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Through the first several Organized Team Activity (OTA) practices, Brady Poppina remains the starting strong side linebacker for the Green Bay Packers with new free agent pickup Brandon Chillar as the backup.
It's still early, and it's possible that Chillar could push for a starting job by September, but head coach Mike McCarthy seems set on having Chillar serve a very particular role for the Packers for the time being.
"Chillar gives us excellent flexibility," McCarthy told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "He can line up in all three positions, and by the time we're finished with our spring football here, he'll be able to play all three positions. He'll be part of the sub-packages, sub-personnel. Very athletic, and he definitely can run, and you have to be able to run at the linebacker position in our scheme. Really I like his work ethic. He came in from day one, jumped right into the off-season program, didn't miss a beat, and he's really done a very nice job of fitting in here."
But will the Packers pay Chillar a starter's money to sit the bench? And would he make better addition to the lineup than Brady Poppinga?
"Some observers have questioned whether or not Poppinga is better suited to be a backup and special teams player," writes Lori Nickel of the Journal Sentinel.
So will it be one of those types of platoons where Poppinga plays on early downs to defend against the run, and Chillar comes in on passing downs to defend against the pass? McCarthy admits that would play to the strength of Poppinga.
"When you play in the big-time games against the teams that like to pound the football, I thought his play was excellent (last year)," said McCarthy to the Journal Sentinel. "It's definitely his style of game."
It's still early, and it's possible that Chillar could push for a starting job by September, but head coach Mike McCarthy seems set on having Chillar serve a very particular role for the Packers for the time being.
"Chillar gives us excellent flexibility," McCarthy told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "He can line up in all three positions, and by the time we're finished with our spring football here, he'll be able to play all three positions. He'll be part of the sub-packages, sub-personnel. Very athletic, and he definitely can run, and you have to be able to run at the linebacker position in our scheme. Really I like his work ethic. He came in from day one, jumped right into the off-season program, didn't miss a beat, and he's really done a very nice job of fitting in here."
But will the Packers pay Chillar a starter's money to sit the bench? And would he make better addition to the lineup than Brady Poppinga?
"Some observers have questioned whether or not Poppinga is better suited to be a backup and special teams player," writes Lori Nickel of the Journal Sentinel.
So will it be one of those types of platoons where Poppinga plays on early downs to defend against the run, and Chillar comes in on passing downs to defend against the pass? McCarthy admits that would play to the strength of Poppinga.
"When you play in the big-time games against the teams that like to pound the football, I thought his play was excellent (last year)," said McCarthy to the Journal Sentinel. "It's definitely his style of game."
Photo credit: Elsa for Getty Images
1 comments:
I think it depends what the other team, is trying to do. If their trying to run it over and over like the Vikings will most likely try to do. So Poppinga start against the Packers.
I know the Lions offense is changing with a new OC... but if it was the same as last year, pass pass and more pass, than Chillar should be the starter.
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