Poppinga given start over Taylor

[BananaMan]

Second-year linebacker Brady Poppinga also has moved up to No. 1 on the depth chart ahead of Ben Taylor and is expected to start at strong-side linebacker on Sunday.

Poppinga has recovered remarkably quickly from a torn ACL sustained last December, but he has maintained all along his comeback wasn't based on a time frame but on coming back as a quality player and contributor. Having just returned to practice four weeks ago (Aug. 7) and taking over a starting spot for the season opener certainly speaks to that.

"I never really expected it to happen," Poppinga said. "I knew it was a possibility, so the bottom line is I'll just give the greatest amount of effort I can to contribute to the team. It just so happens I'm probably going to be a starter. But it doesn't really matter if you're starting, you just have to go make plays, and that's my focus, to be a playmaker."

Taylor is now listed as the top backup at both the strong-side and weak-side linebacker positions. -Packers.com
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I guess they really like him. Ben Taylor is the kind of player you're always trying to replace, but I thought he'd be a decent player until one of the young guys stepped up.

I'm assuming Poppinga stepped up. Or Taylor didn't look that good.

Probably both.

[gbpackfan]

There are some very interesting things listed in the updated depth chart. Some things are a bit concerning.

1. I just find it hard to believe that Popps won the starting job in what, two weeks? Taylor was the starter all summer and into the preseason and it almost seems like Popps was just given the starting job. It will be interesting to see how he plays on Sun.

2. Noah Herron is our #1 kick returner despite doing VERY LITTLE back there during the preseason. Herron may very well be the least explosive kick returner in the league. TT had an opportunity to correct this problem via the waiver wire and failed. TT is telling me that he is more then satisfied with average to below average special teams. Very disappointing. I expect the Packers to have to drive 85 to 75 yards for just about every touchdown.

3. Jason Hunter is also listed as a back-up LB. Interesting. What an athletic kid.

4. Kendrick Allen is listed as our starting DT, along with Pickett. Cole is now #3 on the depth chart.

5. Those 4 WRs stick out like a sore thumb! Don't get me wrong, I am one of the few who actually like the 4 that we have, but only having 4 is a HUGE MISTAKE! MM initially talked about going into the season with 6 and now he is satisfied with 4? Come on! There is still time to correct this problem. Go get Calico, Watts or Rodgers.

6. Gado is #3 on the depth chart at RB. Herron is the new #2. As much as I dislike Herron as a kick returner, I don't have a problem with him as the #2 RB yet. He knows when to make the cut and was consistently turning out positive runs. Is he explosive? No. Is he safe? So far, yes. No fumbles and positive chunks, that will do. Can he do it against the Bears? I'll tell ya Sunday at 6pm!


Link to depth chart: http://www.packers.com/team/depth_chart/

[RashanGary]

Not a big surprise. Poppinga looked like the most intimidating linebacker in our camp. That is including Hawk. Of course Hawk is faster and more prepared to handle coverages but Poppinga will bring it with QB pressure and coming off blocks to make tackles.

[Packnut]

LB

Popp is the closest thing we have to a capable blitzer. His weakness is mis-diretion plays.

[FritzDontBlitz]

jason hunter should be listed in the lb core imo. he's basically a lb playing de. but then, so is kgb. wouldn't it be nice if they taught kgb some basic coverage skills so they could add a zone blitzing element to the defense?

[Bretsky]

Not a big surprise. Poppinga looked like the most intimidating linebacker in our camp. That is including Hawk. Of course Hawk is faster and more prepared to handle coverages but Poppinga will bring it with QB pressure and coming off blocks to make tackles.

Everything I've read would say Hodge looked like the most intimidating LB in camp; I hope they are right on Pop. I've never been a believer but he can happily prove me wrong.

[Willard]

3. Jason Hunter is also listed as a back-up LB. Interesting. What an athletic kid.

5. Those 4 WRs stick out like a sore thumb! Don't get me wrong, I am one of the few who actually like the 4 that we have, but only having 4 is a HUGE MISTAKE!

So, do you think Hunter can catch??

[RashanGary]

I don't think Barnett is going to be resigned. I think Hodge Poppinga Hawk will make him replacable.

[b bulldog]

I agree, Nick will be moving on when his contract is up although I could see the team trying to trade him this offseason.

