Is it safe to say we will never address the ILB position?

speakhands

Cheesehead
Joined
Jan 21, 2014
Messages
88
Reaction score
14
Following the 2014 season, there was a mini-rift in the Packers fan base over what position group was a bigger eyesore and needed addressing more aggressively: safety or inside linebacker. As the draft board fell that year, CJ Mosley was off the board and Haha Clinton-Dix was available, so that was that. After Brad Jones' total train wreck of a year as a starter in 2014-15, most of us, certainly I, expected the group would be addressed the next year in FA or the draft, or the next year, or the next year, but it never happened.


Every great defense has good or great off-ball linebackers: the Seahawks had Bobby Wagner and KJ Wright, the Patriots had Hightower and Jamie Collins, the Broncos had Trevathan and Marshall, the Eagles had Hicks and Kendricks. Meanwhile, in the past five years, the Packers have spent a total of one third round draft pick (Jake Ryan), one fourth round draft pick (Blake Martinez), and a few one-year free agency contracts on guys like Antonio Morrison.


Is it safe to presume that the front office just doesn't value the position and that we will never see an upgrade to put alongside Martinez?
 

Curly Calhoun

Cheesehead
Joined
Feb 23, 2015
Messages
2,122
Reaction score
574
No.

It is safe to say that you never get everything you want out of any draft, and that the Packers had higher priorities in 2019. Next season might be different, or it might not be....I would hesitate to say "never", however.

My two cents.
 
Last edited:

Dantés

Gute Loot
Joined
Jan 21, 2017
Messages
12,116
Reaction score
3,036
No...

This class had two really good players at inside linebacker and they went in the top 10.

Also, the Packers used a top 100 picks last year on a developmental WILL. Burks is highly athletic and came out needing some development, partially because Vanderbilt kept asking him to play different positions. Giving up on him after one season is stupid. You don't invest in developmental players and then decide that they're lost causes after one season.
 

gopkrs

Cheesehead
Joined
May 12, 2014
Messages
5,681
Reaction score
1,420
Well, it did not seem a priority for TT. But I think it may be a little different this time around. 1. We have to see how Burks does but 2.and this is just a guess...we may be going in the direction of a new type of Defense where we are going to use smaller and faster players in the middle with only one real inside linebacker. Not keeping Morrison was a head scratcher for me as he played pretty well even though he was kind of a head case. Anyone know if he ended up somewhere?
 

mradtke66

Cheesehead
Joined
Feb 9, 2011
Messages
1,683
Reaction score
557
Location
Madison, WI
It's difficult, because, overall, ILB is less important than it used to be. You can think of them as the fullback of the defense, which kind of makes sense, as they are the guys butting heads with FBs.

As the running has decreased in focus for offenses, stopping the run has gotten less important. DEs, CBs, and S are just more impactful to the game week after week.

For an ILB to be worth drafting early, he needs to be able to match up and play coverage against TEs and smaller scat-backs. The two in the most recent draft went top-10.

We'll likely take an ILB when we can get someone with the speed and skillset to be a 3-down and/or dime linebacker. Maybe Burks is that guy, we'll see.
 

Curly Calhoun

Cheesehead
Joined
Feb 23, 2015
Messages
2,122
Reaction score
574
It's difficult, because, overall, ILB is less important than it used to be. You can think of them as the fullback of the defense, which kind of makes sense, as they are the guys butting heads with FBs.

As the running has decreased in focus for offenses, stopping the run has gotten less important. DEs, CBs, and S are just more impactful to the game week after week.

For an ILB to be worth drafting early, he needs to be able to match up and play coverage against TEs and smaller scat-backs. The two in the most recent draft went top-10.

We'll likely take an ILB when we can get someone with the speed and skillset to be a 3-down and/or dime linebacker. Maybe Burks is that guy, we'll see.



Burks is one of the guys the Packers are hoping will make a leap in year two....The others being the three wide receivers they drafted. If that all comes to fruition, there are good things in store for Green Bay in 2019....If not, try again next year.
 

