Player predictions

[greengold]

Yeah dude, I don't get the Burks thing. To me, he has shown nothing special. At all.

Funny, PFF had BJ Goodson rated higher than both the Bears Roquan Smith and the Queens Eric Kendricks for last season... That's some righteous S right there!

... and, you can go ahead and sue me over Summers, and I'll probably just pay you. I'm a big believer in him.

 

[Dantés]

Got to Dantes... got to...

Personally, I see the roster so stacked, it is difficult to pick some players as so many could be that guy at his position who blows up the numbers. Davante sure, he will have a great year, but look at how many behind him could go off the charts. Same on D.

Projecting is just an exercise in throwing all the balls up in the air... pure fun.

Projections are ultimately guesses, but they can be educated guesses.

If a particular prediction would have to completely shatter league norms, then it probably needs to be re-thought.

Or conversely, predictions can be crazy and unrealistic. It's not like that's a serious problem.

 

[Dantés]

I'm kind of chuckling over some peoples excitement over Summers, Bolton and even Burks, so I am going to put Goodson as my "surprise standout player" on defense. I think this guy just might have brought the group from the worst in the league to middle of the road.

Prior to Goodson, I viewed the ILB position as our weakest link on both sides of the ball. The Packer defense has continually had problems with short underneath routes by RB's, TE's and WR's. Unfortunately, I see that problem most likely continuing to some extent, even with the addition of Goodson.

Burks wasn't even that good at ILB when healthy last year, yet tabbed the starter this year, until his injury. Then Bolton, an UDFA Rookie appeared to be the starter, he goes down, doesn't even make the final 53 and Summers is anointed the new starter.

I hope Goodson can get ready fast and stays healthy, because I think he will be the starter next to Martinez pretty quickly, potentially even at some point on Thursday night.

Now I recognize that all 3 players.....Summers, Burks and Bolton could potentially step up and be great/good, but so far we have nothing to go off from the 2 rookies when it comes to real games and Burks...meh. I also recognize that Pettine can use Raven Greene or OLB's inside, an option he tried last year.

Once they have a chance to get him ready (maybe be week 2?), I think Goodson takes over the role that Antonio Morrison played for them last year.

In 2018, notably with the same DC and system we have now, Blake Martinez played 99% of the snaps as the sole LB who virtually never left the field.

After him, the highest snap count for a true off-ball linebacker was Antonio Morrison at 28%.

Josh Jones, a listed safety, was used as the other off-ball linebacker more often (47%). Jermaine Whitehead was also used this way before being released.

For most snaps against most NFL offenses, if you put two off-ball linebackers on the field at the same time who cannot hold up in man coverage, you're going to lose your lunch money.

This is why Burks is unique on the roster-- he has linebacker size, but has safety movement skills (and experience).

Whoever wins that base defense role next to Martinez, Summers or Goodson, will probably play between 20 and 30% of the defensive snaps. The other will be almost exclusively a ST contributor. A safety, Raven Greene or someone else, will likely take most of the snaps at that other LB spot until Burks is ready to come back.

 

[Mondio]

This defense is already better across the line and in the backfield. They didn't get much from that position last year, and even if they don't this year, they're already going to be better. The type of player that can run with a pass catcher and fill the void in the run game is exceedingly rare these days. Thumpers worked in the past, they don't get much work now unless they can also run themselves and play the pass against fast and nimble receivers these days. Those guys don't last long in the draft, if there are even 1-2 to choose from.

The rest are converted LBer safety types too big or too small to do what they did in college in the pro's. I'm fine with the Gary pick, I would hate for them to have passed on Savage for someone who likely wouldn't really fit that bill. Later rounds? you're just drafting solely on potential and summers and Bolton certainly fit that bill.

I wouldn't trade Keke or Jenkins for a linebacker right now, both of those guys look to be the real deal at their respective positions already. Sternberger? Who were they not picking and who were they choosing instead?

 

[Dantés]

Good numbers and explanations. So for this defense to improve, we need Greene and whatever other S is asked to slide in and play a lot of snaps close to the line of scrimmage, to be a lot better than Jones or Whitehead were? Still surprised that Gute seemed to have put all his eggs in one basket at Will LB with Burks by not drafting or signing some true Will LB depth behind (or in front of) him.

Yeah, a lot of people identified off-ball linebacker as a position that could be addressed and ultimately wasn't. Can't get to everything?

I do think they could use some better play at that spot, but what will ultimately allow for the defense to improve from year's prior is consistent pressure coupled with better/healthier play in the secondary-- safety especially.

 

[RicFlairoftheNFL]

Summers is better than a rookie 7th rounder has any business being, and he's going to get better. He will be the starter eventually if not right away.

 

[Dantés]

Summers is better than a rookie 7th rounder has any business being, and he's going to get better. He will be the starter eventually if not right away.

Even if that's granted that he's super good, he plays the same position as Martinez (and the same position as Goodson, who they just traded for). Summers won't see major snaps on defense unless and until Martinez gets hurt or walks in free agency.

The guy left the field on passing downs in college. He isn't going to be our primary cover LB.

 

[mradtke66]

My 10 sacks for Summers is my best guess, knowing his ability to break through to get the QB, and the problems every offense will face against Clark, Adams, The Smith Bros., Gary, Keke, Lancaster, Lowry, et al, plus other blitzers. Summers is adept at this.

But inside linebackers don't rush that much. They need to play coverage.

And when they do rush, most of those rushes will likely come from nickel/dime groupings. When Summers is on the sideline.

Depending on how he plays and when everyone returns from injury, etc, he might not get 10 blitzes, let alone actually getting home to the quarterback.

 

[OldSchool101]

Preston and Za'Darius Smith combine for 16-19 sacks, but neither reaches double digits.

Can’t get to 19 sacks with 2 players unless 1 gets double digits. Or Is this some sorta IQ test?

 

[AmishMafia]

Can’t get to 19 sacks with 2 players unless 1 gets double digits. Or Is this some sorta IQ test?

9.5 + 9.5 = 19

 

[OldSchool101]

9.5 + 9.5 = 19

Hahaha. Yeah ok I stand corrected Amish!

Good luck with that! Lol