Is Aaron Kampman a Good Fit in Packers 3-4 Defense?

Earlier this week, the Green Bay Packers hired Dom Capers to run their defense. Capers replaces Bob Sanders, who ran the defense into the ground for three years, and he'll bring with him a new way of doing things. Part of the reason behind the coordinator change was a decision by head coach Mike McCarthy. Even though there are rumblings he may be sitting on an increasingly warmer seat, McCarthy is overseeing a changeover in defensive strategy. The Packers have been a 4-3 team for some time, but the head coach wants to make the switch to a 3-4. That's why he hired Capers, who is well-schooled in that scheme.

However, does Green Bay's best defensive player fit the scheme?

First, it's worth mentioning that I don't support drawing up a defensive scheme to benefit one player. Aaron Kampman is the Packers' best overall defensive player, but he isn't in Hawai'i in two weeks, while three Packer defensive backs are. It's not like Kampman is the only good player Capers has to make fit into this new plan.

So can Capers make this work?

There is one major comparison that comes to mind. One of them is Tony Brackens, who played at a similar size to Kampman's listed height and weight (Kampman is said to be six-four and 265 pounds). Capers used Brackens as an end/linebacker in 1999 with the Jaguars, and Brackens went to the Pro Bowl for the first and only time in his career.

As colleague and Steeler nut Adam Gretz pointed out, Kampman is very similar in size to many 3-4 outside linebackers. However, is he as athletic as guys like LaMarr Woodley, DeMarcus Ware, and Shawne Merriman?

It's very hard to say. My initial reaction is that he's not quite that light on his feet. That would mean he's a potential liability as a linebacker, where he will inevitably be asked to drop into coverage and not look lost.

However, even with that liability in mind, he still has value in the 3-4. Kampman has enough range to be a pass-rush threat as a standup player, and it might actually free him up to make more plays.

Remember, the primary job of the defensive line in a 3-4 is to take up blockers. That means Kampman would probably face less man-up blocking than he does now, assuming the linemen are effective in their jobs. Can you imagine Kampman roaring towards a quarterback with no one in front of him but some random running back or tight end?

Yeah, me neither.

Seems to me that Capers will find a way to utilize a player with Kampman's immense talent and unending work ethic. Even though Kampman has said nothing publicly about these changes, I'm not at all concerned about his attitude. It's not like Capers is going to ask him to play nickel cornerback. His job (get to the quarterback) isn't going to change.