Cards’ Campbell working to earn CB spot
Chris Campbell thought that after being drafted in the sixth round by Arizona, he had left his days of schoolwork behind him.
In a way, the four-year Penn State graduate did. But, as he soon realized, joining an NFL roster is a whole lot of work – especially off the field.
“You don’t have classes. You don’t have anything to do in the NFL but football,” Campbell said.
“But it’s like class,” he said, because of how well players need to know the playbook to have a chance to compete.
There is a lot of new information, Campbell admits, but he has been able to perform well in training camp using his ball-hunting skills.
“I’m still trying to get better with my reads in zone coverage but as … you get down deep into the playbook, you get better with your instincts,” he said.
Campbell grabbed an interception early in camp last week, just days after coming off the physically-unable-toperform list (ankle), reminding coaches that he should be strongly considered for the No. 2 corner position.
“It’s fluid,” defensive coordinator Al Holcomb said when asked about the open spot. “It’s training camp and everybody is battling. There are not guaranteed spots on this roster right now.”
Campbell is competing against three capable corners: Jamal Taylor, Brandon Williams and Bene Benwikere. Taylor has the most experience, having played in all 16 games last season for Cleveland before a trade brought him to Arizona.
Williams was drafted by the Cardinals in 2016 and had a good rookie campaign before falling in the depth chart last season. He played sparingly in games last year and recorded only two tackles.
Benwikere might be the most intriguing prospect out of the group because of his history with coach Steve Wilks. His best season came under the tutelage of Wilks, who was then the defensive backs coach for the Carolina Panthers. Benwikere recorded 59 tackles during the 2015 season that ended in the Super Bowl.
During his time in Carolina, Wilks also coached Josh Norman into one of the top talents in the league. It took time for Norman to become the player who earned a $75 million contract from Washington two summers ago. He entered the league unheralded, drafted in the fifth round, much like Campbell (sixth round).
Campbell might not have experience that the Cardinals’ other three corners bring to the table, but he is the tallest and might be the most athletic of the group. He has shown that his 41-inch Pro Day vertical jump works extremely well with a 6-foot-1 frame. Campbell is listed at 195 pounds but he has been able to use his speed to keep up with receivers in camp.
There isn’t too much of a track record to evaluate Campbell; he started only his final season at Penn State, so the 22year-old knows he’ll have to prove himself to coaches more than usual to gain their trust. He understands that it’s a “grown-man sport” and the competition in the cornerbacks room won’t be stopping anytime soon.
As training camp plays out, giving Holcomb and Wilks a chance to decide whether to invest in an under-radar-talent such as Campbell, the leadership at corner is unquestioned.
All-Pro Patrick Peterson has embraced the role, according to Holcomb.
“He’s a fantastic leader in the room and on the field,” Holcomb said.
Campbell, while making strides on the field, has taken advantage in position-group meetings to learn from the All-Pro while hoping all of his new classwork pays off.