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May 5, 2008 - 1:31AM
Cardinals' Campbell set to work on his technique
Comments | RecommendMike Tulumello, Tribune
Working on technique is among the least glamorous aspects of life in the NFL. But Calais (pronounced ca-LAY-is) Campbell suggested this will be the key to his career. The way the Cardinals' second-round pick sees it, he has the physical attributes to play the game.
Cards notes: Whisenhunt happy with D-line depth
Read Mike Tulumello's blog, 'Bird Watching'
He's 6-foot-7 and said he can play either on the outside or the inside of the defensive line; the Cardinals will take their time to figure this out.
"I play strong against the run. I play strong against the pass," Campbell said.
"But the main thing is working on the techniques and get them right."
By techniques, he means such subtleties as hand placement, pad level, footwork and pass-rushing moves.
At the start of the draft process, Campbell said he figured he was a first-round pick.
But a 40-yard dash time of 5.03 seconds set him back.
But defensive linemen generally aren't expected to sprint long distances.
"After the combine, people started projecting me to go a little later; I didn't run so well," Campbell said. "But I thought I ended up with a great program. I'm excited about where I'm at."
The Cardinals had him rated among their top 30 players. They took him at No. 50 overall.
Another factor was that Campbell's play dropped off from his sophomore year in 2006 to his junior year in 2007; he skipped his senior year at Miami to enter the draft.
Campbell said he was more of a marked man by opposing offensive lines his final season. He said he responded by trying to do "too much" at times, with the result that his technique suffered.
The Cardinals have talked about playing him at various spots on the defensive line.
"That's not really going to be determined until we get the pads on (in training camp)," coach Ken Whisenhunt said.
But with his height, you have to figure the Cardinals will want to use him at least partly as a pass rusher.
Not only can he disrupt the quarterback's line of sight, "My height helps ... if I can learn to use my lower arms to get separation off the linemen."
"He's a big guy," Whisenhunt said.
"The big thing with him will be technique."
On that they agree.
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