FOXBORO — Will Campbell has heard his Super Bowl critics.
Largely, he agrees with them.
During the Patriots’ locker-room clean-out Tuesday, Campbell said he has already re-watched the team’s loss in Super Bowl LX and called it a “terrible” experience. The rookie left tackle allowed a sack and several pressures against a Seattle defense that had Drake Maye under duress virtually all night. Campbell, 22, yielded the most pressure of any Patriots offensive lineman.
“We didn’t deserve to win the way we played on offense, and our defense played well,” Campbell said. “I mean, (Christian Gonzalez) played outstanding. Our defense played good enough for us to win the game, and we didn’t help ’em. So, it sucks to go into the offseason and have this much off time with that taste in your mouth.”
On Tuesday, Patriots coach Mike Vrabel shot down any speculation that the team might change his position.
Since the Super Bowl, Campbell has since been a target of widespread social-media criticism, commentary that has partially been balanced by posts from former NFL offensive tackles who believe his problems are fixable. One-time All-Pro and Super Bowl champion Mitchell Schwartz and five-time Pro Bowler Terron Armstead wrote Campbell’s techniques in pass protection could be improved; specifically the timing of his punches and his footwork against power rushes. But whether it’s criticism or other commentary, Campbell said he understands expectations are high for a former No. 4 overall pick and starting NFL tackle.
“It comes with the job. When you don’t perform — obviously I was picked high, paid a lot. So people expect a certain thing, and I expect more of myself,” Campbell said. “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.”
Campbell did not specify what he learned from studying the tape of the Super Bowl or how he could improve. He instead reflected on the season as a whole, when he started 17 of a possible 21 games, including the postseason. During the regular season, Campbell graded out as an above-average offensive tackle at Pro Football Focus, but allowed four sacks in the playoffs.
“I don’t think one performance defines a season. I think I did some good things this year,” he said. “Obviously, there’s room for growth in every aspect of my game. I’m 22 years old. I have a lot of room for growth in every aspect as a player, as a leader; whether that’s strength and conditioning, pass protection, run-blocking, whatever it might be. I have growth everywhere. I’m young. I’m learning.”
Unprompted, Campbell offered an apology to reporters for declining to speak after the Super Bowl, something players are obligated to do by league policy. He said he did so out of self-awareness, fearing he would say something regrettable.
“(I) just had a lot of emotions, obviously, going after a tough loss, a long year. Just a lot of emotions come with that,” he said. “I just wanted to make sure that I had my head on properly before I said anything I didn’t want to say, anything that I didn’t need to say. And I know that can happen, especially with myself, whenever there’s emotions involved.”
Campbell also confirmed the MCL sprain he suffered in late November involved a ligament tear and affected his postseason performance. Though he reiterated that he was healthy enough to play. Campbell was not listed on any of the Patriots’ injury reports in recent weeks.
“Obviously it wasn’t 100%. When you tear a ligament in your knee, it’s not gonna be how it was before. But I was healthy enough to go,” he said. “I’m not gonna it’s gonna say that it held me back, but it wasn’t the same as it was before. But I was good.”
(Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)