Improving the Defense for 2017....How and Who?

[brandon2348]

I dont think Clays production is worth 15+ mill and he is always hurt. I think he is on the decline like some others do. The question is what do you do with him? Is anyone even gonna be willing to take his contract in a trade? So yeah were stuck with him. Maybe he can somehow stay healhy in 2017 and find some of his burst back or maybe they move him back to ILB. I hope they resign Perry as he can "set the edge" and rush the passer. Just hope he doesnt dissapear after he gets paid or becomes "Hurt Nick" again. Either way there gonna need 1-2 new guys that can create pass rush. I like TJ Watt. I like Hasson Red**** out of Temple as a possible mid-round guy.

The corner situation is much more pressing IMO. We actually have some talented DB's. I really like the potential of Kentrell Brice and what he brings. IMO HaHa might be better suited at SS. There is obviously a glarring weakness at corner. My hope is that Randall got pushed back on the field after surgery early becauae we were on a run. He might not of been able to plant and push off like normal. Maybe he can get healthy and get it together. That would be huge and then hopefully TT will get us a legitimate corner in FA. I like Stephon Gilmore as his skill set matches what Capers likes to do on the outside. I also like several corners in the draft.

I think they can roll with Martinez, Ryan and Thomas and get by there.

Gonna need a second year jump with Kenny Clark. Guion and Daniels are beasts inside.

Lotta maybes there so well see what they actually do.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

If my stats are right, we forced our opponents to punt only 59 times in the regular season! If you look at team totals for # of punts, that would rank at 26th. San Francisco was forced to punt 100 times. Packers by comparison punted 56 times. Imagine a defense that can get AR the ball 1-3 more times per game and not after a score.

Actually the Packers ranked only 31st in the league in forced punts with only the Saints being worse in that category.

I'd be open to trading Adams and a 1st rounder for A.J. from Cincy.

The Packers aren't in need of adding a wide receiver.

Not sure what point is being made, nor what qualifies as 'near' #29, but here are the Packer picks this century at #23 or lower:

2003 29 Nick Barnett LB Oregon State
2004 25 Ahmad Carroll CB Arkansas
2005 24 Aaron Rodgers QB California
2008 30 (dealt to N.Y. Jets in draft-day trade)
2009 26 Clay Matthews LB Southern Cal.
2010 23 Bryan Bulaga T Iowa
2011 32 Derek Sherrod T Mississippi State
2012 28 Nick Perry LB Southern Cal.
2013 26 Datone Jones DE UCLA
2015 30 Damarious Randall CB Arizona State
2016 27 Kenny Clark DT UCLA

Thompson was great early during his tenure drafting close to the end of the first round. Unfortunately he has been average at best over the last five seasons though.

I dont think Clays production is worth 15+ mill and he is always hurt. I think he is on the decline like some others do. The question is what do you do with him? Is anyone even gonna be willing to take his contract in a trade?

The Packers should renegotiate Matthews' contract. Unfortunately the player has to agree to make it work.

 

[Poppa San]

The Packers should renegotiate Matthews' contract. Unfortunately the player has to agree to make it work.

And when Matthews is on the team next season under his current contract, this point will be conveniently ignored by many.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Actually the Packers ranked only 31st in the league in forced punts with only the Saints being worse in that category.

Thanks for finding that Stat Captain, I was obviously guessing, but knew we were ranked extremely low in forcing other teams to punt. When you have a high potent offense like the Packers have with #12 and your defense can't force punts, it turns into a scenario where you have to outscore your opponent or force a lot of turnovers. The last half of the season saw the later bail out the Packer defense many times.

 

[brandon2348]

And when Matthews is on the team next season under his current contract, this point will be conveniently ignored by many.

If that's the case you need to be willing to cut ties. 4 mill is guaranteed so the leverage is in the Packers and TT's favor.

 

[rodell330]

If that's the case you need to be willing to cut ties. 4 mill is guaranteed so the leverage is in the Packers and TT's favor.

Exactly. Matthews best years may be behind him. It's like when he started getting attention for the PEDS his play fell way off. He will still make a play every once in a while...but that's definitely not good enough for a guy making his salary. Throw in the fact that teams are starting to run at him now.

 

[Mondio]

If that's the case you need to be willing to cut ties. 4 mill is guaranteed so the leverage is in the Packers and TT's favor.

if Perry was already under contract and at least 1 more "underclassman" I'd say maybe. But as it stands, I don't think the Packers have much leverage, as they have nobody that could even remotely fill his shoes on the roster right now. Even at his current production. Besides him, we have Fackerell, who I think needs to gain 30lbs at least before we can even think of him being an every down guy out there for us, and nobody else but Matthews on this roster.

