November 11th, 2008

Railbird Nails It

packeraaron in Nick Barnett, Packer Blogs

Good to see Brian Carriveau posting with some regularity again over at Railbird Central, and he has an astute post up today regarding the loss of Barnett for the season and the media’s reaction to it. Echoing almost my exact thoughts after reading Tom Silverstein’s article in the Journal-Sentinel, Brian notes:

People can think that the Packers took a step backwards when middle linebacker Nick Barnett was lost for the season against the Minnesota Vikings. The mainstream media is doing it.

“The odds that the Green Bay Packers’ defense will strengthen and stop allowing opposing running backs to run wild were diminished Monday when linebacker Nick Barnett was declared lost for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee,” writes Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Meanwhile, the mainstream media is including polls on their websites asking for the most disappointing player of the season and including Nick Barnett on the list.

Sure, whoever steps into the middle linebacker role is going to have their struggles. They’re going to have a steep learning curve, and they’re going to make some mistakes.

But are they going to be appreciably worse than Barnett? Probably not.


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9 Responses to “Railbird Nails It”

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Do we see Hodge? If not, who do we see - I am sure there will be some kind of something signed.

PackOne said in November 11th, 2008 at 12:27 pm

No way will they resign Hodge. They’ll either roll with Bishop or move Hawk over and elevate Chillar. And I highly doubt they sign a backer. They probably see what Lansanah can do first.

packeraaron said in November 11th, 2008 at 12:36 pm

They have Spencer Havner on the practice squad too

Andrew in Atlanta said in November 11th, 2008 at 12:48 pm

It would be kind of hard to sign Hodge when he is on the Bengals team. ;)

I really hope they move Hawk to the middle personally. I think its a better fit for him and I think that if he’s healthy then he’s the best LB we have left. I would put him in the middle put Chillar in his spot full time and leave Poppinga where he is. JMHO….

PRC said in November 11th, 2008 at 1:03 pm

The o0bvious choice, which MM and Sanders probably won’t do is AJ in the middle. That was his position at O-State and his natural position based on his physical strengths. What the Packers need in the middle is someone to plug the holes in the gaps allowed by the O-line. They don’t need somone running around like a defalting ballon.

Here are the reasons for the MLB being held near the line: After 9 games
1. YPG Defense 21st
2. Rush YPG Defense 154.6 28th
3. Rush YPC 5.0 30th
4. Passing YPG 179.1 3rd
5. Points PG 18th

The pattern should be obvious. As far as Bishop goes - the coach is blaming him for blown gap control on RP’s winning TD. AJ’s strength is not a cover LB, he tackles. Let him do it.

Ron La Canne said in November 11th, 2008 at 3:17 pm

How did I miss Hodge getting signed by the Bengals?

PackOne said in November 11th, 2008 at 6:39 pm

Ah, yes I believe I made that point in saying that “Who is Nick Barnett?”

packerhigh said in November 11th, 2008 at 8:26 pm

I don’t know if I’m going to agree with you here. I agree completely that Barnett has struggled and is no where near the impact player he was last year.

But who among the front seven is as good as they were last year? Even Kampmann has quietly been having a subpar year after improving each year before.

I’ve always thought of Barnett as a Mike Douglass wanna-be, more worried about his martial-arts celebration moves than his football moves.

But whomever plays the middle is going to be surrounded by underachievers. Right now, Hawk and Poppinga aren’t going to be doing Bishop many favors if they can’t handle their own responsibilities.

This linebacking corps may become the defensive version of our offensive line…constantly shuffling players back and forth trying to find the right combination, and not finding it.

L.A. said in November 11th, 2008 at 9:12 pm

“I’ve always thought of Barnett as a Mike Douglass wanna-be”

That made my day. Thanks C.D. And you make good points, as usual. Just think the drop off won’t be as precipitous as some media members seem to think it will be.

packeraaron said in November 11th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
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