Who Starts Opposite Clay?

[El Duderino]

I feel like Brad Jones is a longshot to make the roster.

So do i

As for Zombo and Walden, i see Zombo getting more snaps even though both should play, assuming they end up being the top two options. Walden looks to be a better pass rusher, but Zombo is quite a bit better at setting the edge vs the run, so on early downs at least i'd expect him to be on the field more.

[mnWI]

I actually think Zombo is a better pass rusher personally and pretty stout against the run. I think he makes some big strides this year and makes the job his.

[xTitan]

The staff loves them some Zombo......I think pass rush is an issue this year.

Where do you come up with this stuff? brb having everyone healthy and adding Elmore and progression from Raji and Matthews yet getting worse...totally bro

hmmmm where tdo I get it? Perhpas losing by far your second best pass rusher and hoping 2 promising, yet unproven guys can take his place. I also don't want to hear alot about the progression of Zombo and Walden, there is hope, but ALMOST everyone on here was saying how big of a leap Brad Jones was going to make, how did that turn out for the Brad Jones fans? I luv Raji, and he had a good year sacking last year, but nose tackles usually do not have big sack years....I think you can look at most national publications and people mention the Packers did not solidify their pass rush, it is not something out of the blue.

[midranger]

There were a lot of Brad Jones fans last summer based off of a couple nice games late in the year. Lots of predictions of breakout, etc... He's now iffy to make the roster. Cautionary tale for Walden and Zombo.

I think we'll have some trouble getting consistent pressure on the QB, assuming Neal isn't a complete dynamo. However, you pair Clay and Raji with Woodson assuming more of a lurking role, and we will still see a fair amount of sacks.

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

There were a lot of Brad Jones fans last summer based off of a couple nice games late in the year. Lots of predictions of breakout, etc... He's now iffy to make the roster. Cautionary tale for Walden and Zombo.

I think we'll have some trouble getting consistent pressure on the QB, assuming Neal isn't a complete dynamo. However, you pair Clay and Raji with Woodson assuming more of a lurking role, and we will still see a fair amount of sacks.

I think Capers may use Shields more often on CB blitzes too. He did it late in the year and it worked well because of Shields' elite speed.

[midranger]

There were a lot of Brad Jones fans last summer based off of a couple nice games late in the year. Lots of predictions of breakout, etc... He's now iffy to make the roster. Cautionary tale for Walden and Zombo.

I think we'll have some trouble getting consistent pressure on the QB, assuming Neal isn't a complete dynamo. However, you pair Clay and Raji with Woodson assuming more of a lurking role, and we will still see a fair amount of sacks.

I think Capers may use Shields more often on CB blitzes too. He did it late in the year and it worked well because of Shields' elite speed.

True. Plus Capers is like the Don of the Blitz disguise. It'll come from anywhere and everywhere.

[El Duderino]

The staff loves them some Zombo......I think pass rush is an issue this year.

Where do you come up with this stuff? brb having everyone healthy and adding Elmore and progression from Raji and Matthews yet getting worse...totally bro

hmmmm where tdo I get it? Perhpas losing by far your second best pass rusher and hoping 2 promising, yet unproven guys can take his place. I also don't want to hear alot about the progression of Zombo and Walden, there is hope, but ALMOST everyone on here was saying how big of a leap Brad Jones was going to make, how did that turn out for the Brad Jones fans? I luv Raji, and he had a good year sacking last year, but nose tackles usually do not have big sack years....I think you can look at most national publications and people mention the Packers did not solidify their pass rush, it is not something out of the blue.

I think everyone would ideally prefer having a consistent pass rusher at OLB on the other side of Clay and losing Jenkins will hurt, but lets not forget that last season with

1. Zombo as a rookie learning a new position of OLB

2. Walden not arriving until later in the season

3. Poppinga and Jones each playing 6 worthless games

4. Cullen playing in only 11 games and not being 100 percent in multiple others

5. Neal missing basically the whole season

The defense still finished second in the NFL with 47 sacks. So while Jenkins being gone will certainly hurt, it's not like it should cause the pass rush to vanish given it didn't vanish when he missed games or when he was ineffective by not being 100 percent. Plus, Zombo should be better. Walden will be here from week one and snaps won't be wasted on Poppinga as was the case the first six games last year. Hopefully we'll have Neal all year or at least most of the games. Wilson will have a year under his belt. Maybe this Elmore kid can contribute a bit on pass dons as a rookie.

I'm not trying to say there are no reasons to be concerned about the pass rush, just that i see no reason for anyone to be overly stressed over it taking a big decline though barring a major injury to Matthews. Capers along with the players on defense were able to create 47 sacks and 24 interceptions, both 2nd most in the league last year while not having a second top notch OLB.