If this year was say, last year and we had an aging Peppers, Perry, and even Elliot to possibly fall back on, I would think we were in a much better position. I'm guessing Elliot won't cost anything to re-sign, not that i'd be that excited to get him back, but depth is depth i guess. He's a special teams and light rotation guy, as long as they get somebody better in here too. But regardless, they don't have anything to really rely on if they just cut Matthews, even if Perry is re-signed and Elliot. We still need 2-3 more guys at that position and at least one has to be more than just a guy. That's asking a lot in one offseason especially considering our oline depth could take a hit and our situation at RB and CB

 

[brandon2348]

Exactly. Matthews best years may be behind him. It's like when he started getting attention for the PEDS his play fell way off. He will still make a play every once in a while...but that's definitely not good enough for a guy making his salary. Throw in the fact that teams are starting to run at him now.

LOL. The PED thing has crossed my mind several times too. I don't see how the Packers can justify paying him basically a million a game for what he does now or doesnt do.

Plus he is always nicked up with some type of injury and it appears he is one of those guys that needs to be at "elite health" to be productive. I just dont see how they can count on him for that type of production.

 

[brandon2348]

if Perry was already under contract and at least 1 more "underclassman" I'd say maybe. But as it stands, I don't think the Packers have much leverage, as they have nobody that could even remotely fill his shoes on the roster right now. Even at his current production. Besides him, we have Fackerell, who I think needs to gain 30lbs at least before we can even think of him being an every down guy out there for us, and nobody else but Matthews on this roster.

If this year was say, last year and we had an aging Peppers, Perry, and even Elliot to possibly fall back on, I would think we were in a much better position. I'm guessing Elliot won't cost anything to re-sign, not that i'd be that excited to get him back, but depth is depth i guess. He's a special teams and light rotation guy, as long as they get somebody better in here too. But regardless, they don't have anything to really rely on if they just cut Matthews, even if Perry is re-signed and Elliot. We still need 2-3 more guys at that position and at least one has to be more than just a guy. That's asking a lot in one offseason especially considering our oline depth could take a hit and our situation at RB and CB

I can see all those concerns. Agreed on Frackrell. No Matthews, no Shields and no Starks = about 58 million in cap space. I can think of a lot of possibilities.

 

[rodell330]

I can see all those concerns. Agreed on Frackrell. No Matthews, no Shields and no Starks = about 58 million in cap space. I can think of a lot of possibilities.

Yea like A corner, another OlB, and another defensive linemen.

 

[brandon2348]

The Giants went out last year and spent some money on there D. I'd be pretty happy having the Giants D right now.

 

[brandon2348]

Yea like A corner, another OlB, and another defensive linemen.

Yeah, then draft some guys to "develop". It's not rocket science.

 

[Mondio]

The Giants went out last year and spent some money on there D. I'd be pretty happy having the Giants D right now.

but would you want to be the Giants?

 

[brandon2348]

but would you want to be the Giants?

No I wouldnt. You gotta put it in proper context. My point I was trying to make is with A-Rodge and our offense with a defense that can produce what Giants put together on D I'd be pretty damn excited.

 

[brandon2348]

TT wont do it though. He will pay the almost 16 mill to Clay next year and well watch Clay stretch out his hamstrings on the sidelines and well all be wondering if a rookie draft pick can lock down the no.1 corner spot.

We all know the end of the story.

 

[Mondio]

No I wouldnt. You gotta put it in proper context. My point I was trying to make is with A-Rodge and our offense with a defense that can produce what Giants put together on D I'd be pretty damn excited.

I would be too, but then stuff happens. Look at this year and last. Last year our offense sputtered and fell and got up and fell all over itself last year. Our Defense kept us alive and going forward. Other than 2-3 games, they held everyone in check for our under performing offense. We had every person back except Casey. I was excited for this year too, but stuff happened. It's football and you just never know, but I do have a pretty good feeling that despite what it looks like now, this staff and core of guys will find a way to get us back in the hunt again next year.

 

[brandon2348]

I would be too, but then stuff happens. Look at this year and last. Last year our offense sputtered and fell and got up and fell all over itself last year. Our Defense kept us alive and going forward. Other than 2-3 games, they held everyone in check for our under performing offense. We had every person back except Casey. I was excited for this year too, but stuff happened. It's football and you just never know, but I do have a pretty good feeling that despite what it looks like now, this staff and core of guys will find a way to get us back in the hunt again next year.

