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Article - Grading the Packers Defense
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<blockquote data-quote="IPBprez" data-source="post: 40554" data-attributes="member: 51"><p><a href="http://greenbaypressgazette.packersnews.com/archives/news/pack_24170106.shtml" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 26px"><span style="color: yellow">Grading the Packers: The defense</span></span></a></p><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 22px">Defensive line</span></p><p></p><p>Aaron Kampman, DE</p><p></p><p>Broke the team record for tackles by a defensive lineman with 105 and</p><p>improved his pass rush. Posted a career-high 6½ sacks and forced a team-high</p><p>three fumbles. A high-effort guy who is scheduled to become an unrestricted</p><p>free agent. He's the team's top priority to re-sign before March. Committed</p><p>two penalties (one offsides and one roughing the quarterback).</p><p></p><p>Grade: B</p><p></p><p></p><p>Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, DE</p><p></p><p>Failed to record double-digit sacks for the first time since his rookie</p><p>season of 2000. After matching his career-high with 13½ sacks in 2004,</p><p>managed only eight in '05. Teams often had success attacking his side on</p><p>running plays. His salary will jump from $1 million in 2005 to $3.85 million</p><p>in '06, so his production better increase, too. Had four offsides penalties,</p><p>two fewer than last season.</p><p></p><p>Grade: C</p><p></p><p></p><p>Grady Jackson, DT</p><p></p><p>Started slowly, perhaps because he missed all of training camp, but became</p><p>the run-stopping defensive tackle he had been in previous years. Played in</p><p>all 16 games for the first time since 2001. An unrestricted free agent who</p><p>wants big money but probably won't get blockbuster deals like Sam Adams, Ted</p><p>Washington and Pat Williams. The Packers wouldn't mind having him back for a</p><p>contract similar to the two-year, $2.31 million he signed last time. Had</p><p>four penalties (two for encroachment, one offsides and one neutral-zone</p><p>infraction).</p><p></p><p>Grade: C-plus</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Cullen Jenkins, DT</p><p></p><p>Made perhaps the biggest one-year improvement of anyone on the roster.</p><p>Started 12 games and proved to be sturdy against the run. Also had three</p><p>sacks, blocked two PATs and a field goal, recovered one fumble and had seven</p><p>pass defenses. Was not penalized.</p><p></p><p>Grade: C-minus</p><p></p><p></p><p>Colin Cole, DT</p><p></p><p>Like Jenkins, took a big step from last year and was stout against the run.</p><p>Was the highest-ranked non-starter on the team's tackle stats. He posted 62</p><p>stops and had two sacks. Committed four penalties (two holds, one facemask</p><p>and one running into the kicker).</p><p></p><p>Grade: D-plus</p><p></p><p></p><p>Mike Montgomery, DE</p><p></p><p>Rookie showed flashes of pass-rush ability in limited play behind KGB. Had</p><p>only one sack but probably will be thrust into a bigger role next season.</p><p>Committed two penalties (one roughing the passer and one on special teams).</p><p></p><p>Grade: D</p><p></p><p></p><p>Donnell Washington, DE</p><p></p><p>Was active only once (at Atlanta on Nov. 13) but didn't take any snaps. Hasn</p><p>'t played a down after missing all of his rookie season due to a foot</p><p>injury.</p><p></p><p>Grade: F</p><p></p><p></p><p>Kenny Peterson, DT</p><p></p><p>Came close to getting cut in training camp but finally found a home as an</p><p>inside pass rusher and a backup defensive tackle. Had career highs in</p><p>tackles (29) and sacks (three). Committed only one penalty on special teams.</p><p></p><p>Grade: D</p><p></p><p></p><p>Corey Williams, DT</p><p></p><p>Productive season was derailed by strained calf muscle on Nov. 6 against</p><p>Pittsburgh and missed the next four games. Still managed 34 tackles and two</p><p>sacks in 12 games and has a promising future. Committed two penalties (one</p><p>hold, one offsides).</p><p></p><p>Grade: D-plus</p><p></p><p></p><p>Linebackers</p><p></p><p>Nick Barnett</p><p></p><p>The third-year middle linebacker flourished under defensive coordinator Jim</p><p>Bates, had his best season and established a club record with 196 tackles.</p><p>Still had occasional mix-ups in coverage but had one interception, three</p><p>passes defensed, three fumble recoveries and one forced fumble. Committed</p><p>four penalties (two holds, one pass interference and one roughing the</p><p>passer).</p><p></p><p>Grade: C-plus</p><p></p><p></p><p>Paris Lenon</p><p></p><p>Started 12 games (seven at the strong-side position and five on the weak</p><p>side) but probably should be a backup and a special-teams player. Played</p><p>through two different hand injuries and ranked sixth on the team in tackles</p><p>(79).</p><p></p><p>Grade: D</p><p></p><p></p><p>Robert Thomas</p><p></p><p>Acquired from St. Louis for cornerback Chris Johnson on Sept. 3, Thomas</p><p>probably was a one-year, stop-gap player at the weak-side spot. Without a</p><p>training camp to learn Bates' system, Thomas was behind from the start.