MintBaconDrivel
12 years ago

GREEN BAY — Nick Perry walked into the locker room after an organized team activity practice last month and there was impossible not to notice how different he looked. It had been harder while he was on the field, even though he was only wearing a jersey, shorts and a helmet, but in normal civilian clothes — a fitted t-shirt and sweats — the difference was striking.

You look great, someone told him.

"Oh yeah? Thank you," the Green Bay Packers second-year outside linebacker replied with a smile. "Just playing games out there, it takes a toll on you, having all that weight on you running around. So I trimmed down a little bit, but I'm still strong, still explosive. Those things might even be multiplied. It's just been taking care of my body and looking forward to the season. Everything is going good. I feel great."

And others have noticed the change in appearance, too.

"Absolutely. He looks different, he moves different," outside linebackers coach Kevin Greene said. "To me, he moves with more of a sense of urgency and purpose. His eyes are different. His jaw set, his gaze is different. I can just look in his face and look in his eyes and see that he's not happy with what transpired last year and he's determined not to let that happen again. I really feel good about where Nick is at this point."

On the team roster at Packers.com, Perry is still listed at 6-foot-3 and 265 pounds, although it's possible the website staff hasn't gotten updated heights and weights yet in advance of Friday's opening training-camp practice. The Packers' 2012 first-round draft pick estimated he was "probably around 260-ish" at OTAs, meaning he had to have been playing at or north of 270 last season. That, of course, would make sense, since coming out of USC Perry was hoping to go to a 4-3 defense where he could play defensive end.

"I just came in bigger," Perry said of last season. "I thought that I felt comfortable playing the position."

Whatever his weight was, Perry was just starting to look more comfortable at outside linebacker when his season ended. He left the Oct. 14 game at Houston with a knee injury, but it turned out it wasn't his knee that was the problem — it was his wrist, which he'd injured in the Sept. 9 regular-season opener and played through. He wound up undergoing season-ending surgery that week and wasn't heard from again.

Now, the Packers not only need him healthy, but need him to be the difference-making player they hoped they were getting when they took him in the first round. The team is conspicuously thin at the position — after Perry and Clay Matthews, only Dezman Moses is a quasi-proven commodity. (Inside linebackers Brad Jones and Jamari Lattimore were moved from the outside and could move back in a pinch.)

"When it was taken away, it was devastating, just because I never have been out. So I was pretty bitter and pretty pissed that I couldn't get on the field and help," Perry said of last season. "Now, I'm back, back in the mix of things, and I'm still, I still have a (monkey) on my back because I still have something to prove, I have to stay healthy and do what I need to do."

While they knew there would be growing pains as he transitioned to outside linebacker, it appeared Perry was turning the corner at the time of his injury. Against the Indianapolis Colts on Oct. 7, not only did he have a violent sack of quarterback Andrew Luck (one that drew a questionable personal foul and fine) but he also showed what he could do in coverage, working against the tight end but also carrying wide receiver Reggie Wayne downfield on a play. For a guy who looked completely out of sorts the first time he dropped into coverage at the rookie orientation camp and still in training camp, it was a significant step forward.

"I think that's as good as it gets. He carried the wide receiver vertical in a hip-trail position. He covered the tight end outside-in and covered him on a center route and Clay comes in and got a sack on it," Greene said. "Yeah, he can do everything he needs to do."

Although Perry won't have to do everything wearing the protective cast that he wore throughout OTAs and minicamp — and will wear for every training-camp practice, too — he said he will always wear something to protect himself.

"I do that (wear a cast) only in practice. I'm doing everything else without it," Perry said. "Things are coming along great. I'm just trying to protect myself out here because freak accidents can happen any given day. It won't be a cast like that (in games), but most importantly protecting myself with anything I'm doing now, just my first time having surgery, I want to make sure I'm protecting my body. You have to protect your hands."

Perry finished his rookie season having played 211 snaps, per ProFootballFocus.com. He was credited by the Packers with 29 tackles and two sacks in six games — numbers that all must go up for the defense to be better this season. ProFootballFocus.com also had him for 10 quarterback hurries, one batted pass and zero missed tackles. The question is how much his growth was stunted by the time he missed.

"Well, that remains to be seen," Greene said. "If he comes back and has a great year this year, which is our hope, last year will be a distant memory."

Jason Wilde  wrote:


texaspackerbacker
12 years ago
This one I endorse.

The success of Nick Perry will do more to improve the Packers than any other single factor. It will be interesting to see who is higher than #6, but I ranked Perry #1 in the thread about who will make the biggest difference or whatever, and also who will break out.

