The Defense

[The Shadow]

I would sure like to see Kamp moved back to DE. Yah,yah, I know he's light for a 3-4 DE, but he has always been excellent at leverage. He need to be in better position to bring heat.
Jenkins, Jolly, and Kamp should form main rotation at DE.
Raji could then alternate with Pickett to keep the middle stout.
Mathews and Chillar should be OLB's, with Poppinga spelling both.
Inside, Hawk & Barnett, with Bishop alternating.

I think the SS position is troubling. Any word on Bigby's status?

[denverYooper]

Re: The Defense

I would sure like to see Kamp moved back to DE. Yah,yah, I know he's light for a 3-4 DE, but he has always been excellent at leverage. He need to be in better position to bring heat.
Jenkins, Jolly, and Kamp should form main rotation at DE.
Raji could then alternate with Pickett to keep the middle stout.
Mathews and Chillar should be OLB's, with Poppinga spelling both.
Inside, Hawk & Barnett, with Bishop alternating.

I think the SS position is troubling. Any word on Bigby's status?

Bigby didn't practice today:

#Packers practice update: Bigby, Jenkins only players not in pads. Poppinga absent, not sure why. Jolly limited. Clifton, Taucher in.

[PackerTimer]

I wouldn't mind seeing this either. But I don't think we will.

[swede]

Re: The Defense

I would sure like to see Kamp moved back to DE. Yah,yah, I know he's light for a 3-4 DE, but he has always been excellent at leverage.

This is a bad situation for Kampy. He looks down at least 20 lbs from last year's playing weight. If he was light for a 4-3 DE what is he now?

He is now a 3-4 OLB, out of position for his natural strengths. His coaches and fans hoped that he could make the transition. So far the news is that he went from being a very good player to an average player. That, for those of you keeping score at home, is not good news.

For Kampy, the news gets worse. What team will want him as a 3-4 OLB? What team will want him as a DE in a 4-3 if he weighs 265? Should he gain weight? Cut weight? Plan on FA? Commit to our team?

Always the optimist, I hoped this move would work out for us. Not only is this not working out for us, I think we have seriously screwed up Kampy's future.

[rbaloha1]

I would like to see more 4 man fronts with Kampy consistently rushing the passer.

[wist43]

Kampman has lost some weight to play LB... besides, they're not going to move him at this point. But I agree, they should have had Kamp bulk up a little and play DE. No matter how you slice it though, Kampman is playing out of position as a 3-4 anything. He's a 4-3 End, and strictly that.

All water under the bridge now though...

Moving forward, I think we need to see more 4 man fronts on passing downs, with Kampman's hand on the ground. Kampman, Raji, Jenkins, and ??? as down linemen, and bring another blitzer - Matthews/Jones off the edge, Bishop up the middle, etc...

Beyond that, Capers needs to get more creative on a consistent basis up front... lining up in a static 3-4 presnap look... that's not going to cut it.

If the defense could come up average the rest of the year, and the OL can get their problems figured out, the Packers could make a run at a playoff spot... but more of the same, will only land us a top 15 draft pick again.

Capers needs to realize he's got more 4-3 personnel than 3-4... and tailor his game plans accordingly.

[wist43]

Re: The Defense

I would sure like to see Kamp moved back to DE. Yah,yah, I know he's light for a 3-4 DE, but he has always been excellent at leverage.

This is a bad situation for Kampy. He looks down at least 20 lbs from last year's playing weight. If he was light for a 4-3 DE what is he now?

He is now a 3-4 OLB, out of position for his natural strengths. His coaches and fans hoped that he could make the transition. So far the news is that he went from being a very good player to an average player. That, for those of you keeping score at home, is not good news.

For Kampy, the news gets worse. What team will want him as a 3-4 OLB? What team will want him as a DE in a 4-3 if he weighs 265? Should he gain weight? Cut weight? Plan on FA? Commit to our team?

Always the optimist, I hoped this move would work out for us. Not only is this not working out for us, I think we have seriously screwed up Kampy's future.

I don't think so... I think Kampman will land a decent contract as a 4-3 End next year. NFL personnel men know that he's playing out of position... he'll bulk back up to where he was, and get back to playing his natural position with another team.

[mmmdk]

This is retarded.

Kampy in 4-3 or 3-4; Packers defense blew last season and blows this seasons.

Rams has scored 34 points in 5 games this season...17 came in one game vs Packers D.

Kool-aid preseason romance is over but there's nothing wrong in hope.

Dissecting Kampy & others on D is pointless. Killing time for sure!

[pbmax]

Beyond that, Capers needs to get more creative on a consistent basis up front... lining up in a static 3-4 presnap look... that's not going to cut it.

One of these days I will understand exactly what you want other than success.

In passing downs (just shy of 50% so far) the Packers predominantly line up in a 2-4-5 alignment. When you eliminate the position abbreviations, looks exactly like a 4-2-5 nickel, the very defense you claim you want due to personnel. And Kampman is at end.

With standup ends, the QB has to guess which is coming, plus the option to bring another rusher from middle or corner/slot.

The defense has to give the coordinator a chance. We stopped the run well aganst the Vikes. But now we need to be able to bring pressure and not get gouged for big runs. Do that, and no one will be bleeting about alignments anymore.

I agree with you that the DC should not simply hold back and prepare for the worst case, thereby giving the offense the initiative. You must bring some pressure even if there is a chance of the runner escaping.

As for other points, Bigby not going is a bad sign. It was an early bye, but will he be right at anytime this season?

I was on the Chillar at OLB bandwagon early this offseason, but seeing him take on and be defeated by blocks inside, I do not think he could hold the edge on runs as OLB.*

* Several posters came to this conclusion WAY before I caught on. I am not claiming this as my insight.

[Fritz]

Sounds like, if TT is going to make a trade, it might need to be for a safety.

packer update suggests TT is floating Barnett and Hawk for trade offers but there's no interest.

[bobblehead]

Sounds like, if TT is going to make a trade, it might need to be for a safety.

packer update suggests TT is floating Barnett and Hawk for trade offers but there's no interest.

why would there be, both are playing pretty bad from what I can see...although I will say the LB's were not a problem at all against minnesota for the first time....if the safety is really the root of all evil right now I can't wait to get bigby back.

[Fritz]

I'm not saying there would be a lot. I'm just reporting what they're reporting.

Bigby didn't practice today.

That's not good.

Hope Martin is learning, and pronto.

[Pugger]

I don't know if Hawk has been as horrid as some suggest but his contract might have more to do with the lack of interest than anything else. I don't know where I read it (it could've been here but I can't recall) where someone posted stats on Kampy compared to other OLBs and his numbers for tackles, sacks and passes defended were better than average. He's only played this position in the pros for 4 games. It may be a tad early to call it a mistake...

[Fritz]

You and your "it's only been four games."

You act like it's a sixteen game season or something.

[packerbacker1234]

He's out of here as soon as he can get out. He'll pack 20 to 30 pounds back on during the offseason,a nd go back to being a 4-3 DE and a pass rusher. Unfortunately, with the switch to a 3-4, it pretty much eliminated our best Defensive player on the line.

Oh well. Win some, lose some. Lets hope the 3-4 works out long term.