</p><p>Missed six of the last seven games with a quadriceps injury. Committed two</p><p>penalties (one pass interference, one illegal contact).</p><p></p><p>Grade: D</p><p></p><p></p><p>Na'il Diggs</p><p></p><p>Started only six games because of a pair of medial collateral ligament</p><p>sprains, the first on Aug. 8 and the second on Nov. 13. When healthy, didn't</p><p>seem to fit into Bates' system. Because he's owed a $600,000 roster bonus in</p><p>March and scheduled to make $2.3 million in '06, there's a good chance he</p><p>will be released. Committed one illegal contact penalty.</p><p></p><p>Grade: D-minus</p><p></p><p></p><p>Roy Manning</p><p></p><p>One of two undrafted free agents to make the team coming out of training</p><p>camp, made two starts at the strong-side spot and occasionally subbed in on</p><p>the nickel package. Didn't play as well as he did in the preseason but is</p><p>considered a promising prospect.</p><p></p><p>Grade: D</p><p></p><p></p><p>Brady Poppinga</p><p></p><p>One of the top special teams players, got into the mix as a third-down pass</p><p>rusher in a 3-2 dime alignment and had two sacks. Sustained a torn anterior</p><p>cruciate ligament on Dec. 11. Could have been a candidate to replace Diggs</p><p>as the starting strong-side linebacker but probably won't be ready for the</p><p>start of the '06 season.</p><p></p><p>Grade: D-plus</p><p></p><p></p><p>Kurt Campbell</p><p></p><p>Rookie seventh-round draft pick tore his ACL on Aug. 1 and spent the rest of</p><p>the season on injured reserve.</p><p></p><p>Grade: Incomplete</p><p></p><p></p><p>John Leake</p><p></p><p>Claimed off waivers from Atlanta on Dec. 14 and played the final three</p><p>games, mostly on special teams. Might get an invitation to training camp.</p><p></p><p>Grade: Incomplete</p><p></p><p></p><p>Atari Bigby</p><p></p><p>Rookie was promoted from the practice squad for the last two regular-season</p><p>games but was active for only one game. Small (5-foot-11, 218 pounds) for a</p><p>linebacker.</p><p></p><p>Grade: Incomplete</p><p></p><p></p><p>Defensive backs</p><p></p><p>Al Harris, CB</p><p></p><p>Plays the position like a technician and regularly locked down opponents'</p><p>best receivers. Didn't give up a touchdown pass until Week 15 at Baltimore.</p><p>Moved inside at times to cover the slot receiver for the first time in his</p><p>career. Cut his penalties in half from last season, committing six (two</p><p>illegal hands to the face, two facemasks, one illegal contact, one hold).</p><p></p><p>Grade: B-plus</p><p></p><p></p><p>Ahmad Carroll, CB</p><p></p><p>Was atrocious early in the season, lost his starting job for a week but got</p><p>it back because Joey Thomas was no better. Penalty problems from a year ago</p><p>continued in the first half of the season, when he committed 10 in the first</p><p>eight games. Had only two in the second half of the year but still gave up</p><p>too many big plays. Showed some promise late in the season as a kickoff</p><p>returner. Committed 12 penalties (four pass interferences, three holds,</p><p>three illegal hands to the face, one delay of game, one offsides).</p><p></p><p>Grade: D-plus</p><p></p><p></p><p>Mark Roman, S</p><p></p><p>Improved his tackling from a year ago, finishing second to Barnett with 105</p><p>stops, and had two interceptions but dropped several other potential</p><p>interceptions. Another year under Bates might bring a similar improvement.</p><p>Committed three penalties (one illegal contact, one pass interference, one</p><p>hold).</p><p></p><p>Grade: D-plus</p><p></p><p></p><p>Nick Collins, S</p><p></p><p>Rookie second-round pick used the combination of speed, power and smarts to</p><p>be the team's second-best defensive back. Dropped several potential</p><p>interceptions but looks like he has playmaking ability. Might be good enough</p><p>to play cornerback someday. Committed two penalties (one unnecessary</p><p>roughness, one on special teams).</p><p></p><p>Grade: C</p><p></p><p></p><p>Mike Hawkins, CB</p><p></p><p>When healthy, the fifth-round draft pick was the nickel defensive back.</p><p>Missed five games due to a variety of nagging injuries and never showed the</p><p>play-making ability he did in the preseason. Rare combination of speed and</p><p>ball skills makes him an intriguing prospect, but he's still a project. Did</p><p>not commit a penalty.</p><p></p><p>Grade: D</p><p></p><p></p><p>Marviel Underwood, S</p><p></p><p>Rookie fourth-round pick ended the season as the dime defensive back but</p><p>rarely made plays on the ball. Looks like another Marques Anderson.</p><p>Committed two penalties, both on special teams.</p><p></p><p>Grade: D-minus</p><p></p><p></p><p>Patrick Dendy, CB</p><p></p><p>Rookie undrafted free agent was promoted from the practice squad for the</p><p>final eight games but was inactive for four. Played mostly on special teams</p><p>and occasionally in the dime.