Green Bay Packers News and Rumors from Pro Football Insider

Green Bay Packers

Tuesday Sep 7th, 2010

The Packers have finally awaken to have found free agency has started. From their slumber they wasted little time in signing former Steelers safety Anthony Smith. He comes with an understanding of the 3-4 defense the Packers will use and was an up and coming player before disappearing this year. The Steelers didn't even tender him as a restricted free agent. Not a good sign, but maybe the change of scenery will help. He will get a chance to compete with Arari Bigby for a starting spot and help improve the depth that exposed the Packers secondary last year... The Seattle Seahawks have signed former Packers DT Colin Cole to a 5 year contract. Cole is a better fit in Seattle's defense than the Packers 3-4. While he has the size 6'1 330lbs he is a bit short for a nose tackle and is more of a penetrator than a nose tackle. In Seattle he will replace Rocky Bernard who signed with the Giants, but more depth is needed... It was no surprise the Packers stayed quiet on the first day of free agency, would you expect anything different from Ted Thompson? They will or at least should be a little more active this year than in years past. That isn't to say they will spend big, but they could use some well chosen veterans to come in and help with the new defense and a veteran who can play across the offensive line would be good as well. A 3-4 can be defined by the nose tackle, the Packers have Ryan Pickett and there is no upgrade in free agency. The one in the draft is B.J. Raji, but will he be available at #9? There are some backups available in free agency and guys with potential later in the draft and the Packers need to find one. A rush linebacker would certainly help as well, someone familiar with the system too. Expect the Packers to target some players starting next week to ease the transition... 49ers nose tackle Ron Fields will enjoy the thin field in free agency and the draft. The career backup wil get paid on the open market. The Broncos and Packers are two team converting to a 3-4 who are taking a lok at him. Just a word of advice, he hasn't started for the 49ers before so don't expect a big addition. Mike Nolan knows what he would get in Denver. The Packers are loking at depth behind Ryan Pickett if they don't resign Colin Cole... Not too sure about this new defensive idea in Green Bay... the 3-4 they say. The hardest part about hiring a new coach is they usually want to implement their system and that can take away from the abilities of the best player he has to work with. In this case they are scratching the defense that they have built the team for and going with what they like... the question is will they like the results. Mike McCarthy says most of the parts are there... really??? Ryan Pickett is big but just because he weighs 330 pounds doesn't mean he can be a 3-4 nose tackle. Granted there are different versions of the 3-4, but without a great nose tackle to clog the middle it will usually struggle to stop the run. While there are players who seem to have the size to play the scheme it doesn't seem like a very good idea. One player who will not be happy is Aaron Kampman who will be misfit as a standup linebacker even if he is usually the rush backer. Obviously they will be examiner players for the front seven at the Senior Bowl... good luck trying to make this switch tho, McCarthy should remember how the 49ers struggled with it when he was their offensive coordinator and someone named Mike Nolan was the head coach trying to install this defense there...
More Packers News & Rumors