Packers Linebacker Group Leaves Questions
By jasonperone
The Green Bay Packers have their final roster set, for now. More changes could be coming but as it stands, the linebacker group consists of eight players.
Clay Matthews, Nick Perry, Reggie Gilbert, Kyler Fackrell are the outside linebackers and Blake Martinez, Antonio Morrison, Oren Burks and James Crawford are on the inside.
The Packers will run several variations of a 3-4 and 4-3 as well as plenty of nickel and dime. That will move some of the safeties into linebacker roles. But in looking at pure linebackers, the current group brings many unknowns to the conversation.
Just a few days ago, there was hope that the Packers might score stud All-Pro linebacker Khalil Mack from the Oakland Raiders. When we woke up this past Saturday, we learned that not only was Mack not headed to Green Bay, but he was going to be a division rival with the Chicago Bears. Suddenly, anyone else on the roster wasn't going to stack up to that.
Matthews and Perry have durability issues so the main question with them is how many games they'll play this season. And when they do play, how effective can they be? Matthews is entering his 10th season and Perry his seventh.
Behind them are Gilbert and Fackrell. Gilbert had a stellar preseason but, as usual, that performance comes against players who won't be starting come next weekend. Gilbert cracked the roster, something he couldn't do last year, so what he can provide with a full season is not known. Fackrell hasn't ever contributed much on defense, but has shown up at times and contributes on special teams.
New Defensive Coordinator Mike Pettine looks to bring pressure from different areas so having two All-Pro outside linebackers isn't necessarily mandatory in the Green Bay defense. But can this group of outside guys hold up and give the defense what it needs this year?
On the inside, the Packers return Martinez but lost Jake Ryan to a season-ending knee injury early in training camp. Rookie Oren Burks looked good in limited preseason action before injuring his shoulder in pregame warm up's prior to the third game. Burks made the final roster, but won't likely be available until a few games into the season.
Antonio Morrison was just added to the team last week via a trade and only had the benefit of one week's practice and the final preseason game. Crawford beat out hopefuls Greer Martini and Ahmad Thomas, both of whom had good showings in their preseason action. Martini was signed to the team's practice squad.
Minus Martinez, it's not known how much action Morrison and Crawford will see beyond special teams when the regular season commences.
Packers fans were understandably disappointed to see the team not land Mack (asking price and price paid aside) and, to boot, aren't sure what the current linebacker group brings to the field. Hopefully the sum of the parts is greater than the individual players.
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Jason is a freelance writer on staff since 2012 and also co-hosts Cheesehead TV Live, Pulse of the Pack and Pack A Day podcasts. You can follow him on Twitter here
Comments (95)
jww061356
September 03, 2018 at 06:20 am
I'd love to see what else is out there for OLB help, but what is out there that is even worth a flyer this year? I guess we are going to get to see just how creative Pettine can get.
GBPDAN1
September 03, 2018 at 12:20 pm
This defence is such a question mark at this point. Im very curious to see what the starting unit looks like in a regular season game. It will being telling Sunday as we get a taste of Pettine's full scheme as the preseason was very vanilla .
We haven't seen our whole D play together yet with Perry, Daniel's and King basically missing most of the preseason games. I hope we get a glimpse of a much improved unit as compared to last year's unit. If we can't put pressure on the QB with our front four, Pettine will pressure with schemes and additional rushers. The key will be the play of our back end with more single coverage when we send extra rushers.
I feel much better about our CBs this year. I hope the safeties do their job. If not, bring in Reid.
TKWorldWide
September 03, 2018 at 07:52 am
I think pregame warmups will be a big issue in the next CBA.
Since'61
September 03, 2018 at 08:31 am
TK - the way this league is going, just putting the equipment on will be a issue by the time we get to the next CBA. Thanks, Since '61
Rak43
September 03, 2018 at 06:31 am
There is not much help to be had after cuts and the FA crop is weak. Truly our best hope is that Gilbert has not peaked and continues to develop into a dominant or at least above average OLB who can make some game changing plays in Pettines defense.
alinger84
September 03, 2018 at 06:31 am
I'm pretty sure they will add another OLB and another RB to the roster in the next couple of days. At least, I hope they will...
