D.J. Smith » Packer Update

New-Look Defense Bounces Back

Posted by Michael Rodney at 2:54 pm 10 Responses »

Sep 152012

Rookie Jerron McMillian was part of a revamped and improved secondary on Thursday

The Bears’ porous offensive line and bewildered quarterback made the Packers’ newly configured defense look like the Steel Curtain on Thursday night. Don’t expect to see that kind of performance every week, but with Jerron McMillian and Casey Hayward in and M.D. Jennings and Jarrett Bush out, you also shouldn’t expect to see too many repeats of what happened versus the 49ers. Look for the D to settle in somewhere in between – and that should be good enough to keep Green Bay atop the NFC North.

Here are 3 thoughts on the defense following the Packers’ 23-10 beat down of the Bears:

1) The pass rush was awesome, but don’t get too excited. After re-watching the first two games, I still see only one player (Clay Matthews) with the ability to consistently win one-on-one battles. And let’s be honest, very few teams are going to let CMIII dominate the way Chicago did. A second threat will have to emerge. It could be top picks Nick Perry or Jerel Worthy, but neither has shown that type of ability yet. Interestingly, the second and third most effective pass rushers against the Bears were probably Mike Daniels and Dezman Moses. Both unheralded rookies deserve more snaps against Seattle next Sunday.

2) I don’t know who was wearing No. 37 in August, but it wasn’t Sam Shields. Fortunately, the real Sam Shields showed up when the calendar flipped to September. The third-year pro from Miami was solid in a limited role versus the 49ers and very good as the starting right corner on Thursday night. Shields has regained the swagger he exhibited as a rookie in 2010. Just as importantly, he’s also showing a willingness to be physical. With Morgan Burnett giving Tramon Williams help over the top against Brandon Marshall, the coaches trusted Shields to handle Chicago’s impressive rookie Alshon Jeffery all by himself. He was up to the challenge. Jeffery caught only 1 pass for 7 yards. Give some credit to the pass rush that didn’t allow Cutler to get the ball down the field, but give most of the credit to Shields. He covered like white on rice and he never allowed his size disadvantage to become an issue.

3) Defending the middle of the field is still going to be a problem. Jay Cutler didn’t have the time, or in some cases, the vision to find open receivers, but they were there most of the night. D.J. Smith was much improved against the run and he showed explosiveness as a blitzer, but his cover skills leave a lot to be desired. The former Appalachian State star lacks the height to cover tight ends and the speed to stay with backs. You can be sure that he’ll be exploited by any QB who’s given the time to find that matchup. I begged coordinator Dom Capers to replace Bush and Jennings. That worked out pretty well. My next suggestion is to replace Smith. Give Robert Francois or Brad Jones a chance. They’re not speedy either, but they’re taller and more fluid. Both players can flip their hips and get good depth in their coverage drops.

Notes On A Preseason Game

Posted by Michael Rodney at 2:12 pm 9 Responses »

Aug 172012

Rookie wide receiver Jarrett Boykin caught 5 passes against Cleveland

The title of this post pays homage to Notes On a Scandal - one of the most underrated movies in recent years (in fact, I should’ve watched it again rather than waste over three hours of my life on whatever that mess was last night). Anyway, here are 5 thoughts from the Packers’ 35-10 loss to Cleveland:

1) Rookie receiver Jarrett Boykin did what neither Diondre Borel nor Tori Gurley has been able to do this summer – he stepped up. The former Virginia Tech star does not have explosive top-end speed, but he has reliable hands, tracks the ball well and can adjust to off-line throws. If any young receiver deserves a spot on the final 53, it’s Boykin. That said, I still expect him to start the season on the practice squad.

2) There’s no question Andrew Datko is getting better. He gave up the inside a few times in the second quarter, but for the most part, he did a solid job at left tackle. If the rookie keeps improving, he should find a spot on the final roster. But he won’t play this season unless there’s an emergency. He needs a year in the weight room before he’s ready to contend with some of the stud pass rushers in the NFC North.

3) It’s still very early, but so far the inside pass rush doesn’t look much better than it did a year ago. Rookie Jerel Worthy has plateaued after a fast start. The former Michigan State star has a really quick first step, but he’s been far more effective in one-on-one drills at Nitchke Field than he’s been in the first two exhibition games. He’s been slow to shed blocks and he needs to use his hands a lot better. It’s a lot of pressure to put on a 22-year-old kid, but the Packers really need him to come through this season.

