Brady Poppinga

[RashanGary]

Barnett and Hawk both had really good games. I hope Poppinga gets alot better next weak or we're in trouble.

[ND72]

Lets just say this....it's the first game, I think all of our guys can get better...and if POOP, Barnett, and Hawk all improve every game, we shoudl all be very happy by the end of the year.

[RashanGary]

Barnett and Hawk both look very good right now. Poppinga had some moments where he looked tough as nails but moments where he cost us stops and cost our offense from getting on the field. He needs to get that fixed and he needs to do it soon.

He's a dangerous blitzer from the LB position. We should give him a chance to go at the QB. That will get him out of coverage and into a position where he can excell for at least 2 or 3 plays per game. He can get taken out in nickle/dime of course.....Other than that, he needs to play the pass much better or he won't last as a starter.

[ND72]

I did like seeing Poppinga step up and take on the lead blocker, haven't had that in YEARS...which instantly makes Barnett better. I did like our blitz looks for the most part yesterday, Hawk had a couple nice blitz's as well, not just coming off the corner. Poppinga had 1 that i saw where he got close, but the 2 big "pressure" blitz's were Hawks.

[packiowa]

I did like seeing Poppinga step up and take on the lead blocker, haven't had that in YEARS...which instantly makes Barnett better. I did like our blitz looks for the most part yesterday, Hawk had a couple nice blitz's as well, not just coming off the corner. Poppinga had 1 that i saw where he got close, but the 2 big "pressure" blitz's were Hawks.

Barnett brought pressure right before his int.

Poppinga is a GREAT first year guy against the run. He is better than Hawk at this aspect of the game. He is way better than Barnett too. Unfortunately, he can't cover an average TE (better than Bubba, he's just never had a qb) yet.

It does tend to open up the middle area of the field and short passes when a team gets burnt deep early. Notice that every deep ball after Berrian's was at least a solid double.

How come the Bears threw to the TE, yet we only batted down 1 pass from the midget? That and we didn't seem to get a single hard shot on Grossman.

[Partial]

I did like seeing Poppinga step up and take on the lead blocker, haven't had that in YEARS...which instantly makes Barnett better. I did like our blitz looks for the most part yesterday, Hawk had a couple nice blitz's as well, not just coming off the corner. Poppinga had 1 that i saw where he got close, but the 2 big "pressure" blitz's were Hawks.

Barnett brought pressure right before his int.

Poppinga is a GREAT first year guy against the run. He is better than Hawk at this aspect of the game. He is way better than Barnett too. Unfortunately, he can't cover an average TE (better than Bubba, he's just never had a qb) yet.

It does tend to open up the middle area of the field and short passes when a team gets burnt deep early. Notice that every deep ball after Berrian's was at least a solid double.

How come the Bears threw to the TE, yet we only batted down 1 pass from the midget? That and we didn't seem to get a single hard shot on Grossman.

Better than HAWK against the run? Poppycock

[packiowa]

I did like seeing Poppinga step up and take on the lead blocker, haven't had that in YEARS...which instantly makes Barnett better. I did like our blitz looks for the most part yesterday, Hawk had a couple nice blitz's as well, not just coming off the corner. Poppinga had 1 that i saw where he got close, but the 2 big "pressure" blitz's were Hawks.

Barnett brought pressure right before his int.

Poppinga is a GREAT first year guy against the run. He is better than Hawk at this aspect of the game. He is way better than Barnett too. Unfortunately, he can't cover an average TE (better than Bubba, he's just never had a qb) yet.

It does tend to open up the middle area of the field and short passes when a team gets burnt deep early. Notice that every deep ball after Berrian's was at least a solid double.

How come the Bears threw to the TE, yet we only batted down 1 pass from the midget? That and we didn't seem to get a single hard shot on Grossman.

Better than HAWK against the run? Poppycock

Yeah, Hawk has a little more Barnett in him than Popinga. Pop and Hodge (both huge coverage liabilities) attack the ball carrier better than the others.

Guess what else, KGB has looked pretty darn good against the run this year.

[pittstang5]

Hey all. I haven't posted in a couple days (not that I post that much to begin with) because I'm still upset over the loss. I'm not upset that they lost...I just wanted to see a game, not a mockery.

So what's the consensus people. Should the Pack pull Poppinga and start Taylor against the Saints or let it ride?

I'm no football expert....yet, and can't stomach watching this game again, but what I do remember is that Clark was open......open alot. I found this the most disturbing out of everything that happened....YES, even more disturbing then Herron's fumble. I couldn't tell who was at fault, because most times I was watching the pass rush and not paying attention to who was covering who. From common knowledge of Football, I figured it had to be a Linebacker and the player (TE) would mean that either Hawk or Poppinga was at fault. If everyone in here says that Poppinga was the culpret...then by God, let's do something about it. Look what happened to Colledge on his poor showing in preseason - INSTANT DEMOTION!

The Saints are worse off at TE than Chicago, even though I can't believe Clark came out of this game looking like Tony "Freakin" Gonzalez. If the Saints TEs start getting hot, you gotta pull Poppinga.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Tough call. Poppinga seems to have a brighter future than Taylor, but if he remains a liability, that can't start him while they still are in contention. I can see them giving him another game. If he struggles, I could then see Taylor starting--until the Packers are eliminated from the playoff race.

[MJZiggy]

Can't they rotate them in and out? Put Popp in and if he struggles, sub him out for a series or two and put him back in later to see what he does. Isn't this why we have 53 guys on the team (I know only 45 suit up) rather than 22?

[FritzDontBlitz]

floppinga's aggressive nature suits him well for the run game but he is a liability to play action passes. so, since he's too busy looking into the back field to cover anyway, why not just make him a blitzer?

[Harlan Huckleby]

since he's too busy looking into the back field to cover anyway, why not just make him a blitzer?

I'm sure you didn't quite mean it this way, but I picture the Packers having a designated blitzer on the roster, who runs out on the field whenever a blitz is called. Perhaps a red "B" on the player's helmet.

I also had a chuckle at Harvey's suggestion that the Packers bench Poppinga until they are eliminated from the playoffs. It makes sense, but a lot of people aren't seeing a 10-6 team here. Well, I guess there is Ziggy.

Here's the deal. The big deal. The real deal: we're only arguing over whether to make a decision on Poppinga now or waiting 3 weeks to decide. I say you give the guy a chance to adjust, particularly in light of the fact that he's just back from a year of injury, and is likely to improve week-to-week. On a team this crappy, with a backup in Ben Taylor who is suspect against the run, this 3 week wait is hardly worth debating.

[MJZiggy]

Kiss my optimism.