Nonstopdrivel
15 years ago

Have at It: Your top pass rushers 
July, 30, 2010

By Kevin Seifert

Perhaps you're a bit out of practice with training camp just underway, but let's just say most of you had trouble playing nicely during our first Have at It of the 2010 season. Man, I didn't know that an argument about the title of a chart could consume so many pages of comments. Wow.

The topic was whether anyone would overtake the Minnesota Vikings as the NFC North's top pass rushing team. Those of you who chose to respond generally reflected what Detlev Dimmitry wrote: "[T]he Lions, Bears and Packers have been closing the gap, but they're still trailing the Vikings with Jared Allen, Kevin Williams and Pat Williams on that line (and Ray Edwards getting a free ride with those three)."

Suamico72 placed two Vikings players among his top four pass rushers in the division: Julius Peppers, Allen, Clay Matthews, Edwards and Cullen Jenkins.

Duncan926 suggested that the Bears' sack total will rise most on a percentage basis, although the combination of Ndamukong Suh and Kyle Vanden Bosch could be "pretty effective" for the Lions.

On a relative scale, the Packers' pass rush didn't get much love. Cheezeheadthrunthru, true to that name, did offer an interesting alternative take:

The Packers have a good chance to significantly improve their pass rush/sack numbers. First, you have Clay Matthews coming off a monster rookie year. He now has experience and an offseason to get stronger and develop into his position more.

Second, Brad Jones has gained experience and has had the off-season knowing that he's the top contender for the starting LOLB. He can improve on his four sacks from last season, especially now that most teams will be game-planning for Matthews.

Third, B.J. Raji is back at his natural position, nose tackle. The position he performed so dangerously at BC. [KS: Actually, he played tackle in a 4-3, but we'll let you keep going. You're on a roll.] Coming into the season injury-free with no contract distractions will hopefully help him boost his numbers.

Fourth, Charles Woodson, reigning DPOY, is always all over the field and he's no stranger when it comes to helping opposing quarterbacks face the ground.

Wild-Card, Dom Capers. He's unpredictable and he's now had a full year of the team's 3-4 system instituted. Watch for him to use some more creative play-calling to get to less-mobile quarterbacks like Brett Favre this year.



My take? As a team, I think the Vikings still have the best group of pass rushers. The most interesting, if not as relevant, battle will be to determine which individual wins the NFC North sack title. Allen has had 14.5 sacks in each of his first two seasons with the Vikings. Peppers had the same total in 2008 and finished last season with 10.5. If both stay healthy, it should prove to be one of the more intriguing individual competitions of the season.


UserPostedImage
Pack93z
15 years ago
Rock has gone from, in a few short years.. to a young man just getting his feet wet in the game to a very knowledgeable fan.

Albeit I think some are over valuing Matthews production as a rookie at this point.. he was very green as a pass rusher that really had two weapons at his disposal.. speed and determination. Teams will start to neutralize that via chips and sets to address the speed... Clay will need to expand his arsenal to continue to develop as a legitimate pass rusher in this league.

I like Clay's chances to continue to develop and become what people claim him to be.. but he is far from a top notch pass rusher based on his rookie season and his game at this point which lacks enough depth to keep a tackle off balance snap in and out.. IMO.
"The oranges are dry; the apples are mealy; and the papayas... I don't know what's going on with the papayas!"
Zero2Cool
15 years ago
I like Clay, but I think he's being over rated. I see 6-8 sacks out of him this year and it seems like some are expecting another 10 or more out of him.
UserPostedImage
wpr
  • wpr
  • Preferred Member
15 years ago

Rock has gone from, in a few short years.. to a young man just getting his feet wet in the game to a very knowledgeable fan.

Albeit I think some are over valuing Matthews production as a rookie at this point.. he was very green as a pass rusher that really had two weapons at his disposal.. speed and determination. Teams will start to neutralize that via chips and sets to address the speed... Clay will need to expand his arsenal to continue to develop as a legitimate pass rusher in this league.

I like Clay's chances to continue to develop and become what people claim him to be.. but he is far from a top notch pass rusher based on his rookie season and his game at this point which lacks enough depth to keep a tackle off balance snap in and out.. IMO.

