Packers Position Analysis, Volume VI: Linebackers

I apologize for an injury-induced hiatus (an accident in the home sent a broken shard of glass into my wrist, severing three tendons--more evidence that I am the jinx for the injury problems of both the Packers and Sharks this season) on this series. However, I return to analyze the next unit, linebackers, grading both the 2008 season and immediate future at the position. As with the defensive line, I will be grading players for the unit they are listed in now, after the transition to a 3-4 defense, rather than where they played in 2008. Aaron Kampman, OLB (6'4", 265 lbs., eight years experience): 9.5 sacks, 62 tackles, 47 solo in 2008Kampman, who played OLB at Iowa, is the key to this unit. As a DE in a 4-3, he has excelled. He is top-three in the league in sacks since 2006, averaging over 12 sacks and 70 tackles (50 solo) over the three seasons. If he can make the transition, he gives the Packers the playmaker at the 3-4 defense's most impact position. His size and athleticism mean in reality he is better-suited for OLB in a 3-4, and great players play great anywhere they are physically able to play. If he did not play the position in college and did not have an entire camp to adjust, there might be significant growing pains, but I am confident they will be minimal.A.J. Hawk, ILB (6'1", 248 lbs., four years): 3.0 sacks, 86 tackles, 67 soloThere has begun to be some rumblings about Hawk's performance, but he had 14 more tackles than the next-highest teammate. He also looked better once he was moved over to middle linebacker from theweakside, a position he was better-suited for with good size and only above-average speed. He should also excel in the new system, as he is versatile: Hawk is an excellent open-field tackler, can cover in a zone or man-to-man, and was 2008's best pass-rushing linebacker. He is physical enough to shake blockers and is developing better instincts as he gains experience.Nick Barnett, ILB (6'2", 236 lbs., seven years): 49 tackles, 41 solo, one fumble forced in nine gamesBarnett went down in the ninth game of the year, and the Packers lost six of their last seven; it was the first time he played fewer than 15 games. He is the team's most athletic linebacker and his speed enables him to run down plays on both ends. While he did not record any sacks, he is a disruptive blitzer (3.5 sacks in 2007). He is also one of the team's best open-field tacklers, recording over 100 tackles in all six previous seasons (over 100 solo in 2007). He also has a nose for the ball, with nine interceptions and one touchdown return in his career.That being said, he was better-suited for the weak-side, as teams were able to exploit his inability to shake blockers in the running game--rumour is that he demanded the right to play the position. While Dom Capers can use his athleticism in more ways in a 3-4, he is likely to face even more blocking, especially with the Packers' shaky NT status.Jason Hunter, OLB (6'4", 271 lbs., four years): 2.0 sacks, nine tackles, four solo, one fumble recovery returned for a touchdown in 12 gamesHunter is not a given to start, but since OLBs in a 3-4 must be bigger, it makes more sense that this converted DE would see more playing time at the position than anyone else on the roster. He has the athleticism to pull it off, having lettered in basketball at Appalachian State; that ability helped him get a 55-yard touchdown return on a fumble.Up until 2008, when injuries helped him find his way onto the field, Hunter was used mostly on special teams, leading the unit in tackles and shining on the pass rush only in the preseason. Unlike withKampman, he is likely to face difficulties in the adjustment to OLB in a 3-4...look for him to be used more to rush the passer as he adapts. Brady Poppinga, O/ILB (6'3", 247 lbs., five years): 69 tackles, 48 soloThe Stormin' Mormon was the team's strong-side linebacker and did play some as a down lineman in passing situations late in 2008 because of all the injuries, but his size would project him more to the inside. He is unspectacular, as evidenced by his lack of sacks or involvement in turnovers (two career picks). He had only one pass defensed (six career) despite drawing most of the coverage assignments of opposing tight ends, who gashed the Packers. His experience and solid tackling make him an ideal first-man-off-the-bench for this unit, whether inside or outside.Brandon Chillar, O/ILB (6'3", 243 lbs., six years): 1.0 sacks, 69 tackles, 59 solo, one fumble forced in 14 gamesChillar filled in the final seven games at OLB after Hawk moved to the middle and was better than expected. He has been in the league a year longer than Poppinga and had a better season statistically with less playing timeHowever, he is a few pounds smaller and had fewer responsibilities, such as not playing on the line of scrimmage to help prepare him for pass-rushing and run-stuffing duties ofOLB in a 3-4. For that reason, I believe Poppinga will be more quickly summoned off the bench. Desmond Bishop, ILB (6'2", 238 lbs., three years): 1.0 sacks, 35 tackles, 29 solo, three fumbles forced in 15 gamesBishop is a hitter, and that is why he forced three fumbles in limited action. But he saw limited action because he was raw, and his big mistake in being out of position filling in after Barnett went down led to a score that ultimately led to the coaching staff choosingChillar over him from that point on. Jeremy Thompson, OLB (6'4", 270 lbs., two years): eight tackles, five solo in nine gamesAnother converted lean, athletic DE, I expect Thompson to lose out to a more athletic Hunter and drop to the bottom of the depth chart. While he is younger and therefore presumably more able to grow and adapt, the reality is that actually better describes Hunter, who did not play football until his senior year in high school and took 2004 off in college. Thus, he is not as athletic nor as good now, and probably does not have as much upside. However, should the Packers not get a talentedOLB in the draft or via trade, Thompson would be better-suited than Poppinga or Chillar to take over for Hunter or Kampman if one of them was hurt because of his size. Danny Lansanah, O/ILB (6'1", 248 lbs., two years): two tackles, one solo in five games; Spencer Hayner, O/ILB (6'3", 248 lbs., one year): one tackle, one solo in one gameNeither of these players was drafted, and neither would have played were it not for the plethora of injuries. With all the defensive ends being converted toOLB and the players they replaced projecting to the inside, I doubt either of them will make the active roster in 2009. Grade for 2008: D-No player in this unit recorded anywhere near 100 tackles, and only A.J. Hawk recorded more than safety Nick Collins; when your second-leading tackler is a defensive back, that is not good. Only one player at the linebacker position in the 2008 season had more than one sack, and no linebacker recorded a fumble recovery or interception.It does not matter for purposes of grading the unit's performance in 2008 what the injury situation is, but even if it did, only one of the injured players was from this unit (albeit the best one).Prospects for the near future: B+In 2007, this unit was special. While I believe the Packers will have an even better unit now that the best lineman has moved to this group and see the players overall being even better-suited for their new roles, there is a level of unknown involved. Speculation is the Packers will end up drafting a DE in the first round that would be converted to OLB because it is likely that skill-set will be the best talent available that fits the Packers' needs. However, not only is that an assumption that cannot be made, but there is little reason to assume that player can step in and be better than Hunter, and that spot I project him in could be the group's Achilles' Heel. Thus, while I believe the Packers will have an elite corps that compares to most outside of Pittsburgh, I cannot put it in the "A" category.