[emunney]

Can't Randall Cobb play OLB?

[rilamann]

I think everyone would ideally prefer having a consistent pass rusher at OLB on the other side of Clay and losing Jenkins will hurt, but lets not forget that last season with

1. Zombo as a rookie learning a new position of OLB

2. Walden not arriving until later in the season

3. Poppinga and Jones each playing 6 worthless games

4. Cullen playing in only 11 games and not being 100 percent in multiple others

5. Neal missing basically the whole season

The defense still finished second in the NFL with 47 sacks. So while Jenkins being gone will certainly hurt, it's not like it should cause the pass rush to vanish given it didn't vanish when he missed games or when he was ineffective by not being 100 percent. Plus, Zombo should be better. Walden will be here from week one and snaps won't be wasted on Poppinga as was the case the first six games last year. Hopefully we'll have Neal all year or at least most of the games. Wilson will have a year under his belt. Maybe this Elmore kid can contribute a bit on pass dons as a rookie.

I'm not trying to say there are no reasons to be concerned about the pass rush, just that i see no reason for anyone to be overly stressed over it taking a big decline though barring a major injury to Matthews. Capers along with the players on defense were able to create 47 sacks and 24 interceptions, both 2nd most in the league last year while not having a second top notch OLB.

Good post.

I think that as long as you have game changing impact guys like Clay,Raji & Woodson on the field drawing so much focus and attention it's going to create great opportunities to make plays for whoever else is out there.

Having impact players on defense is so huge obviously.

I give guys like Walden,Howard Green and Zombo ect for making some big plays last season but those plays were opportunities created by our impact guys drawing so much attention.


I'd like to Keep Jenkins at a fair price but if we lose him I also agree that I don't think it would be a huge blow unless guys like Neal are god awful or can't stay healthy.


And if we can sign Namdi and move Woodson to safety full time that would be big for our pass rush too.

[[RCG]]

I like having multiple guys vie for the starter's role although I think each will get playing time. Having Elmore, Zombo, Jones, and Walden allows for a lot of plays off which means they should be playing 110% each snap. No need to conserve energy when there are 3 guys that can give you a breather.

[jimmybones]

Where do you come up with this stuff? brb having everyone healthy and adding Elmore and progression from Raji and Matthews yet getting worse...totally bro

hmmmm where tdo I get it? Perhpas losing by far your second best pass rusher and hoping 2 promising, yet unproven guys can take his place. I also don't want to hear alot about the progression of Zombo and Walden, there is hope, but ALMOST everyone on here was saying how big of a leap Brad Jones was going to make, how did that turn out for the Brad Jones fans? I luv Raji, and he had a good year sacking last year, but nose tackles usually do not have big sack years....I think you can look at most national publications and people mention the Packers did not solidify their pass rush, it is not something out of the blue.

I didn't mention progression from Zombo and Walden. I mentioned having both of them, and Jones, healthy. I said progression from Raji and Matthews. Read. They are both entering their third professional seasons. If you don't think those guys progress then I think you're an idiot. But hey now that you mention it, I'd be willing to bet at least one of Walden/Zombo/Jones/Elmore progresses/emerges.

[emunney]

I don't think you have to be able to pinpoint exactly who or how it's going to come to suggest that this team is going to see internal improvement. Every year we're among the youngest teams in the league, and that contributes to the fact that every year a handful of guys 'arrive,' and those guys are varyingly obvious.

Maybe we don't have the same pass rush next year, but maybe Neal steps up and we do. I'd suggest that we won't necessarily be the same defense, but we'll still be very good. Maybe Morgan Burnett blows up and we have playmaking in another area.

Our defense has a ton of talent and it didn't all revolve around Cullen -- it was not a house of cards.

[Newz]

I think between the rookies we drafted, Zombo, Jones, Walden, Mike Neal and CJ Wilson somebody should take a jump forward. I'm guessing either one of the rookies will prove to be a player or two of those guys will step up and help make up for Jenkins pass rush last season.

I keep seeing the "If Clay gets hurt, we are going to struggle to get pressure argument". Yeah, I agree... What team can lose their best pass rusher and then not struggle afterwards?

What are the Bears going to do if Peppers goes down? The Lions without Suh? The Steelers without Harrison? The Vikings without Allen? It goes on and on.

[Balls2TheWalls]

I think that people are sleeping on CJ Wilson. He didn't see a lot of snaps, but he was getting to the QB. I think that he is ready to take the next step to being a major part of the defensive line rotation.

As far as who starts opposite Clay... I think that the coaches are very happy with Zombo and that the job is in his hands at this point. I think that Elmore is the dark horse to take the spot, and that Jones would be my pick to get dumped off of the roster.