Green Bay When general manager Ted Thompson said post-draft that the Green Bay Packers "still were working on" outside linebacker, free agents Tim Knicky, John Russell and Frank Zombo turned out to be the fruits of those labors.
Thompson isn't one of those who consider it a thin, if not weak, position in Green Bay, where starters Clay Matthews and Brad Jones were backed only by Brady Poppinga and Cyril Obiozor at about 4 p.m. Saturday.
An hour later, the Packers reached agreements with Knicky of Stephen F. Austin, Russell of Wake Forest and Zombo of Central Michigan. Undersized defensive linemen in college, their size fits best as outside linebackers in a 3-4 scheme.
All three players had multiple teams pressing to sign them in the annual free-agent free-for-all immediately after the draft. In each case, the players and their agents went for opportunity in Green Bay.
"I think they know Clay Matthews is going to get after the quarterback," Russell said Sunday. "They're looking for another guy they feel can really do that and also be really, really physical against the run.
"We felt there was a need for them to add some depth, and that it was the best opportunity to get on a team."
Russell, 6 feet 3 inches and 280 pounds, expects to drop 20 pounds in no time. His natural weight is in the 255-260 range.
Right on the nose
At Wake Forest, Russell started for three seasons and played extensively as a true freshman in 2006 as a 3-technique tackle in a 4-3. Much of the time he played at 265, a weight ill-suited to anchoring against interior double teams.
"I was out of position but that's what the team needed," said Russell. "Teams kept telling me that I'd never play D-tackle in the NFL, but they knew I can play football and I move real well.
"They liked the fact I was kind of unselfishly going in there and playing."
The son of a high-school defensive coordinator, Russell's 51-game totals included 10 1/2 sacks and 137 tackles (19 for loss).
Eight or nine teams called Russell or his agent after the draft. Two teams, Dallas and Tampa Bay, wanted him as a fullback even though he never played it.
Russell was the slowest of the three in the 40-yard dash (4.91 seconds) but also the strongest on the bench press (30 reps).
Knicky (6-4, 251) is a fly-off-the-edge sack artist out of the Football Championship Subdivision Southland Conference.
A 3 1/2-year starter at weak-side end in a 4-3, he had 24 1/2 sacks the last two years and 32 1/2 in all, to go with 59 1/2 tackles for loss.
"That's what they pay me to do," Knicky said. "I'd definitely say my speed is my (No. 1 attribute). I get off the ball well and do have some strength."
A year ago, Knicky weighed just 232. Even at 251, he still ran 4.68. A wide receiver in high school, Knicky has almost no experience at linebacker.
"Green Bay called me during the seventh round and told me they had no picks left and wanted me as a free agent," he said. "I had done a little research, and I knew Green Bay would be a good place for me. There were seven or eight teams calling . . . like Jacksonville, the Texans, the Broncos and Chargers.
"Some of the other teams wanted me to play with my hand on the ground and play (4-3) end. I just think I'm better suited for linebacker."
Zombo (6-3 1/2, 254) was a three-year starter at strong-side end in a 4-3 and weighed between 265 and 270. After the season, he decided to drop weight.
Detroit and Cincinnati wanted to sign him as a tight end.
An in with Zombo
One reason Zombo chose the Packers was his agent, Robert Walker, happened to be Jason Hunter's agent in 2006 when the undrafted rookie made the Packers.
Zombo runs 4.76, owns the best vertical jump (35 1/2 inches) and broad jump (10-2) of the three and managed 23 reps on the bench, six more than Knicky. He also has by far the longest arms (32 1/2).
"I have the size and the athletic ability to do it," said Zombo. "I have really good hands. I caught 78 passes in high school my senior year as a wide receiver. And I can rush the passer. It's a great fit."
Zombo had 181 tackles (39 for loss) and 25 1/2 sacks at Central Michigan, where Cullen Jenkins had only 11 1/2 sacks from 1999-'02 before making it as a free agent in Green Bay.
Meanwhile, the Packers also signed Nick McDonald (6-4, 306), a guard from Grand Valley State, and Fresno State wide receiver Chastin West (6-1, 214).
McDonald started at right guard in 2008 and left tackle in '09. He runs 5.21 and did 27 reps on the bench.
"Good athlete, good feet, a lot of up side," an AFC personnel director said before the draft. "He could be one of those guys, in his third or fourth year, he could end up starting. He needs to get a little stronger."
West played three years, sitting out '07 with knee injury. He finished with 81 catches for 1,051 yards (13.0) and six touchdowns, 45 kickoff returns for a 21.3 mark and 19 punt returns for an 11.3 average and two scores.
Also, running back Tory Harrison of Southern Mississippi agreed to a weekend audition, not a free-agent contract.
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