[img_r]http://cmsimg.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=U0&Date=20081203&Category=PKR01&ArtNo=81203161&Ref=AR&Profile=1058&MaxW=318&Border=0[/img_r]For most of his four NFL seasons, the Green Bay Packers have resisted the idea of using linebacker Brady Poppinga as a designated pass rusher.
They finally tried it last Sunday against the Carolina Panthers. Perhaps its a sign of how desperate they have become, but the Packers plan to continue using their starting strong-side linebacker in a pass-rushing role.
Poppinga played defensive end for his first three college seasons at BYU before moving to linebacker as a senior. Since the Packers picked him in the fourth round of the 2005 draft, they have talked about the possibility of using him as a defensive end in obvious passing situations. He occasionally took reps there during offseason workouts the last few years and once in a while would take a few turns in the one-on-one pass rushing drills.
Now, with an anemic pass rush and a need to take some pressure off defensive end Aaron Kampman, the only player who has gotten a consistent pass rush, defensive coordinator Bob Sanders has turned to Poppinga. He played five snaps with his hand on the ground against the Panthers, and though he didnt record a sack or a hit on Jake Delhomme, he did get pressure from the right end position.
What am I a defensive end or a linebacker? Poppinga said. Its great. Thats who I am. Im somebody that can play a lot of different positions, and Im just a football player, so wherever Im needed.
It was the first time in six seasons, dating to college, that Poppinga got any significant time at defensive end.
It was six years to the day that I had a rush at that position, Poppinga said. So theres a learning curve in the sense that Im like a rookie at that position. But at the same time, its all really coming back to me really fast. The best way to describe it is like riding a bike.
Coincidentally, Poppingas opponent on Sunday was Panthers left tackle Jordan Gross the same offensive lineman Poppinga went against six years ago in his final game at BYU.
Poppinga used a bull rush against Gross on Sunday and nearly got home on both of Delhommes fourth-quarter completions to Steve Smith that set up touchdowns. He was closest to a sack on the 54-yarder to Smith that set up the game-winning touchdown.
He was right there in (Delhommes) face at the end, Sanders said. Weve just got to give him some more reps. Weve been working that for a couple of weeks (in practice), and he did a nice job coming in.
Packers coach Mike McCarthy indicated Poppinga would continue in that role in the nickel defense. In previous games this season, Poppinga would come off the field in the nickel and was replaced by the third cornerback. In the five snaps against the Panthers, Poppinga replaced the right end, usually Michael Montgomery.
The one thing Brady was able to bring to the game as a pass rusher was that he was able to force the quarterback to step up a few times, linebackers coach Winston Moss said. If its in the game plan going into this week, hopefully well use him some more. Brady did a good job of really working on that last week. It just so happens he was actually able to use it during the game, but he gets a lot of work on it (in practice). How many times during the game well put him in that situation, I dont know.
When asked why Poppinga hadnt been used in that role earlier, Moss said: I couldnt answer that question.
The Packers have been without a second legitimate threat to pressure the quarterback since Cullen Jenkins was lost for the season with a pectoral injury he sustained against Tampa Bay in Week 4. Jenkins ranks second on the team with 2 sacks behind Kampmans 9 even though he hasnt played in the last eight games.
If the Packers are to make a push for the playoffs in the final month, they probably need an improved pass rush.
Its a passing league, Poppinga said. Obviously, with the weather starting to turn against us a little bit, teams are probably going to try to pound the ball a little more, and we havent shown we can stop anybody who tries to run the ball against us. But at the end of the day, teams are still going to try to pass the ball, and the best way to combat that is to have a sound pass rush and make (a quarterback) feel uncomfortable and make him feel like hes not back there sipping his coffee and enjoying his time. Youve got to get him feeling like things are at frenzy. So yeah, its going to be vital.