Front 7 next season

[LUKE23]

This is shaping up into one of the better front 7's in the NFC. We have big run stuffing DT's, hardworking and productive DE's, and LB's that can fly and hit like trucks.

DT's: Pickett, Harrell, Cole, Williams, Jolly
DE's: Jenkins, Kampman, KGB
LB's: Hawk, Barnett, Poppinga, Hodge

Didn't include the rookie LB's because it remains to be seen what their contribution will be, but that is the makings of a dominant front 7. DT's will hold blocks and allow our LB's to roam. Run inside and we'll stuff it, run outside and our LB's will be waiting.

The only weakness on our D right now is strong safety and overall secondary depth. I'm still in the move Woodson to safety and have Blackmon take over the other DB camp, but we'll wait and see on that. Manuel is terrible.

[SugarRay34]

Yeah I love our front 7 next yeaer. Kampan and Jenkins coming from the outside with the run stuffers or "cloggers" like Picket and Harrell should give our LB even more room to run and chase without being blocked. This is why I loved the Harrell pick. Not saying that Williams couldnt get it done but Harrell just gives us that extra notch and obviously better depth. I just hope our pass rush improves because its not that our DB's got killed last year its just that the QB's had 5 seconds to throw. And yes Luke Manuel is terrible

[IrishRainbow]

I was just thinking about starting a similar thread. I just don't understand the Harrell bashing that's goin' on. If Pickett and Harrell stuff the middle and garner possible double teams, that's gonna leave a lot of outside blitzing and overall pressure to be had. I bet Hawk, Barnett, Hodge, and Pops like the pick of Harrell.

[Ayt]

I agree completely about our front 7. It should be very difficult to run against us with our big DT's and stout DE's. Hawk and Barnett were made to fly around behind a D-line like this.

If we stop the run and put teams in passing downs, we can then go with KGB, Williams, Jenks, and Kampy up front with Barnett and Hawk at LB. I would think that that front 4 could produce a lot of pressure, with the occasional blitz from a LB.

[El Duderino]

I love the defense especially if a saftey can step up and replace Manuel.That's the main reason i'm bothered that the offense still looks so weak,the Packer defense could be damn tough this season.

[Ayt]

I love the defense especially if a saftey can step up and replace Manuel.That's the main reason i'm bothered that the offense still looks so weak,the Packer defense could be damn tough this season.

Safety is very important this year. Manuel was ridiculously bad. Hopefully Underwood can regain his form from the preseason last year and take over the starting role.

Our offense could be better with the return of a healthy Jennings and the addition of Robinson (when does he come back?). Its also doubtful Bubba will play as badly as he did last year. Ahman had a solid year, but I'd put good money on Morency and Jackson outproducing what he would have done; I thought Morency looked like the better back last year. Our interior O-line should also be much better with an offseason of NFL strength training.

Offensively, we certainly won't be a elite, but I think we could be middle of the road. Our D could really win us some games if that is the case.

[Ill-yasova]

Williams will start over Harrell next year. You don't bench a tackle who had 7 sacks last year. Our Defense only gave up 88.75 rushing ypg the last 4 games of the season when Jenkins moved to end. That was with Williams as a starter. Why fix it, if it aint broke.

[ReasonablySober]

Williams will start over Harrell next year. You don't bench a tackle who had 7 sacks last year. Our Defense only gave up 88.75 rushing ypg the last 4 games of the season when Jenkins moved to end. That was with Williams as a starter. Why fix it, if it aint broke.

Williams was largely invisible for most of the season. Five of his two sacks came in two games, and as Ayt said, he's bad against the run.

[Ill-yasova]

-= original quote snipped =-



Williams was largely invisible for most of the season. Five of his two sacks came in two games, and as Ayt said, he's bad against the run.

The sack stat is true, but doesn't make it any less impressive. How many DT's had 3 Sacks in a game last year? It shows what kind of ability he has. And if he is so bad against the run, why the 88.75 rushing ypg in the last 4. He can't be that bad. The only crack in our run defense last year was Kabeer. Now Jenkins is your starting DE, problem solved.

[xTitan]

Doesn't matter who starts at tackle, even though I believe Harrell will win the position, the Packers to very good job of keeping that line fresh.

I also expect Hunter to be much improved at defensive end, he showed alot as a speed rusher in last years pre-season and was just to raw to contribute much in the regular season but with one year under his belt and a good off-season he may be grromed to take over for KGB as that situational rusher.

[ReasonablySober]

If he's got all that ability to rush the passer, why did he only have two sacks in the other 14 games?

As for the run defense, that's a misleading stat. In one of those games we were playing the Lions and they were without their top two RBs. They were down to Arlen Harris and Aveion Cason. Don't worry if you don't know who they are; nobody else does either. The other game was the Minnesota debacle in the rain that we won 9-7. Neither team did anything on offense.

In the other two games we gave up 281 yards rushing.

[Ill-yasova]

If he's got all that ability to rush the passer, why did he only have two sacks in the other 14 games?

As for the run defense, that's a misleading stat. In one of those games we were playing the Lions and they were without their top two RBs. They were down to Arlen Harris and Aveion Cason. Don't worry if you don't know who they are; nobody else does either. The other game was the Minnesota debacle in the rain that we won 9-7. Neither team did anything on offense.

In the other two games we gave up 281 yards rushing.

Those other two were in the last three games of the season when he became a full-time starter. I guess we will agree to disagree.

[eagle13]

From where I stand I see
3 solid starters = Kamp, Pick, & Jenks.
1 probable solid starter = Harrell.
1 very solid situational pass rusher = KGB
1 pretty solid reserve = Williams.

Cory could be useful as backup at all 4 spots. Perhaps pass rushing DT and backup DE on running downs.

Cole regressed last year from his first. Jolly and Montgomery and Hunter still have to prove they deserve any regular PT.

Unless Harrell sucks - he will start over Williams. Hey TT has too much riding on him. Besides early downs are usually played for the run and Harrell has to be better than Cory against the run.

At LB - Ben Taylor has not yet been resigned and probably won't be. Watch Rory Johnson take that spot if he can keep his nose clean. Expect if Hodge shows he can play then He is main backup with Barnett sliding outside when neccessary.

[El Duderino]

Williams will start over Harrell next year. You don't bench a tackle who had 7 sacks last year. Our Defense only gave up 88.75 rushing ypg the last 4 games of the season when Jenkins moved to end. That was with Williams as a starter. Why fix it, if it aint broke.

Williams is a better fit as a starting tackle on a defense that has it's tackles shoot gaps every down instead of eating up blockers.With our defense i see Williams as more of a rotational player,but he still has value.

He has better than average pass rush skills from the tackle position,the league isn't full of guys who can pressure the QB from inside.Hopefully Corey will stay long term,quality tackles aren't that easy to aquire.