Worthy's departure part of D-line evolution

Mucky Tundra
Honored Member Topic Starter

10 years ago

Packers going younger, lighter as they make over position

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musccy
Veteran Member

10 years ago

Did packers.com write this article? How can you put any sort of a positive spin on the potential of this group thus far? Aside from Daniels, who has the experience or competence to instill ANY confidence in this group?

We all know Raji's story. D.Jones and/or Boyd have limited success and/or experience. Pennel was a nomad due to his laziness and couldn't even dominate at the D2 level. Thorton was considered by many to be a reach and he too has ZERO NFL experience. Guion hasn't seen the field since June and was a rotational guy anyway. That's the bread and butter, that's what we're going into the season with! Predominantly late rounders with 1 season or less of NFL experience!

I know Perry, Neal, and Peppers have played on the line which adds some semblance of experience, but all three have spent this camp, if not years transforming to play as LB.

I hope I'm eating crow starting Sept 4th, but I just don't understand how this isn't a major point of concern for fans, the media, or the organization right now. I can't recall the team going into a season this raw at a position group.

wpr
Preferred Member

10 years ago

"The Packers are going with a younger group of players." Gee how many times have we heard that in Uncle Teddy's time? Let me think- how about nearly every single year.

There are 16 players on the team with 5 years experience. That includes the backup QB, K and LS along with Kuhn and Bush who are more situational and ST players and Guion who may not even make the team.

wpr
Preferred Member

10 years ago

Originally Posted by: musccy

Back in the 80's I subscribed to Packer News and every single article was just like this one. I could not understand why the team was always around 8-8. All the "experts" that I was reading were telling me how good the team was.

texaspackerbacker
Veteran Member

10 years ago

It's addition by subtraction - THAT's the positive thing. Just getting rid of the concept of two big immobile clods in the line at a time will help. Ideally, we would have let Raji go too, and installed a mobile guy who can make tackles at NT also, but one step at a time. If Worthy was considered a DE, then good riddance to him. I thought if he wasn't damaged goods, he might work out eventually at NT, but I guess not.

How people can be so negative after one thoroughly rain-soaked preseason game is beyond me. Between Daniels, Datone Jones, and Boyd in rotation, with possible help from Thornton, I'd say there is a lot to think positive about. And that's not even considering using Peppers DE sometimes. And just maybe, Raji will snap out of his funk and play some football. Either way, Pennell seems to be coming around as a decent backup or more.

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musccy
Veteran Member

10 years ago

Originally Posted by: wpr

This article didn't even seem all that complimentary, basically just says they're lighter and younger. If that's the best a "yes man" source can say about the position, oh boy, we may be in for some trouble.

musccy
Veteran Member

10 years ago

Originally Posted by: texaspackerbacker

but you need something to replace that subtraction with. Two of these guys WILL start this year - Raji, Boyd, D.Jones, Pennel, Thorton, Guion (if he can get on the field), Robinson, and Gray. Excluding Guion since he has yet to step on the field this TC, that's 7 years of experience, and three 2014 UDFAs.

As of now, it's looking like there's a chance that 1 of those UDFAs will make the team. They have 5 COMBINED starts for D1 programs that weren't even ranked in the top 25 last year. As for Pennel, who supposedly is the best of the UDFA group, this is what packersnews said about him this week...

Though the coaches at Colorado State-Pueblo liked Pennel, they thought he didn't dominate Division II like he should have. He finished 2013 with six tackles for a loss, three sacks, four passes knocked down and three forced fumbles, but he wasn't a full-time player because of the weight and conditioning issues.

😞

wpr
Preferred Member

10 years ago

Originally Posted by: musccy

I just meant it is more fluff than substance. Weston may be a great journalist but other than saying they are younger and lighter he doesn't say a lot about the DLine or how they perform.

DoddPower
Veteran Member

10 years ago

Originally Posted by: musccy

A base 3-4 alignment of Daniels - Raji - Datone Jones doesn't sound too bad to me, but Jones needs to pan out. Personally, if Jolly is healthy, I'd love to see him signed. He would make a great rotational player. But the Packers run sub-packages with only two defensive linemen most of the time anyway, and I think a combination of Daniels, Raji, Jones, et. al will be fine for that. It's not great, but as long as Jones steps up his game, it will be decent. And obviously I'm sure the coaching staff is hoping/expecting another guy to become a key contributor, like Thorton, Pennel, Guion, and others. It's not like the Packers defensive line was great last season, either.

Of course, once the inevitable injuries hit, everything will change. I still expect Pickett to be signed at some point this season, even if it's just due to injury. Ultimately, it will probably be a good thing. Pickett would likely instantly be the best run-defending defensive linemen on the Packers roster, which will be important against several teams. Who cares if he isn't a good pass rusher. If the Packers can't stop the run, there won't be nearly as many passing downs anyway.

musccy
Veteran Member

10 years ago

#10

Of course, once the inevitable injuries hit, everything will change. I still expect Pickett to be signed at some point this season, even if it's just due to injury. Ultimately, it will probably be a good thing. Pickett would likely instantly be the best run-defending defensive linemen on the Packers roster, which will be important against several teams. Who cares if he isn't a good pass rusher. If the Packers can't stop the run, there won't be nearly as many passing downs anyway.

