[img_r]http://wauk-am.tritondigitalmedia.com/includes/news_items/40/3635/jonespoppinga.jpg[/img_r]GREEN BAY Brady Poppinga was on top of his conversational game Wednesday. In the span of five minutes, he delivered a Biblical reference, drew a bizarre evolution metaphor involving some sort of pterodactyl, slipped into his professional wrestler shtick and used the word dude at least three times.
The Green Bay Packers can only hope that the veteran linebacker gets after quarterbacks the way he was attacking the English language.
With Aaron Kampman having defected to the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency and general manager Ted Thompson opting not to sign a free agent or use a high draft pick on an outside linebacker, the Packers are counting on either Poppinga or Brad Jones, an eight-game starter as a rookie last year following Kampmans season-ending knee injury, to emerge not only as a starter but as a viable pass-rushing threat.
Both Poppinga and Jones spoke to reporters in the locker room following Wednesdays open organized team activity practice, and Poppinga talked the better game. A pass-rushing left outside linebacker who had six sacks during his senior year at BYU in 2004, Poppinga said his biggest challenge this offseason has been to unlearn the passive style of play he adopted while playing in the Packers 4-3 defense from 2005 through 2008.
Cmon. Is that even a question? Obviously I think I can be more than that, Poppinga replied when asked whether he can win the starting job opposite Matthews. Its about being more than a starter for me. My goal is to be an elite, dominant, relentless pass-rusher in this scheme.
Its a matter of allowing the pass-rusher inside of me to re-emerge. You know, I had to kill him off for a couple years because what I did then was in such conflict with being a rusher. Its a matter of breaking those habits that I developed for four years of playing off the ball in a 4-3 defense and resurrecting like Lazarus from the dead the pass-rusher I came out of college as. Thats really where my focus is at.
Its unclear exactly how Poppinga and Jones are rotating with the No. 1 defense during OTAs. At the May 19 practice, the first of four open to the media and public, Poppinga worked with the first-string, while Jones worked with the 1s on Wednesday. Following the May 19 workout, defensive coordinator Dom Capers said Jones was the starter, even though Poppinga appeared to be ahead of him that day.
The way we finished up last year, its Brad (as the starter), and Brady we like because hes experienced enough that he can go at either side and bring something to the table there, Capers said.
Whoever it is, the Packers need the left outside linebacker to be a major threat. They fully expect opponents to double-team Pro Bowl right outside linebacker Clay Matthews the way the Arizona Cardinals did all game long in the Packers season-ending NFC playoff loss in January, so theyll need to generate more pressure from elsewhere.
Asked about the position Wednesday, Packers coach Mike McCarthy suggested that the pressure could come from other places than just the left side.
Brady Poppinga is having a heck of a spring, Brad is having a heck of a spring, and also Clay Matthews is coming off a Pro Bowl season. I feel very good about those three guys right now, McCarthy said. (But) I think you need to look at the whole picture. I think you need to look at the depth of the defensive line. You've got some young players in here that are going to have an opportunity. Also we have some inside linebackers that have pass-rush ability. We're in Year 2 of our defensive system.
I feel very good about the added personnel groups and the added combinations of different personnel that Dom and the defensive staff have come up with.
That may be true, but Poppinga knows full well that the most dangerous 3-4 defenses have productive pass rushers coming from both edges.
If you look historically, thats a lot of what they experience. And the team right now that does it really well is the Pittsburgh Steelers with Lamarr Woodley and James Harrison, Poppinga said. (If) you have two guys that are causing havoc, it really puts the offense in a bind and it really makes this defense go the way its meant to go.
The Packers are excited to see what Jones can do with a full offseason in the teams strength and conditioning program, along with full participation in the OTAs and training camp. As a rookie seventh-round pick out of Colorado last year, Jones missed the first two weeks of camp with a back injury but played well after Kampman tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee Nov. 22 against San Francisco.
Brad kind of came out of nowhere last year, started, what, those last seven (regular-season) games for us? Capers said. We liked what we saw in Brad. He responded well when Aaron went down, and we played pretty good defensive football with him in there. So hopefully he can pick up.
Capers estimated that Jones has added 10 pounds this offseason, and although Jones looks bigger than his listed 239 pounds, he wasnt saying how much weight hed gained. Jones said its what hes gained in terms of experience and understanding of Capers scheme that really matters.
When you get here, and they might not say it, but the rookies this year, you get to OTAs, youre swimming. Youre mentally just trying to figure out what youre doing, Jones said. This year, its completely different. I know what Im doing. Its just about tweaking your game and making everything better, getting everything to the pinnacle.
I think Im good at making something out of a little bit, so with the knowledge that I have, I think Im definitely going to improve. Its hard for me to tell you exactly what Im going to do, but I think Im definitely going to make some leaps this year as far as production.
I did show something last year. I only played half the season, but Im definitely going to show some more this year. Its crazy to look back on (last year), but I dont want to say I was surprised because you always want to have confidence in yourself. It was a whirlwind, but it was a fun ride.
Much like a conversation with Poppinga, who cant wait to show what he can do once he regains his pass-rushing mojo and the coaches unleash him (his word).
Ask anyone who knows me, Im one of the most impatient dudes in America, second to Clay Matthews, Poppinga said. If you think of evolution, between a dinosaur and a bird, theres that era where its half-dinosaur but it still has feathers, you know? Thats how I felt last year.
Im a guy thats an aggressive, just (an) always-going kind of guy. And this scheme allows me to be that way. Whereas when youre in a 4-3 (like) the one we implemented in Green Bay, (it) required that I bridled my passions so to speak. So I really had to keep things in control, in check. I really couldnt let myself go all the time unless I was blitzing. So this caters to my personality a lot more.