Buccaneers: Calais Campbell Would Make a Great Fit
The Buccaneers would be wise to follow through on their interest and sign Calais Campbell when free agency opens.
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Finally, the Buccaneers are listening to us at the Pewter Plank. Back at the end of January, James Yarcho talked about the potential interest that the Bucs could have in Calais Campbell. Well the idea has turned into a reality, as reported by Michael Horan on Sunday. According to Jason La Canfora, the Bucs have real interest in Campbell.
To echo Michael’s sentiments, this would be a good thing. Campbell would be a perfect fit with the Bucs.
The one thing Campbell has been during his time with the Cardinals it is consistent. He has averaged nearly 6.5 sacks over nine years with the team. That’s a guy that has been a force in the pass rush that must always be dealt with.
Take a look at his stats, and you will notice something interesting (per Pro Football Reference):
| Year | Age | Tm | Pos | No. | G | GS | Int | Yds | TD | Lng | PD | FF | Fmb | FR | Yds | TD | Sk | Tkl | Ast | Sfty | AV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 22 | ARI | 93 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 5 | 1 | |||
| 2009 | 23 | ARI | DE | 93 | 16 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7.0 | 35 | 11 | 7 | |
| 2010 | 24 | ARI | DE | 93 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6.0 | 46 | 14 | 7 | |
| 2011 | 25 | ARI | DE | 93 | 16 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8.0 | 52 | 19 | 10 | |
| 2012 | 26 | ARI | DE | 93 | 13 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6.5 | 50 | 13 | 8 | ||||||
| 2013 | 27 | ARI | DE | 93 | 16 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 9.0 | 45 | 13 | 1 | 9 |
| 2014* | 28 | ARI | DE | 93 | 14 | 14 | 1 | 23 | 0 | 23 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7.0 | 48 | 14 | 15 | |
| 2015* | 29 | ARI | de/DT | 93 | 16 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5.0 | 46 | 15 | 13 | |
| 2016 | 30 | ARI | DT | 93 | 16 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 53 | 1 | 8.0 | 34 | 19 | 1 | 16 |
| Career | 138 | 120 | 3 | 24 | 0 | 23 | 42 | 8 | 1 | 8 | 55 | 1 | 56.5 | 373 | 123 | 2 | 86 |
We actually learn a couple of interesting things as we look at the chart. The first is Campbell’s versatility. Ask any coach and they will tell you that a lineman that can play all over the line is more valuable than someone who is strictly an end, or a tackle. Calais Campbell has shown that he can play the inside or the outside which will make him that much more attractive to Jason Licht and company.
Campbell also seems to get better with age. While most players not named Tom Brady age like milk, getting worse as they grow older, Campbell seems to age like a fine wine. At 30 years old, his sack total jumped back up to eight, just one shy of his career high. He is not showing signs of slowing down, he is still as good as he once was.
He would also create matchup problems along the Bucs line. If Robert Ayers, Noah Spence, Gerald McCoy and Calais Campbell were on the field at the same time, or any combination, who do you block? Who gets doubled? If Campbell isn’t making the play, someone else along the line will be free to make that said play.
He will also be an asset against the run. NFL.com lists Campbell at 6’8″, 300 pounds. Here’s the thing about a guy that size; you can’t move him. He clogs up the lanes for opposing running backs, and he takes up multiple linemen, freeing up other defenders to make plays. Campbell posted a Pro Football Focus grade against the run of 84.5, good for sixth out of all interior defenders in the sport.
If Campbell joins the fray, look for it to be a lot harder to run on the Bucs. Also look for his teammates to see an increase in their tackle totals.
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We are still a couple of days away from free agency, but the fact is that this moves makes too much sense. Calais Campbell to the Bucs would be the right move at this time.