The Linebackers (watch them in rewind at your own risk)

[wist43]

Was rewinding back thru the 49er game and watching Burks and Martinez. Can't say enough bad things about these guys.

Burks in particular... he's so bad, I'm not sure it's even worth it to try and get him up to speed. He has no aptitude for the game of football, let alone instincts to play linebacker. He is, hands down, one of the worst football players I've ever seen.

At 1:20 of the 3rd quarter, he shoots in clean and runs right past the ball as if he didn't know he was supposed to do something about it, lol... he's habitually in poor position to take on blocks or break down, he plays upright and stiff, he takes such bad angles it's beyond baffling... seriously, what the fuck is he doing out there??

He's so bad and lacking in instincts, that I don't think he has a chance.

Martinez is at best a JAG. Congratulations Blake - you're Green Bay's best LB.

This position needs a complete overhaul.

[Fritz]

The problem is how do you overhaul a position without ignoring other areas of need? I don't think those two are as awful as you say, but I can get on board with the idea that the OLB's need a big overhaul - but how? Do you draft two in a row in the first two rounds like GB did with the corners in 2015, and hope it works out better? Do you try to trade for a known commodity at risk of acquiring a player with a shorter shelf life?

Hard to make this stuff all work. But I am intrigued as to whether the Cards would trade Chandler Jones, and if so, what the price would be.

[mraynrand]

Need a draft pick (or two) and a free agent to fill OLB position(s) next year.

Both have to work out. Any team building depends on accurately targeting players, but it also depends on luck. Bad work by TT and crew led to Randall/Rollins/Jones/Spriggs/Murphy/Fackrell/Biegel being unable to replace the secondary, the Right tackle, backup LT, and the OLB positions. Bad luck led to Shields having concussion problems that killed their plan to have him as a shutdown corner for at least four years. Because they had to compensate for those fails by picking King, J'xander, Jackson, Cole Madison(lol), ---, and --- (--- indicates useless undrafted OLBs) they are a total mess at LB.

[Teamcheez1]

I think it may be a little early to give up on Oren Burks after playing only 3 NFL games.

[mraynrand]

I think it may be a little early to give up on Oren Burks after playing only 3 NFL games.

yep. I've seen some good stuff from the guy, particularly in pass coverage, which is what they probably wanted most from him. Wist is right though about some bad angles and inability to shed blocks. But some cases of failed block shedding originate from marginal play up front.

[Joemailman]

I think it may be a little early to give up on Oren Burks after playing only 3 NFL games.

Not for Wist though. He knew Burks couldn't play early on.

[pbmax]

^

Positives: Good pad level

Negatives: Leaves feet too much. Or perhaps too late.

[wist43]

What I've seen of Burks in the NFL is exactly what he was doing in college. Maybe they can coach him up and get him past his lack of instincts... let's hope so.

As for Martinez, a team can get by with him as a stop gap - assuming he was your weak link, but given that he's probably our best LB, he has nowhere to hide.

This organization has thumbed its nose at LB for years. It's gotten to the point that the position is so bad, that it ripples throughout the whole team. Just a colossal mess.

[wist43]

I think it may be a little early to give up on Oren Burks after playing only 3 NFL games.

We cant give up on him... play him all year - come what may; and, see if he comes around. The early returns are not good though. For me, it's his complete and utter lack of instincts for the game... I just can't fathom how someone can be that lost on a football field.

[Bretsky]

Wisty…...is is Dom Capers fault that the LB's are so bad, or Ted Thompson's ? I'm slowly guiding you through your rehab

[mraynrand]

I just can't fathom how someone can be that lost on a football field.

i can


DON'T TALK TO ME ALLRIGHT? KNOCK IT OFF!!!

[wist43]

Wisty…...is is Dom Capers fault that the LB's are so bad, or Ted Thompson's ? I'm slowly guiding you through your rehab

I can't partake of my higher power til I retire I fear; hence, no need of a 12 step program

I do hope Burks gets it figured out, but he's soooooo bad, I just don't think he was put on this earth to be a football player. Just put the tape on and slomo thru the plays... the guy is lost. Which is what his college tape looks like. He's just not a natural.

[mraynrand]

We cant give up on him... play him all year - come what may; and, see if he comes around. The early returns are not good though. For me, it's his complete and utter lack of instincts for the game... I just can't fathom how someone can be that lost on a football field.

You can't draft Shazier in the third round (Burks) and you can't get White JPP in the third or fourth (Fackrell Biegel).

[pbmax]

You can't draft Shazier in the third round (Burks) and you can't get White JPP in the third or fourth (Fackrell Biegel).

You can get Justin Tuck in the third. Its not impossible, but the Packers track record suggests its not going to happen on the D line or LB.

[wist43]

There is a long, long list of LBers the Packers could have had in the late 1st and later, that many of us in here identified, that went on to be very good players.

The Packers, as an organization, don't get it. I think it goes deeper than TT, which is why I want them to do some serious self-scouting in the scouting dept and find out why we're missing these guys. Look at the scouts writeups on guys, and if they're consistently wrong - get rid of that scout. It's long since overdue to shake up the scouting dept.