@BrainDed posted:We all could see that.. So why move up to draft Love then?
They had him rated really, really, high?
From today's Press-Gazette:
Rashan Gary might be forcing his way onto the field.
Halfway through his second NFL season, the No. 12 overall pick from the 2019 draft is starting to translate potential into solid play for the Green Bay Packers’ defense.
That was evident in the Packers’ drab 24-20 defeat of the one-win Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. The Packers were unimpressive in the win, but Gary’s play deserved some notice.
His pass-rush skills have grown since his rookie season and he has shown the kind of hustle that has to thrill defensive coordinator Mike Pettine. Gary played well enough against the Jaguars that Pettine should feel comfortable with Gary taking more snaps off Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith without feeling like it’s hurting the Packers'’ defense.
Found on the internet: Gary had several empty rushes early while trying to use speed and bend around the corner. Once he started using power against right tackle Juwan Taylor, he dominated. Gary isn’t a finesse player. He’s all power. Converting speed to power is the key to unlocking his production potential in Year 2.
This guy was a ghost today - did he get hurt?
@Koopla Krash posted:This guy was a ghost today - did he get hurt?
No. He wasn’t. He made several good stops against the run in the first half and was also getting decent push (one IIRC led to the Kenny Clark sack) and I also believe he forced at least one holding penalty as well.
Gary plays well on a fast track. He’s continuing to improve and really should be taking more playing time away from Preston.
The defense was on the field so much in the second half and I didn't recall seeing him at all. Now that you mention it, I recall the pressure play from the first half that you referenced.
@packerboi posted:Gary plays well on a fast track. He’s continuing to improve and really should be taking more playing time away from Preston.
Agree & disagree.
Yes Gary should be on the field. He is improving.
Preston needs to rush the passer & seal the edge (which he hasn't been fantastic at) - not covering TE's 20 yards down the field FFS.
Prestons problem is mostly Pettine
Rashan Gary had the Packers' best PFF grade on defense on Sunday. He and Kenny Clark both produced a team-high 4 pressures.
— Zach Kruse (@zachkruse2) November 23, 2020
Preston Smith had the defense's worst grade. By far.
Preston Smith isn't doing enough to justify playing as much as he still is. It's time to make Rashan Gary the every-down guy. https://t.co/G9pcQzrTT0
— JSOnline - Packers (@js_packers) November 24, 2020
(It's behind a paywall) That really does appear to be the emerging consensus view among the beat writers (and many fans).
Preston Smith in multiple games now has incorrectly crashed down in the pocket allowing RB's to go whizzing by as well. He didn't do that last year. He was way more disciplined at maintaining his lane and setting the edge in 2019.
It's been frustrating as hell watching that week after week. Gary has also been fairly solid of late against the run too. He's more athletic and more capable at this point to stuff the run vs Smith.
Gary has earned more time, period
The kind of risks a pass rusher takes when they can't rush the passer by more routine means.
Per PFF:
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) November 23, 2020
Preston Smith: 230 pass-rush snaps, 15 pressures, two sacks
Rashan Gary: 171 pass-rush snaps, 22 pressures, three sacks
I’ve been screaming this into an abyss for a month. Preston Smith sucks this year and Gary needs to play in his place.
I hated the Gary pick and trashed him relentlessly for a year. If I can admit he’s playing well, better than P, why can’t ABM?
Remember talking with Redskin fans about Preston Smith last year. Word on him was that he "disappeared" too often and "took plays off". Couldn't understand where they were coming from because of how good he was last year . crap
Could be one of those "externally motivated people" who needs the crowd, environment, etc. for motivation.
Really a bit of an indictment of a first round pick if the clamoring to get more playing time is mostly because a guy in front of you on the depth chart has played so poorly.
Say what you want about Gary and his production but he offers way more to the football team than Love, Dillon, Deguara and Nobody (Traded 4th rounder) combined. The 2020 draft was damn near criminal.
Unless something changes dramatically I don’t see Preston Smith returning next year.
@Tschmack posted:Unless something changes dramatically I don’t see Preston Smith returning next year.
I hope he returns this week
@Pakrz posted:Say what you want about Gary and his production but he offers way more to the football team than Love, Dillon, Deguara and Nobody (Traded 4th rounder) combined. The 2020 draft was damn near criminal.
Gute appears to have found a gem in Runyan. Maybe that’s the other front office executive in Monty who came from the Ravens who was well know for finding OL who should get the credit but regardless that sixth round pick looks very good right now.
We have simply no idea what the Packers have in Love, Dillon and Degura. And likely won’t for another 1-2 years.
Of course, we've known forever what we have in AR, and it's a shame the appropriate personnel on both sides of the ball haven't been appropriately addressed (for the most part) the last few years. When he's gone, he's gone for good.
@BrainDed posted:I’ve been screaming this into an abyss for a month. Preston Smith sucks this year and Gary needs to play in his place.
I hated the Gary pick and trashed him relentlessly for a year. If I can admit he’s playing well, better than P, why can’t ABM?
Preston Smith ran a 4.74 at his combine in 2015.
Rashan Gary ran a 4.61 at his combine in 2019.
Gary was faster at the same age than P. Smith and I'm guessing it's more likely P. Smith has lost more of hit top-end speed in 5 years than Gary has in 1. If you are going to misuse a pass-rushing edge guy in coverage at least go with the faster guy.
IDK. I think covering the shallows and flats has as much to do with reading the play/player as it does with raw speed. But point taken.
Well then put Preston in the middle with Kirksey and maybe get a run defense.
If Preston is out of shape, as @packerboi has suggested before...he should be rushing the fucking passer on every god damn play & sealing the edge on a run.
I guarantee he'll be IN shape by end of December.
I seriously put my head in my hand as soon as I saw Preston trying to cover the TE down the seam. That is a fucking disgraceful display of defensive coordinating.
I'm guessing MLF has zero say in the DC position & WMM (see other thread) is blocking him from doing anything.
If I was MLF.....I'd put massive pressure on WMM. I'd March my ass straight up there risking everything, telling him I'm going to make a change at the DC position & if he doesn't like it he can terminate me.
MLF has earned some clout now....time to start wielding it.
Apparently, we can't post ******* anymore.
That name has no place at X4 any longer. I won’t name any names, but someone ruined it for everyone.
@Grave Digger posted:That name has no place at X4 any longer. I won’t name any names, but someone ruined it for everyone.
Ain't got a hair on your ass if you don't fess up!
For all the Gary haters or the people on the fence, he had a GMFB interview this morning where he discusses how he is a huge fan of the show "Friends".
Just another reason to hate him.
say it ain't so! I'll be back after I've completely reevaluated my entire existence... if anyone wants to come along, there'll be drinks and ladies during the dithering
I said a few times this past week - Rashan Gary is playing good football. Consistently. It just isn't showing up in the stat sheet or highlights - YET. That's just life as a defender sometimes
— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) December 6, 2020
But I promise, a little more patience and big plays are coming soon