Brad Jones » Packer Update

Packers Release Rehabbing Bishop

Posted by Michael Rodney at 4:50 pm 6 Responses »

Jun 172013

Veteran inside linebacker Desmond Bishop missed all of last season with a leg injury

The Green Bay Packers released Desmond Bishop on Monday – making official what was first reported last week. The veteran inside linebacker missed the entire 2012 season after rupturing a hamstring in August. The team will immediately gain $3.46 million in salary cap relief (there will be a hit of $800,000 in 2014).

While surprised by the move at first, I can understand GM Ted Thompson’s rationale. The Packers have been decimated by injuries in recent seasons, so the thought of relying on a 29-year-old player coming off a serious leg injury couldn’t have been appealing. Plus, even in today’s NFL, $3.46 million is a decent amount of money – especially when you consider how many key players will be free agents next spring.

So I’m OK with getting rid of Bishop. What I’m not OK with, however, is willingly going into a season with A.J. Hawk and Brad Jones as the starting inside linebackers. It’s one thing to start them due to injury; it’s quite another to start them by choice. At a position that screams out for physicality, Dom Capers will employ two of the least physical inside linebackers in the league. Hawk hasn’t forced a fumble since George W. Bush was in the White House. That’s almost impossible. Jones, to his credit, tries to smack people, but his linear build and lack of power seldom causes ball carriers to go backwards.

Some fans are holding out hope that Terrell Manning will show enough this summer to supplant either Hawk or Jones, but that’s probably wishful thinking at this point. While the former North Carolina star has talent, he was a non-factor as a rookie due in part to a serious stomach ailment that plagued him throughout his first training camp. At best, Manning might get some snaps in certain packages, where his knack for blitzing the quarterback can be taken advantage of. But when it comes to the base and the nickel, expect to see plenty of Hawk and/or Jones. And that’s apparently just fine with Thompson. Something tells me that’s also just fine with every opposing offensive player on Green Bay’s upcoming schedule.

Packers Should Re-Sign Jones

Posted by Michael Rodney at 1:49 am 8 Responses »

Mar 072013

Linebacker Brad Jones is set to become an unrestricted free agent in March

Linebacker Brad Jones is set to become an unrestricted free agent next week

With all the focus on Charles Woodson, Greg Jennings, Jermichael Finley and A.J. Hawk, the future of Brad Jones hasn’t been mentioned much in the past few weeks. It should’ve been. General manager Ted Thompson would be wise to re-sign the veteran linebacker before the start of free agency next Tuesday.

Jones isn’t talented enough to be a top-flight starter, but he did a more than adequate job filling in for D.J. Smith last season. In his first season at inside linebacker after spending the previous three years on the outside, the former Colorado star recorded 77 tackles, 2 sacks and 1 forced fumble in 10 starts. Aside from the solid stats, he wasn’t a liability against the run and he provided much-needed length in space.

Jones would be a better option than A.J. Hawk in 2013 – not to mention a much cheaper one. Ideally, Thompson will find an even better alternative in free agency or the draft, but if not, I think Jones would do just fine with a year of experience on the inside under his belt. He’d have to switch from the ‘Mack’ position to the ‘Buck’ position, but I really don’t think that would be an issue. Adaptability is one of his best traits.

If Jones is re-signed and Thompson then manages to find a better option in free agency or the draft, he’d still be worth having around. The 27-year-old would provide outstanding depth and he’s developed into a strong special teams player in the past few seasons. And heck, shouldn’t this alone earn him a new deal?

Looking Ahead To Free Agency

Posted by Michael Rodney at 11:52 am 14 Responses »

Nov 232012

Veteran linebacker Brad Jones is likely playing himself into a contract extension

General manager Ted Thompson has already extended two of his potential unrestricted free agents (T.J. Lang and Brett Goode), but another five players remain on schedule to hit the open market in early March. That list includes a Pro Bowl wide receiver, two “starting” linebackers, a currently injured running back and a future Packers Hall of Famer. Here’s a look at what I expect to happen with each player:

CEDRIC BENSON: The veteran started the first five games, but he suffered a Lisfranc injury against Indy and was placed on IR. He’s eligible to return next month, but that’s probably not going to happen. What’s even more unlikely is his return in 2013. While Benson looked pretty good in his brief – pardon the pun – run with Green Bay, it’s hard to imagine Thompson re-signing an aging back coming off a serious injury.

