Woodson's shift from CB to Safety Started Sunday

[mraynrand]

Eventually Woodson will play safety, but I am not going to read the scheme against the Bears as the defense that is going to be set in stone. Peprah has earned his job going into next season, meaning it is his job to lose. Burnett is coming off a serious knee injury and most likely won't be 100% at the start of training camp anyways. Besides if the Packers move Woodson to safety it is most likely a non issue anyways.

If Woodson moves to Rover full time this team is going to be pretty hard to beat in the box. Or Woodson will blow his shoulder out in week 4 tackling all those running backs and taking lead blocks from fullbacks.

Agree except the last part. Part of the effectiveness of him as rover is that other teams don't seem very able to locate him with a FB or a lineman releasing - and even if they try to locate and block him, they have a tough time getting their paws on him and it releases someone else. Still, that doesn't mean he can't blow out his shoulder there, Mr. Jinx.

[mraynrand]

The Packers are not in the business of just handing jobs over to rookie players that missed a significant portion of the season from blowing out a knee

Not this version of the Packers. But, once upon a time....

[3irty1]

I'd call that look a 4-4 split with Woodson playing SOLB.

[Guiness]

Eventually Woodson will play safety, but I am not going to read the scheme against the Bears as the defense that is going to be set in stone. Peprah has earned his job going into next season, meaning it is his job to lose. Burnett is coming off a serious knee injury and most likely won't be 100% at the start of training camp anyways. Besides if the Packers move Woodson to safety it is most likely a non issue anyways.

If Woodson moves to Rover full time this team is going to be pretty hard to beat in the box. Or Woodson will blow his shoulder out in week 4 tackling all those running backs and taking lead blocks from fullbacks.

Agreed with that last.

My college team lost our starting CB, and one of the best players on the team when he came down in run support, and shed blocked a pulling guard. Ended up with a concussion and a broken collar bone.

[Fritz]

One thing, not sure if this is exactly related, is that it seemed to me the last two games that the Packers are terribly vulnerable in the middle of the field. There's a gaping hole as big as the one in a porn star's butt in the middle of the field many,many times. Any of you knowledgeable folk able to explain how that happens? Is it when the Packers blitz inside? When it's play action? Just a function of one of the defensive packages?

[mraynrand]

One thing, not sure if this is exactly related, is that it seemed to me the last two games that the Packers are terribly vulnerable in the middle of the field. There's a gaping hole as big as the one in a porn star's butt?.....

And that's when I turned the TV off

[DannoMac21]

I'm more intrigued by this than I was, but the play of Shields is increasingly making this seem unnecessary.

You can never be too good or have too many good players.

[Cheesehead Craig]

One thing, not sure if this is exactly related, is that it seemed to me the last two games that the Packers are terribly vulnerable in the middle of the field. There's a gaping hole as big as the one in a porn star's butt in the middle of the field many,many times. Any of you knowledgeable folk able to explain how that happens? Is it when the Packers blitz inside? When it's play action? Just a function of one of the defensive packages?

The hole in the field or the porn stars butt?

[Patler]

If the Packers win, will this be Woodson's last game?

He admits that winning a SB absolutely possesses him, thinking about it everyday. What will bring him back at his age if they win it all this year? My personal feeling is that he will retire if they win, but will return if they don't.

[vince]

If the Packers win, will this be Woodson's last game?

No. I think he'll be back.

[Smidgeon]

If he does retire, I'd like to think Thompson would make a Woodson-like push for Asomawhatever. I know he couldn't replace Woodson (because Woodson's versitility makes him a once-per-generation player), but it would give the Packers their third dependable corner again.

[Patler]

No. I think he'll be back.

I did until I heard and read some recent things from him. He seems totally consumed by the need to win it. If they do, I think there will be a lot of reasons to retire, and few to return. Pushing toward retirememnt:
- what seem to be chronic foot injuries that by all reports are very painful for him;
- his feeling of fulfillment, the completion of a career-long goal, the sense of what's left to accomplish?;
- he saw a rather unglorious end for Harris' career;
- he sees the emergence of Shields and what that might mean for him;
- he has said he isn't excited about playing safety;
- he has a budding wine business and has often said he regrets not being able to take a more active role in promoting it due to NFL restrictions on players' sponsorships of certain products. In short, the goal of winning a Super Bowl can be replaced by the goal of building his winery. He has something to move to immediately which he seems to enjoy very much.
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[vince]

I did until I heard and read some recent things from him. He seems totally consumed by the need to win it. If they do, I think there will be a lot of reasons to retire, and few to return. Pushing toward retirememnt:
- what seem to be chronic foot injuries that by all reports are very painful for him;
- his feeling of fulfillment, the completion of a career-long goal, the sense of what's left to accomplish?;
- he saw a rather unglorious end for Harris' career;
- he sees the emergence of Shields and what that might mean for him;
- he has said he isn't excited about playing safety;
- he has a budding wine business and has often said he regrets not being able to take a more active role in promoting it due to NFL restrictions on players' sponsorships of certain products. In short, the goal of winning a Super Bowl can be replaced by the goal of building his winery. He has something to move to immediately which he seems to enjoy very much.
-

Those are good points Patler. If the toe/foot problems are indeed chronic then that could impact his decision significantly. I know he's had turf toe previously and jammed it before this year and is still listed on the injury report, so you may be right. I'm assuming he'd be healthy come next season. He extended his deal not too long ago and I seem to recall him saying somethning about wanting to play a few more years at that time. I think he likes his new role and wouldn't fight a permanent move to safety/rover at some point. It allows him to make more plays anyway.

[packerbacker1234]

Health is the primary concern with Woodson.

He's seemingly ha da foot injury for 2 or 3 seasons now, and while he has played through it, is it something that goes away with rest and he just had a lot of bad luck? His body can take another season, sure, but is it worth it?

I think it depends on a few factors not mentioned:

- His feeling should he win a super bowl. Yes, it's the pinnacle of great career, and while nothing is guarenteed, he is the clear cut locker room leader of a team that should be BETTER next year, and set up for another SB run. Once he wins it once is he satisfied? Or, does winning it once, that feeling, making him want to do it all over again.

Everyone thought Elway was done after his first ring, but he thought his team could do it yet again, and he more than anything wanted that sweet taste one more time. HE got it, for most others they don't - but it's a big factor in any decision to retire when you can still play.

- Lockout. If a lockout happens it could be a good or bad thing for woodson. Positive is he gets a full year off to rest his foot - but if we win, it makes retiring much easier since their wouldn't be football immediately the next season.

- The lockerroom. Woodson has said many times he absolutely love Green Bay. All his preconceived notions coming in were completely defeated, and you can tell he really likes these players. Would he come back for them?

[Smidgeon]

I honestly don't think a lockout will be an issue since there is no way an entire season would be lost. Maybe a game or two, but that's worst case.