Packers sign Chillar

[Packnut]

LB

This move will allow Popp to lineup at DE on 3rd down if he should lose his starting job at LB.

[Partial]

Does anyone think Popp is capable of being a 3rd down pass rusher? I've got to say I've been unimpressed with him at getting to the QB so far.

[falco]

more than anything, this means the pack isn't SOL if one of the LB's goes down this year...last year could have been ugly

[RashanGary]

When I asked a St. Louis forum what they thought of Chillar they said up until last year they thought he was a weak link. After last year they said he was a solid starter that would be hard to replace. The impression I got is that he'd be a slight upgrade to Poppinga. Like others said above, I think the biggest improvement comes in depth. Now we have a capable LB that we can trot out if one of the starters goes down. Also, if Poppinga becomes a FT ST's player, I think that helps us too.

[twoseven]

Shrewd move, I think.

Here's my speculation. The Packers went into the offseason thinking that they'd bring in some FA competition for Poppinga... for the right price. They went after a few guys, but the price was too high. Chillar was dragging his feet and looked like he'd sign elsewhere, so they looked into a long-term contract with Poppinga. (Maybe deciding they'd bring in competition via the draft.) My speculation is that Poppinga thinks he's worth more than the Packers think he's worth, so they went back to plan A. They signed this guy, they'll let Poppinga and Chillar fight it out for a starting gig, and then they will look to sign the starter when their contracts are up in two years. Or maybe they'll have a young guy ready to step into a starting role at that time.

"Shrewd move" has TT written all over it, I think.

I also wonder how much Fitz's prolonged contract signing stall affected this decision...(from the rumormill) "the Cardinals signed long snapper Nathan Hodel to a four-year deal because they thought the Fitzgerald contract was done, and that the new Fitzgerald deal would give them enough cap space to sign Hodel. But the Fitzgerald holdup put them in a position where they didn’t have the cap space, so the Cardinals released receiver Sean Morey"..."also reports that the Fitzgerald situation has put the team’s pursuit of outside linebacker Brandon Chillar on hold. The Cardinals want Chillar now. They hope he’ll still be available when they have the cap room to sign him, after the Fitzgerald deal becomes official."

[KYPack]

Pretty consistent scouting reports on Chillar. He’s the “Anti-Popp” great against the pass, spotty against the run.
6' 3", 242 pounds. Drafted in 2004 - (Pick 130 overall). Out of UCLA Birthdate: October 21, 1982 Age: 25 Chillar is a gifted athlete, which doesn't always translate to gifted football player. He was a track standout in high school, and this athleticism has certainly helped him on the field. He has the speed to play the position, but just does not seem to have the football instincts to be a standout-type prospect yet. Chillar needs to hit the weight room and add strength to the speed that he already has. He does not seem to have the killer instinct at the line of scrimmage to be effective on the run. He is clearly able to cover on pass defense better than most, which is his strongest asset. Chillar needs some time to add muscle and some hands-on coaching at the next level to excel.
A good athlete who is still working on the finer points of playing the position in the NFL. Has the potential to be a good cover linebacker. Still needs work on pursuit and tackling angles.

This combo could help us. Giving Popp an adversary that has good cover skills may give him a chance to pick up a tip or two. Or maybe it will work the other way, Chillar will figure out how to fill and add run stopping to his repertoire.

[Freak Out]

So does this mean we might be able to stop the TE every now and again?

[twoseven]

Pretty consistent scouting reports on Chillar. He’s the “Anti-Popp” great against the pass, spotty against the run.
6' 3", 242 pounds. Drafted in 2004 - (Pick 130 overall). Out of UCLA Birthdate: October 21, 1982 Age: 25 Chillar is a gifted athlete, which doesn't always translate to gifted football player. He was a track standout in high school, and this athleticism has certainly helped him on the field. He has the speed to play the position, but just does not seem to have the football instincts to be a standout-type prospect yet. Chillar needs to hit the weight room and add strength to the speed that he already has. He does not seem to have the killer instinct at the line of scrimmage to be effective on the run. He is clearly able to cover on pass defense better than most, which is his strongest asset. Chillar needs some time to add muscle and some hands-on coaching at the next level to excel.
A good athlete who is still working on the finer points of playing the position in the NFL. Has the potential to be a good cover linebacker. Still needs work on pursuit and tackling angles.

This combo could help us. Giving Popp an adversary that has good cover skills may give him a chance to pick up a tip or two. Or maybe it will work the other way, Chillar will figure out how to fill and add run stopping to his repertoire.

I assume this review of him was from before he was drafted almost four years ago? Little confused by comparison to Pop, they seem opposite. Chillar's good against the run and not against the pass, whereas Pop seems to handle coverage better than stopping the run in comparison to Brandon. He sounds like he's a hard hitting tackler, I like the numerous forced fumbles he put up last year.

[Bretsky]

Bretsky... are you still with us??

The news might have taken him out!!

Back from hostpital after suffering breakdown

We're on the Board

Free Agency is already more successful than last year; we got rid of the dud we signed last year and filled depth at LB

[Freak Out]

Who else can we steal from the Rams?

[HarveyWallbangers]

Who else can we steal from the Rams?

Frerotte

[Freak Out]

Who else can we steal from the Rams?

Frerotte

No......isn't there a lemon law in the NFL?

[The Leaper]

Huh? TT signed someone?

This really helps the depth at LB...we were lucky with injuries there last season.

[oregonpackfan]

Somebody better check on Bretsky.

Rumor has it that Bretsky was taken to the Emergency Room with heart palpitations.

[MadtownPacker]

Yup, free agency is finished for us now that 1 player has been signed.

Time to start the draft countdown. Not a bad move at all though.