We’ve talked plenty about the Green Bay Packers fourth-round pick, Carl Bradford. He’s a linebacker of one kind or another.
He was a hybrid defensive end/outside linebacker in college and the Packers used him at outside linebacker during their rookie minicamp. However, his stature (6-1, 250) seems to project better to inside linebacker.
All of the Packers outside linebackers are bigger than Bradford, while their inside linebackers are about the same size.
Although the Packers haven’t said anything to that effect, Bradford makes it sound like the move inside is inevitable.
“I believe I can play a key role either outside or inside,” he said. “Right now, they are working me at outside backer, but when the time comes and they need to push me inside, I’ll be prepared and ready to learn it.”
You know why we’re in love with the thought of that proposition. Bradford could potentially replace Brad Jones or A.J. Hawk and the Packers could finally have a long-term playmaking inside linebacker.
Bradford is known as a pass rusher, but he’s more so an athlete. The kind of guy who’s disruptive and not just… there.
That’s pretty much the best thing you can say about Hawk and Jones. They’re there.
Woopee!
Now, the Packers have switched a number of guys from outside to inside in the past — Hawk, Jones and Jamari Lattimore among them. None of those moves were immediate though.
Each of those guys played at least a full season outside before moving inside.
We’re expecting Bradford to follow a similar path, which means we’ll probably be forced to watch another season featuring the dynamic duo in the middle.
I like the idea of moving Bradford inside for the simple reason that Hawk but especially Jones need some competition. Neither of them should feel secure. That leads to the extremely average performance GB has seen from the ILB position. Good news that Bradford anticipates it and is ready.
I like the idea of the Packers maybe once in a while drafting guys that have experience playing the positions in college that they’re slated to play in the pro’s.
I wish TT and MM would have gotten chemistry sets as kids.
I see it going down much the same as Monty at this point. Jones and Hawk will likely be the starters this year, partially based on their contracts and partially because of the inexperience behind them. However, as early as the 2015 season, we could see Bradford and Lattimore or Bradford and Barrington as the inside starters.
Considering the Packers injury history, I wouldn’t bet on anything.
Exactly. We were a few injuries away last season from John Kuhn, starting ILB.
Okay maybe not THAT dire…
Carl Bradford Combine Results:
40 Yard Dash: *4.76 seconds
20 Yard Dash: (N/A) seconds
10 Yard Dash: (N/A) seconds
Bench Press: 23 reps (225 lb)
Vertical Leap: 37.5 inches
Broad Jump: 122 inches
20 Yd Shuttle: 4.30 seconds
Three Cone: 7.25 seconds
60 Yd Shuttle: (N/A) seconds
A.J. Hawk Combine Results:
40 Yard Dash: 4.59 seconds
20 Yard Dash: 2.72 seconds
10 Yard Dash: 1.56 seconds
Bench Press: 24 reps (225 lb)
Vertical Leap: 40.0 inches
Broad Jump: 115 inches
20 Yd Shuttle: 3.96 seconds
Three Cone: 6.82 seconds
60 Yd Shuttle: (N/A) seconds
Can we please finally relinquish the ridiculous pretense that A.J. Hawk is “unathletic” and that any ILB would be a better, more athletic player?
a) Hawk’s combine stats were from EIGHT years ago. I don’t really think he’s improved in too many categories.
b) Since you’re into stats, go download the gamebooks for the past several years, and discover how many times Hawk hangs a goose-egg in anything but the tackles category.
Then you can “relinquish the ridiculous pretense that A.J. Hawk” is some awesome ILB.
I never said he was an “awesome” LB, Slacker, in fact I said nothing about his actual skill as a LB. You’re missing the point, which is that A.J. Hawk is not unathetic, as so many people choose to believe.
Stats are a good indicator, nothing more; since you’re so into stats, why dont you look up the lines of ever ILB over the past 8 years and tell me how many gooseggs outside of TKLs they register. ILBs are not play-makers , by-and-large. If you’re expecting 5 FFs, 3 INTs, and 7 sacks per season, you’re going to be sorely disappointed, hate to break it to you.
Just move him inside already…NOW!
Will watching Bradford at OLB be as painful as watching Sherrod at guard?
Versitility, versitility, VERSITILITY is the Packers strategy of overcoming their often injury riddled rosters.