Packers interested in... Donnie Edwards, Griffith, Grant

[ND72]

4.68ish??

yikes...that's pre-acl surgery, and even that is eh. I don't question that, but I prefer my LB's in the NFL to be in the 4.4-4.59's...I don't question the guy is a brute and did improve...I just question if the coaching staff really thinks this guy is a 5-6 year starter, cause I sure don't.

Nick Barnett ran a 4.64 at 20 lbs less. Poppinga is bigger, stronger and about the same speed as Barnett. Typically I respect your opinion, but this one is way off.

oh my god...if you think Poopinga is as fast as Barnett, you're on crack also. Nick Barnett's Combine 40 was a 4.52 according to the pro football weekly's draft magazine from 2003. again...to think Poopinga is as fast as barnett is a joke, and is insulting.

[ND72]

IMO Poppinga was the toughest, most physical LB we had last year. He's not going anywhere and there is absolutely no need to replace him based on how well he played after getting comfortable.

I'm sure I could give you AT LEAST 10 reasons he was our worst LB last season, and why he should be replaced as soon as we have anyone better.

[SD GB fan]

My thinking is that we need a power back to handle the 3d and 4th and 1 plays as well as goalline carries. Duckett did well in Atlanta in those roles. He could be the power back that creates a nice balanced rushing attack for the Packers.

I think the Atlanta thing fell apart because Duckett wanted more playing time leading into his contract year. He didn't want to share. Now, he lost his chance and has to work to raise his stock again. He's a guy who is likely hungry to prove himself that can be had cheap (if compared to other deals going on). I think he's good value and he fits a need we have.

In 2003 he had 11 Rushing TD's. He had 8 Rushing TD's in 2004 and 2005 and all that was in the ZBS.

So, that's where I was coming from on that.

thats an interesting thought and i agree with that. he may not be the bset fit in the zbs between the 20s but he sure does well in short yardage and he has the experience. he would help us in the red zone and i dont think hes nearly as expensive as he was last year.

[b bulldog]

Brian Noble agreed with my take on Barnett playing the fastest but he is doing so with much less instinct than Hawk has. This is the reason his speed runs him out of many plays. PFT.com called him one of the fastest sideline to sideline LB's in the league.

[Zool]

4.68ish??

yikes...that's pre-acl surgery, and even that is eh. I don't question that, but I prefer my LB's in the NFL to be in the 4.4-4.59's...I don't question the guy is a brute and did improve...I just question if the coaching staff really thinks this guy is a 5-6 year starter, cause I sure don't.

Nick Barnett ran a 4.64 at 20 lbs less. Poppinga is bigger, stronger and about the same speed as Barnett. Typically I respect your opinion, but this one is way off.

oh my god...if you think Poopinga is as fast as Barnett, you're on crack also. Nick Barnett's Combine 40 was a 4.52 according to the pro football weekly's draft magazine from 2003. again...to think Poopinga is as fast as barnett is a joke, and is insulting.

Insulting? Really?

[gureski]

Brian Noble agreed with my take on Barnett playing the fastest but he is doing so with much less instinct than Hawk has. This is the reason his speed runs him out of many plays. PFT.com called him one of the fastest sideline to sideline LB's in the league.

You touch on the missing ingredient that fans often forget when sizing up players. It's not all athletic ability. Having a 'Nose for the Ball' is an often used term that describes players that are constantly in on plays. Some of that is effort and athletic ability but a large portion of having a Nose for the ball involves instinct. You have to know when to use your 4.5 speed and when to sit back and go half speed so that you're in position to make a play. It's not all about running like a bat out of hell and smashing into someone. It's more then that. A guy with less speed but higher instincts can make more plays then a guy who has more speed and athletic ability but lacks instincts because the guy with instincts knows when to use his speed and where to be (position wise) in order to make plays.

Heck, look no further then LeRoy Butler. He was one of the best safeties to come through the NFL in the past 50 years and he wasn't ever classified as fast. The thing with Butler was that he knew where to be to get himself into position to make plays. He knew when to apply the athletic gifts he had and that made him 10 times alot of the players around him that had more ability but less instincts.