O'Brien Schofield at the East-West Shrine Game

by Brandon on Jan 22, 2010 12:21 AM CST in Green Bay Packers News

As Emmitt Smith would say, the winner of the conference championships this week "could possibly go on to the Super Bowl." But for the other 28 teams who are clearly looking ahead to next season, they're watching the East-West Shrine Game in Orlando this weekend. According to the Press-Gazette, GM Ted Thompson is in Orlando for it.

One player who is getting a lot of attention is Badger DE O'Brien Schofield.

If you didn't watch the Badgers play at all this season, you missed out because Schofield was worth the price of admission. If there is another Clay Matthews coming out of the 2010 draft class, Schofield is on the short list. He's similar to Matthews in that he's undersized, but he is fast and gets into the backfield. From Todd McShay (via UW Badgers.com):

Day One: "Wisconsin's O'Brien Schofield is expected to move from end to linebacker in the NFL and he started making the transition this week in practice. Quickness and straight-line speed do not appear to be an issue."

Day Two: "It's been interesting watching Wisconsin's O'Brien Schofield. He's switching from DE to LB this week -- and it's a traditional LB, not just a pass rusher -- so we give him credit because he's flying around, mixing it up and showing he's very coachable."

And the conclusion from Russ Lande at the Sporting News (again via UW Badgers.com):

"Schofield was easily the best player on the East team. Considering he played defensive end in college, he really helped himself by performing so well in a standup position. He showed very good quickness and the speed to cover tight ends in man coverage. He showed very good hips while turning and running with his man off the line. He played with excellent knee bend and leverage."

I don't know if the Packers should go out of their way to draft Schofield. I'll bet he becomes a heck of a pro, but he might not be a significant upgrade over LB Brad Jones, and not any better at rushing the passer than LB Aaron Kampman. But there should be a place for Schofield in the NFL, and it would be great if he got his professional start with the Packers.

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For the past couple weeks I’ve been calling for GB to draft Schofield. At this point he is a 3rd Round prospect, but that can always change over the course of the offseason. He’s much quicker than Kampmann and is capable of providing a bull rush which Jones and Matthews are not capable of.

Go Pack!

by Jabooty on Jan 22, 2010 9:15 AM CST reply actions

I am game. I like the idea of keeping local guys local, but only if its smart and prudent. Luckily our GM wrote the book on prudent! haha If we can get in R3 that would be a nice place for us to target a LB. R1 and 2 should be focused on OT, CB, and maybe RB if those two positions don’t offer someone of exceptional talent.

by TrevorR on Jan 22, 2010 9:29 AM CST up reply actions

Schofield is a really good player. I watched pretty much all the Wisconsin games this year, and he always played extremely well in them. He’s so quick off the edge, and has the same type of motor that Matthews does.

I’m not sure how much of a bull rush he could provide though, which is what we need from our LOLB. From what I saw of him this year, he beat OTs with his quickness and speed, rather than power. He would probably be simliar to Jones, in that he provides a good rush using his speed of the edge (I think he would be a better speed rusher than Jones). The only difference is, he’ll have to transition to the 3-4, and being a stand up LB.

If we were to get him, we would need to get more penetration from our d-line so Qb’s aren’t just able to step up in the pocket to avoid the pass rush off the edge. I think if he is still available in R3 or later, he would be a good pick.

by packallday555 on Jan 22, 2010 10:24 AM CST reply actions

He'd be more physical than Jones though

Jones is 232 lbs, which is approximately 30 pounds lighter than the average 3-4 OLB. O’ Schofield fits it well. He may not have the best bull rush, which I agree we need, but he will provide a bull rush which Jones and Matthews don’t have. Speed is crucial in the 3-4. O’ Schofield simply reminds me a lot of Damarcus Ware, who was also a former undersized DE in college.

Go Pack!

by Jabooty on Jan 22, 2010 5:31 PM CST up reply actions

Ware

If Schofield is anything like Ware, then he’ll go in the 1st or 2nd at the latest! Ware went #12 overall I believe. If his pass rush is even comparable your looking at 20th overall at the latest. Remember, pass rushers are at a premium in the draft… Teams will reach for a guy they hope can be anything close to Ware.

At 6’3 250, if that is what Schofield is, he has prototypical size for a 34 OLB! And pass rush ability as well… He’s going to move up draft boards in a hurry!

by Strohman on Jan 22, 2010 8:39 PM CST up reply actions

I compared him to Ware in the sense that he’s an undersized and quick DE in college, but I never did say he is or was just as good as Ware. I do however expect him to climb up the draft board from the 3rd Round Projection.

Go Pack!

by Jabooty on Jan 23, 2010 8:04 AM CST up reply actions

Yeah, speed really is crucial in the 3-4. Schofield definitely has that, and is 242 lbs. right now. I’m sure he’ll put on some weight, and I agree he could provide a decent bull rush.

I’m watching the East-West game right now, and Schofield has been playing OLB and looking great, with an interception on the day. Todd McShay is one of the commentators and he sounds really, really impressed with Schofield. Saying he appears to be a prototypical 3-4 OLB, and I agree!

by packallday555 on Jan 23, 2010 2:35 PM CST up reply actions

I think Schofield is 252 lbs, like it really matters though. I’m watching the game too on DVR at the moment. They are giving him a lot of praise for his work ethic this week, as much praise as Clay Matthews was getting at this time for his work ethic.

Either way, we are taking a rish by sticking with Aaron Kampman or drafting O’ Brian Schofield.

Go Pack!

by Jabooty on Jan 23, 2010 5:27 PM CST up reply actions

True. I think it’ll depend on how much Kampman wants. I think TT would prefer to keep him along with Capers just because he is a proven pass rusher, and was doing pretty well transitioning to OLB.

