I have to say nerdmann, I don't agree with you at all that the answer to our problems against Kapernick / All-Day are better (i.e. bigger) "true" 3-4 DEs.
Reviewing the games where our run-D was atrocious, in my opinion, our players simply lacked discipline. Either they could not fill the gaps because they got pushed back by the other team's players, or they simply over-pursued and create a big running lane. Add to that the missed tackles, and you have some horrible run D.
I'm not sure how a true 3-4 DE fixes that. Our problems with gap integrity are so bad that even JJ Watt type DE would not be of much use. Granted, it is massively worrying that our gap discipline is SO bad - hell, our best player on D, Claymaker, is probably the worst culprit in terms of gap integrity. But that, if anything, suggests getting stouter/stronger OLBs whose strong suit may not be rushing the passer. Wilson / Raji / Pickett do a fine enough job of taking on o-linemen. Certainly they did a fine enough job against Peterson in the playoffs.
One thing I will say, we absolutely need a NT out of this draft. Raji has played way too many snaps the past few years, and it is obvious that the Packers do not think Pickett should be playing extended time at NT. I'm looking forward to this and possibly OT being the two areas to be addressed today. But I still am not sure a true 3-4 DE is a primary need given that (as said by a few posters here) we play 60-70% of the game in our sub-packages. It is, after all, a passing league.
Originally Posted by: all_about_da_packers