What Role Should LB Brandon Chillar Play in 2010?
by Brandon on Aug 25, 2010 10:00 AM CDT
in Green Bay Packers Training Camp
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PrintFrom the Press-Gazette on Green Bay Packers LB Brandon Chillar:
Brandon Chillar will remain a backup option at outside linebacker, but he’s the Packers’ No. 4 man at that position.
Chillar this week moved back to inside linebacker in the Packers’ nickel defense, where he played last year as the Packers’ best cover man at linebacker.
It was noticed earlier this month that when the Packers posted their first official depth chart, Chillar was listed as the starting outside LB. He was given an extended look recently due in part to the fact that LB Brad Jones has missed time with an injured shoulder. During the first two preseason games, Chillar provided zero outside pass rush and was even shoved completely out of the way when QB Matt Hasselbeck threw his only TD pass. Chillar has even admitted his struggles.
While this excludes him from a starting job, he apparently will rotate in for LB A.J. Hawk on passing downs, this is probably his best role. But a few questions remain. Is he really better in coverage than LB Nick Barnett? Why is Hawk getting any playing time if he can't be trusted in coverage? Did Chillar deserve another chance at outside LB?
What is your current opinion of him?
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If Brandon Chillar can do more of this...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZNF_dj6tLw
I’d be all for having him take the majority of the time at 2nd MLB.
When life gives ya lemons, shut up and eat your damn lemons.
Good question
My opinion of Chillar is that he’s a nice option to have for the nickel, and not a whole lot more. I wouldn’t say he’s great in coverage. He’s good. Competent. …and that’s not nothing. But he’s not The Answer in any aspect of the game.
So, what’s his role? He’s a good sub. He provides valuable depth. But he’s not a guy where you’re thinking “I need to get this guy on the field more”. He’s not a guy that, when a starter goes down, you can be like “that’s okay, we’ve got Chillar, and he can hold down the fort.” No, Chillar is a situational guy, who should play occassionally. If you’ve got him starting, you’re in trouble.
He’s also a known commodity. I don’t think he needs more of a look at OLB. We know what he is at this point, which is: basically a huge safety. In run support, he’s slightly better than a safety, but slightly worse than a typical linebacker. He can cover a mediocre TE, or he’s good to have in when you’re not sure if they’re going to run or pass.
"... when a starter goes down, you can be like 'that's ok, we've got Chillar..."
That’s pretty much exactly the way I think of him. I would have liked to see him get a shot at OLB when the bullets are flying, but I understand why that’s not going to happen. I like him in the nickel because I think he blitzes fairly well, though he didn’t put up the numbers to support that opinion last year and I think he covers well too. In that role you can maximize his impact because of his different skills, unlike the other options. He’s athletic and tenacious, but he’s too small to take on linemen regularly, which is why he doesn’t work at OLB in the 3/4.
But if someone gets hurt you can’t really count on him to come in and reproduce what the injured player offered because he lacks the strength and size of most of the other LB’s we’re starting. The sole exception might be Barnett. That’s not a slam on Barnett, but Chillar’s skill set is closer to Barnett than it is to any of the other players and if he’s got a big meathead NT and ILB protecting him he could make some plays in pursuit in that role.
BTC's a Lying A-Hole.
by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Aug 25, 2010 12:49 PM CDT up reply actions
Chillar
I think Chillar would be better if he were starting. IMO, Hawk hasn’t done enough to keep his starting job. We’ll see if Hawk plays better this season, but he is the known commodity and I would like to see Chilllar given the chance to start ahead of him. Seems to me he would be as good vs the run as Hawk and would much more versatile than Hawk in terms of coverages and rushing. Chillar didn’t fare well when he rushed outside, but thats when the OT know he’s coming. What would he look like rushing from in inside spot when nobody know what he’s going to do?!
Maybe their sharing to keep them fresh, but I wouldn’t mind seeing Chillar being an every down LB. AZ wanted him when we originally signed him and he would have been an every down player for them. Chillars versatility might open up more options if he were on the field more as an ILB.
I agree with a lot of that....
… and I’m no fan of Hawk, but he’s got the strength to stand up a lineman if they get to him, though we know he’ll rarely get off that block to make a play. But Chillar would probably end up on his back. It’s tempting to think of he and Barnett in pursuit on the inside, but having a beefier ILB paired with Barnett is part of what makes him so effective, I think.
