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Standing by their man
Poppinga still a starter despite mistakes
By LORI NICKEL
lnickel@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Sept. 28, 2006
Green Bay - The Green Bay Packers have not been shy when it comes to roster and position moves.
Packers linebacker Brady Poppinga has struggled in pass coverage, especially against tight ends like the Bears' Desmond Clark.
General manager Ted Thompson has dumped familiar players in favor of young player with potential.
The coaching staff has already made noticeable promotions and demotions with the offensive line.
This week, a veteran fullback, William Henderson, may be asked to pass the baton to an up and coming player. Defensive lineman Colin Cole was the starter in Week 1 and inactive in Week 3.
Such recent team history suggests the Packers are willing to bench anyone. And that says volumes about second-year linebacker Brady Poppinga.
In three games, Poppinga has dropped an interception, missed a tackle or two, given up a 57-yard reception and has at times looked overwhelmed in pass coverage, especially when matched against a tight end.
Yet he remains a starter.
The bottom line is that the Packers see so much potential in Poppinga, have such great admiration for how he returned from an injury, and respect how he has handled himself under pressure, that they're going to keep him as the starting strong-side linebacker rather than bench him in favor of five-year veteran Ben Taylor.
"I won't compare players," said Packers linebackers coach Winston Moss. "I can only say that Brady is a very physical player. One of his strong points is his ability. There's no question he has speed, and he can hit. He caused a big fumble out there today in practice running to the football. He has the ability to be a good tackler. Why he's on the field, (it's) probably for what he can bring.
"Ben Taylor is an experienced guy, been a starter in the league, very smart, athletic, he can probably execute things right now because he has seen more, he can adapt in a game to things he hasn't seen before. He has his strengths, Brady has his. Right now, we're going with Brady."
While Poppinga's mistakes may be noted, any significant criticism of Poppinga at this point is inappropriate.
"To say he's played some things poor, there's nothing wrong with that," said Moss. "To say he's a poor player, or he's struggling, is way too early. It's only been three games. He had almost no pre-season and no off-season. To evaluate him and say he's struggling or can't do something, that's premature."
Here's why. There are three critical facts that have directly affected Poppinga's development.
One, he is new to linebacker. He played defensive end his first three years at Brigham Young before moving his senior season to linebacker.
Two, even though he played 12 games with the Packers as a rookie last year, he was a situational player in all but one. He was mostly a special teams tackler, and though he was good at that, he didn't get much experience in a 3-4 defense.
Three, he tore his anterior cruciate ligament last December and spent more than seven rehabilitating. He missed all of the off-season workouts and minicamps with a new coaching staff.
Those facts must be considered in his evaluation, Moss said. Though Poppinga is an older, mature player at 27, he is just a second-year guy.
Moss doesn't believe Poppinga lacks anything at all except experience, and he's just not going to get that sitting behind Taylor and being eased into anything.
"He's got to do it somehow," said Moss
However, Moss doesn't agree with the theory then that the Packers are just going to take their lumps along the way with Poppinga and live with his on-the-job training.
"I don't see staying with Brady means assuming that he's going to go through growing pains," said Moss. "When he does get either out of position, or he is not where he is supposed to be technique wise, it has hurt not only him, but the defense. But I see those as isolated, separate incidents. I don't see him having a problem. The more he practices, he's going to get comfortable. I don't have a time frame, but when that happens, he's going to be fine."
Now would be good, according to Poppinga. Mr. Intensity, who named his newborn son Julius Maximus from the movie "Gladiator," has put in the extra time at the office. Moss sees Poppinga in early in the morning studying film. He sees him sometimes in the linebackers meeting room, studying some more. He does extra workouts. Poppinga doesn't have an effort or attitude issue, and it's not a confidence problem. The man just has four starts under his belt.
"Strong-side linebacker in this particular scheme is going to face certain challenges," said Poppinga. "I don't feel like I've struggled, no. I feel more as though it's been a high degree of difficulty and I need to make it to that next level in my execution. That's all it is. Struggled, no.
"I look at myself as a work in progress. I'm pretty solid and in time I will get better."
But he expects himself to perform better. That dropped pick against New Orleans was really a backbreaker.
"It was in my hands and I expect myself to make those plays," said Poppinga. "The funny thing about that is my younger brother (Kelly) plays at BYU. The day before, he had the same exact interception. When that play took place and I missed it, I immediately thought, 'If my brother can make that, how can I not make that!' "
For Taylor's part, he's taking the team-first approach, though he worked out at that spot for much of training camp.
"No. Of course you're disappointed, but whatever we can do to get the team winning," said Taylor. "Everything's good when you're winning. Things aren't so good when you're losing.
"I am special teams captain. I have to get special teams ready. And being a primary backup, I have to know all the (three linebacker) positions, so right now I don't have time to worry about that. That's a coach's decision. I'm going to do the best I can at my position. Brady's a good player. He has a few things he has to work on, I have a few things I have to work on. It's a good relationship, me and Brady, and really all the linebackers."
Poppinga said he played a lot of pass coverage in college because the Mountain West Conference was pass happy except for Air Force. Some games could feature 50 passes a team. So pass coverage is not unfamiliar to him.
Taylor did empathize with Poppinga in learning his way in pass coverage, however.
"For any linebacker, first you're built to stop the run," said Taylor. "From there you've got to play the pass and cover a skill position guy. For anybody, that's tough, I don't care who you are. That's one of those things you learn with time."
