"WOODSON PRAISES BURNETT

[Bretsky]

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/96920924.html

From what I've seen early out of him, he's not making mistakes, or if he is making mistakes, it's no more than anybody else is making. He's got a lot of experience back there with him, with Nick, myself and Tramon. So if he is to play in there, we'll carry him as long as we can until he's up to speed but, (shoot), he's good. He looks good to me, you know. Now it's just a matter of experience getting into a game and getting a feel of it and playing at this level



Woody also in shape taking Boxing Classes

If you ask me three reasons the Packers D might improve, the idea of Burnett being an upgrade from Bigby would be up there

[RashanGary]

I know you, skin and others hate Bigby, but I think he's pretty good. I don't think a rookie will beat him out.

Now, if Bigby misses more than a week or two of TC, he'll be replaced. Hopefully he's smart enough not to do that. He'll hurt himself just as bad as he hurts the Packers if not worse.

[Bretsky]

I think Bigby is the weakest starter on defense

[RashanGary]

Woodson looked about how he looks normally to me. Hard to tell.


A couple guys I thought stood out as having positive changes to their physique; B Jones (last year he looked thin and boyish. This year, he looks like a man) Tramon (looks a little more ripped, but very lean still), Jenkins (looks very ripped), Raji (I love how this guy carries his weight, squatty as hell, huge, you can see more muscle on him than last year) and Sitton (Bigger, more ripped, more mature). I believe Woodson when he says he's in good shape though.

Here's a list of guys I like to make us better this year

Tauscher (a year removed from the knee injury)
B. Jones (Obviously stronger and it's good common sense to expect a 2nd year player to know what he's doing more than he did as a rookie.)
Sitton (looks like a monster and Rodgers said he had a great offseason)
Nelson (I'm buying the OTA/mini camp hype. Guy is making plays)
J. Jones (I still think he's a hell of a player, hasn't had enough opportunities)
Finley (everyones favorite pick to break out and for good reason, guy is unique)
Rodgers (I know he had a good year last year, but he really didn't become great until the last 7 or 8 games. Look for a full season of even greater greatness and a lot of wins)
Tramon Williams (hell of a player, just keeps getting better)
Jason Spitz, TJ Lang and Bryan Bulaga (more ready to play talent backing up our OL)
Defenses 2nd year (Collins, Tramon, Bigby, Matthews, Jones, Barnett, Hawk, Chillar all are more familiar with the defense and should play more assignment sure than a year ago)
Flynn (I see what seems to be a strong upward trend from this guy. Can't wait to see him in the preseason. We might need him to win a game or two)


Here are guys I'm hoping step up, but am not as excited for as the list I just made:

Brandon Underwood, Al Harris (horrible injury), Patrick Lee and Josh Bell (hopefully one or two of these guys is a player this year).

Burnett (rookie, but odds are he'll be playing at one point or another and hopefully he's solid)

Neal, Wilson, Jolly, Harrell (I'm hoping at least 2 of these guys are legit, impact depth this year)

Brandon Jackson, James Starks (who knows about Starks. Jackson jsut hasn't done much yet, but we don't have a good backup to Ryan Grant unless one of these guys steps up)



The bottom line, there is a ton of youth on this team. Some of it is showing signs of getting ready to explode on the scene, others haven't yet, but you never know who the next Aaron Kampman, Donald Driver, Marco Rivera or Mike Wahle might be, really turning it on in their 3rd, 4th or 5th seasons. It happens.

I see a lot of reason to expect big things from this team. They were good last year, not many players are dropping off, a bunch of them are at points in their careers where they keep getting better and Rodgers has become a stable rock that I think this team will be able to rely on to lead the offense to great things next year. There's coaching stability, there's a great feel of commitment to the off season. This has early signs of something special.

[Bretsky]

I might have mis spoken with Bigby; maybe Jones might be our weakest starter. But if Jones gets stronger he did show some pass rushing skills and i think his upside to be an above average starter is better. I think one could argue either way.

[Bretsky]

I read up on Neal on Twitter and am digging him more as a player with a good attitude then I did right after the draft

[get louder at lambeau]

Re: "WOODSON PRAISES BURNETT

So if he is to play in there, we'll carry him as long as we can until he's up to speed but, (shoot), he's good.

Possible translation- "The kid is gonna be a hell of a player, but he's not quite ready for prime time yet."

[Joemailman]

Another possible translation: "Bigby better get his ass to training camp on time."

[RashanGary]

Re: "WOODSON PRAISES BURNETT

So if he is to play in there, we'll carry him as long as we can until he's up to speed but, (shoot), he's good.

Possible translation- "The kid is gonna be a hell of a player, but he's not quite ready for prime time yet."

That's kind of what I expect. Bigby is a solid player with flashes of greatness but extreme injury issues.

Burnett is a very young player that will probably flash greatness just because of his athletic ability, but we don't know if he'll ever be a player, let alone if he'll be good out of the gate.

My bet is on the solid but unreliable vet. If Bigby can get through the season, he buys us time until Burnett is theoretically ready to take over (next year would be ideal)

[get louder at lambeau]

Re: "WOODSON PRAISES BURNETT

So if he is to play in there, we'll carry him as long as we can until he's up to speed but, (shoot), he's good.

Possible translation- "The kid is gonna be a hell of a player, but he's not quite ready for prime time yet."

That's kind of what I expect. Bigby is a solid player with flashes of greatness but extreme injury issues.

Burnett is a very young player that will probably flash greatness just because of his athletic ability, but we don't know if he'll ever be a player, let alone if he'll be good out of the gate.

My bet is on the solid but unreliable vet. If Bigby can get through the season, he buys us time until Burnett is theoretically ready to take over (next year would be ideal)

I'm with you on that. I wouldn't be surprised to see Burnett subbed in frequently, but my bet is on Bigby to start.

[mraynrand]

JH bringin it with the Koolaid post. I'll take a sip.

[Lurker64]

When watching Burnett at GT, the thing that stuck out to me wasn't his athleticism (though his range is very good), it was his ability to read run/pass cues and anticipate routes. He played in a conference that was a pretty even mix of run and pass (excepting the offense of the team he played for) and his ability to diagnose the play quickly was top notch. The GT defense as a whole was a mess, but he always seemed to be moving towards the ball. His tackling technique was adequate, he was a powerful hitter, he redirects well, and he can stay on a WR's hip if asked to cover man.

The thing that worries me, though, is that he doesn't seem to instinctively attack the line of scrimmage when he sees a crease. He doesn't seem to ever plant and charge (something you'd like out of your SS), and seems to be more comfortable as a last-line defender. This is hopefully something that Darren Perry can cure him of, and if he can develop attacking instincts (instead of just coverage instincts) he could be a truly great one.

Not a finished product right now, but I really wouldn't worry much if we had to start him week 1. He's not going to get burned in the passing game, but he's also not much of a hunter killer at this point.

[packrulz]

I'm with JH, I think Bigby can make some plays if he could stay healthy. One guy I've been hoping to hear some positive feedback about is Pat Lee, so far...nothing. He needs to get his ass in gear.

[3irty1]

Woodson also liked that safety we got in FA from the Steelers last year. Woodson's opinion doesn't mean a lot to me.

[Fritz]

I'm on the Pat Lee koolaid train.