wpr
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14 years ago
No Complement To Clay Matthews? No Problem!  

Yesterday, Brandon wrote a post linking to a Pro Football Focus article about how Clay Matthews is a really, really good pass rusher, while Frank Zombo is rather poor. Of course, as a rookie undrafted free agent, it would be very unfair to expect Frank Zombo to be more than an okay, serviceable player, but there's still an issue here. While it's certainly not Zombo's fault that he was a below average NFL pass rusher last season, it's unreasonable to expect the Packers to be a Super Bowl contender year after year with only one great pass rusher.

Strohman, a guy who everyone who visits this site on a regular basis knows, made what I thought was a decent point in the comments of that article. Or, at least, it struck a chord with me and made me think a bit about our defense and why it's not necessarily a big deal that Zombo (or Brad Jones/Erik Walden) aren't anywhere near the level of Clay Matthews. Strohman said:

Until we get a compliment to Matthews we just have to make due w/ what we have. Each has their strengths and weaknesses. [It is] up to Dom to put them into a position to succeed, and Green to coach them to improve.

Upon reading this, I think one of those cartoon lightbulbs popped up above my head. We don't need a complement to Matthews, we make up for the lack of a complement in other ways.

First of all, guys like Clay Matthews don't fall from the sky, and when a team has a player like Matthews and multiple needs other than a pass rusher, they're not going to reach in the draft or overpay a free agent just to get a similar player on the opposite side. Yes, it would aid the Packers considerably to have another Matthews on the opposite side, but doing so would require sacrifice elsewhere. It isn't worth it.

However, we have ways to make up for that missing player, and we do it quite well. If you're a regular APC reader, you might recall my old post on the Capers Nickel, or the 2-4-5 defense we run where the two outside linebackers are stand-up pass rushers that serve the same purpose as 4-3 ends on third down, while Charles Woodson plays as a rover in addition to a traditional four-man secondary. This allows for great pass coverage, but it also allows for very unique blitzing packages.

Because of Charles Woodson's unique skill set and the abilities of Sam Shields - just about the most talented third cornerback in the league - the Packers can run all kinds of crazy blitzes out of this setup. Obviously, Woodson blitzes quite a bit out of this setup. You'll also see Nick Collins blitz while Woodson helps over the top or one of the corners blitz while Woodson covers in man to man. It's effective, and it covers up for the relative lack of pass rushing skill - at least compared to Matthews - that Zombo, Jones, and Walden have.

As much as I'd love Clay Matthews Part II on the other side of the pass rush, Dom Capers has done an excellent job designing various blitz packages that allow us to get pressure on the quarterback without having that player.

And honestly, who's to say Zombo won't get a lot better? He was an average pass rusher, but he also managed four sacks as a rookie undrafted free agent. I think he has some room (and ability) for improvement. Let's not write off the dude yet.


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beast
14 years ago

I think the Packers have had a compliment to Matthews this whole time... just fans over look him for what ever reason... Jenkins has been the compliment...

Some say Neal will simply and easily replace Jenkins... he has the potential too... but that's what people said about DT Harrell replacing DT Williams... and that one didn't turn out so well.

Some point to Raji but Raji has his own big shoes to fill after having a great year last year... yes he can improve but he can't replace Jenkins, because he's already a big part in his own right.


