by Al Bracco | August 16th, 2009
As the Packers’ 2009 training camp continues, here are the developments I want to see on the defensive side of the ball by the time the Packers break camp.
Developments I want to see on Defense:
Lets hope the “new look” defense is ready for game one: I started writing this article a few days before the first preseason game. When I wrote “game one, I was referring to the first game of the regular season. Little did I know, the defense would be ready by the first preseason game – a shutout! But seriously, I’m not reading anything into this first game against the awful Browns, other than our reserve DBs and LBs played well.
Getting back to my point, if the Packers are to have a winning season, it’s imperative the new defense is humming and ready to go to start the season. The way the Packers’ schedule shakes out, the early games are where the wins will be there for the taking. The Packers’ first six games are against Chicago, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Minnesota, Detroit and Cleveland. Even if we give the Packers a loss to one of their division rivals, that’s still 5 games they should put in the win column. But only if the defense is ready.
I’ve seen this scenario before, firsthand. In 2006, the Packers had fired Mike Sherman and brought in a new coaching staff headed by Mike McCarthy. The opening game of the season was against Chicago, and it happened to be my first ever visit to Lambeau Field. Unfortunately, my day was ruined as the Packers were a disorganized mess. Nobody was on the same page, there were missed assignments galore and it seemed like on every play there was a Bear receiver open by ten yards. I’ll swear on anything you like,; that day, they made Rex Grossman look like Joe Montana. The final score was 26-0, but it could have easily been much worse.
In any case, my point is that the Packers’ coaches simply had done a poor job getting the team ready for the start of the season. In fact, it took the better part of the season that year before the Packers started to look like a football team. With a new defensive staff and scheme in 2009, the Packers can’t afford to repeat that mistake. The good news is that Dom Capers is not Bob Sanders. Capers’ track record of successfule defensive turnarounds has me feeling confident he will get the job done in time for the season opener against Chicago.
The Packers find more defensive line depth: HELP! Even before training camp started, I considered this to be an area of concern for the Packers. The potential DL backups are Johnny Jolly, Justin Harrell, Mike Montgomery, Alfred Malone, Dean Muhtadi, Anthony Toribio and sixth-round draft pick Jarius Wynn. There isn’t one name on that list that makes me feel warm and fuzzy.
Now that we are two weeks into training camp, it’s a BIG concern. Projected starter BJ Raji is just getting into camp, Justin Harrell is again trapped in his injury hell and Johnny Jolly (who takes too many plays off for my liking, anyway) is a bit banged up. The only bright spot on the line is Cullen Jenkins looking like his old self while coming back from his injury. Ryan Pickett is a solid player and is now surely the starter at nose tackle.
Having watched a lot of the New York Giants defense for the last few years, what makes them so good is the depth they have on the defensive line. They can run reserves out onto the field that are fresh and almost as talented as their starters. Opposing offensive linemen have to deal with a seemingly never-ending string of big, nasty defensive linemen coming at them. It wears the offensive linemen out and saps them of some of their strength as the game progresses. This is a major reason why the Giants’ defense is able to shut down opposing offenses late in games.
In my opinion, the Packers could really use another veteran on the DL to provide some depth. Ebenezer Ekuban, Kevin Carter, Vonnie Holliday and others are still out there and unsigned. Shouldn’t we have brought one of those players in instead of signing Stryker Sulak? Sure, it would have cost some money, but isn’t there a bigger need at DL than there is at outside linebacker?
Al Harris moves to nickel back: Let me make this perfectly clear, I have nothing against Al Harris. This is really more about Tramon Williams than it is about Al Harris. While Al Harris may have lost a step and isn’t the greatest tackler, he is still in the top 20% of cornerbacks around the league. If the Packers break camp with Harris at the nickel, that means Williams had a GREAT camp and the coaches feel he is ready for NFL stardom. I’m looking for Tramon to take that next big step and show us that the flashes of good play we’ve seen were just a preview of greater things to come.
