The Packers had a rough year defensively in 2013 as injuries took several key players away from a unit that struggled to stop just about every opponent that came their way. As a result, head coach Mike McCarthy said Monday that the "defense is going to change some' for the 2014 season. McCarthy didn't delve...

Josh Alper  wrote:

The changes that are coming:

1. Packers will draft at least two defensive players in first three rounds. All will get us all enthusiastic and we'll argue about their potential to develop for three years.
2. Some late round picks/post-draft rookie FAs will light up minicamps/training camp, and we'll get all excited and they'll get lost on special teams and the inactive list.
3. Next year this time we'll be debating the "potential" of different players as we debate the wisdom of putting all the eggs in the draft-and-develop basket.

(SSALY, Troy? Wazzat?)

Originally Posted by: Wade 

The changes that are coming:

1. Packers will draft at least two defensive players in first three rounds. All will get us all enthusiastic and we'll argue about their potential to develop for three years.
2. Some late round picks/post-draft rookie FAs will light up minicamps/training camp, and we'll get all excited and they'll get lost on special teams and the inactive list.
3. Next year this time we'll be debating the "potential" of different players as we debate the wisdom of putting all the eggs in the draft-and-develop basket.

(SSALY, Troy? Wazzat?)

Originally Posted by: Wade 

Kinda pessimistic, dontcha think?


2. That's about what you expect from late rounders and UDFAs, isn't it? Any more is gravy. The only one last year I saw much in was Mulumba, and there's still decent hope he amounts to something.

We're CLOSE, real close. As the evil one correctly stated, addition by subtraction - just getting RID of Raji and Pickett will do wonders. That, getting/staying reasonably healthy, adding one Safety - either FA or Collins, and getting a couple early round LBs, nothing more extreme than that will do it. The question is, will Ted Thompson do even that little bit?

Originally Posted by: texaspackerbacker 

We're CLOSE, real close. As the evil one correctly stated, addition by subtraction - just getting RID of Raji and Pickett will do wonders. That, getting/staying reasonably healthy, adding one Safety - either FA or Collins, and getting a couple early round LBs, nothing more extreme than that will do it. The question is, will Ted Thompson do even that little bit?

Originally Posted by: texaspackerbacker 

[mfing]

I can't believe you can say shit like that and not be struck down by lightning. [roflmao]

Originally Posted by: DakotaT 

p.s. What will make me seriously upset is if they let Shields go and re-sign Raji.

Originally Posted by: Wade 

p.s. What will make me seriously upset is if they let Shields go and re-sign Raji.

Originally Posted by: Wade 

So, the defense is going to change? Good. I would love to see them mix it up a bit more and be less predictable. The only way that happens though is by changing out a good number of players: SS, NT, DE, ILB, OLB - at the very least.

Thinking Brad Jones carries any instincts needed at ILB is crazy. The weak showing of Raji should mean the door. MD Jennings should not be allowed back onto this team, I don't care if he plays for free. Morgan Burnett either has to move back to FS, or we get a proven vet to pair with him. No more CJ Wilson. If we re- sign Pickett, it should be as a backup. House? What has he done to earn his keep?

Change out these positions with upgrades and we are automatically better. I think doing so this year is impossible via draft alone.

Originally Posted by: play2win 

Brad Jones can cover. He's also got versatility to play OLB if needed. This staff LOVES versatility.

Originally Posted by: nerdmann 

hahahaha Nice self portrait (the red one). Nobody can ever say you don't know yourself.

Originally Posted by: texaspackerbacker 

Is it even possible for us to do something THAT stupid?

Originally Posted by: El3ment12 

Brad Jones can cover. He's also got versatility to play OLB if needed. This staff LOVES versatility.

Originally Posted by: nerdmann 

IMO he is versatile in his mediocrity only.

He's serviceable as a backup. He isn't what I want in a starter linebacker. On the other hand, I grew up watching a team whose weakest starting LB was Lee Roy Caffey. Whose weakest starting DL was Bob Brown. Whose weakest starting DB was Dom Brown.

If the Packers had the 2014 equivalent of Caffey, Brown, and Brown quality at all defensive positions, with no Hall of Famer/All Pro types at all, they'd be head and shoulders above the current Packer defense in putting fear into the minds of opposing teams.

One could say the same thing of an OL whose starting players were no better than the 2014 equivalent of Bob Skoronski.

That's why I bitch so much. Forget about all the Hall of Famers. The current OL and defense are, IMO not up to the standards of the weaker parts of the Lombardi era teams.

IMO.

Originally Posted by: Wade 

IMO he is versatile in his mediocrity only.

He's serviceable as a backup. He isn't what I want in a starter linebacker. On the other hand, I grew up watching a team whose weakest starting LB was Lee Roy Caffey. Whose weakest starting DL was Bob Brown. Whose weakest starting DB was Dom Brown.

If the Packers had the 2014 equivalent of Caffey, Brown, and Brown quality at all defensive positions, with no Hall of Famer/All Pro types at all, they'd be head and shoulders above the current Packer defense in putting fear into the minds of opposing teams.

One could say the same thing of an OL whose starting players were no better than the 2014 equivalent of Bob Skoronski.

That's why I bitch so much. Forget about all the Hall of Famers. The current OL and defense are, IMO not up to the standards of the weaker parts of the Lombardi era teams.

IMO.

Originally Posted by: Wade 

IMO he is versatile in his mediocrity only.

He's serviceable as a backup. He isn't what I want in a starter linebacker. On the other hand, I grew up watching a team whose weakest starting LB was Lee Roy Caffey. Whose weakest starting DL was Bob Brown. Whose weakest starting DB was Dom Brown.

If the Packers had the 2014 equivalent of Caffey, Brown, and Brown quality at all defensive positions, with no Hall of Famer/All Pro types at all, they'd be head and shoulders above the current Packer defense in putting fear into the minds of opposing teams.

One could say the same thing of an OL whose starting players were no better than the 2014 equivalent of Bob Skoronski.

That's why I bitch so much. Forget about all the Hall of Famers. The current OL and defense are, IMO not up to the standards of the weaker parts of the Lombardi era teams.

IMO.

Excellent post.
That's right in my wheelhouse.

Originally Posted by: Wade