Jarius Wynn » Packer Update

Former Dolphin Could Help Packers

Posted by Michael Rodney at 10:32 am 4 Responses »

Jun 212012

Former Dolphin was signed by the Packers earlier in the offseason

The Packers quietly signed Phillip Merling a few weeks after the Dolphins released the veteran defensive end. Based on what I read out of Miami, I was expecting the former Clemson star to be a cross between Jamal Reynolds and Justin Harrell. But after watching four Dolphins games from last season, I’m feeling better about this acquisition.

Don’t get me wrong, Merling is nothing special. He started Miami’s opener at right defensive end, but after jumping offsides on his first play and falling to the ground untouched on his second, he saw only sporadic action the rest of the day. What I saw in that game, and in the other three I watched, was a decent rotational defensive lineman. Merling did an adequate job versus the run when he kept his pad level low, but for some reason he tended to rise off the snap. That’s something defensive line coach Mike Trgovac will obviously be focusing on all summer. As a pass rusher, the 27-year-old didn’t get much pressure on the quarterback, but he did work hard and at least managed to push some guards and centers around a bit.

Merling blew out his Achilles’ tendon in July 2010, so he was only 13 months removed from the injury when he lined up against the New England Patriots to open last season. Just out of curiosity, I wanted to see how he looked prior to the devastating injury. I decided to watch a few games from 2009 (thanks Game Rewind). I can’t say that Merling played all that much better, but he was definitely a half-step quicker. That enabled him to be slightly more disruptive – both against the run and the pass. To put it simply, the player I saw in ’09 was better than C.J. Wilson, Jarius Wynn, Howard Green and Mike Neal. Of course, whether Merling can ever be that player again remains to be seen.

I wish I could’ve seen Merling at last week’s minicamp. Not that how a player looks in shorts means a whole lot, but it would’ve been interesting to see what kind of shape he was in, how he was moving and how much effort he was putting forth. His work ethic – or lack thereof – was one of the reasons Miami gave up on him. If that’s still an issue, it wouldn’t surprise me to see Merling released before training camp even starts. Thompson isn’t going to waste a valuable roster spot on a lazy veteran – not when there are so many hungry young players looking to make the team.

Assuming what I saw last season is what I’ll see in training camp, I give Merling a better than 50/50 chance of making the final roster. B.J. Raji, Ryan Pickett and second-round pick Jerel Worthy are locks to be around in early September, and if healthy, so is fourth-round pick Mike Daniels. That leaves Merling to battle it out with Wilson, Wynn, Lawrence Guy, Daniel Muir and Johnny Jones for what will probably be two spots. Even if he’s no better than he was a year ago, I would give Merling the clear edge over Wynn, Muir and Jones. Wilson is a very similar player, and since he’s younger and cheaper, I think he’ll survive for another season. That means it could ultimately come down to Merling and Guy, a second-year player from Arizona State who missed his entire rookie season with a concussion.

Here’s what one scout service said about Merling four years ago: “Compares to Justin Tuck of the Giants. Both defensive ends will make a nice living coming off the edge. They have impressive size, though Merling is best playing on the move to utilize a sudden initial step to slip past blocks. He is not a good stack-and-control type and must do a better job of protecting himself from low blocks, but he is quick to provide outside run containment and shows a quick swim-and-spin move that generally gets him into the backfield to pressure the pocket. He won’t read and react in an instant, but has closing speed to seal the deal, even in long pursuit, once he locates the ball. He has to improve his lower-body strength, but there is enough athletic ability there to get by as his body continues to mature.”

From being compared to one of the league’s premier all-around defensive linemen to having to battle the likes of Wilson, Wynn and Guy for a roster spot, life in the pros hasn’t been kind to Merling. That said, he still has enough left in the tank to extend his career. If he’s willing to work hard – something he was criticized for not always doing in Miami – there’s a chance this below-the-radar signing in the winter will pay dividends for the Packers in the fall. That’s more than I ever expected prior to turning on my computer and watching a half-dozen Dolphins games last week.