DONALD DRIVER: If the 37-year-old wants to play another season, he’ll probably have to do it in the UFL or Canada. The Packers wasted money and a roster spot on Driver this season, but that won’t happen again. He simply has nothing left. Look for Jarrett Boykin to move up a notch on the depth chart and for Thompson to add a rookie who could help out on special teams while developing on offense.

GREG JENNINGS: I’d love to see the 2-time Pro Bowler return, but I just don’t see it happening. While the Packers don’t have a true No. 1 receiver under contract for 2013, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and James Jones are all legitimate No. 2s. And that trio, along with Jermichael Finley, provides QB Aaron Rodgers with more than enough weapons. Plus, Thompson has proven quite adept at drafting at this position. There’s a chance Jennings could be franchised, but I only see that happening as a prelude to a trade.

BRAD JONES: It’s been a good month for the former Colorado star. After barely playing on defense in the first six weeks, Jones has started the past four games at right inside linebacker and has acquitted himself quite well. In the process, he’s gone from a player with no future in Green Bay to a player who stands a pretty decent chance of earning an extension. With Desmond Bishop and D.J. Smith coming off serious injuries, it’s difficult to imagine Thompson letting the young (26) and versatile Jones walk away.

ERIK WALDEN: The veteran was arrested last November and then played poorly down the stretch, and yet Green Bay still brought him back. That tells you what Thompson and the defensive coaches think of the former Middle Tennessee star. But unless Bob McGinn takes over as GM, don’t expect Walden to sign a lucrative extension. However, I could see him getting a two-year deal worth $5M. That would be a relatively small price to pay to provide insurance in case Nick Perry still isn’t ready to seize sole control at LOLB.

Review: Packers At Colts

Posted by Michael Rodney at 9:03 am 2 Responses »

Aug 282011

McDonald needs to get stronger in the upper body

People say you only have to watch the last two minutes of an NBA game. Well, that saying proved true for the NFL on Friday night in Indianapolis. The Packers, who couldn’t do a thing on offense for the first 28 minutes of the second half, scored 11 points in the final 35 seconds to beat the Colts 24-21. After re-watching the entire game (hey, what else is there to do with a hurricane bearing down on the Northeast?), here are three thoughts:

1] The depth on the offensive line could be a problem. Backup tackles Derek Sherrod and Marshall Newhouse have bright futures, but I’m not sure either is ready to take on some of the NFL’s best defensive ends. While Sherrod looks a lot more comfortable at tackle, he still had trouble keeping rushers away from the quarterback on Friday. And it wasn’t just one type of player that gave him problems. He was beaten by power and by speed. It looks like this year’s No. 1 pick could be spending his game days as one of the inactives – at least early on. Newhouse is the better player now, but he’s had his share of problems in protection as well. He needs to be more consistent with his footwork. He has a tendency to shuffle to cut off the rush instead of kick-sliding. The former TCU star might be OK if pressed into service, but can Green Bay take that chance?

The situation on the interior isn’t a whole lot better. While Nick McDonald played his finest game of the preseason on Friday, he hasn’t shown the strength in practice (or last week against the Cardinals) to consistently hold his own against powerful defensive tackles. The former Grand Valley State star relies more on technique than on natural ability, and that’s a tough way to make a living for a young player. Ray Dominguez often looks awful in those one-on-one drills in practice, but he does OK in the games. I think he’s a better long-term prospect than either McDonald or rookie Caleb Schlauderaff, but he’s not ready to step in and play either. Evan Dietrich-Smith is the team’s best current option to replace any of the interior starters. He doesn’t have much talent or upside (that’s why he was cut a year ago), but he usually finds a way to get the job done. The best option, however, might be to acquire a veteran after final cuts.

2] I know outside linebackers Jamari Lattimore and especially Vic So’oto played well against the Colts, but I wouldn’t be so quick to get rid of Brad Jones – especially with Frank Zombo expected to miss at least a few regular season games. While the former Colorado star hasn’t made very many plays this summer, there’s something to be said for experience. He’s started 12 games since joining Green Bay in 2009 and the team has won 9 of them. Jones doesn’t have the speed of Lattimore or the size of So’oto, but he knows the scheme and he’s seldom caught out of position. The same can’t be said for So’oto, who has struggled to diagnose running plays in practices and games. He also doesn’t move in space nearly as well as Jones. As for Lattimore, he simply can’t play outside linebacker at 230 pounds. He might be able to contribute on special teams and as a pass rush specialist this season, but that’s about it.

