Abdul Hodge, Donald Lee may start

[wist43]

Teams don't have to "rotate" LB's to keep them fresh... they rotate D-Linemen b/c it takes more energy to play DL, and those guys typically aren't in top physical/cardio condition like most LB's.

There may be exceptions for guys that bring a different dimension, like Poppinga - who is the only Packer linebacker worthy of sending on the blitz; but, for the most part, the starting LB'ing corp isn't going to change for any reason other than situational substution.

As for the contention that the Packers shouldn't start two rookies at LB... if two rookies are the best players, then it's a no brainer. SF started 3 rookie DB's the year they won their first SB. If guys can play, they can play.

Besides, the Packers aren't going anywhere this year anyway. Is the team better off having a minimium wage guy like Taylor in there (OK, I'll concede he signed for 12 cents over the minimum - woo hoo!!!), or letting a guy like Hodge learn on the job.

For my money, and for where he was picked, Hodge was they Packers best draft choice last year... the guy can flat out play. He was by far Iowa's best LB last year - he outplayed Greenway every time I saw the Hawkeyes, and I'm not the only one saying that... If Hodge were 2 inches taller and 20 lbs heavier, he'd have been a cinch 1st round pick.

[MJZiggy]

For my money, and for where he was picked, Hodge was they Packers best draft choice last year... the guy can flat out play. He was by far Iowa's best LB last year - he outplayed Greenway every time I saw the Hawkeyes, and I'm not the only one saying that... If Hodge were 2 inches taller and 20 lbs heavier, he'd have been a cinch 1st round pick.

Then why isn't he worth sending on a blitz?

[KYPack]

Taylor was signed as a minimum wage FA that no other teams even had an interest in.

The Browns wanted him back and they offered him more money than us.

Just wanted to point that out.

Damn, dropping facts right away! Great to have you Supersoul, welcome to PR.

Mad, be a brother & get the man an icon!

[wist43]

Hodge is 6' tall... how many 6' LB'ers are effective on the blitz??? Most good blitzers are tall and rangy with long arms, ala Shawn Merriman, et al.

Lawrence Taylor was 6'3", Bryce Paup 6'5", etc... Some shorter LB'ers can rack up some decent sack numbers, but those come about as a result of scheme and timing as opposed to just sending the guy off the edge and counting on him to defeat the block with a combination of speed, quickness, and strength. To accomplish that, a pass rushing LB needs long arms and height to present the threat of being able to get over the top. The Packers have no one that fits that description.

[The Leaper]

I don't think Hodge is a starter week one. He would have to blow up in TC to hop over Barnett, who is a known commodity.

What will be interesting to watch is if Barnett becomes a commodity to acquire possibly a good young RB or WR if Hodge proves capable in the middle. Hawk, Hodge, Poppinga, Taylor...those are 4 pretty solid LBs. If Green and Davenport don't prove to be dynamic starting RBs early in the year, or the veteran WRs don't pan out as reliable #2/#3 WRs, dealing Barnett to get some offense might not be a bad idea. With the free agent market being incredibly bad next year, I think you may see more player-for-player trades this season than you have in recent years.

[Harlan Huckleby]

Re: Abdul Hodge, Donald Lee may start

TIGHT ENDS ANALYSIS: B. Bubba Franks has been to the Pro Bowl, but keep an eye on Donald Lee. He could be the deep receiving threat the team has lacked.

Well, Lee may play more this year, but he won't be a starter.

[woodbuck27]

Re: Abdul Hodge, Donald Lee may start

TIGHT ENDS ANALYSIS: B. Bubba Franks has been to the Pro Bowl, but keep an eye on Donald Lee. He could be the deep receiving threat the team has lacked.

Well, Lee may play more this year, but he won't be a starter.

Definitely it's Bubba #1 at TE and likely Donald Lee #2, and I hope we see a really decent player step into the #3 slot. Alot of people are tired of waiting for David Martin to get there. I think he's in a battle to remain a Packer.

There will be a really good fight, hopefully, for that #3 TE slot in TC.

[Bretsky]

Re: Abdul Hodge, Donald Lee may start

TIGHT ENDS ANALYSIS: B. Bubba Franks has been to the Pro Bowl, but keep an eye on Donald Lee. He could be the deep receiving threat the team has lacked.

Well, Lee may play more this year, but he won't be a starter.

Definitely it's Bubba #1 at TE and likely Donald Lee #2, and I hope we see a really decent player step into the #3 slot. Alot of people are tired of waiting for David Martin to get there. I think he's in a battle to remain a Packer.

