When... Green Bay drafts a safety in the first round, that player needs to be on the field more than 57 percent of the time... Those numbers simply can’t continue.
Originally Posted by: packerupdate
Why NOT?!?!
I've never gotten this logic... since they're a 1st round pick they have to be given playing time? Why not sit back and let them earn it?!?
Lets look at 1st round picks (or first pick of the draft in Jordy Nelson's case) of weather they were given a starting spot of given a back-up spot and had to earn a starting spot.
Given a starting spot: A.J. Hawk, Justin Harrell, Derek Sherrod, Nick Perry (I say Harrell because if memory serves me right the Packers penciled Harrell into the first starting depth chart that was released during training camp)
NOT Given a starting spot: Aaron Rodgers, Jordy Nelson, B.J. Raji, Clay Matthews, Bryan Bulaga, Datone Jones, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (yes Packers started Kampman and Poppinga over Matthews for the first couple of games and he wasn't given the spot)
My thought is MAKE players EARN their starting spot and playing time... and looking at those list none of the guys that were just given the starting spot have fully developed to their full potential. While a couple of those not given their starting spot have (at least when they're fully healthy).