Defensive Line is Still the Packers’ Biggest Weakness
Yes, I realize I was in the minority in this assessment prior to the draft. That is, that defensive line was actually the Green Bay Packers greatest position of need.
Well, absolutely nothing changed about that. The Packers drafted just one defensive linemen — sixth-round pick Christian Ringo, who is probably best labeled as a “developmental” player.
In fact, the Packers passed on one of the best defensive linemen in the draft — Texas defensive tackle Malcom Brown — in the first round. Instead, they took a safety that they’re going to convert to cornerback and the Patriots grabbed Brown two picks later.
The other perceived areas of weakness for the Packers were addressed.
Cornerback?
The Packers took one in both rounds one and two.
Inside linebacker?
The ultimate move is to leave Clay Matthews at inside linebacker, as we’ve discussed at length. However, the Packers also added Michigan’s Jake Ryan in the fourth round.
Meanwhile, Ted is out there adding luxury items.
Multiple corners, all-purpose threat Ty Montgomery, backup quarterback Brett Hundley and fullback Aaron Ripkowski.
Look, it isn’t as if the defensive line will be the ruin of the 2015 team. Overall, it just isn’t that good.
It wasn’t that good before the draft and it isn’t that good now.
You’ve got one potential star, a couple question marks and a soon-to-be bust.
I speak, of course, of Mike Daniels, Letroy Guion, B.J. Raji and Datone Jones.
Guion and Raji are both on one-year contracts. They’re question marks because who knows what the Packers are going to get out of them?
Raji hasn’t been good in four years. Guion is staring at a suspension. Jones has done nothing to warrant his status as a first-round pick or even as a starter.
We’re all just basically sitting around and hoping for the best. And that makes us uneasy.
Given the current cast of DL, it’s challenging to think it could represent a Super Bowl-qualifying team in 2015.
Sad.
We were a few plays away from the Super Bowl last year Monty, why all the gloom and doom?
Monty McMahon confessed to me over some chicken wings & a Manhattan that Datone Jones is “my boy”
This eval of the DL is ridiculous. Raji will be a beast this year, watch. Guion played very well last year and Daniels is flirting with a Pro Bowl ticket. Jones was close last year on numerous occasions and
probably could have had 4 more sacks last season. Pennel, Boyd, Thornton, and the kid we got in the draft will provide plenty of depth and beef up front. Our DL is deeper than most and will shut all of the cry baby complainers up this season. You heard it here first folks. Go Pack!
Not to mention the number of people playing for a shot to be with the Packers or another team next year. We have a lot of one and done players fighting for their football lives.
Unreal how they passed on Malcom Brown. I just about broke my TV. Totally stupid. Can you say Raji? Please……We are in deep shit on our D-line. Wait until we get embarrassed against Colin Kaepernick. It’s going to be sick. Prepare.
the 40-whiners will be one of the worst teams in the NFL next season…
Ted devalues this position because of its high risk high reward track record. That’s pretty obvious….if you spend $$$ it’s on your more trustworthy play makers or star QBs (if you are lucky enough to have one). Finding a few space eating fat guys to free up our 2nd and third level guys to make tackles in the way we roll…bend don’t break, well except for the last 4+ minutes of the NFC Championship game.
I totally agree with you Monty. Not only did Ted Thompson miss out on Malcom Brown in the first round, he missed the “steal of the draft,” Michael Bennett, who fell to the Jaguars who took him in the 6th round. We could have selected him with our own pick in the 5th, but that was traded as part of the deal to move up in that round to select Hundley. I, too, am very uneasy.