IDP Position Spotlight: Packers Linebackers (1 Viewer)

[Aaron Rudnicki]

2009 IDP Spotlight Series

One of Footballguys best assets is our message board community. The IDP Forum here has grown quickly over the past few years and is probably the best place on the internet to discuss, debate and analyze all things related to IDPs. In what we hope to make an annual tradition, the IDP Spotlight series will be a key part of our preseason effort this year. As many of you know from what has been done with offensive players over the years, we consider the Player Spotlight threads the permanent record for analyzing the fantasy prospects of the player in question. This year, we hope to publish IDP Spotlights for approximately 20-30 players, which should account for many of the most interesting IDP starters for this year and possibly years to come.

Each week we will post a list of players to be discussed. Those threads will remain open for the entire preseason, and should be a central point to discuss expectations for the player in question. Importantly, analysis done in the first week (or possibly longer) of posting will be part of the permanent record in two ways.

1) At the end of the week (or longer when necessary), we will tally the projections into a consensus.

2) We will select a number of pull quotes from forum contributors who make a compelling statement or observation. Both the projections and pull quotes will be part of a published article on the main website.

Thread Topic: Green Bay Packers Linebackers: Nick Barnett, AJ Hawk, Aaron Kampman, Clay Matthews

Nick Barnett Player Page

AJ Hawk Player Page

Aaron Kampman Player Page

Clay Matthews Player Page

Each published article will include:

Detailed viewpoint from a Footballguys staff member
Highlighted member commentary from the message board threads
FBG Projections
Consensus Member ProjectionsThe Rules

In order for this thread to provide maximum value, we ask that you follow a few simple guidelines:

Focus commentary on the player or players in question, and your expectations for said player(s)
Back up your expectations in whatever manner you deem appropriate; avoid posts that simply say "I hate him" or "He's the best"
To be included in the final synopsis and consensus outlook, we request that you provide projections for the player(s)Projections should include the following categories at minimum:

For DLs: Solos, Assists, Sacks, PD
For LBs: Solos, Assists, Sacks, INT, PD
For DBs: Solos, Assists, Sacks, INT, PDNow let's get on with the conversation! We look forward to your contributions and let me offer a personal thanks in anticipation of the great debate and analysis.

 

[Jene Bramel]

Get the right side of this one and you'll have found big value for your lineup. Unfortunately, there are significant question marks everywhere. Barnett may have a slightly more favorable tackle role, but he's coming off a knee injury. Hawk moves inside and will have to shed blockers much better than he has in prior seasons to rack up tackles. Kampman isn't pleased with his new role and faces the uphill climb that all 3-4 OLB face to put up numbers. And Clay Matthews is struggling to earn reps with the first team, with Jeremy Thompson pushing for playing time. I'm backing Barnett narrowly over Hawk for now, and have tempered expectations for Kampman.

Projections:

Barnett: 87 solos, 26 assists, 1 sack, 1 FF/FR, 2 INT, 7 PD

Hawk: 84 solos, 22 assists, 1 sack, 1 FF/FR, 0 INT, 3 PD

Kampman: 49 solos, 13 assists, 8 sacks, 3 FF/FR, 0 INT, 2 PD

 

[trader jake]

I agree with your overall assessment Jene but disagree in one area - the roles that Barnett and Hawk will play in 2009. I think the coaching staff is going to allow Hawk more Seau-like freedom to go with his instincts a bit more...using him as a blitzer more often.

Basically I'd bump up Barnett's tackles slightly (lowering Hawks tackles accordingly) while adding a few sacks to Hawk's tally. I think the real value with Kampman is adding him midseason from a disgruntled owner in hopes that he ends up in a 4-3 scheme in 2010 as a defensive lineman again.

 

[bcr8f]

I agree with your overall assessment Jene but disagree in one area - the roles that Barnett and Hawk will play in 2009. I think the coaching staff is going to allow Hawk more Seau-like freedom to go with his instincts a bit more...using him as a blitzer more often.

Basically I'd bump up Barnett's tackles slightly (lowering Hawks tackles accordingly) while adding a few sacks to Hawk's tally. I think the real value with Kampman is adding him midseason from a disgruntled owner in hopes that he ends up in a 4-3 scheme in 2010 as a defensive lineman again.

I think this is very likely with Thompon taking the job. Right now Barnett says he's healthy and Raji has been praciting at LDE so if he stays there he'll help Barnett. I agree with your numbers for now.

 

[bigal0303]

barnett is defintley the go to at the linebacker spot. AJ Hawk will defintley be having more freedom at what he wants to do more of a rover backer. The barnett tackles should be at 97 solos 30 assisted 1sack 2ints, AJ Hawk 80 solo 20 assited 5 sacks 0int, Kampman 40 solo 15 assists 10 sacks. Kampman can have more if the offense can jump out and force the pass which they are capable of striking fast kampman could go up to 15 sacks if the scoring is there

 

[Qtip Callahan]

Barnett was struggling with tackles (and any big plays) before his injury last season. The 3-4 just opens up more questions in my eyes, along with him returning from injury. Someone is gonna have to step in GB and make plays, and Barnett is probably the best bet, but I'm still a bit leery and would be careful on where I drafted him..

 

[Weiner Dog]

link:

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/57045477.html

Linebacker Nick Barnett played in his first game since undergoing reconstructive knee surgery Nov. 26. He lined up on the weak side and played about 28 snaps.

"Barnett looked good coming off that knee," one scout said. "Didn't look bad at all. Looked active. He's always been kind of an athletic guy."

 

[-baller]

might've already been posted and digested long ago, but here's an old article from feb that I just saw linked, and thought was a good read.

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/40068242.html



Indianapolis - Coach Mike McCarthy has heard the scuttlebutt that the Green Bay Packers are just whistling "Dixie" when it comes to fitting the defensive front seven from their old 4-3 defense to a new 3-4 scheme.

As one personnel director put it last week: "You can't automatically say, 'They've got Dom Capers and are going to be a great defense.' You have to have personnel for the defense, and they don't. They've only got 70%, 80% of the puzzle."

McCarthy, however, doesn't come close to seeing things that way.

"I think we're a lot better off than people think we are," McCarthy said over the weekend. "I think people have underestimated us a little bit. I think we've got good depth already."

That would hold especially true at inside linebacker, where McCarthy says the Packers have "five or six that could play right now."

McCarthy also is optimistic about the situation at outside linebacker, where he counts five veterans plus Brandon Chillar, who figures at all four positions.

A personnel director for a team with a 3-4 defense foresees growing pains in Green Bay.

"It's a huge transition for them," the scout said last week. "It will be a chore to adapt that talent to a 3-4 scheme. But the guy (Capers) who is doing it is a good enough coach so he probably will blend in a little 4-3 and not make it a total transition in Year 1. If you can do that, you can survive until you have two or three years to kind of flip the roster."

Just so there's no confusion, McCarthy spelled out, for the first time, some basics of the new scheme.......