Neal to OLB??

[Bossman641]

Was reading through McGinn's year end rankings and this caught my eye:

D-line coach Mike Trgovac said some in the organization have been talking about giving Neal a shot at OLB next season

He would have to drop quite a bit of weight and change his muscle mass to become more lean. There has been some speculation here that Neal is too bulked up, and that contributes to his injury issues. Do the Packers feel the same way?

[Brandon494]

Umm no

[sharpe1027]

They tried something similar with Kampman and that was a mediocre success at best. However, Kampman was an outstanding high school LBer before he converted to DE at Iowa. Maybe they would want Neal to slim down to improve his pass rush, but a permanent move to OLB seems pretty extreme. But, what do I know?

[mission]

You need burst to play OLB... Neal doesn't seem to be that kind of athlete.

[Harlan Huckleby]

I think McGinn is repeating a half-baked, half-hearted remark made by a frustrated coach in informal conversation.

Neal should have been placed on IR this year. I think he needs an offseason and another shot to sink or swim next August.

[MadScientist]

I think McGinn is repeating a half-baked, half-hearted remark made by a frustrated coach in informal conversation.

Neal should have been placed on IR this year. I think he needs an offseason and another shot to sink or swim next August.

Agreed. If they force him to move to OLB, the options will be sink or sink.

[pittstang5]

Uh...really? Uh....no.

[woodbuck27]

They tried something similar with Kampman and that was a mediocre success at best. However, Kampman was an outstanding high school LBer before he converted to DE at Iowa. Maybe they would want Neal to slim down to improve his pass rush, but a permanent move to OLB seems pretty extreme. But, what do I know?

Thinking ...Rabbit.

[red]

so instead of a DE that can never get on the field because of injuries, we're gonna have a OLB that can never get on the field because of injuries

i still don't see that fixing anything

they think he's too heavy and that causing the injuries. isn't he about the same as he was all through college, or has he fattened way up?

[Upnorth]

We drafted him to fill Justin Harell's sport on the IR, I don't think he could fill an olb's spot on the IR.

[denverYooper]

I think McGinn is repeating a half-baked, half-hearted remark made by a frustrated coach in informal conversation.

Neal should have been placed on IR this year. I think he needs an offseason and another shot to sink or swim next August.

Agree 100%. The only part that might ring true is that they think Neal needs to drop a bit of weight because they feel his frame doesn't support his ability to bench a VW.

[pbmax]

A little HGH will clear this joint weakness right up.

[smuggler]

It's two years into Neal's career. He is a 3 technique DT in a 4-3 and a DE in the 3-4. How can you expect him to move to OLB? That's preposterous.

[George Cumby]

Hell no.

[Fritz]

Wow. A second round pick, too. Certainly they envisioned him as an end in the 3-4. Are the constant injuries what's changing the thought process?