Will Kampman / Jenkins be a sack threat duo?

[LL2]

In limited time Jenkins had 6.5 sacks, and Kampman had 16 last year. It’s possible Jenkins could get 13 sacks next year in his new starting role, and say Kampman gets 15 that would be 28 sacks from our DE’s. Throw in 6-8 from KGB and that total is around 35 sacks. That’s a little over 2 sacks a game from our DE’s and throw in another 18 that the rest of the defense did last year and the total will be 53. That is almost 3.5 sacks a game. I haven’t gone back further years but I believe that is the type of pass rushing threat the Packers defense has been lacking. Of course they still have to stop the run and break up passes, but I’m analyzing sacks here. I think Jenkins and Kampman can become a good QB sacking duo.

[Partial]

Sacks are important no doubt, but the best defensive teams get pressure on all 3 downs. Can the packers do that? Hopefully.

[wist43]

I actually like their DL, pretty much across the board...

The only way they can step up from where they're currently at, however, is if they were to find a dominant DT.

Without a dominant DT, they'll be better than average, but aren't going to scare anyone.

[Merlin]

I think it all depends on the DT rotation. I would like to see Jenkins & Kampman on the ends 1st and 2nd down and then move Jenkins inside on 3rd and put KGB in, of course only in a 3rd down passing situation. Jenkins got pressure from the DT position, KGB can be a beast in a limited role and Kampman's motor doesn't seem to stop. Pickett is great vs. the run but I don't think he got the kind of pressure that Jackson did in passing downs. However, with old porky occupying the center and a guard, who does the offense double team? KGB, Jenkins or Kampman? They can't keep 8 guys back in maximum protect all game because that will free up the LB's and at least one safety for the blitz.

All of that is of course mute unless we can get a good rotation during the game. Williams, Cole, Montgomery, and Jolly should be up for the task if we can maintain a four man front during the course of the game.

[LL2]

Sacks are important no doubt, but the best defensive teams get pressure on all 3 downs. Can the packers do that? Hopefully.

Good question. Far too often the Pack contain on the first two downs only to blow it on the third.

[Partial]

3rd down they should go Kampman, KGB, Williams and Jenkins w/ Popp blitzing.

Every other down they should go Kampman, Jenkins, Williams, Pickett and stop the run.

[Merlin]

Not so sure about Brady on the blitz. I think Hawk would be the better candidate because he is quicker and makes his reads better. Popinga is slow to make the read. Linebackers are always the most effective in a zone blitz and I just don't think Popinga can do that well yet. Maybe he will prove me wrong as he does continue to get better, but from what I saw last season I ust don't see it yet.

[Green Bud Packer]

K.G.B. might be playing in another town this season. Kampman and Jenkins will be fun to watch. If the D.B.s do their job 28 -30 sacks between them is not an unreachable goal.

[BallHawk]

I agree with Merlin, if you're bringing a man for the blitz, make it Hawk. Remember him when he sacked Kitna against the Lions in week 3? That's the type of explosiveness I hope to see next season from him.

[motife]

Packer's defensive line dominating

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZeqwL_vVhQ

http://i.packers.com/pg/2006-11-27/photo7.jpg

http://i.packers.com/pg/2006-12-31/photo14.jpg

http://i.packers.com/pg/2006-12-17/photo4.jpg

http://i.packers.com/pg/2006-12-10/photo1.jpg

http://i.packers.com/pg/2006-12-10/photo11.jpg

http://graphics.jsonline.com/graphics/photographer/43/4321_large.jpg

Aaron Kampman sacks Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson during the second quarter.

http://graphics.jsonline.com/graphics/photographer/46/4621_large.jpg

Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila closes in on sack for a 5-yard loss on Chicago Bears quarterback Rex Grossman.

http://graphics.jsonline.com/graphics/packer/img/news/dec06/cullen1217.jpg

Cullen Jenkins sacks Jon Kitna.

http://graphics.jsonline.com/graphics/photographer/37/3742_large.jpg

Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck fumbles while being tackled by Green Bay's Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila.

http://x6f.xanga.com/d33d321465d30104911437/b74145627.jpg

[Guiness]

I think our sack total may increase, but not to the extent that you are hoping LL2. With Jenkins starting, he'll get a few more sacks, but KGB's numbers will likely drop with spot duty. I also don't think Jenkins will put up the numbers you are hoping for - I think he'll be right around double digits, i.e. 9-11.

Where I do think things will improve is in stopping the run on early downs when we are behind. Teams will no longer be able to run at KGB on 1st and 2nd to eat the clock.

Re: Rushing LB's
It will be interesting to see if Hawk or Popp get more blitz assignments. From what I saw last year, I think Hawk might be slightly better at blitzing, but a lot better in coverage. So I think that if Popp shows some promise blitzing, they'd rather have him moving forward, and Hawk on the TE or RB covering a quick outlet pass.

[Partial]

I agree with Merlin, if you're bringing a man for the blitz, make it Hawk. Remember him when he sacked Kitna against the Lions in week 3? That's the type of explosiveness I hope to see next season from him.

I would rather drop Hawk into coverage because Poppinga is terrible at it. That way, we could have the base defense on the field for a lot of third downs. That would be infinitely excellent and greatly help on the 3rd down tackling and hard hits.

[Merlin]

I don't see our DC running a base on third down. I would like to see more of the 3-3-5 nickel. That to me is the defense to blitz out of. We ran it for a short time last season with great success. You can run a pseudo 3-4 from that with a LB and safety blitzing and still have 6 guys in coverage.

[wist43]

Poppinga is potentially the Packers best blitzer. He played DE in college and has the size and length to at least prove a test for an OT.

That said, Poppinga is never on the field in the nickel (I can't remember them running a 3-3-5 last year, at all), and the other LB's aren't blitzers - which, as we've discussed previously, is a function of the scheme they run.

Running the scheme they do, the Packers will never target pass rush type LB/DE hybrids, and blitzing will never be a big part of the game plan... it's my principle complaint about the scheme.

[motife]

Only San Diego (61), Baltimore (60), and Miami (47) had more sacks than the Packers (46) in 2006.

(For you in Rio Linda, that means they ranked #4).

[Partial]

I don't see our DC running a base on third down. I would like to see more of the 3-3-5 nickel. That to me is the defense to blitz out of. We ran it for a short time last season with great success. You can run a pseudo 3-4 from that with a LB and safety blitzing and still have 6 guys in coverage.

If they went with something like that it would be to their benefit to mix it up with multiple fronts and coverages and have all 4 DBs do some blitzing (all four are actually pretty good at it imo)