CMIII at middle linebacker

I think the merits of moving CM3 to ILB are obvious. I only wonder why they didn't try it earlier - but maybe they felt they had to wait until the bye week to allow him to prepare for it.

 

The difference in reaction speed to the plays in middle of the field was incredible. In the time it seems to take AJ Hawk to decide to start to move, CM3 was already accelerating into the ball carrier or receiver.

 

CM3 is probably one of the top 5 OLBs in football, but he's about three orders of magnitude better at ILB than anyone else the Packers can line up.

He's not going to cover effectively Darren Sproles out of the backfield, but Tramon or Shields would be challenged to doing that. How's this for a comparison.

 

Player 1: 6'4" 258 4.6 40 Yard dash at combine

Player 2: 6'3" 255 4.6 40 yard dash at combine.

 

Player 1 is a Hall of Fame MLB/ILB - Brian Urlacher

Player 2 is CM3

 

I see him as an Urlacher type. An incredible athlete with a knack for making big plays.

 

 

 

 

 

Clay's play last night did remind me of Urlacher. I hope the Packers continue using CMIII in this fashion.

MM channeling Chuckie Gruden at his presser this PM:

@jasonjwilde: McCarthy: "Clay Matthews is not an inside linebacker. He's a football player. We'll see where he plays this week."

Absolutely not,.including at the time this was initially suggested.

Clay Matthews play last night reminded me of Clay Matthews.

 

I just wonder how it all went down at 1265 Lambeau:

 

A.    Did Capers go to MM and say "I want to try Clay at ILB. I need better players at that position and I think Clay is the guy."

 

B.   Did MM go to Capers and say, "I want Clay at ILB.  We need better players at that position and Clay is the guy. Make it work!!!" 

 

C. Did TT go to MM and Capers and say, " I'm not going after another ILB.  Put Mathews in that position and let's go the Super Bowl!!" 

 

 

None of the above. They just decided to use a new wrinkle.

Pretty sure this was all Winston Moss's decision

Winston's probably in the lab scheming up ways to turn him into a sub-par ILB as we speak.

Too many cooks

Pretty sure Ron Zook wants Clay on special teams.

They worked on this wrinkle during TC. They unveiled it now after the bye.

I'm giving credit to MM.  He said he was going to get more involved on D this year.  

 

And that was exactly my point. Some here are/were wondering why the Packers didn't do this sooner? It just wasn't time. Now? It is time.

 

 

 

Andy Mulumba or whatever other stiff would have started outside over the past couple of years would not have been a good alternative to CMIII inside.  Neal and Perry were either not here yet, playing a different position or hurt constantly.  They weren't viable alternatives then.  They are now.  Then you sprinkle Julius Peppers on top of that and suddenly you have options.

 

 

There's been a veritable parade of garbage at OLB in GB for years.  None of those clods ever went anywhere or did anything.  Dezman Moses.  Zombo.  Walden.  Not one of them is worth a damn, and all of them either started or played a lot at certain times.  

All this underscores the bigger picture. PT for Jayrone Elliott. 

Elliott was active last night, Lattimore was not.  

 

 

 

Just makes sense for your best player to be in a spot where he can be involved in the most plays. Urlacher did it & had to cover even more ground being a middle LBer in a 4-3. Collingsworth had a good point about the Packers using CM like LeBeau used Polumolu with the Steelers. Put him in position to make impact plays. 

It will be interesting to see what Chip Kelly does against CM3 in the middle. That will be a good barometer of how this will work long term.

 

While dropping CM3 into coverage in the middle takes away his pass rush, I think it's going to have some direct effects on improving the safety play. CM3 is going to be able to get a lot more depth in the middle of the field than the other ILBs. It allows the safeties to stay back a little more and see the field better.

It may also result in receivers developing "alligator arms" knowing that he is roaming the middle

Don't forget my boy So'ot'tutu or whatever the **** his name is.  

One of the biggest helps for the entire defense was that they got up early and made Chicago one-dimensional.

What Herschel said. We've seen that in other games this year (Vikings, Panthers) but it's difficult to pull off in the playoffs when the other team is too good. Also, turnovers help. We didn't get those in New Orleans, and actually gave up a couple INTs....

So bench the interior DL who is playing the best right now (Guion, never thought I'd say that) and put a slimmed down Peppers back head-up on a tackle every play?

I like the nickle base they run.

 

Fresh legs

- DL rotation of 2 from Daniels, Guion, Boyd, Datone, Pennel

- LB rotation of Peppers, CM3, Hawk, Perry, Neal, Barrington. Elliott

- DBs to choose from Tramon, Shields, House, Hayward, Burnett, HaHa, Hyde, Richardson

This defense is built to protect a lead. Balanced teams kill them.

I would keep that LB/DB positioning fluid and interchangeable.  They are playing with energy and the whole defense is highly mobile.   Safety blitzes may be more of a viable option now.

Walden is starting and is playing OK with Indy.  

Walden's mediocrity changes the equation entirely.

from what I've seen of Walden in Indy, he's still an idiot.

We need fewer OK players on this defense.

Nailed it Goalline. More playmakers please!

Disagree.  I think we have been blaming talent for to long.  

We've blamed talent, coaching, scouting, GMing, weather, melatonin, cankles, facial expressions, history, lack of FA's and cheese.

 

IF there is any blame left that hasn't been assigned yet, I'm hopeful that somebody will step up and fill the gaping void

 

 

We need new owners

Thank you for stepping up, your timing is exquisite

Although the Bears were not a true test (that team has quit and it wouldn't surprise me to see them lose to the Queens this week), it's a good move. I like Clay in the middle. TEs and RBs running those short routes will (hopefully) no longer be running free like they do with Hawk, and they will fear getting hit. 

 

 

You forgot cold weather. Obviously carbon emissions are way up at 1265.