09 defensive depth

[KYPack]

Well, this is how we are lookin' on D after the draft. Some of these guys will be in other spots but this is a starting point. Feel free to criticize & discuss.

DEFENSIVE DEPTH CHART

LDE
Johnny Jolly
Justin Harrell


NT
Ryan Pickett
B.J. Raji
Fred Bledsoe
A Toribio
Brian Soi

RDE
Cullen Jenkins
Jarius Wynn
Alfred Malone
Michael Montgomery

LOLB
A Kampman
Brad Jones
Jeremy Thompson

LILB
A Hawk
D Bishop
S Havner

RILB
Nick Barnett
D Lansanha
B Chillar

ROLB
B Poppinga
Clay Matthews
J Hunter

RCB
Al Harris
Tramone Williams
Jarrett Bush
Joe Porter

FS
Nick Collins
S Rouse
C Peprah

SS
A Bigby
A Smith

LCB
C Woodson
W Blackmon
P Lee
Brandon Underwood

Also invited to rookie tryouts this weekend were a couple long shot DE's, Rhyan Anderson and Joe Lardinois. Lardinois is probably a 3-4 OLB.

You could have Pickett and Raji on the field at the same time. I'd think Raji would be the DE, but I really don't know. I figured Matthews on the right side. Jarius Wynn could well be the LDE, for balance if nothing else. Brandon Underwood was a great pick-up. He's a decent corner, a jolting safety and a ST terror. A good kid who loves to mix it up, in addition to being a ballhawk. Both Peprah and Bush will have to step it up to keep this kid off the roster.

Well, let's argue.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Re: 09 defensive depth

RDE
Cullen Jenkins
Jarius Wynn
Alfred Malone
Michael Montgomery

Not all of the picks will make the team, I'd put Wynn at the bottom of the RDE depth chart.

LOLB
A Kampman
Brad Jones
Jeremy Thompson

I'd put Thompson ahead of Jones.

RILB
Nick Barnett
D Lansanha
B Chillar

I'd put Chillar second here. I suspect his versatility and affordable contract makes him a favorite to make the team.

ROLB
B Poppinga
Clay Matthews
J Hunter

Matthews #1. Any chance Poppinga goes on the inside?

LCB
C Woodson
W Blackmon
P Lee
Brandon Underwood

LCB or RCB for Underwood? I would assume he's higher than Porter on the depth chart.

[KYPack]

Yeah, I agree with most of your changes. I also didn't include that Willie Williams guy you dug up in a late announcement. Is he a RILB, or isn't it worth the work?

[Packnut]

Popp

If Teddy has truly seen the light, it's time to admit he fucked up on his evaluation of Poppinga. Brady has no value and it's time to show him the door along with Bush.

At some point, ya gotta cut the dead weight from your team.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Re: Popp

If Teddy has truly seen the light, it's time to admit he fucked up on his evaluation of Poppinga. Brady has no value and it's time to show him the door along with Bush.

At some point, ya gotta cut the dead weight from your team.

There are worse backup LBs to have than Poppinga. Plus, he was always pretty good on special teams before he became a starter. Bush hasn't shown much on defense (although he has versatility), but have you seen him as a gunner on special teams? The guy is good, and that's why other teams were interested in signing him. I wouldn't count those guys out yet.

[packers11]

Poppinga is average at best, but provides decent depth... Esp in the 3-4, you need a lot of lb's and they all can't be allstars... Poppinga is overpayed, but we have no backup better than him right now and our cap is in really good shape...

[LL2]

I wonder what will happen with Popps, Hunter, Bishop, Chillar, and Thompson. I like Popps and Chillar the best and most likely those two will remain ahead of Matthews for a while, but some of the others are going to become expendable.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I wonder what will happen with Popps, Hunter, Bishop, Chillar, and Thompson. I like Popps and Chillar the best and most likely those two will remain ahead of Matthews for a while, but some of the others are going to become expendable.

