Work begins on Packers' new defense

[Fritz]

After all the fretting and worrying about Kampman this offseason, this article accomplishes one thing. It establishes Nick Collins as the real key to making this defense work. I don't worry much about Kampman making the transition. I worry a lot about Collins being smart enough to QB the entire defense. And that's assuming he'll be here working on it all summer, an assumption which appears to be very much in doubt.

It's a real catch 22, and it should be a much bigger story than that former QB of ours. The Packers don't want to extend Collins until he proves he's not a fluke, and more importantly until he proves he can handle a very demanding role in this D. Collins doesn't seem real eager to get on the field until he has a new deal. The whole D hinges in large part on the FS's ability to make adjustments, and the FS is in a stalemate with no clear solution.

I think this is a very salient point. If this safety position is the key to calling the defense, and if Collins is not terribly adept at picking up on theoretical ideas, and if he's not going to show up for offseason things, that's some scary sh_t. And Smith, from what I've heard, is not exactly Dexter, Boy Genius, either.

[Lurker64]

And Smith, from what I've heard, is not exactly Dexter, Boy Genius, either.

It's my understanding that Smith is in the mix at Strong Safety, rather than Free Safety, and at SS there's a different Dexter we'd want him to emulate:

[wist43]

Great article. I've been waiting for this type of article. The Brett Favre shit is getting really, really, really old.

AMEN !

Just do like me... don't read the BF stuff

Haven't read the first one, and I'm a happier man for it

[wist43]

After all the fretting and worrying about Kampman this offseason, this article accomplishes one thing. It establishes Nick Collins as the real key to making this defense work. I don't worry much about Kampman making the transition. I worry a lot about Collins being smart enough to QB the entire defense. And that's assuming he'll be here working on it all summer, an assumption which appears to be very much in doubt.

It's a real catch 22, and it should be a much bigger story than that former QB of ours. The Packers don't want to extend Collins until he proves he's not a fluke, and more importantly until he proves he can handle a very demanding role in this D. Collins doesn't seem real eager to get on the field until he has a new deal. The whole D hinges in large part on the FS's ability to make adjustments, and the FS is in a stalemate with no clear solution.

Also check out Packer Update, they have a decent article on how the Nose Tackle is the key to the defense and they think its BJ Raji despite what McCarthy was saying after the rookie camp.

My preference would be to see Pickett as the starter, have BJ spell him occasionally, and save BJ for pass rush situations... his quickness, overall movement skills, and ability to collapse the pocket are what is most desperately needed from him.

Besides, BJ is going to get his snaps... but I'd prefer to see him kept fresh, instead of taking the constant pounding at the nose.

[rbaloha1]

After all the fretting and worrying about Kampman this offseason, this article accomplishes one thing. It establishes Nick Collins as the real key to making this defense work. I don't worry much about Kampman making the transition. I worry a lot about Collins being smart enough to QB the entire defense. And that's assuming he'll be here working on it all summer, an assumption which appears to be very much in doubt.

It's a real catch 22, and it should be a much bigger story than that former QB of ours. The Packers don't want to extend Collins until he proves he's not a fluke, and more importantly until he proves he can handle a very demanding role in this D. Collins doesn't seem real eager to get on the field until he has a new deal. The whole D hinges in large part on the FS's ability to make adjustments, and the FS is in a stalemate with no clear solution.

Also check out Packer Update, they have a decent article on how the Nose Tackle is the key to the defense and they think its BJ Raji despite what McCarthy was saying after the rookie camp.

My preference would be to see Pickett as the starter, have BJ spell him occasionally, and save BJ for pass rush situations... his quickness, overall movement skills, and ability to collapse the pocket are what is most desperately needed from him.

Besides, BJ is going to get his snaps... but I'd prefer to see him kept fresh, instead of taking the constant pounding at the nose.

BJ and Pickett need to be on the field at the same time. Two space eaters and maybe 3 with Harrell makes it harder to run the ball and allows ilbs to flourish.

[Joemailman]

Today Bedard posted more from his interviews with Hoge, Noble and Gilbert Brown that did not make it in the original article. http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/46114552.html

[SnakeLH2006]

Don't hate Bedard Arrigo! Joe's trying.