Splendid_Splinter

Thanks for the breakdown of every position's responsibilities for the Florida State defense. Knowing that Brown's only responsibility was to rush the passer I think it only reinforces my belief that he will only excel in a Tampa-2 defense. At the very least it would limit the number of times that he would be called upon to defend against the run. I'm willing to wait and see how he does at the FSU Pro Day. It's nice to see that he now weights 256 pounds now, but I'm just surprised that he didn't at least add some lower body strength. Between the Combine and the Wisconsin game (granted it is a small sample size) I am not at all comfortable with the Packers trying to convert him into an OLB. His skills as a pass rusher are obvious but when it comes to holding his own against the run I don't see it in him. Of course he could become better with the proper teaching, but for the Packers to take him ninth he is just too much of a project. Factor in that this draft is deep with better all-around 3-4 OLBs there are numerous players who I view as much better value than Brown. BTW do you have any links that says Cleveland is seriously considering selecting Everette Brown with their first round pick?

If the Packers were to pick Brown they would use him as an outside linebacker across from Aaron Kampman. Brown is way too small to play as a defensive end in a 3-4, where linemen normally ought to weight around 300 pounds. If Justin Harrell is healthy, from everything I've heard out of the Packers' front office, he will be the defensive end opposite Cullen Jenkins. While my input doesn't matter, as a Packers fan I would say avoid Brown at all costs. It may be irrational on my part, but he just screams bust like every other undersized defensive end from Florida State. Except most of those "busts" were used in a 4-3, not a 3-4. Coincidentally the one player I was thinking of when I wrote that post was Kamerion Wimbley. Outside of his rookie season he continues to be a disappointment in a 3-4 defense. Since you're the resident Florida State fan can you name any DE/OLB, other than Peter Boulware, that has actually lived up their hype? Actually, from a lot of thing I've heard (and read), it's the success of Wimbley and his work ethic that is pushing the Browns toward taking Everette Brown. Wimbley (aside from the 11 sacks of his rookie year) has been pretty consistent in his 3 years in the NFL. But, no, I can't name another off the top of my head. Like you said, it's due to the small-ish size of the DE's in our system which is based on speed and not power, and makes them more suited to a 3-4 (which wasn't used much in the NFL until the past 6-8 years - after our heyday of producing top college DE's). Do you by chance have a link to any site that says the Browns are thinking of drafting Everette Brown because of how successful Wimbley has been? Right now any news that Brown may be off the board by the time the Packers pick is good news to me. About Wimbley he has been consistent, but below expectations of what people expect for the 13th pick in the draft. For a guy who is supposed to be a pass rushing threat and all around playmakers on the Browns' defense, there is absolutely nothing that points to him being either of those. I will cut him slack on two things though. The 2-gap 3-4 that the Browns run is a complicated defense, and normally any team that runs it takes time to develop their linebackers. Another thing is he is the only player in the Browns' front seven that is a threat to the opposing team's offense. I'm sure it is easy to scheme him out of plays so that he becomes a non-factor. There is still time for him to develop, but right now he appears to be a huge disappointment. About Everette Brown there is no questioning his skills as a pash rusher. Outside of Aaron Maybin there is no other defensive end that can match his quickness off the snap. Add to that that Brown already has multiple pass rushing moves, with his spin move being the best of all of them. The one thing I'm leery of is his overreliance on his speed to get sacks in college. Watching highlights of his the Seminoles were able to line him up wide of the tackle and use his speed to get by most blockers untouched. In the NFL I think that there too many OTs that have superior lateral movement where Brown will not be able to get away with just using his speed. Due to this I see him as a better fit in a Tampa-2 like Indianapolis where there is less emphasis on the defensive ends to be run defenders. The one thing that absolutely terrifies me of him is how terrible he is as a run defender. The only game that I was fully able to watch every defensive snap of his was Florida State's bowl game against Wisconsin. For most of the game on running plays the Badgers were able to successfully block Brown using Garrett Graham, a tight end. If he already has problems being blocked out of plays by a decent tight end, how do you think will translate to the NFL where he will have to face much better tight ends and offensive tackles? I'm not saying he can't get better against the run, but there is a lot of work that has to be done for such a high pick. Especially in this draft where there are at least 4 or so DE/OLB prospects that I view as being a better pro than him. The other thing is I was disappointed by his showing at the NFL Combine. He had an above average time in the 40, but what concerns me is his showing for the vertical jump and the broad jump. For a player that is supposed to be explosive a vertical jump of 31.5" and a broad jump of 9'06" is simply terrible. Compare that to Demarcus Ware who put up a vertical jump of 38.5" and a broad jump of 10'02". It appears that Brown has very little power in his first step, and instead relies on the speed of his first step to simply run by slower players. Alsoo I'm skeptical that he will ever be able to fully develop even an average bull-rush move. For a 3-4 OLB that is not something you want to hear. Until Florida State's Pro Day no one will know if those numbers are accurrate of his lower body strength or if he just had a really bad day at the Combine Another DE/OLB bust from Florida State that I thought of was Alonzo Jackson. Granted he was a late pick in the second round, but again playing in Pittsburgh's 3-4 that is favorable for OLBs just didn't help him.

