First Round Pick 2019, Rashan Gary

[pbmax]

It is *really* hard not to be encouraged by Gary's start. I don't think you could ask for higher praise of a rookie a few days in.

You know this site better than this. Here is Pettine's quote, tell me this doesn't say: will play most D snaps on bench as part of rotation.

"He’s been solid. You can tell football is really important to him. He doesn’t want to just be good, he wants to be great. He’s soaking it up. He has a lot to learn from a mental standpoint and technique-wise, but Coach (LaFleur) mentioned it yesterday, the one thing you love about him is his effort. Sometimes we have to slow him down in the walk-thru. He’s a guy with a great motor. We tell the guys we want to coach you how to play not how hard to play, and the effort is there every play."

You know who else had a great motor? Mike Daniels. AJ Hawk. Brady Poppinga. Atari Bigly. Mike Montgomery. KGB.

[Joemailman]

You know this site better than this. Here is Pettine's quote, tell me this doesn't say: will play most D snaps on bench as part of rotation.



You know who else had a great motor? Mike Daniels. AJ Hawk. Brady Poppinga. Atari Bigly. Mike Montgomery. KGB.

2 things about the great motor comment. When you combine that with freakish athleticism, you could have a guy with off the charts potential. None of the guys you mentioned, with the possible exception of early A.J. Hawk had that. Also, Pettine and LaFleur may have been contrasting how they feel about Gary's motor with what some of the scouting reports were saying.

[call_me_ishmael]

Exactly. I tend to agree with Joe here. We knew this dude had talent, and when I hear how hard he works and how strong his motor is, those are strong indicators when matched with his athleticism that they'll have a player on their hands.

[Freak Out]

AJ? Am I forgetting something about Hawk?

[Smidgeon]

AJ? Am I forgetting something about Hawk?

His combine workout was exceptional. Except for one or two spots, he tested just as good as Matthews. Based on his combine, he should have been the freakish athlete, but for him it never transferred to the NFL. Thinking too much, being too "reliable", etc. Who knows.

[Cheesehead Craig]

His combine workout was exceptional. Except for one or two spots, he tested just as good as Matthews. Based on his combine, he should have been the freakish athlete, but for him it never transferred to the NFL. Thinking too much, being too "reliable", etc. Who knows.

Or it was the Mike Mamula Syndrome. Where players just train for the "test" of combine day and then when they do awesome and inflate their draft stock, but once they hit the field, their good grade on the test doesn't match what they do on the field.

[RashanGary]

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[pbmax]

2 things about the great motor comment. When you combine that with freakish athleticism, you could have a guy with off the charts potential. None of the guys you mentioned, with the possible exception of early A.J. Hawk had that. Also, Pettine and LaFleur may have been contrasting how they feel about Gary's motor with what some of the scouting reports were saying.

Fair point, I forgot the motor critique. But still kinda odd because that wasn't the critique that stuck (I only read it in a few places). The critique that stuck out was workout warrior/athlete or non-production in sacks.

I still say this is coaching boilerplate and we haven't yet crosse the line into "will receive loads of playing time" yet.

[pbmax]

Hawk was exceptionally athletic for a big (at the time) WILL linebacker) and he had speed. But that speed never survived either that early career injury or his move to ILB in a 3-4.

[George Cumby]

Hawk was as explosive as fuck when he came in. His rookie year was really good.

The off season between his rookie and second season fucked him up somehow and slowed him down.

[gbgary]

I disagree with this. Drafting Gary was more a sign of playing with house money after signing the Smiths. The great upgrade of the pass rush was already in place. If Gary turns out to be great, it will help down the road for sure, and it will be gravy right now too, but essential to success? That was addressed in free agency. Safety, of course, was also addressed. The O Line still seems lacking to me, but hopefully they know what they're doing by doing very little there. Everything else is pretty solid on this team - despite the negative stupidity of some.

