Position Evaluation: Defensive Line

Under former Defensive Coordinator and Head Coach Mike McCarthy’s coaching mentor Dom Capers the defensive line was the red-headed step child of his defense. While he was officially listed as running a 3-4 scheme in practical terms he really had only two defensive linemen on the field most of the snaps.

Roster Rumblings

Looking around the roster the Packers kept three quarterbacks and I have no problem with that because we don't know how healthy Brett Hundley is and Joe Callahan earned at least a few weeks on the 53 because he was the only one who provided the "WOW" moments during the preseason.

Defense A Work In Progress

Holding the Cleveland Browns to 11 points was a bit of an illusion. Actually the Packers could have lost the game if the touchdown pass in the second quarter had counted. What I saw didn't look good as far as the starters were concerned.



Defensively it was sadly same old, same old. First: Missed tackles. Second: Busted plays resulting in long gains. Third: Being suckered into being out of position on outside containment resulting in long gains, especially the left side. Four: Only two passes defensed on 23 pass attempts. NOT GOOD.

 

Dean Lowry (#94) Has Jumped Ahead Of No. 1 Pick Kenny Clark

The defensive scheme was basically a 2-4-5 most of the game after starting the game in a 3-4-4. The official starting unit was #4 pick Dean Lowry at left end, Letroy Guion at nose tackle and Mike Daniels at right defensive tackle. I hope you notice there is no right defensive end in Dom Capers' scheme, but 2 interior linemen.

 

Post Draft Analysis

Tramon Williams May Get Cut

Unlike the uninformed musings of one NFL Network analysis Mr. Mark Dulgerian (see Lombardi's Den 168) I hope to give you some observations that are accurate and informative.

First thing I saw was a throwaway comment made about the trade the Cleveland Browns made with the Miami Dolphins for veteran cornerback Jamar Taylor.

The story said "The Browns, though, need help at the position. Pro Bowler Joe Haden is coming off an injury-plagued season and veteran Tramon Williams had his ups and downs in 2015", so maybe another former Packer may be hitting the open market soon to join wide receiver Greg Jennings, who was let go by the Dolphins on March 5th and inside linebacker A. J. Hawk, who was let go by the Bengals on April 26th.

The Rest of the Draft (B+)

Finally An Inside Linebacker - Blake Martinez

Once again General Manager Ted Thompson took my suggestion and finally drafted an inside linebacker with the first pick of round four (#133) and one that I had suggested in Blake Martinez (6-2, 237) from Stanford. (5.3)

Evidently the analyst at NFL.com thought third round pick outside linebacker Kyler Fackrell was actually an inside linebacker when they made this comment about Martinez, "In that base 3-4 defense, he has to an inside guy. So, now what do they do with Kyler Fackrell? Do they move Fackrell outside and play Martinez inside?"