Posted by Cory on July 6, 2007, 12:04 am, in reply to "Re: Packers will win NFC North!!!" ---"However, I'm completely unconvinced on Rouse or Poppinga. Rouse has terrible cover skills and doesn't have the greatest desire to improve. Poppinga has a lot of heart but has limited range, at least, from what I saw last year."--- Well, Rouse is a complete unknown. That's for sure and I'm not expecting him to be anything until I see him on the field. The two safeties that will be competing to unseat Manuel will be Underwood and Culver. Both have looked very promising, however, we may have to wait a year for Underwood because he is getting over knee surgery and Culver while showing promise last year is still largely and unknown. I've seen you here praising Boss Bailey on multiple occasions. I don't watch many Lions games so I don't really know much about him other then he had an incredible combine. Personally, I'm happy we took Barnett over him when we did(although at the time I will admit was I also smitten with Bailey). You have to remember Poppinga was a second year player last season coming off of major knee surgery. He struggled at first last year, but showed so much ability and improvement that the DC incorporated a 3-3-5 package..taking away a player from our strength on defense(Dline) just to keep Poppinga in the game. He earned his way onto the field. ---"I did like Brandon Jackson coming out in the draft, but even I don't believe he's an elite type RB...but with a good o-line he can do well. Beating out Morency is not terribly impressive, and if Brandon cannot beat Vernand out in camp I would be worried...especially if he gets the dropsies. Also, I'm not sure about his blocking skills."--- I love the Brandon Jackson pick. I don't know wether or not he is an elite RB or not, but I do know he has the talent to be very good RB especially in the ZBS. Why should anyone be worried if Jackson doesn't beat out Morency? Morency was darned impressive last season. Morency has been proving people wrong since high school and he's put on an additional 10 lbs of muscle for this season. I think this could be a very effective combo backfield with Jackson and Morency this year no matter whom is starting. ---"Jennings has more talent than Driver, and with another year of watching getting tutored by Driver it won't be long until he's the number 1 WR for you guys. Driver has a lot of heart, and he's pretty crafty but at 32, I don't see him playing out his latest contract. Clowney is fast but fragile. Jones I couldn't tell you much about because I didn't SJ St. play. Who is Robinson? After 6 years, you're going to have to believe Ferguson is what he is...a disappointment. You've got some young guys who could turn out to be pretty good players. But there are plenty of clubs with far better WR corps than Driver, Jennings, Ferguson."--- I commend Matt Millen on taking Johnson. That was ballsy and the right thing to do. The guy was the best all around player in the draft by far(IMO). The Detroit recieving corps right now far and away the best in the NFC(possibly top 5 in the NFL). However, I wouldn't be doubting Driver. The guy hasn't taken much of a beating because he got really started around 28-29 years old. He keeps putting up numbers year after year. He is in INCREDIBLE shape. Very tough and durable. Jennings is also a good one and I look for him to make strides this year. Very possible to see two 1,000 yard recievers on the Packers this year. Koren Robinson will also be back this season. Very talented young reciever. I think the Packers recieving corps while not in the Lions realm but will be set for the future. Ferguson won't make the team. ---"To me your secondary still looks shaky, not that the Lions glass house looks any better. But Woodson and Harris are both older players, and thus more prone to those leg injuries that hamper older WRs and CBs. Also, in having to cover the run they become vulnerable to other type hits. I'm sure there are some younger developmental type CBs on the roster, but this is one position for you guys that may turn out to be more fragile than you think. On top of that your safeties were not very good last year and I don't see Rouse beating out Underwood. Frankly, Aaron Rouse looks more like a WLB to me than a SS. But you already have a pretty young LB corp, so he probably won't get moved over."--- To me the secondary with improved pass rush from Jenkins and KGB being a situational pass rusher(meaning not as worn down from taking on tackles that are 50-70 lbs bigger than he is on rush downs) will look pretty good. Collins really improved as the season went on. I'm sorry, but he looks like a stud. He's reminding people of Leroy Butler. People doubted Harris and Woodson last year. Then they ended up being the best tandem in the league. Yes they are a year older I'll give you that, but I'd give them the benefit of the doubt considering how many doubters(including packer fans) that Woodson shut up last season. Manuel is a weakness, no doubt. He got better as the season wore on...but still I'd like to see Underwood or Culver unseat him. Doubtful, though. ---"Your LBs should be able to fly, though. Hawk didn't look Hawk-like last year, but knowing the defense should help him this year. I also like Desmond Bishop, though he's a slow guy he's a hitter with good instincts. I also like two of your UDFA pick ups, who I was surprised weren't drafted; Rory Johnson and Juwan Simpson. (They both had some off-field problems, marijuana I think...but I thought he would still get drafted.) In fact, if I remember right, I think the Pack and the Lions were the only ones interested in Johnson after the draft."--- Hawk-like? I watched him for four seasons at OSU. To me his career is starting out very Hawk-like. This year parrells his freshmen season at OSU. He was third in the voting for DROY behind a well deserved demeco ryans and a situational pass rusher on arguably the best D in the NFL. He just got better and better as the season wore on. I wouldn't be suprised to see future all pro selections in the LBer department to be AJ, Ernie, and Demeco in the future. I don't know enough about the Lions to make any real educated guesses on their upcoming season. Though, it would not suprise me to see Johnson on that turf put a couple of W's up almost single handedly. He's like Randy Moss with a better attitude.
Appreciate the opinions about the packers, Lisa. We have our holes and question marks that's for sure. However, I have my disagreements.
Message Thread:
« Back to thread