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.

Non-Lacy News

Aaron Rodgers Taking The Preseason Off

 

Aaron Rodgers With His New In-Game Duties - Sideline Entertainer

It's official or about as official as things get when you considering pronouncements or non-pronouncements coming from 1265 Lombardi Avenue Aaron Rodgers will not play against the Raiders tonight and will not play against the Chiefs in the final preseason game.

 

How much he plays against the 49ers in the third preseason game is still up for grabs. It shows what the Packers brain trust thinks about my suggestions since I feel Rodgers should be playing in every game to get his timing down. I guess Mike McCarthy is right (30 seconds later), but I'm really right.

 

According to Rodgers it has nothing to do with preparation or timing or his natural All-World ability to play without practice (even though every year prior to this one Rodgers has always said he wanted as much reps as possible.

 

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.

 

Belichick is alive and well on Day 2 of the Packers Training Camp

A Packed Stands Watches Packers Stretch

Evidently the only people covering the Packers training camp are Packers News and the Milwaukee Journal. Those two outlets seem to be the only ones to get Packernet and you have to pay Packers News to read their dispatches and the JSonline isn't what it used to be.

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 Pick Is In And The Reaction Is Mixed

The New Man On Defense Kenny Clark from UCLA

General Manager Ted Thompson was in the cat bird seat when pick 27 rolled around and he had some big names and some cheaper names to choose from and true to form he chose cheap.

The big names that made the same slide Aaron Rodgers did in Thompson's first draft at a position that I consider the most important to fill were outside linebacker Myles Jack, inside linebacker Jaylon Smith and inside linebacker Reggie Ragland.

Thompson and I truly mean Thompson, because he made the pick and nobody else, especially the scouts, picked a 6-3, 314 defensive tackle from UCLA Kenny Clark. Many felt linebacker and defensive line were the top two need areas and Thompson evidently thought so too, even though the smoke coming from Lyin' Ted was wide receiver, tight end and running back.