cara murphy
Cheesehead
Peppers will be used as a hybrid multiple-position player along the defensive and will play linebacker, defensive end, and defensive tackle.The addition of peppers will improve our D-line.
Don't know what you're talking about there as Raji had by far his best season playing NT in 2010.
I can't wait to see what Capers has in mind for this D-Line. Raji & Pennel (who?) are the only guys over 320, Guion is 315, and all other DL's are 285-310 ish. These are NOT the "classic 3/4" defensive linemen, so I'm curious what alignment these guys do fit? If we had ILB's that were fast AND thumpers the DL's could slash, penetrate and disrupt because the ILB's could/would clean-up... but that's NOT who TT's assembled at ILB.
Actually it's been rumored that Boyd bulked up to 320+I can't wait to see what Capers has in mind for this D-Line. Raji & Pennel (who?) are the only guys over 320, Guion is 315, and all other DL's are 285-310 ish. These are NOT the "classic 3/4" defensive linemen, so I'm curious what alignment these guys do fit? If we had ILB's that were fast AND thumpers the DL's could slash, penetrate and disrupt because the ILB's could/would clean-up... but that's NOT who TT's assembled at ILB.
Am I the only one who remembers how many games we lost in the last drive on defense when we KNEW they were gonna run and couldn't stop it? All of this "versatility" and "hybrid pass rushers" doesn't mean much if you can't put guys on the field who can stuff it when they're going to run.Where we usually got gashed in the run game was when we were in the nickel. If we were in the 3-4, we were pretty good against the run - witness the Forty-Niner games where we played the 3-4 more often.
Depending on opponent, Capers would utilize the 3-4, but for the most part Capers used the 2-4 as his base. Anytime an opponent trotted out 3 wides, he would counter with the 2-4, regardless of down/distance. So, on 1st and 10 Capers would have Pickett and Raji at DT, and Brad Jones and Hawk at LB - those were the only 4 guys in the box. If it was a run and the RB cleared the line, our LB's simply aren't very good and we would get gashed a lot of the time. We simply don't have the talent at ILB to line up like that IMO.
I don't think we will play more 3-4 this year than last, but I do think we will play more 3-3 and 4-2; and when we do play 2-4, we will have Peppers on the field as one of the LB, so that makes that alignment better as well.
Still, our ILB's are below average, so we have to hope improved line play in front of them will help them as well as in the back end.
I do think we'll be better this year - can't be much worse. Statistically, we fielded one of the worst defenses in the league last year.
....but if they can't stop the run with eight in the box in the last five minutes it doesn't matter how fast they are. It doesn't make sense to get clever and complicated if you can't stop obvious and simple.That's what is so exciting about it for me. The D-line is faster and more athletic upfront over all. Got a few guys that are 4.8 - 4.9 speed up front.
....but if they can't stop the run with eight in the box in the last five minutes it doesn't matter how fast they are. It doesn't make sense to get clever and complicated if you can't stop obvious and simple.
Am I the only one who remembers how many games we lost in the last drive on defense when we KNEW they were gonna run and couldn't stop it? All of this "versatility" and "hybrid pass rushers" doesn't mean much if you can't put guys on the field who can stuff it when they're going to run.
If our NT stinks the safeties won't matter. If teams can get 5 yards per carry on the ground, the safety play isn't really going to mean much. Also, people seem to expect HaHa to come in and know the defense inside-and-out, that's not really too realistic. It may well happen, but it wouldn't be surprising to see Hyde as the starter at the beginning of the year.
We're talking about different situations - your bringing up the static 3-4 in which the DL's job is to eat up blocks and the LB's are supposed to clean up.
With Matthews out, our LB's simply aren't very good. Brad Jones and Hawk have to be among the worst starting ILB's in the league; LOLB was usually manned by either a converted DL that didn't want to be there (Perry), or another converted DL; and with Matthews out it was a revolving door.
In answer to this, TT brought in exactly zero LB's to improve the positions, rather he brought in a couple more converted DL.
Most Packer fans wanted to see TT address ILB in some fashion in the draft; be it with CJ Mosely, Shazier, or Jones, et al later on...
There's plenty of blame to go around for all of the failings of the defense. Whether it is the pathetic Safety play, putrid ILB play, ill-fitting scheme to players, injuries, etc.
What I've been focused on is getting the nickel defense fixed, as we play the nickel over 65% of the time. True, I would like to play more base, but that doesn't seem likely to happen. Now, with almost no true 3-4 personnel left on the team I don't know that playing more base makes sense either.
The whole "lighter, more explosive pass rushing dline" thing works great if you're usually playing with a lead and you know the other team has to pass a lot to catch you. That's what the old Manning colts teams were all about. You saw how it went the year he was out. If our offense isn't WAY better than every other teams' out there then we're going to find ourselves at one point with a team running down the clock on us by running the ball and we won't be able to stop it. That's what worries me without big uglys like Pickett/Jolly or better on the team.