Walden for game mvp!

[PA Pack Fan]

This guy can play! WTF!

10 Tackles
2 sacks

[BallHawk]

Or Masthay. He might have actually topped his performance that he had against the Jets. Hester was a complete non-factor and the Bears were deep in their own territory for most of the 2nd half. Can't ask for more than that.

[gbgary]

gonna need his SPEED in the philly game. lol

[PA Pack Fan]

Or Masthay. He might have actually topped his performance that he had against the Jets. Hester was a complete non-factor and the Bears were deep in their own territory for most of the 2nd half. Can't ask for more than that.
Good point, he did a helluva job.

[gbgary]

the whole D gets the nod for me. they kept us in the game until mm and the o pulled their heads out. ;)

[sheepshead]

Or Masthay. He might have actually topped his performance that he had against the Jets. Hester was a complete non-factor and the Bears were deep in their own territory for most of the 2nd half. Can't ask for more than that.

That could've been the best punting overall performance I have ever seen.

[mission]

That could've been the best punting overall performance I have ever seen.

Feels strange to say that but we have to give credit where it's due. Those back-to-back punts inside the five was huge.

But Walden!! Man, besides that long run play where he completely lost contain, the guy was a beast. Great speed off the edge; obviously a bit raw but good physical talent. Might end up being a big plug for a hole going into the playoffs.

[PA Pack Fan]

This play is huge! Walden is a beast.



http://www.nfl.com/videos/green-bay-packers/09000d5d81d66d3a/Packers-defense-sack-8-yd-loss

[swede]

This play is huge! Walden is a beast.



http://www.nfl.com/videos/green-bay-packers/09000d5d81d66d3a/Packers-defense-sack-8-yd-loss

The roster lists Walden at 6'2" and 250. Can that be? He'd be smaller than CMIII! KGB was the same weight and two inches taller.

Very nice contribution.

[gbgary]

This play is huge! Walden is a beast.



http://www.nfl.com/videos/green-bay-packers/09000d5d81d66d3a/Packers-defense-sack-8-yd-loss

great play. full body burner. too bad he didn't weigh 350lbs on that play.

[packer4life]

great jumps off the line of scrimmage...hopefully he sticks

[denverYooper]

Walden seemed to be in a lot of plays last week too. Might have found a player there.

Masthay was the man though. He neutralized Hester.

[Guiness]

Mathsay's performance was exceptional. The Giants have him, and they don't lose that game a couple of weeks ago. He made it look easy.

Sure makes that whining the Vikings punter was doing sound all the worse.

[HarveyWallbangers]

The roster lists Walden at 6'2" and 250. Can that be? He'd be smaller than CMIII! KGB was the same weight and two inches taller.

Very nice contribution.

What's so surprising about that? CMIII is a pretty big OLB. Zombo is 6'3" 254. Chillar is 6'3 237. Jones is 6'3" 245.

[Bretsky]

am I confusing him with somebody else or didn't he get let go by a couple teams ?

[esoxx]

Street free agent.

[RashanGary]

am I confusing him with somebody else or didn't he get let go by a couple teams ?

I think he did. 49ers maybe?

[MJZiggy]

am I confusing him with somebody else or didn't he get let go by a couple teams ?

He plays better for us because we're awesome.

[Bretsky]

Where is Patler when you need him; I feel like we should have some intense research and information on this guy

[gbgary]

eric walden...http://www.nfl.com/players/erikwalden/profile?id=WAL028236

[OS PA]

Dolphins, Chiefs.

[Bretsky]

OK Small School guy
Middle Tennessee State
Chiefs for a yr, did nothing for Dolphins in 3 years, and looks pretty good for us

[Bretsky]

Erik Walden
SELECTED BY: Dallas Cowboys Round 6(1) SI Grade
2.78
GRADING SYSTEM

Position:
OLB Class:
Sr School:
Middle Tennessee Conference:
Sun Belt Ht., Wt.:
6-2, 237 40 Time:
4.75

BIOGRAPHY: Moved into the starting lineup as a freshman and has played both defensive end spots as well as outside linebacker the past four years. Senior-year totals included 46/8.5/2 with one interception. Posted career-high numbers of 48/14.5/11.5 as a junior when he was an All-Conference selection.

POSITIVES: Aggressive defender who makes plays all over the field. Gets depth on drops, displays good range, and stays with assignments. Forceful up the field, plays with good leverage, and chases hard to make plays. Displays a good degree of quickness in his game as well as a closing burst of speed.

