Well he did't excel at much last season, especially rushing the passer ... and it wasn't because he was in coverage too much, since he actually dropped into coverage more the previous season than he did last year when he had a much better season. He came into camp fat and lazy last season, all indications are that is not the case this season so we should expect some improvement.
It was because it was an even numbered season. He's going to kick ass in this odd numbered season.
Correlation does not equal causation. I suspect Gary gets more snaps, as he should, this year than P.
Agree, Gary should see at least the same number of snaps as Preston. But I think we will see the 2019 version of Smith this year. Not so much because of the even/odd year thing but the change in defensive philosophy and the apparent rededication to training that Smith took this year.
I was listening to Barry at his presser and one thing he said is super important to him: Instincts at ILB. He said either you got 'em or you don't.
The coaches can help, the player can study and get better athletically - but instincts are an innate aptitude and that impacts who stays/goes at ILB.
I don't know how you measure or assess ILB instincts accurately, but there are always comments from scouts/GMs covering this aspect during draft
I can get behind that comment. I'll take a guy that may not be ideal size or athleticism but heady. But it only goes so far. See Ty Summers. If he could not get pinballed he'd be the kind of guy you'd like to see at ILB.
@BrainDed posted:Correlation does not equal causation. I suspect Gary gets more snaps, as he should, this year than P.
They keep touting how P is good in coverage, which I'm still trying to figure out. He slimmed down so maybe we see more packages of Gary/P at OLB with Z on the line.
Heard some noise that Slaton could be a day one contributor. I think expectations need to be tempered on Slaton but that would make for an interesting mix of lineup options.
Preston's coverage job is to be tall, drop to his flat/hook zone and use his long arms to make the QB choose another option. He can't run with RBs and change directions like a smaller dude can.
The problem came from the fact that GB didn't have a better option at ILB to handle that job, so they went with Preston and 6 DBs. It wasn't Pettine's preferred choice, its what the roster dictated.
Barry now has Campbell and Barnes, so we'll see more of the traditional 4-2-5 alignment and less dime. That means less coverage responsibilities for the OLBs and they can focus a little more on their forward attack.
Offenses will always test your defenses' rules: "if we do this, they do that" in an attempt to get favorable match-ups. Having 2 ILBs on the field helps GB avoid some ( not all) of those mismatches on the LB level. Barry has been an ILB guru for much of his career, so he does have the chops to improve that position and it should bear fruit in 2021.
Barnes isn't much of a cover LB. Kirksey and now Campbell are supposed to fill the skillset that Burks was supposed to bring. I'm sure we'll see the early season Burks appearances until he's benched again. I just wonder why Campbell has been a journeyman LB at this point. Everything about him sounds solid. Admittedly it's not like I've seen him in action either.
I'm hoping Barry can squeeze something out of that group but the bar is rock bottom low and that is a bottom of the barrel group.
Shit, will they plug in P at ILB on certain downs with Gary and Z outside? Interesting thought.
I found this article interesting. It covers what Barry intends to do on defense. https://theleap.substack.com/p...&utm_source=copy
@Henry posted:I can get behind that comment. I'll take a guy that may not be ideal size or athleticism but heady. But it only goes so far. See Ty Summers. If he could not get pinballed he'd be the kind of guy you'd like to see at ILB.
Summers has awful instincts. Bad example.
@PackerHawk posted:Core ST guy.
*Ducking poop flung by Hank*
And what has Summers actually done there except consume a lot of snaps.
@Goalline posted:Summers has awful instincts. Bad example.
This is me being "positive" about the FO complete and utter fucking failure to address the middle of the defense. If you have shit, you paint with shit.
Of course he fucking sucks. You're the delusional one thinking every turd is a diamond on this team.
Ty Summers sucks? You don’t say.
He better be a special teams demon because we’ve seen his body of work at ILB and it ain’t pretty.
ya see, this is why i don't trust beagles
@PackerPatrick posted:I found this article interesting. It covers what Barry intends to do on defense. https://theleap.substack.com/p...&utm_source=copy
Even more important than ever that Clark stays healthy ....look no further than when Donald was hurt vs. us in playoffs. We totally destroyed them by playing 2 RBs, motioning one out, which took a LBer with him & left them with 5 defenders vs 5 blockers. With no one commanding a double-team we ran all over them. Clark is the only guy we have that demands he be doubled.
I saw interview with Za'Darius talking about how Tom Brady "stole" Super Bowl from Packers because he knew the defensive plays pre-snap, ie Pettine was predictable. I remember last year hearing reports of some vets coming to Pettine saying the same (after beating Vikes on opening day?).
If Barry is better able to disguise fronts and bring more pressure while covering all gaps we are on right path to a dominant D.
@Henry posted:This is me being "positive" about the FO complete and utter fucking failure to address the middle of the defense. If you have shit, you paint with shit.
Of course he fucking sucks. You're the delusional one thinking every turd is a diamond on this team.
Channeling your inner Iowacheese and referring to me as a cheerleader right after I criticized a manegerial decision?😂
Every damn player who get his ass kicked says shit like this ....Tom Brady threw three interceptions, we didn't lose because he "stole" the play calls ... we lost because King , Sullivan, and both Smith's got their asses beat.
...and what did Packers O do with those INTS? Aww never mind.
How is the weather FLPacker?
@YATittle posted:And what has Summers actually done there except consume a lot of snaps.
He's great at bringing down a returner after 2 or 3 guys have slowed him down with missed tackles. There's some real value in that. You know, when your gunners suck.
@Thunderbird posted:ya see, this is why i don't trust beagles
@FLPACKER posted:Every damn player who get his ass kicked says shit like this ....Tom Brady threw three interceptions, we didn't lose because he "stole" the play calls ... we lost because King , Sullivan, and both Smith's got their asses beat.
Rodgers played his part.
@PackerHawk posted:Good bubble. Smooth skin.
Great tits, too!
@GBFanForLife posted:Rodgers played his part.
I'll take a 101 QB rating vs. that defense any day ... the same defense Mahones had a QBR of 52 vs in the SB.
@FLPACKER posted:I'll take a 101 QB rating vs. that defense any day ... the same defense Mahones had a QBR of 52 vs in the SB.
Very good rating, just needed more when we needed more.
I agree, but many others lost individual match ups that hurt us much worse than AR not playing better. On offense alone we had 5 players notch their worst rating score of the entire season in that one game (Jones, Jenkins, Patrick, Wagner, & Turner)....that is a lot to make up for. I know that when you are the MVP you are supposed to make up for it, but just two weeks later Mahones didn't come anywhere near as close as AR did making up for the same problems his teammates had vs. TB's defense.
@PackLandVA posted:Great tits, too!
I don't want to know about your Andre Whitworth pinup collection.
