Packers Defense

[Tony Oday]

So as I see it we are now a defensive team. Thats where we are spending our cash and seems where we have the most talent. just looking for thoughts and analysis on the players we have in camp, and to burn some time at work, and see if you folks are on the same page as me :)

DE-Kamp- solid motor that is a blue collar type player. Will never be a 10 sack a year guy but can push up the field to preasure the QB and hold the point of attack on sideline to sideline runs.

KGB- Pass rushing specialist that was overpaid and expected to do things he cant. AKA hold the point of attack all game. Get him in on passing downs and watch his sacks skyrocket

Rest of the DE I really have no idea it seems like Montgomery will be a running down DE Jenkings sounds like he will be experimented at DE and Kamp moved inside on passing downs aswell. The rest I have no idea so fill in my blanks :)

DT-I know Pickett, Jenkins and Colin Cole. Pickett is billed as Grady but younger and Jenkins is a bit of a tweener at DT if I remember correctly however does have a decent pass rush. Cole I always think of him as a guy that was pushed around...someone fill in these blanks for me.

LB-Well the strength for years to come it seems. Barnett, even though a lot of people dont like him, is a tackling machine that will be in the same defense for the second consecutive year! Amazing! I think he will be coached up a bit more to produce bigger plays and go for the ball more.

Hawk- billed as a STUD. Hopefully comes out and blows the doors off. Good head on his shoulders. should be a fixture here for a very long time.

Taylor-solid LB that, in this defense, could excel.

Poppigna- has a pass rush however coming off an injury will be nice to see how he comes back.

Tell me more about the backups. I believe Manning and a couple more have a chance to make the squad.

CBs-Harris-solid bump and run CB that is in a big year for him because he wants a 'final' contract to keep him in the money for a long time to come. TT needs to incentivize the shit out of this guy.

Woodson- we need him to come back to form. If he does this is one of the best tandems in the NFL and will scare the crap out of the NFC north QBs.

Carrol- coming into his own as a nickle nack? From what I have seen and read he has his hands in check and he has the tools to get it done.

Hawkins- needs to refine his game has all the tools now needs to be coached up.

Who is the dime back and who is the backups?

Saftey- Collins- LOCK. BIG year from this guy. He will start this year off well and keep it going with decent coverage GREAT range and start creating the turnovers that endeared us to an older #36 :)

Manuel- big pick up and upgrade from Roman.

Roman- do you want a big contract next year? Play well this year he has the motivation.

Who else is back here?

I think that we need the DL to play solid not great and this defense will be GREAT this year.

What do you guys think?

[woodbuck27]

" Who is the dime back and who is the backups? " Tony Oday

The dime back and backups will be primarily selected from a group that includes Michael Hawkins,Jason Horton,Patrick Dendy and Will Blackmon.

[Tony Oday]

I remember seeing Horton and Hawkins but man is that all the depth we have or is that good enough for dime backs?

[woodbuck27]

I remember seeing Horton and Hawkins but man is that all the depth we have or is that good enough for dime backs?

I believe a solid team must have at least six very solid - to dependable/serviceable Cornerbacks.

In OUR stable I see Harris and Carroll and Woodson and ? marks with the rest. Woodson could possibly make us better at CB, but were not great back there given Carroll's technique that hurts us - penalty wise, and the age's /injury factor, we may suffer in Al Harris and C. Woodson.

Yet - when you look at OUR entire secondry - we appear pretty solid with Collins and Manuel, Roman and Underwood.

[Partial]

I remember seeing Horton and Hawkins but man is that all the depth we have or is that good enough for dime backs?

I think the Db depth is good. Horton and Hawkins are very good athletes who are projects. Blackmon looks the part thus far and will be the 4th corner this year. I think Horton is gonna have a tough time making the roster.

[woodbuck27]

I remember seeing Horton and Hawkins but man is that all the depth we have or is that good enough for dime backs?

I think the Db depth is good. Horton and Hawkins are very good athletes who are projects. Blackmon looks the part thus far and will be the 4th corner this year. I think Horton is gonna have a tough time making the roster.

Horton makes it by veto - for depth. Blackmon is a lock as well, but we don't want to ever imagine he'll last on OUR PS. This young man is going to shine ! He'll get snapped of the Taxi Squad, faster than a cat on a mouse.

[SD GB fan]

i think this year is gonna be critical for hawkins. he is an amazing athlete but he needs to show he can play football. no more excuse for being raw after one year so he must step up or else he might be cut. as if right now i think horton is better than he is. and blackmon played corner in college and will make the team as a ST player.

[HarveyWallbangers]

TO put a lot of effort in this thread, so I thought I'd bump it.

From the JSO:

In the last decade, there were some players drafted in the first round as linebackers that struggled after having had played a portion of their collegiate careers as defensive ends. But when it comes to the traditional first-round linebacker drafted into a 4-3 defense, the success rate has been high.

From 1996-'05, some of the rookie first-rounders that enjoyed tremendous first seasons were Jon Vilma with the New York Jets in 2004, D.J. Williams with Denver in '04, Takeo Spikes with Cincinnati in '98, Kevin Hardy with Jacksonville in '96 and Ray Lewis with Baltimore in '96.

Solid years were turned in by Derrick Johnson with Kansas City in 2005, Barnett in Green Bay, Brian Urlacher with Chicago in '00 and Reggie Brown with Detroit in '96.

Although held back by holdout and/or injury, these players all had their moments as rookies: Dan Morgan with Carolina in 2001, LaVar Arrington with Washington in '00, Julian Peterson with San Francisco in '00 and Anthony Simmons with Seattle in '98.

Some others, such as James Farrior with the Jets in '97 and John Mobley with Denver in '96, were good enough to start every game. Others, like Keith Bulluck with Tennessee and Keith Brooking in Atlanta, developed later and were in the Pro Bowl by their fourth seasons.