Bure9620
September 03, 2018 at 06:39 am
Junior Galette is still available. He may be cheap now.
croatpackfan
September 03, 2018 at 07:20 am
Last season he had just 3 sacks. And it looks like he was not playing 2015 and 2016 seasons....
Fire_Gute
September 03, 2018 at 09:31 am
And he's a humongous piece of shit.
TKWorldWide
September 03, 2018 at 11:05 am
So you’re saying that to a constipated person, he is nirvana.
Fire_Gute
September 03, 2018 at 03:24 pm
I love the down votes for saying a guy with a domestic violence charge, a video of him beating a woman with a belt, and another assault charge is a piece of shit. I normally don't care but who the fuck thinks its cool to stick up for this useless piece of shit.
Charvid
September 03, 2018 at 06:44 am
If any of the Active roster OLB's suffers an injury, we'll have to add an OLB to the active roster, which means the whole League's Practice Squads are at our disposal. If one of our 4 goes down, couldn't we then sign Biegel from Saints PS? Hopefully 1 of the other 30 teams might have someone better to choose from, but at least Biegel knows the system. The Benefit to the Packers is: We aren't paying him and we were able to protect a more talented player at another position.
Savage57
September 03, 2018 at 06:46 am
I'll be interested to watch and see how Mssr's. Matthews and Perry respond to the Bears throwing down the edge rusher gauntlet in the NFCN.
Both of those players got 2nd contracts that look like a bump in pay in comparison to Mack's haul. No one plays better because of money, but when a guy across the field is getting double the money you made for basically the same kind of production, it might hopefully trigger more than a little digging in the professional pride well for those two.
Bure9620
September 03, 2018 at 06:55 am
This may sound crazy but I think both remain relatively healthy this year. Perry has had bad luck.
Charvid
September 03, 2018 at 07:07 am
"Basically the same kind of production"?? Mathews and Perry have not had anywhere near the same galaxy of production as Mack. I see your point though.
croatpackfan
September 03, 2018 at 07:23 am
Mack last season 10.5 sacks, Clay 7.5 sacks, Perry (played injured with club on his hand) 7.0 sacks...
Wow, how much better was Mack ~~~~~
BTW Mack is DE not OLB!
NickPerry
September 03, 2018 at 08:22 am
Actually he plays both positions Croat. It just depends if the team he plays for is a 3-4 or a 4-3.. He can both equally well.
croatpackfan
September 04, 2018 at 02:51 am
When Packers played Raiders Mack had one (1) sack at the game, that come in pursuit of Aaron Rodgers, not because he was beating David. Whole game he did nothing else than 1 sack, one tackle and one assist tackle...
Oppy
September 03, 2018 at 07:19 am
Sack production is not completely out of line with Mack, but when you look at total impact, Mack is a clear step up. He's better than doubling either of our OLB's tackle count.
I don't think Mack is quite the generational talent he's billed as, but he's an all-decade type talent for sure. Two first round picks, a 3rd, and a 6th just to get the honor to make him the highest paid defensive player in the NFL? (ever)? That's crazy money and I don't think he's worth that kind of scratch in the big picture.
It will be fun playing him twice a year, though. I'm looking forward to watching the tackles battle with him.
jh9
September 03, 2018 at 07:41 am
Marcedes Lewis will get a lot of playing time against the Bears. I expect he’ll line-up behind whichever T is supposed to block Mack.
If Lewis can provide consistent help to our pass blocking, his signing may end up being one of the best signings BG will have had this year.
Demon
September 03, 2018 at 08:39 am
Lets get this straight Mack is Very good
But I agre with you he is not the generationsl player he is billed as.
Reggie white was a generational player Someone you had to account for on every play. I see aaron Donald in that same category. The kind of players that can take over a game.