4) I hate to compare any second-year player with three career starts to five-time Pro Bowler Sam Mills, but I think it’s warranted in the case of D.J. Smith. He’s one of the most instinctive inside linebackers I’ve seen in a long time. He reads his keys fast and is quick to make zone drops. Whether he’s athletic enough to keep up with quality backs and tight ends in coverage remains to be seen, but I wouldn’t bet against it.

5) After watching Jerron McMillian at practice a few weeks ago, I praised the hard-hitting rookie safety. He then proceeded to struggle in the preseason opener in San Diego. But last night against Cleveland, the former Maine star looked like the player I saw earlier this month. He was a physical presence near the line of scrimmage, blowing up a pair of runs in the second quarter. That’s clearly the strength of his game right now, but he has the athletic ability to be a complete safety. It’s just going to take some time.

Bishop Won’t Be Back Anytime Soon

Posted by Michael Rodney at 1:01 pm 4 Responses »

Aug 112012

Linebacker Desmond Bishop suffered a serious hamstring injury Thursday night

Packers fans wanted to see more of D.J. Smith in 2012. Well, they’re going to get their wish – just not in the way they were hoping it would happen. According to Rob Demovsky of the Press-Gazette, inside linebacker Desmond Bishop suffered a hamstring injury on Thursday night in San Diego that could end his season.

Smith started three games in place of Bishop last December and fared well, recording 27 total tackles and an interception. However, the challenge will be even greater this time around. Opposing offensive coordinators now have film on the former Appalachian star, so they’ll be well prepared to come after him.

The first thing Smith must do as the newly installed starter at “Mack” linebacker is tackle a lot better than he did the other night. He was around the football consistently, but he missed a pair of tackles in the open field. Because he struggles at times to break down in space, that could continue to be an issue.

The other player who now figures to take on a more prominent role is Robert Francois. He goes from on the bubble to possibly on the field in some sub-packages. The former Boston College star did a decent job in coverage last season. He’s an above-average athlete who shows good zone awareness and ball reactions.

Jason Wilde of ESPN Milwaukee recently ranked Bishop as the 20th most important player for the Packers in 2012. That seemed way too low at the time. We’re about to find out just how far off Wilde was. Whether he was a little off or a lot off will depend on how well backups like Smith and Francois perform.

Smith Is The New Bishop

Posted by Michael Rodney at 10:33 am 12 Responses »

Aug 072012

Inside linebacker D.J. Smith played very well in three starts last season

Despite showing a ton of potential last season, D.J. Smith appears destined to spend another year as a backup. Hmmm, a young playmaking inside backer unable to get on the field because the coaches insist on playing veterans. If that sounds vaguely familiar, it should. The same thing happened a few years ago when Desmond Bishop sat for far too long while Nick Barnett and A.J. Hawk started ahead of him.

It took a season-ending wrist injury to Barnett in October 2010 to finally get Bishop on the field for more than a cameo appearance. He hasn’t left since. And while I would never wish a serious injury on Hawk, it appears that’s the only way Smith is going to receive the number of snaps he deserves in 2012.

Supporters of Hawk – and there aren’t many left – point to his reliability as the reason he’s still atop the depth chart. In reality, that’s a subtle dig at Smith. Sure the undersized former Appalachian State star made some mental errors last season, but those came from a lack of experience and not from a lack of intelligence. As I wrote about Bishop two and a half years ago, Smith’s mistakes will go down as his snaps go up.

I’m not sure if Smith has the same upside as Bishop, but I’m pretty sure the defense will be better this season with him in the starting lineup. The Packers needed to add more potential playmakers to the front seven in the offseason. General manager Ted Thompson did that by drafting Nick Perry, Jerel Worthy and Mike Daniels. Giving Smith the chance he deserves would be another step in the right direction.

Injury Opens The Door For Smith

Posted by Michael Rodney at 11:40 am 4 Responses »

Jul 312012

Linebacker D.J. Smith has been working with the starters since the opening of camp

If there’s any bit of good that could from Desmond Bishop injuring his right calf prior to the start of training camp, it’s that D.J. Smith will now get plenty of snaps with the starters. And if the second-year linebacker plays well enough, there’s always a chance he could stay in the lineup even after Bishop returns.