If Zombo were healthy, I’d consider releasing Jones to make room for one or maybe even both of the undrafted free agents. But as things stand now, the Packers need to have at least one experienced outside linebacker behind Clay Matthews and Erik Walden. I still think Lattimore has a higher ceiling than So’oto, but it wouldn’t surprise me a bit if the former BYU star grabs the roster spot. He’s more equipped to play right away. Besides, the odds of another team claiming Lattimore on waivers are low. There’s not a huge need for 230-pounders who are still learning how to play with their hand off the ground.

3] If it comes down to it, I’d keep a fifth tight end over a fourth running back, a second fullback, a 10th offensive lineman or a sixth cornerback. That’s because either Andrew Quarless, D.J. Williams or Tom Crabtree would have more value to the team this season than Dimitri Nance, Quinn Johnson, Dietrich-Smith, Schlauderaff, Pat Lee or Josh Gordy. Besides, which tight end would you get rid of? Quarless is the best option should something happen to Finley. Williams has cooled down after a hot start, but he’s too talented to give up on after only five weeks. And Crabtree is the best special teams player and the strongest blocker.

If the numbers don’t add up and the Packers absolutely positively have to get rid of a tight end, I’d very reluctantly dump Williams. As much as I like the former Arkansas star, the emergence of fellow rookie Ryan Taylor has made him less important to the team’s present and to its future. Speaking of Taylor, the more I see of him, the more he reminds me of Mark Chmura. Both players were drafted in the late rounds out of a current Atlantic Coast Conference school and they are similar in size. The Packers can only hope Taylor develops into a Chewy clone on the football field – and a much better human being off of it.

6 PLAYERS TO KEEP AN EYE ON

Posted by Michael Rodney at 11:12 am 5 Responses »

Aug 262011

Rookie running back needs to improve pass blocking

Rookie running back needs to improve in pass protection

It’s not easy finding reasons to stay in on a Friday evening to watch a preseason game between the Packers and the team formerly known as the Colts who won’t actually be the Colts until Sept. 11. But if you’re a big fan, or if you have nothing better to do, here are six players to keep an eye on:

Alex Green: Other than turning a simple screen pass into a spectacular 25-yard gain a week ago, the third-round pick from Hawaii has had a fairly quiet summer. But that one play showed just how much talent this young running back possesses. The offensive coaches would love to use him on third downs this season, but he’ll have to show significant improvement as a blocker in the next two games. He should get plenty of opportunities to impress tonight.

Tori Gurley: The undrafted free agent wide receiver from South Carolina has really come on in the past 10 days. Not only is he making plays on special teams, but he looks a lot more confident catching passes. While Chastin West has been the next best player after the Big 5, Gurley is beginning to close the gap. A big game against Indy might be enough to keep him around as the No. 6 receiver – if general manager Ted Thompson chooses to keep that many players at the position.

Brad Jones: With Frank Zombo out for a while, Jones will likely enter the season as the top backup at both outside linebacker positions. The third-year player from Colorado hasn’t had a bad camp, but he just doesn’t look a whole lot better than he did two years ago. That can’t please Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy, who expect to see major improvement each season from their young players. If Jones doesn’t step up, he could find himself replaced by a veteran from another team prior to the start of the regular season.

Nick McDonald: The second-year player from Grand Valley State has done nothing this summer to suggest he would be an adequate backup to Scott Wells. The coaches admire his intelligence and his toughness, but he appears to lack the strength needed to deal with powerful opponents. Watching him get pushed back like he was on skates a week ago made me cringe. He needs to play well against the Colts in order to hold off Evan Dietrich-Smith, who isn’t as talented but who has performed better all camp.

Caleb Schlauderaff: The sixth-round pick from Utah has gotten better in the past few weeks, but is he good enough to be the No. 3 guard? I have my doubts, but as of now, he would be the first man off the bench should something happen to Josh Sitton or T.J. Lang. And while he’s come a long way from the first few days of camp, he still has a ways to go. A solid performance tonight would probably cement his spot on the final roster – even if Thompson chooses to bring in a veteran before the start of the season.

