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12 years ago
The Battle To Start At Outside Linebacker: Zombo and Walden  


The Press-Gazette is reporting that the Green Bay Packers still have LB Frank Zombo with the first team defense in practice, and I'm not surprised to read that he's looking the best in pass rushing drills. While LB Erik Walden had a monster 3 sack game in the final regular season, that was all the pass rush he brought last season. Zombo's been the more consistent performer. More from ESPN and Jason Wilde:

But while the Green Bay Packers coach may not be ready to say that second-year outside linebacker Frank Zombo is the leader in the clubhouse for the starting job opposite star pass-rusher Clay Matthews, the preponderance of evidence would indicate that Zombo currently leads Erik Walden and Brad Jones in one of the few competitions in training camp.

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12 years ago

Zombo takes the lead 

Mike McCarthy wasn’t handing out starting jobs Monday.

But while the Green Bay Packers coach may not be ready to say that second-year outside linebacker Frank Zombo is the leader in the clubhouse for the starting job opposite star pass-rusher Clay Matthews, the preponderance of evidence would indicate that Zombo currently leads Erik Walden and Brad Jones in one of the few competitions in training camp.

Zombo, who started nine games last season, including Super Bowl XLV, got the starting nod in Saturday night’s preseason opener at Cleveland and worked with the No. 1 defense in practice again on Monday. But McCarthy downplayed the significance of it.

“The rotation of Frank Zombo, Erik Walden and even Brad Jones, I think all of those guys have done very well,” McCarthy said after practice. “When I look at that position, I’m more interested in the balance between the outside linebacker position and special teams. We’re going to play a lot of different sub packages throughout the season. That’s where those reps among those players will definitely balance out. As far as who you want to put on (top of) the depth chart, we’re going to line up with 11 players.”

And it’s looking more and more like Zombo will be one of those 11 starters when the regular season begins Sept. 8 against the New Orleans Saints at Lambeau Field.

“It’s still a competition and that’s how we’re attacking it,” Zombo said Monday. “I think Coach (McCarthy) has complete confidence in all three of us. One person’s going to have to separate themselves from the pack.”
EDITED

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12 years ago
LB Frank Zombo continues to start opposite Clay Matthews, but coach Mike McCarthy stresses balance 

Frank Zombo was the starter in Super Bowl XLV, the starter in Saturday’s preseason opener at Cleveland and the starter again at practice on Monday.

Though the Green Bay Packers have yet to declare anyone the winner in the competition to be paired with Clay Matthews at outside linebacker, it’s Zombo’s job to lose.

If the Packers were going to make a change at this point, it almost certainly would have happened on Monday. In years past, changes on the depth chart often have occurred following the first preseason game. But there was Zombo, again getting the first reps at right outside linebacker. In every team period, he and Matthews would take the first few snaps and give away to Brad Jones and Erik Walden, who would take the second set of snaps at left and right outside linebacker, respectively.

The second-year pro, who last summer won a roster spot as an undrafted free agent and became the full-time starter in Week 8 after Jones sustained a season-ending shoulder injury, has been the most consistent of the Zombo-Walden-Jones trio.
EDITED

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Pack93z
12 years ago
I have to say.. I am disappointed in Brad Jones.. when we drafted him I really thought he could develop into "the guy".. granted injuries haven't helped.. but I surely expected him to be in this "dogfight".
"The oranges are dry; the apples are mealy; and the papayas... I don't know what's going on with the papayas!"
Greg C.
12 years ago
I heard A.J. Hawk interviewed on ESPN radio last night, and the host asked him who he thought was the player who has been impressive in training camp and most likely to surprise people. He said Erik Walden. He said that Walden has gained ten pounds of muscle and is running people over. I heard similar things from others about Walden, but it seems like Zombo has improved too.

Brad Jones is always described as "the most athletic" of the three, which seems to be the kiss of death for Packer players. "Athletic" is the word they use to describe players who aren't very good. I've thought all along that Zombo was most likely to start, but Walden should get on the field regularly. There are bound to be certain matchups and situations that favor his skill set. This position is looking less worrisome than it did a year ago.
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