I realize that the two inside linebacker positions aren’t the same, but the idea that Smith couldn’t play A.J. Hawk’s spot is foolish. While it might take him a few weeks to get comfortable, it’s really not that big of a deal. The bigger deal will be for Smith to perform well enough to force the switch. And based on the amount of money Hawk is making and how adamantly the coaches keep defending him, that won’t be easy.

Unless Smith morphs into Patrick Willis in the next couple of weeks, the odds are he’ll remain a backup for at least another season. But he should see more snaps than he did a year ago. He has spent the first five practices of camp working as the lone linebacker in the dime package. That could continue into the season. Hawk has always been liability in coverage, and while Bishop is adequate given the right matchup, he’s a little stiff and tends to struggle to hang with quicker backs and tight ends.

Smith will also be auditioning for a starting job in 2013. Hawk is scheduled to count over $7 million against the cap next season, and unlike this season, the team would save a sizable amount of money by releasing him. But that will only happen if Smith proves capable of getting the job done. The audition starts now.

Which Soph Will Step Up For Pack?

Posted by Michael Rodney at 11:39 am 18 Responses »

Apr 092012

Smith is one of a number of young players who could step up next season

Smith is one of a number of second-year players that could step up for the Packers in 2012

A couple of things absolutely must happen if the Packers are going to improve on defense in 2012. One, general manager Ted Thompson must come up with an impact player in this month’s draft. And two, B.J. Raji and Tramon Williams must bounce back from disappointing seasons. Another thing that would really help – but isn’t as essential or as likely – is for one or two of last year’s little-used rookies to become contributors.

It’s impossible to know in early April whether the draft will produce another Clay Matthews or whether Raji and Williams will return to their 2010 form, but after re-watching all four preseason games from last season, it isn’t impossible to take a crack at predicting which second-year players might be ready to make a name for themselves. So with no further adieu, here are my top five young defenders to watch:

1) D.J. SMITH – Last year’s sixth-round pick started three games at inside linebacker and there was little, if any, dropoff at the position. The former Appalachian State star proved to be a breath of fresh air on a defensive unit that stunk to high heaven in 2011. Along with solid production (27 total tackles, 1 interception and 1 pass defensed), he brought quickness, physicality and energy to an otherwise slowish, soft and sluggish unit. Of course, Smith was far from perfect. He missed some assignments and he over pursued the ball too often. Still, he did enough good things to make many fans and members of media question why A.J. Hawk and his bloated base salary ($4.7M) are still around.

2) JAMARI LATTIMORE – Fellow rookie Vic So’oto got all the headlines last summer, but I liked Lattimore better from day one. The undrafted free agent from Middle Tennessee State was too small (6’2, 230) to be used at outside linebacker as a rookie, but he did enough good things to stick around on the 53-man roster all season. With a frame that probably won’t be able to carry more than 240 pounds, it wasn’t a shock to hear coach Mike McCarthy mention the possibility of giving Lattimore a look inside during the upcoming mini-camps and OTAs. His size wouldn’t be quite as big (pardon the pun) an issue there and he’d certainly be better in coverage than any of the returning vets.

3) LAWRENCE GUY - It’s easy to forget that last year’s second seventh-round pick is still on the team. That’s because the former Arizona State star suffered a concussion early in camp and was never heard from again. Guy looks the part of a 3-4 end, and he played like a legitimate prospect as a sophomore. He showed enough strength to hold the point against the run and enough quickness to be disruptive as a pass rusher. But he really struggled as a junior and then shocked everybody by coming out early. Because of the lack of depth at this position, he’ll be given every opportunity to make the team. Whether he’s still around in the fall will depend on which Guy shows up in the summer.

4) M.D. JENNINGS – Even diehard fans were surprised when the undrafted free agent from Arkansas State made the 53-man roster, but they shouldn’t have been. Jennings made plays on a daily basis in practice and he was always around the ball in the preseason games. He never challenged a struggling Charlie Peprah for playing time at safety because he lacked the size and strength needed to play from scrimmage at this level. The coaches would like him to report to training camp at between 195 and 200 pounds after finishing last season under 190. Jennings has a chance to overcome his lack of size and his small college background because he has very good insticts and a real feel for the game.

