Zero2Cool
14 years ago
http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/107815189.html 


Green Bay Sitting in his locker with ice bags on one of his knees, a hip and a shoulder, linebacker Desmond Bishop looked like he definitely got the worst against the New York Jets.

Looks, however, can be deceiving.

The other guys' running backs managed just 74 yards rushing on 22 carries, and Bishop was a major factor in the Green Bay Packers shutting out the Jets' offense. He finished with a game-high 13 tackles and broke up two passes, including a clutch third-and-1 deflection late in the first half that assured the Jets would remain behind, 3-0.

Since he became the starter for injured Nick Barnett, Bishop often comes out of the training room after games entombed in icepacks. He wouldn't have it any other way.

"It's a physical game," Bishop said.

It's especially physical when Bishop is on the field. The 6-foot-2, 238-pound inside linebacker's speed has been questioned, his over-zealousness has gotten him in trouble and his inconsistency has been mentioned often.

But his tackling has never been doubted.

Bishop doesn't just tackle people. He tries to make ball-carriers look to see the name on the back of his jersey as they pull themselves up off the ground.

"He's a play-making tackler," inside linebackers coach Winston Moss said. "I've seen him low tackle well, I've seen him go for the big hit, I've seen him form tackle, I've seen him angle tackle. I've seen him do all the technique tackles, but I've also seen him really go after guys and try to get the ball out.

"As long as he continues to get that guy down, I'll continue to support him."
Making most of chance

Ten weeks ago, Bishop couldn't see himself in the role he's in now. For three years, he has been Barnett's backup, heading for the bench as soon as another impressive training camp was in the books.

During the games he did manage to play, he was wildly inconsistent, forcing a fumble on Minnesota's Adrian Peterson on a fourth-down play one moment and failing to fill a gap that allowed Peterson to score the game-winning touchdown the next.

Bishop recalled the conversation he had with a reporter shortly before the start of the season. After another solid training camp, he was so frustrated that he was contemplating having his agent, Blake Baratz, ask for a trade.

Told that it was a long season and injuries could happen, Bishop wasn't comforted.

"When you asked me this, I probably wouldn't have seen it coming," Bishop said. "I was always staying in tune, staying ready for my opportunity when and if it every came. It came, so I'm just embracing it."

Bishop has started five games, and those plays that kept making people wonder if he could be trusted as a starter are few and far between. He has had double-digit tackles in four of those games, and scored his first touchdown off an interception thrown by Minnesota quarterback Brett Favre. He has five tackles behind the line of scrimmage to go with two sacks, five quarterback hits, one forced fumble and five pass breakups.

All those concerns about him being able to play well on a consistent basis are starting to fade away.

"I always knew with a given opportunity I could string them together, but I just needed an opportunity," Bishop said. "Now it's here and I want to keep doing it throughout the season and possibly the postseason, whatever."

The Packers have thought enough of Bishop's play that they have had almost weekly conversations with his agent about a contract extension. Because Bishop is scheduled to be a free agent once a new collective bargaining agreement is reached, the Packers' offer probably would have to blow his socks off.

But with the structure of A.J. Hawk's deal likely to make him a free agent next year, the Packers could allocate the money they have been spending on Hawk to re-sign Bishop. The better he plays the more money he makes.

"The lines of communication are open," Baratz said.

Regardless of his contract situation, Bishop has come a long way in four years.

A sixth-round pick in 2007 and college teammate of quarterback Aaron Rodgers at California, he was not a unanimous pick by personnel evaluators to become a starter in the NFL. Bishop impressed everybody by pumping 225 pounds a remarkable 33 times at the scouting combine, but his speed was questioned and he was viewed mostly as a special teams player.
Rising through ranks

During his first three years with the Packers, he was exactly that, leading the special teams units with 49 tackles. Tackling has been a labor of love for Bishop ever since his dad, Dennis, a former college and United States Football League player, coached him and his brother in junior high.

"It was a new league that started," Bishop said. "Most of the people on our team, it was like their first year. Me and my brother were the only ones who played previously. We were 0-9. Pretty much if me or my brother didn't make the tackle, it was a touchdown.

"We got blew out like every game. I had like so many tackles. From then on, I loved tackling. That was just my thing."

To this day, Bishop pulls out tape every week to watch other linebackers and see how they hit. His favorite player to watch is Indianapolis' Clint Sessions, who rarely turns down an opportunity to bring the pain.

Bishop said laying the wood on a ball carrier on command is something that only a select number of players can do.

"It's really a talent," Bishop said. "Watching film throughout the league, not everybody can do it. I feel like I'm pretty good at it, but a guy I watch and who I try to learn from is Sessions. It's a talent the way he does it. He does it well."

So does Bishop, whose insertion into the defense has added some punch.

"Desmond has turned the corner from an execution standpoint, really doing a good job not only executing his assignments but still playing with playmaking mentality," Moss said. "So I'm very pleased how he's been able to step in and add another dimension to our group."


UserPostedImage
British
14 years ago
Free agency could be tempting for him.

Especially if he thinks Barnett, who plays is position, will be back as a starter next year.
UserPostedImage
Dexter_Sinister
14 years ago
We would need an upgrade from Hawk to even consider getting rid of him. We don't have that yet, so it would be foolish to do so.

Bishop has missed a few very big plays. I like his attitude more than Barnett's, but I don't consider him better than Barnett.

