Defensive Studs

[vince]

As we go into the bye week, three Packers are having the best statistical seasons in the league at their particular position. All will be Pro-Bowl bound if they keep their current play up. These guys are obviously huge reasons for the Packers 5-1 start.

1. Atari Bigby - Leads all NFL DB's in tackles with 45, also has 2 forced fumbles and a pick. This playmaking, headhunting safety is having a Pro-Bowl year so far. What a find!

2. Nick Barnett - 2nd in the NFL in tackles with 56, also has 1.5 sacks and 2 picks. His big plays have been instrumental in a number of Packer wins this year.

3. Aaron Kampman - 3rd in the league with 29 tackles, 5th in the league in sacks with 5.0. He's far and away the tackles leader among the upper echelon sackers. Jason Taylor, while inferior in both categories, is the only one close to him with 26 tackles and 4 sacks. Kampman also has a forced fumble to his credit.

Also, Harris and Woodson should get some props, who give everyone else great opportunities to fly to the ball, and you've got a defense that has given, and should continue to give, the Packers a great chance to win every week of the season.

[Partial]

Atari Bigby has been a very pleasant surprise. I wish they'd use him on more blitzes.

[hoosier]

Re: Defensive Studs

As we go into the bye week, three Packers are having the best statistical seasons in the league at their particular position. All will be Pro-Bowl bound if they keep their current play up. These guys are obviously huge reasons for the Packers 5-1 start.

1. Atari Bigby - Leads all NFL DB's in tackles with 45, also has 2 forced fumbles and a pick. This playmaking, headhunting safety is having a Pro-Bowl year so far. What a find!

Bigby's been a nice surprise and an upgrade over Manuel so far, but I don't think a DB's tackles stats should be used to evaluate their play. In the end if a safety has lots of tackles that usually means (a) the front seven is missing lots of tackles or (b) his coverage is weak and his man is catching lots of passes. I would rather see Bigby evaluated for big plays (which you mention) and for how often we don't hear his name mentioned for blown coverages.

[vince]

Re: Defensive Studs

Bigby's been a nice surprise and an upgrade over Manuel so far, but I don't think a DB's tackles stats should be used to evaluate their play. In the end if a safety has lots of tackles that usually means (a) the front seven is missing lots of tackles or (b) his coverage is weak and his man is catching lots of passes. I would rather see Bigby evaluated for big plays (which you mention) and for how often we don't hear his name mentioned for blown coverages.

I agree generically with your comment, but I think tackles are relevant for a run-stuffing strong safety like Bigby. This guy plays near the line of scrimmage a lot, supports the run defense strongly and is consistently be around the ball.

He also is notable for the two things you mention, only having been beaten over the top by Burress for six, narrowly missing a knock-down. TE's have largely had their way with this defense, and Bigby's not been without some responsibility, but Collins, Popp, and Hawk have each had greater responsibility for that in my view.

Bigby's shown playmaking ability and strong tackling ability. I'm with Partial in wanting to see him do more blitzing than he's done thus far.

[RashanGary]

Bigby has played huge. Wist said he looked like a hell of a player before anyone noticed. Wist has a very good eye for defensive talent, IMO.

Barnett has turned around, but I think Wist was right up until last year and this year about Barnett.

[Harlan Huckleby]

Re: Defensive Studs

1. Atari Bigby - Leads all NFL DB's in tackles with 45,

Atari Bigby!? Didn't he get cut after the second exhibition game?

[run pMc]

Bigby's an upgrade over Manuel, that's for sure.

[Cheesehead Craig]

Harris doesn't have the sexy numbers, but all he does is shut down the opponents WR he is on. He's a Pro-Bowler this year already.

[mmmdk]

I will gladly admit that duing the first 2 quaters of the Skins game; I ripped the Packer D.

Shame on me! I love the play of Kampy, Bigby, Jenkins & Woodson. The defense stepped up - my hero, AJ Hawk, had a really good game overall. I want this D, so badly, to be the backbone of the Packers. Favre is the backbone on O and he makes our WR into household names. Don't get me wrong 'cos our receivers are good. I'm just sorry that our backfield plus OL suck. Plus our ST is slipping a bit but I think they'll rebound (kinking, punting & returns - the lot). this might be the very thing that would oust the Packers in a playoff game come january. Time to step up!

I know!!! But I can't help but believe in that chance to win the Super Bowl - however cranky I may be

[Merlin]

Atari Bigby has been a very pleasant surprise. I wish they'd use him on more blitzes.

I couldn't agree more. In pre-season he was a beast on the blitz. Although that doesn't always translate to the regular season. The guy would either get the sack or use his vertical to block/intercept the ball!

[Carolina_Packer]

For all of you strategy-wise posters here, can you please give an example situation when it would be good to use Bigby as a blitzer? I understand baseball strategy much better than football strategy.

[Green Bud Packer]

For all of you strategy-wise posters here, can you please give an example situation when it would be good to use Bigby as a blitzer? I understand baseball strategy much better than football strategy.

Third and long is covered in Blitzing 101.

[Carolina_Packer]

Yup, that would be an obvious time, naturally. Is there any other situation or down? Would it be disguised, would he come up the middle or off a corner you think?

[Green Bud Packer]

If i remember right he had success coming from the corner in the pre-season

[MJZiggy]

Sometimes you can successfully sneak in a blitz on first down, just to remind them that you're still there...Hawk had a pretty one last year where he was kind of crouching behind the line and then just slid through untouched. That would be sweet as well...