Linebacker play - Barnett the greater evil

[mraynrand]

Wist,

you say you want a discussion with someone who has seen and reviewed the tape, yet you don't answer direct questions from someone who actually has. Where I disagree with you is that I think Barnett does a very good job getting to the edges of the field. I think he gets blocked too easily or often, and I agree that he takes false steps, but will you answer my question? Have you watched other MLBs for comparison? On tape?

That's probably my pet peeve about Packer critics - many seemingly don't make comparisons around the league, and just cherry pick comparisons to better players. Are you in this group? Which MLBs would you rather have? Which would you have stay with their teams? I'm not really calling you out here - just interested to know specifically which MLBs you think are better or worse.

[wist43]

Wist,

you say you want a discussion with someone who has seen and reviewed the tape, yet you don't answer direct questions from someone who actually has. Where I disagree with you is that I think Barnett does a very good job getting to the edges of the field. I think he gets blocked too easily or often, and I agree that he takes false steps, but will you answer my question? Have you watched other MLBs for comparison? On tape?

That's probably my pet peeve about Packer critics - many seemingly don't make comparisons around the league, and just cherry pick comparisons to better players. Are you in this group? Which MLBs would you rather have? Which would you have stay with their teams? I'm not really calling you out here - just interested to know specifically which MLBs you think are better or worse.

To tell you the truth, I haven't even thought about who would be better in there... I'm resigned to the fact that Barnett is our MLB - and probably will be for years to come.

As for other MLB's? I'll have to give that one some thought, and I'll put together a list for ya (I'm at work right now). Al Wilson comes to mind, but I'm not even sure he's still in the middle. Systems are also a consideration for the type of LB I'd prefer... I'm partial to the 3-4, so to a certain extent, comparisons of the LB's I really like is almost "apples and oranges".

I don't watch nearly as much football as I used to... Now a days, I watch the Packer game in its entirety, and only catch other games in passing. When I was younger I would watch football from noon to 11pm (had a great girlfriend back in those days who gave me Sundays "off"). Got too many other things going on these days. Messing around on here is one of my petter distractions.

[Homer Jay]

[quote="HarveyWallbangers"]

Are you honestly telling us you can determine how good a player is by watching and re watching the tv game tape? Half the time you can't even see the player you are trying to grade. Without seeing the coaches tapes it is awfully tough to know exactly what happened on any given play. We see the start of every play and the end of every play. Without seeing exactly what happens in between we are left to guess. I enjoy reading every one's opinions, but at least admit that we get about 1/2 the story from what we see on tv.

That was a shot at me--even though I often rewatch the broadcast on the NFL Channel. I don't think it takes a scout to see that Barnett is better than Poppinga. To suggest otherwise is absurd, IMHO.[/quote


It wasn't a shot at anybody. Personally, I like Barnett. I too tape and watch the games over. My point is there is no way you can know exactly what happened on a play from most of the angles we get to see on tv. We get to see the snap of the ball and what happens when the ball reaches a spot on the field, not what happened inbetween.

[HarveyWallbangers]

It wasn't a shot at anybody. Personally, I like Barnett. I too tape and watch the games over. My point is there is no way you can know exactly what happened on a play from most of the angles we get to see on tv. We get to see the snap of the ball and what happens when the ball reaches a spot on the field, not what happened inbetween.

I agree with you. I'm saying wist's original comment was a shot at me--which is fine.

[Homer Jay]

Mea Culpa.

[mraynrand]

We get to see the snap of the ball and what happens when the ball reaches a spot on the field, not what happened inbetween.

This is true. I was at the game and had my first chance to see the effect Martz' schemes have on the secondary. All his shifts, trying to set up mismatches can befuddle a defense. The secondary probably ran more before the snap than after. Like I said above, it was like watching a Chinese fire drill (is that no longer PC?). Still, Detroit is not awash with offensive talent...

BTW, did anyone else pick up on the battle between Donte Curry (55) and Hunter (57)? They were beating the tar out of each other and jawing on every ST play. That was fun to watch.