Brandon Underwood: The troubled but talented corner turned safety was actually looking good prior to spraining a knee. The fact that the former Cincinnati star is still here is a testament to his physical ability. A less talented player would’ve been dumped long before he had a chance to embarrass the franchise for a second time. Now healthy, it’s time for Underwood to prove he’s worth the hassle. If he plays well tonight, Thompson might be able to get away with keeping only nine defensive backs on the final roster.

BATTLE AT LINEBACKER FIZZLES

Posted by Michael Rodney at 2:19 pm 7 Responses »

Aug 232011

Walden has struggled at times during the preseason

Outside linebackers Frank Zombo and Erik Walden obviously worked hard during the lockout. The former seems quicker on his feet and the latter is clearly stronger in the upper body. Unfortunately, neither player looks a whole lot better than he did at the end of last season. I was going to include Brad Jones, but in all honesty, he actually looks worse than he did a year ago. Kevin Greene is a terrific position coach, but he can only do so much. Let’s be perfectly honest, there were reasons why Zombo wasn’t drafted, why Walden was released by three teams before signing off the street last October and why Jones lasted until the seventh round in 2009.

Even if none of the right outside linebackers step up, Green Bay should be A-OK on defense. As long as nose tackle/end B.J. Raji, left outside linebacker Clay Matthews, cornerbacks Charles Woodson and Tramon Williams and safety Nick Collins remain healthy, coordinator Dom Capers will keep most opponents below 20 points. But anyone expecting a great defense is probably going to have to wait for at least another season. It’s tough being truly dominant in a 3-4 with only one quality outside linebacker. That’s why the Steelers have always placed such a premium on drafting at that position. Can you remember the last time their coordinator Dick LeBeau went into a regular season without two studs coming off the edge?

As for the Packers, it appears Walden is the player the coaches would like to see win the position (this became a virtual certainty once it was announced that Zombo broke his scapula and will miss about six weeks). That makes sense. He’s the most physically talented of the three candidates for the starting job. The former Middle Tennessee State star possesses pretty good size, above-average athleticism and a non-stop motor. What he lacks, however, is a strong repertoire of pass-rush moves. His initial charge is too often neutralized and he struggles to adjust and counter. Zombo is as tough as nails, but he lacks explosiveness and he’ll always be a bit robotic in space. Jones moves well in reverse, but he gets engulfed by tackles. That’s what happens when you give away 80 pounds and lack a really quick first step.

Thompson did draft an outside linebacker in April, but sixth-round pick Ricky Elmore has been a total bust. He doesn’t play any faster than he timed (4.88) at the NFL Combine. A couple of undrafted free agents have actually been far more impressive. Ricky Lattimore and Vic So’oto aren’t ready to play this season, but they might be worth hanging on to. Lattimore needs to gain at least 10 pounds, but he’s the most explosive outside linebacker on the roster not named Matthews. So’oto is a large man who plays physically and moves well enough to function adequately in space. But he needs some time to learn the position after spending his first three seasons at Brigham Young at tight end and defensive end.

As I wrote a few weeks ago, I still expect the right outside linebacker position to be a timeshare this season. The only difference is I’m no longer as excited about the pieces of property. After reading a lot of positive press about Walden in the local papers, I was kind of disappointed watching him at practice and in the first two exhibition games. Zombo had been the better player in games prior to getting hurt, but he was more competent than anything else. As for Jones, he wasn’t even guaranteed a spot on the final 53 before Zombo’s injury. His roster spot is obviously safe now, but he’ll need to step it up if he wants to see significant snaps on defense when the Saints come marching into Lambeau Field in 16 days.

SLOCUM HAS NO MORE EXCUSES

Posted by Michael Rodney at 3:40 pm 3 Responses »

Aug 162011

Special teams coordinator needs to get the job done

The 2010 Packers won the Super Bowl despite their special teams. While kicker Mason Crosby and punter Tim Masthay were fine, the returners had very little room to manuever and the kick coverage was consistently inconsistent. But things are looking up. The addition of receiver Randall Cobb provides Green Bay with all the ingredients needed to be extremely successful on special teams this season. The former Kentucky star should be just what the doctor ordered on returns, and the outstanding depth at tight end, outside linebacker and in the secondary should be a boon to the coverage units. Truth be told, there’s only one thing that can keep the special teams from rising to the top – the coaching of coordinator Shawn Slocum.

