This is from an interview with Mike Mayock about a month ago, but it was just posted today.
Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
Mayock: Everybody had different ratings on him. I had him projected as being taken in the early 4th round. The thing that confuses me about Mike Neal is that, on face value, I didn’t think he was a scheme fit for the Packers. The Packers are a 3-4 team, and I think he’s really suited for a 4-man front to play the 3-technique. So they’re either going to play him as the nose, where he’s a little bit undersized, or they’re going to play him at the 5-technique, which is the defensive end in a 3-4 front, where he’s not quite as long.
Your predication for Green Bay this year?
Mayock: Well, it’s too early to tell. But they have the first thing you need to be good, which is one of the better quarterbacks in the league. I think it was really important that they got that tackle, they have one of the better receiving groups in the league, and opportunistically on defense, the reason they won a lot of games last year is because they were number one on the turnover margin. When you’re plus 24 on the margin, you’re going to win a lot of games. The problem with that is that it’s hard to replicate every year. They’re probably not quite as talented as Minnesota, assuming the Vikings get Favre back. If you’re a Packers fan, the biggest question is, “Have we gained on Minnesota?” And I’m not sure. To me, I don’t think they have. But they’re a good football team and should be a playoff football team.
Here's something I found interesting from Mayock:
I would love if the Packers put him at the pass rush at NT like the Cowboys have undersized Jay Ratliff.
Ratliff is a guy that experts thought was undersized for the NT position in Dallas, yet he does a great job penetrating and getting to QBs. He reminds me of a less-talented John Randle.
If Neal can give us some of that, I'm thrilled. Rotate him and Raji there on passing downs. The DE position doesn't generate many sacks in a 3-4 historically, with Richard Seymour being the best I can remember in the past couple decades. That position typically just occupies blockers to free up the LBers. But the NT often can squeeze thru the C/OG, but we had none of that last year. Can Neal do it?
Reports are that Neal will be used mainly as a DE... The Packers', contrary to Mayock, thought that Neal was a prototypical DE for their scheme...Here's something I found interesting from Mayock:
I would love if the Packers put him at the pass rush at NT like the Cowboys have undersized Jay Ratliff.
Ratliff is a guy that experts thought was undersized for the NT position in Dallas, yet he does a great job penetrating and getting to QBs. He reminds me of a less-talented John Randle.
If Neal can give us some of that, I'm thrilled. Rotate him and Raji there on passing downs. The DE position doesn't generate many sacks in a 3-4 historically, with Richard Seymour being the best I can remember in the past couple decades. That position typically just occupies blockers to free up the LBers. But the NT often can squeeze thru the C/OG, but we had none of that last year. Can Neal do it?