Campbell relishes opportunity to fill important vacancy for Cardinals

Young tackle Campbell fills key role for Cardinals

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Calais Campbell has a big new role with the Arizona Cardinals, and he certainly has the size for the job.

The 6-foot-8, 290-pound second-year pro out of Miami replaces the departed Antonio Smith at defensive end, and he relishes the challenge.

“I understand I’m kind of like the new guy and everybody has questions about the new guy,” Campbell said before the team practiced on Monday, “but I feel if I can go out there and just do what I know how to, the questions will be answered very soon.”

Arizona drafted Campbell in the second round, the 50th pick overall, last season. He played in all 20 games as a backup and, mostly, on special teams. But when Smith signed a free-agent contract with the Houston Texans in the offseason, Campbell knew his chance had come.

“I knew that was big opportunity for me,” Campbell said, “and I’ve always been that person that when an opportunity comes, you’ve got to capitalize.”

He said his competitiveness comes from growing up with five brothers in Aurora, Colo., where he established a state high school record with 58 sacks in four seasons, 38 as a junior and senior. He also was a standout basketball player and threw the shot and discus in track and field.

A two-time all-Atlantic Coast Conference selection at Miami, Campbell made himself available for the draft after his junior season.

In his debut as a starter last Thursday against the Steelers in Pittsburgh, Campbell played three series and got a good review from coach Ken Whisenhunt.

“I’d grade him out as a very good game,” Whisenhunt said. “I was impressed with Calais, not only the things that showed up on tape or showed up in the game with him getting pressure on the quarterback, but also some of the things he did in the run game and the way he played that position in the line.”

Campbell thought he played “fairly well.”

“My goal going into the game was to be consistent and show the coaches and players that I’m ready to be a starter. I feel like I did that,” he said. “There’s a couple of plays there I could have made but didn’t. I’m my biggest critic. I’m hard on myself, and I didn’t play as well as I could have.”

Campbell said his height “can be my worst enemy or my best friend.”

“If I continue with my technique, I stay low and use my ability for good, I’ll be fine,” he said. “If I can just stay low and extend my arms, there’s no offensive lineman that should be able to block me.”

He’s best, he said, at getting to the passer, a talent Arizona’s defense sorely needs.

“I feel like I’m a natural pass rusher. That’s probably what I do best on the field,” Campbell said. “I definitely have to be able to stop the run first and make them pass. But with our offense scoring a lot of points and stopping the run like we can, there’s going to be a lot of times when we’ve got to get after that passer.

“It could be the difference between going 9-7 and 14-2.”

He credits veterans Bryan Robinson and Bertrand Berry for making him pay attention to the small details that make a big difference in a game.

Campbell and cornerback Bryant McFadden are the only newcomers in Arizona’s starting defense. The ex-Steeler McFadden “is a lot more proven,” Campbell acknowledged.

At this point in his young career, Campbell knows the magnitude of the opportunity he has to start for the reigning NFC champions.

“This is huge,” he said. “I’ll be 23 at the start of the season, and this is amazing. This is everything I dreamed of when I was a kid. Just being able to be a starter on this team, I feel like we have a great team and we can be great for a lot of years to come.”