Slocum seems like a hard-working guy, but his return and coverage units have been way too undisciplined since the day he was tabbed to take over for the “retired” Mike Stock (don’t get me started on the decision to replace one of the worst coaches in the league with his assistant). Watch the way other teams play special teams and then watch the Packers. You don’t have to be an expert to see how many guys are missing blocks on returns and how many guys are failing to stay in their lanes in coverage. That’s all about discipline. And if things don’t improve in this particular area, no amount of new talent will make an appreciable difference.

BATTLE OF ATTRITION

Assuming the Packers keep four tight ends, and assuming impressive rookies D.J. Williams and Ryan Taylor are two of them, the final roster spot will likely come down to either Andrew Quarless or Tom Crabtree. The former is the better receiver and the latter is the better blocker. My hunch is that GM Ted Thompson would prefer to keep Quarless, a fifth-round pick with the requisite size and athleticism to create mismatches down the field. But head coach Mike McCarthy always stresses the importance of accountability, and the former Penn State star has been sidelined for much of camp with assorted injuries. That should’ve opened the door for Crabtree, but he’s also missed some time with injuries of his own. So in what figures to be a heated battle, the last man standing could literally wind up being the last man standing.

GUARDS FOUGHT TO A DRAW

After re-watching every snap played by Derek Sherrod and T.J. Lang on Saturday, I still can’t decide which offensive lineman performed better at left guard. Both did some good things and some not so good things. Sherrod definitely played better than he’s been practicing, but the same problems I wrote about a few weeks ago were noticeable against the Browns. As for Lang, he looks more comfortable inside than Sherrod. That’s because his body is better suited for the position and he’s stronger below the waist. What he’ll never do particularly well, however, is adjust on the second level. It’s obvious Thompson and McCarthy would like to see their first-round pick win the job, but I still think Lang is the better choice.

LINEBACKERS WERE IN NO RUSH

None of the three players competing for the starting job at right outside linebacker got anywhere near the quarterback in the preseason opener. That wasn’t a huge surprise considering Frank Zombo, Erik Walden and Brad Jones haven’t shown much as pass rushers in camp. In fact, the most effective pass rusher this summer has probably been undrafted free agent Vic So’oto. The former defensive end from BYU is a physical player with above-average athleticism, but he’s still learning the position. That showed on Saturday night when he got caught out of position on numerous occasions. Defensive coordinator Dom Capers would love for one of his outside linebackers to pick up the slack for Cullen Jenkins, but the more you see, the more you have to wonder whether any of them will be up to the task.

JONES BACK ON THE MARKET?

This following isn’t a rumor, it’s just a thought. With Cobb looking so impressive at wide receiver, is it possible that James Jones could still wind up playing for another team this season? I know he just signed a three-year contract with the Packers, but that doesn’t necessarily preclude a trade from happening. In fact, Jones might be more appealing to other GMs now that his future earnings are set through 2013. And while an offense can never have too many weapons, if Thompson can turn his No. 4 receiver into a decent draft pick or perhaps a proven offensive or defensive lineman, it wouldn’t be a shock to see him make a move with Jones. Just something else to ponder as training camp trudges along.

POSTCARD FROM TRAINING CAMP

Posted by Michael Rodney at 10:27 am 4 Responses »

Aug 082011

Starks is battling Grant for the starting halfback job

The one thing I’ve learned from watching Matt Flynn the past four summers is that he will always play better than he practices. Aaron Rodgers‘ backup is off to another relatively slow start, but there’s no reason to be concerned. He’ll find a way to move the offense as soon as the opposition is wearing different colored uniforms. I didn’t see what the coaches saw in Graham Harrell last summer and I still don’t see it. His arm is weak and his accuracy is average at best. The lockout is the only argument I can make for keeping him around. At least he knows the system.

I used to think James Starks looked like a poor man’s Eric Dickerson, but now I’m tempted to remove the words poor and man. That’s how terrific he’s looked in training camp. The playoff sensation is running with great power and decisiveness. While Ryan Grant appears fully recovered from the ankle injury that ended his 2010 season, he simply doesn’t possess Starks’ physical ability. The former 1,200 yard rusher may be the nominal starter when the Saints come to Lambeau, but I can’t imagine him getting the bulk of the carries. Rookie Alex Green hasn’t done much through the first week of practices.