NEGATIVES: Marginally strong at the point and struggles against blocks. Limited skills making plays in reverse.

ANALYSIS: Walden possesses the size and speed to play at the next level. His ability to penetrate the line of scrimmage will get him consideration as a pass-rushing linebacker in a 3-4 system.

PROJECTION: Undrafted Free Agent



Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/2008/draft/players/6450.html#ixzz19wGi7NpF

[mission]

OK Small School guy
Middle Tennessee State
Chiefs for a yr, did nothing for Dolphins in 3 years, and looks pretty good for us

He's got one of those tweener bodies so I'm not surprised he can play that sort of Lamar Woodley role for us.

It has him listed as a DE so I wonder how the Phins were giving him opportunities.

[Sparkey]

Drafted in the 6th round in 2008 by the Cowboys. Dallas released him the final cutdown in 08 and he was claimed by the KC Chiefs. Released by KC in 08 and claimed by Miami. Played 11 games in 09 with the Dolphins and 2 games this year. Miami cut him this year after a dumb special teams mistake. He has played in 28 games over three years, prior to being picked up by the Packers.

[Bretsky]

Erik Walden, OLB
6'2, 245, 2nd year

Walden was a 6th round pick last year of the Dallas Cowboys coming out of Middle Tennessee State. In college, Walden was a standout defensive end, but did get some time at outside linebacker. When the Cowboys drafted him, though, Walden was instantly projected as an outside linebacker in their 3-4 defense.

At Middle Tennessee, Walden was a playmaker at the defensive end spot right from the beginning - playing in 10 games as a freshman (including 4 starts) and totaling 6 sacks, 8 tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Over his 4 year career there, Erik played in 44 games, starting 34 of them, and tallied 22.5 sacks and 40 tackles for loss. He also had an interception and a safety.

He weighed in a 6'2, 237 at the 2008 Scouting Combine and ran a 4.75 40 - not great, but certainly good enough to play OLB. Here is a scouting report on Walden from last offseason, courtesy of SI.com:

POSITIVES: Aggressive defender who makes plays all over the field. Gets depth on drops, displays good range, and stays with assignments. Forceful up the field, plays with good leverage, and chases hard to make plays. Displays a good degree of quickness in his game as well as a closing burst of speed.

NEGATIVES: Marginally strong at the point and struggles against blocks. Limited skills making plays in reverse.

ANALYSIS: Walden possesses the size and speed to play at the next level. His ability to penetrate the line of scrimmage will get him consideration as a pass-rushing linebacker in a 3-4 system.



Walden's NFL career got off to a shaky start. He spent all of training camp with the Cowboys but was cut on August 30 despite being a solid special teams contributor duringthe preseason. However, it didn't take long for Walden to get claimed on waivers. The Chiefs claimed Walden the next day - and apparently, there were "a host of teams interested" in claiming Walden.

In KC, Walden was a special teams standout, playing in 9 games and registering 10 special teams tackles - 2nd most on the team. However, Walden was waived by KC on November 19, mainly because they had to make room for an additional running back on their roster. The Dolphins wasted no time, claiming Walden the very next day.

As a Dolphin, Erik Walden played in 6 games - all on special teams - and tallied 5 tackles. But his 2009 role could certainly be very different. In Dallas last offseason, there were reports that claimed Walden would "flash" ability at times. David Halprin, from SBN's Blogging The Boys, called Walden "athletically-gifted but totally raw and inexperienced" during the preseason last year. And he also openly questioned the decision of the Cowboys to release Walden.

It seems like Walden - for a guy who has done relatively little on the field outside of special teams - makes fans wherever he goes. Even in KC, he was popular as a special teamer. One KC fan even called Walden "a keeper." It's that kind of respect, from both fans and teammates, that instantly puts a player like Walden on your radar. And it'll be interesting to see how he develops this offseason.

[Bretsky]

A college football defensive end, Walden translates perfectly as a pass-rushing outside linebacker in the 3-4. Though he doesn't possess great strength and there are concerns about his ability to learn a playbook, Walden possesses good finesse moves as a pass rusher. He has great athleticism with long arms and has great initial burst.

