I am trying desperately to write a positive article about the Packers defense. I guess I could write about the linebackers being deep or the fact that we have two of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. But I keep coming back to Fritz Shurmur, one of the greatest defensive coordinators in Packer History, who said “If you don’t have a defensive line, you don’t have a defense”.
And so here we are at the end of Training camp with a multitude of questions- the most pressing being Ryan Pickett and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila. Reports from Monday on KGB are not promising, Bob McGinn writes:
Back in pads Monday for the first time since his surgically repaired right knee acted up July 30, Gbaja-Biamila stayed away from making sharp cuts and tried to avoid heavy contact before shutting himself down with about 30 minutes to go.
If Gbaja-Biamila, whose cap salary of $7.727 million ranks No. 1 on the team, isn’t ready for Minnesota, the Packers probably would be down to using Jason Hunter at right end on passing downs. Rookie Jeremy Thompson, a fourth-round draft choice, has been invisible. Michael Montgomery is another option.
If KGB & Pickett can’t go, all Minnesota will have to do is double Aaron Kampman and Adrian Peterson has 200 yards rushing. Over at The Tundra Vision blog I have to take exception with this quote:
The sack, in my long-standing opinion, is the most overrated statistic in football. I would trade all my defensive sacks for consistent pressure, hurries, and knockdowns on the quarterback. Give me Aaron Kampman’s consistency over KGB’s once-in-a-while sack any day.
That’s like saying you would rather score field goals than touchdowns. Seriously. Please. There is nothing overrated about a sack and here’s why:
1. It has the potential to take out the most important position on the opponents team.
2. It’s a game momentum changing play.
3. It can generate negative psychological effects on the opposing team. (i.e. scare the living crap out of them- especially the QB)
And what about Reggie White? Are his record sacks in the Superbowl overrated? Come on.
I can remember many a game where we needed a game changing play and KGB delivered. The $7.27 million dollars KGB will make this year is worth it…if he is on the field.
CharlesMartinGraduates said in August 29th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