Admittedly, this is a long shot. Deposing Al Harris would be no small feat, and the Packers coaches would surely be reluctant to make the move. Another factor is that Williams is probably better suited to the nickel position than Harris is. But who’s to say that in nickel situations, the Packers don’t bring Harris in to play corner and move Williams to nickel? Is that the type of move an NFL head coach would make? I personally don’t know the answer to that question, but if any readers do, please leave a comment and enlighten us. Regardless, my simple wish is to get Tramon Williams on the field for every defensive down.
Aaron Kampman: By the end of training camp, I would just like to see Aaron Kampman be one thing: Comfortable. If Kampman is able to grasp the responsibilities of his new position well enough to be able to play without having to over-think, then he will be just fine. Will he become a great cover linebacker? Probably not. Can he become a great rushing linebacker and an above-average all-around linebacker? Probably yes.
I trust Dom Capers to use Kampman in the best way and maximize his effectiveness. He will surely attempt to limit the game situations when Kampman will be called upon to cover one-on-one. Kampman will be protected by schemes in which he will get help from corners or safeties. And you can expect Kampman to be turned loose in passing situations, often in sub packages, where he will play as an end in a three-point stance.
I also trust that Capers and Kevin Greene have gotten Kampman to “buy-in” to the change and have worked tirelessly to make him feel good about it. To Kampman’s credit, he has been a model student. Kampman has spent a great deal of time in Green Bay since Capers and his crew were hired. He has studied the playbook extensively and worked one-on-one with Greene for much of the off-season.
Now that training camp is underway, I mainly want to see Kampman become comfortable with the schemes and know what his responsibilities are in each situation. If he has that part mastered, I’m confidant his ability will take care of the rest.
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Check back for the next installment when I will cover some remaining miscellaneous topics. You can also read the previous installments on the kicking game and the offense.
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Al Bracco is a Staff Op/Ed Writer for Wisconsin Sports Online and is also the Green Bay Packers Fan Voice on NFLTouchdown.com
Visit Al Bracco’s blog, Jersey Al’s Packers Blog, for more interesting articles. You can also follow Jersey Al on twitter.
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I agree with all of the comments besides the DL one. Regarding your comment on the DL, I think we are okay at the DL.
1. I don’t think that adding Carter/Holiday/Ekuban really adds anything other than a body. If we are going to play bodies, I’m all about playing younger guys with a little upside.
2. Regarding all the backups that you aren’t warm and fuzzy about. They are backups. Not many teams have 4 DEs like the NYGs had in 07-08.
3. This one goes with two, I’m ok with Jolly/Monty as backups. Jolly has shown flashes and Monty is a solid role player.
4. You realize we are only going to keep 6-8 DL this year? We run a 3-4. This means we require about 2-3 less DL than we kept last year. So if you look at the players we have- 1s Jenkins, Pickett, Raji(for now) 2s Jolly, Monty Harrel 3rd Wynn… Thats 7 right there
5. If Carter/Holiday were starting caliber, they’d be on teams now.
Fair comments, but you cannot count on Harrell. Jolly takes too many plays off and Montgomery is not a 3-4 DE. Wynn was an off-the-radar pick, so expectations are low there. I do expect the Packers to play a decent amount of 4-man front, so I’d just like a little more experience in there.
My point was not to bring in a DL as a starter, just some better depth and experience.
Developments I want to see on Defense:
Al,
Didn’t you answer your own concern…
“The good news is that Dom Capers is not Bob Sanders (or Sherman). Capers’ track record of successfule defensive turnarounds has me feeling confident he will get the job done…”
The Packers find more defensive line depth:
The only reason Ebenezer Ekuban, Kevin Carter, Vonnie Holliday “makes me feel warm and fuzzy” is name recognition. 32 teams have gone through free agency, OTA’s, training camp, and a preseason game and none have picked up one of these FA’s, which tells me their upside is limited. I see them as a stop gap or if we need a veteran during a championship run, neither scenario applies at the moment. Plus maybe one of the young guys steps up; what did most people think of Cullen Jenkins 2-3 years ago. And please stop using the “Sure, it would have cost some money, but” argument. In the next two years we have ALOT of our own players becoming FA’s. What are you going to say then if we don’t have the money to sign them?
