In just a matter of days, the NFL free-agent defensive line field has been whittled down to its ordinary core, leaving the Green Bay Packers to sift through the remains and decide whether they can find a bargain.

The leftovers are slim enough that the Packers will make a play for a safety before they take on the task of building up a rather thin defensive-line group.

In the next day or two, they will visit with Cleveland unrestricted free-agent safety Mike Adams, a part-time starter last year whose strength is coverage. According to an NFL source, the 5-foot-11, 195-pound Adams is scheduled to meet with Packers officials to discuss the possibility of joining their organization.

Adams came into the league as an undrafted free agent, fought his way into the starting lineup in San Francisco in his second year but wasn't offered a contract after his third and wound up signing with the Cleveland Browns. Last year, he was a core special teams player and worked in a rotation with Sean Jones and Brodney Pool.

In 67 career games, he has 23 starts, seven interceptions and two sacks. He's quick enough to cover receivers in nickel alignments but he doesn't fit the mold of a big-hitting, "in-the-box" safety.

In both San Francisco and Cleveland, he played in a 3-4 defense, which makes him appealing to the Packers. None of their safeties has 3-4 experience and if Atari Bigby doesn't come back from an injury-marred season, Adams would be an option to start alongside Nick Collins.

The Packers' other safeties are Charlie Peprah and Jarrett Bush, both of whom are under contract for another year.

Adams is not a big-splash kind of free agent, but at this point there aren't a lot of difference-makers left. The Packers' biggest need is at defensive end and nose tackle and they continue to look over what's left after Tennessee's Albert Haynesworth, Dallas' Chris Canty and Arizona's Antonio Smith signed big-money deals.

I think Capers and company might have seen something on tape.. that Rouse and Bigby are coverage liabilities..

"pack93z" wrote:

Free agent safety Mike Adams is in Green Bay today for his official visit with the Packers.

Adams, who played for the Cleveland Browns last season, is the first player the team has had in for a visit. He's been mostly a backup in Cleveland, but he worked his way into the rotation at safety last season and proved himself a pretty good special teams player.

If signed, Adams would give the Packers another coverage safety. At present, Jarrett Bush would be considered a coverage type. Atari Bigby and Aaron Rouse are in-the-box players and Charlie Peprah would be more of a centerfielder.Nick Collins can play all of those roles.

In my story this morning about Adams, Rouse's name was inadvertenly left out of the list of safeties on the roster. Though he will start out at safety, it's possible the 6-4, 233-pound Rouse could get rush opportunities as an outside linebacker.

To play that position, you've got to have good upper body strength so that you can bull rush offensive tackles, so Rouse would have to get stronger. He's got some straight-line speed so the potential for him being a decent pass rusher is there.

If he shows ability to blitz from the strong safety position, he could be used exclusively there. But he'll have to beat out Bigby, who's faster and more explosive.