Well, 3-4 teams often keep up to 10 LBs, so I wouldn't write any of them off yet. It should really help their STs though.

[mraynrand]

Re: Popp

Bush hasn't shown much on defense (although he has versatility), but have you seen him as a gunner on special teams? The guy is good, and that's why other teams were interested in signing him. I wouldn't count those guys out yet.

It's nice to know there are others that see this value of Bush. The guy is almost unblockable at gunner. You would like him to make more plays on the ball, but it's remarkable to consistently see him reaching the ball or the ball carrier without a blocker in sight time after time. The penalties stick out of course, but other d backs are going to have to look a good deal better at their position to knock him off the team. Thompson had to learn from the mistake he made with White last year that you have to make concessions to your special teams at the bottom of your active roster.

[wist43]

Poppinga is average at best, but provides decent depth... Esp in the 3-4, you need a lot of lb's and they all can't be allstars... Poppinga is overpayed, but we have no backup better than him right now and our cap is in really good shape...

Fully expect that Pop will have to be the starter there for at least a year... while he lacks instincts, he is physical, and can take on and hold the point.

Matthews on the other hand... I only expect him to be able to offer pass rush this year. He's very light in his lower body, and gets shoved around pretty easily... he may be able to press the corner, but on run downs, NFL lineman are going to kick his ass until he has at least a year in an NFL weight program and adds about 10 lbs.

[rbaloha1]

Re: Popp

If Teddy has truly seen the light, it's time to admit he fucked up on his evaluation of Poppinga. Brady has no value and it's time to show him the door along with Bush.

At some point, ya gotta cut the dead weight from your team.

Great special team players. That is it. Not position players.

[rbaloha1]

[quote="wist43"]

Matthews on the other hand... I only expect him to be able to offer pass rush this year. He's very light in his lower body, and gets shoved around pretty easily... he may be able to press the corner, but on run downs, NFL lineman are going to kick his ass until he has at least a year in an NFL weight program and adds about 10 lbs.

Matthews was drafted to start. Mentally the guy is ready. Agree with the physicality part.

One can tell Matthews body is a beefed-up safety. Possesses great feet and slices through blockers.

IMO USC players are difficult to evaluate since they are surrounded by great talent which covers up player's weaknesses.

Must trust TT on this one.

[Gunakor]

You know, 6 of our projected starting front 7 are first round draft picks (Harrell, Raji, Pickett, Matthews, Hawk, Barnett). The only one that isn't (Kampman) has been a Pro Bowler for each of the last few years. 1 of our 4 DB's was a first round pick too (Woodson), and he along with 2 others back there (Harris, Collins) are also Pro Bowlers. With the All-Star coaching staff we now have directing them, if we aren't lighting the world on fire defensively in the next year or two...

Tough to gague the depth at each position, given the switch in defensive alignment, but the starting lineup on defense looks phenomenal.

[Fritz]

Poppinga is average at best, but provides decent depth... Esp in the 3-4, you need a lot of lb's and they all can't be allstars... Poppinga is overpayed, but we have no backup better than him right now and our cap is in really good shape...

Fully expect that Pop will have to be the starter there for at least a year... while he lacks instincts, he is physical, and can take on and hold the point.

Matthews on the other hand... I only expect him to be able to offer pass rush this year. He's very light in his lower body, and gets shoved around pretty easily... he may be able to press the corner, but on run downs, NFL lineman are going to kick his ass until he has at least a year in an NFL weight program and adds about 10 lbs.

I wouldn't like anybody, not even a guy, saying that about me....

[Guiness]

Without looking, I can't remember exactly what changes were made to the rules regarding ST's. I remember it was something about limiting the size of the wedge, which you would think would make the gunner's job a bit easier. Do the rule changes increase or decrease Bush's value?

Popp and Mathews. Mathews is apparently an absolute nut on the field, in the mold of Kevin Greene. As is Popp. I'm excited to see how those three manics do in their role.