"pack93z" wrote:



Rocky really seems to put a lot of time in studying all the players and is indeed very knowledgeable.

As for Clay, I have to agree with yours and Zero's assessment. I am thrilled by his first year but things have a way of evening out as teams prepare.
UserPostedImage
doddpower
15 years ago

Rock has gone from, in a few short years.. to a young man just getting his feet wet in the game to a very knowledgeable fan.

Albeit I think some are over valuing Matthews production as a rookie at this point.. he was very green as a pass rusher that really had two weapons at his disposal.. speed and determination. Teams will start to neutralize that via chips and sets to address the speed... Clay will need to expand his arsenal to continue to develop as a legitimate pass rusher in this league.

I like Clay's chances to continue to develop and become what people claim him to be.. but he is far from a top notch pass rusher based on his rookie season and his game at this point which lacks enough depth to keep a tackle off balance snap in and out.. IMO.

"wpr" wrote:



Rocky really seems to put a lot of time in studying all the players and is indeed very knowledgeable.

As for Clay, I have to agree with yours and Zero's assessment. I am thrilled by his first year but things have a way of evening out as teams prepare.

"pack93z" wrote:



I understand what you are saying and tend to agree. I think he is a bit over rated. But really, were teams not preparing for him the last third of the season or so? I would have to look at the stats, but I'm pretty sure he was still generating sacks throughout last part of the year (with the playoff game being an exception, I think).

What I'm saying is that he may be a bit over rated, but I think some may also be under rating the guy, especially if our pressure from other areas increases.
wpr
  • wpr
  • Preferred Member
15 years ago

Rock has gone from, in a few short years.. to a young man just getting his feet wet in the game to a very knowledgeable fan.

Albeit I think some are over valuing Matthews production as a rookie at this point.. he was very green as a pass rusher that really had two weapons at his disposal.. speed and determination. Teams will start to neutralize that via chips and sets to address the speed... Clay will need to expand his arsenal to continue to develop as a legitimate pass rusher in this league.

I like Clay's chances to continue to develop and become what people claim him to be.. but he is far from a top notch pass rusher based on his rookie season and his game at this point which lacks enough depth to keep a tackle off balance snap in and out.. IMO.

"doddpower" wrote:



Rocky really seems to put a lot of time in studying all the players and is indeed very knowledgeable.

As for Clay, I have to agree with yours and Zero's assessment. I am thrilled by his first year but things have a way of evening out as teams prepare.

"wpr" wrote:



I understand what you are saying and tend to agree. I think he is a bit over rated. But really, were teams not preparing for him the last third of the season or so? I would have to look at the stats, but I'm pretty sure he was still generating sacks throughout last part of the year (with the playoff game being an exception, I think).

What I'm saying is that he may be a bit over rated, but I think some may also be under rating the guy, especially if our pressure from other areas increases.

"pack93z" wrote:



I don't think other teams devoted as much to preparing for him the last part of the year like they will this year. And if one team has success everyone will follow suit and defend against him until he adjusts.

Like the others, I am not complaining or criticizing him I just think he got a bit of a pass for being an unknown factor. That won't happen this year.
UserPostedImage
IronMan
15 years ago
Wtg Detlev!
doddpower
15 years ago

Rock has gone from, in a few short years.. to a young man just getting his feet wet in the game to a very knowledgeable fan.

Albeit I think some are over valuing Matthews production as a rookie at this point.. he was very green as a pass rusher that really had two weapons at his disposal.. speed and determination. Teams will start to neutralize that via chips and sets to address the speed... Clay will need to expand his arsenal to continue to develop as a legitimate pass rusher in this league.

I like Clay's chances to continue to develop and become what people claim him to be.. but he is far from a top notch pass rusher based on his rookie season and his game at this point which lacks enough depth to keep a tackle off balance snap in and out.. IMO.

"wpr" wrote:



Rocky really seems to put a lot of time in studying all the players and is indeed very knowledgeable.

As for Clay, I have to agree with yours and Zero's assessment. I am thrilled by his first year but things have a way of evening out as teams prepare.