I think Bishop tries to make up for his lack of speed by guessing and trying to get a jump. Sometimes he guesses wrong. It also makes it easier for the QB to read where he is going.
I want to go out like my Grandpa did. Peacefully in his sleep.
Not screaming in terror like his passengers.
Zero2Cool
14 years ago
Hawk and Barnett
Hawk and Bishop
Barnett and Bishop


I think I like the combo of Hawk and Bishop the most. I like Nick, but he's unreliable. He's getting hurt a little too often.
UserPostedImage
dhpackr
14 years ago
is it not possible to keep barnett, hawk, and bishop?

if I could only keep two of the three, I'd go with Barnett, and Hawk. Business is business, and depending on how Barnett recovers from his injury, Barnett may have to win his job back.
So if you meet me Have some courtesy, Have some sympathy, and some taste
Use all your well-learned politesse, Or I'll lay your soul to waste
beast
14 years ago
I think Barnett is the most physical talented... but he least fits this defense as well... in the 3-4 the LBers got to be physical... he avoid being physical as much as he can other than with the ball carrier.

I think the Packers should ask around for possible trades for Barnett. He's talented, just doesn't fit this defense... I'm not sure who would offer the most or if that would be be worth getting rid of him. But asking around shouldn't hurt...
UserPostedImage
RajiRoar
14 years ago
one LB will be gone, Barnett is locked in for another 3 years, Hawk has a big payday coming.

think 55 is the odd man out, no matter how well he plays.

he should be our starter next year IMO, but long odds.

MintBaconDrivel
Dec, 11, 2012 - FOREVER!
Greg C.
14 years ago
I think Bishop is the best of our four ILBs. Ted should get him signed and let either Barnett or Hawk go--unless Bishop has some weakness in his game that gets exploited down the stretch. But if that was the case, it probably would've happened by now. I think Beast is right, that the ILBs in this system need to be physical--and Bishop is our most physical ILB.
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Fan Shout
Zero2Cool (14-Feb) : Packers are hiring Luke Getsy as senior offensive assistant.
Martha Careful (12-Feb) : I would love to have them both, esp. Crosby, but either might be too expensive.
Zero2Cool (12-Feb) : Keisean Nixon is trying to get Maxx Crosby and Davante Adams lol
Mucky Tundra (11-Feb) : Yeah where did it go?
packerfanoutwest (11-Feb) : or did you resctrict access to that topic?
packerfanoutwest (11-Feb) : why did you remove the Playoff topic?
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : Tua’s old DC won a Super Bowl Year 1 with Tua’s former backup
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : *winning MVP
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : Funny observation I've heard: Carson Wentz was on the sideline for both Eagles Super Bowl wins w/guys supposed to be his back up winning
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : NFL thought it would get more attention week preceding Super Bowl.
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : Yes, the Pro Bowl. It was played Sunday before Super Bowl from 2010-2022
packerfanoutwest (10-Feb) : pro bowl
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : From 2010 to 2022, it was played on the Sunday before the Super Bowl
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : They moved it to the BYE week before Super Bowl several years ago.
packerfanoutwest (10-Feb) : it was always after the SB.....
beast (10-Feb) : Though I stop following pro bowl years ago
beast (10-Feb) : I thought the pro game was before the Super Bowl?
packerfanoutwest (10-Feb) : ok now for the Pro Bowl Game in Hawaii
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : If I was Philly I would try to end it instead of punting it
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : VICTORY! We have (moral) victory!
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : Hey they mentioned that we 3-peted
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : seems to me the 49ers should have traded Aiyuk when they had the chance
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : if the Eagles get it down to the 1, do they Tush Push or give it to Barkley?
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : 49ers have a money problem if they want to sign their QB
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : Wait for real? Didn't he just get an extension two years ago?
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : 49ers gonna trade Deebo. Interesting
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : Replays always never seem to show the holdings
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : Great throw by Hurts
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : Where Carter falls prey to bad off the field influences (to be clear, not saying he'd clip someone though)
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : Had Carter not gone to Philly were they already had a lot of old college friends, he ends up in a similar spot to Aaron Hernandez
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : I think some of his coaches told scouts to stay away
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : the street racing incident+conditioning and motivation problems
beast (10-Feb) : Then Carter was street racing, where the other car crashed and people died... and other teams were scared to pick Carter for some reason
beast (10-Feb) : I think the Saints traded up, giving their next year 1st to the Eagles, and then they sucked and Eagles got the 10th overall pick
packerfanoutwest (10-Feb) : wtf Barkley?
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : Getting Carter and Nolan Smith in the first round in 2023 was pretty darn good
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : for some reason i'm thinking of a draft where the Eagles where in the mid 20s and a top player fell all the way to them
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : I think so. I would need to look it up. Think it may have been Carolina's pick.
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : i'm not sure who i'm thinking of now
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : oh fuck me i messed that up
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : Jordan Davis was 13th overall
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : Carter was 9th overall
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : Eagles had 15th and 10th selections, moved to 13 and 9 to get Davis and Carter back to back
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : Eagles traded up for Carter, didn't they?
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : Obviously he was a huge risk but getting a top 5 talent on the dline in the mid 20s is fortuitous
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : Jalen Carter falling into their lap certainly helps
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : And we could only wish to have this type of D
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : It's not like Philly has had low draft picks, but has managed to get themselves a top notch pass rush. We spend so much draft capital of D
packerfanoutwest (10-Feb) : another crap halftime show
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : I think it is over, but then I think of Atlanta and want Philly to go in with the same intensity in the second half
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