wpr
  • wpr
  • Preferred Member Topic Starter
14 years ago

How the Packers Defensive Line Will Look Come September 

With the lockout looking like it could finally be ending, let's take a look at how free agency will impact the Green Bay Packers defensive line.

Obviously, the big potential departure from the team is DE Cullen Jenkins, who last year posted seven sacks in only 11 games. Despite his injury problems last year, Jenkins was still a big impact player on the NFL's second-ranked defense.

If (more likely when) Cullen Jenkins joins another team the Packers will have to carry on with the players they already have on there roster. I highly doubt Ted Thompson will add anyone in free agency, especially since he showed by winning the Super Bowl that his way works.

With that being said, let's take a look at who else is on the roster.

The Packers are set at NT, with B.J. Raji about to explode and take the league by storm, and Ryan Pickett being able to mover over to the nose if needed along with Howard Green. Raji had 5.5 sacks last year, which is very impressive for a 330-lb NT.

Pickett of course will be a starting DE first. He played nicely at that spot last year, doing a more than adequate job stuffing the run. The other starting job will likely go to last years second-round pick Mike Neal. Neal showed some promise early on but went on IR with seemingly half of the team. Second year player C.J. Wilson could contribute at DE as well.

He has shown that he can stop the run pretty well in his limited time and should be improved going into this season. Another player that could add to the defensive line is DE/NT Howard Green, who was picked up during the season last year and made his impact felt. A big part of why Nick Collins was able to get his pick six in the Super Bowl was because Green got right into Big Ben's face and almost got a sack.

Ultimately, it will be hard for the Packers to replace Cullen Jenkins' sack production, but overall they should do a good job replacing him. After all, he did only have 18 tackles on the season and the Packers played five games without him last year.



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porky88
14 years ago
Base defense will feature the best run stopping trio they have. I think that is Ryan Pickett/B.J.Raji/Howard Green, which was the starting lineup in the Super Bowl by the way. However, C.J. Wilson could make a push for Green. In my view, Neal plays the 2-4-5 package along side of Raji. That is where the Packers do most of their pass rushing.
beast
14 years ago

Base defense will feature the best run stopping trio they have. I think that is Ryan Pickett/B.J.Raji/Howard Green, which was the starting lineup in the Super Bowl by the way. However, C.J. Wilson could make a push for Green. In my view, Neal plays the 2-4-5 package along side of Raji. That is where the Packers do most of their pass rushing.

Originally Posted by: porky88 



If 100% healthy I don't understand why Wilson would make a push and Neal wouldn't... I think if totally healthy Neal is better than Wilson.

I think the coaches should think about telling Green forget about NT, leave that to Raji/Pick and think about DE and try to lose some bad weight and get quicker. That's what they told Jenkins last offseason, to lose some weight and get quicker... he was surprising quick at times for a 335+ guy...
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nerdmann
14 years ago
Harrell's really got a chance to bust out this year!
“Winning is not a sometime thing, it is an all the time thing. You don't do things right once in a while…you do them right all the time.”
wpr
  • wpr
  • Preferred Member Topic Starter
14 years ago

Harrell's really got a chance to bust out this year!

Originally Posted by: nerdmann 




AGREED!!!!
A Knee, a hip, his back...
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peteralan71
14 years ago

Harrell's really got a chance to bust out this year!

Originally Posted by: nerdmann 



-1

Green Bay: Home of the Green & Gold. And the hunter orange. And the camouflage.
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DakotaT
14 years ago
At least Bustin has luck on his side.
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DarkaneRules
14 years ago
My eyes are on Mike Neal to show what he can do. Everything I have seen of him has been pure dominance. Would love for that to translate well in games with us. Hopefully that injury, like most last year, was just a fluke.
Circular Arguments: They are a heck of an annoyance
porky88
14 years ago

If 100% healthy I don't understand why Wilson would make a push and Neal wouldn't... I think if totally healthy Neal is better than Wilson.

I think the coaches should think about telling Green forget about NT, leave that to Raji/Pick and think about DE and try to lose some bad weight and get quicker. That's what they told Jenkins last offseason, to lose some weight and get quicker... he was surprising quick at times for a 335+ guy...

Originally Posted by: beast 


Wilson quietly was a nice find in last year's draft. He's discipline and plays the run well. Neal is much more of a rusher, but I think opponents can run at him more than they can run at Wilson. However, a drastic improvement could change that, but I don't think the Packers look at Neal as a three-down lineman. They want him to rush the QB.
beast
14 years ago

Wilson quietly was a nice find in last year's draft. He's discipline and plays the run well. Neal is much more of a rusher, but I think opponents can run at him more than they can run at Wilson. However, a drastic improvement could change that, but I don't think the Packers look at Neal as a three-down lineman. They want him to rush the QB.

Originally Posted by: porky88 



I think Neal is much more of an over powerer (not a word but so be it) he can over power guys in run or pass plays. If you beat your man and get to the ball carrier fast you can win both run and pass plays...
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