Defensive Front Seven

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Here's a reason to celebrate for all you Jeremy Thompson lovers on the board:

Green Bay Press Gazette[/url]]* From a depth chart perspective, the most intriguing sight was second-year pro Jeremy Thompson working at right outside linebacker with the starting defense -- while Brady Poppinga worked with the twos. Poppinga and rookie first-round pick Clay Matthews, who sat out with a strained hamstring, have been the presumptive candidates to compete for the rightside job. But Thompson appears to be getting a long look, and he earned an excited helmet slap from OLBs coach Kevin Greene after dropping into coverage on one play.

* With DE Cullen Jenkins (ankle) and SS Atari Bigby (ankle) sitting out team drills, the front seven with the No. 1 base defense was: LE B.J. Raji, NT Ryan Pickett, RE Justin Harrell, LOLB Aaron Kampman, ILB A.J. Hawk, ILB Brandon Chillar and ROLB Thompson.

It would seem like Matthews would take this spot back after his hammy heals, but Poppinga appears to have taken a step back. And I must admit, even though I desperately want Jenkins back healthy, I am a bit excited about Raji and Harrell on the field together with Pickett.

[bobblehead]

yep, all I saw was...blah blah, injured blah blah, Justin Harrell actually on the field.

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Bush was at free safety for the 2nd team according to JSO.

Jenkins was at starting RDE during the walkthrough, Harrell took over in team drills.

Rouse is at Free Safety with the ones. Anthony Smith is SS with the 2s.

Matthews told JSO that he and Poppinga were co-No. 2s at ROLB. Capers said not to read too much into teh depth chart right now.

[HarveyWallbangers]

There's talent on this defense. I'd be shocked if they were in the bottom 3rd of the league in defense again.

[SnakeLH2006]

Re: Defensive Front Seven

Here's a reason to celebrate for all you Jeremy Thompson lovers on the board:

I am a bit excited about Raji and Harrell on the field together with Pickett.

There's Jeremy Thompson lovers? LOL, but Raji, Harrell and Pickett together is kinda exciting. But I'd rather have Jenkins out there too. Either way, that's a lotta beef yo.

[packrulz]

The big front is exciting, Harrell is working hard, it's obvious he wants to play. Al Harris is embracing Dom Capers scheme as well, this defense is going to be fun to watch: http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/...SFRONTCAROUSEL
From Green Bay Press Gazette:
One person with knowledge of Capers and his system said Capers is one of the most creative defensive minds in the game, and if he feels Harris isn’t suited to zone coverages, he will find a way to mix in more man-to-man principles.

“We want to have the ability to play both,” Capers said. “If you’re locked into one, you can be too predictable, and from what I’ve seen, I think we’ll have enough ability to play what we want, and that might vary from one week to the next.”

[Waldo]

Re: Defensive Front Seven

It would seem like Matthews would take this spot back after his hammy heals, but Poppinga appears to have taken a step back. And I must admit, even though I desperately want Jenkins back healthy, I am a bit excited about Raji and Harrell on the field together with Pickett.

According to the JSO (whose info comes from Clay), Matthews was never ahead of Thompson.

Biggest surprise had to be Jeremy Thompson working out as the first-team right outside linebacker. Matthews said he and Brady Poppinga are second-team there, although coordinator Dom Capers said not to pay attention to where everyone is at this point.

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/46420932.html

[Bretsky]

up to this point my view of Jermey Thompson is not that high so I sure hope Matthews is better than he is

[RashanGary]

up to this point my view of Jermey Thompson is not that high so I sure hope Matthews is better than he is

He didn't impress me at all last year. He was slow, lacked suddenness and wasn't very strong as a DE.

He was a rookie though. I'm certainly open to the possibility that this guy can cover, stop the run and rush the passer. I'm just not putting him on my list of guys to be excited about just yet. He has to show something first. OLB's in this scheme of so many responsibilities, I can't imagine any of our OLB's will be great this year.

[rbaloha1]

JT has the body type and athleticism to play olb. Future starter should AK not return.

[Lurker64]

Jeremy Thompson's work at DE shouldn't really be counted against him too much, as he was always going to make a better 3-4 outside backer than a DE. He's got marvelous physical tools, but he's a lot more comfortable playing in space and he's much better at "read and react" than "all out balls-to-the-wall aggression". Going into the draft last year, most people had him ranked higher as an OLB than as a DE.

All too often last year, he got into trouble because he held up for half a beat to diagnose what the offense was doing. As a DE, that's going to get you killed since the guy across from you isn't going to wait for you: he knows what he's supposed to do, and that's "knock you on your ass". As an OLB, though, this behavior is potentially an asset.

[Patler]

up to this point my view of Jermey Thompson is not that high so I sure hope Matthews is better than he is

I have been a bit intrigued by Jeremy Thompson, if for no other reason than that Ted Thompson actually thought enough of him to trade up for him. Most unusual.

I hope he fits the 3-4 well enough to beat out Mathews!

[Bretsky]

up to this point my view of Jermey Thompson is not that high so I sure hope Matthews is better than he is

I have been a bit intrigued by Jeremy Thompson, if for no other reason than that Ted Thompson actually thought enough of him to trade up for him. Most unusual.

I hope he fits the 3-4 well enough to beat out Mathews!

But that would mean we pissed away all those picks to move up for a backup

[pbmax]

Re: Defensive Front Seven

According to the JSO (whose info comes from Clay), Matthews was never ahead of Thompson.

I saw that:

Matthews told JSO that he and Poppinga were co-No. 2s at ROLB. Capers said not to read too much into the depth chart right now.

but my question to Capers is that I am not just reading your depth chart, but I am also watching practice and hearing this from the player. This would seem to call for some comment, you'd think.

[Patler]

up to this point my view of Jermey Thompson is not that high so I sure hope Matthews is better than he is

I have been a bit intrigued by Jeremy Thompson, if for no other reason than that Ted Thompson actually thought enough of him to trade up for him. Most unusual.

I hope he fits the 3-4 well enough to beat out Mathews!

But that would mean we pissed away all those picks to move up for a backup

Future starter, future starer !!!