Pass rush improvement?

[woodbuck27]

The deal with Jim Bates scheme it seems to me. Was to push the middle, strong resistance from the middle of OUR DL . The idea was to force the Oppositions runs wide and allow OUR slow LBers an opportunity to make tackles along the sidelines, but that gave away five to seven yard gains alot of the time. Not too good.

We were always backing into crunch time. Again - really not good !

With the type of players (improved talent) we have this season. I expect to see a more attack oriented approach on Defense. The blitz has to be a surprise not the rule.

We have better skills in Charles Woodson if he stays healthy (is my concern) as he may be his own worst enemy. We have to utilize him on a priority basis.I really don't like the fact he's been slated as OUR #1 punt returner. Because he'll try to light up the house everytime he gets the ball, and that aggressive style could mean another serious, lost for the balance injury. ( ie - his third broken leg in three seasons - not cool ). He's not Audie Murphy ! We are a football team.

Hawk should improve Barnett's game, as he will have to be accounted for not just Nick Barnett, and then add Abdul Hodge who is very aggressive to the ball carrier, and another step up from Kampman, Jenkins and maybe (Peterson and/or Montgomery) and we will be exciting on "D".

I like what i'm hearing early from OUR DB's. Where is Nick Collins. Havn't read boo about his TC?

Essentially, I really believe, if we deal well with adversity, that OUR defense will make a nice step forward this season. I'm not to overly wild with excitement on the FA's that Ted Thompson brought in, but they should help to improve us.

I am excited with Hawk and Hodge. Certainly Will Blackmon (when healthy) and the youthful prospects in Tyrone Culver/Tra Boger/Atari Bigby as well.

Anyone??? How is DT Johnny Jolly looking so far?? Why did I think that he had some potential at DE??

We are going to have to cut some decent people on Defense. OUR Defense is really going to be fun to watch in 2006.

[pack4to84]

I keep hearing how bad or DL was last year, but the DL had just 1.5 sack less the Chicagos DL in 120 less passing attempts. I know Chicago DL got a lot more pressure, but getting the sacks should count more.

Ogunleye 10.0---KGB 8.0
Brown 6.0---------Kampman 6.5
T.johnson 5.0----Jenkins 3.0
T.Harris 3.0-------Peterson 3.0
Boone 1.5--------Cole 2.0
haynes 1..5------C.Williams 2.0
Idonije 1.0-------G.Jackson 1.0
-------------------Montgomery 1.0
-----------------------------------
Chi 28----------GB 26.5

Pickett had 2.0 for St.L and Allen had 2.0 N.Y

[red]

i agree that kgb is a one trick pony, they have to teach him an inside move.

he has the one move around the outside where he comes into the pocket from the rear, and if the qb makes the mistake of dropping back to far he runs into kgb.

the sacks aren't the biggest problem for me, its the pressure. it almost seemed like if the DE's weren't there to get the sack, they weren't getting any pressure at all. kampman needs some of the blame for this too. the bears DE's were always causing chaos and putting pressure on the qbs. that forced the qbs to worry more about the de's then the cbs, and make the mistakes

our DE's scare me a lot this year, like they did last year. if KGB isn't getting that speed rush sack, he isn't doing anything. kampman is a good tackler and he was everywhere against the vikings last year (i think it was them), but he doesn't get to the qb much

it sounds like kedrick allen might be able to get up the middle, which would be great, but if you have 2 of the higher paid DE's in the nfl, they better be able to get something done

we will need to blitz this year IMO, to get pressure on the bs, the good news is, it looks like we have the LB's and cb's to do what our d-line can't

[Willard]

I keep hearing how bad or DL was last year, but the DL had just 1 sack less the Chicagos DL in 120 less passing attempts. I know Chicago DL got a lot more pressure, but getting the sacks should count more.