Certainly he can't be ranked higher than Rodgers, Matthews, or a few others, but he is right up there in importance IF he performs like we all hope. I like what I read about him too.
Expressing the Good Normal Views of Good Normal Americans.
If Anything I Say Smacks of Extremism, Please Tell Me EXACTLY What.
warhawk
12 years ago

This one I endorse.

The success of Nick Perry will do more to improve the Packers than any other single factor. It will be interesting to see who is higher than #6, but I ranked Perry #1 in the thread about who will make the biggest difference or whatever, and also who will break out.

Certainly he can't be ranked higher than Rodgers, Matthews, or a few others, but he is right up there in importance IF he performs like we all hope. I like what I read about him too.

Originally Posted by: texaspackerbacker 



I put Perry AHEAD of Mathews and Rodgers because I EXPECT guys like that to continue doing what they do at level as high or higher than in the past. Perry makes Mathews and all the Dline better if he's a force out there.

I totally agree with your #1 ranking of Perry.


"The train is leaving the station."
Mucky Tundra
12 years ago
Everyone talks about the hits on Luck but the first 'hmmm' moment I had when watching Perry was the game against Seattle and his sack on Wilson. Someone finally put it up on youtube





It's a little different than I remembered as I thought Perry was blocked a little more downfield but gist is the same: Wilson feels pressure coming, tries to GTFO of the pocket and Perry accelerates and just hauls him in from behind
Under Construction!
DoddPower
12 years ago

Everyone talks about the hits on Luck but the first 'hmmm' moment I had when watching Perry was the game against Seattle and his sack on Wilson. Someone finally put it up on youtube





It's a little different than I remembered as I thought Perry was blocked a little more downfield but gist is the same: Wilson feels pressure coming, tries to GTFO of the pocket and Perry accelerates and just hauls him in from behind

Originally Posted by: Mucky Tundra 



That was some nice contain by Perry. The Packers could have desperately used more of that in the playoffs and throughout the regular season.

I've been a Perry fan from the beginning. He's an athletic freak, and can rush the passer. He might not be the best in space, but so long as he can pass rush, he will be very valuable to the Packers.
Mucky Tundra
12 years ago

That was some nice contain by Perry. The Packers could have desperately used more of that in the playoffs and throughout the regular season.

I've been a Perry fan from the beginning. He's an athletic freak, and can rush the passer. He might not be the best in space, but so long as he can pass rush, he will be very valuable to the Packers.

Originally Posted by: DoddPower 



The more I watch that clip the more I drool over :10-12. That speed and athleticism!
Under Construction!
nerdmann
12 years ago

That was some nice contain by Perry. The Packers could have desperately used more of that in the playoffs and throughout the regular season.

I've been a Perry fan from the beginning. He's an athletic freak, and can rush the passer. He might not be the best in space, but so long as he can pass rush, he will be very valuable to the Packers.

Originally Posted by: DoddPower 



Walden never maintained outside containment in his entire life. You don't think Kaepernick and the boys saw that on tape?

George Koonce 2.0 baby!
“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.”
DoddPower
12 years ago

Walden never maintained outside containment in his entire life. You don't think Kaepernick and the boys saw that on tape?

George Koonce 2.0 baby!

Originally Posted by: nerdmann 



Walden was/is terrible.
DarkaneRules
12 years ago
Amen. Walden got exposed as a liability big time last season. It was not shocking when we let him go. Moses was a much more capable back up.

