Position Evaluation: Linebackers

The linebackers for the Packers are average at best. Former All-World Pass Rusher Clay Matthews is a shadow of his former self and in my opinion should be cut. He is entering the final year of a 5-year, $66,000,000 contract. He began his career with 50 sacks in his first 5 seasons earning Pro Bowl berths in his first four seasons, but missing his fifth when he fell to 7.5 sacks playing with a broken thumb.

The 1st year after the signing of the contract, which was justified at the time, Matthews spend half the season at outside linebacker and the last half at inside linebacker and rebounded with 11 sacks returning to the Pro Bowl.

In his 1st 6 seasons Matthews had 61 sacks, but the last 3 seasons have been below par. In 2015 he was named to the Pro Bowl, but that was on reputation alone because he only had 6.5 sacks. In 2016 he appeared in just 12 games with 9 starts because of hamstring and a more serious shoulder injury finishing with 5 sacks. Last season he was a situational player with 7.5 sacks sitting out half the downs and key moments in the game when he would normally be playing.

Watching him play last season was pitiful. He no longer had his burst to the quarterback and routinely missed the quarterback when he got there. It’s time to move on.

Nick Perry spent his first 4 seasons as an injury plagued player with 12.5 sacks after being drafted No. 1 in 2012 to be a pass rusher. He was re-signed two years ago to a 1-year, $5,000,000 contract when his rookie contract expired and with the writing on the wall had a career season leading the team in sacks with 11, despite missing 2 games with a left hand injury.

Then Ted Thompson in his senility re-signed him to a 5-year, $59,000,000 contract and, as I predicted, he resumed his injury-plagued ways ending up on injured reserve after 12 games and 7 sacks. It would be time to cut him also, but Ted Thompson has hamstrung the Packers with his contract. I would have traded him last summer when the interest was high, but now he is just a very expensive part-time player.

The other outside linebackers or edge rushers as they are called now are rookies or two-year players or aging veterans. 2016 No. 3 pick Kyler Fackrell played the most and he had 3 sacks and 29 tackles (22 solo), 2017 No. 4 pick Vince Biegel missed the first 7 games on the PUP list for a foot injury and finished with 0 sacks  and 16 tackles (11 solo) playing when Old Man Matthews was resting. Two-year undrafted free agent Reggie Gilbert was called up from the practice squad for the last two games and had 1 sack. The last edge rusher is two-year undrafted free agent acquired on waivers from the Falcons Chris Odom, who was active for 9 games with 0 sacks and 6 tackles (3 solo).

Gilbert is a good example of the local kiss-ass media being up Ted Thompson's ass. He played in 2 games and had 1 sack, but that didn't keep the local kiss-ass media branding him the next Clay Matthews and another great find by Ted Thompson. A bit premature at best or incompetence at worse. There is no truth to power in Wisconsin.

The other edge rusher was veteran Ahmad Brooks, who was picked up after he was cut by the 49ers. To show how desperate Ted Thompson was last year he signed Brooks despite him being a character problem following excessive personal foul penalties. He was deemed too much a pain in the ass to keep since he was already on the downside of his 12-year career. He was active in 12 games, despite concussion and back issues and finished with just 1.5 sacks. He has not been re-signed and probably won’t be.

The inside linebackers were all hat and no cattle. The starters were 2015 No. 4 pick Jake Ryan (81 tackles – 52 solo – 1 sack) and 2016 No. 4 pick Blake Martinez (144 tackles – 96 solo – 1 sack). While the tackle totals seem impressive, especially by Martinez, who was tied for the league lead with Preston Brown of the Bills and Joe Schobert of the Browns, there were O, nadda, none, zilch game-turning tackles. Most of their tackles came behind the line of scrimmage and not in the backfield or at the line. Both are lightweights and are also a liability in the passing game. The pass coverage linebacker Joe Thomas was let go and signed with the Cowboys.

The other inside linebacker was former outside linebacker Ahmad Thomas, who was an undrafted free agent by the Raiders last year Thompson picked up after he was cut. He spent the season on the practice squad.

There are no keepers in this group although Martinez may be an up-and-comer. This group requires a complete overhaul for the Packers defense to be successful. I give the linebackers a C-.