Packers Preview: Defenders Of The Faith » Brats & Beer

Continuing my preview of the 2007 Green Bay Packers, let’s take a look now at the defense and what we can expect from that unit. Given the question marks on the offensive side, the old axiom about the best offense is a better defense might be true for the Packers this year.

Luckily, I think we’ll have a pretty good defense in 2007. The front four should be one of the best units in the NFL, with returning starters Cullen Jenkins, Ryan Pickett, and Aaron Kampman. Kampman we know is a total stud and I expect him to continue to play the role of leader again this year. Jenkins proved to be a brute from the edge especially on running downs. There is of course the question of Kabeer Gbaja-Biamilla and where he’ll fit in this season. Always on the cusp of being promising, KGB has usually found a way to let us down, so I wonder if this will be the year he finally gets it into gear or finally gets cut from the roster.

The other question on the DL is first-round pick Justin Harrell. Not to rehash the past, but I’m still not in total agreement that the 310 lb. tackle was the best choice for Ted Thompson in the draft. That said, I’ll be the first to admit I’m wrong if Harrell proves to be a monster in the middle like the second coming of The Grave Digger. And I think he’ll have to become that kind of impact player soon to appease the boo birds we saw on draft day.

Behind the front four, Green Bay is pretty solid with its linebacking corps. A. J. Hawk certainly lived up to his billing during his rookie season and we’re looking for an even better performance this year. If Brady Poppinga can stay healthy this year, I think he has the potential to develop into a solid player. (And I just love to say, “Poppinga!”) Then of course there’s our somewhat troubled MLB Nick Barnett who may or may not be facing jail time and/or a league suspension for that fracas up in Appleton this summer. My personal feeling is the assult charges will be reduced to something minor and he’ll get off with probation and he’ll maybe have to sit out a game or two.

So far the defense is looking pretty good, but then we come to the Achilles heel: The secondary. I’m not talking about our shutdown corners Al Harris and Charles Woodson, of course. I was very impressed that Woodson made it through the entire 2006 season without serious injury (I bet he was too) and I’m expecting more great plays from both of them this season. There is the question of who the nickle back will be this year. Jarrett Bush and Patrick Dendy seem the likeliest candidates, though Will Blackmon might make the cut now that he’s healthy. Whoever gets the call, though, they really need to step up their game to prevent teams from killing us with the deep ball.

The deep ball, yes, and who is the last line of defense against that? Ugh, the safeties. If ever we needed some real talent it would be here. Nick Collins showed some real promise his first year and fell apart last season. As for Marquand Manuel, well, to quote the Oracle of Cheese, “To say Manuel sucked is an insult to hookers everywhere.” Love it! There is some hope that the now healthy Marviel Underwood will be able to show us more of the talent we thought we saw in the preseason last year, but really it’s going to be a crap shoot back there, which means it is more imperative that the DEs and LBs find a way to get pressure on opposing QBs this season.

It would also help if the secondary had better coaching, but we’re still stuck with Kurt Schottenheimer. Seriously, if we hear even a whisper about crossed signals or botched calls or communications problems, Packer Nation needs to rise up with one voice and demand Schottsie’s head on a platter.

So what’s the final tally? It’s really up to the front eight this year to make it happen: Stop the run, put pressure on the QB, create turnovers, all the things we’ve been needing the past few years. The secondary is going to be vulnerable to some degree because we just don’t have the talent on the field, but there are ways to gameplan in order to keep that weakness from being exposed. Bob Sanders is starting year two of his regime, so he really needs to take command and show us that he’s got what it takes to build a serious contender in the National Football League.

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