Jermichael Finley is an absolute freak. His height, athletic ability and soft hands make him almost impossible to defend. He’s almost toying with the poor souls who are assigned to cover him. Barring injury or stupidity, there’s no way I can imagine general manager Ted Thompson letting this guy get away. Prior to Finley’s return to the practice field, the most impressive tight end was seventh-round pick Ryan Taylor. He isn’t as savvy a route runner as fellow rookie D.J. Williams or as strong a blocker as Tom Crabtree, but he’s a more complete player. He has a good chance of making the team.

The coaches are giving the young receivers plenty of snaps, and a few of them have taken advantage of the heavy workload. Second-round pick Randall Cobb has looked terrific. His incredible quickness makes him stand out from the crowd. I realize the Packers have the best quartet of veteran receivers in the league, but coach Mike McCarthy will find ways to get Cobb on the field. Count on it. If the team wasn’t so deep at this position, either Chastin West or Shaky Smithson would have a legitimate chance to stick. West isn’t flashy, but he runs good routes and catches almost everything. Smithson is a quick as a hiccup return specialist with enough raw skills to eventually develop into a useful NFL receiver.

Bryan Bulaga looks like the player ready to take the biggest leap from season one to season two. He’s so much more confident than he was a year ago. And why not? He now has 16 starts under his belt, and more importantly, the coaches are no longer asking him to learn multiple positions. First-round pick Derek Sherrod has struggled at left guard after spending his entire college career at tackle. Veteran T.J. Lang has been more impressive, but it’s early. If Sherrod doesn’t start, he might find himself backing up Bulaga. That’s because Marshall Newhouse will be hard to supplant as Chad Clifton‘s understudy. The quick-footed youngster been one of the most improved players in camp. I was surprised when Nick McDonald made the team last summer. I didn’t see anything to get excited about – and I still don’t. Right now, journeyman Evan Dietrich-Smith is the second-best center on the roster.

Anyone waiting for C.J. Wilson to flash big-time pass rushing skills had better get a chair. It’s going to be a very long wait. He’s not athletic enough to beat quality offensive linemen on a consistent basis. On the other hand, Jarius Wynn just might be. The undersized three-year veteran is enjoying his finest camp. He looks quicker than before and he seems to have added to his repertoire of moves. If he continues to improve, there will be a place for him on the final roster. Mike Neal has only practiced sparingly, but it doesn’t take long to see his potential. Assuming he can stay healthy, he’ll be a more than adequate replacement for Cullen Jenkins. Ryan Pickett and Howard Green look more like sumo wrestlers than defensive linemen, but extra pounds won’t be an issue as long as they can shut down the run.

Erik Walden has taken the early lead in the battle to start opposite Clay Matthews. The former street free agent is playing more like a high draft choice. He looks bigger, stronger and more explosive than he did last season. Frank Zombo and Brad Jones have been OK, but neither has flashed nearly as often as Walden. Sixth-round pick Ricky Elmore was a productive pass rusher in college, but he hasn’t gotten many sniffs of the quarterback yet. In fact, undrafted free agent Jamari Lattimore has probably been more impressive. He needs to get stronger, but he runs well and seems to pack a punch. Depth at inside linebacker is still a concern, but it isn’t quite as big a concern thanks to Robert Francois. The third-year player is much-improved now that he’s taking all of his snaps at one position. He isn’t a big hitter. but he’s smart and fairly athletic. Not surprisingly, sixth-round pick D.J. Smith is still thinking too much.

Davon House and Brandon Underwood were both enjoying solid camps before suffering injuries. The former was making a strong push to be the No. 4 corner and the latter was showing real promise at safety. Veteran Jarrett Bush is covering like a blanket so far, but I’m not getting carried away. He typically plays better in practice than he does in games. Sam Shields was the talk of camp at this time a year ago, but he’s been pretty unspectacular so far. He doesn’t seem to be playing with the same sense of urgency. I’m not worried, but it’s something to keep an eye on. There probably won’t be room for Josh Gordy, but he can play corner in this league. Morgan Burnett has been up-and-down in his return from knee surgery, but his potential is obvious. He has superior range. Brandion Ross and Anthony Levine are talented small-school players who don’t seem to be intimidated by the bright lights.

