Kampman: Theres Always a Learning Curve
Posted by Aaron Wilson on June 3, 2009, 7:18 p.m. EDT
Green Bay Packers veteran pass rusher Aaron Kampman broke his silence about being moved to outside linebacker in new defensive coordinator Dom Capers 3-4 defense after years of success as a defensive end.
According to Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette and Lori Nickel of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Kampman was extremely short-winded in his answers in a departure from his usual interview style. He apparently reinforced the notion that hes unhappy with the change.
When asked if it had been up to him would he have preferred to remain a 4-3 defensive end, Kampman replied: Im not at liberty to make those choices.
He also acknowledged: Theres always a learning curve.
Per the Journal-Sentinel, Kampman spoke in generally positive terms about the merits of the 3-4 scheme.
Im not saying I dont like it, he said. Im saying Im learning it.
He responded to a question about whether hes hesitant to make the change by chalking that up to media speculation.
It sounds like Kampman is a strong believer that if you dont have anything nice to say, then dont say much of anything at all.
Reading between the lines, its fairly obvious that theres some real displeasure on his part at having to learn a new position after making the Pro Bowl at defensive end.
According to Nickel, Kampman was regularly stonewalled by offensive tackle Allen Barbre when he tried to rush the passer. At one point, Kampman fell to his knees on an attempted bull rush.