"Iron Man" - Mike Neal????????????

[Patler]

Who would have thought?

Enter Neal, who was criticized during his first two NFL seasons for not being durable enough. Out of all the players who lined up at outside linebacker this season, he was the only one who didn’t miss a game.

“It’s obviously a transition when you have guys that are converted defensive ends playing outside linebacker,” Capers said. “As the season worked itself out, Clay played the fewest number of snaps this year that he’s played, Mike Neal played more snaps for us at outside linebacker than any other outside linebacker. So those are things you have to respond to as you work your way through the season.”

http://www.packersnews.com/article/2...tract-winds-up

[Joemailman]

I think it perhaps lends credence to the argument that Neal was too bulked up before, and is at a more natural weight now. He's talked about losing another 10 pounds. I hope the Packers keep him.

[pbmax]

Beware small sample sizes. But yeah, what Joe said. This seems of a piece with his frame. Let's hope so anyway.

Small and Fast in 2014 #PackerD!

[mraynrand]

Small and Fast in 2014 #PackerD!

Smaller, Faster, Better, Stronger, Bigger! The Pack can have it all!

[pbmax]

Smaller, Faster, Better, Stronger, Bigger! The Pack can have it all!

Smaller, Faster, Better, Stronger, Bigger! [You] can have it all!

There has to be a pharma company that has that trademarked, doesn't there?

[mraynrand]

Smaller, Faster, Better, Stronger, Bigger! [You] can have it all!

There has to be a pharma company that has that trademarked, doesn't there?

There is a trademarked drug out there that's a cocktale (pun intended) of viagra and ephedrine.

[denverYooper]

There is a trademarked drug out there that's a cocktale (pun intended) of viagra and ephedrine.

It could just be a question of too slow blood flow.

[Patler]

As Ted Thompson would say and did say, bigger, tougher faster are good!

[Patler]

Now if I understand this correctly, the Packers had an overwhelming mandate last year, decreed from on high, to get bigger, tougher and stronger. They did this by asking Neal to lose weight, and he himself changed his lifting format to lighter weights. As a result, he lead the team in pressures, and lead all OLBs in plays and games played in what was his best year by far..

So, to get bigger and tougher, Neal got smaller and weaker; and it worked!!

[denverYooper]

Now if I understand this correctly, the Packers had an overwhelming mandate last year, decreed from on high, to get bigger, tougher and stronger. They did this by asking Neal to lose weight, and he himself changed his lifting format to lighter weights. As a result, he lead the team in pressures, and lead all OLBs in plays and games played in what was his best year by far..

So, to get bigger and tougher, Neal got smaller and weaker; and it worked!!

He had some shockingly good run stops, also. I hope he continues to develop for the Packers because OLB could be his fit.

[Iron Mike]

"Iron Mike," LOL

[Cleft Crusty]

So, to get bigger and tougher, Neal got smaller and weaker; and it worked!!

Yes, but a smaller, weaker Neal as a D-lineman is at the same time a bigger, stronger OLB.

[Patler]

So, how about getting Hawk to lose some weight and become an in-the-box safety for the bigger, stronger defense?

[Smidgeon]

So, how about getting Hawk to lose some weight and become an in-the-box safety for the bigger, stronger defense?

Wasn't Urlacher a college safety? Maybe Hawk can do that in reverse. At least he'd be better than McMillian and Jennings combined (although that isn't saying much).

[Cleft Crusty]

So, how about getting Hawk to lose some weight and become an in-the-box safety for the bigger, stronger defense?

Not fast enough, even in the box. I was thinking that the Allen kid from MI State could do this, but like Hawk, I don't think he is fast enough to play safety. He will probably go the other direction anyway, try to pick up some weight to get to a "Smaller Willis" body type.