The coaching staff deserves a ton of credit for not only determining Neal would be better suited at OLB, but coaching him through the difficult process. Taking a NFL DL and turning him into an OLB isn't an easy process. Outstanding foresight by the staff and determination by Neal himself.
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I'm guessing Henry is going to disagree with you on this.
Ya think?
Super thread, Pakrz.
Neal and Kevin Green. UNBELIEVABLE transition!!!!!!!
Hip hip hooooray!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Call me when he does it for more than one game and I'll be happy for the guy. He's always been "small" for a 3-4 DL so it only seemed natural they'd try him at OLB.
There's actually nothing natural about it. The transition is remarkable.
You mean guys who have trouble staying healthy while trying to maintain an unnaturally high weight should just remain where they are because that's the position he's "always" played?
The knock on Neal by the personel people McGinn often quotes is that he's a 'small man trying to play as a big one'. It's great to see them (I'm guessing Neal was also part of this) come to grips with him not having the natural build to stay on the line. Hopefully this will help him stay healthier. It's great to see the progress he's made and here's hoping he keeps it up.
Taking a NFL DL DE and turning him into an OLB isn't an easy process.
Calling Nick Perry. Time to start showin out.
TT may want to start thinking about locking up Neal for the next three to five years now...
Ya think?
Not really, unless he is just being a contrarian for the hell of it.
CASUAL!
I am just super satisfied Neal went from an always injured player to a some time significant contributor.
Fantastic to see.
"Call me when he does it for more than one game and I'll be happy for the guy."
What is your number? Guy has been playing well all year. Hasn't translated into stats until yesterday, but he was playing well IMO.
What is your number?
You can probably find it in here.
There's actually nothing natural about it. The transition is remarkable.
After reading that article, I am hopeful much of Neal's injuries were due to playing the wrong position. It reads like his natural weight is subpar for an interior DL and ideal for an LB. I really wonder if his natural frame was out of place for interior DL.
I think there's a lot of NFL players, especially lineman on both sides of the ball, that struggle to keep their weight up to play a certain position. 300 lbs for most people isn't "natural."
Here's a current picture of Jeff Saturday. His playing weight was 295 lbs. He is down in the 230's six month after leaving the game.
Ya think?
Not really, unless he is just being a contrarian for the hell of it.
Considering I already sung the praises of Greene and his recommendation of converting Neal two years ago in a post over two weeks ago.
I liked the idea of converting Neal in the preseason but had questions about taking a 300 pound guy and making him effective in coverage and having the speed to rush from the outside.
They have been using him flawlessly and he's getting better by the week.
Outside of Campen this is a good coaching staff.
Rookie LT. UDFA RT. UDFA C. Flipped the Gs... in the Packers first 4 games they've faced arguably 3 of the top tier DLs and put up great offensive stats: 3rd overall; 4th passing; 5th rushing. All this and the OL coach still sucks.
Makes sense.
Rookie LT. UDFA RT. UDFA C. Flipped the Gs... in the Packers first 4 games they've faced arguably 3 of the top tier DLs and put up great offensive stats: 3rd overall; 4th passing; 5th rushing. All this and the OL coach still sucks.
So you think he is a excellent coach?
perhaps Campen resides someplace between Excellent and Sucks
I don't think he sucks.
Beightol was excellent. Gibbs was excellent. Campen gets a lot of sh!t for players not executing. Same as Capers... For all the accolades McCarthy gets from the fans many must think he's an idiot for keeping the suckiest suck of an OL coach that ever sucked in Campen.
To me it is too convenient when something doesn't go well to isolate one player or coach when football is the ultimate team game. Certainly there are individual missed assignments and we all see those, but when an offense is as productive as GB's is, can't do that with poor coaching, especially up front. Games are won or lost on the lines.
Coaches coach and players play.
And Campen does nothing to polish up the skills of the players TT drafts. I've said it over and over again, TT drafts 4 year players at the position after watching the great TE conversion in the ZBS fail miserably. Campen is neutral and does nothing to actually enhance players on the next level. He's a gym coach, a workout tender, he is a cog and you bet your ass I fault MM for holding onto a sub average coach. Ego, comfort, whatever it is, Campen is a free rider.
Everybody has their Brownie, Campen is MM's.
Since you girls seem to get all worked up about it, let's face facts. This oline as a whole is average to good. None of them, outside of Sitton and he has his down games, are pro bowlers and need to play successfully as a unit. That is why a weak link like Big Ern can't be afforded but he defaulted into the position. Campen isn't taking guys that come in as rookies and show good stuff and polishing them up to a higher level. You might as well look at draft scouting reports to see what you're going to get with the players on the oline.
Sitton, Lang, Bak, Barclay: All four years starters in college on the oline.
Let's not forget the guys like Rodgers, Lacy, Cobb, Jones, Finley that are actually putting up the numbers. Let's also not forget about "quick release" and the previously discussed issues of grinding out tough yards.
perhaps Campen resides someplace between Excellent and Sucks
Milquetoast.
Is food all you think about?
Lang is playing at a Pro Bowl level. He's neutralized two of the best DT's out there in the last two games.
