macbob
  • macbob
  • Veteran Member Topic Starter
14 years ago
Campen's quote at the end on running the ball (It just comes down to pride; moving your guy one-on-one) seems out of synch with MM. Heck, everyone knows it's got to be pad level.

http://www.packers.com/news-and-events/article_ketchman/article-1/Campen-dogged-in-pursuit-of-his-dream/0a8f66b9-9919-4a93-b3c3-0fe0353cfda7 

A decision made for him by his coach at Sacramento City College changed Packers Offensive Line Coach James Campen’s life forever. Coach Jerry Sullivan decided Campen would become a center.

“Coach Sullivan asked me what I wanted out of football and I said I wanted to play professional football,” Campen said. That’s when Sullivan told Campen he would be moving to center.

“I struggled with that,” Campen said of the awkwardness of snapping a football. “I was getting my butt whipped every day.”

Campen stuck with it, became proficient at it and won a scholarship offer two years later from Tulane. All of a sudden, Campen was on track to pursue his dream.

What if he hadn’t agreed to the position switch?

“If I was a stubborn person, I don’t believe I would’ve scholarshipped to Tulane,” Campen said.

That means he wouldn’t have signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in 1986, which means he wouldn’t have come to the Packers as a Plan B free agent in 1989, which means he wouldn’t have become a starting center for the Packers. All of that, of course, means that if Campen hadn’t listened to his coach at Sacramento City College, he likely wouldn’t be coaching the Packers offensive line today and that means he wouldn’t be wearing a Super Bowl ring on his finger.

One decision changed everything; life can be funny that way.

“I’m sure I would’ve been successful doing something. It just wouldn’t have been football,” Campen said.

That means he wouldn’t have been doing what he loves.

“I love football. I really knew I loved it,” he said.

He loved it enough to sit in the blazing New Orleans sun for four hours, waiting for coaches to come back from a golf outing and work him out as an undrafted free agent. Jim Finks, then president of the Saints, looked through his window and saw Campen sitting in the sun. When Campen was in his fourth hour, Finks mercifully came outside and said he would conduct the workout. When the workout was complete, Finks signed Campen to a contract.

It is with that same dogged passion that Campen pursued a coaching career. When his playing career ended, he went back to Shingle Springs, Calif., tucked in the heart of California Gold Rush country, and volunteered at his high school alma mater, Ponderosa High School, to help coach the offensive line. His offer was gratefully accepted.

By year three, he was also Ponderosa’s defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach. By year five, he was Ponderosa’s head coach.

The NFL, again, was his target.

“I had stayed in touch with a lot of coaches,” he said, including the names Jon Gruden, Andy Reid, Dick Jauron and Mike Sherman, then head coach of the Packers. “I called coach Sherman and I said I believe I’m ready now and I’d like your opinion. He said to come on out. One thing led to another and he hired me as assistant offensive line coach and quality control coach.”

That was 2004 and he’s been with the Packers ever since.

Now, he’s targeting a new challenge.

“We want to be able to run the ball,” he said. “The run game allows you to do more things and be balanced in your offense. We want to get it going early instead of late, like last year.

“It just comes down to pride; moving your guy one-on-one. That’s certainly something we’re going to emphasize in our room, the attitude to run-block. We need to get better at that and finish harder. When those things happen, that’s when the big runs happen,” Campen said.

In at least one way, Campen would seem to be on a run.

Packers.com wrote:

Pack93z
14 years ago




“We want to be able to run the ball,” he said. “The run game allows you to do more things and be balanced in your offense. We want to get it going early instead of late, like last year.





Exactly.. couldn't have said it better myself.. wait.. maybe I have.



“It just comes down to pride; moving your guy one-on-one. That’s certainly something we’re going to emphasize in our room, the attitude to run-block. We need to get better at that and finish harder. When those things happen, that’s when the big runs happen,” Campen said.