Schofield really did look great today. He was playing an OLB spot in the 4-3 formation today, and looked good when dropping back into coverage. I didn’t see him rushing the passer a whole lot though. I did only watch the 1st half. How did he look rushing the passer? If he ever did.

by packallday555 on Jan 23, 2010 7:12 PM CST up reply actions

He never rushed the QB. I’m not sure on this, but I don’t think the defense was allowed to blitz, kind of like the Pro Bowl in the NFL.

I’m still wishy washy on whether I’d like Kampman or Schofield. Kampman said he’d like to resign with GB, which is a good sign. He is a proven pass rusher as you said and can provide the bull rush we need in the QB’s face. However, what kind of salary will he demand? His ACL tear worries me a great deal. After Shawn Merriman tore his ACL, he was never the same. He’s decent now, but not great. Kampman did seem to come around in the end of October as an OLB.

It’s a tough decision that I’m glad I don’t have to make. I’m surprised Kampman wants to resign, because he’s a prototypical 4-3 DE. He must have been catching on though.

Go Pack!

by Jabooty on Jan 23, 2010 7:30 PM CST up reply actions

I’m surprised Kampman wants to resign, because he’s a prototypical 4-3 DE. He must have been catching on though.

I assume you read the article on him as well! It surprised me too, because judging off of some of his quotes he made it sounds like if GB wants him back he would want to come back. He really was starting too come around, and really wasn’t ever as bad as seem people would have you think. It seemed like we would have fans from other teams on here from week to week talking about how the Kampman transformation was such a failure. But in reality, he was pretty solid all the way throughout, and actually looked better dropping back into coverage then many people expected.

I think his situation is kind of similar to Hawk’s in that people expect so much from Hawk because he was the 5th pick in the draft. People are so used to seeing Kampman consistently getting pressure on the Qb, and getting a lot of sacks. He didn’t have the sack numbers he had, had in the past but he was getting good pressure on the Qb consistently. (He actually led the league in Qb pressures when he tore his ACL.)

I don’t necessarily think we have to pick between Kampman or a guy to draft. i think if we can sign Kampman for a reasonable amount, we should do it. We should also draft an OLB in the draft, and that guy can sit behind Matthews and Kampman and learn some of the nuances to rushing the passer.

by packallday555 on Jan 23, 2010 11:04 PM CST up reply actions

I agree we should resign Kampman. At first I was ready to give up on him, slap the tag on him and trade him. However, Kampman was coming around and he likes it here in GB. I’m not sure if Schofield can apply the pressure Kampman can. If you have 2 speed rushers, QB’s just have to step up and they have all the time in the world in the pocket.

AJ Hawk, what can I say. I try to defend him as much as I can, but when we have Chillar and Bishop on the roster, it’s hard to do that. I think we can get a 2nd Round pick for Hawk, much like how TB got a 2nd Round pick for Gaines Adams. Another 2nd Round pick can bring in a solid OT. We can spend our 1st Round pick on a CB, then have 2 2nd Round picks. 1 of which we can spend on a LT. Put TJ Lang at RT, and yes, I’m saying it again, Allen Barbre at LG. He’s terrible at OT, but he is our strongest lineman, and very athletic. I truly see him being a natural fit to play Guard. His issues at OT were techniques against the speed rush, usually. I’m willing to test him there. If he doesn’t pan out at G, which I think he will, then we can move Lang to G the following year and draft another OT then.

I will disagree with you on drafting another OLB. Unless it’s late in the draft, I don’t think so. Jeremy Thompson had high expectations. Poppinga can go, but we’ll see. We did good in picking up Brad Jones for depth late in the draft last year. He’s not starter material, but he’s good to have for depth.

Go Pack!

by Jabooty on Jan 24, 2010 12:31 PM CST up reply actions

I know how your feeling with Kampman. I felt the same way for much of the season but he really was starting to come around, and was getting good pressure on the Qb. Like you alluded to, he likes it in GB, and I have a feeling he would be willing to sign for a reasonable amount.

I would love to see a Hawk trade. It would make sense, and I think there is actually a good chance TT would do this. After all, they gave Chillar a relatively big contract and MM has been raving about Bishop ever since we got him. And most of all, we all know how TT loves his draft.

I read in Packer Report (or maybe it’s called the Packer Plus. For the life of me I can’t remember but I read it at one of my relatives house over Xmas break, who lives in WI) that MM and Campen think Barbre could be a good LG. I’m hesitant to think so but he was a good run blocker, so who knows.

I forgot about Thompson. I remember MM saying this past offseason that he thought Thompson was going to make a name for himself around the league after this year. (Obviously this didn’t happen haha, but he is athletic and does have some potential.)

by packallday555 on Jan 25, 2010 10:27 PM CST up reply actions

OLB

I am on record as saying that OLB should be one of the top priorities in the draft! Of course OT and CB are there as well. The best way to beat a good passing team is pressure on the QB w/ a 4 man rush. We know Matthews will be a very good pass rusher, but we absolutely need another OLB that can get to the QB. I have been thinking that Hughes in the 1st would be a good pick. Is Schofield in his class as a pass rusher? If he is then 3rd rd is too low. I saw only limited action of Schofield, so its difficult for me to know. We need a Woodley type player opposite Matthews!!! Of that there should be no doubt…

Where ever the best value is at 23, whether its OT, CB or OLB. I don’t care for now… After I research it more I’ll have a better prediction.

by Strohman on Jan 22, 2010 5:25 PM CST reply actions

Yeah…I am okay with that…its probably the same kind of attitude TT will have. He’ll have a list of positions and look to see if anyone would fill those positions. Its WAY too early to really talk about this kind of stuff though.

by TrevorR on Jan 22, 2010 7:13 PM CST up reply actions