Perry...Wothy...JS...McGinn....Needs Improvement

[Zool]

Darn. This video was removed.

NFL.com

Go to the Packers/Chargers game highlights. First play of the highlight is the Perry sack.

[Lurker64]

I'm with ya, Mish. The kid is a bull.

He's an adventure in cover, but 'ol Kevin will get him goin' eventually.

He still needs to internalize that the bull rush is going to be his bread and butter, and it's what he should go to by default. When he wants to, with a little work on pad level and hand placement he can jolt a lot of RTs off balance, at which point he's basically won. He needs to save the "beat his man around the edge" stuff as a counter, not as the default move.

But we knew that when we drafted him. The Perry over Upshaw decision hinged completely on TT's confidence in KG's ability to mold NP.

[run pMc]

I thought the article was a little unfair -- IIRC Ingram was talked about as a top 10 draft pick; nobody had Perry that high. Worthy vs. Reyes is a little different; but I think one game is waaaay to early to panic. McGinn's a good writer when he wants to be; this was one of those "throw a bone to the rabid masses to keep them around and frothing" articles.
I think Perry is still thinking vs. reacting. The more reps he gets the better. When he gets past that he'll be fine...certainly an upgrade over what we had last year.

I've heard mixed-to-mildly positive things about Worthy, but he was sort of invisible in the game. I hear Daniels is the more likely one to make noise....looking forward to seeing him play.

As for GB's LT depth, I think Sherrod is the backup. Lockout + injury really hurts his development -- 2 summers in a row! -- but he has the size & smarts. He needs to get/stay healthy and shake the rust off. Haven't seen him play much, but I think it's too early to say he won't pan out. (If anyone can tell me why he won't pan out, I'm listening.) Aside from seeing if he was one of the best 5 linemen, he had no business playing at LG in camp last year.

Datko is PS bound. He needs to trust his shoulder and get stronger. I'm reading he's more natural as a LT vs. RT, and too finesse to be a phone booth fightin' guard.
Taylor and Wells? No idea...probably camp guys to keep around in case Sherrod has any setbacks.

[Smidgeon]

I thought the article was a little unfair -- IIRC Ingram was talked about as a top 10 draft pick; nobody had Perry that high. Worthy vs. Reyes is a little different; but I think one game is waaaay to early to panic. McGinn's a good writer when he wants to be; this was one of those "throw a bone to the rabid masses to keep them around and frothing" articles.
I think Perry is still thinking vs. reacting. The more reps he gets the better. When he gets past that he'll be fine...certainly an upgrade over what we had last year.

I've heard mixed-to-mildly positive things about Worthy, but he was sort of invisible in the game. I hear Daniels is the more likely one to make noise....looking forward to seeing him play.

As for GB's LT depth, I think Sherrod is the backup. Lockout + injury really hurts his development -- 2 summers in a row! -- but he has the size & smarts. He needs to get/stay healthy and shake the rust off. Haven't seen him play much, but I think it's too early to say he won't pan out. (If anyone can tell me why he won't pan out, I'm listening.) Aside from seeing if he was one of the best 5 linemen, he had no business playing at LG in camp last year.

Datko is PS bound. He needs to trust his shoulder and get stronger. I'm reading he's more natural as a LT vs. RT, and too finesse to be a phone booth fightin' guard.
Taylor and Wells? No idea...probably camp guys to keep around in case Sherrod has any setbacks.

I think you're dead on here. Even looking at the sack highlight, there seemed to be some hesitation after he pushed the RT off him before he ran at the QB. I'm guessing he was so focused on his technique getting past the RT that he had to relocate the QB after he succeeded. I'm waiting for the day when he doesn't have to think through it and plays with no tentativity.

[rbaloha1]

Gee Whiz -- too much overanalyzing a sack against a first teamer. What would have happened if it was against a third teamer?

IMO NP's form dropping back into coverage is fine -- just needs reps. Again, NP is a double digit sacker in year one.

[RashanGary]

Gee Whiz -- too much overanalyzing a sack against a first teamer. What would have happened if it was against a third teamer?

IMO NP's form dropping back into coverage is fine -- just needs reps. Again, NP is a double digit sacker in year one.

He's powerful, quick off the ball, and can bend/turn the corner.

Screw it. We play so much nickle, and this year they say we'll be playing more dime. . . having Perry play a little more of a DE type role than OLB role will be fine by me. He doesn't have to be a complete OLB in year 1. He needs to be stout at the point and a beast rushing the passer. Those things, I think he definitely can do well.

I agree. 10 sacks looks very possible. He looks like a pass rusher to me.

[Joemailman]

The most important thing Perry does is he frees up Matthews to play the right side where he's coming at the QB's blind side, or to line up wherever the matchup is most favorable. If Perry gets double-digit sacks that's great, but it's not necessary for him to have a major impact on the defense.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Both Perry and Matthews come off the edge very well. Clay is the complete package though. Perry is a bit more of a one trick pony. He does have some power, but he mostly comes off the edge. He lacks Clay's agility, but it will help him a lot when he develops a couple of secondary moves. I see Perry coming off the edge a lot and Clay doing a lot of stunting inside. When Perry forces the QB to step up in the pocket (which he did quite a bit in the San Diego game), Clay will hopefully be there to clean it up.

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

It may just be me, but Perry’s body does not look proportional. His upper body almost looks tiny compared to his lower body when I saw him in action against the Chargers. I’m not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing. Having a thick lower body probably provides him a lot of power on his bull rushes.

[Fritz]

Of course, if you're an offensive coordinator, you're going to draw up a boat load of plays designed to isolate Perry in coverage. Capers will have to use Perry wisely so the guy doesn't have to try to cover too much at first.

But it seems he has the skills. It's a matter of hard work and time.

[Pugger]

Both Perry and Matthews come off the edge very well. Clay is the complete package though. Perry is a bit more of a one trick pony. He does have some power, but he mostly comes off the edge. He lacks Clay's agility, but it will help him a lot when he develops a couple of secondary moves. I see Perry coming off the edge a lot and Clay doing a lot of stunting inside. When Perry forces the QB to step up in the pocket (which he did quite a bit in the San Diego game), Clay will hopefully be there to clean it up.

Wasn't Clay kinda like that as a rookie, a one trick pony who has developed into the player we see today? With Matthews as a mentor and Greene in his ear I think Perry can become something special too.

[Fritz]

So far it sounds like he's receptive to the coaching.

[smuggler]

Perry has a better bull move than Matthews. Clay is the best edge OLB in the game. Anytime Clay goes inside, he seems to get swallowed up. When it comes to stunting or weaving through the line for a sack, the guy my money is on is Bishop... sadly.

[wist43]

I agree that Worthy and Perry should be just fine - Perry has a steep learning curve, and will be a target for offensive coordinators early in the season; but in the larger picture, I think he'll be fine.

As for the OL... the starters are fine, even if Newhouse is a little shaky. But depth matters... if someone goes down, it's musical chairs all over again. I agree that Datko's struggles can be attributed to going from LT to RT, and of course he's a rookie; and while Taylor showed excellent technique, my 2 year old daughter could run him over. I love Sitton and Bulaga; I like Lang a lot... the rest is pretty shaky.

[smuggler]

Tommie Draheim stands a decent chance to make the roster because he can play all positions. EDS can play 3 positions.