If Caleb Campbell hasn't returned your phone call lately, don't be alarmed.

He'll get around to it, but he has pressing tasks on his mind these days, even though the Kansas City Chiefs' training camp is more than two months away and the season opener is four months out. He's deeply entrenched in the Chiefs' offseason program known around the NFL as OTAs -- organized team activities.

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"I had to put my phone a way for a few days," explained Campbell, the 2008 West Point graduate drafted in the seventh round by the Detroit Lions that spring.

Campbell, a 6-2, 240-pound linebacker, is entering what he hopes will be his third season of picking up an NFL paycheck, but his first full season on an NFL active roster.

"I put a lot of pressure on myself the first couple of years," Campbell said. "This year I'm doing a better of job of visualization and affirmations. It's important how you prepare off the field. I'm really enjoying football again and it's encouraging. Kansas City is a great organization."

This has been Campbell's first chance to spend an offseason focused on making an NFL roster.

After he was drafted in 2008, he spent two years on active duty before he was granted early release by the Department of Defense. However, he wasn't able to join the Lions until shortly before the 2010 training camp opened.

He remained with the Lions throughout 2010, but he was on the practice squad until he was activated late in the season for three games.

As he looked on building upon his first year with an NFL team, his offseason was thwarted when he NFL lockout canceled the 2011 OTAs. Once the lockout ended, he reported to training camp, but Detroit released him on the last roster cut before the season opener.

Next he was signed by Indianapolis and placed on the Colts' practice squad.

"They had some injuries and had to fill some spots, so I knew it would be only temporary," Campbell said.

Once the Colts released Campbell, he returned home -- but not for long. Kansas City called and invited him to town for a workout. The Chiefs subsequently signed him to their practice squad to finish the 2011 season.

Although he wasn't activated during the 2011 season, the advantage was he finished the season with the Chiefs. He had a place on the offseason roster and the opportunity to take part in all OTAs and mini-camp.

"This (offseason) is the first chance I've had to be fully committed to a program," Campbell said. "That's important. I'm getting to know my teammates and my coaches. It's important not just for learning the schemes, it's also important to team camaraderie."

- Kansas City Chiefs Linebacker, Caleb Campbell

His top priority in the offseason has been adjusting to the Chiefs' 3-4 scheme after playing in a 4-3 with the Lions as well as at Army. Although he was with the Chiefs last fall, his role on the scout team wasn't working in the Chiefs' 3-4 scheme. His job was to pose as the upcoming opponents' defense.

"It's been tough because this is the first time I've been introduced to a 3-4 system," Campbell said. "It's kind of frustrating going to a scheme that is different from what you've been taught over your career. But I feel like I'm making progress. I've got a great coaching staff and great teammates that are helping me work through it."

Although Kansas City is coming off a 7-9 season, the Chiefs' roster isn't an easy one to crack at inside linebacker. The franchise is only one season removed from a 2010 AFC West title and both 2011 starting inside linebackers are returning as third-year starters -- fourth-year veteran Jovan Belcher and eighth-year veteran Derrick Johnson.

Backup Cory Green returns for his third season, but there is one opening from last year's two-deep depth chart. Demorrio Williams signed with San Diego. The Chiefs also didn't draft any linebackers.

Campbell said he's stronger and faster than a year ago, but he said the mental side of the game has been what held him back the past two years more than physical ability. He felt he played with too much self-imposed pressure to justify benefiting from the Department of Defense's newly devised early release program.

"I was playing afraid to fail, but I've let that pressure go," Campbell said. "If your performance is dictated by that kind of pressure, one day that pressure won't be there. You've got to be motivated by a difference force to play the game. When I felt that pressure, I wasn't performing."

Campbell said returning to the visualization and positive affirmations techniques he learned at West Point's Center for Enhanced Performance helped him shake the fear-of-failure pressure.

"There has never been a doubt in my mind I have the talent to play at this level, but I left the mental side behind," Campbell said. "I've brought the mental side back, and I'm excited to put those two elements (physical and mental) together this year. I still want to give back anyway possible, but I don't have that pressure in the back of my mind."

And what about fellow Army teammate, Collin Mooney, who is recently signed with the Tennessee Titans?

Campbell had this to offer. That Mooney being three years removed from playing football at Army -- due to the 2011 lockout -- made it tougher for him to stay in football shape and get signed. "I'm extremely excited for Collin Mooney," he said. "Persistence is the critical element to make it in the NFL. He has been extremely persistent. He is prepared for this opportunity." Mooney was a junior when Campbell was a senior.

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