Three To Watch: Defense

  • Jeremy Thompson

Thompson has all the physical tools necessary to blossom into a good all-around defensive end. Not great, but good. Thompson showed flashes and should only get stronger and better overall. What he lacks right now can't be taught - namely, he needs a killer instinct. Several times this season he came blazing off the line on a passing down only to have the offensive tackle direct him past the quarterback with his hands. He needs to spend some time watching film of Deacon Jones, not for technique, goodness knows, but to see how passion, a burning hatred of quarterbacks, can go a long way in your ability to put QBs on their backs.

  • Pat Lee

Lee is raw, and he got limited time from scrimmage this year in the few games he was active before going on Injured Reserve, but I'm here to tell you - he is the real deal. I can't explain it, other than to say I see a lot of the same things I saw in Tramon Williams back when no one knew how Williams would fare as Al Harris' replacement. Lee is going to be good, perhaps very, very good. Not only does he have the ability to jam guys on the line, but he showed flashes of being able to play zone quite well in the game down in Tampa. Only the coaching staff's infatuation with Will Blackmom kept Lee from being the Dime back, a job that will be Lee's next season.

  • A.J. Hawk

Alright, clean up the coffee you just spit out all over the monitor and hear me out. After what can only be described as a horrific season, A. J. Hawk is being vilified by fans and the media as being a gigantic bust. Now, is he playing as you would hope the 5th overall pick would play? Far from it, but he is hardly the lost cause so many are making him out to be. Hawk did indeed look lost from the Saint game on and he is perilously close to a liability in man coverage (which is why you saw him on the bench against Indianapolis) But the fact remains that Hawk is a good (not great) football player. And I'm pretty certain the groin and chest injuries he suffered at the beginning of the year had a lot more to do with his play than most people realize. My guess is you will see a lean, mean Hawk with a chip on his shoulder at the beginning of next season, one that, while not exactly flying around making plays like a Lewis or Harrison, will be much better utilized by whomever takes the reins of the Packer defense in 2009.

 

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Comments (9)

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Andrew in Atlanta's picture

January 05, 2009 at 01:48 pm

You're right, spit the coffee out

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PackerAaron's picture

January 05, 2009 at 01:50 pm

He'll surprise next year, mark my words.

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Andrew in Atlanta's picture

January 05, 2009 at 01:55 pm

From your mouth to God's ears my friend

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Ron La Canne's picture

January 05, 2009 at 04:43 pm

Thompson has shown glimers of talent. I agree he may develop. Next year star? Maybe!

AJ, no one had more confidnce that he would succeed in the middle than I did. Once again I was wrong. If you are right, then coaching was indeed the problem in 2008.

Pat Lee, MM is certainly high on him. Unfortunatly, he never got much of a chance to show what he had. To agree that he will be one of the top performers in 2009 is to accept that on faith. He may be great, there just hasn't been enough performance that points in that direction.

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ctpack's picture

January 05, 2009 at 04:55 pm

What no Justin Harrell?

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PackerAaron's picture

January 05, 2009 at 04:58 pm

If Justin Harrell is active for 16 games next season, I will consider it a triumph.

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PackerAaron's picture

January 05, 2009 at 05:00 pm

Ron - Hear you on Lee. I base my thoughts on him off of what I saw when I was at Family Night. Evaluation, as I'm sure you're aware, is best when you can see the player live. It's true the 'tape doesn't lie' but nothing replaces live action.

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Aaron Rogders's picture

January 05, 2009 at 05:59 pm

I saw the Packer Falcons game live this year. Pat Lee made a great pass deflect (although, at that time of the year the Packers were getting horrible officiating..) but was incorrectly called for Pass Interference. He does look to have a lot of speed.

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dustybricks6's picture

January 05, 2009 at 09:24 pm

This was a talented, poorly-coached defense this year. I expect a huge upswing in 09 with minimal dipping into free-agency. A big name def. coordinator is heading north to our Green Bay...

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