Barnett is more like Jerod Mayo than he is LaMarr Woodley or James Harrison. Barnett is suited for the 3-4 as a ILB, but he probably won't last long unless he learns more discipline. He can't rush the passer and that is the main reason why he belongs on the inside and not the outside.

GB is probably feeling safe with Hawk, Barnett, Bishop, and a combination of Lansanah, Poppinga, and Chiller inside.

On the outside they probably like Kampman, Thompson, Hunter, and again the combination of Poppinga, Chiller and maybe even Desmond Bishop.

The problem is only Kampman is the viable pass rusher and that is why the need to add a pass rushing outside linebacker in the draft. I would say it's a priority for their first four picks. I think Jason Hunter might be able to breakout in this system, but I wouldn't bet anything on it.

As for the rumors. vegOmatic is spot on.

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The whisper I heard said,"if Ted Thompson trades down in the 2009 draft and selects another bust, and the packers do not make the playoffs in 2009, Ted Thompson will be fired and replaced with Mike Holmgren!

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IMO, Barnett is nothing like Mayo at all.. Barnett simply cannot shed blocks effectively enough to handle playing inside the box of a 3-4.. the Oline will chew his rearend up.. Unless Moss can get through to him and teach him how to fight off and hold his own in blocking, he isn't a fit at all..

Barnett has a ton of speed for the position and range.. he just isn't a in the box type backer..

I don't buy Pickett being enough of a force at nose, Jolly either to keep those inside backers really clean.. so whomever they plan to utilize inside, they better be stout enough and can use their hands properly to play the spots..

Barnett, IMO, is the man without a home in this alignment.. unless he learns how to pass rush in a hurry..

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Brace or the fng you threw up yesterday would be nice. I just wish there were more of them. We will be reaching for Brace due to the lack of depth in the draft at the position. Early on I was hoping that he would be available with one of our 3rds...I recognize that this isn't going to happen. I will be personally glad that BJ will be off the board by the time we hit 9---not because I don't see his potential, but rather I recognize just how often these "can't miss" NT's wind up missing, at least in the short term. I see some things in Brace that really make me want him almost as much as Raji, even if all things were equal.

a few comments ...

So how is playing ILB different then playing MLB?
Barnett was Very good at playing MLB and also at making tackles and fading back.
I'm pretty sure they (the packers) already said barnett will probably play ILB (forgot which one) in the new 3-4

I am starting to get a kick out of how many people thought after last season we SHOULD make a move to the 3-4 and now that we have it seems to me from reading these threads we don't have one damn guy that can play it.

This is like science class. Every single defensive player has been cut open, their guts ripped out, then declared useless so thus get rid of them and bring in somebody else YOU say is better.

Let's see. It's almost a given Kampman can't play LB, Hawk can't play inside, Barnett is to small, Pickett will get blown out, forget Montgomery, we got zero talent at ROLB, and none of the CB's or safeties can play zone.

Why is it then for some reason I have this feeling a certain number of guys going to work at an address on Lambeau Avenue don't feel anywhere near the same way?

MAN I can't wait for the season to start.

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How is playing Inside different between the schemes.. Without going to deep.

In a 4-3 you have of course 4 downs.. two tackles inside they can be slide guard to guard playing one gap or two.. they basically get a chip on all three of the interior offensive lineman unless one is pulling, thus keeping the MLB clean for a few seconds longer for them to flow towards the play..

In a 3-4 you have the Nose Tackle inside that is over the center most of the time.. shaded to one side or the other.. depending on opponent tenancies he will shade strong or weak side. Our DE are generally directly nose over the offensive tackles or shaded to their inside shoulder.. from a shear set the interior lineman have less obstruction between them and the backers.. the backers have less time and room to flow.. they have to be able to bet a block effectively.. so that the other interior backer remains clean...

You can chip the guards with the DE, but according to talk of Green Bay that isn't Capers nitche so to speak (Montgomery's comments this week), thus letting the DE over the tackles straight up.. this allows you to play with smaller DE, but puts more pressure on the backers inside to stand stout or beat the blocks...

The 3-4 I played in during camps the 3 downs were essentially tackles who's primary role was chewing up blockers and keeping the backers clean.. In a Badger HS camp I played that 3-4 end against some pretty stout offensive lineman.. it was one thankless dog ass position to play.. I liked playing outside backer better or kicked out further on a 4-3 end..

Anyway.. a 3-4 interior backer has to use his hands and arms effectively keeping the blockers off body as much as possible and keep his arms extended so that he can flow left or right into the hole.. if the lineman get their arms inside and on you.. you are getting rooted out of the hole, plain and simple, the offensive lineman has that much more girth than you..

If the coaches want you to just "plug" the hole and allow others to make the play.. you get your ass low as you can and get under his pads and drive his pads up and apply as much leverage as you can muster.. stoning him from pushing your ass out of the play.. another pain in the ass.

Watch Barnett play.. his game is mostly speed, beating players to the spots and staying out of the blocks grip.. however if they run at him, put a hat on him so to speak, he is very ineffective... on of the reasons IMO he should have been a WIL backer in the 4-3... keeping him uncovered in the alignment and allowing him to use that speed.

Of course.. all my opinion..

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The comments I made.. I don't think Pickett will get blown out.. but do you firmly believe he will hold the point through the 4th quarter when this past season he was getting pushed on doubles?

And it isn't anything new that I am saying with regards to Barnett taking on blocks.. this has been seen year in and out.. he doesn't play that role effectively.

It is an opinion based on past performances... but it is nothing more than an opinion and talk... we shall find out when the pads go on..

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I was not talking about any given individual post or poster. Just a general vein in the forum type of thing.

All I am saying is many here thought we had a boat load of LB's and should go this route and then we do and now next to none have the tools to play it.

I don't think I was wrong in that observation.

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Oh, I don't believe that... we have plenty of backers than can play in this system...

I just happen to think Barnett isn't a fit inside.. lol.

I also think we are about one to two defensive lineman short at this point for a quality rotation.. the difference between one and two is if Harrell can contribute this season.. which is a big question.. Jolly legal issues are secondary..

I will eat my words clearly if Barnett becomes a strong presence inside on a 3-4 set...

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