If I had to compare Mack to someone I"d say Charles Haley. Both plat OLB and DE are very productive and have a bad attitude.
Bure9620
September 03, 2018 at 06:46 am
Wondering if Gute was planning on a WR trade and all options fell apart, now he is stuck?
Andrew Lloyd Peth
September 03, 2018 at 07:08 am
Perhaps, but not as much as one might think.
3 of those receivers are developmental rookies with huge upside, and 1 is our return guy. Only 4--Adams, Cobb, Allison, Kumerow--are game day receivers right now.
JonathanSpader
September 03, 2018 at 09:40 am
Kumero was placed on IR so we still have 4 WRs Adam's, Cobb, Allison, and Graham.
Cubbygold
September 03, 2018 at 07:31 am
A team like NE could be a perfect match...wonder how their OLB group looks
Cubbygold
September 03, 2018 at 06:48 am
If the OLB group can't be improved after roster cuts, and if there isn't a trade available, then Pettine will have to produce pressure from other areas. One way to produce pressure is to imporove coverage...eric reid is the most impactful player this team can add right now, and he's cheap. Let jones convert fully to LB and provide depth there. GB can't win with subpar saftey and OLB play
Andrew Lloyd Peth
September 03, 2018 at 07:19 am
Move Williams to safety--he's already begun practicing there. We're loaded at corner.
But I agree on Jones. Put him next to Martinez.
Brett Bolzenthal
September 03, 2018 at 06:54 am
I'd love to see them pick up Cap Capi, the guy could at least be a situational pass rusher. In the past 3 preseasons, no one in the NFL has had more QB pressures (46) than Capi. How many does Fackrell have? Why not
croatpackfan
September 03, 2018 at 07:26 am
Cap Capi is DE. We already has M. Adams and Lowry!
Coldworld
September 03, 2018 at 08:22 am
He is a DE in a 4:3 defense. At 249 pounds as listed, not a candidate for DE in a 3:4. Players of this type are physically seen as OLBs in a 4:3.
Whether he has experience of standing up I don’t know. Always a question of conversion challenge.
I’m going to throw a name out there that I never thought I would, but is Datone Jones signed? He was better than Fackrell and had bounced around since he left.
Edit: Datone is on the Cowboys roster.
Oppy
September 03, 2018 at 08:02 am
Eesh.. Was he better than fackrell? I mean.. eeww. I don't know.
Hey, maybe Mike Neal still has a pair of cleats and some pads in his attic.
Downside, he hasn't played football since 2015 (for mysterious, unknown reasons that are somewhat shadowy).
Upside, his legs should be fresh.
Coldworld
September 03, 2018 at 08:23 am
Datone pushed the pocket and had pressures: few sacks. I could live with that in a backup. Moot, because he is on the Cowboys.
jgando12
September 03, 2018 at 06:59 am
Agree that the still-available Reid could be a big help. But is Murphy the one holding that back based on his extreme NFL office loyalty? Reid could also help Ha-ha/Jones/Bryce as a both a mentor and lighting-a-fire type. Surprised Davis is still on roster...it's a big indicator on how little Beigel showed. Folks need to get over Beigel. He stunk. Fackrell stinks a little less b/c he's faster and has a bit more experience. Still paying for the poor Ted evaluations of prior drafts.
Coldworld
September 03, 2018 at 07:56 am
I would think Williams is a better mentor than Ried given his existing reputation for it and knowledge of our system and team culture. Additionally, he has practiced with the safeties and I expect him to play safety in some packages once the rookie CBs bed down. He was excellent when he played that role last year.
dobber
September 03, 2018 at 08:30 am
The buck stopped with TT, but remember who the head of college scouting was at that time...
Demon
September 03, 2018 at 08:59 am
Jimmy johnson once said that he would sign Adolf Hitler if he could carry the rock. Is that what we have become guys? Are we that desperate to win that we want to be part of that circus side show?
Give up on the Reid BS. Please!
