Here Comes Bishop
By PackerAaron
Back in mid-July I wrote that Desmond Bishop could surprise and it certainly seems like he's starting to turn some heads a few days into camp. Also of note is PackerGeeks recalling Bishop's thinly veiled accusation that the team was playing guys for considerations other than their production and ability. (Mr. Hawk, he's looking at you...)
Andy also brings up the infamous play against the Vikings. Make no mistake, it's a horrible, horrible play on Bishop's part. But a lot of what you're seeing is a guy who is in his first real game action all year (Barnett was hurt the play before) and who was playing on a completely alien surface. Prior to that play, I doubt Bishop had done much of anything on carpet, maybe back in college. But he certainly wasn't ready for the cutting ability he discovered while attempting to track down Taylor.
The encouraging thing is how well Bishop responded. He made some plays and generally improved as the game went on. Yes, he blew his assignment on Peterson's big TD run at the end of the game, but for his first serious NFL action, it was a good showing.
Fast forward to training camp.
Bishop is flying around, making plays and getting noticed, while Barnett is on PUP and Hawk looks like, well, Hawk. Throw in the fact that Bishop is apparently considered a bit of a sleeper by some people around the league, and what I characterized as a long shot last month seems more and more like a pending reality.
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Comments (9)
August 04, 2009 at 01:58 pm
Bishop was mentally inconsistant throughout the year, it wasn't just those mistakes in Minnesota (which I think you're way too generous to just give a pass for), the rest of the season he especially blew his coverage assignments and let a lot of important first downs happen late game. The type of games the Pack lost by four points or less.
If he can get more mentally prepared, it's cleaer he's got the physical ability. But I think you're far to generous to a guy that literally could be seen as costing the Packers a place in the playoffs last year.
August 04, 2009 at 02:04 pm
Bishop is a fumble-causing machine. Love the progress he is making...
PackerAaron
August 04, 2009 at 02:09 pm
Erik - answer me this. If you saw all those things, which I saw too, would you keep putting him in those positions? No, of course not. Yet Bob Sanders did again and again. Sanders, not Bishop, is the reason the Packers didn't make the playoffs. Like I've said before, the man can't cover a back out of the backfield to save his life - Capers scheme won't ask him to the majority of the time.
August 04, 2009 at 04:07 pm
I agree with Aaron. I like Bishop. But I like him much more under Capers. As I do Rouse.
Those are my dark horses for this year, including Wynn, Jeremy Thompson and Finley. Chillar's been looking good too.
James Jones is looking good, but he's not a dark horse. He's expected to be that good.
Oh yeah, my man Justin Harrell is gonna light it up too.
August 04, 2009 at 04:35 pm
Bishop's is getting very high marks from Ellerson and Le Roy Butler on his play. Ellerson says he should start and that AJ has been a lump so far. Johnny Grey says Bishop has got to stop making the big mistakes that plagued him last year. He gets himself out of position too often and he is still doing it. I like the way Bishop plays and I really think this year AJ's #5 pick contract should be off the table. He who plays best should take that position. Can't wait to see them in game conditions to see this battle.
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Another interesting thing Johnny Grey said, was what he didn't say. Asked about the right tackle spot he said it was Barbre, Moll, and Breno in that order. No mention of Lang.
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By the way in the two minute drills today Clifton had a false start and MM pulled him for the next play. Sound familiar? Can anyone say pad levels?
August 04, 2009 at 05:17 pm
I like Bishop too, but I also remember him playing like a beast the same time last year during the preseason and then what happened?
August 04, 2009 at 06:23 pm
I think Bishop may indeed have a very bright future. One correction, The queendome in Mannyassholesplus has the same playing surface that we use in the Hutson Center, tha carpet has been gone for a few years.
August 04, 2009 at 10:06 pm
I completely agree with Aaron. Bishop is a playmaker. Full stop. I really see the various degrees of potential defensive success tied to guys that step up. I mean, you know what you're getting with Woody, Hawk, etc. But if guys like Bishop and Harrell can step up, and if we get anything out of the rookies, then we can likely move from a middle of the road defense to a top 10. JMO
August 04, 2009 at 11:07 pm
Bishop is a big play waiting to happen. His problem is he makes them AND gives them up. Same with Rouse (the guy just can't take a decent angle on a play to save his life so far). I'd be really worried about how vulnerable the packers would be to the pass if Bishop was lined up next to Kampman and in front of either Bigby or Rouse.
In theory it sounds good but personally I dont think you want a defense full of playmakers. You need a solid group of 7 or 8 on the field who are gonna "just do their job" and a few playmakers IMO (i.e. Pitt w/ Hampton, Harrison, and Polomau or Balt w/ Ngata,Suggs, Lewis, and Reed Etc.). Everybody on the field doesnt have to be able to make highlights if they are all working together to make sure those who can make them do.