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Chicago views Poppinga as Packers' weakest link on defense
By BOB McGINN
bmcginn@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Sept. 11, 2006
Green Bay - Not many linebackers in Green Bay over the past few years have been taken advantage of quite to the extent that Brady Poppinga was victimized Sunday by the Chicago Bears.
Still a certifiable project at outside linebacker, Poppinga allowed tight end Desmond Clark to have a field day at his expense in the Bears' 26-0 rout of the Packers at Lambeau Field.
"They came after me," the strong-side linebacker said. "They got me. I'm not going to deny that."
Clark, a pedestrian eight-year veteran, finished with five receptions for 77 yards, and all of the damage came against Poppinga. The Bears generally have been devoid of production from the tight end since Emery Moorehead enjoyed some decent seasons in the 1980s.
Before that, you'd have to go back to Hall of Famer Mike Ditka in the 1960s to find a dominant tight end.
The Bears probably took one look at the Packers' defense on exhibition tape, saw Poppinga trying to make the move to linebacker from his time at Brigham Young generally spent as a defensive end and decided to see if he could cover.
At times, offensive coordinator Ron Turner was successful moving the 245-pound Poppinga into space by shifting Clark to a split-receiver position. He caught a hitch for 5 yards from that formation.
Most of Clark's damage, however, came from conventional sets when he simply beat Poppinga.
The biggest play to the one-time Denver Bronco was a 33-yard completion late in the first quarter. Poppinga gave Clark an inside release, didn't get a good jam and then had to chase futilely as Rex Grossman's long pass easily was completed over his head.
"It's a man coverage so the help is inside," Poppinga said. "I have to get a better jam on him. When I jammed I lunged a little bit and got out of position. That's what created separation."
After getting Poppinga in trail position, Clark then cut to the outside and really left him in the lurch.
"At the very least I have to annoy him," Poppinga said. "When he made a cut outside and my help was inside, he was going to be wide open."
In the second half, Grossman completed first-down passes of 19 and 11 yards to Clark in which the coverage by Poppinga was pretty good.
"On both of them I thought I'd knocked them down," Poppinga said. "He just threaded the needle."
The Packers have a veteran option on the strong side in former Brown Ben Taylor, who clearly is better in coverage than Poppinga. But Poppinga offers better speed, more robustness against the run and superior pass rush. Given the team's rebuilding mode, it's unlikely the coaches would start the veteran over a second-year player with promise.
Poppinga, who will be 27 in 10 days, is married and the father of two. Uncommonly mature after having spent two years on a Mormon mission, he is eager for practice this week.
"I believe God gives us weaknesses and we'll be humbled," he said. "He gives them to us so we'll have something to work toward. I think if I can turn this weakness into a strength, I can be one heck of a player."
Based on unofficial press-box totals, Poppinga made seven solo tackles and one assist. He said his run fits and stoutness at the point of attack were solid and didn't recall missing a tackle.
From the Sept. 11, 2006
By BOB McGINN
bmcginn@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Sept. 11, 2006
Green Bay - Not many linebackers in Green Bay over the past few years have been taken advantage of quite to the extent that Brady Poppinga was victimized Sunday by the Chicago Bears.
Still a certifiable project at outside linebacker, Poppinga allowed tight end Desmond Clark to have a field day at his expense in the Bears' 26-0 rout of the Packers at Lambeau Field.
"They came after me," the strong-side linebacker said. "They got me. I'm not going to deny that."
Clark, a pedestrian eight-year veteran, finished with five receptions for 77 yards, and all of the damage came against Poppinga. The Bears generally have been devoid of production from the tight end since Emery Moorehead enjoyed some decent seasons in the 1980s.
Before that, you'd have to go back to Hall of Famer Mike Ditka in the 1960s to find a dominant tight end.
The Bears probably took one look at the Packers' defense on exhibition tape, saw Poppinga trying to make the move to linebacker from his time at Brigham Young generally spent as a defensive end and decided to see if he could cover.
At times, offensive coordinator Ron Turner was successful moving the 245-pound Poppinga into space by shifting Clark to a split-receiver position. He caught a hitch for 5 yards from that formation.
Most of Clark's damage, however, came from conventional sets when he simply beat Poppinga.
The biggest play to the one-time Denver Bronco was a 33-yard completion late in the first quarter. Poppinga gave Clark an inside release, didn't get a good jam and then had to chase futilely as Rex Grossman's long pass easily was completed over his head.
"It's a man coverage so the help is inside," Poppinga said. "I have to get a better jam on him. When I jammed I lunged a little bit and got out of position. That's what created separation."
After getting Poppinga in trail position, Clark then cut to the outside and really left him in the lurch.
"At the very least I have to annoy him," Poppinga said. "When he made a cut outside and my help was inside, he was going to be wide open."
In the second half, Grossman completed first-down passes of 19 and 11 yards to Clark in which the coverage by Poppinga was pretty good.
"On both of them I thought I'd knocked them down," Poppinga said. "He just threaded the needle."
The Packers have a veteran option on the strong side in former Brown Ben Taylor, who clearly is better in coverage than Poppinga. But Poppinga offers better speed, more robustness against the run and superior pass rush. Given the team's rebuilding mode, it's unlikely the coaches would start the veteran over a second-year player with promise.
Poppinga, who will be 27 in 10 days, is married and the father of two. Uncommonly mature after having spent two years on a Mormon mission, he is eager for practice this week.
"I believe God gives us weaknesses and we'll be humbled," he said. "He gives them to us so we'll have something to work toward. I think if I can turn this weakness into a strength, I can be one heck of a player."
Based on unofficial press-box totals, Poppinga made seven solo tackles and one assist. He said his run fits and stoutness at the point of attack were solid and didn't recall missing a tackle.
From the Sept. 11, 2006
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