From now until about September 1, everything written about the Green Bay Packers is going to be marinated in whatever’s in the half-full glass. It’s just the way things work this time of year; coaches can only talk of what players might be, everybody has made adjustments that will fix what went wrong last year and players look great in shorts. That will all change once they’re put on the field, in pads, against actual competition, but it’s fun to dream for now.
Which brings us to this column from a couple days ago about Clay Matthews. As you know, we here at Ol’ Bag of Donuts were beside ourselves with excitement over Teddy’s decision to trade up and get Matthews in the draft. This story did nothing to change that opinion. From all accounts, it sounds like Matthews is going to be the kind of football-addled, fire-breathing linebacker the Packers didn’t have last year, like a more skilled version of Brady Poppinga.
(The only problem with that is, A.J. Hawk has the same reputation. And while we still like the Hawk, he hasn’t played like a No. 5 overall pick — yet).
The other thing I’d like to point out from this Mike Vandermause piece: what Kevin Greene could bring to the linebackers. Vandermause points out that he and Matthews could be kindred spirits, and though Greene is only coaching the outside linebackers, you’d hope he’ll rub off on Hawk, too. In the 3-4 defense, the linebackers need to play on a precipice, with the ability to run and the intent of causing chaos. Greene brings that kind of energy, and it will hopefully rub off on a linebacker corps, that, with Matthews, Hawk, Poppinga, Brandon Chillar, a healthy Nick Barnett and (hopefully) a productive Aaron Kampman, could be pretty darn good.
It’s May 18, but hey, why not dream a little? September dissections of poor pad level will be here soon enough.
–Gene Bosling
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