Mondio

Cheesehead
Joined
Dec 20, 2014
Messages
15,893
Reaction score
3,797
Well, it did not seem a priority for TT. But I think it may be a little different this time around. 1. We have to see how Burks does but 2.and this is just a guess...we may be going in the direction of a new type of Defense where we are going to use smaller and faster players in the middle with only one real inside linebacker. Not keeping Morrison was a head scratcher for me as he played pretty well even though he was kind of a head case. Anyone know if he ended up somewhere?
He only used the # 5 pick in the draft on one. :)
 

tynimiller

Cheesehead
Joined
May 2, 2012
Messages
14,882
Reaction score
5,529
Martinez is a workhorse but yes I'd personally love to see us add another or Burks finally push through to what all hoped he would be.

It is true the league now ILB is less pivotal than what it once was.
 

gbgary

Cheesehead
Joined
May 12, 2017
Messages
3,420
Reaction score
185
Location
up the road from jerrahworld
Martinez is a workhorse but yes I'd personally love to see us add another or Burks finally push through to what all hoped he would be.

It is true the league now ILB is less pivotal than what it once was.
is it? i think it's probably more so. the game is faster now than it's ever been. the ability to go east/west has possibly become more important than north/south in an ILB's toolbox. we've been gashed up the middle a lot and look at the good players we have on the line. the 2nd level guys have to be there.
 

Pokerbrat2000

Opinions are like A-holes, we all have one.
Joined
Oct 30, 2012
Messages
33,505
Reaction score
8,798
Location
Madison, WI
ILB may be going the way of the running back. Sure, there are some running backs who will get paid, but most of the league seems to see the position as interchangeable. It’s almost a mirror reflection on the field. Use a big, pounding back on first and second downs, and sub in a speedy receiving back on third down and passing situations. Use a big, pounding linebacker on first and second down. Sub in a specialist on third and passing downs.

Problem for the Packers, they really don't have a proven speedy ILB right now. Also, while an offense can substitute their RB's in and out, knowing which one is suited for the play being called, the defense doesn't have that luxury.

Come to think of it, the Packers don't really have the speedy receiving RB either. :cautious:
 
H

HardRightEdge

Guest
Also, the Packers used a top 100 picks last year on a developmental WILL. Burks is highly athletic and came out needing some development, partially because Vanderbilt kept asking him to play different positions. Giving up on him after one season is stupid.
Right. And lest we forget, Josh Jones was a #61 pick the year before, intended to play WILL. They gave up on that idea in short order and moved him to safety.
It is true the league now ILB is less pivotal than what it once was.
It is as important as ever. What has happened is the game has evolved and the type of player has evolved with it. Downhill bruisers who lack speed and agility are an endangered species in what has evolved into a primarily nickel/dime game. There's a place for that guy in short yardage, goal line, and against the few teams that commit heavily to the run, but that makes him a rotational player. You can't even say he's base rotational anymore. Teams throw on first down all the time and a guy like that is a vulnerability when they do.

Bigger/faster/stronger used to be the NFL mantra, but that's swung in reverse, first with small slot receivers, then faster and more agile ILBs and short RBs who can hide behind the line, lighter and more athletic DLs, and now short QBs going off with #1 picks or landing a historic contact.
He only used the # 5 pick in the draft on one. :)
Hawk was drafted in 2006 for Sanders' 4-3 D where he played weak side OLB for two seasons. Nick Barnett was the ILB. Hawk didn't move to ILB until 2008 when Barnett tore his ACL. The move was made permanent with Capers hired in 2009 and the switch to 3-4.

So, no, Hawk does not cout.

Barnett was a #29 pick, but he was a 2003 Mike Sherman pick.
 

mradtke66

Cheesehead
Joined
Feb 9, 2011
Messages
1,683
Reaction score
557
Location
Madison, WI
Hawk was drafted in 2006 for Sanders' 4-3 D where he played weak side OLB for two seasons. Nick Barnett was the ILB. Hawk didn't move to ILB until 2008 when Barnett tore his ACL. The move was made permanent with Capers hired in 2009 and the switch to 3-4.

So, no, Hawk does not cout.

