Chillar and Jenkins Working at Outside Linebacker

Rather than give you the full rundown of tweets, which came from the Press Gazette’s Pete Dougherty, we’ll just tell you this: the Green Bay Packers are using defensive end Cullen Jenkins and inside linebacker Brandon Chillar at outside linebacker.

This shouldn’t be interpreted as a positional switch by either, but as a way to try to bolster the pass rush opposite Clay Matthews.

Jenkins worked occasionally as a pass rusher at OLB and was with the first team at OLB in the Big Okie package during the first day of the Packers’ minicamp. Chillar got some snaps at OLB during the jog-through, according to Dougherty.

The Jenkins move is somewhat surprising. Although he’s shown pass rush ability, his strength seems to be as an inside rusher along the defensive line. His career high in sacks came in 2006 when he registered 6.5 as a defensive tackle. Jenkins totaled 4.5 last season at defensive end. Add the fact that Jenkins weighs in around 305 and you have to wonder if he has the quickness to get to the quarterback from the outside linebacker position.

Chillar playing outside linebacker is less surprising. Although he isn’t known as a pass rusher (7.5 sacks in six seasons), he has the quickness and build to play the position.

Another option could be inside linebacker Desmond Bishop, but the Packers coaching staff seems to have something against putting him in the field.

This, of course, says nothing of last year’s end-of-season starter, Brad Jones, who put up four sacks in seven starts.

There’s still a long way to go before the season starts, but if the tinkering with Jenkins and Chillar is indicative of the Packers concern about Jones providing an adequate pass rush, why didn’t the team address the position in the offseason?

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