While he may initially be limited to a special teams role as was the guy he replaced, Walden does have some upside and at the very least could become a good situational pass rusher. His addition to the team costs next to nothing and is a good all-around add for the Dolphins, even if it is no sure thing.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Bretsky]

Erik Walden

A Georgia native, Walden had an impressive collegiate career as a defensive end at Middle Tennessee State, earning first-team All-Sun Belt honors each of his final two seasons and setting the school record in sacks.

After recording nine sacks over his freshman and sophomore seasons, Walden had his best year as a junior in 2006, racking up 48 tackles (14.5 for a loss), three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery to go along with his school-record 11.5 sacks.

As a senior in 2007, Walden appeared in just 10 games due to a toe injury but still managed to record 46 tackles (8.5 for a loss), two sacks, an interception, two pass breakups and a safety. Walden's 22.5 career sacks set a school record.

In pre-draft workouts, Walden posted a 33-inch vertical leap, 25-bench reps of 225 pounds and ran a 40-yard dash of 4.72 seconds. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth round (167th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft.

Coincidentally, the pick Dallas used to select Walden was originally acquired from Miami in a swap of sixth-rounders in the Jason Ferguson deal. (Miami took guard Donald Thomas with the pick from Dallas.)

In the 2008 preseason, Walden appeared in all four games for the Cowboys including a start in the final contest and recorded seven tackles (five solo) and no sacks. He was waived by the team on August 30 during final cuts.

The following day, Walden was claimed off waivers by the Kansas City Chiefs. He recorded 10 special teams in nine games with the Chiefs, though was held without a tackle over the final four games. The Chiefs waived him on Nov. 20.

Walden will play outside linebacker for the Dolphins and wear No. 50, which had previously been worn by linebacker Marc Magro on the practice squad this season and linebacker Edmond Miles in 2007.

Because Walden has been claimed off waivers twice and has never been a free agent, his rookie contract with Dallas remains intact. He is under contract for the next four years at base salaries of $295,000 in 2008, $385,000 in 2009, $470,000 in 2010 and $555,000 in 2011.

[pbmax]

2008 - Miami (6) and KC (9)
2009 - Miami (11)
2010 - Miami (2) and GB (9)

Height: 6-2 Weight: 250 Age: 25
Born: 8/21/1985 Dublin , GA
College: Middle Tennessee State
Experience: 3rd season
High School: Dublin HS [GA]

Drafted in 2008 by the Cowboys in the 6th Round.

Dallas Cowboys

Walden signed a four-year contract with the Cowboys on July 22, 2008.[2] He was waived by the team on August 30 during final cuts.
[edit] Kansas City Chiefs

A day after being let go by the Cowboys, hoping he would clear waivers enabling them to sign him to their practice squad, Walden was claimed off waivers by the Kansas City Chiefs on August 31, 2008. Linebacker Weston Dacus was waived to make room for Walden. On November 19, the Chiefs waived Walden.
[edit] Miami Dolphins

Walden was claimed off waivers by the Miami Dolphins on November 20, 2008. The team waived linebacker Rob Ninkovich to make room for him on the roster.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LReubrolrNQ

Erik Walden
Class: r-Jr.
Position: DL
Height: 6-2
Weight: 232 pounds
Previous School: Dublin
Hometown: Dublin, GA

2006: Named First Team All-Sun Belt Conference ... Played in all 13 games ... Had a career-best 48 tackles on the season, including a school record 11.5 sacks (ranked 10th nationally) ... Also had three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and 14.5 tackles for loss ... Was listed as the starter at left defensive end coming out of spring drills ... Tallied five tackles and a forced fumble in the Blue-White Spring Game ... Was presented the Dr. James E. Walker Junior Academic award at the spring game ... Recorded a sack, a fumble recovery, and a forced fumble in 44 snaps against FIU to earn a "winning performance" by the coaching staff ... Had three tackles at Maryland ... Registered four tackles, including two quarterback sacks in 35 plays against Tennessee Tech and earned a "winning performance" ... Collected five tackles in 28 plays at Oklahoma ... Did not record a tackle at North Texas but came back with six stops and a tackle for loss against no. 8 Louisville ... Registered three tackles and a sack at Louisiana-Monroe to earn a "winning performance" ... Had one tackle and a pass breakup in win at Louisiana-Lafayette ... Collected three tackles and a sack in win over FAU ... Became the all-time sacks leader at Middle Tennessee with two against Arkansas State and finished the game with a personal-best seven tackles ... Added three tackles against South Carolina ... Had six tackles including 3.5 tackles for loss and a career-best 2.5 sacks against Troy ... Led the Blue Raiders against Central Michigan in the Motor City Bowl with six tackles and two quarterback sacks.