Perry is a damn impressive athletic individual. I really hope he stays healthy.
Circular Arguments: They are a heck of an annoyance
PackerTraxx
12 years ago
I did and do have very high hopes for Perry.
Why is Jerry Kramer not in the Hall of Fame?
Fan Shout
dfosterf (25-Jul) : It's my one day deal complaint dept. on shareholder meeting day
dfosterf (25-Jul) : Probably a homer access credential intimidation kinda thing
dfosterf (25-Jul) : Meathead "journalists" skip this, concentrating on operational revenue when convenient. They switch when net revenue is more favorable.
dfosterf (25-Jul) : Resulting in an actual drop of net revenue of 12.5%. She is from Minnesota. Just sayin'
dfosterf (25-Jul) : Any plans to hold Maureen Smith (CFO) accountable for a 95% drop in investment revenue?
Mucky Tundra (25-Jul) : In your face, HBO!
Mucky Tundra (25-Jul) : @ByRyanWood Mark Murphy: “A great source of pride of mine is that we were never on Hard Knocks.”
Mucky Tundra (25-Jul) : *years
Mucky Tundra (25-Jul) : @mattschneidman Mark Murphy says he anticipates “many Packers games” being played in Germany, Ireland and/or the U.K. over the next 5-10 yea
dfosterf (25-Jul) : *cafeteria* I have hit my head also, so I sympathize
dfosterf (25-Jul) : Possibly hit his head leaning into the glass protecting the food in the cafateria
dfosterf (25-Jul) : Maybe a low flying drone
dfosterf (25-Jul) : Did Savion Williams run into a goalpost or something?
Mucky Tundra (25-Jul) : also, no bueno when a guy starts getting concussions right off the bat in his career
Zero2Cool (25-Jul) : Concussion is worse. Banks probably vet off day via back booboo claim
Mucky Tundra (25-Jul) : @AndyHermanNFL Jordy Nelson out at camp today. No word if he’s in play for one of the two open roster spots ; )
dfosterf (25-Jul) : Is that better or worse than Banks bad back?
Zero2Cool (25-Jul) : Savion concussion ... not good.
packerfanoutwest (24-Jul) : Aaron Rodgers’s first pass of first team period was picked off
Mucky Tundra (24-Jul) : tbh I didn't hear of his passing
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : Cosby Show. Malcom Jamal Warner I think is real name
Mucky Tundra (24-Jul) : I was thinking of Ozzy and Hulk
Mucky Tundra (24-Jul) : Who's Theo?
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : How is Theo alliteration?
Mucky Tundra (24-Jul) : Bad week for people whose names are alliterations
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : Hulk Hogan gone too.
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : Oh, it's toe injury
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : Hope it's not serious. that would stink
dfosterf (24-Jul) : Sounds like an ankle not a knee for Fields
dfosterf (24-Jul) : Ya Flaccp on Browns
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : Maybe Tyrod Taylor instead
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : He's on Browns, right?
dfosterf (24-Jul) : They would probably go with Flacco is my guess if Fields out
dfosterf (24-Jul) : Fleece 'em again!
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : Malik Willis might be someone Jets come after
packerfanoutwest (24-Jul) : Packers introduce 1923-inspired classic uniform, leather-look helmet
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Both LB Quay Walker and Rookie DB Micah Robinson have passed their physicals
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Happy to see site feels more snappy snappy
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : No sir. I did not.
dfosterf (23-Jul) : You didn't get free childcare when you were at work?
wpr (23-Jul) : These guys make hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. Pay for their own childcare.
dfosterf (23-Jul) : 2nd issue. Number 1 issue was no gameday childcare. 1 of 3 teams not providing it
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Suppose if locker room is main issue, we sitting pretty
wpr (23-Jul) : I thought so Mucky. In those useless player polls GB always rates high overall. Locker is a part of it.
Mucky Tundra (23-Jul) : Wasn't the locker room just updated like 6 or 7 years ago?
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : I have forum updated on different site. We'll see how this one goes before going to that
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Elgton Jenkins has a back injury, is expect to end contract dispute
wpr (23-Jul) : It's funny the PA complained about the locker room. It wasn't that long ago it was top shelf. Things change in a hurry.
wpr (23-Jul) : The site is much more better.
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : NFLPA report said Packers lockerroom needed upgrade. Whining bout where you change?
Please sign in to use Fan Shout
2025 Packers Schedule
Sunday, Sep 7 @ 3:25 PM
LIONS
Thursday, Sep 11 @ 7:15 PM
COMMANDERS
Sunday, Sep 21 @ 12:00 PM
Browns
Sunday, Sep 28 @ 7:20 PM
Cowboys
Sunday, Oct 12 @ 3:25 PM
BENGALS
Sunday, Oct 19 @ 3:25 PM
Cardinals
Sunday, Oct 26 @ 7:20 PM
Steelers
Sunday, Nov 2 @ 12:00 PM
PANTHERS
Monday, Nov 10 @ 7:15 PM
EAGLES
Sunday, Nov 16 @ 12:00 PM
Giants
Sunday, Nov 23 @ 12:00 PM
VIKINGS
Thursday, Nov 27 @ 12:00 PM
Lions
Sunday, Dec 7 @ 12:00 PM
BEARS
Sunday, Dec 14 @ 3:25 PM
Broncos
Friday, Dec 19 @ 11:00 PM
Bears
Friday, Dec 26 @ 11:00 PM
RAVENS
Saturday, Jan 3 @ 11:00 PM
Vikings
Recent Topics
25-Jul / Around The NFL / Mucky Tundra

25-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

25-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / TheKanataThrilla

25-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / dfosterf

25-Jul / Around The NFL / beast

24-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Martha Careful

24-Jul / Around The NFL / beast

24-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

23-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

23-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

22-Jul / Random Babble / Zero2Cool

22-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

22-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

20-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

20-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

Headlines
Copyright © 2006 - 2025 PackersHome.com™. All Rights Reserved.