Everyone here is so certain that Pettine is the new D guru, let him do his job. Lets see what he can do with our safetys.
If Gute is truly the anti-Ted like everyone thinks he is, he will keep churning over the roster.
The season hasn't even started yet but somehow a guy who doesn't know the system and hasnt played or practiced since last year is going to be our savior. Good luck with that!
Charvid
September 03, 2018 at 07:10 am
Frank Zombo got cut by the Chiefs. He's only what...47?
GBPDAN1
September 03, 2018 at 07:22 am
Yes, Zombo is older now, but, if he's better then Fackrell, bring him in.
Andrew Lloyd Peth
September 03, 2018 at 07:34 am
I'm not worried at all about our linebackers.
First, Jones needs to be moved to ILB where he belongs, and left there. That gives us 9 guys with a big speed boost. Tramon Williams clearly should be moved to safety, and I was shocked to see McCarthy actually do something right and practice him there. Maybe Pettine imposed his will.
Meanwhile, let's remember this team will play a lot of nickel with 3+ linemen, so 9 linebackers (including Jones) is more than enough.
Cubbygold
September 03, 2018 at 07:36 am
Do you think we see more of HaHa, TW at saftey, with king and the rookies playing in nickel... Or jones/brice and TW at CB?
Andrew Lloyd Peth
September 03, 2018 at 07:54 am
Great question.
I think some of it will be dictated by matchups. Against passing sets, my preference is precisely what you described at first--King, Jackson (or House) outside, Alexander in the slot, and Ha Ha/TW at safety.
Against tougher rushing units, I'd want more of Brice on the back end and Morrison up front in the middle.
The key is Jones. He's a sideline-to-sideline, gap-shooting missile, and needs to be used that way...like, NOW. Practicing him at safety was criminal negligence. I'd put him at ILB and unleash him, sending him on at least a half-dozen blitzes per game and blowing up outside runs while Clark jams the middle.
Perhaps Pettine is the guy to move players where they belong. Here's hoping.
Coldworld
September 03, 2018 at 08:26 am
I think some of the look of the current roster does reflect the planned use of safety/cover backer types in coverage and rushing.
Bure9620
September 03, 2018 at 08:27 am
You make a good point in that Nickel packages essentillly are becoming base, LBs are not as important. Keep in mind, this scheme is quite different than Capers. Also, Pettine loves 3 safety looks. Hence 5 safeties. With one in the box (Jones) it makes sense. I would also add that Pettine is going to be running a lot of 4-3 under. Perry would be on LOS as a rusher or 6 technique and CMIII as the SAM, (where he is more useful at this stage in his career.) He can drop into coverage here and Martinez is in the middle with likely Jones in the box as well.
As for running downs, I like what I see from Morrison, he can plug gaps and is a sure tackler. Solid get by Gute. He would not be in many Nickel packages though, as he is a total liability in pass coverage.
Oppy
September 03, 2018 at 08:41 am
Do you want Perry covering up the TE or is that a typo? Just curious.
Bure9620
September 03, 2018 at 08:44 am
In 11 perssonel the tight end would be on the strong side and Perry opposite so yeah I guess essentially a 5 tech? Correct?
Oppy
September 03, 2018 at 09:20 am
...TE....RT....RG....C.....LG....LT....TE...
7..6..5..4..3..2..1..0..1..2..3..4..5..6..7
5 on outside of T shoulder, 6 covering TE
Edited to make it show up right, hopefully
Oppy
September 03, 2018 at 09:01 am
Argh, it automatically deleted the spacing I had formatted in.
Basically, "0" tech is heads up over the Center. 1 is the gap between C and G, 2 would be directly over G, 3 is gap between G and T, 4 directly over T, 5 outside of T, 6 directly over a TE, etc etc
Andrew Lloyd Peth
September 03, 2018 at 08:46 am
I prefer Jones covering TE's--maybe Matthews.