D-line Still Comes Up Short In Base

Posted by Michael Rodney at 7:41 am 18 Responses »

May 102012

Rookie Worthy is another undersized defensive end

Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Anthony Hargrove for 8 games last week for his part in the Saints bounty scandal, and just like that the Packers are in danger of lacking sufficient depth on the defensive line for the second year in a row. As of now, Ryan Pickett, B.J. Raji and second-round pick Jerel Worthy figure to be the starters when the season opens in September, with C.J. Wilson, Jarius Wynn, Daniel Muir, Lawrence Guy, Johnny Jones and fourth-round pick Mike Daniels fighting for backup spots.

That’s not exactly a plethora of talent. So unless one or two of the young returnees make great strides in the next few months, general manager Ted Thompson would be wise to get on the phone and see if he can procure a proven veteran to, at the very least, help out until either Mike Neal returns from his own suspension (for PEDs) in week 5 or until Hargrove re-emerges sometime in November. If not, we could be in store for more Wynn and Wilson in 2012.

Besides a lack of depth, there’s one other thing that sticks out about the current group of defensive linemen. Besides Guy and Jones – neither of whom was on the active roster for a single game in 2011 – there’s not a legitimate 3-4 end to be found. In fact, the last legitimate 3-4 end to play for the Packers was Johnny Jolly. The former Texas A&M star and current inmate had the prototypical size (6’4, 325) and power to do what 3-4 ends are supposed to do – stuff the run and disrupt passing lanes. Remember how tough it was to move the ball on the ground against the defense in ’09? Remember how many balls were batted down at the line of scrimmage? A lot of that was due to Jolly’s presence.

Raji and Worthy would make a great 1-2 punch at tackle in a 4-3, but I don’t love either one at end in a 3-4. Raji’s best season as a pro came in 2010, which was not coincidentally the one season he played nose tackle. The further he gets away from the football, the less effective he becomes. As for Worthy, his struggles with double teams and penchant for wearing down will only be exacerbated at end. Wilson, Wynn and Daniels are also better suited to play tackle in a 4-3.

Thompson could’ve added a more prototypical 3-4 end in round two, but he chose Worthy over Devon Still, the former Penn State standout who stands nearly three inches taller and played the run far more consistently in college. But Still isn’t much of a pass rusher, and after watching Wynn, Wilson, an overused Raji and an injured Neal feebly attempt to rush the QB in 2011, it’s obvious Thompson’s No. 1 priority this offseason was to add players who could create pressure in obvious passing situations. Worthy and Daniels should be able to do just that. Thompson couldn’t solve all the problems on defense in one offseason. Ideally, he’ll be able to beef up the base with the 32nd pick next April.

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.

NEAL’S STATUS STILL UNCERTAIN

Posted by Michael Rodney at 10:46 am 2 Responses »

Aug 192011

Starting defensive end is day-to-day with a knee injury

Less than 24 hours after it appeared Mike Neal walked away from a potentially serious knee injury unscathed, the news turned a bit more ominous on Thursday. While coach Mike McCarthy continued to say the second-year defensive end is day-to-day, he also admitted that Neal underwent an MRI and he changed the description of the injury from a “torque” to a “sprain.” But what concerned me most was this quote from Mike Trgovac. “Right now, no one knows what’s going to happen with Mike,” the veteran defensive line coach told Bob McGinn of the Journal Sentinel. “C.J.’s mentality has to be that I’m going to be the player there. And Jarius, too.” That doesn’t sound like somebody who’s been informed that one of his most important players will be returning to the lineup any time soon.

Fortunately, Neal’s injury doesn’t appear to be overly serious, but if it was, how would the Packers have replaced him? Barring a trade and/or a free agent signing, Howard Green and C.J. Wilson would’ve picked up the slack at end and either Wilson or Jarius Wynn would’ve gotten more snaps next to B.J. Raji in the nickel. That might not be ideal, but it was good enough late last season. Remember, coordinator Dom Capers leaned on Green, Wilson and Wynn while Cullen Jenkins sat out the final four games. The defense managed to hold its last four opponents to a combined 58 points.

