Campbell is key in protecting Drake Maye, but can he help the team generate a solid run game?
When you lose a professional football game 35-6, it's hard to find a bright spot where something went right for you. The New England Patriots have more questions surrounding them than answers.
Luckily, one of the major offseason questions has already gotten its answer in the first three weeks: how ready Will Campbell would be come the start of the season. Despite a lot of negativity around the team right now, the second-year tackle's performance over the last three weeks has been a bright spot for the Patriots.
Campbell made headlines after the Week 1 loss to the Seahawks with just how good he was even on a rough night. Against the Seahawks, Campbell finished with a 77.6 pass-blocking grade, a 62.6 run-blocking grade, and a 97.6 pass-block efficiency score.
Sunday's disastrous loss still shows Campbell having a pretty decent PFF grade. He finished the day with a 90.9 pass-blocking grade and a 62.0 run-block grade on 63 snaps in Week 3.
Campbell's Week 3 performance generates a clear blueprint while also adding an equally alarming issue.
His elite 90.9 pass-block rating and flawless zero-pressure display show the Patriots have successfully anchored Drake Maye's blindside. The Patriots possess a young left tackle who can give Maye a pocket to work in for years to come if he stays on the same trajectory. Overall, Campbell has a third-ranked 88.0 pass-blocking grade so far this season. This is a far cry from how he finished last season.
However, his metrics tell a different story when you look at that 62.6 run-blocking grade. It's another example of the unevenness in the Patriots' style of play right now. Just like how the offense can get into the red zone and come away with no points, Campbell can pass-protect but can't do much to help the team establish a ground attack.
If the Patriots can't run the ball, they can't move the clock and, eventually, control the game. Campbell now becomes a piece of the problem, unfortunately, there.
Campbell is proving to everyone this season that he is a foundational piece for the team going forward, but if they can't fix key spots around him on offense, all these high PFF scores will be for nothing.
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