Bears Blitz

Published by Steve Pauley on April 24, 2010
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears

“Name’s Ash. Housewares.”

Yes, Bruce Campbell is a fine actor. Some would say the finest.

However, there is another Bruce Campbell that should intrigue Bears fans almost as much as the star of the Evil Dead films.

University of Maryland right tackle Bruce Campbell was projected by some as a first round pick, being mocked as high as No. 8 to the Oakland Raiders.

A 6’6″, 314-pound freak of nature, Campbell ran the 40-yard dash in 4.85 seconds and bench pressed 225 pounds a ludicrous 34 times. Those numbers alone explain why he was linked to Al Davis and the Raiders.

Yet after three rounds, Campbell is still without a team. Even the Raiders took a pass—three times.

Apparently, teams didn’t like what they saw in terms of actual football skill.

So why should the Bears take a chance on Campbell?

Simply put, our other option at right tackle, Frank Omiyale, isn’t very good.

Omiyale was signed last summer to compete with Josh Beekman at the right guard position. As many of you know, Omiyale eventually won that competition and proceeded to look downright awful.

It’s true that Omiyale’s natural position is, in fact, right tackle. So moving him back outside could lead to a jump in production.

Still, he hasn’t been a regular starter at tackle since 2004, when he was playing for the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles. With all due respect to the Ohio Valley Conference, it’s not exactly the NFC North.

Now most people believe Chicago will select a guard with their fourth round pick to replace Omiyale on the inside. That certainly isn’t a bad idea. However, do any of the remaining guards present the upside or versatility of Campbell? In a word—no.

Campbell is considered a project, a workout warrior with questionable skill and football intelligence. That sounds a lot like former St. Louis Rams first round pick Alex Barron, who is as athletically gifted as any lineman in the league but could never seem to put it all together. 

Clearly, new Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz is familiar with the archetype.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. Why would we want the next Alex Barron?

Well, Bruce Campbell would have one major advantage that was never available to Barron—Mike Tice.

Tice is considered by many to be the penultimate offensive line coach and if anyone could squeeze the juice out of Campbell’s fruitful potential, it’s Tice in my opinion.

Furthermore, drafting Campbell wouldn’t even mean that Omiyale would have to slide back to guard. As it stands, there is precious little depth at either tackle position on the Bears roster.

Behind Williams and Omiyale, we’re looking at journeyman Kevin Shaffer and complete unknown James Marten.

How does an open competition at right tackle between Omiyale and Campbell sound to you?

The veteran Shaffer could back up Chris Williams on the left side and Josh Beekman would become the favorite to start at left guard, where he started all 16 games in 2008 and helped Matt Forte rush for over 1,200 yards.

The bottom line is that you have to ask yourself what’s more important: Drafting a player to compete with a capable starter at left guard or addressing a need by creating depth and competition at right tackle?

Drafting Bruce Campbell—even moving up to get him—makes sense to me on so many levels.

Perhaps most of all, I just want one more reason to shout the phrase, “This is my BOOMSTICK!”

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