Oppy
September 03, 2018 at 08:59 am
Not talking about pass coverage, Andrew, 'covering up' meaning aligned directly in front of as opposed to shading to the inside or outside shoulder or aligning directly in a gap between two OL/TE
Andrew Lloyd Peth
September 03, 2018 at 08:45 am
Agreed, and under Pettine the definition of "safety" is pretty fluid. Jones and Williams can both be "safeties," but not in the same roles.
The key is to use guys in alignments and roles where they perform best, and that was the staggering weakness of last year's coaching staff--which was headed by one Michael McCarthy.
Let's hope things have truly changed.
4thand10
September 03, 2018 at 10:22 am
I hope your right ALP, they didn’t show hardly and 3 + DL during the preseason. I hope our beloved Packers are playing possum and we truly get more of those base looks or even a 4 -3. We have corners and LBs that can play now. I’ll be anxious to see what the product of this D will look like.
PackfanNY
September 03, 2018 at 07:25 am
I think we are dangerously thin at OLB and are the expected injury away from starting Fackrell and Gilbert. I don't remember when Perry and CM played a full 16. Seems we should have been more aggressive to find depth at least. Let's be honest James Francis is not an answer. Open roster spot right there.
PAPackerbacker
September 03, 2018 at 07:31 am
Got to make the best of what you have and not worry about what you don't have or could have had. It would have been great to have a player like Mack on the team, but as a Packer fan I am not disappointed he isn't. The price to acquire him was just to high. Oakland didn't lead the league in sacks or even finish in the top 20 teams in sacks the last couple of years and Mack was there. It's a team effort that leads a team to success. Remember when no one was giving the #6 seed Packers much of a chance in the playoffs and they won the Super Bowl against a much more heavily favored Steeler team? And they had many starters go down during that game with injuries, Woodson and Driver, to mention a couple, yet they pulled together as a team and defeated the Steelers. It was a team effort that brought home the Lombardi trophy. I am excited to see the season start and just hope that everyone stays healthy. Go! Pack! Go!
LambeauPlain
September 03, 2018 at 08:03 am
27 players who finished in Detroit are not on the initial 2018 season 53.
Expect some busy days for Team Gute to start the week, especially at LB and OL. And the 8 WRs have one or two placeholders for Jones return and maybe another player.
But make no mistake, this isn’t TTs team anymore. Gute is a most bold GM....and he will sink or swim with this makeover.
Coldworld
September 03, 2018 at 08:05 am
Waters is now being waived per PFF
Andrew Lloyd Peth
September 03, 2018 at 08:19 am
We signed LB Kory Toomer.
Oppy
September 03, 2018 at 08:29 am
Another high SPARQ guy. The roster is definitely becoming more athletic than it has been in.. two decades?
Coldworld
September 03, 2018 at 08:35 am
He is an ILB. Possibly the reason Thomas not kept?
Oppy
September 03, 2018 at 08:46 am
As good a guess as any.. Plus, the Packers have talked about a lack of experience at LB being one of the factors that attracted them to Morrison, too. Toomer has been around for a while, so that's probably a part of it.
JonathanSpader
September 03, 2018 at 08:41 am
Took me awhile to find Toomer's Packer ties and it was a stretch.
"On September 11, 2017, in the season opener against the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football, Toomer forced a fumble from running back Jamaal Charles. The fumble was recovered by teammate Casey Hayward and set up the Chargers to have an eventual touchdown scoring drive.[14]"
Oppy
September 03, 2018 at 08:21 am
I wonder who they're signing.
Bure9620
September 03, 2018 at 08:38 am
Herb Waters waived as well, I think they try to get him on the PS
Andrew Lloyd Peth
September 03, 2018 at 08:49 am
And someone else as well. Remember, they left 2 spots open. So I could see one more move and release coming.
Packer Dave
September 03, 2018 at 08:18 am
If Mo and Adams can bring the heat we'll have one of the best D-lines in the league. Interior pressure will there there all 4 quarters. As long as an edge can be set outside the team will be in position to win any game.
