Defensive line depth

[HarveyWallbangers]

Wilson had a slow start to camp, but recent reports had him picking up his game as camp progressed. Wynn actually looks improved over last year in the preseason games. It all comes down to Neal. If Neal stays healthy, the loss of Jenkins will matter little. The depth at NT is good with Green backing up Raji. Green can also kick out to DE. Wilson is a below average or average starter, but he's pretty darn good as a backup. Wynn might have improved enough to be considered a decent last man off the bench type. I'm not sure our DL is in the dire straits that people make it out to be, but a lot of it depends on Neal.

Neal and Lang are important. If Lang plays up to the average standards of Colledge, we are a better offense than last year. We added Cobb, a healthy Grant, a healthy Finley, and Green to the mix.

If Neal stays healthy, our defense is about the same as last year. Jenkins didn't exactly stay healthy last year. Burnett is back, but I also figure that are depth is worse in some spots, Woodson and Pickett are getting older, and teams have had more time to prepare for guys like Walden, Zombo, and Shields. I expect our defense to be a little worse than last year, but still top 10.

Special teams is where I'm excited. We could make big improvements there (Cobb and an improved Masthay, plus the new kickoff rule to benefit Crosby and his strong leg).

All in all, I think this team is more talented than last year, but that doesn't guarantee anything. We had a good run at the end, but we went through a lot of inconsistency.

[KYPack]

Harve, that's a well thought out, logical post. After a couple pre-season games, that's exactly my thoughts on the Pack.

Shit.

That's no fun.

Go back in there and put in some stupid ideas so we can yell at you about something.

Thank you.

[Yoop]

Harve, that's a well thought out, logical post. After a couple pre-season games, that's exactly my thoughts on the Pack.

Shit.

That's no fun.

Go back in there and put in some stupid ideas so we can yell at you about something.

Thank you.

Ryan Pickett, with the quickness he had as a youth, ( mathews must have bribed him somehow) flashes closing speed and gets a sack, what a stud, lol.

[pbmax]

1. He's 30
2. He's injury prone
3. Raji said this year they're on the same page, dotting their (i)s and crossing their (t)s. Last year Jenkins did his own thing. It's been rumored he was seeking high sack numbers to get a paycheck.


I would have liked to keep Jenkins. I think he'd really help our group. He's no where near the player Raji, Matthews, Woodson, Williams and Collins are though. It remains to be seen if Neal is as good or maybe even better. I'm disappointed, especially at that price, but I'm not as down as HH. HH is making it out to be some terminal loss. Sheesh. We lost our 6th best defensive player and we gained some valuable experience from several young players and added a little talent in the draft. Defense should be about equal to last year, which was great.

Didn't you start that rumor?

[pbmax]

Wilson had a slow start to camp, but recent reports had him picking up his game as camp progressed. Wynn actually looks improved over last year in the preseason games. It all comes down to Neal. If Neal stays healthy, the loss of Jenkins will matter little. The depth at NT is good with Green backing up Raji. Green can also kick out to DE. Wilson is a below average or average starter, but he's pretty darn good as a backup. Wynn might have improved enough to be considered a decent last man off the bench type. I'm not sure our DL is in the dire straits that people make it out to be, but a lot of it depends on Neal.

I have read the Wynn has improved in camp stories and saw with my own two eyes that he was more solid at the end of last season. But versus the Cardinals, he was going nowhere fast on his pass rush most of the time. Now much of what he did was in base 3-4, not inside in the nickel, so perhaps he could do something different inside.

But improvement from one preseason to the next by someone who is supposed to be one of the pass rushers on a team has to yield more production on the field. Otherwise he is the definition of stopgap. That's not horrible, and his motor seems improved where he uses his speed to chase plays down. But versus the scrubs he was barely noticeable.

[Fritz]

I don't think, at this point, either Wynn or Wilson is the next Corey Williams or Johnny Jolly (in terms of talent and production).

[rbaloha1]

I don't think, at this point, either Wynn or Wilson is the next Corey Williams or Johnny Jolly (in terms of talent and production).

Agree. Role players with fresh legs at the end of the game.

[Bretsky]

I don't think, at this point, either Wynn or Wilson is the next Corey Williams or Johnny Jolly (in terms of talent and production).

At this point it seems like both are either the guys you try to replace each year or keep as your final DL; but we have two

[Patler]

I think people are giving up on Wilson too quickly. Last year at the end of TC most writers figured he was destined for the practice squad. Instead, he ended up playing more and playing much better than anyone expected. Following the disjointed mess that was this off season, he has started slowly, but seems to be coming around a little. I think he can be a decent backup yet.

[Harlan Huckleby]

why did TT cut Cullen Jenkins loose - why, why, why?

He was the little train that could. Beat up by his big brother his entire childhood. Too small to play pro football, undrafted, unloved. Yet he made it and developed the knack for pass rushing inside. this wound will never heal.

[hoosier]

why did TT cut Cullen Jenkins loose - why, why, why?

He was the little train that could. Beat up by his big brother his entire childhood. Too small to play pro football, undrafted, unloved. Yet he made it and developed the knack for pass rushing inside. this wound will never heal.

The ugly truth is that Cullen Jenkins is actually a me-first kinda guy who, when his contract year rolled around, abandoned the team concept that DEs in the Capers defense are supposed to embrace and focused only on building the kind of stats he thought would get him a lucrative contract. His abilities may be superior to any other lineman on the team (minus Raji and Neal) but his attitude doesn't make him a good fit for Capers's scheme. So he takes his 7-10 sacks and shirked containment responsibilities on the road. Big deal.

Ok, I am exaggerating a little to make my point. I do not doubt that the coaching staff was probably complicit in this when they sold Jenkins on the scheme in the first place. They convinced him that he wouldn't have to become the dumb mule who allows the linebackers to shine.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I have read the Wynn has improved in camp stories and saw with my own two eyes that he was more solid at the end of last season. But versus the Cardinals, he was going nowhere fast on his pass rush most of the time. Now much of what he did was in base 3-4, not inside in the nickel, so perhaps he could do something different inside.

But improvement from one preseason to the next by someone who is supposed to be one of the pass rushers on a team has to yield more production on the field. Otherwise he is the definition of stopgap. That's not horrible, and his motor seems improved where he uses his speed to chase plays down. But versus the scrubs he was barely noticeable.

He had a couple of really nice rushes playing the nose in the nickel in the game. He also had another pressure as a DE and he stuffed a run on the goalline. He made his presence felt. I thought he looked better.

[3irty1]

Wynn's ability to play the run was the only thing keeping him off the field last year. He was so bad they would use TJ Lang instead of him on the goal line. He's already a solid interior pass rusher but he'll have to keep improving if he's going to fool anyone into giving me a starting job.

[KYPack]

Wilson impressed me. He's learned a lot and is vastly improved this season. In the first quarter, they ran to Wilson's side. he was very active with his feet, hand fought really well controlling the blocker and stopped the ball carrier for no gain. Then I realized the guy blocking him was Colledge!

Wynn played better in his stint. Hopefully Neal is only slightly dinged and Wilson will come back and play at the hgher level. If we have to open the year with Wynn as the starter, we are a hurtin' unit.

[RashanGary]

JS had an article where they said the DL isn't in trouble. They said Both Wilson and Wynn look improved (particularly Wilson) and if Neals injury is minor, they'll be fine.