Packers chat: Ross Blacklock makes sense at 30
Aaron chats with Maggie Loney about Packers draft needs and what Ross Blacklock could bring to the defense.
By PackerAaron
Had a fun chat with Maggie yesterday.
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Comments (3)
stockholder
April 09, 2020 at 09:16 am
If your after " Value " then trade down with the Raiders. If you like fall down- Blacklock. Trade down for "value". I think thats the reasoning with Maggie more then a great pick.
splitpea1
April 09, 2020 at 11:36 am
I haven't heard a lot of enthusiasm for this pick...possibly due to injury concerns? He has the physical talent, though. I suspect the Packers won't take a D-lineman until a little later, maybe in a trade-down scenario.
Stroh
April 09, 2020 at 09:51 pm
A couple things right off the bat. First, the Packers aren't really a 2 gap scheme on Defense. The Rex Ryan/Pettine D is based on getting penetration and to do that, the front 7 has to be a 1 gap team. Blake Martinez alluded to this in his presser in NY. Well he said the DL and himself didn't play any gaps. But that is as far removed from 2 gapping as there is. Playing 1 gap does allow the DL and Front 7 to be able to penetrate and as Pettine likes to say "create Distuption" or specifically affect the QB. The Packers were a 2 gap team under Capers, but they certainly aren't under Pettine. So throw out the discussion of getting a 2 gap DL to take pressure off Clark and look at getting DL that can penetrate. Now you looking at DL at #30 that can make plays for himself and it allows Clark to possibly not be doubled since he has another player next to him that could disrupt on a similar level as Clark. Playing one gap certainly has some limitations stopping the run (as seen vs SF) but it does allow the pass rushers to get after the QB on virtually every down.
Secondly, Epenesa in the Packers D could easily be a 3 tech penetrator. He has the size and length of a true 5 tech DE in a 34 base D, but in the NFL can drop to DT to rush the QB. Epenesa doesn't have the ability to be an Edge rusher in the NFL. Possibly as a Strong side 43 D, but even that I doubt. IMO he just doesn't have the burst needed to threaten the Edge. However, he does have the size (6'5 280 lbs) to be a penetrating DT next to Clark. Epenesa shouldn't be thought of as an Edge player in the NFL, He'll have to drop to DT to rush the passer effectively.
My $.02 worth.