PACKERDRAFT 2010 LINEBACKER

Jerry Gilbert
The linebackers who play in Green Bay include three first round draft choices and no all pros. As a unit they played at a high level most of the time in 2009, but they under-performed in several crucial situations. Aside from rookie Clay Matthews, who may well be all pro in the future, the unit did not rush the passer or defend the pass well enough to achieve victories against offenses led by top rated quarterbacks. It is a unit that needs to improve.

There is potential for development from within. Everyone was adjusting to the new 3-4 defense last year and should be comfortable this season. Linebackers who are familiar with the system will allow coordinator Dom Capers to add more to the game plan. Although each player has some limitations, Capers has some talent to work with. Nick Barnett stops ball carriers at and behind the line of scrimmage and ranges across the field to make tackles. He is average in pass coverage and blitzing. A J Hawk is a good inside linebacker. He even made one outstanding play in pass coverage last season, but great plays of any kind and adequate work in pass coverage are not often seen. Brandon Chillar just received a big contract largely because he is far and away the best coverage linebacker on the team. Desmond Bishop is slightly behind the big three, and like the others, defending against the pass is a major weakness. The Green Bay Packer roster has room for an inside linebacker who can drop into coverage.

At outside linebacker, barring a case of the sophomore jinx, Clay Matthews figures to be a force on one side of the line. Brad Jones was the starter at the end of 2009 on the other side. If he continues to improve, he could be part of the answer. However, the Packers need a reliable pass rusher to fill that spot next year. Jones, and the other contenders to start are works in progress as pass rushers. One of the most promising candidates could be Jeremy Thompson, but his serious injury at the end of the season makes him a question mark. Easy to forget is the young man who excited many fans in the preseason. Cyril Obiozor. With good size, 6-4 249, and quickness, he has the raw materials to play the position. Whether a season on the practice squad has made him ready to contribute will be determined by the end of the preseason. Brady Poppinga, by contrast is more of a known quantity, but what we know suggests that he will be a dependable reserve at best. It will be a big surprise if the 2010 draft ends without t the selection of at least one linebacker, and the position will probably be addressed early.

Based on the NFL Combine and the post season all-star games, there is a basis for optimism that a number of college defensive ends will be able quickly to make the transition to 3-4 outside linebacker.

One of my favorites is Wisconsin defensive end OÕBrien Schofield. Unfortunately, his post-season injury will prevent him from making an impact in year one, which means that he will drop into the four to six round area. The question will be how soon some team will take the chance that the will make a full recovery, and that his progress as a linebacker will continue. As a pass rushing defensive end for the Badgers, Schofield was a terror in opposing backfields. At 6-2 221, Schofield would need to put on some weight, but he held up well in college at that size and 4.6 forty time with good agility is a compensating factor. At the East West Shrine practices he began the week being called out by the head coach for a missed assignment. After he explained that he had never played the position before, he was given additional coaching, and by game time, he covered well and made an interception. Given the many draft needs facing Packer General Manager Ted Thompson, he probably will not spend a mid round pick on a player certain to need a year on injured reserve to start his career. However, the team that takes the leap of faith could find themselves with a very fine player.

At pick 23 in the first round there may not be an attractive offensive tackle or cornerback. It is too early for anyone other than a once in every few years safety. It would therefore not be a shock if the Green Bay Packers follow a pattern common in the last few years and pick a linebacker in round one.

Two players stand out. Sergio Kindle 6-3 245 Texas played out of position as a defensive end his last year in college after recording 10 sacks as a junior playing outside linebacker The scheme did call for him sometimes to drop into coverage, so that scouts have film of his ability in that area. His supporters emphasize his dominating performance in the National Championship game, in which he kept Texas in the game after quarterback Colt McCoy was injured. His detractors say that he is too often taken out of the play by big offensive linemen, and he has some character issues However his proven ability as a pass rusher and overall package of skills will probably result in a firs round selection. The Packers may be his team.

