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Footballguy
The longer Atari Bigby stays away from the Green Bay Packers’ offseason program, the better Morgan Burnett’s chances of winning a starting job.
With Bigby absent because he hasn’t signed his restricted free agent tender, Burnett has taken all the snaps at strong safety with the starting defense during the organized team activities. And the way Burnett has performed, he might not be just keeping Bigby’s seat warm.
The third-round draft pick from Georgia Tech, who made a name for himself in college by taking the ball away, has continued his playmaking ways so far in OTAs. Though he’s still learning the Packers’ version of the 3-4 defense, his instincts have already come through in his play. In all three of the OTA practices that have been open to the media, Burnett has made at least one big play.
“He’s learning; he’s growing,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said after Wednesday’s OTA. “I do like his assertiveness, particularly in his communication skills, and that’s very important at the safety position. Athletically, he’s a young man with a bright future. You can just see the athletic ability, both on special teams and defense. He’s still learning the defense, and he’s doing a good job of that.”
Burnett has good size (6 feet 1 inches, 209 pounds) — he’s bigger than Bigby (5-11, 213) and starting free safety Nick Collins (5-11, 207) — and runs well (a 4.42 in the 40-yard dash during his pro day) for a safety. But it was his ball skills that opened the Packers’ eyes. He had 14 interceptions in just three years at Georgia Tech.
“Everything that happened in college is back in college,” Burnett said. “This is a new beginning now, and I’m just trying to learn and pick up the plays and do my best out there to pick it up quickly and get better. I knew it was going to be a fast tempo, so the main thing is getting used to the fast tempo and learning the terminology.”
Part of Burnett’s job entails making some defensive calls in the secondary, which requires both a detailed knowledge of the scheme and the ability to think quickly. His Wonderlic score of 14 was on the low side, but Collins had low scores coming out of college, too, and he had little trouble assimilating into the pro game. Burnett said he’s been studying the scheme every chance he has gotten and has been relying heavily on veterans like Collins for advice.
“It’s a tough task, but it’s been going OK,” Burnett said. “I’m just trying to understand the terminology and my responsibility.”
To date, all but two of the defensive installations have been completed. The final two will be installed during the final OTAs next week, and the entire package will be reviewed during the June 21-23 mandatory minicamp.
Whether Bigby will be around for the minicamp is uncertain. He technically wouldn’t be considered a holdout because he isn’t under contract.
The Packers placed a second-round restricted free agent tender on him, but he is one of three players who hasn’t signed (defensive Johnny Jolly and cornerback Tramon Williams are the others). Bigby’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, hasn’t returned repeated messages left over the course of the offseason.
Collins said he spoke with Bigby two weeks ago but wasn’t sure when Bigby planned to sign. Bigby is coming off of two injury-filled seasons that followed his breakout season of 2007. He has missed time the last two years because of ankle and knee injuries.
“He’s back home trying to get his ankle right and come in for training camp and go from there,” Collins said.
Bigby’s status could change next week. If restricted free agents don’t sign their tenders by Tuesday, teams can reduce their offer to 110 percent of their 2009 base salary.
“I think all of our players understand the importance of the OTAs, particularly the players that have been here in the past, the opportunities that they’re given and the time that the coaching staff puts into these OTAs and the individual time that’s available afterward,” McCarthy said.
“Anytime a player misses these, it’s an opportunity that is wasted as far as being with his teammates. But we can’t deny there are business situations that surround our business, and that’s no different for Atari or any others that have not been here.”
Still, Bigby’s starting job could be slipping through his hands because of his absence.
When asked whether he has told Bigby about how well Burnett has played, Collins said: “I don’t have to tell him the kid looks OK. We’re all grown men here. Everybody’s getting evaluated. It’s up to him to come in and make the right decision for him. I’m letting him know that whenever he comes back, we’re ready for him and nobody’s trying to throw (Bigby) to the side or push him away.”
With Bigby absent because he hasn’t signed his restricted free agent tender, Burnett has taken all the snaps at strong safety with the starting defense during the organized team activities. And the way Burnett has performed, he might not be just keeping Bigby’s seat warm.
The third-round draft pick from Georgia Tech, who made a name for himself in college by taking the ball away, has continued his playmaking ways so far in OTAs. Though he’s still learning the Packers’ version of the 3-4 defense, his instincts have already come through in his play. In all three of the OTA practices that have been open to the media, Burnett has made at least one big play.
“He’s learning; he’s growing,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said after Wednesday’s OTA. “I do like his assertiveness, particularly in his communication skills, and that’s very important at the safety position. Athletically, he’s a young man with a bright future. You can just see the athletic ability, both on special teams and defense. He’s still learning the defense, and he’s doing a good job of that.”
Burnett has good size (6 feet 1 inches, 209 pounds) — he’s bigger than Bigby (5-11, 213) and starting free safety Nick Collins (5-11, 207) — and runs well (a 4.42 in the 40-yard dash during his pro day) for a safety. But it was his ball skills that opened the Packers’ eyes. He had 14 interceptions in just three years at Georgia Tech.
“Everything that happened in college is back in college,” Burnett said. “This is a new beginning now, and I’m just trying to learn and pick up the plays and do my best out there to pick it up quickly and get better. I knew it was going to be a fast tempo, so the main thing is getting used to the fast tempo and learning the terminology.”
Part of Burnett’s job entails making some defensive calls in the secondary, which requires both a detailed knowledge of the scheme and the ability to think quickly. His Wonderlic score of 14 was on the low side, but Collins had low scores coming out of college, too, and he had little trouble assimilating into the pro game. Burnett said he’s been studying the scheme every chance he has gotten and has been relying heavily on veterans like Collins for advice.
“It’s a tough task, but it’s been going OK,” Burnett said. “I’m just trying to understand the terminology and my responsibility.”
To date, all but two of the defensive installations have been completed. The final two will be installed during the final OTAs next week, and the entire package will be reviewed during the June 21-23 mandatory minicamp.
Whether Bigby will be around for the minicamp is uncertain. He technically wouldn’t be considered a holdout because he isn’t under contract.
The Packers placed a second-round restricted free agent tender on him, but he is one of three players who hasn’t signed (defensive Johnny Jolly and cornerback Tramon Williams are the others). Bigby’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, hasn’t returned repeated messages left over the course of the offseason.
Collins said he spoke with Bigby two weeks ago but wasn’t sure when Bigby planned to sign. Bigby is coming off of two injury-filled seasons that followed his breakout season of 2007. He has missed time the last two years because of ankle and knee injuries.
“He’s back home trying to get his ankle right and come in for training camp and go from there,” Collins said.
Bigby’s status could change next week. If restricted free agents don’t sign their tenders by Tuesday, teams can reduce their offer to 110 percent of their 2009 base salary.
“I think all of our players understand the importance of the OTAs, particularly the players that have been here in the past, the opportunities that they’re given and the time that the coaching staff puts into these OTAs and the individual time that’s available afterward,” McCarthy said.
“Anytime a player misses these, it’s an opportunity that is wasted as far as being with his teammates. But we can’t deny there are business situations that surround our business, and that’s no different for Atari or any others that have not been here.”
Still, Bigby’s starting job could be slipping through his hands because of his absence.
When asked whether he has told Bigby about how well Burnett has played, Collins said: “I don’t have to tell him the kid looks OK. We’re all grown men here. Everybody’s getting evaluated. It’s up to him to come in and make the right decision for him. I’m letting him know that whenever he comes back, we’re ready for him and nobody’s trying to throw (Bigby) to the side or push him away.”
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