From the OTA Breakdown on JSOnline
Green Bay -- Aaron Kampman spoke for the first time since the Packers fired their defensive coaching staff, hired Dom Capers as the defensive coordinator and made the switch to the 3-4.
It was plainly obvious that Kampman just isn't ready to get philisophical about the move. Kampman was extremely cautious with his words.
"Just focusing on football," said Kampman. "You know, this is a transition and I just want to focus on it."
Kampman just wasn't going to get in to it much during a 7-minute conversation with about 30-plus reporters surrounding his locker. He repeated many of the same phrases:
"Historically, the 3-4 has been a sound defense," and "it's a new scheme, so I'm learning it. I'm not saying I don't like it, I'm saying I'm learning it," and "new techniques, new terminology. All in all it's learning the new system."
Asked if he was hesistant to play in the new scheme, he said no, that was "something the media has talked about."
Having covered Kampman since his rookie year since 2002, I must say it was the first awkward exchange I can recall with him being questioned about the defense, and this is a guy who has gone through a ton of different defensive coordinators.
Without the benefit of getting feedback from the assistant coaches, my observation was that Kampman really struggled at times today in this 3-4. Though head coach Mike McCarthy had nothing but praise for Kampman after practice, I saw No. 74 frequently meet a wall of blocking by Allen Barbre. Kampman even fell to his knee once trying to bull rush Barbre. Another time, Kampman went inside and was shut down by Barbre, cut outside and was met by equal resistance. All Kampman could do was pull away from the blocking and chase scrambling Aaron Roders down the sideline seconds later.
Of course, one practice is just a snapshot of the work that has been going on now for a week and a half, so I asked Kampman if this is kind of how he's been playing every day. Typically, Kampman was honest.
"There's always a learning curve," said Kampman. "Today there were some things that I would have liked to have back, but that's the learning curve."
When Kampman broke up a pass play from Rodgers by dropping back in to coverage, assistant coach Kevin Greene seemed to jump three feet in the air in celebration. "Aaron Kampman's performance so far has been very positive," said McCarthy. "I think he has really fit in very well. I think he attacked the new defense just like you think Aaron would."
But it is clear this is a transition for Kampman that hasn't been paint-by-numbers easy.