"The oranges are dry; the apples are mealy; and the papayas... I don't know what's going on with the papayas!"
macbob
  • macbob
  • Veteran Member Topic Starter
14 years ago
sigh... [wallme]
zombieslayer
14 years ago
Yup. No way we can win a Super Bowl without 15+ rushes. [roflmao]
My man Donald Driver
UserPostedImage
(thanks to Pack93z for the pic)
2010 will be seen as the beginning of the new Packers dynasty. 🇹🇹 🇲🇲 🇦🇷
macbob
  • macbob
  • Veteran Member Topic Starter
14 years ago
sigh... [wallme]
Nonstopdrivel
14 years ago
Pride be damned. You do what works. And based on the results we have seen from the offensive line over the past few years, I don't consider Campen exactly a credible source anyway. His offensive line allowed our quarterback to get hit 16 times in his first 34 dropbacks in the Super Bowl.
UserPostedImage
macbob
  • macbob
  • Veteran Member Topic Starter
14 years ago

Pride be damned. You do what works. And based on the results we have seen from the offensive line over the past few years, I don't consider Campen exactly a credible source anyway. His offensive line allowed our quarterback to get hit 16 times in his first 34 dropbacks in the Super Bowl.

Originally Posted by: Nonstopdrivel 



I haven't been overly impressed with the performance of the OL under Campen and wouldn't be extremely upset if he was no longer the coach. Don't know that I'm entirely being fair, but not concerned about it.
Pack93z
14 years ago
I have personally gone on record in 07 and numerous times there after.. Campen should be replaced.. his success rate at developing talent is very low.







sigh... Bang Head

macbob wrote:





Hey.. I had to.. haven't touch that subject in a while.... you can win many ways in the game, but on offense having balance only increases the probability.



That said.. it is mostly for humors sake.
"The oranges are dry; the apples are mealy; and the papayas... I don't know what's going on with the papayas!"
macbob
  • macbob
  • Veteran Member Topic Starter
14 years ago

Hey.. I had to.. haven't touch that subject in a while.... you can win many ways in the game, but on offense having balance only increases the probability.



That said.. it is mostly for humors sake.

Originally Posted by: Pack93z 




I knew what I was risking posting the article. [palm]

Someone at work was arguing about procedures for doing something. We were telling her "this is the way it's done." Even after we showed her in writing what the process was, she kept saying, "no, that's not the way it works."

One of my coworkers, on hearing who we were discussing it with, said "forget it. Doesn't matter that you're right, you're not going to win the argument. You're best off just doing it yourself."
zombieslayer
14 years ago
Campen should have been let go. Agreed with Pack93z, and I've been on record agreeing here.

Campen's flaws almost got Aaron killed. 51 sacks is not acceptable, and we're still not that much better. Ted has been drafting OL consistently. Check his drafts. It's up to the coaches to develop them.

