Bedard: Raji and Matthews will start

LUKE23 · Post #1 » by **LUKE23** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 5:15 pm

This really isn't huge news I guess, but Bedard seems pretty confident in both Raji and Matthews starting on day 1 of the season. Raji at NT and Matthews at OLB.

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/43908562.html

The real questions on D are:

1. Who gets the other DE slot opposite Jenkins? Harrell on passing downs and Pickett on rushing downs? Pickett to NT and Raji to DE on passing downs? That will be interesting to see. Harrell is no question a better pass rusher than Pickett, so it would be awesome if he could get healthy. He has great size too.

2. The DB spot opposite Woodson. Sounds like Harris is a poor fit for the scheme and getting up there in age. Does Tramon take the other corner spot? I also think Underwood has a good shot at making the team given his size/athleticism.

Should be awesome to watch our D this year.

Post #2 » by **ReasonablySober** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 5:22 pm

If Lee shows anything he'll probably see the field before Underwood. I think Underwood is on the practice squad this season.

Pickett is the DE opposite Jenkins. The real question is what do they do in a four down lineman situation.

Ayt · Post #3 » by **Ayt** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 5:26 pm

DrugBust wrote:If Lee shows anything he'll probably see the field before Underwood. I think Underwood is on the practice squad this season.

Pickett is the DE opposite Jenkins. The real question is what do they do in a four down lineman situation.

I'm wondering if Hawk will still be a nickel LB this year or if Matthews or even Chillar overtake him in that role.

If I had to guess, I'd think Hawk would still be out there in nickel situations since I expect him to be more explosive after playing injured most of last year.

LUKE23 · Post #4 » by **LUKE23** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 5:26 pm

If Lee shows anything he'll probably see the field before Underwood. I think Underwood is on the practice squad this season.

I think if Harris is gone at DB (I would think they would try and trade him instead of releasing him), they could keep Woodson/Williams/Blackmon/Lee/Underwood at DB. Then Collins/Bigby/Rouse/Bush at S.

Pickett is the DE opposite Jenkins. The real question is what do they do in a four down lineman situation.

I'm inclined to agree.

Ayt · Post #5 » by **Ayt** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 5:32 pm

Its too bad Thompson has shown zero pass rushing ability. We could really use a designated nickel and dime DE pass rusher. Physically, he's the ideal candidate.

eagle13 · Post #6 » by **eagle13** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 5:33 pm

DrugBust wrote:If Lee shows anything he'll probably see the field before Underwood. I think Underwood is on the practice squad this season.

Pickett is the DE opposite Jenkins. The real question is what do they do in a four down lineman situation.

Agreed on Lee and Underwood and Pickett.

4 down probably only on passing downs w nickel or dime =

DL = Kamp-Raji-Jenkins-Matthews
LB = Chillar & Hawk
DB = same as last year.

or

DL = Kamp-Raji-Jenkins-Thompson
LB = Chillar & Matthews
DB = same as last year.

I think Harris still starts this year.

Ayt · Post #7 » by **Ayt** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 5:37 pm

eagle, you don't see Barnett in on passing downs, or are you assuming he's out for awhile?

eagle13 · Post #8 » by **eagle13** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 5:49 pm

Ayt wrote:eagle, you don't see Barnett in on passing downs, or are you assuming he's out for awhile?

Feel Chill is our best cover LB. Hoping Matthews can be. Hawk was over Barnett last year.

So with only 2 LBs on field on passing downs I hallucinate these 3 > Barnett.

aaprigs311 · Post #9 » by **aaprigs311** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 5:52 pm

Zero chance Harris gets released. If TT had any plans to release him it would have happened last month before Harris collected his bonus. The guy keeps himself in great shape. He's obviously lost some speed, but I think he'll play out his contract here one way or another.

Post #10 » by **ReasonablySober** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 5:58 pm

Matthews was a hand in the dirt defensive lineman last season, so he's probably my darkhorse to be a DE on obvious passing downs. Kampman, Raji, Jenkins and Matthews on the line. Hawk and Barnett in coverage. Ayt's right, though. Perhaps Thompson shows something and we can put Matthews back in coverage.

Post #11 » by **Wade-A-Holic** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 6:21 pm

I wouldn't be surprised if Jolly spells Raji in some passing down situations, simply because Raji is a big dude and fatigue is inevitably an issue, especially if he's taking on double teams on first and second downs all the time. I hope Jolly can bounce back (and not be in jail) and look more like he did as a rookie. He's a valuable guy in the passing game. He gets a decent push and he's one of the best at getting his hands up and knocking down passes.

MikeIsGood · Post #12 » by **MikeIsGood** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 8:10 pm

LUKE23 wrote:1. Who gets the other DE slot opposite Jenkins? Harrell on passing downs and Pickett on rushing downs? Pickett to NT and Raji to DE on passing downs? That will be interesting to see. Harrell is no question a better pass rusher than Pickett, so it would be awesome if he could get healthy. He has great size too.

When he's not being spelled, as WAH alluded to, I like Raji on the inside on passing downs. He was -dominant- as an up-the-middle penetrator at the college level. Obviously things are different in the pros and in a 3-4, but we know he has the skills to get to the QB from the inside because he did it 8 times (that's freaking nuts out of a 330 pound DT...) his Senior year. I at least want to try him there and see how he does.

DrugBust wrote:Matthews was a hand in the dirt defensive lineman last season, so he's probably my darkhorse to be a DE on obvious passing downs. Kampman, Raji, Jenkins and Matthews on the line. Hawk and Barnett in coverage. Ayt's right, though. Perhaps Thompson shows something and we can put Matthews back in coverage.

I don't recall him playing with his hand in the dirt very much. I actually think one of the best things about Matthews coming in and playing OLB is that he wasn't just a hand-in-the-dirt defensive lineman. He got good experience playing standing up his Senior season, which I think makes the transition to a 34OLB easier compared to guys who have only played 43DE throughout college. If my memory serves me correctly, when he was played at end he was used as a standing rush end. I think that aspect is what projects him so well to being a starter right away.

But along that same note, he has played along the line, hand down or not, and not just at LB. I think his versatility plays well into disguising blitz packages. And, to be truthful, the more I think about the Clay Matthews pick the more I love it.

crkone · Post #13 » by **crkone** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 8:13 pm

I can't wait to see the LBs trotting back and forth before the snap disguising what they are going to do. Oh whats that, we are dropping Matthews back and blitzing two from left side?

Ayt · Post #14 » by **Ayt** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 8:33 pm

DrugBust wrote:Matthews was a hand in the dirt defensive lineman last season, so he's probably my darkhorse to be a DE on obvious passing downs. Kampman, Raji, Jenkins and Matthews on the line. Hawk and Barnett in coverage. Ayt's right, though. Perhaps Thompson shows something and we can put Matthews back in coverage.

If we do go with Matthews/Jenks/Raji/AK as the four man line in nickel situations, it opens up a lot of zone blitz opportunities. Plus, we'll probably keep Woodson as our slot CB, and I'd think Capers would love his blitzing ability in that position. I think Bigby will also be blitzing a lot more and he should be good at it if his preseason blitzing is any indication.

Even if we can't find a pass rushing DE opposite AK in our nickel and dime set, we should be able to create a lot of fun blitz plays to create pressure. I'm pretty excited the more I think about it because I hadn't thought much about Woodson and Bigby or Collins bringing it out of the secondary. That line is athletic enough to do a lot of stunting and curling as well.