As for Zombo I really liked what I saw from him, yes he needs to work on getting more pass rush moves but he was very physical like Greene likes and was... bull rushed pretty well, covered pretty well and played the run great.
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Fan Shout
Zero2Cool (3h) : new site, text editor gooder even on phone
beast (4h) : Oh yes, sometimes they make using a cellphone tough. I just wanted to make sure it was the correct article, & thank you for pointing it out.
jdlax (5h) : I can't believe one of my teams went out and wablammo just up and acquired one of the best players in the world overnight
dfosterf (10h) : I do very much appreciate when Beast and others pick up my slack 😊
dfosterf (10h) : I accept Beast's admonishment regarding my failure to link stuff I reference. I simply never learned to link from my cell phone.
beast (10h) : That's not what your she said 😌, she said keep going 😏
Mucky Tundra (13h) : Anything over 4 hours means he needs to get to the hospital
Mucky Tundra (13h) : Someone might want to check on Hafley and make sure his erection has gone down
Zero2Cool (15h) : LaFleur texts "bleep me I cannot sit down"
Zero2Cool (15h) : YouTube has had me last hour or two lol
Mucky Tundra (16h) : Ugh this trade happened right as my shift started and it's killing me
Zero2Cool (16h) : Parsons wore 23 in high school.
Zero2Cool (16h) : Packers just cost Lions more money with Hutchinson too huh
Zero2Cool (17h) : That is fair by me.
buckeyepackfan (17h) : Kenny Clark is the player, 2 1st rnd picks
Zero2Cool (17h) : umm... what?
wpr (17h) : I am stunned
Mucky Tundra (18h) : RICKEY SCOOPS WAS RIGHT AGAIN!!!
Mucky Tundra (18h) : ITS HAPPENING
buckeyepackfan (18h) : DEAL IS DONE
buckeyepackfan (18h) : MICAH IS COMING TO GREEN BAY!!!!!!!!!
wpr (28-Aug) : Me do-ed it gooderly,
Zero2Cool (28-Aug) : Bahah, I was like WTF why isn't anyone posting on PP.com ... oops no one has permissions
dfosterf (27-Aug) : tell her I reckon
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Micah Robinson cut. Probable PS player tomorrow. Has to call mom back and t
Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : New site so much better. Might make switch and deal with it.
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Mecole Hardman to our practice squad
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Nick Nieman from Texans our 5th linebacker. Special teams signing
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Looks like we signed Clayton Tune as QB3
wpr (27-Aug) : TKT people lose their minds over QB3. Point is almost none of them are ready that's why they are on the PS and other teams don't take them.
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Unfortunately he doesn't seem ready to be an emergency QB.
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : As a Canadian and a follower of Canadian University football. I am rooting for him
dfosterf (27-Aug) : I bet a lot of us will follow the Taylor Elgersma journey with interest. Personally, got a Kurt Warner vibe goin' on. I like him
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Not sure if either will be claimed though.
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Tune or Hooker would make sense
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Clayton Tune cut by the Cards? Don't know if that's the guy, we shall see
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Per Bill Huber, the Packers will not be bringing back Taylor Elgersma or Sean Clifford on the practice squad, so a new third quarterback
Mucky Tundra (27-Aug) : Schefter must have deleted his tweet
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Hopefully Jerry reaches under the seat cushions and ashtrays of his jet and scrapes up the 45 million apr and spares us further nonsense
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Have to admit the PO'd Cowboy fan videos would be fun to watch. Problem with draft picks is half their fanbase barely knows what that is
beast (27-Aug) : I think Cowboys fans are ready to get their pitch forks and burning sticks if Jerry were to trade Micah
dfosterf (27-Aug) : If Jerry traded Micah to GB, here in northern Va. they would have to quick build yet another data center to handle the internet hate traffic
Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : its signing and trades that you don't hear about, other then announced
Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : If you hear rumors about Packers sign or trade, won't happen. Not how they work
dfosterf (27-Aug) : 19 players in a contract year. Jones called loss to us worst loss in Cowboy history. Forget Parsons trade. Not happenin' Cap'n
packerfanoutwest (27-Aug) : The Packers, meanwhile, are the youngest team in the league for the third consecutive year.
dfosterf (27-Aug) : That it was darkest before the dawn in Bengals and Commanders before they got deals done
Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : what is Schefter saying?
dfosterf (27-Aug) : He was getting Dorito infusion therapy
dfosterf (27-Aug) : He's outta shape. Why, just the other day I saw him splayed out on the trainers table
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