Remember how almost all of us, including me, used to dump all over Slo-dum? He was a young coach who got better at his job. It's not out of line to think that Campen is doing the same thing. Is this a great or dominant OL? Of course not, and no one is saying that. They have played pretty well of late, though, and that can't be denied. I think average is probably a pretty good way to look at him.
Then you look at what Greene is doing with Neal and now perhaps with Perry showing life and you see an example of what could be an exceptional position coach.
"Call me when he does it for more than one game and I'll be happy for the guy."
What is your number? Guy has been playing well all year. Hasn't translated into stats until yesterday, but he was playing well IMO.
Probably three good games in relatively close succession and getting through a season without missing games. Sunday was very nice to see but he's teased us a bit in the past already.
Slocum still makes dum faces
Found on the internet: "The one thing that was noticeable about Perry's performance was that he seemed more comfortable rushing from the right side than from the one he usually plays. Perry played the right side in college and it might just seem more natural to him."
Ever since the Packers drafted Perry, I wondered why they switched Mathews to the right side (which he did not play early in his career) and Perry to the left side (which he did not play in college). Made no sense to me at all. Would love to know the reason for that, but I never read or heard anything.
When Perry was on the right on Sunday, he was a different player. No comparison to the Perry that has played the left side for the Packers this year and last.
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Because Perry is bigger and the defensive left/offensive right is the "Power" side while D-Right/O-Left is the "Blind"/"Weak" side. Look at the OTs.
they moved Clay to the right side so he would be coming from the blindside.
Sitton, Lang, Bak, Barclay: All four years starters in college on the oline.
Bahktiari redshirted and played 3 years. 
Lang started out on the DL at E. Michigan before making the switch after his freshman season and started 3 years @ T.
Barclay redshirted and played 3 years.
Sitton started 43 of 50 games played.
The one OL you didn't mention - EDS - has the most starts ever for the U of Idaho OL. Started at all 5 OL positions at one point or another in his career.
And Campen does nothing to polish up the skills of the players TT drafts. I've said it over and over again, TT drafts 4 year players at the position after watching the great TE conversion in the ZBS fail miserably. Campen is neutral and does nothing to actually enhance players on the next level. He's a gym coach, a workout tender, he is a cog and you bet your ass I fault MM for holding onto a sub average coach. Ego, comfort, whatever it is, Campen is a free rider.
Everybody has their Brownie, Campen is MM's.
Since you girls seem to get all worked up about it, let's face facts. This oline as a whole is average to good. None of them, outside of Sitton and he has his down games, are pro bowlers and need to play successfully as a unit. That is why a weak link like Big Ern can't be afforded but he defaulted into the position. Campen isn't taking guys that come in as rookies and show good stuff and polishing them up to a higher level. You might as well look at draft scouting reports to see what you're going to get with the players on the oline.
Sitton, Lang, Bak, Barclay: All four years starters in college on the oline.
Let's not forget the guys like Rodgers, Lacy, Cobb, Jones, Finley that are actually putting up the numbers. Let's also not forget about "quick release" and the previously discussed issues of grinding out tough yards.
You tend to present your opinion on Campen and certain players as absolute fact. How do you know about his coaching style or that he does nothing to enhance players at the next level? How much time have you spent at training camp observing his technique? I can tell you that I certainly have no clue how good or bad of a coach he really is. I've seen one camp practice in my life and wasn't paying attention to him.
One could make a strong argument that Campen has done a tremendous job given the players presented to him by TT as H5 stated. We're not talking about a group of blue chip draft picks here.
For the record:
Barclay was a 3-year starter
Lang played defensive line his freshman year and then moved to the other side
Bakhtiari redshirted his freshman year and entered the draft after his junior year
Sitton had four starts his freshman year
My take is Campen and Big Ern are two peas on a pod. I'm sure they have the best intentions, etc. but they just don't develop. 4 years plus and they are the same player/coach and they are maxing out at "adequate".
I fully support the idea of developing your coaching as much as you develop players but there has to be a point to cut bait.
Compare him to guys like Perry, Greene, Whitt, etc., there is no comparison.
weak sauce
strawman
jumped the rubicon
You forgot pickled herring
I'm mixed on Campen these days. The line has been pretty good this year, but 4 games of good play doesn't negate 3 full seasons of junk. Could be he just needed time, like Slodum, or could be he was working with trash.
I don't think trash is the the answer because talent wise I think we are equal to last years line.. Bhak is upgrade over Newhouse.. Barclay is downgrade from Bulaga. So what is the difference? In my opinion, it's the improvement of Lang and even EDS. (Not saying he is an above avg center, just improved)
Don't be scrrrrrrrred to give props to EDS. He's been playing well... no disclaimer needed.
He had a great game yesterday..
I will watch the replay, but there sure was lot's of room between the tackles. In fact, makes me a little unimpressed with Lacy.. I though he could have done more with those holes.
Beyond coaching, I gotta give props to Neal for hanging in there, staying healthy last season and just getting beyond the "he's Jamal Reynolds/Justin Harrell all over again" mantra.
He got healthy, stayed quiet and did everything the coaches asked of him. Can't ask for much more then that.
