Fantasy Football Daily - Fantasy Points Podcast EP 1: Detroit Lions LB Jack Campbell

Episode Date: June 19, 2023

In the first of a new interview-focused podcast series at Fantasy Points, Lions first-round rookie linebacker Jack Campbell joins Joe Dolan (@FG_Dolan) and Trey Kamberling (@TreyKamberling) to discuss his adjustment to the NFL, his new (and old) teammates, and his background as a high-school basketball enforcer. Want to join a high-stakes dynasty league -- or any other high-stakes league? All new FFPC users get $25 off their first FFPC league of $35 or more, including dynasty orphans, using our affiliate link: https://myffpc.com/cms/public?affid=fantasypoints FANTASY POINTS PROJECTIONS ARE LIVE FOR ALL STANDARD AND PREMIUM SUBSCRIBERS! Interested in playing Best Ball in 2023? There's no better place than Underdog Fantasy. Use our code FANTASYPTS to sign up for a new account at Underdog, and not only will you get a 100% deposit match up to $100... but you'll get a Fantasy Points Standard subscription for only $5! https://www.fantasypoints.com/underdog --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/fantasy-points-podcast/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fantasy Points Podcast. My name is Joe Dolan, and I'm with our director of social media, Trey Camberling today as we introduce kind of a new era of the Fantasy Points podcast, Trey, you and I have been kind of brainstorming this. I'll give you most of the credit. You've been really coming up with this and you're like, you know, what can we do in the fantasy podcast space that's going to differentiate us a little bit? And well, how about we just talk to players? I mean, it's kind of a simple concept, right? But don't really know how many fantasy podcast are frequently bringing on players and we hope it's something that people are going to enjoy. And we're going to kick off the series with an interview with Jack Campbell of the rookie

linebacker from the Detroit Lions, who was gracious to give us 15 minutes of his time. Thought it went pretty well. I hope you all are excited to listen to it. Trey, what was your idea behind kind of this podcast where we think it can go from this point forward? Yeah, we do a lot of obviously analysts talk. and talking with beatwriters and other folks, you know, around the league. And I've been fortunate, you know, in my time and other places to get to know some folks.

Jack, I've known since he was in high school. So I just thought, why not give this a shot? Why not try to get our viewers and subscribers some NFL players to talk to? So I've been working for the last, you know, really since I started on booking and getting this thing off the ground. and I just incredibly excited for what this is going to be. Again, I think it's unique in this space, like you said, to kind of get the football side of it from them.

And we've got so many guests lined up here for the next month and two months and into the season. I just think we're on track to do some really cool things with this podcast. So one of the things that I really need to level myself with is we're kind of analyzing football on like, it's filtered through a couple of lenses. When we're analyzed, because fantasy football is a statistical game, right? Like you can't, you don't play with personality in fantasy football. So we take the actual game and then we boil that down even further into what these players

put on paper, okay? We talk about athletes often like they're not real people. And this is not a new concept, but it's really going to help ground me a little bit. Like start talking, you know, hey, that zinger on Twitter, you know, like, did that go a little bit too far? You know what I'm saying? Like, that's part of the bargain you make if you're a professional athlete, if you're a public figure, that you're open to get joked about.

And but sometimes, you know, it's good to step back and realize, hey, these are kids. I'm 36 years old now and I have to 99.5% of NFL players are younger than me. And I have to remember, man, when I was 21 years old, I wasn't doing anything. anywhere close to what they're doing. So it's kind of that humanizing aspect and maybe just brings us back, grounds us a little bit in this fantasy football analysis that I think is pretty important.