Originally Posted by: DoddPower

You're right about the packages, and something I haven't acknowledged as much as I should, I'm assuming that Neal, Perry, and Peppers will function as rushing linemen so the team isn't quite as green as the depth chart would suggest.

However, it's the injuries like you alluded to. I don't love the experience with their "starters" let alone the depth which they'll inevitably rely on. Jones and Boyd may have shown glimpses but they are still extremely wet behind the ears, and the rest of the crew has virtually no starting experience even at the college level.

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packerfanoutwest (1h) : minny could be #1 seed and the Lions #5 seed

Zero2Cool (4h) : We'd have same Division and Conference records. Strength of schedule we edge them

Zero2Cool (4h) : I just checked. What tie breaker?

bboystyle (4h) : yes its possible but unlikely. If we do get the 5th, we face the NFCS winner

Zero2Cool (4h) : Ahh, ok.

bboystyle (4h) : yes due to tie breaker

Zero2Cool (4h) : I mean, unlikely, yes, but mathematically, 5th is possible by what I'm reading.

Zero2Cool (4h) : If Vikings lose out, Packers win out, Packers get 5th, right?

bboystyle (4h) : Minny isnt going to lose out so 5th seed is out of the equation. We are playing for the 6th or 7th seed which makes no difference

Mucky Tundra (5h) : beast, the ad revenue goes to the broadcast company but they gotta pay to air the game on their channel/network

beast (5h) : If we win tonight the game is still relative in terms of 5th, 6th or 7th seed... win and it's 5th or 6th, lose and it's 6th or 7th

beast (5h) : Mucky, I thought the ad revenue went to the broadcasting companies or the NFL, at least not directly

Zero2Cool (6h) : I think the revenue share is moot, isn't it? That's the CBA an Salary Cap handling that.

bboystyle (6h) : i mean game becomes irrelevant if we win tonight. Just a game where we are trying to play spoilers to Vikings chance at the #1 seed

Mucky Tundra (6h) : beast, I would guess ad revenue from more eyes watching tv

Zero2Cool (6h) : I would think it would hurt the home team because people would have to cancel last minute maybe? i dunno

beast (6h) : I agree that it's BS for fans planning on going to the game. But how does it bring in more money? I'm guessing indirectly?

packerfanoutwest (7h) : bs on flexing the game....they do it for the $$league$$, not the hometown fans

Zero2Cool (7h) : I see what you did there Mucky

Zero2Cool (7h) : dammit. 3:25pm

Zero2Cool (7h) : Packers Vikings flexed to 3:35pm

Mucky Tundra (8h) : Upon receiving the news about Luke Musgrave, I immediately fell to the ground

Mucky Tundra (8h) : Yeah baby!

Zero2Cool (8h) : LUKE MUSGRAVE PLAYING TONIGHT~!~~~~WOWHOAAOHAOAA yah

Zero2Cool (9h) : I wanna kill new QB's ... blitz the crap out of them.

beast (9h) : Barry seemed to get too conservative against new QBs, Hafley doesn't have that issue

Zero2Cool (10h) : However, we seem to struggle vs new QB's

Zero2Cool (10h) : Should be moot point, cuz Packers should win tonight.

packerfanoutwest (10h) : ok I stand corrected

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Zero2Cool (10h) : 5th - Packers win out, Vikings lose out. Maybe?

beast (10h) : Saying no to the 6th lock.

beast (10h) : No, with the Commanders beating the Eagles, Packers could have a good chance of 6th or 7th unless the win out

Zero2Cool (10h) : I think if Packers win, they are locked 6th with chance for 5th.

beast (10h) : But it doesn't matter, as the Packers win surely win one of their remaining games

beast (10h) : This is not complex, just someone doesn't want to believe reality

beast (10h) : We already have told you... if Packers lose all their games (they won't, but if they did), and Buccaneers and Falcons win all theirs

Zero2Cool (10h) : I posted it in that Packers and 1 seed thread

Zero2Cool (10h) : I literally just said it.

packerfanoutwest (10h) : show us a scenario where Pack don't get in? bet you can't

Zero2Cool (11h) : Falcons, Buccaneers would need to win final two games.

Zero2Cool (11h) : Yes, if they win one of three, they are lock. If they lose out, they can be eliminated.

packerfanoutwest (11h) : as I just said,,gtheyh are in no matter what

Zero2Cool (11h) : Packers should get in. I just hope it's not 7th seed. Feels dirty.

packerfanoutwest (11h) : If packers lose out, no matter what, they are in

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