</p><p></p><p>Grade: Incomplete</p><p></p><p></p><p>Therrian Fontenot, CB</p><p></p><p>Rookie spent the first 16 weeks on the practice squad but was promoted for</p><p>the regular-season finale and played mostly on special teams.</p><p></p><p>Grade: Incomplete</p><p></p><p></p><p>Jerron Wishom, CB</p><p></p><p>Rookie was promoted from the practice squad for the final six games and</p><p>played mostly on special teams.</p><p></p><p>Grade: Incomplete</p><p></p><p></p><p>Jason Horton, CB</p><p></p><p>Blew coverage on Minnesota's Koren Robinson in Week 11 and gave up a 35-yard</p><p>completion that set up the game-winning field goal. Two days later was</p><p>placed on injured reserve due to a shoulder injury.</p><p></p><p>Grade: D-minus</p><p></p><p></p><p>Jeremy Thornburg, S</p><p></p><p>Claimed off waivers from San Francisco on Nov. 2 and looked like a</p><p>special-teams demon until he injured his shoulder a month later.</p><p></p><p>Grade: Incomplete</p><p></p><p>==================================</p><p></p><p><span style="color: orange"><span style="font-size: 26px">I think this guy is bonkers..... opinions?</span></span></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="IPBprez, post: 40554, member: 51"] [url=http://greenbaypressgazette.packersnews.com/archives/news/pack_24170106.shtml][size=7][color=yellow]Grading the Packers: The defense[/color][/size][/url] [size=6]Defensive line[/size] Aaron Kampman, DE Broke the team record for tackles by a defensive lineman with 105 and improved his pass rush. Posted a career-high 6½ sacks and forced a team-high three fumbles. A high-effort guy who is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent. He's the team's top priority to re-sign before March. Committed two penalties (one offsides and one roughing the quarterback). Grade: B Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, DE Failed to record double-digit sacks for the first time since his rookie season of 2000. After matching his career-high with 13½ sacks in 2004, managed only eight in '05. Teams often had success attacking his side on running plays. His salary will jump from $1 million in 2005 to $3.85 million in '06, so his production better increase, too. Had four offsides penalties, two fewer than last season. Grade: C Grady Jackson, DT Started slowly, perhaps because he missed all of training camp, but became the run-stopping defensive tackle he had been in previous years. Played in all 16 games for the first time since 2001. An unrestricted free agent who wants big money but probably won't get blockbuster deals like Sam Adams, Ted Washington and Pat Williams. The Packers wouldn't mind having him back for a contract similar to the two-year, $2.31 million he signed last time. Had four penalties (two for encroachment, one offsides and one neutral-zone infraction). Grade: C-plus Cullen Jenkins, DT Made perhaps the biggest one-year improvement of anyone on the roster. Started 12 games and proved to be sturdy against the run. Also had three sacks, blocked two PATs and a field goal, recovered one fumble and had seven pass defenses. Was not penalized. Grade: C-minus Colin Cole, DT Like Jenkins, took a big step from last year and was stout against the run. Was the highest-ranked non-starter on the team's tackle stats. He posted 62 stops and had two sacks. Committed four penalties (two holds, one facemask and one running into the kicker). Grade: D-plus Mike Montgomery, DE Rookie showed flashes of pass-rush ability in limited play behind KGB. Had only one sack but probably will be thrust into a bigger role next season. Committed two penalties (one roughing the passer and one on special teams). Grade: D Donnell Washington, DE Was active only once (at Atlanta on Nov. 13) but didn't take any snaps. Hasn 't played a down after missing all of his rookie season due to a foot injury. Grade: F Kenny Peterson, DT Came close to getting cut in training camp but finally found a home as an inside pass rusher and a backup defensive tackle. Had career highs in tackles (29) and sacks (three). Committed only one penalty on special teams. Grade: D Corey Williams, DT Productive season was derailed by strained calf muscle on Nov. 6 against Pittsburgh and missed the next four games. Still managed 34 tackles and two sacks in 12 games and has a promising future. Committed two penalties (one hold, one offsides). Grade: D-plus Linebackers Nick Barnett The third-year middle linebacker flourished under defensive coordinator Jim Bates, had his best season and established a club record with 196 tackles. Still had occasional mix-ups in coverage but had one interception, three passes defensed, three fumble recoveries and one forced fumble. Committed four penalties (two holds, one pass interference and one roughing the passer). Grade: C-plus Paris Lenon Started 12 games (seven at the strong-side position and five on the weak side) but probably should be a backup and a special-teams player. Played through two different hand injuries and ranked sixth on the team in tackles (79). Grade: D Robert Thomas Acquired from St. Louis for cornerback Chris Johnson on Sept. 3, Thomas probably was a one-year, stop-gap