Late season additions that might help the team improve

[George Cumby]

He ain’t TJ Watt but he’s got real potential.

[smuggler]

Gotta be honest, been pretty impressed with ole Kyler these last few weeks. Sure he doesn't have the 10 sacks, but he's made some solid plays.

[pbmax]

Gotta be honest, been pretty impressed with ole Kyler these last few weeks. Sure he doesn't have the 10 sacks, but he's made some solid plays.

He's the adjustable wrench of the defense.

[beveaux1]

With the Smith’s, Clark, Fackrell, and even Gary, we have a very impressive pass rush. They’re already really good, but they could be scary good.

[texaspackerbacker]

Even optimist that I am, I sort of disagree that King has been all that good. He stumbled into his interception by not having any receiver go out on his side and having the good sense to drop back and play like a Safety. Even the last couple weeks, it seems like he has gotten beat more often than not - the great pass rush has just baled him out. I wonder if he might not be better suited to play Safety or maybe Tramon's Slot Corner spot. It doesn't seem like he can cover good WRs one on one deep.

[Fritz]

Gotta be honest, been pretty impressed with ole Kyler these last few weeks. Sure he doesn't have the 10 sacks, but he's made some solid plays.

I agree. He's been in the right place and made some plays the others can't - like smothering that screen pass in Minny. He's no star but a nice complementary piece.

[texaspackerbacker]

Stopping that screen pass was a smart play. I like the fact that they are using him sometimes as a second ILB. That position is used so rarely, and Goodson is mostly worthless. Rather than draft somebody at ILB, I hope they commit to using Fackrell there as needed, and just Martinez most of the time.

[Fritz]

Stopping that screen pass was a smart play. I like the fact that they are using him sometimes as a second ILB. That position is used so rarely, and Goodson is mostly worthless. Rather than draft somebody at ILB, I hope they commit to using Fackrell there as needed, and just Martinez most of the time.

This season is getting really freaky. First Tex might be right about his annual 13 - 3 prediction, and now I'm agreeing with his post.

[Anti-Polar Bear]

Stopping that screen pass was a smart play. I like the fact that they are using him sometimes as a second ILB. That position is used so rarely, and Goodson is mostly worthless. Rather than draft somebody at ILB, I hope they commit to using Fackrell there as needed, and just Martinez most of the time.

Martinez gets everyone lined up correctly but he's awful in coverage and average at best against the run. In other words, a Hawk clone. Only reason no one other than Wist bitches about Martinez, he was a 4th rounder (whereas Hawk was drafted over Randy Moss' kryptonite, the great Mike Huff).

If the German Shepherd doesn't sign a MOFO ILB in free agency or trade for Jaylon Smith, he should definitely draft a hotshot ILB, preferably one with speed.

[pbmax]

Martinez gets everyone lined up correctly but he's awful in coverage and average at best against the run. In other words, a Hawk clone. Only reason no one other than Wist bitches about Martinez, he was a 4th rounder (whereas Hawk was drafted over Randy Moss' kryptonite, the great Mike Huff).

If the German Shepherd doesn't sign a MOFO ILB in free agency or trade for Jaylon Smith, he should definitely draft a hotshot ILB, preferably one with speed.

I wouldn't hold my breath. They just don't regard a 3 down ILB as worth an all out frenzy as they would a QB or pass rusher.

If they go for someone, I expect them to chase a guy who can fly and cover.

[Anti-Polar Bear]

I wouldn't hold my breath. They just don't regard a 3 down ILB as worth an all out frenzy as they would a QB or pass rusher.

If they go for someone, I expect them to chase a guy who can fly and cover.

Regardless, Martinez is arguably the weakest link on the D. He just doesn't have the kung fu to cover. And the NFL is an air raid paradise. Packers need an upgrade at the Mike.

Sherman drafted Nick Barnett at 29. Maybe Gutekunst could find another Barnett. 2020 free agent class at ILB looks like its gonna be full of greying Hardy Nickersons.

[Zool]

Regardless, Martinez is arguably the weakest link on the D. He just doesn't have the kung fu to cover. And the NFL is an air raid paradise. Packers need an upgrade at the Mike.

Sherman drafted Nick Barnett at 29. Maybe Gutekunst could find another Barnett. 2020 free agent class at ILB looks like its gonna be full of greying Hardy Nickersons.

Barnett was the same player as Martinez. Drag down tackles and trailing backs and TEs.

Try again.

[run pMc]

If they go for someone, I expect them to chase a guy who can fly and cover.

I don't know who would be available, but I agree they need someone who can cover RBs and TEs and generally patrol the middle of the field where teams have hurt GB. Ibraheim Campbell and Raven Greene might be able to do most of it, but I suspect they'd rather have a 230-240 pound ILB in there to be stouter vs. the run. Plus it would help Pettine disguise his defense.

Martinez is ok -- he's decent against the run, and can sometimes cover but he won't make a living doing it. Smart, reliable, healthy... yeah, he's Hawk v.2.0 but he's better than Goodson or Burks.

[texaspackerbacker]

Martinez gets everyone lined up correctly but he's awful in coverage and average at best against the run. In other words, a Hawk clone. Only reason no one other than Wist bitches about Martinez, he was a 4th rounder (whereas Hawk was drafted over Randy Moss' kryptonite, the great Mike Huff).

If the German Shepherd doesn't sign a MOFO ILB in free agency or trade for Jaylon Smith, he should definitely draft a hotshot ILB, preferably one with speed.

I don't have the same negativity about Martinez that I always had about Hawk. Part of that is Hawk being drafted so high, but part of it is better performance IMO by Martinez too.

I say again, we really don't need to invest in a second ILB. We don't use the position that much, and for what we do, Fackrell has looked good at times, Campbell or another D Back there works good, etc.

[pbmax]

Barnett was the same player as Martinez. Drag down tackles and trailing backs and TEs.

Try again.

Never seemed happy with it, but in retrospect, was Barnett the best cover ILB they have had in the last decade?

There are so few who can do it. Almost seems more logical to find a safety to do it.