HarveyWallbangers
07-26-2007, 11:24 PM
Coaches expect big things from fast, talented squad
Bob McGinn
Green Bay - Maybe the rest of the National Football League hasn't caught on quite yet, but the Green Bay Packers have the makings of a really, really good defensive line this season.
In the rear-view mirror, you can still see Joe Johnson and Jamal Reynolds flopping, Cletidus Hunt stalling and Mike Sherman trading up for the sorry likes of Kenny Peterson, James Lee and Donnell Washington.
Defensive coordinator Bob Sanders and line coach Robert Nunn inherited four of those six disappointing players 2 1/2 years ago, got rid of them all and whipped the rest into shape. Under them, Aaron Kampman developed into a Pro Bowler, Cullen Jenkins and Corey Williams blossomed into starters, Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila was relegated to the more suitable niche of designated pass rusher and rookie Justin Harrell arrived in the first round.
Bulk. Speed. Ability. Depth. Seasoning. Work ethic. Unity of purpose. Coaching.
The unit merits a check mark in all of those categories that generally characterize top defensive lines. And Pro Football Weekly's recent assessment has Green Bay's defensive line tied for 26th in the NFL - preposterously low.
"I certainly think last year we played better than the 26th best defensive line," Nunn said. "But that doesn't get you much. We've got a chance to be much improved, but nobody in this league is going to give you anything."
Carl "Big Daddy" Hairston, the co-line coach, saw the unit register 37 1/2 of the team's 46 sacks, fourth most in the NFL, and stiffen dramatically from Week 13 on against the run.
"These guys are big and powerful, and they have some quickness and speed," said Hairston, an NFL line coach since 1995. "That could be intimidating at times. This is one of the best groups I've been around with the size and talent."
For too long, the Packers lived with weakness in their run defense because they paid Gbaja-Biamila so much money. That all changed one snap into the San Francisco game Dec. 10, 2006, when "KGB" was yanked in favor of Jenkins, heavier by 50 pounds.
Short-armed or not, Jenkins balanced the front and left offenses without a soft spot to attack. The shift was so successful that there's not a chance of going back.
"I think for a while (KGB) had a problem with it, but he adjusted and did very well," Hairston said. "What will help him is not playing the whole game. It will keep his legs fresher. I think he can get better as he gets older."
Gbaja-Biamila's speed rush could be more effective when he enters at right end in the nickel package, with Jenkins kicking inside.
"Look at San Francisco. Cullen dominated the game," said Hairston. "He totally destroyed (tackle) John Tait in the last game of the year against the Chicago Bears. He's so explosive, he gets off the ball before the guy even moves. If he comes back in the right frame of mind, he could be a premier inside rusher."
And Kampman, a complete player, played end better than anyone in Green Bay since Reggie White.
"He and Grant Wistrom would be the two best technicians I've ever coached," Hairston said. "They're not big guys, but they play with great leverage. They're relentless. He's like another coordinator on the field. We can talk to him and he tells us exactly what's happening."
Michael Montgomery has regained the 15 pounds that he took off in the '06 off-season and should be more physical. There's never been anything wrong with his instincts or intensity.
Montgomery will need a solid camp or the No. 4 job at end could go to free agent Daniel Muir, an impressive rookie swingman, or holdover Jason Hunter, another speed rusher without much feel.
The Packers appear even deeper at tackle. Williams, Harrell and Ryan Pickett will scrap for starting jobs, while Johnny Jolly and Colin Cole compete for the other available jersey on game days.
"We can't keep everybody happy all the time," Nunn said. "We've got to work through that, and we will. We feel like we've got a healthy situation."
Assuming it's thumbs-up with Harrell's surgically repaired biceps, the plan is for him and Williams to work at right tackle initially with Pickett on the left side, where he's much more comfortable.
"I'm not exactly sure how it will fall," said Nunn. "We'll see. It's by committee, really."
Pickett proved to be a worthy successor to Grady Jackson. He dominated most single blocks, had a knack for stacking and then shedding double-teams and really hustled in pursuit.
"I thought he had a very solid year," Nunn said. "When he settled down toward the middle of the season, he was a big key for us. The other thing the guy can do on first down is get some push inside. He causes things to happen."
The Packers have spent big bucks on this group and might not have enough for Williams, who would become an unrestricted free agent in March. If that is the case, the Packers expect him to play inspired football in hopes of getting his share elsewhere.
"He's someone we feel could really have a break-out year," Nunn said. "He gets moved around sometimes, but he'll take a shot and has been successful doing some of that, too. And he has a little extra gear in the pass rush."
If their scouting reports come to fruition, Harrell will be the complete package, more mobile than Pickett and more physical than Williams.
"The thing that he showed before his injury was a lot of toughness in a big body," said Nunn. "He's hard to do anything with in there. But it's been a while for him so he has to get into the rhythm and compete at this level."
Jolly and Cole couldn't have had better off-seasons, according to Nunn. Jolly is the bigger of the two, but Cole is a known plugger.
"Jolly has been a very pleasant surprise," Nunn said. "He matured a lot. He's got a little dog in him, in a good way. You can get bit if you get too close."
Cole always seems to make one or two noteworthy stops a game but must be more consistent.
