You can go ahead and file this under Ringing Endorsements. Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Julius Peppers was asked how he thinks inside linebackers Nate Palmer and Jake Ryan are doing filling in for Sam Barrington, who was lost for the season in week 1.
Adequate, Julie says.
“I feel like they’re coming along well,” outside linebacker Julius Peppers said of Palmer and Ryan. “We’re asking a lot of those guys, with a little bit of inexperience, a little bit of playing time. They haven’t been out there. So we’re asking a lot of them to come in and play at a high level. I think they’re doing an adequate job.”
Doesn’t really inspire a lot of confidence, does it?
Unfortunately, the Packers don’t have a choice.
They only have three inside linebackers on their roster — Clay Matthews, Palmer and Ryan.
Palmer will get the start against Seattle and Ryan, a rookie, should see some snaps on defense as well.
Ultimately, Ryan likely has the higher upside, but probably lacks the experience to be an immediate factor.
The Packers aren’t really an organization that lives with rookie mistakes.
We’ll see, though. Hopefully, one of these guys proves to be slightly more than adequate.
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I respect a guy who tells it like it is.
What did you want him say? That Palmer and Ryan are Ray Lewis? If they were better than Barrington they would have been ahead of him on the depth chart.
Palmer is a back-up. A good man to have to relieve someone for 10-12 snaps a week. He is not a starter. I watched the Bears game several times. He got lost in the wake frequently & was often on the ground face down. Good coverage linebacker, however. But not a guy to record 12 tackles every week.
Ryan had a serious injury in college just 2 years ago & doesn’t look to have a developed NFL body to play for 15-19 weeks.
Lets make a move at Brandon Spikes.