Starting ILB's for 2014

I'd be very surprised if Barrington doesn't make his presence felt. Don't forget Bradford.

Sadly, I don't see many better options right now on the team. For Jones and Hawks warts, they know the defensive scheme...and that counts for a lot. Maybe as the year goes on, Lattimore will press for more PT...but out of the gate, I think it's Jones in his place.

Both are intriguing no doubt (Bradford/Barrington).

 

But this is also a HC in MM who has the polar opposite in feelings for AJ Hawk as our good friend El-ka-Bong has.

 

Short of Bongers curb stomping Hawk on his bicycle on his way to TC, just cannot see how either of those beat out AJ. Packer brass love AJ.

 

Just ask one Desmond Bishop about the pecking order at ILB. It took a serious injury to another player for Bishop to finally get his due.

 

 

 

 

well... (oh shame on me for even kidding like this) Hawk's due for an injury, ain't he?

I fail to see where Carolina, is one of the teams in the nfc, standing in the Packers way. 49ers seahawks yes

Hawk will most likely "start" but I have a feeling (hope?) Barrington &/or Lattimore will play a LOT.

 

I don't see ILB as being like this gigantic crater type hole in our defense. Weak? yes, but weak ILB's can be masked by solid D-Line & solid cover DB's

I like what AJ Hawk is saying.

If 2010 BJ Raji makes a return visit to this roster, it'll make Jones and Hawk look a lot better.

Let just be honest here

 

AJ Hawk could kick my ass with next to no effort whatsoever

Hawk/Jones wouldn't be as bad if the front 5 are playing better. They're average ILBs  who can't shed blocks and occasionally run themselves out of plays. However, when the lanes are clear and they are clean they are capable of doing their job. Pat Willis and Navarro Bowman are good, but having Al Smith, Justin Smith, Ray McDonald and Ahmad Brooks makes them look a lot better. Des Bishop wasn't a special LB, but he and Hawk performed well in 2010...the difference was Raji playing well at NT, strong DE play from Pick and Jenkina, and Matthews playing well at OLB. IF Raji returns to form, the OLBs do their job and we get consistent play from Daniels and Co. then I think Hawk/Jones will look a lot better. And vice versa, if Hawk/Jones are more consistent the the front 5 will look better.

He farts in your general direction

I am really interested to see how much (if any) we will change our defensive front technique. Will we see less "0 gap" where our dlineman are trying to tie up 2 blockers to free the ILBers to make plays...or will we see more "1 gap", where they will try to penetrate & disrupt? 

I agree, but only if BJ Raji is getting the job done up front

 

The Packers and their fans want better play from the ILB position

 

There are several ways to do that, but vanderpoopinpants and his media brethren can't fathom anything beyond spending a top draft pick to solve the issue

 

Fortunately, the Packers have some large-brained individuals working on it

If anybody is interested, here's what I have read recently about the GB defense

Personnel

1)- improve the ones you have and develop the youngsters. A lighter weight AJ is a better AJ and that's one way to show some improvement

 

2) Barrington and Lattimore have both had time in the system and should make a leap in year two. How big a leap remains to be seen

 

3) Use Clay, Hyde, Richardson in the ILB role in various packages including the Dime and the Dollar which only have 1 or 0 ILBs on the field and none of them are named Brad or AJ. 

EX:  B Jones sits down, Micah Hyde comes in to provide better coverage ability.

 

Strategy

 

IF the Packers DL plays more 1-gap as has been suggested, then the ILBs change from Read & React to Hit -the- Hole. This makes a big difference on several fronts as neither Brad nor AJ excelled at read & react. They were relatively slow at this tactic. Now, they just fire off the ball and hit their gaps. This makes it much harder on the Centers and guards to block them because they are already in motion, and given how easily they were blocked in the past, any improvement here will be a welcome change.

 

The Packers have also made changes on the DL; the front guys who protect the ILBs as noted by GD. Gone are the Big Guys like Jolly, Wilson, Pickett and in their place are the faster DL in Neal, Jones, Daniels. This means GB can still offer some pass rush from the DL spot, something that the Big Guys couldn't and it also means the OL will be busy accounting for the penetrating DL instead of just tying them up and playing pattycake

 

And one more - the influx of OLBs ( Hubbard, Peppers, Bradford) and the return from injury of Mulumba & Perry means GB has much better coverage at that OLB spot, allowing the Packers to move Matthews around more- including attacking from the ILB locale, the shortest distance to the QB.

 

Then there's the Eagle 5 LB alignment and a host of other options to get improved play from the ILB position.

There's always more than one way to skin the cat.... but the media douchebags are all a mile wide and an inch deep, only to happy to pander the fans who are freaking out over not drafting an ILB.

 

These guys at 1265 are pretty damn good at their jobs and I'm looking forward to see it all come together in September-February

 

 

Go Packers

a well writen post, satori !!!

Yeah but McCarthy's fat and is no Belichek.

What if the guys playing next to Hawk have been getting in his way all these years. Think about it.

Dude, you're harshing my Hawk tirade.

people don't think Hawk be like he is but he do. 

I don't think you even have to go that far back to find some success stopping the run by our D.  Just last year, pre-injuries, our DL (which may have included ILB play) was looking pretty damn good.  Parts are changing this year but it reinforces the idea that better DL play will help our ILBs do their job.

I'd replace Jones before Hawk only because I think Hawk is actually a decent starter. Jones is horrible. 

But he's good on special teams. He has the body type we're looking for.

I thought Jones was solid in 2012 but injuries really affected him in 2013.  This will be a make or break year for him as he is at risk at being cut in TC if Lattimore and/or Barrington show they can play.  

 

 

 

 

All except for A.J. Hawk.

 

beautiful. where is this gem from?

Posting while inebriated. PWI

oshbaul.