• Articles
  • News
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Website Terms of Use
  • Contact
Total Packers - Green Bay Packers Blogs and News
  • Home
  • Analysis
  • Packers News
  • Contact
  • Disclaimer
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Analysis
  • Packers News
  • Contact
  • Disclaimer
No Result
View All Result
Total Packers
No Result
View All Result

Packers May Get Creative At Linebacker, But That’s Hardly Enough

Monty McMahon by Monty McMahon
April 28, 2010
in Uncategorized
Reading Time: 3 mins read
2
Brad Jones
Jones is part of the current answer at outside linebacker.

The Green Bay Packers have a potentially problematic situation at outside linebacker.

As it stands right now, the Packers will start second-year man Brad Jones opposite Clay Matthews. Even though the left outside linebacker spot was considered one of the Packers’ primary weaknesses, the team did absolutely nothing to address it during the draft.

The Press Gazette’s Mike Vanermause and several other media types have called outside linebacker the Packers’ most pressing need of the offseason. For the record, I’ve repeatedly said the team’s biggest need was left tackle, simply because the position is primarily responsible for protecting the franchise, Aaron Rodgers, and is currently manned by a past-his-prime injury risk in Chad Clifton. The Packers obviously agreed, as evidenced by the selection of Iowa left tackle Bryan Bulaga in the first round of the draft.

But back to outside linebacker.

Jones made seven starts last season in place of Aaron Kampman, who signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars in the offseason. On the year, Jones had 33 tackles and four sacks. Comparably, Kampman had 42 tackles and 3.5 sacks in nine starts.

Jones certainly didn’t play poorly and he showed flashes as a pass rusher, but let’s be clear – Jones was a seventh-round draft choice for a reason. Primarily, Jones needs to add weight and strength to be able to effectively take on blockers.

Beyond that, you don’t have to look any further than the Packers’ playoff loss in Arizona to see what sort of pressure the Packers were able to generate with their current group of linebackers. Matthews was the only Packers’ defender who got close to Cardinals’ quarterback Kurt Warner. The rest of the rushers, Jones included, were non-factors, so you could see how the Packers might want to upgrade the outside linebacker position.

Obviously, Jones will improve in his second year, but that may not be enough.

We suggested the possibility of signing Adalius Thomas, who was released by the New England Patriots earlier this week. If nothing else, Thomas provides depth the Packers sorely need and serves as a mentor for Jones. The Packers are dangerously thin at outside linebacker with Kampman’s defection and the recent release/retirement of Jeremy Thompson. After Matthews and Jones, the Packers have only Brady Poppinga, who’s a notch below serviceable, and second-year rookie free agents Cyril Obiozor and Robert Francois.

Here’s a scary thought: Matthews gets injured and is forced to miss an extended number of games. If you think the Packers are going to do anything with an outside linebacker combo of Jones and Poppinga, then I’ve got a bridge to sell you.

But let’s assume everyone stays healthy and Jones shows improvement, but doesn’t turn into a pass-rushing force, which I’d say is a fair assumption. How are the Packers going to generate a pass rush with opposing offenses focusing their attention on Matthews?

They may move one of their inside linebackers to the outside in passing situations.

“I think both Nick (Barnett) and Brandon Chillar have outside pass-rush ability. I’m not saying we’re going to do it all the time, but it’s definitely an option for us that we’ve talked about,” Packers’ coach Mike McCarthy said.

He’s right. Both Chillar and Barnett have shown the ability to get to the quarterback when given the chance and moving one of them outside on passing downs wouldn’t hurt the Packers.

Inside linebacker is one of the strongest positions on the team. Certainly, the Packers don’t want A.J. Hawk on the field on passing downs – he’s a liability in coverage and is the polar opposite of a playmaker – but bringing in Desmond Bishop to man the inside is a viable option.

Pairing Bishop with Barnett or Chillar on the inside gives the Packers the option to move the other to the left side opposite Matthews. It forms what could be a fairly solid unit and hopefully one that can apply more pressure than the unit that got torched by the Cardinals.

Clearly, it’s an interesting option, but it’s far from a cure all.

I still say the Packers’ best option is bringing in Thomas.

Looking at the depth chart behind Matthews and Jones is frightening.

[ad#totalpackers468x60]

Tags: A.J. HawkAdalius ThomasBrad JonesBrady PoppingaBrandon ChillarClay MatthewsCyril ObiozorDesmond BishopGreen Bay PackerslinebackersNick BarnettRobert Francois
Previous Post

Mandarich Could Move Down List Of All-Time Busts

Next Post

Al Harris’ Recovery Time “Tremendous”

Monty McMahon

Monty McMahon

Monty McMahon is one of the founders of Total Packers. He is probably the most famous graduate of UW-Oshkosh next to Jim Gantner.

Packers Shock Motown 29-22 on Thanksgiving

What Does Thanksgiving’s Win in Detroit Mean for Green Bay

November 26, 2023
Jordan Love scrambles against Detroit Lions

Packers Shock Motown 29-22 on Thanksgiving

November 24, 2023
Repeated Negative Happenings Can Get in Your Head

Expanded Overview of Packers vs Steelers Game

November 12, 2023
Jordan Love runs down the field

Game Day: Packers vs Rams – Week 9

November 5, 2023
Next Post

Al Harris' Recovery Time "Tremendous"

Comments 2

  1. Avatar for todd todd says:
    14 years ago

    Jones did better than Kampman. Kampman hasn’t played well since the 2007 season.

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Total Packers - Green Bay Packers News and Rumors

Subscribe to Packers News Updates

100% Spam Free - Unsubscribe at any time.

Find It!

No Result
View All Result

Recent Posts

  • What Does Thanksgiving’s Win in Detroit Mean for Green Bay
  • Packers Shock Motown 29-22 on Thanksgiving
  • Packers vs Lions – Game Day: Turkey Day Edition
  • Packers’ Super Bowl Chances are Tiny but Future Draft Picks Suggest They Will Bounce Back
  • Packers Overcome Kicking Gaffs, Beat Chargers 23-20
  • Game Day: Chargers vs Packers at Lambeau Field
  • Packers Fail to Capitalize, Fall in Pittsburgh 23-19
  • Expanded Overview of Packers vs Steelers Game
  • Packers Beat Rams 20-3
  • Game Day: Packers vs Rams – Week 9
  • How Can Packer Fans Take Advantage of Reload Bonuses?
  • It’s Official; Packers Are Rebuilding

Popular Tags

A.J. Hawk Aaron Rodgers Brett Favre Brian Gutekunst Bryan Bulaga Charles Woodson Chicago Bears Chicago Bears Clay Matthews Clay Matthews III Dallas Cowboys Davante Adams Detroit Lions Eddie Lacy fans Featured free agents game analysis Green Bay Packers Green Bay Packers Greg Jennings injuries Jay Cutler Jermichael Finley Jordy Nelson Julius Peppers Mike McCarthy Mike McCarthy Minnesota Vikings Morgan Burnett New England Patriots New Orleans Saints NFL Oakland Raiders Philadelphia Eagles predictions Randall Cobb Sam Shields San Francisco 49ers Seattle Seahawks T.J. Lang Ted Thompson Ted Thompson Tramon Williams Ty Montgomery
No Result
View All Result
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Articles
  • News
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Website Terms of Use
  • Contact

© 2023 Total Packers -- This site is not affiliated with the Green Bay Packers or Packers.com

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Analysis
  • Packers News
  • Contact
  • Disclaimer

© 2023 Total Packers -- This site is not affiliated with the Green Bay Packers or Packers.com