Capers kept things together by getting the absolute most out of Green, Wilson and Wynn and by devising schemes that made up for the lack of an effective second interior pass rusher. By blitzing his corners and inside linebackers more, Capers was able to apply just enough pressure to keep opposing quarterbacks uncomfortable. Of course, it didn’t hurt that Erik Walden picked one of those games to become Charles Haley reincarnate. But that’s the beauty of this defense. While there’s obviously plenty of talent – three players went to the Pro Bowl and a fourth should’ve gone – it’s the scheme that allows marginal players like Green, Wilson, Wynn, Walden, Frank Zombo and Charlie Peprah to step in and contribute right away.

So would the defense miss Neal? Of course, but things would be OK. How do I know? Just watch the second half of the Super Bowl. The Packers held off the Steelers with a guy picked up off the waiver wire (Green), a guy signed for $5,000 as an undrafted free agent (Zombo), a guy who wasn’t good enough to beat out Atari Bigby and Derrick Martin in 2009 (Peprah) and two guys who couldn’t cover a wide receiver with a tarp (Jarrett Bush and Pat Lee) playing prominent roles on the biggest stage in the world. After that, are you really going to worry about having to replace one still unproven defensive end?

LOCKOUT WILL BENEFIT FRINGE VETS

Posted by Michael Rodney at 4:17 pm 3 Responses »

Jun 272011

Dietrich-Smith's experience should help him this summer

Dietrich-Smith's experience should help him compete for a backup job this summer

The National Football Post’s Matt Bowen wrote a very interesting article last week on the impact the lockout is likely to have on this year’s rookie class. “Positions the lockout is going to impact,” opined the former Packer. “Pretty much the entire class, outside of maybe the defensive lineman that can get into a rotation on game days and the late round guys that cover kicks. But QBs, WRs, O-Lineman, DBs, etc? Positions that you can’t just walk into as rookies as see immediate results. Those jobs take time with an offseason intact to learn the system, practice your footwork and start to develop as a pro.”

If Bowen is correct, offensive lineman Derek Sherrod, wide receiver Randall Cobb, halfback Alex Green, corner Davon House and tight end D.J. Williams – all projected as potential contributors from scrimmage a few months ago – will probably see the vast majority of their snaps on special teams in 2011. And even if that proves to be the case, the Super Bowl champs should be just fine. The Packers were one of the deepest teams in the league last season, and that was with 15 players on IR. The return of running back Ryan Grant, tight end Jermichael Finley, linebackers Nick Barnett and Brandon Chillar and safety Morgan Burnett will more than offset the potential lack of contributions from the rookie class.

By the way, if you’re wondering who has benefited the most from the lockout, look no further than some of the fringe veterans that populate every team’s roster. With fewer rookies likely to make an impact in 2011, players such as running back Dimitri Nance, fullback Quinn Johnson, tight end Spencer Havner, wide receiver Brett Swain, offensive lineman Evan Dietrich-Smith, defensive end Jarius Wynn, linebackers Robert Francois and Diyral Briggs and corner Brandon Underwood suddenly have at least a fighting chance to survive.

Dietrich-Smith is a perfect example. He had virtually no chance of sticking on the 53-man roster after Sherrod and Caleb Schlauderaff were drafted in April, but now things don’t look quite as bleak for the three-year veteran from Idaho State. With no offseason and a potentially truncated training camp, it’s safe to assume Sherrod won’t be taking any snaps inside. As for Schlauderaff, he has better size and more talent than Dietrich-Smith, but he’ll almost certainly need time to adjust to the speed of the pro game after spending his college career in the MWC. That means he could be this year’s Breno. In the meantime, the Packers will need to find somebody who can step in and play at guard or center. And while Dietrich-Smith won’t be the first choice of the coaches when training camp eventually opens, he won’t be quite the afterthought he might’ve been under normal conditions.