So what’s the problem with Morgan Burnett? After signing a contract extension that paid him more than $5 million per year in the summer of 2013, Burnett went out and and turned in his worst season since he became a full-time starter.
His 2013 campaign included zero interceptions, zero sacks and zero forced fumbles. In other words, zero impact plays.
Totally worth $5 million!
Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy thinks he knows what Burnett’s problem is. Not assertive enough.
“You know, I don’t think it’s, ‘Oh my God, he’s a bust,’” McCarthy said. “It’s nothing like that. I think the guy needs to – and I think he will – he’ll be coached to make more impact plays. That’ll be his emphasis next year, and he’s the type of guy that will do it. The guy will go about it. He’s a pro. I wish he’d be more assertive, but that’s not really his personality, either. He’s a soft-spoken young man.”
McCarthy pointed to a specific instance in the playoff loss to the 49ers where Burnett failed to break up a pass to tight end Vernon Davis, even though he was in perfect position to do so.
“I look at the San Francisco game, he’s got to make that play,” McCarthy said. “To me, it looked like he didn’t know whether to go hit him or go for the ball.
“That’s not a confident [action],” McCarthy added. “I mean, playmaking, you go get the football.”
So, not assertive enough and lacks confidence. Just the guy you want quarterbacking your defense.
Hey, we heard Nick Collins wants to come out of his forced retirement.
That’s probably not going to happen, of course. At least with the Packers. So we’ll just have to wait around and see if Burnett improves.
If he doesn’t improve and McCarthy doesn’t want to call him a bust, we’ll be happy to.
Jesus… if he’s this unassertive, they probably could have paid him a lot less.
But how does calling him a “pussy” in the national media help the situation?
Was gonna say, beat to it by a slacker…
Def seems MMs getting frustrated with the D: co-opting the coordinating (I still stand by Capers, I know I’m an idiot and in the minuscule minority), calling out Jones and Burnett; maybe he’s trying to make one of them a leader, I guess we’ll see if it works in due time (man, baseball players just reported to spring training past week and I’m already itching for the NFL season to begin, I gotta fever…).
And the only cure is more cowbell…
Thank. You. Da na na da na na….
I think Burnett just isn’t smart or football smart and takes too long to decipher what is happening around him. It seems like all of our safeties seem to be like that. A fresh face like Hyde that can make plays because he can think standout. I’m for giving him a chance at safety. Our defense was good in 2009-10 was because Woodson was roaming the secondary making play everywhere, and now they are completely lost thinking about where they should be on the play. DraFt for brains.
Maybe he was playing not to get hurt (not an excuse, just a thought), seeing as how he played substantially better in previous seasons, even without Collins.
I just dont see all of this excitement around Hyde being a safety. I dont think he has the speed to play on the backend. Maybe as a strong safety he can play down in the box, but I would be a little worried about him matching up on tight ends.
He could be Chuck Lite, before the Woodchuck lost it nearly entirely-not very fast, but attentive and with good predicative powers/tackling-bit of a stretch but it’s a possibility we gottas entertain at this point.
Morgan Burnett ran a 4.51, Hyde ran a 4.52. I think this 40 time is so overblown it’s kinda funny. These times are being recorded are started in a sprinters stance in what amounts to underware. Take a stopwatch, I-Phone, anything you want to use and click it on and off as fast as you can. That’s the difference between a 4.39 and a 4.57.
I think Nick Collins had one of the lowest Wunderlik scores ever recorded, BTW.
I am shocked that Mike McCarthy actually talked not only about an individual player’s performance, but also about a specific play. It is refreshing to hear. Much better than the Darren Perry school of excuse making.
Damn straight Burnett should have made that play.
Intereting as well that McCarthy has finally started to point fingers. You play like you’re coached and we have played shitty. Perhaps someone said you need to start acting like a coach or hit the road.
Kinda sad vis a vis the mental state of NFL players (doyerjabs, universities)-I could take that test drunk off my ass and still get a 20. Damn good point though-he makes that (C+-B-level) play and it’sa whole ‘nutha ballgame. In the name of HOVA, get your shit together, Morgan, and make us all look like asses. Please and thank you.
I’m sorry, but you just cannot expect the coaching staff to change a guy’s personality. He is what he is. All you can do is put him in situations favorable to his skill set. Since he’s an every down player, what you’re really saying is “we’re going to get burned every so often.”
If only there was some way over the last 3 years to figure that out about the guy before we resigned him to a long term contract. Instead, it’s just some surprise?
Another mishap in a long line of teddy trying to fix the safety situation. Sure collins was a hit..but..they overpaid burnett..over estimated michelle delaneys jennings upside..paid big bucks for marquand manual. Lets hope they finally address that position adequately..and i dont care if it means dead money to burnett..just 2 capable safeties please!!