5) BRANDIAN ROSS - While Davon House figures to go into training camp ahead of Ross on the depth chart, I wouldn’t be shocked if the undrafted free agent from Youngstown St. outplays him – just like he did last summer. House is bigger and faster, but Ross was far more physical and competitive during padded practices and preseason games. And while the 24-year-old wasn’t ready for the big leagues as a rookie, he might be ready after spending over four months on the practice squad and participating in a full offseason of mini-camps and OTAs. In order to take the step, Ross will have to do a better job of anticipating and breaking on throws because he lacks top closing speed.

I left So’oto and House off this list because I have serious reservations about both players. So’oto is tight in his movements. He’s not fluid dropping into coverage, does not change directions smoothly and struggles to break down in space. These are major problems for an OLB in a 3-4. House may look like Al Harris, but he didn’t play like him last summer. He was too passive. He wasn’t aggressive in run support and he didn’t attack the ball in the air. That said, he does have enough physical ability to compete at this level. Whether he’s willing to pay the price remains to be seen.

McCarthy often talks about how the biggest jump a player makes is from year one to year two. Raji, tight end Jermichael Finley, guard Josh Sitton and tackle Marshall Newhouse are prime examples. But they were all draft choices. I can’t remember the last undrafted player to make such a leap. So it’s probably asking an awful lot to expect Lattimore, Jennings and/or Ross to go from rookie benchwarmer to sophomore contributor. But it can happen, and why not be positive in early April? Heck, in early April, even the Cubbies have a chance to win the World Series.

REVIEW: CARDINALS AT PACKERS

Posted by Michael Rodney at 9:31 am 43 Responses »

Aug 202011

Harrell showed poise in the pocket against the Cards

Green Bay evened its preseason record at 1-1 by beating the Cardinals 28-20 at Lambeau on Friday night. More importantly, a number of young players stepped up. Here’s a quick look at the movers and shakers from week 2:

GRAHAM HARRELL: The second-year quarterback has struggled for most of camp, but he justified coach Mike McCarthy’s faith in him on Friday night. The former Texas Tech star played with poise and even showed some zip on a few passes. Whether he has the arm strength to succeed against quality corners remains to be seen, but he probably played well enough to convince GM Ted Thompson to carry a third quarterback.

DIMITRI NANCE: The former Arizona State star ended last season on the 53-man roster, but he’s pretty much been a forgotten man this summer. That might’ve changed thanks to a solid performance on Friday night. He ran very hard and he didn’t look overmatched in protection. The Packers probably won’t keep a fourth running back, but Nance’s quality work against the Cardinals will at least give Thompson something to think about in the coming weeks.

CHASTIN WEST: The second-year receiver was impressive a year ago, but he lost out to Brett Swain. And while the former Fresno State star has distanced himself from Swain this summer, he could still wind up on the outside looking in. That’s because the five receivers ahead of him on the depth chart are guaranteed spots on the final roster. West might force Thompson to keep a sixth player at this position. If not, he could be traded. He has the ability be a No. 4 or maybe even a No. 3 for a number of teams.

RYAN TAYLOR: The rookie tight end is fighting for a roster spot at one of the deepest positions, but it’s hard to imagine him not sticking. Already a demon on special teams and a surprisingly adept receiver, he showed improvement as a blocker against the Cards. The former linebacker needs to work on his technique, but he has the size and toughness to knock defenders off the ball in the running game and at least slow down defensive ends in pass protection. It wouldn’t be a shock to see him vault up the depth chart.

T.J. LANG: Some will argue that rookie first-round pick Derek Sherrod played his way out of the competition at left guard on Friday night, but that would be extremely unfair. Lang has been solid all summer. The third-year pro from Eastern Michigan looks unsure of himself at times, but that will happen when a still young offensive lineman is forced to take snaps at as many as four different positions in practice. It’s time to let him settle in at left guard and become the player he has the potential to be.

EVAN DIETRICH-SMITH: The third-year offensive lineman will never be more than an 8th or 9th offensive lineman in the National Football League, but he’s been better than Nick McDonald all summer. While Dietrich-Smith has plenty of physical limitations, he does have the strength to slow down defensive tackles – at least a little. McDonald is more talented, but he gets pushed around by even mediocre players. One could argue that neither player is good enough to back up center Scott Wells, but after Friday night, it’s hard to argue that McDonald is more deserving of a spot on the final roster.