There will be a really good fight, hopefully, for that #3 TE slot in TC.

It would be nice to FINALLY see somebody overtake guys like David Martin and Robert Ferguson. Those experiments, which fail over and over and over, need to end.

[KYPack]

Ya know, I really wish we wudda nabbed one of the many TE prospects in last year's draft. There were a bunch of 'em out there. I also wanted to see a RB, but it didn't happen.

With Bubba & Lee 1 & 2, it's a perfect spot to groom a good young kid.

I totally agree with B, ALL projects must go.

U71
Hunt
Steele
Sanders
Martin
Fergy

& what ever else.

Death to potential, we need results!

[Patler]

As for Lee, I was really impressed with him last year. He is fast and has unbelievabke hands for a tight end. I think he is the guy that would compliment Franks the best instead of Martin.

Time for a reality check on Donald Lee. Let me preface this with saying I think he is a good BACKUP tightend, and will add a downfield dimension the team hoped to get from David martin, but never really has. Add in that Lee is a decent blocker and you get a decent backup. BUT, there are reasons he was released at Miami. From JSO story when the Packers signed him:

"New Miami coach Nick Saban apparently became tired of Lee’s frequent false-start penalties, mistakes and dropped passes.
"With all the adjustments and motions, tight end is one of the more mentally taxing positions in the Packers' offense. One source said if the Packers ask Lee to do too much, he would fail. But if they limit what he's asked to do and remain patient, Lee will succeed."


From the season end wrap up:

"The most drops, six, were charged to Donald Driver but he also was the target of the most passes, 149. Driver's drop rate of 4% was the lowest of his career.
"Following, in order, were Henderson, none in 34 (0.0%); Chatman, two in 86 (2.3%); Franks, one in 39 (2.6%); Martin, one in 39 (2.6%); Fisher, two in 65 (3.1%); Green, one in 26 (3.9%); Ferguson, three in 58 (5.2%); and Donald Lee, four in 53 (7.6%)."

One of the knocks against Lee has been inconsistency in catching the ball, and from several reports that has surfaced in the various camps this off-season. Looks to me like Lee can be a decent backup, but thinking he might surpass Bubba Franks, as the initial article seemed to imply, is a bit far fetched, in my opinion. I agree he can be a decent complement to Franks,

[GoPackGo]

Taylor was signed as a minimum wage FA that no other teams even had an interest in.

The Browns wanted him back and they offered him more money than us.

Just wanted to point that out.

Damn, dropping facts right away! Great to have you Supersoul, welcome to PR.

Mad, be a brother & get the man an icon!

how about this one?

[prsnfoto]

Ferguson, three in 58 (5.2%);

Whoever kept these stats must be ferguson's gay lover or to qualify for a drop it must hit both hands and rest for 3 seconds cause dude ran away from more passes per game than that. I can recall at least 3 balls he had stolen last year that must not be qualified as a drop maybe a robbery? RF sucks cut him now I here Don Beebe is still in shape!

[PackerPro42]

I still think that Lee has a lot of potential regardless of the stats because he made some amazing catches last season. I can't wait to see him line up opposite side of Franks because Lee is the second best tight end in the packer's offense. He is way more athletic than Martin and in my oppinion is a better blocker, and no one can say that he isn't a fast tight end. Vince young is stupid. Steve Young, Dan Mariono and many more did not do well on that test. So I think that the test is kind of a waste of time unless you answer football logic questions on it, it doesn'e really show you anything.

[wist43]

I see Lee as a starter... Franks is clearly a better blocker, and consequently will see the bulk of snaps on first down; but, Lee is much more athletic, and much faster and should get plenty of playing time.

Each of these guys can play an integral part in the offense. They just bring different skills to the table... it's up to McCarthy & Co. to make effective use of those tools.

[Patler]

I meant to delete the Wonderlic score statement from the post, because I agree it doesn't mean much. I forgot to delete it, but now edited the quotation in my post to remove it. The important part was the comment that Saban grew tired of his false starts, mistakes and dropped passes. Those are the things that keep you as a backup, not a starter.

Yes, he had some nice catches last year, but I also remember a couple very poor drops, one that should have been a touchdown, though I've forgotten which game it was. I've also read that he has not caught the ball particularly well this summer, which is what made the initial article in this thread a little surprising to me. I did not attend any of the sessions, but the general impression I was getting from articles was that Lee was not doing anything special. I hope I am wrong.