So,...what should the Packers do about Mike Neal????

[Patler]

This is an interesting situation.
Was he a linebacker disguised in a d-lineman's body for 3 years?
He seems to have embraced the switch whole-heartedly.

Oh, and he did have 5 sacks and 30 pressures in what was a year-long learning experience for him. Could he become the best of the lot they have tried opposite Matthews? Maybe he already is.

Is he worth keeping?

[red]

boy i don't know with him

to me he seemed pretty average this year, and i have no clue if he'll get any better

judging by the brad jones deal which was based on the walden deal, you're probably looking at spending between 4 or 5 million a year on him

is he worth that at this point? i'd say no
is he worth it if he continues to improve? maybe
will he improve? maybe

is he really that much different the arron kampman who we deemed to not be good enough to play the OLB position?

[HarveyWallbangers]

I think he is, but I don't think you can offer him big money because he's injury prone. I'm worried that some other team will overspend based on the potential.

[HarveyWallbangers]

is he really that much different the arron kampman who we deemed to not be good enough to play the OLB position?

I don't think they are that comparable. Nick Perry is more like Aaron Kampman. I think both are 4-3 DEs. They just don't have ideal quickness for a 3-4 OLB. You could make it work, but it's trying to put a square peg in a round hole. Neal, on the other hand, looked like he had the quickness to play 3-4 OLB.

[red]

I don't think they are that comparable. Nick Perry is more like Aaron Kampman. I think both are 4-3 DEs. They just don't have ideal quickness for a 3-4 OLB. You could make it work, but it's trying to put a square peg in a round hole. Neal, on the other hand, looked like he had the quickness to play 3-4 OLB.

see, i didn't think that at all

i though neal and perry looked a lot a like, the only difference being the idea that neal could improve because he just made the switch when perry made the switch last year

guess its all in the eye of the beholder

[denverYooper]

I think he is, but I don't think you can offer him big money because he's injury prone. I'm worried that some other team will overspend based on the potential.

I have a feeling that much of his injury history is related to his probable PED use and putting on more mass than he could support structurally.

[mraynrand]

Perry plays like a lot of strong side OLBs. Neal I thought improved dropping into coverage. I'd be happy with both of them on the field at the same time, with Matthews as the other ILB next to Hawk, with the ability to freelance like Woodson. I think APRH, that would be a very good LB group.

[Patler]

Perry looks stiff compared to Neal. I saw Kampman more like Perry, too.

The injury issue with Neal is also complicated. Maybe the significant weight-loss (and he said he intends to lose a little bit more this off-season) and his change in training habits last year will improve the injury issue. Again, maybe his body really couldn't handle the weight he carried on his body and the weights he lifted in workouts. If he trains to be a linebacker, maybe his injuries will decrease.

[denverYooper]

I hope they get a deal done with Neal. He occasionally made plays that jumped off the screen, as did Perry. I hope they can keep Neal around long enough to sort out which one will be a longer-term answer.

[mraynrand]

I don't like Matthews on the Strong side and Neal on the weak side. I think it's a waste to throw Matthews at the LT all the time. He's smaller and quicker and they need to exploit that more. And Perry is much better lined up at ROLB. At least on early and run downs. If you have to keep Matthews at OLB, at least have him LOLB and Neal (or Perry) at ROLB on passing downs.

[denverYooper]

Perry plays like a lot of strong side OLBs. Neal I thought improved dropping into coverage. I'd be happy with both of them on the field at the same time, with Matthews as the other ILB next to Hawk, with the ability to freelance like Woodson. I think APRH, that would be a very good LB group.

I endorse this idea.

[mraynrand]

Perry looks stiff compared to Neal. I saw Kampman more like Perry, too.

Perry looks better in space than Kamp. Kamp was a better pass rush technician than Perry; Perry has better burst, but needs more moves. I'm OK with Perry as ROLB, so long as he knows whether it's man or zone!

[Patler]

I hope they get a deal done with Neal. He occasionally made plays that jumped off the screen, as did Perry. I hope they can keep Neal around long enough to sort out which one will be a longer-term answer.

That's were I am at.
Then I hope they get a guy in the draft who changes their decision to one of deciding which of Neal and Perry is the better back-up.

[run pMc]

That's were I am at.
Then I hope they get a guy in the draft who changes their decision to one of deciding which of Neal and Perry is the better back-up.

+1

I don't think we've got a full idea of Perry yet, because of the injuries. I do worry about him being "injury-prone". Neal too, although I think he was too bulked up on the DL and that was stressing his body. If he drops some weight he might get a little faster/quicker. Both of them alternately flashed and struggled. Most of Perry's sacks resulted in fumbles.
I don't think of either as especially proficient dropping into coverage, so I could them being used more on early downs or rushing. Also think they should flipflop Clay to LOLB and put the winner of the Perry/Neal camp battle to the ROLB. Perry did better there and I agree that Clay might have more success against RT's -- although I think some teams will just double/chip him with the RB or TE.

"APRH", with another year the OLB group could be decent. Depends on whether they can get some developmental leap from one or two of: Palmer, Mulumba, Perry, and (if resigned) Neal.

Some of the writers really love Neal and think a team will give him Walden money. I'm not quite seeing that, but I suppose it only takes one team. If that happens, I'd let him walk, draft a replacement, and enjoy the comp pick in 2015. (It's better than making Worthy an OLB)

[3irty1]

I think Neal will probably be retained but I have a hard time guessing how much he'll cost. He's the kind of bull in a china shop they have been looking for with pretty much everyone they've brought in to play opposite of Matthews. I know Kampman will be remembered as the failed conversion experiment but I think people use this memory to overplay the transition to OLB. Kampman was already starting to suck before he became an OLB.

Hopefully his strange transition and injury history drives away the kinds of suitors that think Erik Walden is worth 4M/year.