Saturday, November 14, 2009

Defensive Line: The Game Within The Dallas Game

This season the story has been the offensive, offensive line for the Green Bay Packers. The defensive line has been more difficult to assess. First, they have failed to generate pressure on opposing QBs on a regular basis, but that's not their job in the 3-4 defense.

Let's take them one by one:

Ryan Pickett: B+ probably not pro bowl material but his reviews are positive

Cullen Jenkins: B- he has probably played too many snaps & leads team with just 3.5 sacks

Johnny Jolly: D remember when he use to tip balls at the line and occasion beat guys?

BJ Raji: Incomplete / D - if he can stay healthy he'll take snaps away from Jolly

Let's not get into the inconsistent LBs now, but let's watch the line of scrimmage and see which way it moves when the Cowboys have the ball. The Cowboys OL is as good as litmus test as the DLs will have in dealing with bulk. Then we can file that information away for the post-Thomspon era. Will the Packers be "soft" like last year? None of the aforementioned four guys is on the injury report, so it's showtime for them. It's "get home or go home" time.

Also, who is Brad Jones and why is he starting at LOLB? He was the Packers pick in the 9th slot of the 7th round. Capers likes him. We will see.

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