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Bruce Campbell is Learning Disabled

Reported earlier this week by Newsday writer Bob Glauber, Bruce Campbell has a severe learning disability.

Apparently the disability was severe enough for teams to drop Campbell on draft boards, contributing to Campbell's fall from a potential late first, early second round prospect to being selected 106th overall.

It isn't clear exactly how a severe learning disability will effect his play and if Campbell will be able to learn and apply complicated gameplans and line calls.

Perhaps this is why Tom Cable specifically asked Bruce Campbell if he was willing to work hard when the Raiders called Campbell before just before they selected him in April's draft.

Campbell may or may not be able to learn the things he needs to depending on the type of learning disability and how the Raiders coach him.

Of the possible major types of learning disabilities are reading, writing, and math, which probably wouldn't directly apply to being an offensive lineman in the NFL.

There is also non-verbal, which can probably be ruled out because it is often accompanied by a deficit in motor skills. Campbell obviously doesn't have any physical deficiencies.

That leaves Auditory Processing Disorder (APD), in which a person wouldn't be able to understand and apply verbal instruction. This is something a person might not even be aware of when it is happening, making it impossible for them to even identify when they don't understand.

If Campbell does have APD, it would be understandable why Campbell dropped in April's draft. Of course, this is purely speculation.

The Raiders must hope maximum reps at right guard will help Bruce Campbell learn the complicated zone blocking scheme, even if the verbal instruction isn't a useful tool for him.

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