2005: Played in all 11 games, including eight as a starter (five at defensive end and three at linebacker) ... Enjoyed a career-best 33 tackles on the season to go with three sacks, 8.5 tackles for loss, two pass breakups, and a forced fumble ... Collected four tackles in the opener at Alabama, including a quarterback sack, and registered two stops against North Texas ... Had a season-high five stops at home against Akron including four solos ... Registered a tackle for loss in win at Vanderbilt ... Did not record a tackle at FAU ... Had six total tackles and a quarterback sack against ULL ... Came up with four tackles, a quarterback sack, and a pass breakup in win over Arkansas State ... Earned his first career start at linebacker in place of the injured Dennis Burke and responded with six stops ... Had two tackles including one for loss in win at Troy.

2004: Played in 10 games with four starts, registering a team-high six sacks and tying for the lead with 8.5 tackles for loss ... Tallied 25 total stops with one forced fumble ... Made three solo tackles in opener at Akron ... Both stops versus Florida Atlantic were for loss including one sack ... Totaled three tackles, 2.5 for loss, and two sacks against Idaho ... The next week had two more sacks and three total stops versus Utah State ... Made four tackles at New Mexico State ... Tallied a season-high six stops, two for loss, and one sack against Louisiana-Monroe ... Also forced a fumble versus ULM ... Had a pair of stops in season finale at Troy.

2003: Sat out the year due to NCAA academic guidelines.

High School: Earned first team Associated Press all-state honors after guiding Dublin to a 14-1 record and a spot in the state title game in 2002 (lost to Screven Co. and future Blue Raider teammate Sean Mosley) ... Was a Macon Telegraph first team all-Middle Georgia selection while also begin tabbed the Courier-Herald Heart of Georgia Defensive Player of the Year ... Ended his senior year with 97 total tackles and a school record 19 quarterback sacks ... Also tallied 11 tackles for loss, recovered two fumbles, and had one interception ... As a running back, Walden averaged 6.6 yards a carry and scored eight touchdowns while registering 16 receptions for four more scores ... He finished with 837 yards of total offense ... Lettered in football, basketball, and track ... Played football for Coach Roger Holmes.

Personal: Parents: Johnny and Shirley Walden ... Born: 8/21/85 ... Major: Physical Education.

[Bretsky]

OK,some good reading info

I'm on board !!

[packerbacker1234]

It was one great game, but we'll see. Maybe he'll just come on like wildfire. Grant did that for us in 2007, so maybe Walden is the guy that gives Matthews the help he needs out of no where.

[gbgary]

i want to see vick sandwiched between Walden and Mr Matthews.

[pbmax]

Pro Day

Dates: 03/20/08
Height: 6021
Weight: 238
40 Yrd Dash:
20 Yrd Dash:
10 Yrd Dash: 225 Lb. Bench Reps: 25
Vertical Jump: 33
Broad Jump:
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.29
3-Cone Drill:

[pbmax]

If someone has ESPN insider, they still have their profile up:

http://tinyurl.com/3a3q9hb

[denverYooper]

He's got one of those tweener bodies so I'm not surprised he can play that sort of Lamar Woodley role for us.


I'm with this. That spot might just be Walden's ideal fit. That goes a long way to making a guy successful in the NFL.

[MJZiggy]

I'm with this. That spot might just be Walden's ideal fit. That goes a long way to making a guy successful in the NFL.

One of Capers' talents is playing to each of his players' strengths. Walden had a terrific game and hopefully he's in a position to have a few more of them.

[red]

i have no clue where he came from but the guy was an absolute beast today

and in person he looks a whole lot bigger then 250. i thought he some some new DE we picked up, not a LB. to me he looked more like 280-290

[Bretsky]

were you at the game Red ??

[Joemailman]

OK,some good reading info

I'm on board !!

Hey B! Does he count as a free agent signing? :wink:

[pbmax]

A bit odd as he played at 230 something in college. Or maybe not. He was 238 at his pro day. Its only another 10 pounds.

