Neal is more of an NT than a DE.

He is very strong but only has the bull rush move. He has not learned other techniques. He has trouble splitting double teams.

Raji and Pickett will need some snaps off.

I think of him as number 5 on the chart with some untapped potential. If he could use his hands better he could be much better.

I don't think the Packers will give up on the guy yet. He has some great athletic qualities that are tough to find. He just has to learn that he can't just depend upon his strength alone.

Originally Posted by: CaliforniaCheez 

If Jolly can keep the play from the St Louis game up and gets on the team, I wonder if Capers would go with a 3 man DL in nickel instead of the 2 DL stuff we've seen the past few seasons? I'm thinking it would be a 3-3-5, which I've seen some in this forum mention the past few months. Different combinations of Jolly, Daniels, Jones, Raji on the line with Perry and Matthews coming on the edges with Neal doing his DE-LB hybrid role thingy occasionally?

It sounds good in my head but not sure if it would work well on the field.

Originally Posted by: Mucky Tundra 

I always thought the starting D-Line would be Datone Jones, B.J.Raji, Mike Neal.

Obviously they don't wanna move Pickett off the field so it spoiled my prediction.

If they wanna get pass rush from the base, they have to get Pickett and Wilson off the field. I hope they don't use Pickett/Wilson in every Base.

Datone and Neal would be dynamic on the field togetther

Originally Posted by: Gaycandybacon 

Agree about Wilson, not about Pickett.

Raji offers much less on the nose than Pickett. Pickett occupies two blockers, freeing one DE up from being doubled. Raji has shown himself handled regularly with just one. And if you put Raji on the nose, you make it easier to run up the middle, both by RBs and the Kaepernicks of the league.

Me, I wish there were a way to have some 4-3 defense with Pickett and Jolly on the field on running plays.

Originally Posted by: Wade 

I'd like to see us run some 4-3 too. I think we have all the personnel to make that work.

Originally Posted by: play2win 

I was not a fan of the switch to the 3-4. I remember what a disaster it was when they made the move last time. (Was that the late 80's?) Apparently Capers has some issues with it too as he rarely has them line up in a traditional 3-4.

Originally Posted by: wpr 

I actually wanted to see us go to the 3-4 years before we actually did. it was different then. Only a few teams ran it, and the best players for it became more available than for the 4-3. However, this is an ever changing NFL, and I like Capers and his ability to adapt with the changes. I wonder if he has much 4-3 planned for this year, as it can be more effective with so many teams now running 3-4s. I bet he does, and that right there could easily change the Mike Neal landscape... add to that Wilson and Jolly may prove to be a better 3 technique DTs.

Who knows what they have planned? But, they had to adjust after getting burned by the pistol and super mobile QBs like Kaepernick. They've adjusted personnel with some great additions, now let's see how they adjust scheme. This could get really interesting.

Speed off the edge with Neal and Perry working in rotation, who oddly enough returns to the position he knows best. Power opposite with Datone and maybe Boyd/Jolly/Wilson. Raji, Pickett and Daniels at the 1 technique could find this beneficial as well. Maybe Daniels would find some success as a 3 tech.

We have plenty of options if Capers wants to run 4-3 and 3-4 alignments. A player like Matthews could flourish equally playing a true Will LB.

I think it might be smart to keep those options available, maybe sacrifice an offensive position or two on the roster to keep more players on defense to allow for changing it up. That could get really interesting, indeed.

Originally Posted by: play2win 

Me, I wish there were a way to have some 4-3 defense with Pickett and Jolly on the field on running plays.

Originally Posted by: Wade