Mason Crosby is off to another slow start, but he’ll be OK. Tim Masthay, on the other hand, looks terrific. It’s amazing how much better he’s gotten since last summer. Cobb has a chance to be the team’s best returner since Allen Rossum. Under-appreciated long snapper Brett Goode is almost automatic.

-Special thanks to contributor Mike Tahan, who has been covering training camp for Packer Update. Mike wrote this post – all I had to do was edit his shaky spelling and atrocious grammar!

TALE OF THE TAPE AT ROLB

Posted by Michael Rodney at 6:59 am 5 Responses »

Aug 062011

Jones will attempt to reclaim his starting job

Jones will attempt to reclaim his starting linebacker job

The battle for the right outside linebacker job is so tight that all three candidates have already been given a chance to work with the starters in practice. Frank Zombo on Saturday, Erik Walden on Sunday and Brad Jones on Monday. And based on their play last season, picking a winner is impossible. That’s why this competition figures to continue all month. The following is a breakdown of Zombo, Walden and Jones based on their past performances and their very early work in camp. I analyzed and graded the players in four categories – run support, coverage, pass rush and intangibles.

RUN SUPPORT: Jones was surprisingly effective as a 235-pound rookie, but he struggled a bit last season. Even though he was about 10 pounds heavier, he wasn’t able to hold the edge as consistently. A shoulder injury that eventually ended his season probably explains the regression (7.0). Walden was very shaky in his first few games, but he settled down once he got his feet under him and was never a real liability. He runs well, but lets blockers get into his frame and will get cut at times. He needs to do a better job protecting his legs (6.5). Zombo got taken advantage of by savvy veteran tackles in his first first few starts, but he seldom fell for the same trick twice. He’s bigger and stronger than Jones and Walden, and that – along with solid technique – makes him the most effective at taking on blocks (7.5).

COVERAGE: This is the strength of Jones’ game. Unlike Walden and Zombo, he worked in a 3-4 at Colorado, so playing in space comes very natural to him. It was no coincidence that the defense improved in 2009 when he replaced an injured Aaron Kampman in the starting lineup. He wasn’t quite as effective in coverage last season – whether that was due to the injury and/or the extra weight remains to be seen (8.0). Walden has the athletic ability to be as good as Jones in space, but he’s still learning after spending all four years at Middle Tennessee State at defensive end and his first three seasons in the NFL on the bench. He’s blessed with fluid hips, so he should continue to improve with experience (7.0). Zombo will never look pretty in space because he’s only an average athlete, but he proved to be at least adequate last season. If he starts, coordinator Dom Capers will either replace him in obvious passing situations or call plays that keep him from being isolated on receivers as often as possible (6.0).

PASS RUSH: Jones’ shoulder injury rendered him virtually useless as a pass rusher last season. He did have 4 sacks as a rookie, but most came as the result of good coverage in the secondary. He’s easily engulfed by big tackles and he’s not explosive enough to exploit their sometimes slowish feet (6.5). Walden made headlines with three sacks in the season finale against the Bears, but he only got to the QB one time in his other five starts. He possesses a quick enough first step to give mediocre tackles a tough time, but he’s not strong or explosive enough to create consistent pressure against upper-echelon opponents (7.0). Zombo will never be Clay Matthews as a rusher, but he has a chance to get 8 to 10 sacks in a season. He showed a surprising amount of moves for a rookie and his closing burst is impressive (7.5).

INTANGIBLES: Jones doesn’t have the frame to get much bigger, so size will always be an issue. He’s also had a difficult time staying healthy since joining the Packers. And he hasn’t shown much in limited opportunities on special teams (6.0). Walden is already on his fourth team since entering the National Football League. That means either three organizations made a big mistake by releasing him or he’s just a journeyman who caught lightning in a bottle last season. He possesses the best combination of size, speed and strength, so there’s definitely something for assistant coach Kevin Greene to work with in the future (6.5). Zombo played the most consistently last season, and that’s even more impressive when you consider that he had never played with his hand off the ground until he signed with Green Bay as an undrafted free agent in April 2010. He needs to keep improving – and he will – but just how high is his ceiling (7.0)?

OVERALL: Zombo finished with 28 total points – 1/2 more than Jones and 1 more than Walden. That makes sense since these three players are so close in ability. Since their strengths and weaknesses are so different, it wouldn’t be a shock to see Capers use all three during the course of a game. And if not all three, then at least two of them. So while the Packers may not have one really good ROLB, they might be able to manufacture such a player by using the best parts of all three. Think of it like a Frankenlinebacker.

