Atlanta Falcons surprise stud: LB De’Vondre Campbell
The Atlanta Falcons are one of the highest graded teams in all of football, and a surprise stud defensively is linebacker De’Vondre Campbell…
He may not be a surprise star to many fans of the Atlanta Falcons who saw his progression as a rookie, but to the rest of the NFL world, linebacker De’Vondre Campbell has been one of the league’s most improved players at his position in 2017.
A fourth round draft selection out of Minnesota in 2016, Campbell became a regular starter for the Falcons’ defense by season’s end in their NFC championship run. He has a very intriguing blend of size (6-foot-4, 232 pounds) and athleticism, and that really translates to how the Falcons use him within their defense.
We all know about how much Dan Quinn likes speed at every single position, and linebacker is no different. Within Quinn’s (and Marquand Manuel’s) defensive scheme, every player has to be versatile, and Campbell has certainly proven himself worthy in that regard.
Through the first four games of the season, Campbell is the only Falcons defender by Pro Football Focus metrics and grades to grade positively as a run defender, pass rusher, and in coverage.
That right there is versatility.
Campbell’s PFF grade this season is a drastic shift from what we saw last year, where he predictably struggled at times with consistency as a rookie playing in the NFL.
Top graded LBs under age 25:
— PFF ATL Falcons (@PFF_Falcons) October 3, 2017
Myles Jack - 88.7
Kendell Beckwith - 84.6
De'Vondre Campbell - 83.4
Blake Martinez - 83.3
Deion Jones - 83.2
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Now, the Falcons’ draft class of 2016 is looking even stronger, with fellow linebacker Deion Jones having another solid year in 2017 to start things off.
You love to see this kind of progression, especially for a Falcons team that prior to 2016 really struggled on the defensive side of the football. The selection of Campbell is paying immediate dividends, and the coaching staff in Atlanta deserves a ton of credit for taking a player known more for traits and putting him in positions where he can be successful.
The rest of the league should take note of this up-and-coming surprise star, and find out how they can replicate the process the Falcons have in order to make their young players successful at a rapid pace.