Kampman must become KGB

The Green Bay Packers returned to practice Wednesday. They did so with Aaron Kampman back in the lineup.

Kampman suffered a concussion against Tampa Bay and sat out the Dallas game.

Now that he’s healthy again, it sounds like he’s re-claimed his starting spot at LOLB. According to that same link, Brad Jones apparently rotated in at times during practice, so it looks like the Packers could have a platoon-like situation in store for the pair.

To some, this would seem to create a fairly big problem going forward. To me, it’s a no-brainer what the Packers should do.

Jones should get the starting nod.

He was very solid against the Cowboys. Not against the Bucs or the Lions or the Browns – the Cowboys. His performance becomes even more impressive when you consider it was his first career start – and the fact that he was a seventh-round pick in THIS YEAR’S draft.

He also played the same position at Colorado, so he has a natural feel for what he’s doing. In other words, pretty much the exact opposite of Kampman.

I have a ton of respect for Kampman and I still think he’s one of the best defensive ends in the game – in a 4-3 scheme, that is. But we have to admit this experiment is not working. It’s not an accident that this defense gave its best performance of the season without Kampman in the lineup. Dom Capers blitzed roughly 11 percent more of the time – roughly 51 percent of the time as opposed to roughly 40 percent of the time during the first eight games – as it was clear he no longer had to worry about covering for Kampman.

Square peg. Round hole. You know the cliche.

Kampman should become a situational player. Have him rush with his hand on the ground in nickel situations and occasionally bring him in at LOLB when it’s clear the opposing offense is in a passing situation.

He’d be an expensive situational player, for sure, but that would be the best way to maximize his skills. It will keep him fresh and mentally focused on doing what he excels at.

There’s also some precedent here, namely in the form of Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila.

After signing a seven-year, $37.3 million extension in 2003 – one of the worst moves Mike Sherman ever made, and that’s saying something – KGB had a couple of good seasons before the Packers watched for years as KGB’s impact dwindled as a result of being forced to be an every down defender. That was a role he never should have played. He needed to be a pass rush specialist.

In 2007, Mike McCarthy and then d-coordinator Bob Sanders made the decision to let KGB do what he did best. The result was 9.5 sacks and the best season KGB had had in quite some time.

They need to do that again with Kampman. Look, let’s be honest: This is likely Kampman’s last year in Green Bay, anyways. He won’t sign an extension if the team sticks with the 3-4. And after all that’s been invested in switching over, I really don’t see the scheme going back to a 4-3. Even if the Packers switch back, Kampman’s frustrations with the organization might cause him to look elsewhere.

The result of all this? With 2010 almost guaranteed to be uncapped, players such as Nick Collins (likely the target of the franchise tag if there was a cap) will become restricted free agents. The team won’t use the tag on him now. Instead, the Packers will probably use the tag on Kampman, so they can then trade him – hopefully far away into the AFC – for some value.

To maximize his trade value, Green Bay needs to get his numbers up. The best way to do that is to use him sparingly. That will also help the defense in a potentially major way this season.

Everybody, including Kampman, wins in this situation.

-Chris Lempesis