BTC's a Lying A-Hole.
by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Aug 25, 2010 2:58 PM CDT up reply actions
I might agree here…but the question is, even if he hasn’t played well enough to keep it, has anyone played well enough to take it from him. I am not sure that is a yes either.
+1
Bam! Thanks for saying that Trevor. So many people forget that starters need to be outplayed by a guy behind them before being replaced.
by PackApologist on Aug 26, 2010 2:04 PM CDT up reply actions
decent backup
Chillars was one of TT’s bargain basement 2nd-tier free agent pick-ups. I’ve said before that moving around marginal players like Chillars was not going to help elevate the defense and I was correct, for once. Chillars is a decent back up and might work as a situational nickel LB. My God, he has to be better in coverage than Hawk, who couldn’t cover my grandma with a circus tent.
chillar does have a nice salary
i believe last year he signed a 4 year 21 million dollar salary with 7 mill gauranteed—-
that’s pricey for a back-up———situational player, don’t ya think?
Poppinga
That’s the guy who is paid mighty comfy to basically play special teams and be crazy. Chillar, they’ll get their money’s worth out of him for situational roles, third downs, and filling in emergencies.
by PackApologist on Aug 26, 2010 2:05 PM CDT up reply actions
So true on Poppinga
Although I have been mildly impressed with a couple pass rushes he displayed this Preseason. I like him on the strong side though out of the base 3-4, where most of the running plays occur, while keeping Mathews on the weak side. Out of the Nickel, take Poppinga out, put Mathews on the left side, and Jones or Zombo on the right side. Maybe even the other way around.
I know this debate on putting Mathews on the opposite side of Jenkins is growing strong, but I just don’t like the idea of having him getting tied up in blocks with TE’s. That is afterall one of his few flaws, he struggles to shred blocks once locked up. If a TE locks him up, combined with his small size, we will have issues stopping the run.
"No player is greater than a team."
-Vince Lombardi
Matthews
Is going to get chip blocks from a RB or TE everytime he rushes anyway. So does it matter if its on the left side or right? Not IMO… If lining him up opposite helps the pass rush of ANYONE else, it helps overall. Matthews is going to see doubles this season, no matter what side he’s on.
Matthews has very good size for a 34 OLB… He goes 255 now. Thats more than any other OLB on the roster! Hes 15 lbs more than Jones and 18 or so more than Chillar. Matthews and Zombo go 255 and 254 respectively. Start Zombo at LOLB that would work for me!!!
I recognize that
but Mathews biggest knock coming out of USC was his inability to shed blocks. Lining him up on the left side only increases his odds of getting tied up in that as over half the time the TE lines up on that side. Plus, the defense plays to stop the run most times out of the base 3-4, while having Clay attack, which he has the best chance of doing on the weakside.
Playing Zombo there more often….I’m with you there. I would go for that.
"No player is greater than a team."
-Vince Lombardi
I doubt Capers would move Matthews to LOLB if he didn’t think he can handle the TE and shed the block. If that was a weakness of his coming out of USC, he’s now had 2 full offseasons to work on his technique and strength to shed the blocker!. I honestly don’t care which side Matthews is on if Zombo is the starter opposite him!!!
I hope that's the case
At least keeping Zombo on the Strongside out of the base 3-4. I’m not watching him practice this offseason to know if his technique has improved in shedding blocks. All I know is Mathews hasn’t had the greatest of offseasons. Capers knows more about him then me though. We need to jump to a good start, and I’d hate to see this team make this mistake, which could hurt our Run D.
"No player is greater than a team."
-Vince Lombardi
ILBers
All of the Packer ILBers must improve coverage this year. None of them have shown the coverage skills demanded of ILBers in todays game. Softest part of the defense is the short to mid pass in the middle of the field. They must do a better job of choking the passing lanes.
Agreed
They were exploited in the Cardinals playoff game quite a bit.
by packallday555 on Aug 26, 2010 1:13 PM CDT up reply actions
As I said before, Chillar is strictly a 3-4 ILB
Way too small to play OLB in the 3-4. It was a nice experiment, but has shown much promise. If anything though, it adds to Chillar’s experience in rushing the QB, which we may see more of with him as an ILB. Wouldn’t be surprised to see more ILB cross blitzes, which should create more creativity for Capers.
"No player is greater than a team."
-Vince Lombardi
agree about Chillar
he’s better inside… I never really expected him to start at OLB, but given the choice between Chillar and Jones I might have given it to Chillar. That said, it never seemed likely. Worth trying though…
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