[MJZiggy]

2. Noah Herron is our #1 kick returner despite doing VERY LITTLE back there during the preseason. Herron may very well be the least explosive kick returner in the league. TT had an opportunity to correct this problem via the waiver wire and failed. TT is telling me that he is more then satisfied with average to below average special teams. Very disappointing. I expect the Packers to have to drive 85 to 75 yards for just about every touchdown.

I think they just stuck Herron in there for the moment as Blackmon has returned to practice and is slotted to be the return guy when he does. We'll see how that works out...And if Herron doesn't fire things up out there, Stock will probably throw Martin in there to do it again.

Edit: And don't forget about Woodson like I just did.

[prsnfoto]

. Those 4 WRs stick out like a sore thumb! Don't get me wrong, I am one of the few who actually like the 4 that we have, but only having 4 is a HUGE MISTAKE! MM initially talked about going into the season with 6 and now he is satisfied with 4? Come on! There is still time to correct this problem. Go get Calico, Watts or Rodgers



I think this is why they keep extra TE's Lee can play WR so can woodsen and so can Blackmon. There just isn't much out there so we go with what we got all of this is because of fergy the Fraud I think most of what you see out there is the same as him talentwise and I think they take a cap hit yet this year if they ditch him so we keep our own shit. Fergy will be gone next year unless he breaks 500 yds and that ain't gonna happen.

[BallHawk]

I thought it was reported that Samkon was gonna be the #2?

[BananaMan]

wouldn't it be nice if they taught kgb some basic coverage skills so they could add a zone blitzing element to the defense?

They already did. Numerous times last year KGB would drop off into coverage from his DE spot.

[Joemailman]

I thought it was reported that Samkon was gonna be the #2?

2006 Depth Chart

Offense
Pos. First Team Second Team Third Team
WR 85 Greg Jennings* 89 Robert Ferguson
LT 76 Chad Clifton 73 Daryn Colledge*
LG 72 Jason Spitz* 73 Daryn Colledge*
C 63 Scott Wells 68 Chris White
RG 75 Tony Moll* 62 Junius Coston 64 Tony Palmer*
RT 65 Mark Tauscher 62 Junius Coston 73 Daryn Colledge*
TE 88 Bubba Franks 87 David Martin 86 Donald Lee
84 Tory Humphrey* (4)
WR 80 Donald Driver 18 Ruvell Martin*
QB 4 Brett Favre 12 Aaron Rodgers 7 Ingle Martin*
RB 30 Ahman Green 23 Noah Herron 35 Samkon Gado
FB 33 William Henderson 48 Vonta Leach

Defense
Pos. First Team Second Team Third Team
LDE 74 Aaron Kampman 96 Michael Montgomery
LDT 97 Kenderick Allen 77 Cullen Jenkins 90 Colin Cole
RDT 79 Ryan Pickett 99 Corey Williams 93 Johnny Jolly*
RDE 94 Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila 57 Jason Hunter* 96 Michael Montgomery
SAM 51 Brady Poppinga 58 Ben Taylor 59 Tracy White
MIKE 56 Nick Barnett 55 Abdul Hodge*
WILL 50 A.J. Hawk* 58 Ben Taylor 57 Jason Hunter*
LCB 21 Charles Woodson 28 Ahmad Carroll 27 Will Blackmon*
RCB 31 Al Harris 28 Ahmad Carroll 24 Jarrett Bush*
SS 22 Marquand Manuel 29 Tyrone Culver*
FS 36 Nick Collins 29 Tyrone Culver* 26 Charlie Peprah*

Special Teams
Pos. First Team Second Team Third Team
K 16 Dave Rayner
P 9 Jon Ryan*
H 9 Jon Ryan* 18 Ruvell Martin*
PR 21 Charles Woodson 85 Greg Jennings* 89 Robert Ferguson
27 Will Blackmon* (4)
KR 23 Noah Herron 35 Samkon Gado 28 Ahmad Carroll
27 Will Blackmon* (4)
PC 60 Rob Davis 75 Tony Moll*
KC 60 Rob Davis 75 Tony Moll*

* Rookies and first-year players are indicated by an asterisk.
** Depth Chart Is Subject To Change.


Gadi is indeed #3. He is more talented than Herron, but right now Herron understands better how to run behind zone blocking than Gado. Hopefully that will change.

[Lurker64]

If Poppinga is a solid SLB, does this make Barnett expendable in free agency next year?

It seems that if they keep Barnett, they'll be struggling to find ways to get Hawk, Popp, Hodge, and Barnett on the field all at the same time next year.