Poppinga still a starter despite mistakes
By LORI NICKEL
lnickel@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Sept. 28, 2006
Green Bay - The Green Bay Packers have not been shy when it comes to roster and position moves.
Packers linebacker Brady Poppinga has struggled in pass coverage, especially against tight ends like the Bears' Desmond Clark.
General manager Ted Thompson has dumped familiar players in favor of young player with potential.
The coaching staff has already made noticeable promotions and demotions with the offensive line.
This week, a veteran fullback, William Henderson, may be asked to pass the baton to an up and coming player. Defensive lineman Colin Cole was the starter in Week 1 and inactive in Week 3.
Such recent team history suggests the Packers are willing to bench anyone. And that says volumes about second-year linebacker Brady Poppinga.
In three games, Poppinga has dropped an interception, missed a tackle or two, given up a 57-yard reception and has at times looked overwhelmed in pass coverage, especially when matched against a tight end.
Yet he remains a starter.
The bottom line is that the Packers see so much potential in Poppinga, have such great admiration for how he returned from an injury, and respect how he has handled himself under pressure, that they're going to keep him as the starting strong-side linebacker rather than bench him in favor of five-year veteran Ben Taylor.
"I won't compare players," said Packers linebackers coach Winston Moss. "I can only say that Brady is a very physical player. One of his strong points is his ability. There's no question he has speed, and he can hit. He caused a big fumble out there today in practice running to the football. He has the ability to be a good tackler. Why he's on the field, (it's) probably for what he can bring.
"Ben Taylor is an experienced guy, been a starter in the league, very smart, athletic, he can probably execute things right now because he has seen more, he can adapt in a game to things he hasn't seen before. He has his strengths, Brady has his. Right now, we're going with Brady."
While Poppinga's mistakes may be noted, any significant criticism of Poppinga at this point is inappropriate.
"To say he's played some things poor, there's nothing wrong with that," said Moss. "To say he's a poor player, or he's struggling, is way too early. It's only been three games. He had almost no pre-season and no off-season. To evaluate him and say he's struggling or can't do something, that's premature."
Here's why. There are three critical facts that have directly affected Poppinga's development.
One, he is new to linebacker. He played defensive end his first three years at Brigham Young before moving his senior season to linebacker.
Two, even though he played 12 games with the Packers as a rookie last year, he was a situational player in all but one. He was mostly a special teams tackler, and though he was good at that, he didn't get much experience in a 3-4 defense.
Three, he tore his anterior cruciate ligament last December and spent more than seven rehabilitating. He missed all of the off-season workouts and minicamps with a new coaching staff.
Those facts must be considered in his evaluation, Moss said. Though Poppinga is an older, mature player at 27, he is just a second-year guy.
Moss doesn't believe Poppinga lacks anything at all except experience, and he's just not going to get that sitting behind Taylor and being eased into anything.
"He's got to do it somehow," said Moss
However, Moss doesn't agree with the theory then that the Packers are just going to take their lumps along the way with Poppinga and live with his on-the-job training.
"I don't see staying with Brady means assuming that he's going to go through growing pains," said Moss. "When he does get either out of position, or he is not where he is supposed to be technique wise, it has hurt not only him, but the defense. But I see those as isolated, separate incidents. I don't see him having a problem. The more he practices, he's going to get comfortable. I don't have a time frame, but when that happens, he's going to be fine."
Now would be good, according to Poppinga. Mr. Intensity, who named his newborn son Julius Maximus from the movie "Gladiator," has put in the extra time at the office. Moss sees Poppinga in early in the morning studying film. He sees him sometimes in the linebackers meeting room, studying some more. He does extra workouts. Poppinga doesn't have an effort or attitude issue, and it's not a confidence problem. The man just has four starts under his belt.
"Strong-side linebacker in this particular scheme is going to face certain challenges," said Poppinga. "I don't feel like I've struggled, no. I feel more as though it's been a high degree of difficulty and I need to make it to that next level in my execution. That's all it is. Struggled, no.
"I look at myself as a work in progress. I'm pretty solid and in time I will get better."
But he expects himself to perform better. That dropped pick against New Orleans was really a backbreaker.
"It was in my hands and I expect myself to make those plays," said Poppinga. "The funny thing about that is my younger brother (Kelly) plays at BYU. The day before, he had the same exact interception. When that play took place and I missed it, I immediately thought, 'If my brother can make that, how can I not make that!' "
For Taylor's part, he's taking the team-first approach, though he worked out at that spot for much of training camp.
"No. Of course you're disappointed, but whatever we can do to get the team winning," said Taylor. "Everything's good when you're winning. Things aren't so good when you're losing.
"I am special teams captain. I have to get special teams ready. And being a primary backup, I have to know all the (three linebacker) positions, so right now I don't have time to worry about that. That's a coach's decision. I'm going to do the best I can at my position. Brady's a good player. He has a few things he has to work on, I have a few things I have to work on. It's a good relationship, me and Brady, and really all the linebackers."
Poppinga said he played a lot of pass coverage in college because the Mountain West Conference was pass happy except for Air Force. Some games could feature 50 passes a team. So pass coverage is not unfamiliar to him.
Taylor did empathize with Poppinga in learning his way in pass coverage, however.
"For any linebacker, first you're built to stop the run," said Taylor. "From there you've got to play the pass and cover a skill position guy. For anybody, that's tough, I don't care who you are. That's one of those things you learn with time."
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