An NFL player’s sophomore season is often viewed as a make-or-break season. Teams, fans, and analysts expect second-year players to improve significantly on their rookie campaigns.
That sentiment was no more accurate than for linebacker Jack Campbell. Drafted with the 18th pick, the Lions viewed Campbell as their long-term green-dot-wearing middle linebacker. The Iowa product understandably experienced an inconsistent rookie season.
He played 59% of all defensive snaps, mixing snaps at the linebacker level and the line of scrimmage. However, through 14 weeks of football, Campbell has improved excellently from last season.
Two key areas highlight just how much Campbell has developed.
Playing Fast Against the Run
Aaron Glenn loves to deploy more base 4-3 formations than many other coordinators. Therefore, his linebackers have to play fast and physically against the run. Jack Campbell has ticked that box through fourteen weeks.
The 24-year-old leads the Lions in tackles with 98 combined tackles. Per Will Rock, Campbell has 40 total run stops and a league-high 18.8% run-stop rate amongst qualifying linebackers.
On Thursday, Campbell played another excellent game against the run game. The hard-hitter tallied eight tackles and two defensive run-stops, earning a positive Pro Football Focus grade on his 21.7% on run-defense. Campbell has also cut down on his missed tackle percentage. He is currently at 3.9% in missed tackle rate.
The former first-round pick has developed his play-recognition skills and awareness of run-blocking schemes, allowing his athleticism and engine to shine. He is a critical part of the Lions’ run-defense.
Jack Campbell (#46) following the pullers gap to gap and to the ball pic.twitter.com/tihUKMKhnH
— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) September 23, 2024
Jack Campbell Has Leadership And Intelligence
One man’s disappointment can often lead to another man’s opportunity. Alex Anzalone’s forearm injury and Malcolm Rodriguez’s ACL injury have allowed Campbell to step up and lead the defense.
On Thursday night, fans could see Campbell consistently communicating, orchestrating and lining up players into position pre-snap. The Lions fielded so many new players against the Packers that it would have been easy and understandable if Campbell had been unable to lead them.
The ‘Captain’ rose to the challenge and marshalled his troops excellently. The Lions’ defense was feisty, competitive, and fast on Thursday night. While there were some miscues, Campbell managed the on-field effort brilliantly. Campbell trained during the springtime with the green dot, calling plays and managing the other players. The experience has undoubtedly helped him.
The performance against Green Bay illustrated Campbell’s growth. According to Pro Football Focus, Campbell played the MIKE linebacker role while playing his best-graded game. Before the game, Aaron Glenn and Dan Campbell spoke about Campbell’s maturation.
Glenn said:
“Man, he’s a rock. If you had a picture of a MIKE linebacker, he would be standing in front because of how he operates. He’s a man’s man. He loves standing in front of the huddle to call out to those guys, and they really respect him. They respect him because of how he is personally, but they respect how he plays the game.”
Dan Campbell also praised his young linebacker:
“He’s older, more developed, time on task, the game slowed down for him, and then on top of that, he was always a pretty headsy player, pretty smart, instinctive guy. Honestly, he’s kind of the guy — the more you put on him, the better he gets, I feel like. He’s one of those, so he’s doing well right now. We’re going to ask a lot of him again.”
During the draft, Lions coaches marvelled at Campbell’s attitude, game intelligence, and hunger for improvement. The 18th overall pick has displayed all those traits through 14 weeks of the 2024 season.
With Anzalone, Rodriguez, Derrick Barnes and Malcolm Rodriguez out, Jack Campbell must continue to lead the defense and play consistently. The Lions are chasing the NFC’s number one seed. And the big linebacker is critical to that cause.