09 defensive depth

[Scott Campbell]

While I love the Raji pick, and am hopeful of Jones and Matthews, you're still looking at a gaggle of pedestrian guys, and the best player of the bunch, Kampman, is going to be miscast as a LB.

Kampman has been the most productive player of the bunch. But I think a healthy Cullen Jenkins is the best player of the bunch.

[Scott Campbell]

Capers has his work cut out for him, that is for sure.

Boo! Bring back the new wist.

I was laughing my ass off during the draft. It was as if Wist was possessed by Tony Robbins.

[rbaloha1]

I don't agree at all that there is "a lot" of talent in that front 7...

While I love the Raji pick, and am hopeful of Jones and Matthews, you're still looking at a gaggle of pedestrian guys, and the best player of the bunch, Kampman, is going to be miscast as a LB.

Barnett and Hawk are not going to suddenly become good pass rushers... deception born out of the 3-4 may get them home from time to time, but they aren't going to beat anyone man-on-man. Poppinga, while he's tough and physcial, simply doesn't have the instincts to be a full-time starter in the NFL, IMO.

Capers has his work cut out for him, that is for sure.

Well said. Thank goodness for the draft.

[Gunakor]

I don't agree at all that there is "a lot" of talent in that front 7...

While I love the Raji pick, and am hopeful of Jones and Matthews, you're still looking at a gaggle of pedestrian guys, and the best player of the bunch, Kampman, is going to be miscast as a LB.

Barnett and Hawk are not going to suddenly become good pass rushers... deception born out of the 3-4 may get them home from time to time, but they aren't going to beat anyone man-on-man. Poppinga, while he's tough and physcial, simply doesn't have the instincts to be a full-time starter in the NFL, IMO.

Capers has his work cut out for him, that is for sure.

Barnett and Hawk don't have to be good pass rushers. Deception borne out of the 3-4 is the only reason they'll ever be rushing the passer anyway. Pressure will come primarily from the outside, where Kampman and Matthews will be lining up.

Pop won't be a starter, but he'll be a quality backup to Kampman outside.

There are 6 first round draft picks in our front 7 this year. Harrell, Pickett, Raji, Barnett, Hawk, and Matthews. The only one who isn't a first round draft pick is Aaron Kampman, who is the most productive player in the whole group. I wouldn't call them a pedestrian group. There's tons of talent there.

[cheesner]

I don't agree at all that there is "a lot" of talent in that front 7...

While I love the Raji pick, and am hopeful of Jones and Matthews, you're still looking at a gaggle of pedestrian guys, and the best player of the bunch, Kampman, is going to be miscast as a LB.

Barnett and Hawk are not going to suddenly become good pass rushers... deception born out of the 3-4 may get them home from time to time, but they aren't going to beat anyone man-on-man. Poppinga, while he's tough and physcial, simply doesn't have the instincts to be a full-time starter in the NFL, IMO.

Capers has his work cut out for him, that is for sure.

Last season Kampman was asked to rush the QB, Stop the run, and cover the flats for screens. This season Kampman will be asked to rush the QB, stop the run, and to cover the flats for screens. I think he will be fine.

[KYPack]

How 'bout ROLB?

Matthews is starting there in the rookie drills.

Will that carry through or will Popp get the veteran nod?

[Bretsky]

Capers has his work cut out for him, that is for sure.

Boo! Bring back the new wist.

I was laughing my ass off during the draft. It was as if Wist was possessed by Tony Robbins.

he turned fruitcake that weekend

[Bretsky]

How 'bout ROLB?

Matthews is starting there in the rookie drills.

Will that carry through or will Popp get the veteran nod?

Popp is just a guy; I had left that phrase for Wist in the past but now that he's on the turtle train I can use it again.

We have to cheer for Matthews and it will be a bit disappointing if Popp beats him out in camp. We have a late first rounder competiting against debateably our least talented starter.......probably with the exception of Bigby.

[Joemailman]

How 'bout ROLB?

Matthews is starting there in the rookie drills.

Will that carry through or will Popp get the veteran nod?

I've never believed it will be Popp when all is said and done. If it's not Matthews, it could be a young guy like Thompson, or maybe even Brandon Chillar.

[Fritz]

I'm really curious about how Jeremy Thompson will do. TT did trade up for the guy, after all. I think he's got some talent and if Mtthews pans out and Kampman struggles in the LB position (not saying he will, just if) then this might be one way to solve that issue.

