Reggie Gilbert's focus -- for the first time -- fixated on season opener

-- For the first two years of his career, Reggie Gilbert was waived as a part of the Green Bay Packers' early-September roster cut-downs, only to be added to the practice squad the following day.

This time around, Gilbert strayed from the same script he had fallen victim to in both 2016 and 2017 after the team signed him as an undrafted free agent out of Arizona.

Gilbert strayed so far from the script that he ended up being one of the Packers' 22 inactive players for the preseason finale in Kansas City last week.

"It was different. It was very different," Gilbert told Packers.com after Wednesday's practice. "A part of me, I definitely wanted to be out there just to compete. It was a very different experience just to be back here and like, not even be able to cheer on the guys there in person. I have mixed feelings about it."

Gilbert played in the final two regular-season games in 2017 -- once the Packers were already almost entirely eliminated from the playoffs. It was finally the chance for him to offer even the smallest of sample sizes after spending his first two years on the practice squad, honing in on his abilities.

It's not like Gilbert sat around as a member of the 10-man unit and shrugged off his duties. Those two years on the practice squad may have proven to be beneficial for his development, and likely a significant, underlying reason as to why he's performing the way he is now.

Gilbert recorded his first career sack during what little playing time he received last season, and played extensively throughout the most recent slate of preseason games. He almost consistently beat the assignment lined up across from him and disrupted the opposing quarterback.

That's why the Packers sidelined Gilbert in the finale. Not only is he only one of four outside linebackers on the Packers' roster, but he's undoubtedly the top rotational option outside of Nick Perry and Clay Matthews.

Gilbert told reporters on Wednesday that the Packers' defense this season will be tailored for the upcoming opponent. On a weekly basis, assignments will change.

Sunday night's opponent, the Chicago Bears, have implemented more read-option looks into their offensive gameplans under first-year head coach Matt Nagy. It's something that Gilbert and the rest of the Packers' front seven need to stay alert for.

"You definitely gotta be in-tune. … You definitely gotta be fundamentally sound, because that’s one thing that those offenses thrive off of when you have those eyes in the wrong place, that's when you see those defenses get hurt. So you definitely gotta be fundamentally sound and just focus on your job on every snap."

Gilbert is not only on the Packers' opening-day roster, preparing for a primetime showdown with a longtime division rival and doing so under the home lights of Lambeau Field, but he's showcasing what could potentially be a defensive stalemate for the Packers off of the edge.

"It’s very exciting. We have a great opportunity ahead of us. We have an opportunity to go out there and make a statement, so we just have to be prepared to do so."

__________________________

Zachary Jacobson is a staff writer/reporter for Cheesehead TV. He's the voice of The Leap on iTunes and can be heard on The Scoop KLGR 1490 AM every Saturday morning. He's also a contributor on the Pack-A-Day Podcast. He can be found on Twitter via @ZachAJacobson or contacted through email at [email protected].

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Comments (19)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
GBPDAN1's picture

September 05, 2018 at 07:26 pm

Go Gilby! Make us proud !

I would still like to see BG have John Simon in for a visit. I think he would be another good rotational player along with Gilbert and he's an experienced starter if Perry or Mathews miss some time.

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KenEllis's picture

September 05, 2018 at 10:49 pm

Agree that it would be nice to add another competent EDGE guy.

Great to see Reggie is now the #3.

That Reggie did NOT make the 2017 roster and Biegel, Odom, and Fackrell did is Exhibit A that the game had passed Ted and Dom by.

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flackcatcher's picture

September 05, 2018 at 07:25 pm

Nice to have you back Zach.

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ZacharyJacobson's picture

September 05, 2018 at 09:46 pm

Not sure whose dog I kicked to have them dislike that comment, but thanks anyways, Flack. I didn't go anywhere. :)

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croatpackfan's picture

September 06, 2018 at 04:41 am

Why do you worry about down votes? You have your opinion and, even when I will not agree with your opinion, I will respect it. But I might show my disagreement with your opinion with down vote.

That is how I see down votes and up votes... You can not satisfy all readers...

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TKWorldWide's picture

September 06, 2018 at 06:23 am

You had me at “honing in”, ZJ!

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Doug_In_Sandpoint's picture

September 06, 2018 at 08:53 am

You know, on my phone when I’m scrolling through comments, my thumb hits the downvote button. It changes to red. I think I generally notice and click it again to remove it. I’ve never given a downvote in my life but it’s possible that I’ve missed some. I bet that happened in this case because it’s just not downvotable.

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TKWorldWide's picture

September 06, 2018 at 03:34 pm

I'm tempted to give you a downvote just for your lack of downvotes.
But I won't.

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Samson's picture

September 05, 2018 at 07:41 pm

Would love to see Gilbert take snaps from both CM3 & Perry. --- Actually, he may get many snaps by default as both CM3 & Perry could be on the sidelines in civilian clothing (you know, injuries again).

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Coldworld's picture

September 06, 2018 at 05:41 am

I would hope so too not for any other reason than the need to keep our OLBs as fresh as possible.

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cpitt's picture

September 05, 2018 at 07:50 pm

If Gilbert can get 5 sacks and cm3esque amount of pressures this season that would be huge!

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PAPackerbacker's picture

September 05, 2018 at 07:58 pm

I'm sure Gilbert will be focused and hopefully have an outstanding game. Would not surprise me if he had a couple of sacks and maybe even a forced fumble too. He can get to the QB quickly and disrupt the rhythm and force errant throws, causing an incomplete pass or even an interception.

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mamasboy's picture

September 05, 2018 at 08:06 pm

"A part of me wants to be out there competing. To be back here (in Green Bay) and not even be able to cheer those guys on. I have mixed feelings about it." Those are the words of a class act. Definitely not a "me first " kind of guy. It would have been good for the younger players to have the experienced players on the sidelines giving them advice when they came off the field, too. I hope this guy has a charmed career .

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stockholder's picture

September 05, 2018 at 10:22 pm

The chiseled look is there. The stare. The muscles. The swagger. No more doubts, The number is worn with pride. The colors say I'm a Packer! My Time has come. I'm ready to show the world. I want Bear meat.

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TKWorldWide's picture

September 06, 2018 at 06:41 am

Have you told this to Bear meat?
~~~~~~~~

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Oppy's picture

September 06, 2018 at 09:11 am

LOL'd.
Might have actually qualified as a chortle.

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TKWorldWide's picture

September 06, 2018 at 03:38 pm

In that case, you might use one I invented years ago and I'm waiting for it to catch on. It's "SQ" for "Snicker Quietly". I think people rarely LOL as often as they say they do because they have no more accurate alternative. So, in this market economy, I'm just providing a service to fill a need.

And the cash will come rolling in.

And yes, I'm still waiting.

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PatrickGB's picture

September 06, 2018 at 08:59 am

Edge rushers are considered pretty good if the get ten sacks a year. That’s less than a sack a game over sixteen games. So the edge rusher has another ,and maybe even more important, role. It’s disrupting the play. If it’s a run the goal is TFL or hold the edge for another defensive to make the play. If it’s a pass it’s to disrupt the timing of the QB-WR connection. So knowing the defensive game plan is more important than “ready,set,rush”. Smarts are involved for real success. Gilbert may not have been ready last year because of his position change. But now, under Pettine, he just may have the whole thing down.

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Cartwright's picture

September 06, 2018 at 11:05 am

One Perry and one Reggie Gilbert = 1.2 Khalil Macks

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