Yeah, you're 100% spot on. I haven't spent a lot of time in the publication external media side of sports. I spent four years working internally for the Utah Jazz. So really my first kind of shot at doing this sports content was for the players with the players, presenting them in positive ways. And, and, you know, when you're working for an external company, you have a little more leeway, whether that's good or bad, you know, is different company to company. But yeah, I went through, you know, specific

scenarios. Like I was with the jazz when, you know, the coronavirus stuff was going on. And And it's really tough to see, you know, these humans, these men, these people go through some of the, you know, unfair takes and the jokes. And yeah, I think this is going to be a, like you said, a different lens into the life of the athletes and kind of who they are as people because you don't always get that on the fantasy shows. And, you know, we're going to continue to do all the stuff that we normally do. But it's a good addition and in a different perspective. And I think we're going to highlight maybe kind of different tiers of players, you know, guys who might be grinding for their careers and guys who are just trying to get their career started. You know, because we're just trying to get this show started. So, Trey, I'm very, very happy that we were able to talk to Jack Campbell.

I hope everybody enjoys it. I want to thank Jack for his time. But, hey, we're not the stars of the show. He is. So here's Detroit Lions rookie linebacker, Jack Campbell. For the first time in Fantasy Points podcast history, we have a first time. round pick on the podcast. I was never drafted. I don't think Tray was ever drafted, but Jack Campbell was drafted. He is the rookie linebacker for the Detroit Lions. It is wonderful to welcome him to the

program. Something that we're getting started here on the Fantasy Points podcast is to try to give a little bit of an insight into the life of an NFL player. And it is a thrill to welcome Jack to the show. Jack, how are you doing, my friend? Thank you so much for joining us on this podcast, giving us a little bit of a test run. But I'm really excited to have you here. How are you doing? I'm doing great and I really appreciate you guys having me on. I'm just super excited and looking forward to sharing a little bit about the taste I've had of the NFL up to this point. So you've just wrapped OTAs mini camps. What is your first impression of your teammates, the life in the NFL, the coaching staff?

How different is it from playing in the Big Ten and in Iowa? The biggest things that I've kind of learned up to this point and seen is just attention. to little details. Like everything matters at this level. Not that it didn't matter at the college level or the high school level, but it's just even more now because everyone has physical attributes to be a great football player, but it's those little things that are going to set you apart. And I feel like I kind of got my first little taste of that of OTAs, but also just the coaching

staff with the lines and just the ownership and all the executives. They have one thing on their mind, and that's to win. And for me, coming from Iowa, it's similar in that aspect. So I think the transition's been awesome. But again, I think the biggest thing right now is just honing in on those little things that are going to push you a little bit further than other people. When you're talking about the NFL, I get this a different level of scrutiny. And from what I understand, you're not a huge social media guy.

But the Lions selecting you in the first round, they selected Jemir Gibbs in the first round. And I'm sure you've at least heard tale of the old positional value thing, right? Oh, they took a running back in the first round. They took an offball linebacker in the first round. What's your response to that whole argument of positional value and taking an offball linebacker in the first round? I would just say, I mean, pick one through Mr. Irrelevant.

Any person lucky enough to be from any of those picks, it has such a great opportunity in front of them and has such a blessing. I would just say, like, I know, like, everything happens for a reason. The Detroit Lions, Mr. Holmes, Coach Campbell, I feel like they have a vision. They wanted guys who fit their system and what they're trying to do. So I kind of feel like that kind of led into decisions. Like, for me, like, I really have no right to sit here and say, like, pick me or, like, pick this guy or anything. Like, because I'm just a player.

at the end of the day. So those guys, that's their jobs, is to evaluate players. And then for me, I feel like it's only if I was in their positions to pick guys who fit the mold and fit the culture of your program, but are also the best players and the best human beings. So that's, that's kind of my two sense on it. My approach kind of is staying the same since I got to Iowa, which is that Midwestern approach. I'm going to earn everything that I get. But at the same time, I have great people around me. The Detroit Lions have been a great organization. They're putting a lot of people around me and around the team to help everyone be successful.

Just kind of gearing up for this season. So I'm looking forward to it. This is still a fantasy football podcast. So I have to pick your brain on the offensive side of the football. You're going to be linked to Jemir Gibbs. Like your careers are going to be linked. You were picked by the same team in the same first round. What have you seen from him so far in camps that might be able to get us a little bit excited?

