campbell has the mindset and drive to be great. He needs to continue to develop. Give him time.