The other highly touted player is Brandon Graham 6-1 268 Michigan. Beginning with his outstanding performance t the Senior Bowl, Graham has been rated as a first round selection. That is not to say he came out of nowhere. Graham was all Big Ten for two seasons in each of which he registered 10 sacks and over 20 tackles for loss. The knock on him is his lack of height. However, consistent success against Big Ten tackles and his domination during Senior Bowl Week may cause the Packers to take a first round chance on Graham despite the lack of prototypical height.

Round two should provide the opportunity again to draft a playmaking pass rusher. A player who stands out on You Tube for a having a non-stop motor is Eric Norwood 6-1 245 South Carolina. As we have seen, several of the top linebacker prospects at inside linebacker are not as tall as one might prefer, but the ones listed here are football players. Norwood is the fist Gamecock to be honored as all conference for three seasons. His wok ethic and intelligence are shown by his having earned a degree in under four years. In college he was lined up all over the defense and along with plugging holes in the run game, he has experience dropping into coverage. However his main contribution is rushing the passer. With 4.70 speed, he is fast enough, and his strength and determination should make him a sack artist at the next level as well. Norwood could be fun to watch wearing green and gold.

Another prospect at this level is Jerry Hughes 6-2 248 TCU. Some scouts believe that Hughes, who was twice selected All American as a defensive end, is actually better suited to outside linebacker. As a junior, he led the nation with 19.5 sacks and followed up with 16.5as a senior. He is criticized as being weak against the run, but a 3-4 defense could allow him to run around some blocks and professional training will make him stronger. Hughes is another sack master who could be very effective in Green Bay.

A player with better size, Koa Misi 6-3 251 Utah, is rated in the second to third round range. Misi has some pass breakups among his statistics, which suggests some coverage ability. He was a bookend for Graham chasing quarterbacks at the Senior Bowl. Although his college statistics are not exceptional, Misi recorded 5 sacks as a senior despite missing some games with a back problem. His attitude is illustrated by the fact that he repeated combine drills at his pro day and improved his times.

In the middle rounds there is additional talent at linebacker. Antonio Coleman 6-1 248 Auburn is another college defensive end who has the athleticism to move to linebacker. He ran a 4.77 forty at his pro day and with 33.5 inch vertical jump. His college career was also impressive. In 2009, he led the SEC in tackles and tackles for loss. His 10.5 sacks are pretty impressive as well. If the Packer scouts are convinced that he can adjust to linebacker, Coleman could be an excellent addition.

A proven coverage linebacker with good size and speed is A.J Edds 6-4 244 Iowa. The problem with Edds is that he has never shown much ability to rush the passer. On the other hand, scouts watching him at the Senior Bowl said Edds was always where he needed to be to make a play and he was the best coverage linebacker there. Edds has good timed speed at 4.62. Green Bay could certainly use a linebacker who can stay with receivers and Edds may be able to back up inside and outside.

In the late rounds there is a junior with ideal size and some potential. Kevin Basped 6-5 258 Nevada registered 12.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks in 2009. He surprised his coach by entering the draft early. His recent pro day was the first time scouts could fully evaluate Basped, and it was closed to the public. Although some team may try to add weight and keep him at defensive end, Green Bay may well see a player whose size could make him a weapon on defense in the 3-4.

Slightly smaller but a prospect with good college numbers and proven ability to cover receivers is Roderick Muckelroy 6-2 246 Texas. In 2009 Muckelroy totaled 78 tackles with 9 for a loss and 2 sacks. He has run a 4.68 forty with 19 reps on the bench press. He is another player who could be a reserve at any linebacker position.

We have been emphasizing outside linebackers, which is the greatest need of the Green Bay Packers. It is possible that an inside backer may interest them at some point. However this draft is deep in pass rushing outside linebackers and fairly weak in inside run stuffers. As has been stated, some draft eligible players could project both inside and outside, and that would be a better late round choice for Green Bay.

However the draft plays out, we are likely to hear the phase ÒGreen Bay selectsÓ followed a few words later by the word linebacker.