Analysis: Atari Bigby Injured
by Brandon on Sep 17, 2009 8:00 AM CDT
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22 comments
Mike McCarthy announced at his Wednesday press conference that S Atari Bigby "had a significant injury" and "we're looking at a time frame of at least four weeks." I'm starting to feel really bad for the guy. After a promissing 2007 season, last season he was injured at Detroit in week 2, and now he's hurt in the very first game.
McCarthy has announced that S Aaron Rouse will start in place of Bigby. If they have to dig deeper, my guess is that S Jarrett Bush is the top backup. I'm not sure if they really feel S Derrick Martin is a starter; they might think he's just a special teams ace.
It's hard to tell who's the better safety; Rouse or Bigby. They each started 6 games in 2008, but they each battled injuries too. Rouse had missed some preseason games with a bad hamstring, but he looked fine against Chicago last week. Here's how the pass defense did in games they started last season:
Bigby:
| Game | Passing Yards Allowed |
|---|---|
| Week 1 – Minnesota | 178 |
| Week 2 – Detroit | 282 |
| Week 9 – Tennessee | 180 |
| Week 10 – Minnesota | 151 |
| Week 11 – Chicago | 159 |
| Week 12 – New Orleans | 323 |
Rouse:
| Game | Passing Yards Allowed |
|---|---|
| Week 3 – Dallas | 260 |
| Week 4 – Tampa | 149 |
| Week 6 – Seattle | 83 |
| Week 7 – Indianapolis | 229 |
| Week 16 – Chicago | 142 |
| Week 17 – Detroit | 225 |
Bigby started in the week 2 game when QB Jon Kitna imploded in the 4th quarter, although Bigby was already knocked out by that part of the game, and the week 10 game at Minnesota when they owned QB Gus Frerotte. He was also the starter during the week 12 fiasco at New Orleans when the pass defense was shredded.
Rouse started the loss to Dallas in which most of those yards were given up on a long bomb to WR Miles Austin and a big screen pass to RB Felix Jones. QB Brian Griese and QB Charlie Frye were awful during the Tampa and Seattle games. QB Peyton Manning had 229 yards passing, but that doesn't include the 99 INT for a TD he threw to Rouse. The pass defense wasn't great in the week 17 game against the Lions.
So the pass defense was pretty good when Bigby started, except for the disaster against the Saints. It seems like the pass defense was better in the games when Rouse started, but it's not a huge difference. That would confirm what I expected; that Bigby is the weak link in the pass defense and they're a little better when Rouse starts.
But there has to be a reason the coaches have never seemed to consider taking the starting job away from Bigby. Based on the coaches determination to start Bigby ahead of anyone else, I'm sure the Packers will lose something, but not a lot, in pass coverage with him out.
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Rouse will do just fine
no worries
Oz+Coop+Hawk= baseball trinity
by OznCoop on Sep 17, 2009 8:02 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
It's not a huge statistical difference
However, I think that Bigby brings presence to the pass defense. He hits, hard. Look what he did to Desmond Clark on Sunday night. That hit broke a rib. Honestly, I didn’t even think it looked that bad, but apparently Bigby can bring some force to his hits. Rouse can cover a bit better, but Bigby hits a lot harder. Sometimes, it’s worthwhile to have an enforcer over the middle to punish opposing wide receivers. If I had to guess, that’s probably why the coaches like Bigby better. I don’t really see any of the other backs on your defense being hard hitters, but they’re great in coverage. So the Packers can afford to put in a guy who hits harder, but is slightly worse in coverage.
After all, if a WR gets blasted on a couple of plays, he’ll be hearing footsteps the entire game.
by Eric The Viking on Sep 17, 2009 9:08 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I think if you check again, you’ll find it was Rouse who put Desmond Clark out of the game.
Bigby’s certainly a big hitter – I remember him pounding Marcus Pollard in the Seahawks playoff game a couple years back – but recent evidence would show that Rouse can bring it too.
by Ebongreen on Sep 17, 2009 9:37 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oops!
Yes, my mistake.