I'd say you're pretty correct, but a 4-3 WOLB and 3-4 WILB are more or less the same position.
 

Mondio

Cheesehead
Joined
Dec 20, 2014
Messages
15,893
Reaction score
3,797
Right. And lest we forget, Josh Jones was a #61 pick the year before, intended to play WILL. They gave up on that idea in short order and moved him to safety.

It is as important as ever. What has happened is the game has evolved and the type of player has evolved with it. Downhill bruisers who lack speed and agility are an endangered species in what has evolved into a primarily nickel/dime game. There's a place for that guy in short yardage, goal line, and against the few teams that commit heavily to the run, but that makes him a rotational player. You can't even say he's base rotational anymore. Teams throw on first down all the time and a guy like that is a vulnerability when they do.

Bigger/faster/stronger used to be the NFL mantra, but that's swung in reverse, first with small slot receivers, then faster and more agile ILBs and short RBs who can hide behind the line, lighter and more athletic DLs, and now short QBs going off with #1 picks or landing a historic contact.

Hawk was drafted in 2006 for Sanders' 4-3 D where he played weak side OLB for two seasons. Nick Barnett was the ILB. Hawk didn't move to ILB until 2008 when Barnett tore his ACL. The move was made permanent with Capers hired in 2009 and the switch to 3-4.

So, no, Hawk does not cout.

Barnett was a #29 pick, but he was a 2003 Mike Sherman pick.
I would say he does count. Job functions, not position labels. and he didn't use the #5 pick on a outside passing rushing linebacker.
 

tynimiller

Cheesehead
Joined
May 2, 2012
Messages
14,882
Reaction score
5,529
is it? i think it's probably more so. the game is faster now than it's ever been. the ability to go east/west has possibly become more important than north/south in an ILB's toolbox. we've been gashed up the middle a lot and look at the good players we have on the line. the 2nd level guys have to be there.

Trust me I wanted one of the two Devins, when they were gone I was constantly looking at available ILBs out there...this draft wasn't a great one at all.
 

McKnowledge

Cheesehead
Joined
Dec 29, 2015
Messages
1,313
Reaction score
272
Zach Brown is available. He would be a great stop-gap player if and when Oren Burks is ready. Brown is a tackling machine and good in coverage. He's getting up there, but he is still effective, and could come cheap.
 

Poppa San

* Team Owner *
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
Aug 29, 2010
Messages
13,228
Reaction score
3,031
Location
20 miles from Lambeau
Zach Brown is available. He would be a great stop-gap player if and when Oren Burks is ready. Brown is a tackling machine and good in coverage. He's getting up there, but he is still effective, and could come cheap.
So where do you make the roster cut to carry a stop-gap player? 5 WR instead of 6? 2 QB's? 3 safeties, not 4?
 

Fat Dogs

Cheesehead
Joined
May 15, 2017
Messages
434
Reaction score
33
Right. And lest we forget, Josh Jones was a #61 pick the year before, intended to play WILL. They gave up on that idea in short order and moved him to safety.

It is as important as ever. What has happened is the game has evolved and the type of player has evolved with it. Downhill bruisers who lack speed and agility are an endangered species in what has evolved into a primarily nickel/dime game. There's a place for that guy in short yardage, goal line, and against the few teams that commit heavily to the run, but that makes him a rotational player. You can't even say he's base rotational anymore. Teams throw on first down all the time and a guy like that is a vulnerability when they do.

Bigger/faster/stronger used to be the NFL mantra, but that's swung in reverse, first with small slot receivers, then faster and more agile ILBs and short RBs who can hide behind the line, lighter and more athletic DLs, and now short QBs going off with #1 picks or landing a historic contact.

Hawk was drafted in 2006 for Sanders' 4-3 D where he played weak side OLB for two seasons. Nick Barnett was the ILB. Hawk didn't move to ILB until 2008 when Barnett tore his ACL. The move was made permanent with Capers hired in 2009 and the switch to 3-4.

So, no, Hawk does not cout.

Barnett was a #29 pick, but he was a 2003 Mike Sherman pick.

I miss me some Nick Barnett.
 
Top