No reason to fret until we see it. Also, Bahk/Bulaga + Lewis > Mack. I'll argue that all day.
JonathanSpader
September 03, 2018 at 08:30 am
"Gilbert had a stellar preseason but, as usual, that performance comes against players who won't be starting come next weekend."
Didn't realize Donald Penn wasn't an NFL starting quality player.
Bure9620
September 03, 2018 at 09:01 am
Yes he got after Penn also beat up on Minnesota and Detroit's starters in weeks 16 and 17. Gilbert was one of the few players that made the Packers watchable.
jasonperone
September 03, 2018 at 10:10 am
One guy but OK. Take a look at how Penn has looked this preseason. Call it “dogging it” but no player wants bad tape out there
JonathanSpader
September 03, 2018 at 01:13 pm
I know you're trying to downplay fan expectations Jason. My point was that Gilbert started preseason against scrubs and performed. He then started to play against starters and still kept up his same level of play. I don't know if it will translate to real games but it gives us hope which is more than I can say for Biegel/Fackrell.
Handsback
September 03, 2018 at 08:33 am
Green Bay has a strong Dline and enough talent in the defensive backfield that they should be near the top ten. That said, everyone on these boards know it won't be the defense that wins the games in Green Bay, but the offense. All the defense has to do is not lose 'em.
On Mack, no matter what he does on the field, fans will always wonder what could have been if the Packers don't win the next two SBs. i think reality is that he was too expensive to get and too expensive to sign. Hershel Walker and John Hadl are two examples of trying to win big with one guy and giving up too much to do it.
Coldworld
September 03, 2018 at 08:41 am
That is a fearsome contract. Can one elite player make that team elite? Even if it does initially, the pick sacrifices will bite hard. Personally I think they are too far out now for this to be the difference maker.
In future, I think it will make it harder to strengthen their team. Essentially they just made themselves into a post massive QB salary team without an established top 5 QB. Interesting experiment!
Andrew Lloyd Peth
September 03, 2018 at 08:52 am
Two 1sts and that contract? I am THRILLED we didn't get Mack.
4thand1
September 03, 2018 at 08:54 am
Signing high price FA's is always a gamble. In Mack's case, he is always on the field and makes an impact on the field. We will have to game plan for him, as will the rest of the North. The Bears are more active in FA over the years than anyone, and yet they still suck. They just won't suck as much as usual this year.
Coldworld
September 03, 2018 at 09:05 am
I do not dispute Mack’s quality. I was speaking of the overall impact on the roster.
With such signings, particularly with the guarantees, the questions are more about longevity. Can he remain healthy and elite until he is in his 30s? I’ve said before, I believe Clay has justified his (very much smaller) contract, but it is a decreasing return with age. Mack has to do far more in terms of production and health based on proportion of cap.
Generally, some of these non QB payouts are reaching levels that may be unsustainable. It is hard enough to compete post QB elite contracts (for truly elite QBs). Teams without those can afford far greater depth and cover draft inevitable imperfections more easily.
Samson
September 03, 2018 at 09:10 am
The J. Hadl deal was in 1974. -- The H. Walker deal was in 1989.
Thirty and nearly fifty years ago. -- The NFL is not the same now as during those two trades.
1st round picks in today's NFL fail at an alarming rate - even two of them in one year. ---- Mack is a proven talent. -- He would have faulted GB's "D" into the upper echelons of the NFL.
Fire_Gute
September 03, 2018 at 03:18 pm
One hundred percent agree. I read that before the Mack trade, the most given up for a defensive player was a 1 and a 3 for Jared Allen. I bet Minnesota would make that trade again.
If you go back to the year after the Super Bowl GB has taken Sherrod, Perry, Jones, HaHa, Randall, Kenny Clark and Jaire Alexander in the first. Throw Kevin King in the mix as well if you want. What 2 of those guys wouldn't you trade for Mack in half a second?
croatpackfan
September 04, 2018 at 03:57 am
I will give 1st and 3rd for young Jared Allen...