Rodgers leaving? You've sunk to a new level of bullshit with that comment ...... or are you talking about 6 or 8 or 10 years from now?

there's a good chance one or both of the smiths will be gone after 3 seasons here (if not before) due to cap reasons. if gary's a stud right away it will facilitate that and save them a ton...and that would be great. they're going to need every penny they can scrape up.
as for rodgers he'll be 36 in dec., his cap hit in 2022 is 37m, he'll be 39 then, his QBR has gone down 3 years in a row, he's become prone to injury. i don't see him signing another contract here. if he does it better be a team friendly one this time because the last one closed the window on any super bowl thoughts.

[texaspackerbacker]

Tex, at your age you should well know that some injuries incurred in our youth, remain with us for the rest of our lives. They can result in knee or hip replacement, arthritis, and more. As mentally tough as Rodgers is, the pain and medical treatments that we don't see or hear about are a regular part of his life and most likely will remain so long after his football career ends. His medical file must be as thick as a copy of "War and Peace".

When I think about what some players sacrificed for the game it's frightening. Jim Otto (both hips replaced), Joe Namath (both knees replaced), and the list goes on and on. Rodgers may well suffer every remaining day of his life because he is willing to sacrifice his body to be the best. I salute him for his courage and his mental discipline.

R.Gary is beginning his time in the NFL. He looks fearless and aggressive, but how will he be feeling in mid December when all of the hits and collisions have begun to take their toll. Will it make him tougher or beat him down?

And maybe it's much ado about nothing also - the residual effects. None of us has direct knowledge, and his performance other than the immediate effects of last year's MCL don't appear to have diminished. As for that "rest of your life stuff", yeah, that's what they say, but at my age and in my observation, it's not a sure thing at all.

Back on topic, yes, we sure seem to have drafted a good one - athleticism, work ethic ....... the third leg of the stool is football instinct. Hopefully he has it or will develop it fairly quickly. I haven't heard much one way or the other about that so far, though.

[texaspackerbacker]

there's a good chance one or both of the smiths will be gone after 3 seasons here (if not before) due to cap reasons. if gary's a stud right away it will facilitate that and save them a ton...and that would be great. they're going to need every penny they can scrape up.
as for rodgers he'll be 36 in dec., his cap hit in 2022 is 37m, he'll be 39 then, his QBR has gone down 3 years in a row, he's become prone to injury. i don't see him signing another contract here. if he does it better be a team friendly one this time.

What you're doing - to put it charitably - is called "static analysis". The cap won't be a problem. It increases; It can be managed; If the Smiths merit being kept long term, they will be kept, regardless of how Gary develops. They all play a position of extreme importance - you can never have too many good pass rushers, just like they say about Corners.

New contract for Rodgers? Maybe not; Extensions, maybe more than one? Hell yeah - he will be worth it for sure, and that's one very good way to manage the salary cap.

[MadScientist]

What you're doing - to put it charitably - is called "static analysis". The cap won't be a problem. It increases; It can be managed; If the Smiths merit being kept long term, they will be kept, regardless of how Gary develops. They all play a position of extreme importance - you can never have too many good pass rushers, just like they say about Corners.

New contract for Rodgers? Maybe not; Extensions, maybe more than one? Hell yeah - he will be worth it for sure, and that's one very good way to manage the salary cap.

There's a good chance that one or both of the Smiths will not warrant a new contract. They'll be pushing 30, and the wear and tear for the positions they play is pretty high. Just look at how fast Clay declined. Either they will be over-paid for by someone else, or they will have to take a smaller contract, or they will be done.

As for Rodgers, his contract takes him through age 40, and he's said before that's how long he wants to play. He may change his mind, but the Packers will need to be prepared for the post Rodgers era.

But you are right that the cap won't be the problem, performance will be.

[gbgary]

What you're doing - to put it charitably - is called "static analysis". The cap won't be a problem. It increases; It can be managed; If the Smiths merit being kept long term, they will be kept, regardless of how Gary develops. They all play a position of extreme importance - you can never have too many good pass rushers, just like they say about Corners.

New contract for Rodgers? Maybe not; Extensions, maybe more than one? Hell yeah - he will be worth it for sure, and that's one very good way to manage the salary cap.

an extension is a new contract...and another one with a cap % over 13% would be insane for someone that age. brady last year was 12.4%. and yes the cap can be managed...by cutting high $ talent, signing cheap guys just to get by. you know...stuff the Packers have been doing for a few years until recently.