We obtained Donald Lee, Tramon Williams, et al from training camp cuts, let’s see what D-Line help may come via this route. That’s why I like the signing of Stryker Sulak, maybe he’s this years Tramon. I look at it as Al Davis gave us a 6th round draft choice for no reason. There’s no real downside, let’s see if he can play.
Al Harris moves to nickel back:
Nein, nein, nein. Coaches use players that are assignment sure and don’t give up the big play. I like Tramon alot but he is susceptible to the double move by a WR and has to prove consistency, that he’s not a feast or famine player? An example of this is Desmond Bishop in the MN game; great play stopping AD on 4th down but was responsible for Taylor’s 47 yd TD. B/c of this he didn’t start the next week.
You make a fair point on the money comment – I’m surprised at myself for letting that one slip in. Emotion overruled common sense on that one.
Also true that we can pick up a DL from training camp cuts. I really don’t care where they come from, my main point was that I feel like there is a need for more depth on the roster. Certainly can’t count on Harrell.
Nein on Al Harris? I’m really not trying to knock him, but I have seen him give up big plays in the few times the Packers played some form of a zone the last couple of years. Mostly from missed assignments, so I have to mildly disagree with your calling him ‘assignment-sure” As for Tramon, in order for him to accomplish the difficult feat of unseating Harris, he would have had to play great and shown consistency. So I guess you could say I’m rooting for him to do that. Still a longshot, as I pointed out in the article.
Thanks for the excellent comments.
Agree on harrell and from a recent article on parkersnews.com looks like he might be down for the coutn as well…. either way disagree on harris, I think that giving him a step on recievers might actually help not hurt him. I’d like to see it in a game situation though and I think you’d agree on that.
About the 4 man look in the reply from what I saw in the preseason game and that was probably less than a 3rd of the defense looks I don’t think we’ll be seeing much of a 4 man look could definately be wrong there.
I feel bad for Harrell. He’s tried everything:
“But the truth is he’s seen every specialist short of the Wizard of Oz to get that lower back fixed, and when one doctor leveled him with the news that he might not play again – well, he just got a second, third and fourth opinion until he heard something he could live with. And then he tried every rehabilitation method and exercise anyone gave him. “Anything for a back injury, I pretty much tried it,” Harrell said.”
(This is from a JSonline article 2 weeks ago… http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/52391712.html )
Yes, the jury is still out on Harris and the zone. He played the nickel in Philly, though.
As for the 4-man DL sub package, two things. First, all we saw was a single pre-season game. Can’t predict much from that. Second, I read somewhere that Capers will limit the 4-man in preseason to give Kampman as many reps at LB as possible, especially where he will be asked to cover. I don’t know if that’s fact or conjecture, but it’s an interesting thought.
Harrell probably went to the Chiropractor one time and thought it was fixed .. He should probably go back and get it popped back into place again ….Maybe somebody should call Murphy and tell him to send harrell back in to the chiropractor to get that back popped
Hawk and Harrell are worthless. Harrell can’t stay healthy and Hawk is the softest LB I’ve seen at the NFL level, bar none! Can anyone honestly say Hawk is in the same league with Bishop?
Barnett may be on the way out too. 2007 he played like an All-Pro for first 3/4 season and then, when he didn’t make the Pro Bowl he looked awful down the stretch. In 2008, he continued his poor play of latter 2007 until he took knee injury. Which Barnett is coming back? If it’s the Barnett of latter 2007 and early 2008, forget it!
Danny Lansanah – TT cut Tracy White last year so he could keep Lansanah. That should tell you what Ted thinks of him. I just wateched a week of TC and he looked good but not spectacular like Bishop and Chillar.
W/o Hawk, Harrell and Barnett, Pack would have easy time signing its young vets. Hawk and Barnett may go in trades but I don’t see anyone giving up much for either. Hawk reminds me of Mandarich. All-World in college and all-nothing in the NFL. Hawk is a fraud.
Raji and Matthews look like the real deal. TJ LAng and Quinn Johnson looking good too. Brandon Underwood looked good in practice when taking on the run. Brad Jones sounds like he is making an impact right from the get-go. Meredith is a project.
This week vs Buffalo should be a better test. Here’s hoping we play a similar game against better competition.