2015 Packers Training Camp and Triage Center

[mraynrand]

I think they did just fine replacing Pickett and Jolly last year. Losing Raji hurt the depth at nose. But Guion, Daniels and Boyd played major minutes in base and did just fine, especially after Matthews moved inside.

I think you mean 'replace' differently than I did. The team effectively 'replaced' them in that they made the defense work, but Daniels isn't the same kind of player as either Jolly or Pickett, and Guion and Boyd were just OK. But yeah, they were probably as good as Pickett and Jolly in their last year in GB, but that's not saying a lot.

[wist43]

I think you mean 'replace' differently than I did. The team effectively 'replaced' them in that they made the defense work, but Daniels isn't the same kind of player as either Jolly or Pickett, and Guion and Boyd were just OK. But yeah, they were probably as good as Pickett and Jolly in their last year in GB, but that's not saying a lot.

We don't have anyone that can 2-Gap anymore. I don't even think Pennel can 2-Gap. Raji certainly can't, and never could; so, of course their roles have to be different.

If you put Daniels in there and expect him to hold up against a double team?? Forget it, of course he'll get run over... which is one of the reasons you don't want to run a 2-4 with the personnel we have.

If you have 3 down linemen inside the tackles - everyone can look to penetrate and control their single gap, and defending the run becomes a much more doable proposition while in the nickel.

[wist43]

I think you mean 'replace' differently than I did. The team effectively 'replaced' them in that they made the defense work, but Daniels isn't the same kind of player as either Jolly or Pickett, and Guion and Boyd were just OK. But yeah, they were probably as good as Pickett and Jolly in their last year in GB, but that's not saying a lot.

We don't have anyone that can 2-Gap anymore. I don't even think Pennel can 2-Gap. Raji certainly can't, and never could; so, of course their roles have to be different.

If you put Daniels in there and expect him to hold up against a double team?? Forget it, of course he'll get run over... which is one of the reasons you don't want to run a 2-4 with the personnel we have.

If you have 3 down linemen inside the tackles - everyone can look to penetrate and control their single gap, and defending the run becomes a much more doable proposition while in the nickel.

Of course I made this same argument when we did have guys that could 2-gap - always hated the Jumbo 2-4. Got away with that alignment some of the time, but eventually opponents realized it would always be static, and it became very predictable where every one would be; hence, much easier to block for the run, and b/c we have 2 non-pass rushers on the DL, we couldn't generate any pressure against the pass either.

The Jumbo 2-4 should have been scrapped long before MM had to step in and put a stop to the madness.

[pbmax]

I think you mean 'replace' differently than I did. The team effectively 'replaced' them in that they made the defense work, but Daniels isn't the same kind of player as either Jolly or Pickett, and Guion and Boyd were just OK. But yeah, they were probably as good as Pickett and Jolly in their last year in GB, but that's not saying a lot.

There are a lot of moving parts in this comparison. I meant replace, as in, were able to field a competitive defense with some resistance to the run (meaning, better than 2011 or 2013) on the defensive line.

While Raji of 2010 was not truly replaced, I think they had enough big bodies that the "base" 3-4 was fine Daniels-Guion-Boyd.

They do have more penetrators now than before, so short yardage can look a little different now with Peppers, Neal and Jones. However, if Raji is healthy and Pennel somehow makes the team, 3-4 or jumbo 4-4 won't be a problem either.

We'd have to look at the starting roster to be sure, but I think the elephant position, basically Neal, has allowed them to essentially add one fat guy. Neal counts as an OLB and nickel rusher. The last guy in is likely beefier.