I was excited too. Thought the secondary was going to be strength of defense. I understand there is no guarantees. Even if TT breaks his mold and goes and improves the team through free agency it doesnt guarantee a championship. However I look at things in terms of probabilities and IMO it puts things more in our favor by bringing in some outside help. This team will always have a chance with A-Rodge but as he even said its time to go "All IN".

The goal is winning a Super Bowl. The probabilities of that goal happening go way up with a 1st round bye and home field in playoffs. If TT can add a piece here and a piece there that we dont have now then the probability of that happening goes up with having the best QB in football.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

The Giants went out last year and spent some money on there D. I'd be pretty happy having the Giants D right now.

I won't put a number on it, but there are a LOT of defenses that I would take over Green Bays and that is the sad part of where they currently are at. Sure a shutdown CB will help, but they still have a lot of pieces to figure out before the Packer defense is a top 10 one.

 

[rodell330]

I expect the same ol same ol....that Berwenke guy will be added to the active roster. TT will take a corner in the early rds much like 2015. A D linemen in maybe the 2nd. I don't see Peppers, Perry, or Jones back tbh ....so that might actually push a pass rusher to the 1st rd and corner to 2nd. I just think that some team is going to offer Perry a bunch of money and he's going to take it. Peppers could be retained..but is GB actually s place where he thinks he can win a ring? Idk. Jones is worthless so idc if he leaves.

 

[PackerFanLV]

Really? I didn't get the memo. When did the Packers get JJ Watt and Von Miller?

JJ watt not worth a first rounder to me, too many injuries. Von Miller thats a big contract you would have to pick up.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

And when Matthews is on the team next season under his current contract, this point will be conveniently ignored by many.

The Packers could get creative renegotiating Matthews' contract allowing him to earn all of the money back in incentives while not counting against the team's cap. But as I mentioned before Thompson can't do anything than to release him if he doesn't agree to it.

I won't put a number on it, but there are a LOT of defenses that I would take over Green Bays and that is the sad part of where they currently are at. Sure a shutdown CB will help, but they still have a lot of pieces to figure out before the Packer defense is a top 10 one.

I truly believe the Packers defense would be drastically improved by adding a shutdown cornerback. It would make it easier for pass rushers to put pressure on the quarterback as it would take him more than two seconds to find a wide open receiver.

JJ watt not worth a first rounder to me, too many injuries.

Watt missed a game for the first time during his NFL career this season, I hardly would call him injury prone.

 

[Half Empty]

JJ watt not worth a first rounder to me, too many injuries. Von Miller thats a big contract you would have to pick up.

I don't have a dog in this fight, but, come on, now you're just digging in your heels. JJ played in all 16 games every year until 2016. Miller's contract, although longer term, would cost the obtaining team about the same as the Pack is scheduled to pay Matthews next year.

 

[scotscheese]

I can't talk much about personel changes, as apart from the packers I don't really follow the nfl/college etc..

but one thing I keep noticing over and over again is our inability to tackle, time after time I see our secondary just diving at opposition players legs hoping to knock them down, which players can quite easily jump over or just bounce off. our D seem to be unable to wrap up rb's/wr's and bring them down which brings more yardage and 1st downs to our opponents. This in my eyes is a coaching issue, and needs urgently addressed

 

[Deleted member 6794]

I can't talk much about personel changes, as apart from the packers I don't really follow the nfl/college etc..

but one thing I keep noticing over and over again is our inability to tackle, time after time I see our secondary just diving at opposition players legs hoping to knock them down, which players can quite easily jump over or just bounce off. our D seem to be unable to wrap up rb's/wr's and bring them down which brings more yardage and 1st downs to our opponents. This in my eyes is a coaching issue, and needs urgently addressed

The Packers defense was actually a pretty good tackling unit this season as a total of 103 missed tackles was the lowest number for the team since 2012.

 

[scotscheese]

The Packers defense was actually a pretty good tackling unit this season as a total of 103 missed tackles was the lowest number for the team since 2012.

as the great former Aberdeen manager Ebbe Skovdahl once said, "statistics are like mini-skirts, they might look good, but they hide the important stuff"

thats all fair enough cap, but in the games I've watched this season the amount of long yardage gains and 1st down gains that could have been prevented still need working on.

i'm not saying tackling costs us in any particular game or in the playoffs, just IMO we need to improve on it