Chillar the weapon of choice for countering key position
[img_r]http://graphics.jsonline.com/graphics/packer/img/news/oct08/tchillar1016.jpg[/img_r]Green Bay - He went from starter to role player but Brandon Chillar feels just fine about his decision to sign with the Green Bay Packers in the off-season.
A quick glance at the National Football League standings will help explain why.
The Packers are 3-3. The St. Louis Rams, Chillar's former team, have already fired their coach after a near-mutiny and have a 1-4 record.
"Of course that has something to do it," Chillar said. "This is a winning organization. This team has a lot of chemistry and it helps you just to buy in and do whatever you can do."
Chillar, who started 29 games the previous two seasons, has been a jack-of-all-trades with the Packers. Although his main role has been on special teams - he leads that unit with 10 tackles - Chillar has emerged as the Packers' best defender against tight ends. He got a surprise start at strong-side linebacker in place of Brady Poppinga against the Dallas Cowboys, and had a big pass breakup Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks.
With the Indianapolis Colts and dynamic tight end Dallas Clark coming to town Sunday, it would not be a surprise to see Chillar utilized once again.
"I think he's a long guy, gets his hands on guys and he's taken pride in wanting to cover the tight end," said Poppinga, who sees his playing time cut when Chillar's increases. "That's the role he's sort of fallen into right now. He's done a great job."
Chillar, who wanted to sign with the Arizona Cardinals but didn't because of a salary-cap snafu, is in Green Bay because Poppinga and others struggled to cover tight ends last season.
Through six games in 2007, the Packers allowed opposing tight ends to record 41 catches for 472 yards and three touchdowns. They also gave up four 100-yard games to tight ends in the first eight games.
Through six games this season, opposing tight ends have 26 catches for 245 yards and two touchdowns. The Minnesota Vikings had the high-water mark with seven catches for 77 yards.
The Packers made the biggest improvement in keeping tight ends out of the end zone. Last season, touchdown receptions by tight ends represented 39.1% of all passing scores the Packers surrendered (nine of 23). This season, it's 22.2% (two of nine).
The difference certainly can't be attributed solely to Chillar - he has not played that much and the safeties have been more involved in tight-end coverage - but his teammates know his value.
"He was a great addition for our team," safety Nick Collins said. "Last year we just had some trouble with the tight end. Now we really don't have to focus on the tight end. We have Chillar, and the safeties are going down on the tight end half the time. We just made it our priority to do a better job against the tight ends. And we're doing a better job this year."
Clark could provide the toughest challenge to date. Although the 6-foot-3, 252-pounder has struggled with injuries this year, he set career highs a season ago with 58 receptions for 616 yards and 11 touchdowns. In the Colts' offense, the six-year veteran is a pseudo-receiver and has the speed to fill the role.
"The thing about him that is really good is he makes everything look the same, whether he's going up the seam, (doing an) out cut or in cut," Poppinga said. "For a defender, it makes it hard to cover."
The Packers won't admit it but they added Chillar - their only major free-agent signing - because of matchups against players like Clark.
At 6-3 and 243 pounds with long arms and good speed, Chillar is the only Green Bay linebacker who can physically match tight ends like Clark, and some of the others the Packers have seen or will encounter down the road: Jason Witten (Dallas), Jeremy Shockey (New Orleans), Bo Scaife (Tennessee), Greg Olsen and Desmond Clark (Chicago) and Marcedes Lewis (Jacksonville).
Coach Mike McCarthy has indicated that A.J. Hawk, whose playing time has been cut in recent weeks because of a groin injury, will be back at his nickel linebacker spot against the Colts but Chillar could be utilized as well. Since the Colts like to run a no-huddle offense to keep opponents from substituting, Chillar could remain on the field because he is so versatile.
Keep in mind, Chillar's ability to do so many things is the reason why he's been a valuable addition to the Packers. As to whether he's a starter or reserve, Chillar thinks those are just labels.
"I'm satisfied," Chillar said. "Not being a starter anymore, that's not as hard as people would think. If you have the right mind-set and realize that your value can be measured in so many ways, then it's an easier transition. I know my role. I think I've done a good job at filling it, and I look forward to more opportunities."