I would just say he's a versatile playmaker. He has the ability not only to affect the offense in the backfield, but also running routes out of the backfield. I mean, everyone kind of knows that for me, like an outsider looking in and then getting to go against him, he's just a really, really versatile player. And I think he'll be able to be used in a lot of unique and in different aspects. So it'll be fun to watch. Jack, obviously, I've known you for a while.

And I see you go to Iowa, you bulk like all the Iowa kids do. You know, they get there that first year and they get real big. And, you know, Iowa linebackers, man, like Chad Greenway, Josie Jewel, Pat Anger, like, there's kind of a line and a pedigree to linebackers at Iowa. Is there anybody that you, like, modeled your game after and you've kind of studied, even if it was as a kid or even into college watching tape? Yeah, so I would say when I got to Iowa, like I grew up, a U and I Panther fan, which is just right there in Cedar Falls, my hometown.

But in high school, I kind of watched, like, Chad Greenway, like, just as, like, old highlights from college. When I got to college, the couple years before I got to college, that was, like, when Josie Jewel was, like, the linebacker in the Big Ten, so, like, that was someone I was looked up to. But then as I got to Iowa, just learning about guys like Christian Kirksey, Anthony Hitchens, Pat Anger, Abdul-Hodge, like, there's a pretty long list and under-coach Farrant who's been there since, I believe, 99.

All that tape's available to me to watch and go back to any of those years for any of those players. I would say for me, like, I try to be the best version of Jack Campbell I can be, but at the same time, like, learning from all those guys I mentioned. During spring was a great time to kind of have time to watch all that old tape and kind of just look at different ways. And it's kind of amazing kind of how the game has changed too.

I mean, I can think kind of off the top of my head, like when you watch a game from 05, it's a lot of like 21 person, like, fullback, like, ISO leads on like the mic or the will. And nowadays it's more spread and past. So it's just unique. But I will say that there's a little bit more. 21 personnel coming back, I feel like, into the NFL. So that's kind of exciting for like an older school player. You were obviously college teammates with Sam Leporta, who the Lions took in the second round.

Are you guys close? Yeah. So me and Sam, we actually live together in an off-campus house. So we've been really good friends. So that's been a really cool kind of go through this transition together. He's a really good player, so I'm excited to see what he's going to do as well. How did you find out that you were going to be teammates with Sam? Did he watch and TV?

Did he call you? Like, what was the situation like? I watched it. And then as soon as he got picked, I knew he was way too busy for me. So I wanted to give him that time to enjoy his family and friends. But then I had like the night after I called them and I just told him that I was pumped to get another community with him. You're going to live together with him or if you had enough of them after four years to live together? I don't think we're going to live together.

He actually already has, like, his own little play, so I'm still looking for that. How would you describe his game stylistically and what he can bring to the field and bring to a modern NFL offense? Yeah, and Sam's another guy, I feel like for me, I've got to practice against him for the last four years. And I think Sam's like a player that at the tight-in position brings you a lot of versatility as well. He's a guy that I feel like can stick in the core. He can hold his own blocking, but at the same time, you could split him out and he can almost be like a receiver. So that's kind of exciting, and I'm excited to see what he can do because I feel like he's a great route runner. He's just a super good human being and a hard worker.

So, again, I'm just excited to get to get him on my team again. To kind of wrap it all up here, Jack, I have to bring it up, of course. I was lucky enough to coach Jack in high school, but not in football and basketball. I was a assistant there. I was at college at you and I when he was in high school, so I rolled over there for a year and did almost nothing but held the pad every now and then. And we'll roll some highlights from the high school career in basketball. But Nicole Yokic is the guy right now.

That's the play style from a center that everybody loves. But Jack was kind of more like a Charles Oakley type guy enforcer. I'm sure that's not surprising to anybody, you know, listening. But where does that mentality come from? I really think that, like, my high school coaches were super influential in development and, like, how I feel like my approach. Like, you know, because you worked with, like, Coach Schultz and Coach Elser, coach Dyvig, and then we had Schenel and Yolkham.