"doddpower" wrote:



I understand what you are saying and tend to agree. I think he is a bit over rated. But really, were teams not preparing for him the last third of the season or so? I would have to look at the stats, but I'm pretty sure he was still generating sacks throughout last part of the year (with the playoff game being an exception, I think).

What I'm saying is that he may be a bit over rated, but I think some may also be under rating the guy, especially if our pressure from other areas increases.

"wpr" wrote:



I don't think other teams devoted as much to preparing for him the last part of the year like they will this year. And if one team has success everyone will follow suit and defend against him until he adjusts.

Like the others, I am not complaining or criticizing him I just think he got a bit of a pass for being an unknown factor. That won't happen this year.

"pack93z" wrote:



I just don't know if I agree with that. I imagine Matthews was our opponents number one focus as far as protecting the quarterback for the last 4-5 games minimum, yet he still had success. I don't believe teams were only putting say, 70% effort into game planning for him at the end of the season and this year it will be 95%. I think it has already been 95% and he was still was solid.

Also, all signs point to him, as well as others on our defense, improving, specifically Jones. Perhaps you could say there is enough film on Matthews to neutralize his game, and while I'm sure that's true to some extent, I don't believe its entirely true. He was a raw rookie and will only get better during the next few years.

Like I said, over rated by some, under rated by others.
wpr
  • wpr
  • Preferred Member
15 years ago

Rock has gone from, in a few short years.. to a young man just getting his feet wet in the game to a very knowledgeable fan.

Albeit I think some are over valuing Matthews production as a rookie at this point.. he was very green as a pass rusher that really had two weapons at his disposal.. speed and determination. Teams will start to neutralize that via chips and sets to address the speed... Clay will need to expand his arsenal to continue to develop as a legitimate pass rusher in this league.

I like Clay's chances to continue to develop and become what people claim him to be.. but he is far from a top notch pass rusher based on his rookie season and his game at this point which lacks enough depth to keep a tackle off balance snap in and out.. IMO.

"doddpower" wrote:



Rocky really seems to put a lot of time in studying all the players and is indeed very knowledgeable.

As for Clay, I have to agree with yours and Zero's assessment. I am thrilled by his first year but things have a way of evening out as teams prepare.

"wpr" wrote:



I understand what you are saying and tend to agree. I think he is a bit over rated. But really, were teams not preparing for him the last third of the season or so? I would have to look at the stats, but I'm pretty sure he was still generating sacks throughout last part of the year (with the playoff game being an exception, I think).

What I'm saying is that he may be a bit over rated, but I think some may also be under rating the guy, especially if our pressure from other areas increases.

"doddpower" wrote:



I don't think other teams devoted as much to preparing for him the last part of the year like they will this year. And if one team has success everyone will follow suit and defend against him until he adjusts.

Like the others, I am not complaining or criticizing him I just think he got a bit of a pass for being an unknown factor. That won't happen this year.

"wpr" wrote:



I just don't know if I agree with that. I imagine Matthews was our opponents number one focus as far as protecting the quarterback for the last 4-5 games minimum, yet he still had success. I don't believe teams were only putting say, 70% effort into game planning for him at the end of the season and this year it will be 95%. I think it has already been 95% and he was still was solid.

Also, all signs point to him, as well as others on our defense, improving, specifically Jones. Perhaps you could say there is enough film on Matthews to neutralize his game, and while I'm sure that's true to some extent, I don't believe its entirely true. He was a raw rookie and will only get better during the next few years.

Like I said, over rated by some, under rated by others.

"pack93z" wrote:



I understand where you are coming from. We will have to see if his numbers at the end of the year bear out. I hope they do. I hope they are better than they were last year. I just won't be surprised if they are not. I do know this- whatever they are if they are less, it won't be from a lack of effort on his part and I love that about the young man.
UserPostedImage
doddpower
15 years ago
Yeah, that's true. I think he should rack up 10+ sacks if he stays healthy. Maybe not 15, but I can see 10-12.

However, someone else better step up because that won't be enough for our defenense to shut down several opponts.
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