[red]

were you at the game Red ??

yup, it was cold but awesome

[Bretsky]

Hey B! Does he count as a free agent signing? :wink:


NO
If he was he would have been offered more money and went somewhere else :)

[sharpe1027]

Maybe it will be only one game. If nothing else, it gives the Philly something to think about other than Matthews.

[pbmax]

NO
If he was he would have been offered more money and went somewhere else :)

Don't go tautology on me B.

[Joemailman]

TT should have signed Shawn Merriman instead.

[Smidgeon]

He plays better for us because we're awesome.

+1

[Cheesehead Craig]

He was laying the wood out there. Walden's wood.

[esoxx]

Walden has major wood.

[pbmax]

Major Wood was a great QB. A really stand tall kind of guy.

[mraynrand]

I think Walden's far, far better than Kampman.

[get louder at lambeau]

I think Walden's far, far better than Kampman.

Tee hee hee.

[VegasPackFan]

I had to confess to my wife that I had never heard of this guy. She knows I read about the team every day. He was sick today and I hope he plays like this the rest of the way. Great to find a dude that can kill it like he did today. Another folk hero born in Green Bay? - Let's see!

[Tarlam!]

He was laying the wood out there. Walden's wood.

Makes sense. The German word for forest is Wald. Plenty of wood in forests, I hear.

[vince]

He made some mistakes defending the run early in the game. Before Zombo got hurt, they were rotating, with Walden playing in nickel and Zombo in base to defend the run.

[steve823]

If this guy is the real deal then we may not even need to draft an OLB. Good for him..I love seeing no names step up and play great. Hope he turns out like Tramon did!

[Lurker64]

While this is far from a Thoreau evaluation, I would have to say that Walden's performance against the Bears was, in a word, "transcendental."

[swede]

While this is far from a Thoreau evaluation, I would have to say that Walden's performance against the Bears was, in a word, "transcendental."

There was some quiet desperation about it. Walden was rocking a different tune, however measured or far away.

[gbgary]

If this guy is the real deal then we may not even need to draft an OLB. Good for him..I love seeing no names step up and play great. Hope he turns out like Tramon did!

and Shields.

[Fritz]

He Concord the Bears yesterday!

[MichiganPackerFan]

Unfortunately, I can't access the video at work. There was one sack where Cutler had no idea that it was coming and it appeared as though the ball could have been easily stripped for a fumble. Was it this one? The sack was great, but a sack-fumble would have been better.

[Noodle]

Jeez, clearly Lurker, Swede and Fritz need to form a book club or something.

Keep your high-falutin' culture the hell out of this Packer Forum!

[mission]

Unfortunately, I can't access the video at work. There was one sack where Cutler had no idea that it was coming and it appeared as though the ball could have been easily stripped for a fumble. Was it this one? The sack was great, but a sack-fumble would have been better.

I thought the same thing after seeing the replay with Matthews just a step late (and you know he always goes for the ball). Probably something they talk about in film review and continue to stress as the week goes on. You gotta think he was surprised to get such a nice shot for his first (or was it second?) NFL sack that everything happened pretty quick.

[denverYooper]

In addition to getting NFC DPOW, Walden was credited with a 3rd sack in the Bears game by the NFL. He was also credited with 5 more tackles. 5 more!?

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/112962659.html?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

[gbgary]

dpow...wow. good for him...and the Pack.

[Guiness]

5 more tackles? That seems like a lot to miss!

[MJZiggy]

5 more tackles? That seems like a lot to miss!

Considering that this time last week, most of us didn't know who he was, we seem to be missing more than a couple tackles. :oops:

[bobblehead]

I read that, and they took away a howard green sack. how can that be, I recall the play where fatboy laid on cutler and no one else was near. I think Walden's agent did the scorekeeping revision.

[gbgary]

I read that, and they took away a howard green sack. how can that be, I recall the play where fatboy laid on cutler and no one else was near. I think Walden's agent did the scorekeeping revision.

the sack in question would have been green's but cutler pulled away from him only to have walden pounce on him. to quote another rat from earlier in the season "he's so good he gets sacks on wednesdays." lol

[HarveyWallbangers]

I thought it should have been 1/2 sack for both guys.

[MichiganPackerFan]

I thought it should have been 1/2 sack for both guys.

Agree. When a big man like that is able to get to the QB, he deserves the benefit of the doubt. Especially because his role is generally to tie up blockers to allow others to make plays.

[Fosco33]

Well - Zombo is out - so Walden will surely be getting his PT.