It's like if someone supplied you money to invest and you consistently fail to produce. It's not the supplier who's at fault. It's you.
My man Donald Driver
UserPostedImage
(thanks to Pack93z for the pic)
2010 will be seen as the beginning of the new Packers dynasty. 🇹🇹 🇲🇲 🇦🇷
Fan Shout
dfosterf (5h) : It's my one day deal complaint dept. on shareholder meeting day
dfosterf (6h) : Probably a homer access credential intimidation kinda thing
dfosterf (6h) : Meathead "journalists" skip this, concentrating on operational revenue when convenient. They switch when net revenue is more favorable.
dfosterf (6h) : Resulting in an actual drop of net revenue of 12.5%. She is from Minnesota. Just sayin'
dfosterf (6h) : Any plans to hold Maureen Smith (CFO) accountable for a 95% drop in investment revenue?
Mucky Tundra (7h) : In your face, HBO!
Mucky Tundra (7h) : @ByRyanWood Mark Murphy: “A great source of pride of mine is that we were never on Hard Knocks.”
Mucky Tundra (7h) : *years
Mucky Tundra (7h) : @mattschneidman Mark Murphy says he anticipates “many Packers games” being played in Germany, Ireland and/or the U.K. over the next 5-10 yea
dfosterf (7h) : *cafeteria* I have hit my head also, so I sympathize
dfosterf (7h) : Possibly hit his head leaning into the glass protecting the food in the cafateria
dfosterf (7h) : Maybe a low flying drone
dfosterf (7h) : Did Savion Williams run into a goalpost or something?
Mucky Tundra (7h) : also, no bueno when a guy starts getting concussions right off the bat in his career
Zero2Cool (8h) : Concussion is worse. Banks probably vet off day via back booboo claim
Mucky Tundra (10h) : @AndyHermanNFL Jordy Nelson out at camp today. No word if he’s in play for one of the two open roster spots ; )
dfosterf (10h) : Is that better or worse than Banks bad back?
Zero2Cool (11h) : Savion concussion ... not good.
packerfanoutwest (24-Jul) : Aaron Rodgers’s first pass of first team period was picked off
Mucky Tundra (24-Jul) : tbh I didn't hear of his passing
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : Cosby Show. Malcom Jamal Warner I think is real name
Mucky Tundra (24-Jul) : I was thinking of Ozzy and Hulk
Mucky Tundra (24-Jul) : Who's Theo?
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : How is Theo alliteration?
Mucky Tundra (24-Jul) : Bad week for people whose names are alliterations
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : Hulk Hogan gone too.
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : Oh, it's toe injury
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : Hope it's not serious. that would stink
dfosterf (24-Jul) : Sounds like an ankle not a knee for Fields
dfosterf (24-Jul) : Ya Flaccp on Browns
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : Maybe Tyrod Taylor instead
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : He's on Browns, right?
dfosterf (24-Jul) : They would probably go with Flacco is my guess if Fields out
dfosterf (24-Jul) : Fleece 'em again!
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : Malik Willis might be someone Jets come after
packerfanoutwest (24-Jul) : Packers introduce 1923-inspired classic uniform, leather-look helmet
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Both LB Quay Walker and Rookie DB Micah Robinson have passed their physicals
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Happy to see site feels more snappy snappy
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : No sir. I did not.
dfosterf (23-Jul) : You didn't get free childcare when you were at work?
wpr (23-Jul) : These guys make hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. Pay for their own childcare.
dfosterf (23-Jul) : 2nd issue. Number 1 issue was no gameday childcare. 1 of 3 teams not providing it
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Suppose if locker room is main issue, we sitting pretty
wpr (23-Jul) : I thought so Mucky. In those useless player polls GB always rates high overall. Locker is a part of it.
Mucky Tundra (23-Jul) : Wasn't the locker room just updated like 6 or 7 years ago?
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : I have forum updated on different site. We'll see how this one goes before going to that
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Elgton Jenkins has a back injury, is expect to end contract dispute
wpr (23-Jul) : It's funny the PA complained about the locker room. It wasn't that long ago it was top shelf. Things change in a hurry.
wpr (23-Jul) : The site is much more better.
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : NFLPA report said Packers lockerroom needed upgrade. Whining bout where you change?
Please sign in to use Fan Shout
2025 Packers Schedule
Sunday, Sep 7 @ 3:25 PM
LIONS
Thursday, Sep 11 @ 7:15 PM
COMMANDERS
Sunday, Sep 21 @ 12:00 PM
Browns
Sunday, Sep 28 @ 7:20 PM
Cowboys
Sunday, Oct 12 @ 3:25 PM
BENGALS
Sunday, Oct 19 @ 3:25 PM
Cardinals
Sunday, Oct 26 @ 7:20 PM
Steelers
Sunday, Nov 2 @ 12:00 PM
PANTHERS
Monday, Nov 10 @ 7:15 PM
EAGLES
Sunday, Nov 16 @ 12:00 PM
Giants
Sunday, Nov 23 @ 12:00 PM
VIKINGS
Thursday, Nov 27 @ 12:00 PM
Lions
Sunday, Dec 7 @ 12:00 PM
BEARS
Sunday, Dec 14 @ 3:25 PM
Broncos
Friday, Dec 19 @ 11:00 PM
Bears
Friday, Dec 26 @ 11:00 PM
RAVENS
Saturday, Jan 3 @ 11:00 PM
Vikings
Recent Topics
7h / Around The NFL / Mucky Tundra

7h / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

14h / Green Bay Packers Talk / TheKanataThrilla

17h / Green Bay Packers Talk / dfosterf

22h / Around The NFL / beast

24-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Martha Careful

24-Jul / Around The NFL / beast

24-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

23-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

23-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

22-Jul / Random Babble / Zero2Cool

22-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

22-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

20-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

20-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

Headlines
Copyright © 2006 - 2025 PackersHome.com™. All Rights Reserved.