Packers by position: Defensive line by Rob Demovsky 

Once again this April, the Press-Gazette will provide a pre-draft breakdown of the Packers roster at each position by beat writer Rob Demovsky. This will lead up to the start of Pete Doughertys annual position-by-position draft series on April 21.

Defensive line

What they have

Ryan Pickett, B.J. Raji, Mike Neal, Howard Green, C.J. Wilson, Jarius Wynn, Justin Harrell, Jay Ross

Position analysis

Rajis an impact player and probably should have been a Pro Bowler last season. Hell be the anchor at nose tackle for years to come. Pickett was fine in his move from nose to end and still looks like hes got good football in him, although hes not a three-down player. He can play the occasional snap in the nickel but isnt a full-time pass rusher. Neal is all potential. He had a tremendous training camp and seemed ready for a high snap count until a shoulder injury ended his season almost before it got started. He had three tackles in a sack in his only real playing time at Washington in Week 5, but its a sign of what he could become if hes healthy. Hes strong as an ox. Whether he can step in and be a starter will depend on how he holds up. Green, like Pickett, is mostly a two-down player, but hes an effective one. With him, Pickett and Raji, the Packers have a beefy front thats tough to run against. It looks like he was more than just a stop-gap, in-season filler. Wilson has more potential than Wynn, although both will have to fight to make the roster. Harrells injury-filled career almost certainly is over in Green Bay. Ross was a practice-squader last season.

The future

The Packers almost certainly arent going to re-sign veteran end Cullen Jenkins, whose contract expired. Hes seeking more money than GM Ted Thompson will be willing to pay him, but some team probably will. Even suspended end Johnny Jollys second drug arrest wont be enough to change Thompsons mind about Jenkins. So hes going to have to address this position, and theres a good chance he could do so with the 32nd pick. A half-dozen defensive ends might be taken before the Packers pick, but Ohio State defensive end Cameron Heyward might be there for Thompson at that pick. Hes the son of the late NFL running back Craig Ironhead Heyward. North Carolinas Marvin Austin might be there, too, but character issues probably would scare Thompson away. This is a deep draft at defensive line, so perhaps Thompson could address the position with a later pick.

This is the sixth in a position-by-position series evaluating the Green Bay Packers needs entering the 2011 draft.

DEFENSIVE LINE

Need level: Moderate to high

On the roster: DE Ryan Pickett, NT B.J. Raji, DE Howard Green, DE C.J. Wilson, DE Mike Neal, DE Jarius Wynn, NT Jay Ross, DE Curtis Young and DE Justin Harrell.

Free agents: DE Cullen Jenkins.

Outlook: The line improved when Pickett got healthy, Raji began to play like a first-round pick and Green came in and offered some relief, but the run defense wasnt that good down the stretch. At times, the Packers were able to stifle offenses on first down and create better down-and-distance situations, which greatly aided the whole defense. A big problem for the Packers is that Jenkins, the best pass-rusher of the bunch, is as good as gone after not receiving any offers to stay. Then consider that the hefty Green and Pickett have been unsupervised for three months and might be letting their weight go and Neal is coming off a torn rotator cuff and has shown susceptibility to injury. Wilson came on late in the year and showed that with a strong off-season and continued improvement he could replace Jenkins at right end. Hes a good run defender, but nowhere near the inside rusher Jenkins is. Neal could fill that void. He showed in the Washington game that he can be a disruptive force in nickel situations, but again, he has to show he can make it through a season. Wynn was up and down all year and needs to use his physical talents better when pass rushing. Harrell is coming off a torn ACL, and while he looked good in camp last year and made the team, hes an injury waiting to happen.

Eye-opening stat: In the 13 games in which Green played, the defense allowed opposing runners to average 4.5 yards per carry.

Whats available: There is help at this position for 3-4 teams like the Packers, especially at the end of the first round where there will probably be a run on ends. Theres probably not a lot of agreement among teams on which player is the best of the group, so its hard to say who will be available. Iowas Adrian Clayborn has a birth-related nerve condition, Temples Muhammad Wilkerson looks the part but is very raw and Ohio States Cameron Heyward is enormously strong but far from a sure thing. On the third day of the draft, GM Ted Thompson could think about sturdy Mississippi State end Pernell McPhee or powerful Southern Arkansas lineman Cedric Thornton to beef up his run defense. Late in the draft there will be an opportunity to pick up a sleeper because of the depth at the position.

Bottom line: Thompson doesnt have to come out of this draft with a high pick at defensive end, but given the way injuries have hit this unit in recent years, he better make sure he has plenty of depth. Right now, he doesnt. Ideally, Thompson would like Neal to step in and take over all of Jenkins duties, but he has to protect himself if Neal is injury prone. Wilson could also step in and replace Jenkins or Green on run downs and the Packers wouldnt lose anything. If Thompson is able to add a pass-rushing outside linebacker then it will take some pressure off him to replace Jenkins rush with a lineman.

They like to talk about how bad the run defense was but that's going to happen when you only use 2 lineman most of the time.

"Stevetarded" wrote:

I like our depth on the DL.

"nerdmann" wrote:

"nerdmann" wrote:

Run downs - Pickett - Raji - Green or Wilson

Pass downs - Raji - Neal

Green spells Raji at Nose Tackle ocassionally

Pick up a 34 DE in the 3rd or 4th round for depth. I dont' see this as a need position at all. Like usual, Uncle Ted is a year ahead of everything with his drafting of Neal and Wilson last year.

Jenkins can squak all he wants - he saw the writing on the wall, but it isn't as if we didn't pay him alot of money on his last contract. If memory serves correctly, he was an undrafted free agent and is now a millionaire. Nothing to whine about Cullen - thank you for your services.

"DakotaT" wrote: