I have been waiting for LVN to get more snaps! He could be the most effective in the early stages before SF is used to his speed. On the other hand, if he has to pick up most of Engabare's snaps, LVN could wear down pretty quickly. Either way, this is setting up to be a really good chess match between GB and SF.
What does @BBulaga expect from Lukas Van Ness in Year 2 in the #Packers defense? #GoPackGo
— The Homer Hour (@TheHomerHour) July 9, 2024
ICYMI: https://t.co/gRm5vYP9Bg@ESPNMilwaukee @ESPNbd pic.twitter.com/Tte34zZvKh
🧀 Lukas Van Ness is right on schedule pic.twitter.com/Zk8bDeVgJJ
— Pack-A-Day (@PackADayPodcast) July 9, 2024
Luke Ness Monster sightings will be up this year.
@Packiderm posted:He ran down Fields like he was Jay Cutler!
Rong! I’ve never seen Jay Quitler run nearly as fast as Van Ness 🤣
The 13th overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft is on pace for exactly 3 sacks in 2024, despite the fact that the team is desperate for anybody to step up and rush the passer.
Did anyone see LVN get near Stafford despite getting 42 snaps yesterday? Anyone?
And I'm pretty sure after yesterday's contest that 2023 6th round pick Karl Brooks (a backup DT) has more sacks over the past 1.25 seasons (5.5 to 5) and more sacks in 2024 (1.5 to 1) than last year's prized pick. (Probably also worth noting that the player the Jets took 2 picks after LVN was chosen -- after the teams swapped selections, Will McDonald, has 5 sacks so far in 2024).
I like that LVN hustles and his effort never seems to wane. However, I don't know that there is any other aspect to his game that looks to be even above average let alone elite at this point.
Hope I'm wrong and that LVN busts out beginning next Sunday against Arizona because the Pack sure could use someone to step up as a pass rusher, but so far LVN sure looks like so many other recent Packer high defensive draft picks, much better on paper than on the football field.
Stop drafting underware champs and start drafting football players.
Recent high round picks that were freak athletes more than football players. LVN, Watson, Walker, Gary.
@BrainDed posted:Stop drafting underware champs and start drafting football players.
Recent high round picks that were freak athletes more than football players. LVN, Watson, Walker, Gary.
Savage probably fits on that list as well.
LVN gets shoved 5 yards behind the pocket on almost every pass rush.
Gary tries to go low and around the outside of the OT on almost every rush (he did get held on the last drive with a no-call)
Good athletes, one-trick ponies.
I think they might also have been picked for the 3-4 and not the 4-3 that's primarily run now. Gary and LVN are more speed guys than strength guys, and they just don't look quite right for the roles they're in now. If Hafley sticks around, it will be interesting to see who Gute drafts to address more 4-3 needs.
Meh.. His job on 3rd n long hasn't changed. Beat the RT. He ain't getting it done.
Actually Gary is more strength than speed. He doesn't have the feet for speed and his one marquis move is the bull rush. Problem is he's now too light, doesn't have the mass behind him to maximize the force of his strength.
@DH13 posted:Actually Gary is more strength than speed. He doesn't have the feet for speed and his one marquis move is the bull rush. Problem is he's now too light, doesn't have the mass behind him to maximize the force of his strength.
He didn't put up any big stats in college either. And he was surrounded by other good players at Michigan so it's not like he was constantly double or triple teamed.
Like others said earlier, Gutey loves to draft guys that look like they should be superstars based on measurables but end up as JAG types. I'm sure someone has gone back and correlated with pass rush ability in college correlates with sacks at the NFL level. I would bet it does to some extent.
What the Packers defense lacks are Chris Borland types (who was a very good NFL player in his short time before retiring and one of the best college defensive LBs I've seen). He was always around the ball, caused and recovered fumbles, and just played better than you would his athleticism should allow. McKinney is that type
@MichiganPacker2 posted:He didn't put up any big stats in college either. And he was surrounded by other good players at Michigan so it's not like he was constantly double or triple teamed.
We've all seen him wreck games at OLB. He's not without talent or ability. I wonder how much that injury took away from him.
@MichiganPacker2 posted:He didn't put up any big stats in college either. And he was surrounded by other good players at Michigan so it's not like he was constantly double or triple teamed.
Like others said earlier, Gutey loves to draft guys that look like they should be superstars based on measurables but end up as JAG types. I'm sure someone has gone back and correlated with pass rush ability in college correlates with sacks at the NFL level. I would bet it does to some extent.
What the Packers defense lacks are Chris Borland types (who was a very good NFL player in his short time before retiring and one of the best college defensive LBs I've seen). He was always around the ball, caused and recovered fumbles, and just played better than you would his athleticism should allow. McKinney is that type
It is funny that on 2 of his INT returns so far this season, the one against the Eagles in game 1 and yesterday, McKinney has looked a little slow and got caught from behind.
I found myself reflecting on how Savage returned INTs for TDs against the Queens at Lambeau a couple of yeas ago and against the Boys in the playoffs in January - glorious plays against my 2 least favorite opponents.
Then I remembered that Savage rarely actually intercepted passes (9 over his 5 seasons and just 3 in his final 3 seasons in GB) and smiled knowing that we have the "lesser" athlete playing Safety now in GB in Xavier McKinney.
I'm leaning more and more into the idea that Gute's emphasis on workout warriors like Gary, Savage, Quay, LVN, etc. as opposed to productive players on the field is a big part of the problem on defense.
Athleticism isn't just about speed. McKinney's only knock may be his speed where Savage's best trait was his speed. Doesn't make X any less athletic.
Savage has/had 4.3 speed. That's why he pick 6'd Cowboys/Vikings. He dropped a few INTs too like vs Niners in January.
I'll take McKinney 100/100 times in any scenario over Savage
There has to be a balance between underwear guys developing into their potential and football players' players. Guys who have the instincts for the game can be great, but they still might not have the physical tools (speed, primarily) to match up with the underwear guys. Too much one or the other and you'll still get beat.
The best GMs find the balance, and are especially keen on finding underwear guys who can be coached up.
I don’t see how everyone isn’t on board with giving up on this guy after 20 games. Two years of college and 1+ year in the pros should definitely be enough time to realize 23 year old has damn near maxed his potential.
In this world that requires instant gratification, it's only natural that we want to see All Pro play immediately.
But the norm seems to be a 3 year development track in Green Bay, at least in recent years. At least we can hope his best is yet to come.
But the boy needs better coaching, or he needs to take to it better. His technique seems as out of control as it was last year. His first step looks plenty fast, but there's no sense in that turning into running out of/past the play.
I believe the Packers thought they were getting a younger, less polished version of Hutchinson when they drafted LVN. He's obviously nowhere close to that level right now.
I watched him a lot at Iowa and he was a really good player but I was surprised when the Pack drafted him at #13 and thought it was too high. With his youth and athleticism I'm hoping he gets things figured out but I expected more at this point of his second year.
Right now, he looks a lot like a one-trick pony: run toward the QB and get picked off easily on the way. There's no deception, no shoulder fake or dip, no rip, no swim move, not even locking up and bull-rushing a guy... he's just running and hoping they forget to block him or the OL looks the wrong way or falls down. He looks like he hasn't developed at all.
I also had higher expectations for his development which is not trending up. If anything he's treading water or regressing.
I'm only here for I C explanation for his play.
In the first game after Preston Smith was dealt to Pittsburgh, Kingsley Enagbare started and played the second most snaps.
In addition, Brenton Cox, who had 4 snaps on the season coming into the game, played just 2 fewer snaps than last season's #1 pick Lukas Van Ness.
Either the new defensive staff has not yet figured out how to utilize LVN or, having seen him up close and personal, they are not exactly enamored with what they have seen from him.
Snaps at Edge
Gary 46
Enagbare 41
Van Ness 24
Cox 22
Mosby 10
Both first-rounders from 2022 and 2023 are trending in the wrong direction.
He was originally selected to be an OLB in a 34. I don't know enough about him to say whether he is not a good fit as a DE in a 43.