"Cole has been steady ever since the day I met him," Nunn said. "Very few times does he misfire."
Bob McGinn
Green Bay - Maybe the rest of the National Football League hasn't caught on quite yet, but the Green Bay Packers have the makings of a really, really good defensive line this season.
In the rear-view mirror, you can still see Joe Johnson and Jamal Reynolds flopping, Cletidus Hunt stalling and Mike Sherman trading up for the sorry likes of Kenny Peterson, James Lee and Donnell Washington.
Defensive coordinator Bob Sanders and line coach Robert Nunn inherited four of those six disappointing players 2 1/2 years ago, got rid of them all and whipped the rest into shape. Under them, Aaron Kampman developed into a Pro Bowler, Cullen Jenkins and Corey Williams blossomed into starters, Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila was relegated to the more suitable niche of designated pass rusher and rookie Justin Harrell arrived in the first round.
Bulk. Speed. Ability. Depth. Seasoning. Work ethic. Unity of purpose. Coaching.
The unit merits a check mark in all of those categories that generally characterize top defensive lines. And Pro Football Weekly's recent assessment has Green Bay's defensive line tied for 26th in the NFL - preposterously low.
"I certainly think last year we played better than the 26th best defensive line," Nunn said. "But that doesn't get you much. We've got a chance to be much improved, but nobody in this league is going to give you anything."
Carl "Big Daddy" Hairston, the co-line coach, saw the unit register 37 1/2 of the team's 46 sacks, fourth most in the NFL, and stiffen dramatically from Week 13 on against the run.
"These guys are big and powerful, and they have some quickness and speed," said Hairston, an NFL line coach since 1995. "That could be intimidating at times. This is one of the best groups I've been around with the size and talent."
For too long, the Packers lived with weakness in their run defense because they paid Gbaja-Biamila so much money. That all changed one snap into the San Francisco game Dec. 10, 2006, when "KGB" was yanked in favor of Jenkins, heavier by 50 pounds.
Short-armed or not, Jenkins balanced the front and left offenses without a soft spot to attack. The shift was so successful that there's not a chance of going back.
"I think for a while (KGB) had a problem with it, but he adjusted and did very well," Hairston said. "What will help him is not playing the whole game. It will keep his legs fresher. I think he can get better as he gets older."
Gbaja-Biamila's speed rush could be more effective when he enters at right end in the nickel package, with Jenkins kicking inside.
"Look at San Francisco. Cullen dominated the game," said Hairston. "He totally destroyed (tackle) John Tait in the last game of the year against the Chicago Bears. He's so explosive, he gets off the ball before the guy even moves. If he comes back in the right frame of mind, he could be a premier inside rusher."
And Kampman, a complete player, played end better than anyone in Green Bay since Reggie White.
"He and Grant Wistrom would be the two best technicians I've ever coached," Hairston said. "They're not big guys, but they play with great leverage. They're relentless. He's like another coordinator on the field. We can talk to him and he tells us exactly what's happening."
Michael Montgomery has regained the 15 pounds that he took off in the '06 off-season and should be more physical. There's never been anything wrong with his instincts or intensity.
Montgomery will need a solid camp or the No. 4 job at end could go to free agent Daniel Muir, an impressive rookie swingman, or holdover Jason Hunter, another speed rusher without much feel.
The Packers appear even deeper at tackle. Williams, Harrell and Ryan Pickett will scrap for starting jobs, while Johnny Jolly and Colin Cole compete for the other available jersey on game days.
"We can't keep everybody happy all the time," Nunn said. "We've got to work through that, and we will. We feel like we've got a healthy situation."
Assuming it's thumbs-up with Harrell's surgically repaired biceps, the plan is for him and Williams to work at right tackle initially with Pickett on the left side, where he's much more comfortable.
"I'm not exactly sure how it will fall," said Nunn. "We'll see. It's by committee, really."
Pickett proved to be a worthy successor to Grady Jackson. He dominated most single blocks, had a knack for stacking and then shedding double-teams and really hustled in pursuit.
"I thought he had a very solid year," Nunn said. "When he settled down toward the middle of the season, he was a big key for us. The other thing the guy can do on first down is get some push inside. He causes things to happen."
The Packers have spent big bucks on this group and might not have enough for Williams, who would become an unrestricted free agent in March. If that is the case, the Packers expect him to play inspired football in hopes of getting his share elsewhere.
"He's someone we feel could really have a break-out year," Nunn said. "He gets moved around sometimes, but he'll take a shot and has been successful doing some of that, too. And he has a little extra gear in the pass rush."
If their scouting reports come to fruition, Harrell will be the complete package, more mobile than Pickett and more physical than Williams.
"The thing that he showed before his injury was a lot of toughness in a big body," said Nunn. "He's hard to do anything with in there. But it's been a while for him so he has to get into the rhythm and compete at this level."
Jolly and Cole couldn't have had better off-seasons, according to Nunn. Jolly is the bigger of the two, but Cole is a known plugger.
"Jolly has been a very pleasant surprise," Nunn said. "He matured a lot. He's got a little dog in him, in a good way. You can get bit if you get too close."
Cole always seems to make one or two noteworthy stops a game but must be more consistent.
"Cole has been steady ever since the day I met him," Nunn said. "Very few times does he misfire."