ThePerfectBeard
Cheesehead
I think I found our tweener. This guy is 6'3" 230 and plays safety. He lays wood and is very quick for his size. Here's some video.
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Where would he play?
As suspected, the Deone Buchannon effect lol. I don't think every team suddenly needs a safety playing out of position as an undersized ILB.
As suspected, the Deone Buchannon effect lol. I don't think every team suddenly needs a safety playing out of position as an undersized ILB.
I said virtually the same thing early in the season. We need more full court press. while teams focus on CM3 And Julius it leaves a SS type player the ability to come off the edge with more speed. This would be especially disruptive against running QBs like Wilson and Bridgewater because theyre used to outrunning 4.6-4.9 speed rushers. A 4.5 rusher at full tilt adds another degree of difficulty and speeds up the decision making process for the opposing QB. Our secondary play is vastly improved and our TO ratio becomes our strength again. If the play turns to run? Having adequate speed to meet the runner at or behind LOS improves our positioning on first contact with the runner, slowing him down for a LB or DE to finish him off.Here's alittle piece from an article on NFL.com. This concept actually started in GB.
"During my time as a defensive back with the Green Bay Packers, I had the opportunity to watch defensive coordinator Fritz Shurmur work his magic on the blackboard each week, designing clever schemes to slow down the opponent. One of the ideas that he used to help the Packers field the NFL's top-ranked defense in 1996 was a unique nickel defense that featured three safeties (Eugene Robinson, Mike Prior and LeRoy Butler) on the field simultaneously. Although it wasn't unusual to use five defensive backs on obvious passing downs, Shurmur's willingness to play Butler -- Green Bay's starting strong safety -- as a nickel back allowed him to deploy his best defensive back in coverage on tight ends and slot receivers, while also using him on blitzes off the edge. The strategy helped the '96 Packers hold opponents to just 13.1 points per game and total 26 interceptions against only 12 touchdown passes allowed."
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Personally, I like Jeremy Cash from Duke. He is the same style of player as Killebrew, but playing in the ACC he was exposed to both pass heavy and run heavy teams, and not to mention the fact that the talent level is much better as well. Just in this video alone we see him line up all over the field, whether it be out at safety, in the slot, or lined up inside. 101 tackles, 18 TFL, and 3 Forced Fumbles this last season, so he has shown production as a tackler, which we desperately need as well.
If by "true" you mean Ryan Shazier rather than Jake Ryan, A.J. Hawk, Sam Barrington etc. than I agree.I´d rather have the Packers use an early draft pick on a true inside linebacker than gamble on a tweener.
I´d rather have the Packers use an early draft pick on a true inside linebacker than gamble on a tweener.
He's not even a real tweener. It's not like he's a safety that can hit hard and that's it. The guy is built like a linebacker and I'm sure playing safety allowed him to learn how to read defenses. The guy can tackle, move laterally, and cover the middle of the field. I honestly don't think he stays at safety in the NFL.
In fact, scouts say he's more talented that Deone Bucannon and Shaq Thompson.
I haven´t had time to take a close look at this year´s prospects but as I´ve posted above with the Packers defense possibly being one or two good inside linebackers away from being an elite unit I´d prefer to use an early draft pick on a guy who has played the position in college.
I haven´t had time to take a close look at this year´s prospects but as I´ve posted above with the Packers defense possibly being one or two good inside linebackers away from being an elite unit I´d prefer to use an early draft pick on a guy who has played the position in college.
I'm on the Eric Striker bandwagon.
I second that. I firmly believe that ILB and TE are the 2 positions of highest need and hope to see our first 2 picks go that way. LT being the 3rd position of need. However, this has got to be the year that TT dips into the FA market, opens his purse and takes care of at least 1 (if not 2) out of those 3 positions there.
Eh, I just don't want another 4.8 40 linebacker who can't keep up with offensive lineman and can't play coverage. I'm really worried about grabbing a bunch of AJ Hawks just because they played the position.
I don´t want the Packers to bring in someone to play inside linebacker not capable of covering TEs and RBs as well but don´t want Thompson to draft a tweener just because he´s fast either.
With our 1st round pick, I say absolutely not. With our 3rd I say absolutely try it. It is if he is there in the 2nd that I'm iffy on....he is a BANG or bust probably