If the Packers were to pick Brown they would use him as an outside linebacker across from Aaron Kampman. Brown is way too small to play as a defensive end in a 3-4, where linemen normally ought to weight around 300 pounds. If Justin Harrell is healthy, from everything I've heard out of the Packers' front office, he will be the defensive end opposite Cullen Jenkins. While my input doesn't matter, as a Packers fan I would say avoid Brown at all costs. It may be irrational on my part, but he just screams bust like every other undersized defensive end from Florida State. Except most of those "busts" were used in a 4-3, not a 3-4. Coincidentally the one player I was thinking of when I wrote that post was Kamerion Wimbley. Outside of his rookie season he continues to be a disappointment in a 3-4 defense. Since you're the resident Florida State fan can you name any DE/OLB, other than Peter Boulware, that has actually lived up their hype?

If the Packers were to pick Brown they would use him as an outside linebacker across from Aaron Kampman. Brown is way too small to play as a defensive end in a 3-4, where linemen normally ought to weight around 300 pounds. If Justin Harrell is healthy, from everything I've heard out of the Packers' front office, he will be the defensive end opposite Cullen Jenkins. While my input doesn't matter, as a Packers fan I would say avoid Brown at all costs. It may be irrational on my part, but he just screams bust like every other undersized defensive end from Florida State.

Challenges with less than two minutes in a half are automatically challenged. I could have sworn I heard Al Michaels say that it was reviewed by the booth, and it was confirmed a fumble.

Santonio Holmes is just amazing!

Kurt Warner was lucky that that throw wasn't picked off.

the other team's stupidity = luck? i wa stalking about the batted pass. How do you then explain the first interception that Ben Roethlisberger threw?

James Harrison is an outside linebacker, not a defensive lineman.

Former Steeler/Panther linebacker Kevin Greene? That's the one. On the surface I am somewhat hesitant about this because Greene doesn't have any actual coaching experience besides the few times when he was a training camp assistant a few years ago. On the other hand I like that he has years of experience playing under Dom Capers while he was in Pittsburgh and Carolina. Since he also excelled as an outside linebacker in Capers' scheme he should have plenty of knowledge about what it takes to play in the scheme. If he has the ability to teach it has yet to be seen, though.

I wouldnt mind bringing Edwards onto the Bears staff in some capacity. He has experience as a head coach, and has ties to Lovie, although I dont think the Bears have any positions open. The Titans have a hole at DC still and the best candidate they've looked at is Jim Haslett (I'm also intrigued by Chuck Cecil). Herm's specialty is defense and I think I'd be very interested if I were the Titans. Not sure what style of defense he runs, though. Everywhere Edwards has gone he has implemented a Tampa 2 defense. I don't much about the Titans so I'll let you be the judge if he is a good fit with the Titans' current personnel.

Great hire, I'm extremely pleased with Capers. McCarthy said they're going to go to a full-blown 3-4 in his press conference today. I'm even more excited to see that. It's been a great offseason so far for us. I'm hopeful that we can sign an outside LB like Bart Scott in free agency. Thompson has hinted that he could pull out the wallet this offseason to bring in a free agent. Is Kampman an OLB or an end? I don't know much about Capers or the 3-4, but I'm at least excited to see something new. Kampman will become an OLB in Green Bay's 3-4. I have always thought that the 3-4 was the best defense created so I'm thrilled to see Dom Capers installing it in Green Bay.

Brian Sipe as QB of the Cleveland Browns threw 3 INTs and had 4 fumbles against the Oakland Raiders in the 1980 AFC Divisional Game. That's the most recent I could find.

Actually Favre threw 6 INTs in the game against the Rams. That performance is the worst I have ever seen a QB look in the playoffs.

Davis is a first round draft pick, probably in the top 15.

That Flacco TD run looks to be the final nail in the Dolphins' season.

The Dolphins actually showed a little bit of life on that last drive. The score is now 20-9 Baltimore.

Baltimore's defense is amazing to watch. They are simply manhandling the Dolphins right now.

The Eagles with another fumble return for a TD.

I sure do. This defense deserves to be the team to lose to the Lions. Go Lions. On another note, I've heard that Mike Nolan's name is popping up as a potential replacement for Bob Sanders for our D-Coordinator gig. Make that move yesterday, Thompson. Where did you hear that Mike Nolan is being looked at as a possible replacement for Bob Sanders?

That's karma for you.

The Packers are simply not a good team. I was expecting the offense to regress a little bit, but I never expected that the defense would completely fall off a cliff. As I write this the Packers have just tied the game at 21. With how bad the Packers defense has played the Texans should have no problem getting another touchdown, especially with six minutes left in the game.

Why is Bob Sanders in GB? They are playing Cincinnati. The defensive coordinator, not the player. I would love to have a safety like Bob Sanders on Green Bay.

The sooner that Bob Sanders is out of Green Bay the better. Also an overhaul of Green Bay's defense wouldn't be a bad thing at this point.

I'm a Packers fan and I would be hesitant to say that they are the best team in the division. At this point I would have no problem ranking the Vikings as the best team in the division.