I just read a story about Erik Walden and it mentioned that the Packers have moved Brad Jones to inside linebacker. Why? He couldn't shed a block on the outside, what makes him able to shed blocks when he has blockers on both sides of him? Does he have good coverage skills and that's why?

Bad Jones, oops Brad Jones should be cut right with Mike Neal.

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I like this story, for a couple reasons.

1. It suggests a new kind of commitment from Walden. It's possible that he still has some upside, and the Turkey Day jail thing only derailed his growth temporarily. (He was playing better the several games before the incident, IIRC.)

2. Moving Jones to ILB suggests they know that he doesn't have what it takes at OLB, but also shows they recognize that ILB is a problem area and are willing to try several things simultaneously to fix it.

I have no idea what kind of coverage skills Jones might have, of course. But anything that might yield improvement over Hawk and, especially, Bishop, in this regard is worth a try.

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He can cover but he's also tall. Francois is a marginal player, but he had a couple INTs later that DJ Smith or AJ Hawk aren't gonna be making.

He can probably run with TEs.

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IMO, this will be a failed experiment.. IMO, he is not an every down inside linebacker.. he will get chewed up inside and buried.

That leaves a situation backer.. one thing Jones does have is a burst.

I am guessing that with the amount of bodies outside at Backer with holdovers like Zombo, Walden, Sooto and Lattimore; adding in new comers being added like Perry, Manning and Moses.. that they are probably conceding that he will not earn a spot there. So why not try and see how he fits into this role.. if nothing else to try and use his burst from the inside on stunts.

IMO.. we have 3 very solid Inside Backers (Bishop, Hawk and Williams) and I happen to like Francois more than some here.

IMO.. Moses or Manning would be better fitted inside than Jones.

Jones is a guy that should have been effective outside.. not dominate but been effective. Something just doesn't add up their IMO.

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Unfortunately, another chance for a guy that shouldn't be given any more. He hasn't improved his game at all and has had more than 1 offseason to improve.

I don't see this working out and he should be cut.

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The Packers have Moses! Do you think he'll be able to split the offensive line like he did the Red Sea? Packers D 2012 FTW!

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Bishop is our worst defender in coverage. The area our D struggled the most in. The area they need to address the most.

If you want to upgrade passing D, start with your weakest defender.

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Cut off your nose to spite your face huh? 🙂

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Everyones agrees that the Passing D was terrible and needs to be upgraded. Bishop was our worst defender in coverage by a significant margin. It is the most effective way to upgrade our pass D.

It is not spite. It is speed. Bishop is just too slow to keep up with a mediocre TE.

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Didn't Brad Jones play outside his first year? I remember him being serviceable in his rookie year. Not solid, but serviceable. I wouldn't be too quick to cut him. I actually liked him his rookie year.

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