The Road to 09: Green Bay Packers
1. What do we make of the Packers defensive line?
A new coordinator usually signifies plenty of changes when it comes to personnel. In Green Bay, Dom Capers brings his 3-4 defensive front to Lambeau Field and the Packers are going to have to find some players to fit the new scheme.
Yes, theres always a chance that through springs mini-camps and the early part of training camp that Capers will find what hes looking for from the holdovers on the 08 roster. But that doesnt mean the Pack wont look to the draft later this month to fill a spot or two in their front three.
I like defensive end Cullen Jenkins in any defensive front. The guy can play football, and he has the size (6-2, 305) to play DE in a 3-4 front. However, I would expect the Packers to at least consider defensive end with the No. 9 pick in the draft. Justin Harrell (6-4, 310), a former Packers first-round pick, has played 13 games in two NFL seasons cant stay healthy, and Mike Montgomery (6-5, 273) is an undersized back-up who is better suited to come off the edge from a 4-3 front.
At the nose tackle position, Ryan Pickett (6-2, 330) has the size and quickness to play the position, but that doesnt mean well see immediate production from the former Ohio State star. The nose demands production, plus theres a lot of responsibility that goes along with it. Can Pickett be that player for Green Bay? Maybe, and Boston Colleges B.J. Raji would be a great pick for the Packers but I doubt hell fall to No. 9.
You need size and quickness from any 3-4 front to be an effective defense. Should be interesting to see if the Packers add a starter or some depth in the draft to a unit that has to stay healthy in 09. Green Bay gave up more than 131 yards a game on the ground last season and that just isnt good enough.
2. Do the Packers need offensive line help?
Green Bay gave up 34 sacks last season and may have an issue at the right tackle position. Tony Moll is the listed as the current starter on the depth chart (granted, its April), and Mark Tauscher will most likely not be back in a Packer uniform in 09. They need to make a move here, folks. Going into the season with questions at the tackle position is never a good thing, but it might be the only option for Green Bay.
But do the Packers invest their first-round pick in a tackle possibly Alabamas Andre Smith, whos been sliding down draft boards since the NFL Combine in Indianapolis? Or do they stick with the holdovers from 08 and move forward? Something to think about the next couple of weeks.
One position to keep an eye on in term of competition is center. Scott Wells will go into mini-camps with the first unit at starter, but former Buffalo Bill Duke Preston, who came via free agency, has the athleticism and strength to challenge Wells if hes given the opportunity which he should be since Green Bay went out and got him. Preston also has experience at the guard position, and it wouldnt surprise me if he beats out Wells by opening day.
3. What do we make of the outside linebackers in GB?
With Capers 3-4 front soon to be installed, the Packers will look different at linebacker. The most obvious change is former Pro Bowl defensive end Aaron Kampman moving to outside linebacker.
Kampman, who was a linebacker at Iowa early in his college career, has the athletic ability to rush from the standing position, is a good tackler and will be able to play in space.
One of the biggest misconceptions about playing outside linebacker in the 3-4 scheme is the theory that these guys will be dropping into coverage all day long.
Yes, Kamp will drop from time to time, but hes going to be asked to play the same style that has made Dallas DeMarcus Ware into a Pro Bowler.
Plus, as GM Ted Thompson said at the Combine, Kampman will rush from the defensive end position in the majority of the Packers sub-packages (nickel, dime) when Green Bay uses a four-man front.
The question for me is the outside linebacker position opposite Kampman. I believe the Packers can upgrade over Brady Poppinga and look to draft a playmaking linebacker who can put pressure on the quarterback and match up with running backs out of the backfield. Everette Brown from Florida State comes to mind. He can play DE in a 4-3 front, but I like him as an OLB in Capers system he will get to the quarterback, giving the Packers two rushers off the edge.
4. Is Aaron Rodgers ready to take the next step?
Now that Rodgers has a full season as a starter under his belt, its time for him to take that next step and become a big-game quarterback.
Yes, he was great for fantasy football in terms of numbers, but he needs to show up in the fourth quarter of games and needs to play better on the road. Twice last season in crucial fourth-quarter situations, he came up short throwing game-ending interceptions against Jacksonville and Carolina. We can talk stats all we want when it comes to judging a quarterbacks season, but the only stat that counts is wins and six isnt going to get it done in Green Bay.
But if we have to talk stats, then we have to look at the comparison of Rodgers at Lambeau and his play on the road.
HOME AWAY
67.9 (comp. percentage) 59.5 (comp. percentage)
15 TDs 13 TDs
4 INTs 9 INTs
104.7 QB Rating 83.3 QB Rating
I think Rodgers has the tools to be the leader of this team for a long time, but before we start to anoint him as the next great Packers quarterback, lets see how he progresses from 08 to this year.
I know there will be plenty of people who disagree with me on this one, but just as Ill say about Jay Cutler when I talk about the Bears, young quarterbacks with losing records as starters are viewed on potential whereas I view them on wins.
How many wins can they bring to your franchise? How many big plays can they make in the fourth quarters? How dependable are they on the road? Can they bring a team from behind in the fourth quarter?
Sure, those are a lot of questions, but theyre fair questions when judging the most important and crucial position in the NFL. Rodgers is close, but he needs to produce wins in 09 before I jump on his bandwagon.
5. Can a new coordinator make a difference in one year?
This might be the ultimate question surrounding the Packers defense as we look forward to 09. To talk about installing a 3-4 defensive front as a cure-all for their defensive woes is talk and talk doesnt produce in the NFL.
However, I was part of changes like this during my own career, and Im here to tell you that sometimes new leadership is more important than personnel.
Yes, the Packers do need to address some positions along the defensive line and possibly at linebacker at some point in this months draft, but bringing in Capers might have been the biggest addition in the offseason for this franchise.
Remember, Green Bay and Thompson believe that you build teams through the draft without overspending and taking chances on free agents.
Judging from readers comments this offseason, you might not be in favor of this, but it isnt going to change any time soon in Green Bay. Instead of brining in over-hyped talent (like DE Chris Canty form Dallas), the Packers brought in Capers.
I was in Washington when Joe Gibbs brought in Gregg Williams to lead our defense and things changed the minute he walked through the door. Obviously, the results might not be there on opening day, but youll see a defense that plays faster and attacks the football from every position.
The players still have to play on Sundays and theyll be on the bench if they dont but theyll be a better unit than last year. I cant tell you where theyll rank, but if they want to compete with Minnesota and Chicago, they have to start with defense.
DRAFT POSSIBILITIES
PICK NO. 9
1. Everette Brown, OLB, Florida State
2. Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU
3. Andre Smith, OT, Alabama