Ogunleye 10.0---KGB 8.0
Brown 6.0---------Kampman 6.5
T.johnson 5.0----Jenkins 3.0
T.Harris 3.0-------Peterson 3.0
Boone 1.5--------Cole 2.0
haynes 1..5------C.Williams 2.0
Idonije 1.0-------G.Jackson 1.0
-------------------Montgomery 1.0
-----------------------------------
Chi 28----------GB 26.5

When I first saw this post I did not see the actual player stats, and frankly I did not believe you! (Did you edit later?). Anyhow, I confirmed your numbers. The Packers DL had a sack every 16.2 pass plays last year. The Bears heralded DL has a sack every 19.6 pass plays last years. The Pack's DL recovered 6 fumbles compared to only 4 for the Bears' DL. Very interesting!

The most damning statistic is that the Packers only generated 10 interceptions compared to 24 by the Bears' defense (6 against the Pack ). This suggests more consistent pressure even if the sacks aren't there (like when they tee'd off aon Favre a millisecond after he released the ball on numerous occasions).

Still, last year was by no means a bad year for our DL. With potentially 2 new starting DTs this year, another year of improvement from Kampman as well as more production out of Montgomery and Peterson at DE -- I think people will start talking about the Pack's D in positive terms by the bye week.

[HarveyWallbangers]

The last time he had more than 4? 1998...and year he had 5, his career high.

He ain't getting 10, but you could have said the same thing about Antoine Winfield before he came to the Vikings. His interception totals in each season were 2, 1, 2, 0, and 1 for a grand total of 6 in 5 years. He had 3 in 2004 and 4 in 2005. I don't even care if Woodson gets a ton of picks. That's often VERY overrated. Look at Chris Gamble. Tory James had 17 picks the last 3 years, and the Bengals have been trying like hell to replace him (drafting Keiwan Ratliff and then Joseph this year). Champ Bailey hadn't had more than 3 in a season since 2000--until last year.

[Rastak]

The last time he had more than 4? 1998...and year he had 5, his career high.

He ain't getting 10, but you could have said the same thing about Antoine Winfield before he came to the Vikings. His interception totals in each season were 2, 1, 2, 0, and 1 for a grand total of 6 in 5 years. He had 3 in 2004 and 4 in 2005. I don't even care if Woodson gets a ton of picks. That's often VERY overrated. Look at Chris Gamble. Tory James had 17 picks the last 3 years, and the Bengals have been trying like hell to replace him (drafting Keiwan Ratliff and then Joseph this year). Champ Bailey hadn't had more than 3 in a season since 2000--until last year.

Yup, Winfield doesn't have a ton of picks, that's Sharper's job...
I do disagree with you that turnovers aren't important...I think they are, all of them.

[HarveyWallbangers]

It's only one of a number of factors. Winfield has 13 interceptions in 102 career games. Smoot has 18 interceptions in 71 career games. Winfield is much better. Always has been. Always will be.

[4and12to12and4]

hey woodbuck, why do you spell defense with a c ... are you a brit?

[HarveyWallbangers]

No, he's a Canuck.

[Rastak]

It's only one of a number of factors. Winfield has 13 interceptions in 102 career games. Smoot has 18 interceptions in 71 career games. Winfield is much better. Always has been. Always will be.

No argument here Harv....

[woodbuck27]

hey woodbuck, why do you spell defense with a c ... are you a brit?

I am a Canadian of course, but raised in very a British stlye school system in Eastern Canada but I'd never do well in a spelling bee,haha.

I'll check my Webster's Dictionary ( Canadian Edition ). . .

mmmmm by Golly. It's spelled defense and I pronounce it with a hard 'c' and soft 'e'.

Thanks. Likely spelled that incorrectly, all my life.

[Creepy]

The DL had pressure, but the WR were open so fast last year they couldnt' get there. With the DBs we have now and a better LB group I don't see receivers being open as fast as last year. That adiitional .5 to 1 second will make more sacks, and ints. This defense will rock this year.

[woodbuck27]

" This defense will rock this year. " Creepy

HOLD THE FAITH PACKER FANS !!

FUTURE - NEWS BULLETIN !!!! . . .

PACKERS DEFENSE ROCKS IN 2006 !