It is almost impossible for any prognosticator to avoid bringing up the quarterback position when talking about the fate of the Packers this season, but this is a team that has been built around its defense. Exciting young players and seasoned veterans give the Packers a tremendous mix that should provide the opportunity for the Packers to win a lot of football games this year.
The biggest question mark for the defense is the line. Obviously this is a big deal, because if the line is unable to pressure the quarterback, the secondary will struggle as a result. In the offseason, the Packers traded away defensive tackle Corey Williams, expecting second year man Justin Harrell to fill his role. Unfortunately Harrell has been plagued by injuries and may not be effective this year, and certainly not during the first six games while he is on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. The Packers may need reserve Johnny Jolly to play more extensively, and, if need be, defensive end Michael Montgomery may see more action in the middle as well. The other tackle, Ryan Pickett, hasn’t played live action since January. The Packers expect his return to bolster the defense, but it may take him some time to get back into the swing of things.
On the outside of the defensive line, the Packers are much more solid with pro-bowl defensive end Aaron Kampman returning for his seventh year with the team. Kampman has totaled 27.5 sacks over the last two seasons, and is expected to contribute again this year. On the right side of the ball, Cullen Jenkins will look to bounce back after the lowest sack output of his career. Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila will spell his number in passing situations. Gbaja-Biamila will be looking to reach double digits in sacks for the first time since 2004, but there are some concerns about durability as KGB has struggled with injuries throughout the preseason.
Make no mistake that the Packers were able to win football games at the end of the game last year because of their versatility in subbing their linemen in and out of the game. It kept the unit fresh within the game and also across the season. The Packers have the talent up front, but durability may come into play more this year than last.
The second level of the defense is perhaps the organizations strongest unit. Middle linebacker Nick Barnett is playing with a chip on his shoulder after again being left off the starting Pro-Bowl roster. He will be flanked by Brady Poppinga on the strong side and A.J. Hawk—once he is healthy—on the weakside. Hawk’s pectoral strain has limited his action in pre-season, but head coach Mike McCarthy has not ruled out the possibility of Hawk playing in the opener against the Vikings. Free agent acquisition Brandon Chillar is the most notable of the second string of linebackers and will be able to fill in nicely should there be any injuries. Desmond Bishop continues to show improvement at the linebacker position, but both he and Tracy White will most likely make a greater mark on special teams.
In the secondary, the Packers possess one of the best cornerback tandems in football in Al Harris and Charles Woodson. Packers fans are hoping that the poor performance by Harris in last year’s NFC Championship game was an aberration and not the beginning of a downswing for Harris. McCarthy limited Harris’ and Woodson’s action in pre-season games, but the defense was considerably better with those two on the field.
The free safety position will be occupied by Nick Collins, another undrafted gem of the Ted Thompson era. While many casual observers like Aaron Rouse in this spot, Collins is far more consistent and continues to show improvement entering his fourth year. Rouse should be able to fill in if necessary, but he is just as prone to give up the big play as he is to actually make the big play. Hard-hitting Atari Bigby will play the strong safety position and had a very solid preseason. It is essential that this unit stay healthy. Jarret Bush, Will Blackmon and Tramon Williams all continue to develop and are answers down the line. However, the bulk of the big plays given up by the defense came with Harris and Woodson on the bench. Playing any of those three (Bush, Blackmon and Williams) does not spell disaster, but it will most likely put a lot more pressure on the offense.
0 comments:
Post a Comment