THE KIDS HAVE TO BE ALRIGHT

Posted by Michael Rodney at 2:05 am 4 Responses »

Apr 242010

KEY PLAYER

With the first three rounds of the draft now history, it appears as if the Green Bay Packers will have to make do in 2010 with primarily the same cast of characters at cornerback and outside linebacker that were on the roster in 2009. That certainly doesn’t mean all is lost, but it does mean that youngsters Brad Jones, Pat Lee and Brandon Underwood are going to have to grow up in a hurry.

By not franchising Aaron Kampman or adding a significant outside linebacker through free agency or the draft, GM Ted Thompson is showing an awful lot of faith in Jones. “They really like the kid,” said a person close to the situation. “The fact that he was able to hold his own as a 235-pound rookie really impressed the coaches – especially coordinator Dom Capers. The feeling is that Jones will be a more consistent pass rusher once he gains some size and upper-body strength. He already has plenty of athleticism and tenacity.”

Lee and Underwood will likely open camp as the No. 3 and 4 corners, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them stay in those roles for at least the early part of the season. “At least one of those young players is going to have to step up,” said the source, “and the coaches seem to have more faith in Underwood being that guy than they do Lee. In fact, they believe Underwood is a better prospect than any of the corners that will be drafted on Saturday.”

It’s hardly surprising that the organization has so much faith in its young players. After all, that’s how Thompson and head coach Mike McCarthy have built the Packers over the past four years. And that philosophy has worked more often than not. “Thompson has tremendous faith in his coaching staff’s ability to get the young guys ready to play,” said the source. “He firmly believed that when it came to Nick Collins, Greg Jennings, Aaron Rodgers and Clay Matthews and he was proven correct.” Of course he also believed that when it came to Allen Barbre and Jeremy Kapinos, so you really never know.

WHO THE HECK IS BRAD JONES?

Posted by Packer Update at 10:38 am 5 Responses »

Nov 142009

Speedy rookie starts

Rookie Brad Jones will be making his first start on Sunday in what is shaping up as a do-or-die game for the struggling Packers. The former Colorado star will replace the injured Aaron Kampman at left outside linebacker against Dallas. Whether Jones can actually be effective remains to be seen, but there’s no question that he’ll bring a new dimension to the defense. “Unlike Kampman and Brady Poppinga, this kid should be very comfortable in the scheme,” said a former scout. “He started 36 games as a 3-4 outside linebacker in college and his speed and quickness are ideally suited for the position.”

Dom Capers compared Jones to ex-Steeler All-Pro Chad Brown on Friday. That’s high praise. So does Green Bay’s grizzled defensive coordinator truly believe what he said or is he just trying to instill confidence in a young and inexperienced player? There’s no way to know for sure, but it might be a little of both. “While I think boosting Jones’ confidence is a priority right now, I can certainly see the similarities,” opined the scout. “Brown also played at Colorado, and like Jones, he entered the NFL a little undersized, but blessed with great athletic ability and solid instincts.”

So is Jones destined to start opposite Clay Matthews for the next 10 years? You never know, but the smart money says that Green Bay’s left outside linebacker of the future isn’t on the current roster. “Jones has plenty of talent, but unlike Brown, he wasn’t a dominant player in college,” said the scout. “That’s one of the reasons why he lasted until the seventh round. The other is a lack of size. At barely 240 pounds, he’s never going to be great against the run, so he’ll have to earn his money as a pass rusher. And while he recorded 7 sacks as a senior, he never showed an explosive, upfield get-off or a sudden closing burst.”

Whether Jones has what it takes to start in the NFL remains to be seen. Regardless, his debut should be quite interesting to watch. What’s also interesting – and quite telling – is the relative lack of concern over not having Kampman in the starting lineup. The idea of playing without the former Iowa star would’ve scared the heck out of the team and its fans a year ago, but after watching him struggle to make the transition from defensive end to linebacker, it seems as if a lot of people are actually looking forward to seeing what the new guy can do. “Jones probably won’t be as assignment-sure, but he’ll be much better dropping into coverage. And that could be important against a Dallas offense that has been throwing the ball extremely well lately.”