C.J. WILSON: The second-year defensive end left early after taking a blow to the head, but not before he left a fairly positive impression. He didn’t get blown off the line of scrimmage and he fought through heavy traffic to locate the ball. More importantly, the former East Carolina standout played with more passion than he’s shown so far this summer. Maybe he was pumped up because he was starting or maybe he finally realized that his spot on the final roster was in serious jeopardy. Whatever the reason, he finally resembled the player whom the coaches had such high hopes for at the start of camp.

JARIUS WYNN: The former Georgia star was released last summer, but he’s playing at a much higher level now. While he’s still not a consistent pass rusher – his supposed strength – he does have some potential in that area. More importantly, Wynn is at least holding his own against the run – something he was unable to do in the past. He’ll always be undersized for a 3-4 end, but he’s gained about 15 pounds and improved his technique since joining the Packers three years ago and it showed on Friday night.

D.J. SMITH: The rookie’s lack of height makes comparisons to former Pro Bowler Sam Mills inevitable, but there’s more to it than just their size. I watched Mills when he played for USFL’s Philadelphia Stars in the early 80s, and believe me when I tell you that Smith looks like an exact replica. Whether he’ll develop into a star like Mills remains to be seen, but his instincts and his explosiveness gives him a chance to be successful. He might not be ready to be the No. 3 inside linebacker, but he belongs on the final roster.

JOSH GORDY: The second-year corner was given a major opportunity on Friday night, and while he didn’t exactly cover himself in glory, he didn’t hurt his chances of making the final roster either. He needs to clean up his footwork, but he has above-average speed, fluid hips and decent instincts. That might not be enough to make him an effective starter at this level, but it should be enough to keep him around as the No. 6 cornerback. That is, of course, if Thompson decides to keep six players at that position.

Q&A: WHO’S THAT LINEBACKER?

Posted by Michael Rodney at 1:22 pm 7 Responses »

Jul 032011

Smith doesn't look like a typical NFL linebacker

The United States Postal Service doesn’t deliver on Sunday, but Packer Update now does. Send me your questions on the Packers or the NFL and I’ll answer a few of them at this time every week.

I can’t wait to see Alex Green play in the NFL. I live in Hawaii, so I followed his college career very closely. He’s going to be fun to watch. Which rookie are you most anxious to see play once training camp begins? – Jonathan

Since there were no mini-camps and OTAs this offseason, I’ll be more anxious than usual to see all the picks. But the one who probably intrigues me the most is the one who I know the least about – D.J. Smith. Nolan Nawrocki of Pro Football Weekly described him this way: “Does not look the part – lacks ideal height, has a soft midsection and 20 percent body fat.” That sounds more like my best friend than an NFL linebacker. But Nawrocki also described him as an “instinctive self-starter with a winning pedigree.” I don’t know what to think, and I guess that’s why I’m really looking forward to seeing Smith with my own two eyes.

I know it’s early to be thinking about this, but Jermichael Finley, Ryan Grant and Josh Sitton could all be free agents after the 2011 seasons. Which one will be re-signed first? – Chad

I’m not sure if it will happen during the season, but I can guarantee you that extending Sitton will be the focus of GM Ted Thompson’s attention in the coming months. Not only is he one of the best young guards in the NFL, but he’s dependable – something Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy really value in players. I don’t think there’s any hurry to extend Finley and Grant. Both players have something to prove after missing most of last season with serious injuries.

Who do you think will be the breakout player from either this year’s second-year players? – Mackie

I know this is the predictable answer, but I’ll go with Mike Neal. He’s far and away the most talented of the second-year players and he’ll be given every opportunity to replace Cullen Jenkins at right defensive end. I’m not sure if Frank Zombo is going to “breakout,” but I think he has a chance to really improve in 2011. I wasn’t a big fan of his last summer, but the more I watched him play, the more I began to appreciate the subtle things he brings to the defense.

I really enjoyed your list of the worst 20 Packers since 1978. Are you going to do a list of the best 20 Packers, and if so, which wide receiver would you rank the highest? – Phillip

I just finished my list of the top 20 Packers of the past three decades (look for it sometime in the next few weeks). This franchise has been blessed with a lot of really talented receivers since 1978. James Lofton, Sterling Sharpe, Robert Brooks, Antonio Freeman, Javon Walker, Donald Driver and Greg Jennings all played at an extremely high level – some very briefly and some for a long time. And I firmly believe Terrence Murphy would’ve been a star had he not gotten hurt. I’m not going to reveal who finished the highest, but I will tell you he played in the 80s.