Allen had 43 sacks in his first 4 seasons.
Khalil Mack has 40.5 sacks during the same span.
Bears gave 1st and 6th rounder of 2019 draft as well as 1st and 3rd rounder of 2020 draft for Mack and 2nd rounder in 2020 and a conditional 5th rounder that year.
I believe Vikings get better deal!
Coldworld
September 03, 2018 at 08:37 am
Kumerow to IR per PackersWire. Can be designated for return.
Leaves another roster spot open after Toomer replaced Waters.
Andrew Lloyd Peth
September 03, 2018 at 08:51 am
Well now, that eases concerns on roster imbalance.
Sucks, though.
Coldworld
September 03, 2018 at 08:58 am
Yep. Possibly suggests they haven’t found a taker for Davis. Alternatively, could have been planned from the start.
Andrew Lloyd Peth
September 03, 2018 at 09:06 am
The question is, who is our 4th receiver to start the season? Honestly, I think it's MVS.
Oppy
September 03, 2018 at 09:14 am
I think once you get past Adams, Cobb, Allison, we won't be able to even think of it as #4, #5, #6. I'm assuming they will have personnel groupings based on opponent/gameplan, or simply rotate through the young guys where possible to get them experience. No question at this point MVS has clearly earned more opportunity than any of the other young guys, but they are definitely going to try to get Moore going at some point during the season as well.
We'll see how persnickety Rodgers is about all the rookies.
Andrew Lloyd Peth
September 03, 2018 at 09:19 am
Agreed. I do think, however, MVS offers a field-stretching component that could help in some alignments.
Johnblood27
September 03, 2018 at 11:04 am
WR4 is Allison
WR3 is Graham
croatpackfan
September 04, 2018 at 03:59 am
Nope Graham is 1st TE, not WR!
Bearmeat
September 03, 2018 at 11:06 am
Nope. WR2 is Graham
4thand1
September 03, 2018 at 08:42 am
Everything I've read mostly in posts are about injury concerns and if Perry and CM will hold up. It seems CM has had a lot of hammy issues over his career, and Perry has had some flukey injuries. I'm seeing Gilbert getting a lot of snaps and taking pressure off of Clay and Perry. Fackrell, who knows, he must show improvement in practice, why else did he make the final 53?
EdsLaces
September 03, 2018 at 08:52 am
I wouldn't be upset if we brought Nassib in for a look. Could. Be a good rotational guy..
Samson
September 03, 2018 at 08:53 am
The Linebacker group (same with the OLineman group) is the same issue GB seems to have going into every season. -- As soon as injuries hit, the lack of quality depth becomes obvious. --- The Pack will be reeling again in season 2018 unless somehow the bench players can hold up. --- 16 games combined out of CM3 & Perry may be just a wish for Packer fans.
Coldworld
September 03, 2018 at 08:56 am
Gilbert has shown enough to show he belongs. After that, well maybe Pettine is planning a different approach to rushing?
Andrew Lloyd Peth
September 03, 2018 at 09:05 am
Blitz...Josh...Jones...please....
Bearmeat
September 03, 2018 at 11:12 am
Couldn't agree more. I liked the drafting of Burks, but thought that he and Jones were kind of the same player.
Bearmeat
September 03, 2018 at 11:11 am
The title of this article is misleading. Our LBs don't have"questions." They suck. If our defense is above average, it will be despite the OLBs, and the shitty players at OLB and lack of depth at ILB may just tank the entire unit.
Yes, that's what I really think.
Johnblood27
September 03, 2018 at 11:06 am
Can anyone decipher this encrypted message?
Bearmeat
September 03, 2018 at 11:07 am
I guess I don't see how what I wrote is hard to understand. Our LBs are below average at best, and very well could blow goats. Pretty straightforward...
dobber
September 03, 2018 at 11:15 am
People kept saying that the defense from 2017 could not have been/gotten any worse. That anyone could have done better than Capers did. Well...we're about to find out.