Will Campbell’s postseason has been noisy for all the wrong reasons. New England has found ways to win despite protection issues, but the margins are thinning fast.
If Campbell’s struggles continue in the Super Bowl, it’s hard to see how the Patriots can survive long enough on offense to win a title. The Seahawks have a punishing defense, so the Patriots can’t get away with bad protection.
Will Campbell’s Protection Numbers
The numbers alone paint a concerning picture. Over his three playoff appearances, Campbell has allowed pressure rates of 17.2%, 12.1%, and 15.0%.
That’s a significant drop-off from the regular season. During the regular season, Campbell allowed pressure on 11.6% of pass-blocking snaps, already worse than the league-wide left tackle average of 10.1%.
In the playoffs, the Patriots have faced great defenses, but Campbell has been ripped consistently.
What makes the situation more alarming is the context in which those pressures are occurring. The Patriots are not leaving Campbell on an island and hoping for the best.
They’re chipping edge rushers with tight ends and backs, calling protections to slide help his way, and even having him use cut-blocks to slow down speed off the edge.
This shows how aware the coaching staff is of the problems. Despite all that help, Campbell’s pressure rates are still on full display. When the media is talking about the offensive line, it’s never a good sign.
Campbell’s technique has started to slip against the top defensive ends. For Campbell, the postseason has exposed how thin the margin between winning and becoming a liability, and the Patriots are in the danger zone.
The Impact on Drake Maye
The effect has been brutal for Drake Maye. Maye has already been sacked 15 times in the playoffs, an unsustainable number for any quarterback, especially against playoff defenses.
Some of those sacks are on Maye holding the ball or trying to make something happen, but more are on the offensive line. When a quarterback can’t trust that edge, everything changes, and they speed up their progression
In the Super Bowl, the issue will only get worse against the Seahawks. Every player on the Seahawks can get to the quarterback.
If Campbell is still allowing pressure rate north of 15%, it can change the game. Super Bowls are often decided by one or two drive-killing plays, and nothing is worse than a sack.
The Patriots need Maye to push the ball downfield, extend plays, and put the pressure on the Seahawks. That requires time in the pocket, so Campbell needs to step up in the biggest moments.
If you don’t believe the Patriots’ offensive line stands much of a chance, you can take one of Seattle’s best pass rushers to lead the game in Sacks.
DeMarcus Lawrence and Leonard Williams are both +650 to lead the game in sacks on FanDuel Sportsbook. One of these two players should have a lot of success getting to the quarterback.
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