player at the weak-side spot. Without a training camp to learn Bates' system, Thomas was behind from the start. Missed six of the last seven games with a quadriceps injury. Committed two penalties (one pass interference, one illegal contact). Grade: D Na'il Diggs Started only six games because of a pair of medial collateral ligament sprains, the first on Aug. 8 and the second on Nov. 13. When healthy, didn't seem to fit into Bates' system. Because he's owed a $600,000 roster bonus in March and scheduled to make $2.3 million in '06, there's a good chance he will be released. Committed one illegal contact penalty. Grade: D-minus Roy Manning One of two undrafted free agents to make the team coming out of training camp, made two starts at the strong-side spot and occasionally subbed in on the nickel package. Didn't play as well as he did in the preseason but is considered a promising prospect. Grade: D Brady Poppinga One of the top special teams players, got into the mix as a third-down pass rusher in a 3-2 dime alignment and had two sacks. Sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament on Dec. 11. Could have been a candidate to replace Diggs as the starting strong-side linebacker but probably won't be ready for the start of the '06 season. Grade: D-plus Kurt Campbell Rookie seventh-round draft pick tore his ACL on Aug. 1 and spent the rest of the season on injured reserve. Grade: Incomplete John Leake Claimed off waivers from Atlanta on Dec. 14 and played the final three games, mostly on special teams. Might get an invitation to training camp. Grade: Incomplete Atari Bigby Rookie was promoted from the practice squad for the last two regular-season games but was active for only one game. Small (5-foot-11, 218 pounds) for a linebacker. Grade: Incomplete Defensive backs Al Harris, CB Plays the position like a technician and regularly locked down opponents' best receivers. Didn't give up a touchdown pass until Week 15 at Baltimore. Moved inside at times to cover the slot receiver for the first time in his career. Cut his penalties in half from last season, committing six (two illegal hands to the face, two facemasks, one illegal contact, one hold). Grade: B-plus Ahmad Carroll, CB Was atrocious early in the season, lost his starting job for a week but got it back because Joey Thomas was no better. Penalty problems from a year ago continued in the first half of the season, when he committed 10 in the first eight games. Had only two in the second half of the year but still gave up too many big plays. Showed some promise late in the season as a kickoff returner. Committed 12 penalties (four pass interferences, three holds, three illegal hands to the face, one delay of game, one offsides). Grade: D-plus Mark Roman, S Improved his tackling from a year ago, finishing second to Barnett with 105 stops, and had two interceptions but dropped several other potential interceptions. Another year under Bates might bring a similar improvement. Committed three penalties (one illegal contact, one pass interference, one hold). Grade: D-plus Nick Collins, S Rookie second-round pick used the combination of speed, power and smarts to be the team's second-best defensive back. Dropped several potential interceptions but looks like he has playmaking ability. Might be good enough to play cornerback someday. Committed two penalties (one unnecessary roughness, one on special teams). Grade: C Mike Hawkins, CB When healthy, the fifth-round draft pick was the nickel defensive back. Missed five games due to a variety of nagging injuries and never showed the play-making ability he did in the preseason. Rare combination of speed and ball skills makes him an intriguing prospect, but he's still a project. Did not commit a penalty. Grade: D Marviel Underwood, S Rookie fourth-round pick ended the season as the dime defensive back but rarely made plays on the ball. Looks like another Marques Anderson. Committed two penalties, both on special teams. Grade: D-minus Patrick Dendy, CB Rookie undrafted free agent was promoted from the practice squad for the final eight games but was inactive for four. Played mostly on special teams and occasionally in the dime. Grade: Incomplete Therrian Fontenot, CB Rookie spent the first 16 weeks on the practice squad but was promoted for the regular-season finale and played mostly on special teams. Grade: Incomplete Jerron Wishom, CB Rookie was promoted from the practice squad for the final six games and played mostly on special teams. Grade: Incomplete Jason Horton, CB Blew coverage on Minnesota's Koren Robinson in Week 11 and gave up a 35-yard completion that set up the game-winning field goal. Two days later was placed on injured reserve due to a shoulder injury. Grade: D-minus Jeremy Thornburg, S Claimed off waivers from San Francisco on Nov. 2 and looked like a special-teams demon until he injured his shoulder a month later. Grade: Incomplete ================================== [color=orange][size=7]I think this guy is bonkers..... opinions?[/size][/color] [/QUOTE]
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