Mucky Tundra
10 years ago

Packers going younger, lighter as they make over position


PackersNews  wrote:

Under Construction!
+1
musccy
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.
+2
wpr
  • 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.
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+1
wpr
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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?

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.
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+1
texaspackerbacker
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
10 years ago

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.

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
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.

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.

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wpr
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10 years ago

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.

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.
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DoddPower
10 years ago

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.

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
10 years ago



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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