Good stuff 80

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Look at starting in track. Sprints, are in the block generating forward momentum as much or more than upward. While more distant races just starts upright because that forward surge isn't needed.

The reason for not dropping his hand on the ground, is that from the LBer position, it would telegraph what he is doing. From a 3 point, trying to get up and drop back in coverage would be extremely slow and clumsy. So they keep him upright all the time.

I am disappointed that he Kamp has not been used as a DE at any situation. Have Jenkins Jolly and Kamp as the 3 with another in as the OLB. Could still start him wide to match him up agaisnt a T with Jolly over the Guard, Jenkins on the opposite with a LB filling the middle.

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First and foremost, probably the most impactful thing on it is personal preference and learned behavior, but make no mistake, when engaging there is a drastic difference in the two.

Coming out of a 3 point stance, your body angle to the opposition is always lower, watch the next game for the offensive lineman, note how his shoulders are upright and his stance is higher. If you can jump out of the stance, you have the leverage point, it makes it harder for the lineman to center his first contact on your mid body and naturally have the edges of the lineman to attack.

Also, the technique for rushing the passer are different between the two. Playing DE, your pass rush moves are more focused on leverage, hand "fighting" and close contact rips, swims, clubs and bull rushes.

Playing Linebacker, you are either setting the blocker up a yard or two away for your move or you are beating him on angle, quickness and speed.

Shooting from a two point stance you have to be more flexible in the hips, you have to avoid the blocker getting under your chest region (where Kampman is currently struggling) and taking away not only leverage but your lower body strength. It also allows the blocker to square up more and takes away some elements of quickness off the snap that Kampman had verses the lineman.

DD80 hit the other point, playing outside backer your "reads" on a play are much deeper than DE.. it takes some getting used to going through your responsibilities, diagnosing the play and then engaging effectively.

DE.. you are engaging much quicker then adjusting.

It is a progression to make the move, in some areas I think Kampman is further along than I thought.. basically dropping into coverage and staying with people.. but where I didn't expect that transition issues is here in engagement.. it will come more naturally as the season progresses, but will he ever have the same explosiveness off the snap?

I think he will gain some of it back, but not the same as he won with the close contact hand fighting and getting under the outside shoulder of the tackle..

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Thanks guys, some awesome detail.

Given DD80's and Pack93z's comments, is this to say that 'effort' players like Kampman are better suited to playing DE than 4-3, as it is more about technique and less about brute strength and leverage?

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DE in the 4-3 I assume you mean?

I would definitely say that Kampman is better suited to play DE and going balls out in close combat than standing up at OLB. Theres less to think about and more is based on pure aggression and effort.

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No offense but whoever thought that Kamp would actually be an ideal 3-4 lb must of been delusional. Let's all be serious, you can't really expect grabbing a player from his natural position in which he was probably top 10 and move him to another position and expect him to perform top 10 in that position. It's like teaching an old dog new tricks. Kampman should of been traded the second this team went to the 3-4 decision. No disrespect to him but it would of been better for Kampman and the Packers. He could of really made something out of his talent and aim for a big contract if he was in a 4-3 team. This 3-4 defense really killed his contract year and probably dropped his stock a little.

I'm probably more angry about him not getting his contract that he deserves then actually him not performing this year. Why would you kill someone's talent just cause your switching to a new scheme in the defense. Send the guy off to another team and give him his rights and a chance to perform in his natural spot.

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Trading would have been better for Kampman for sure. Not sure about the Packers. Not because Kamp has been the best OLB in the league. Simply not sure who would be his replacement. By keeping Kampman, we were able to fill 1 hole in the line and the opposite OLB spot in the draft.

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That's what I'm saying Packfan. Trading Kamp for an 3-4 OLB or a draft pick which would eventually lead to a 3-4 draftee would of been a better choice for the Packers.

We got a lot of depth in the LB position I'm sure we could of filled it up.

I don't know what's going to happen tho but I really need to see a trade before the trade deadline or else I'm going to join the dark side and start disliking Ted Thompson a little which I usually always stand by his side.

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I just thinking that during the off season it would not have been wise to ship Kamp off. I think we were lucky enough to get Raji and Matthews for the 3-4. Getting another OLB would have been unreal. As much as I would hate to see him go, I am not against him being traded, depending on the return.

We are not going to get an OLB to replace him this year. Is Thompson an answer for the remainder? I don't think he is, so making the move, looks sort of like kissing this season goodbye pass rush wise. I am also not sold that Kampman is not good in the position either. He has not been exposed in coverage which it seems everybody thought he would be. The rush is not there, but I don't think that is as much him as everybody around him. It isn't like he is the only guy not getting pressure. Fact is he is still getting better than anybody else has recently. I believe he was the only one to touch Brett during the Vikes game.

Get more push up the middle will make Kampman's life easier. Get away from the 2 man front when not needing nickle coverage and use those big guys to free up Kampman. Isn't that the entire idea of the 3-4?

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It seems that the question has been very well answered by some so I am going to dig more into the current conversation going on about him and the position he is in now.

Now, I am not disagreeing with anything people are saying about "we should have traded Kampman during the offseason" or " if Kampman isn't traded by the deadline..."

Thing is, the linebacker position IS NOT new to Kampman. A long time ago...his sophomore year @ University of Iowa to be exact, he started 11 games at linebacker. He finished 2nd on the team with 103 tackles as well. The guy has roots at the linebacker position.

The lack of Kampman's rushing right now relies on the defensive coaching staff. They need to use Kampman as a pass rusher way more than what they are doing and drop him when needed.

4 games, and Kampman really can't be called out for what people thought he was going to fail at, pass protection. It is up the coaches now to utilize this beast in both the rush attack and pass defense.

+1 to Pack93z and DD for a good explanation.

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