Bigby, Bush move up

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

I agree Nutz, our only hope is that Manuel was slowed by not being able to train last off season and that he will improve with experience in the system. Bigby playing scares the hell out of me.

Bigby is raw, but he doesn't scare me half as much as the OL, or our TE's. Yeah he can get burned, but hell, so could (and did) Manuel, so really, what's the difference?

Why does the OL scare you more than safety? I'm starting to believe that they may actually be the strength of the offense this season. Two good tackles, two improving guards, and a decent center. Doesn't scare me that much. TE is bad though.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Comments by Harris and Woodson, if true, are interesting. Manuel could be gone.

Bigby displaces Manuel as starter alongside Collins
By BOB McGINN

Green Bay - The Green Bay Packers didn't just hand Marquand Manuel's position to Atari Bigby. But clearly the strong safety job now is Bigby's to lose.

Second-year man Atari Bigby used a big exhibition game against Seattle to vault into the starting lineup at strong safety.

In a dramatic move Monday to shore up his weakest position on defense, coach Mike McCarthy announced that Bigby would start Thursday night against Jacksonville at Lambeau Field. As long as Bigby doesn't fall apart, it's almost a foregone conclusion that the Packers will enter the regular season with him opposite free safety Nick Collins.

"He's an ascending young player; I think we all agree with that," McCarthy said. "He has impact-play ability, which he showed against Seattle. It's something to get excited about."

Cornerback Jarrett Bush also was moved ahead of Patrick Dendy as the nickel back in the 4-2-5 defense. Dendy has held that job since Week 5 last season but Bush is a faster and seemingly more dynamic player.

Meanwhile, the Packers informed safety Marviel Underwood late Monday that he would be released today. A fourth-round draft choice in 2005, Underwood wasn't all the way back from reconstructive knee surgery last August.

McCarthy attempted to couch the significance of Bigby's insertion, saying the position hadn't been settled. But Bigby took every snap alongside Collins with the No. 1 defense Monday night, a far different situation from last week when he took only a few with the starters.

Manuel, who signed a five-year, $10 million deal in March 2006 to leave Seattle as an unrestricted free agent, worked with rookie Aaron Rouse on the No. 2 defense. The No. 3 pairing was Tyrone Culver and Charlie Peprah.

The Packers are expected to keep four safeties. Rouse, a third-round pick, is expected to be one of the backups, and Manuel easily could lose his roster spot to either Culver or Peprah.

Bigby, 5 feet 10½ inches and 211 pounds, came out of Central Florida as a free agent in 2005. After being cut by the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets, he joined the Packers in November of that year. In two seasons, he has played six snaps from scrimmage and 94 snaps on special teams.

"I think he clearly has the physical skills," McCarthy said. "I've never questioned that. We now want to see if he can do it from the beginning of the game."

A source close to the situation said cornerbacks Al Harris and Charles Woodson had been lobbying the coaches for Bigby to replace Manuel, a player whom they apparently no longer trusted.

In the nickel defense, Bush replaced Dendy at left cornerback. Woodson plays the slot and Harris remains on the right side.

The dependable Dendy, however, probably isn't out of the picture. Will Blackmon also has a chance for the job.

"For as good as (Bush) played on defense I thought he played better on special teams," McCarthy said. "He's a very physical football player. He's only going to get better."

Bush, claimed on waivers Sept. 3 from Carolina, played 15 snaps from scrimmage and 276 on special teams in '06.

The release of Underwood wasn't a surprise. He played poorly in Pittsburgh and then missed another open-field tackle against Seattle.

"I don't think he's all the way back to where he was last year," McCarthy said. "A great individual."

Underwood, who had a four-year, $1.815 million deal, will count $107,500 in "dead" money against the salary cap next year.

[esoxx]

Very interesting. Although I don't think Harris and Woodson really ever trusted Manuel. Seemed like a lot of finger pointing out there. Chemistry in the secondary is a big thing and I don't see that getting any better with Manuel out there. Besides being a below average athlete, he seemed like an excuse maker too.

[Deputy Nutz]

It is really to bad about Underwood. He was starting to demonstrate a feel for the NFL last pre-season, and then he blows out his knee in the first pre-season game. Unfortunate circumstances for a hard hitting safety.

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

Wow, Harris and Woodson don't trust him, now thats very powerful statements by them. I can't imagine him starting now when both your starting corners don't trust the guy who has your back.

Well we know Bigby can blitz, but can he cover

[FritzDontBlitz]

yeah that comment about harris and woodson does say a lot, but if those three are on the same page can he do any worse than manuel did?