But, I still think Bigby hits harder. After all, he did put in a nasty hit against Adrian, and you never see that.
by Eric The Viking on Sep 17, 2009 10:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Rouse-Bigby mix-up, Eric
That was Rouse that put the hit on Clark and it’s Bigby that can cover a bit better. You have your names mixed up. Both are big hitters though.
by BSGorilla on Sep 17, 2009 6:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
ok but
Bigby lit up the so called second coming of Jim Brown in all day AP, so id rather take any so called downfall Bigby has if he can light up AP
by OriginalRodgersFan on Sep 17, 2009 7:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm sure
that A.P. remembers that hit, and the next time they collide the out come will be different. bigby maybe a big hitter, but A.P. has been known to dishout a few smack downs of his own. my suggestion is go low and look for some back-up help, other wise the next time could be his last ! not that I wish injury on anyone I’m just saying go low young man!
by whanabarf on Sep 18, 2009 11:17 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bigb(ab)y
No, not a baby
But he sure gets hurt often
Need talents on field
http://www.Packerhaiku.com
Clark Osborn - PackerHaiku.com | FavreHaiku.com | BadgerHaiku.com
by PackerHaiku on Sep 17, 2009 9:18 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
False contention
Author Brandon: That would confirm what I expected; that Bigby is the weak link in the pass defense and they’re a little better when Rouse starts.
That’s making a statement without considering facts. Bigby was hobbled significantly by injury last year. He is widely considered more assignment sure when healthy. I like Rouse a lot as a back up but as you imply in the last paragraph, there’s a reason they choose Bigby as the starter.
by BSGorilla on Sep 17, 2009 6:29 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Look back to 2007 too
Although he had some big hits and recorded a number of INTs in his first season as a starter, he also became known for giving a lot of cushion. 2008 was a difficult season to judge either Bigby or Rouse, since they both dealt with injuries, but Bigby didn’t look like an elite pass defender in 2007.
And there are some major assumption made in this entire post. How can I pin yards surrendered by the entire defense on one player? But those are the stats I’ve got to work with, so I’ll take my best guess.
by Brandon on Sep 18, 2009 12:07 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Tough choice
Bigby can lay the wood on people but has struggled in coverage whether it be zone or man. Rouse can also deliver the big hit, and has looked to be decent in coverage too me. Based off of what many people have said regarding Bigby and Rouse, you would actually think Rouse should be the starter. Obviously he has not been, and there has to be reason for that. Bigby has to be better in coverage then a lot of us give him credit for. I also think he is the pretty fit for our new defense. Having him play up in the box is a big advantage for us because he is a good blitzer and run stopper. He will be missed, but Rouse certainly won’t be a push over or anything like that.
by packallday555 on Sep 18, 2009 12:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is sad
How can you not understand what Atari brings to the table????
If anyone here can rememeber correctly how much he helps out in rush defense. If we are going to be a dominant rush defense we are going to need him. He is our Bob Sanders ( From the colts ) he never gets run over by rbs like every other db we have back there. I love our secondary but without Atari back there that second level is very suspect. I hope he comes back sooner!!!
by OriginalRodgersFan on Sep 17, 2009 7:56 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I hope so, too, OriginalRodgersFan, but,
I believe that the realistic view here is too take a long, hard look at the words “at least” in McCarthy’s statement.
“we’re looking at a time frame of at least four weeks.”
The glass is more than half-full.
by NorthStarr on Sep 17, 2009 9:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Contrary as that may be to my signature line (and core belief),
I really do think that it is the realistic case in this particular situation.
The glass is more than half-full.
by NorthStarr on Sep 18, 2009 1:30 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
so i just joined this blog
i dunno why i never did before, as ive been a huge fan of the packers for as long as i can remember. im not a noob, as im a member of southsidesox (go sox!). i see a familiar face already in ozncoop. i guess im just happy that i finally realized sbnation means all sports, thus the packers. fantastic.
But if you self-loathing- sad-bastard-fuckhammers see that as "appropriate", well, then… I suggest you go fuck yourself while nick swisher looks on, completely unfucked. - SkanchoDanza
by BoeJouma on Sep 17, 2009 10:54 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
and another white sox / packers fan here.
by shaftr on Sep 17, 2009 11:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
an old friend!!
But if you self-loathing- sad-bastard-fuckhammers see that as "appropriate", well, then… I suggest you go fuck yourself while nick swisher looks on, completely unfucked. - SkanchoDanza
by BoeJouma on Sep 18, 2009 10:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
And I've got to say that
This blog beats the hell out of any of the popular newspaper sites.
And that qualifies as an understatement!
The glass is more than half-full.
by NorthStarr on Sep 18, 2009 1:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
So far so good
I am liking this blog also. Hope it stays that way. If the TT whiners and the hothead nutjobs show up, I hope this admin will kick them out. Press Gazette sure doesn’t. They embrace ignorance and hate speech.
by BSGorilla on Sep 18, 2009 6:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
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