I'm excited. And I'm even okay with Popps starting...but as soon as the guy has a couple of poor games, put him back on the Special Teams bus and start someone better.

However, if in camp Matthews - or someone else - outplays Poppinga, then start him. Make it an open competition. Who makes the most plays and is the most consistent and assignment-sure wins the job.

[pbmax]

Popp may be just a guy, but he is one of the better LBs against the run, and he has already played the edge against the TE as standup linebacker.

I wouldn't be surprised if he starts and is on the field for likely run downs.

[Harlan Huckleby]

I'm really curious about how Jeremy Thompson will do. TT did trade up for the guy, after all. I think he's got some talent

He has a talent for looking like a good football player. That's a start.

[wist43]

I don't agree at all that there is "a lot" of talent in that front 7...

While I love the Raji pick, and am hopeful of Jones and Matthews, you're still looking at a gaggle of pedestrian guys, and the best player of the bunch, Kampman, is going to be miscast as a LB.

Barnett and Hawk are not going to suddenly become good pass rushers... deception born out of the 3-4 may get them home from time to time, but they aren't going to beat anyone man-on-man. Poppinga, while he's tough and physcial, simply doesn't have the instincts to be a full-time starter in the NFL, IMO.

Capers has his work cut out for him, that is for sure.

Barnett and Hawk don't have to be good pass rushers. Deception borne out of the 3-4 is the only reason they'll ever be rushing the passer anyway. Pressure will come primarily from the outside, where Kampman and Matthews will be lining up.

Pop won't be a starter, but he'll be a quality backup to Kampman outside.

There are 6 first round draft picks in our front 7 this year. Harrell, Pickett, Raji, Barnett, Hawk, and Matthews. The only one who isn't a first round draft pick is Aaron Kampman, who is the most productive player in the whole group. I wouldn't call them a pedestrian group. There's tons of talent there.

Raji and Matthews breath life into that front 7, no doubt about that... but Barnett, Hawk, and Pickett are JAG's; and Harrell is a bust. Barnett, Hawk and Pickett are servicable NFL starters, but none of them is a difference maker, and that is what you need in your front 7, difference makers.

Going to the 3-4 may bode well for Hawk, as I see him as having a little more pass rush, and better instincts than Barnett... Pickett will be a servicable NT.

Hopefully Raji and Matthews are better than those guys... and I think they will be; hence my out of character exuberance on draft day

Have always hated Barnett, was never really thrilled with the Hawk pick... Raji and Matthews are a step in the right direction... as is moving to the 3-4/hybrid.

[Gunakor]

Raji and Matthews breath life into that front 7, no doubt about that... but Barnett, Hawk, and Pickett are JAG's; and Harrell is a bust. Barnett, Hawk and Pickett are servicable NFL starters, but none of them is a difference maker, and that is what you need in your front 7, difference makers.

Harrell's only considered a bust because of his injury history. I really doubt he'd be considered a bust if he were healthy and playing. The fact that his injuries are unrelated to each other leads me to believe that he'll be healthy and on the field a lot more this season than prior seasons, so I can't call him a bust yet. Neither you nor I know for certain how good a football player he's gonna be at this level because we haven't had nearly a large enough sample size to judge that one way or another. Can't call him a bust.

I really, really don't think injuries are going to keep him on the sidelines forever. Think of how hungry he must be to get out there and prove himself - I'd hate to be the guy lining up across from him once he's healthy.

The difference maker is the new scheme. It will utilize those players differently than the vanilla scheme Bob Sanders asked them to play in. It's hard to be a huge difference maker when the job you're asked to do is to chase and tackle the ball carrier and that's it. They weren't asked to play in the backfield, so how many opportunities did they have to make plays in the backfield to begin with? You say they have no pass rush ability, but how would you know that when they were never asked to rush the passer? You can't blame someone for not making plays when the defensive playcall never puts them in position to make plays. Now they'll be in position to make plays, and I expect them to become playmakers as a result.

[swede]

The difference maker is the new scheme. It will utilize those players differently than the vanilla scheme Bob Sanders asked them to play in.

Exactly. Dom Capers is the big difference maker this year.

He's the Iron Chef. Raji and Mathews are fresh new chunks of meat.
And now that Hawk, Barnett and Pickett aren't marinating in vanilla they may possess a tangy new zing themselves.