[MadtownPacker]

Well we know Bigby can blitz, but can he cover

Nope but we know for sure that manuel can't so it's time for him to go.

I like the last part where it says Culver could knock off manuel.

[Packnut]

Manuel

Wow, Harris and Woodson don't trust him, now thats very powerful statements by them. I can't imagine him starting now when both your starting corners don't trust the guy who has your back.

Well we know Bigby can blitz, but can he cover

It should'nt be any surprise that Woodson and Harris have no use for Manuel as it was written about during the middle of last season when coverages kept getting blown. Manuel sucks and all those who bestowed his virtues and made excuse for him should slap themselves in the back of the head for being stupid.

Manuel is a fraud just like Fergie and need's to be shown the door. Kudo's to MM for realizing it albeit a tad late.

[Fritz]

I hope TT will move quickly and dump Manuel. It just didn't work. Cut your mistake.

I feel bad for Underwood. Tough luck for him.

Glad to see that Bush is stepping up. I keep wanting to call him "Jeb" Bush, though. Good pickup by TT.

[Joemailman]

If Bigby gets the starting job, Manuel should be cut. You don't want a young player like Bigby looking over his shoulder afraid he'll be replaced by the veteran if he has a bad game. There is also the possibility that Manuel would become a malcontent if he's forced to the bench. While it's true that cutting Manuel would make the Packers incredibly young and inexperienced at safety, I don't think Manuel ever established himself as a leader so I don't think his experience is much of an asset anyway.

The thought of Nick Collins and Bigby as our starting safeties is exciting and a little scary at the same time.

[Packnut]

Jeb

I hope TT will move quickly and dump Manuel. It just didn't work. Cut your mistake.

I feel bad for Underwood. Tough luck for him.

Glad to see that Bush is stepping up. I keep wanting to call him "Jeb" Bush, though. Good pickup by TT.

Ok let's just call him Jeb!

[BooHoo]

Go Bigby. We can keep our fingers crossed and maybe he will pan out to be a pro-bowler! Okay, just dreaming some but eventually we have to hit pay dirt with some of our picks. By pay dirt I mean pro-bowlers. I know we drafted some good players but I am talking about a "take the game over type of player."

[wist43]

Biggy was flying all over the field during the game and not afraid to use his body in being agressive. I thought his effort was impressive.

I thought everyone was extremely down on him after the Steelers game?



Just shows how things can turn around in the preseason.

I am still down on him, he hasn't shown me anything in coverage, and the way the defensive line has played I would expect several of the safeties to be able to rush the passer. Show me good cover 2 and an ability to catch a running back out of the backfield.

I wasn't too concerned about Bigby coming out of the Steeler game - despite his misques, I liked what I saw. My biggest concern with him was/is coverage and his ability to break down and wrap up in the open field.

I've watched some of the game over a second time and paid attn to Bigby - apart from the highlight reel plays. As you know, evaluating safties off of TV is very tough due to the camera angles; but, I was able to see Bigby in coverage on a couple of plays where the ball went elsewhere... he seemed to be in good position most of the time, and he did have a very good open field tackle where the receiver made the catch, turned, and was immediately planted to the ground by Bigby with a perfect wrap up tackle.

The highlight reel plays were great, but I was most heartened by the open field tackle. Very encouraging.

As for the highlight reel plays, his 2nd sack where he came over the blocker was outstanding... an explosive display of athleticism and play making ability.

The player he reminds me most of at this point is Troy Polamalu. I know that's lofty praise, but from a purely athletic standpoint - strength, speed, toughness... this guy has those things.

I'm trying to temper my enthusiasm... it's early, very early; and, there's every chance that he'll prove that he can't handle the demands of the position in space, or that he doesn't have good ball skills, or that he really doesn't break down and tackle well, etc, etc, etc...

There could be any number of reasons why he might not make it; but, I've seen enough to say that the SS job is his to lose, and I see potential there for him to be a damn good player.

[the_idle_threat]

Re: Jeb

I hope TT will move quickly and dump Manuel. It just didn't work. Cut your mistake.

I feel bad for Underwood. Tough luck for him.

Glad to see that Bush is stepping up. I keep wanting to call him "Jeb" Bush, though. Good pickup by TT.

Ok let's just call him Jeb!

A nickname is born.

[BobDobbs]

I don't know that I would be so quick to cut Manuel. It isn't like his salary is breaking the bank. I think he is a backup safety and that is exactly what he would be playing for us. Obviously we would keep Collins, Bigby, and Rouse. But those other guys are going to have to outplay Manuel to make the cut.
The only way I see him cut is if Peprah or Culver is a key special teams contributor, or if he becomes poisonous in the locker room because of his demotion.