Possible FA's we go after...with our new 3-4 D

[]{ilr]3]

The big issue with Peppers will be that Carolina will probably tag him, so we would have to give up draft picks to get him in trade. I don't see TT doing that. Plus, Peppers, while athletically gifted, does not play hard all the time. You never like to see a guy get a huge contract and then take plays off. If he can go sour and say he wants out of Carolina, he might do the same at another place too.

Ray Lewis would be good for the conversion to a 3-4. The guy is a great player, knows the game inside and out, never quit attitude and natural leader.

[TennesseePackerBacker]

{ilr]3]

The big issue with Peppers will be that Carolina will probably tag him, so we would have to give up draft picks to get him in trade. I don't see TT doing that. Plus, Peppers, while athletically gifted, does not play hard all the time. You never like to see a guy get a huge contract and then take plays off. If he can go sour and say he wants out of Carolina, he might do the same at another place too.

Ray Lewis would be good for the conversion to a 3-4. The guy is a great player, knows the game inside and out, never quit attitude and natural leader.

We'd get in to a bidding war for Lewis that'd I'd hate to see the Packers enter. Lewis has been the greatest linebacker since LT and would provide a hell of a lot of leadership to a Packers defense that could sorely use it. However, he will get his money, and he could very well fall apart within the next 1-2 years. If memory serves he had a bad year last year and has had some injury problems as well recently.

Suggs and Bart Scott would be excellent pick-ups along with Canty, can't argue those additions.

I feel like I need to give Julius Peppers some love that he is lacking from some of you posters. Being in eastern Tennessee I get the dubious honor of getting a lot of Carolina games on Fox. Peppers can be very dominating at times on the defensive line. Sure he takes plays off, and has some character concerns, but the way he talks now you can see he is starting to get that fire in him to win a championship. I believe whoever wins the Peppers sweepstakes will get a vetern player extremely motivated to do whatever he must to win a championship. He's in his physical prime with no signs of going down hill any time soon. Getting Peppers would allow the Packers to use him in a Jason Taylor type role in the 3-4, not to mention it would give us some relief allowing us to rotate Jenkins from DE to NT when needed.

That asks another question I'd love to see some input on. How would Jenkins do in stints at NT? He seems big enough and powerful enough to do the job, and he's also certainly quick enough. I think he'd be able to take on two blockers without much of a problem.

Also, how does Jolly fit in to the NT rotation?

[HarveyWallbangers]

That asks another question I'd love to see some input on. How would Jenkins do in stints at NT? He seems big enough and powerful enough to do the job, and he's also certainly quick enough. I think he'd be able to take on two blockers without much of a problem.

I don't see it. Not stout enough.

[red]

maybe TT is just banking on harrell showing up waaaaaaay out of shape to training camp

its not that hard to imagine

maybe he just needs more fat on his body for extra padding. then he wouldn't hurt so much

[BooHoo]

{ilr]3]

The big issue with Peppers will be that Carolina will probably tag him, so we would have to give up draft picks to get him in trade. I don't see TT doing that. Plus, Peppers, while athletically gifted, does not play hard all the time. You never like to see a guy get a huge contract and then take plays off. If he can go sour and say he wants out of Carolina, he might do the same at another place too.

Ray Lewis would be good for the conversion to a 3-4. The guy is a great player, knows the game inside and out, never quit attitude and natural leader.

I do not want Ray Lewis because he would cost big bucks for a man who is on the down side of his career.

[Gunakor]

{ilr]3]

The big issue with Peppers will be that Carolina will probably tag him, so we would have to give up draft picks to get him in trade. I don't see TT doing that. Plus, Peppers, while athletically gifted, does not play hard all the time. You never like to see a guy get a huge contract and then take plays off. If he can go sour and say he wants out of Carolina, he might do the same at another place too.

Ray Lewis would be good for the conversion to a 3-4. The guy is a great player, knows the game inside and out, never quit attitude and natural leader.

I do not want Ray Lewis because he would cost big bucks for a man who is on the down side of his career.

