longtimefan
16 years ago
ROAD TO 09 FOR THE PACKERS 

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

DarkaneRules
16 years ago
Informative... I like. I hope we take either one of those guys. Cool beans...
Circular Arguments: They are a heck of an annoyance
millertime
16 years ago
As much as I like Everette Brown, I'm leaning towards Smith if he falls to us. Franchise tackles are hard to come by, when pass rushers can be had in round 2 (See Lamarr Woodley). Having Smith at LT would also cement Colledge at guard or RT.

An O-line of:

LT: Clifton
LG: Colledge
C: Spitz
RG: Sitton
RT: Andre Smith

looks good on paper.

We'll see.
Bigbyfan
16 years ago
I think this highlights the gaping holes this team still has and needs to be address for this team to even think about going late into the playoffs.
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Nonstopdrivel
16 years ago
I find it odd that this author bags on Rodgers for not showing up in the 4th quarter, when the Packers scored more 4th-quarter points than any other team last year.
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Dulak
16 years ago
ya my opinion is that changing most of our D staff and switching to the 3-4 is the biggest change we could do.

Think about it we have dom and greene coaching our guys. I'd love it if we got some good talent to go with those 2.
Zero2Cool
16 years ago

I find it odd that this author bags on Rodgers for not showing up in the 4th quarter, when the Packers scored more 4th-quarter points than any other team last year.

"Nonstopdrivel" wrote:

We did? That' surprising. Where did you find that out?
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Packers_Finland
16 years ago
The fact that the author states "wins are the only stat that matters" is pure bullshit. I reckon Kerry Collins is better than Peyton Manning then. Wins are an important indicator but you shouldn't throw other stats away because of them.

I feel like OL is a much bigger than written in the article. I'm not happy if Wells, Colledge and Spitz start on the inside. They stunk last year. Hopefully Sitton will at least grab one of those spots. And we definetly need to draft an OT than can start games this season already. I really don't like Tony "False Start" Moll that much.
This is a placeholder
16 years ago
Well, a trade down seems ideal. We need a tackle, a 3-4 DE, and a 3-4 OLB. If we could have 3 picks in the top 45, it would be perfect. Something like Oher, English, and Hood would be a dream.
I don't know if a trade down will be possible though.
We can't go into the season with Moll as RT, that's for sure. Sitton or a high draft pick need to be there.
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DakotaT
16 years ago

Well, a trade down seems ideal. We need a tackle, a 3-4 DE, and a 3-4 OLB. If we could have 3 picks in the top 45, it would be perfect. Something like Oher, English, and Hood would be a dream.
I don't know if a trade down will be possible though.
We can't go into the season with Moll as RT, that's for sure. Sitton or a high draft pick need to be there.

"MassPackersFan" wrote:



We really need to take 2 lineman with our top 4 picks. I just feel Clifton's play has regressed to the point where he needs a little tight end help and/or running chipping, and worse case, he has a season ending injury.

Some people think Breno can handle right tackle, but that is a big responsibility for a young player. I've heard Breno plays with some nastiness as well. What I know for sure is that Tony Moll is nothing more than bench player and it won't hurt my feelings if he doesn't make the team this year.

I'm not sure what to think of move College to tackle. When he has had to slide, I think he has done pretty well. If Clifton can give us another year, the line should be OK, but if he goes down, I see O-line as a big problem.
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Zero2Cool (11h) : YouTube has had me last hour or two lol
Mucky Tundra (11h) : Ugh this trade happened right as my shift started and it's killing me
Zero2Cool (11h) : Parsons wore 23 in high school.
Zero2Cool (11h) : Packers just cost Lions more money with Hutchinson too huh
Zero2Cool (13h) : That is fair by me.
buckeyepackfan (13h) : Kenny Clark is the player, 2 1st rnd picks
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Mucky Tundra (13h) : RICKEY SCOOPS WAS RIGHT AGAIN!!!
Mucky Tundra (13h) : ITS HAPPENING
buckeyepackfan (13h) : DEAL IS DONE
buckeyepackfan (13h) : MICAH IS COMING TO GREEN BAY!!!!!!!!!
wpr (20h) : 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
Mucky Tundra (27-Aug) : Parsons has followed Rasheed Walker on Twitter. Quite the choice
Mucky Tundra (27-Aug) : Kuhn is a former player who works for the team, if somethings going down, he would be close to it
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