And, like, all those guys pour into you. And, like, they teach you more about basketball. But I feel like that want to, like, I knew. like being like a five man and for me I didn't shoot outside like the paint like the further shot I ever took in my high school career I think it was a free throw because in Iowa like most centers are probably like anywhere from like six six to six eight so like for me I was a little bit on the shorter side so I knew I would have to to somehow find an advantage and I feel like that was like just the physical aspect of the game to be able to play great defense get every single rebound

and then go and set screens and create shots from my teammates. I feel like that was kind of the formula for that year's success because we won us the championship that year. So I would say that's kind of where it came from, just knowing what I had to do, like what added value can I bring to the table if I'm not going to be able to shoot threes and bring the ball up the course.

So that was kind of like my view on the whole thing was just, I got to somehow make an advantage for myself and somehow put my team in the best position to win. So I don't know. I don't know. I feel like it's just natural for me. Like I just kind of go to work. Jack Campbell, rookie linebacker from the Detroit Lions, number 46 in your program.

Jack, before we let you go, I have just one curious question. How do you pick a jersey number when you're a rookie? I mean, they give you the option. For me, my whole career, I kind of let whoever pick, so I just let them pick. So it's kind of 46, man. So, yeah. Not big into the aesthetics is Jack Campbell. He just wants to go out and hit somebody.

Jack, thank you so much for joining us here on the Fantasy Points podcast. It was wonderful having you. Good luck in your career. I know you don't necessarily need it, but we'll wish it to you anyway. It was a pleasure having you on the show. I really appreciate it, guys. Thank you for your time. Yeah, thanks to Jack Campbell for coming on the show.

Just really kind of a, it's amazing how much his life has changed and kind of hasn't changed. I think it's incredible that is roommate of four years. is going to be his teammate with the Detroit Lions. You know, when I went away to college, I roomed with somebody I knew from high school. We weren't the best of friends before we got to college, but we were like, well, this is pretty convenient. We should probably just do this.

And now we're really close friends. But I think that helped the transition for me. I wonder if that's going to help the transition for Jack. I mean, if he knew absolutely nobody on that team, I'm sure he would be fine just based on his leadership skills. but it was a good discussion to have with a guy who's, I mean, he's a pretty high profile player, I mean, he's a first round pet. So nice intro to the podcast. Yeah, no doubt. Jack, Jack was awesome. Great kid. You know, kind of keep your head down. And as you can hear from the

interview, just kind of get after and get to work kind of guy. So I think the lion's got a great one and super grateful for him for coming on the show and looking forward to getting this out to you guys and letting everybody hear what Jack Scott's offer. So we're going to have more of these interviews coming up over the next week's months, hopefully years, quite frankly. And as I mentioned in the intro, we're going to have different tiers of players on and maybe guys with different levels of visibility. And I believe our next interview is going to be with Zach Moss,

the running back from the Colts. And a guy who I don't think he would deny at this point, you know, kind of trying to fight for his career. It's going to be really interesting to get his perspective, you know, going through trades, going through coaching changes, working with a rookie quarterback. All those things are going to be really fascinating to hear about from Zach Moss. The types of things you can learn from a guy like that, you know, who's played with Josh Allen, now is going to play with Anthony Richardson, you know, behind Jonathan Taylor right now on the depth chart.

I believe he played pretty well last year, you know, when J.T. went down and he got some run. So it's going to be an interesting perspective. And, you know, there's always something you can learn from a lot of these guys. excited to have him on and introduce him to you guys as well. Trey, it was great working with you, and this partnership is going to extend. Follow him on Twitter at Trey Camberling, his latte model. The man loves dynasty. So we're going to have to get you in the Staff Dynasty League, by the way, Trey.

Yeah, I'm ready for it. Get me in there and let me go crazy. Just pull off a big trade in my main league for Kyle Pitts. So obviously, he's been kind of, he's been hard to get, but the price was right finally. and I pulled the trigger. So we're making that happen. Congratulations on that move. You can follow me on Twitter at FG underscore Dolan.

Thanks to Jack Campbell. Thanks for the Detroit Lions and people for setting that up. We'll catch you on the next episode here on the Fantasy Points podcast. Had a lot of fun. Hope you join us.