The value of that kind of leadership and intensity cannot be underestimated though. Especially on such a young team. That fiery attitude is what was most lacking on our defense last year. And on top of that, he is well versed in a 3-4 scheme, and that experience would do well to make the transition as smooth as possible. Depends on what he's looking for, but if he hits the market I'd definitely be making my interest known.

[BooHoo]

The value of that kind of leadership and intensity cannot be underestimated though.

I agree with your comment about leadership and intensity. Both are undervalued. Ray Lewis would bring that to the table but at what cost. (Bring back Reggie!)

[Packers4Ever]

The value of that kind of leadership and intensity cannot be underestimated though.

I agree with your comment about leadership and intensity. Both are undervalued. Ray Lewis would bring that to the table but at what cost. (Bring back Reggie!)

Sure hope TT has been busy taking notes here !

[BZnDallas]

The big issue with Peppers will be that Carolina will probably tag him, so we would have to give up draft picks to get him in trade. I don't see TT doing that. Plus, Peppers, while athletically gifted, does not play hard all the time. You never like to see a guy get a huge contract and then take plays off. If he can go sour and say he wants out of Carolina, he might do the same at another place too.

from what i've heard, and maybe you could shed some light on this Carolina Packer, is that if the Panthers end up franchising Peppers then they would lose out on Gross their tackle?... do you know if this is true or possible??...

i do agree about the taking plays off... i wonder if playing in a 3-4 would re-motivate him... i'd have to sit him down and talk to him and see where is head is and if its in the game... (if i were TT)... but the thought of having that type of player on the defensive gets me thinking (nfl network commercial) C-H-A-M-P-I-O-N-S-H-I-P!!... hahaha

[Tyrone Bigguns]

what about gabe watson?

he's a rfa with the cardinals

What exactly has he done to warrant interest?

[Lurker64]

We pretty much need to sign a 3-4 DE in the offseason, since we need one, I think that's our #1 need. Thankfully both Igor Olshansky and Chris Canty are free agents this offseason and are expected to hit the market, and both have experience in the branch of the 3-4 tree that our defense will be coming from. A second DE, and a WOLB are pretty much our biggest needs. I think we have, at least from the perspective of starters, every other position on the defense other than DE #2 and a WOLB, though we can always upgrade.

[Zool]

what about gabe watson?

he's a rfa with the cardinals

What exactly has he done to warrant interest?

He's a big fatty who played in the Big 10(11).

[Waldo]

We pretty much need to sign a 3-4 DE in the offseason, since we need one, I think that's our #1 need. Thankfully both Igor Olshansky and Chris Canty are free agents this offseason and are expected to hit the market, and both have experience in the branch of the 3-4 tree that our defense will be coming from. A second DE, and a WOLB are pretty much our biggest needs. I think we have, at least from the perspective of starters, every other position on the defense other than DE #2 and a WOLB, though we can always upgrade.

Agreed, that is the same thing I see. To get at least one guy with experience in a similar scheme would be so valuable. Both of those DE's are quality players, yet not the big name guys that every team in the league wants.

Unless Suggs hits the market and TT is able to pull off a miracle and bring him here, WOLB is best addressed in the draft. Fortunately this is a pretty good draft for them. Orapko/Brown/Maybin around our first pick. If Larry English makes it past the 3-4 teams at the end of the first, he could fall to us if Cleveland doesn't grab him, he's pretty useless to a 4-3 team.

Be nice to grab another NT with the frame to fill out in the coming years to learn behind and back up Pickett too. There are decent options available in the top 3 rounds, we can probably take our pick of the 3 as we are well poised for each, though with each round they become increasingly developmental and less likely to make an impact as a rookie.

[Lurker64]

If Larry English makes it past the 3-4 teams at the end of the first, he could fall to us if Cleveland doesn't grab him, he's pretty useless to a 4-3 team.

Paul Kruger is also a guy who might be a pretty good fit for us at one of the two OLB spots, if he falls to us in one of the later rounds. Similar body type to Larry English, similar athleticism, and a really high character guy. Has experience playing outside in a swarming defense.