Position Analysis: Defense

I am continuing my position analysis of the Green Bay Packers and shifting to the defensive side of the ball in today's blog. The Packers defense ranked among the league's best last year. Top 5 in total, rushing, and passing yards, and 7th in scoring. Defensive coordinator Bob Sanders used pressure from the D-line to help the scondary very well, and linebackers were also among the league's best. Here are my evaluations and possible draft prospects we might be looking at.



DEFENSIVE ENDS

Aaron Kampman again played like an all-pro with 12 sacks and was also very good against the run, a rare combo nowadays. KGB added 10 sacks while coming off the bench and is still a dominating pass-rusher now that he is again a situational player. Cullen Jenkins didn't have the season we expected but was still solid and should be better this season due to his talent. Not too much depth behind these three which is why we will probably looking at a DE in the middle rounds unless one slips to us early on. Possibilities include:

• Quentin Groves (AUB) - Some view him as a 3-4 OLB due to his size (6'3", 259) and speed (4.59 forty). Has some durability issues that will cost him his first round talent. Off-field issues may sway Ted Thompson away from him, but if he fell to us in the 2nd round he'd be hard to pass up as a rusher off the bench.


• Jason Jones (E. Mich) - Small school prospect with great size (6'5", 273) that would allow him to play on the inside also, a nice feature that the packers utilize in their D-linemen. Finished his career with 50 tackles for loss so he knows how to get to the backfield. Is said to have good mechanics and would be a great addition in the third round I think.


• Kendall Langford (Hampton) - Another small school prospect with solid athleticism and a solid career (66 TFL & 25 sacks). Is another big guy (6'5", 287) that could play either DE or DT in the pros and would be a nice project player available to us in the fourth round.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE

Ryan Pickett is a big force up the middle and normally commands a double-team, and is a good run stuffer. He frees up the other DT to make plays which is what Corey Williams used to get a 36 million dollar contract. Corey Williams will be missed but is very replaceable. Last year's first rounder Justin Harrell will need to take a big step this year and should now that he's fully recovered from his shoulder injury sustained during his senior year at Tennesse. I expect him to become a force up the middle with Pickett giving him one-on-one matchups this year. Colin Cole and Johnny Jole are solid role players and are valuable because of how often we rotate our DT's. but some more talent is needed due to the questions at DT, some possibilities include:

• DRE Moore (Maryland) - Has the size Thompson looks for (6'4", 305) and is said to have a mean steak with good strength. Still raw since he started playing football as a senior in HS but blossomed this past fall (63 tackles (8.5 for losses), six sacks, two forced fumbles). A developmental player that should be available in the fourth round.


• Frank Okam (Tex) - A big boy (6'4", 347) that needs to lose some pounds and become more consistent. Once viewed as a 1st rounder but too many things have dropped his stock and now will last until the 5th round probably. Could be a nice substitute for Pickett to keep a run stuffer in the game and if he got his act together could eventually replace Pickett down the road.

LINEBACKERS

Nick Barnett is amazing and had another Pro-Bowl calliber year, would go more often but doesn't get the national recognition he deserves. AJ Hawk is still developing but shows the athleticism and instincts that provoked Thompson to take him at #5 two years ago, and is a great complement to Barnett and helps form one of the top 1-2 punches at LB in the league. Brady Poppinga was OK at SLB, but the addition of Brandon Chillar creates competetion and upgrades that position very well. Last year's draftee Desmond Bishop helped on special teams and is a solid backup. Thompson probably will not draft a LB this year because of previous additions.

CORNERBACKS

Al Harris made the Pro bowl but wore down and got beat mentally down the stretch against Owens and Burress. Charles Woodson played through pain last year and still made many game-changing plays. These two give the packers a great advantage because they excel in the scheme's man coverage. Backups Tramon Williams, Jarret Bush, and Will blacmon seemed to progress as the season went on, with Williams and Blackmon helping out the return game immensly. But this is the position that seems to be targeted in mock drafts that the Packers will address in round 1, so the possibilities there include:

• Brandon Flowers (VT) - Comfortable in man coverage which would be very nice to have in a 3rd corner and possible starter down the road. Regarded as a solid but sometimes inconsistent tackler, and intercepted 5 passes last year so he has solid instincts. Overall would be a nice pick at the end of the first round (#30).
• Antoine Cason (ARZ) - Good size (6'0", 191) and speed (4.45), but is said to be best suited as a zone corner, not what the packers ask of their CBs. Great senior year (71 tackles (four for losses), two forced fumbles, five interceptions (two of which he returned for TDs) and 14 pass breakups) makes him a hot commodity and a nice possible addition at #30.

Aquib Talib tested positive for marijuana 3 times at Kansas and Thompson has probably dropped him off his board. Most likely there will be a few corners taken before we pick so we must be open to the best possible player at #30.

SAFTIES

Atari Bigby became the starter as SS in Week 1 and never gave it up. Bigby delivered bone-jarring hits and became a decent pass defender towards the end of the season, he has put the STRONG back in Strong safety in Green Bay and has turned into a fan favorite. Nick Collins didn't make huge strides last year, and some competition would be good at the Free Safety position. Aaron Rouse played sparingly in his rookie season, but seemed to be a good athlete and has great potential if he studies the game properly. Some possibilities here are:

• Kenny Phillips (Miami) - Shows decent instincts when in a zone and has good athleticism (4.48 forty and 19 reps at 225). Comes from a great lineage of Miami safeties, and plays the game with a mean-streak at times. Could potentially surpass Collins on the depth chart in a year or two.

Overall a good defense that just needs some more depth at certain positions and we'll be just fine. I expect a few defensive selections on draft weekend that will help us create more competition and provide more young depth.