Could Mike Neal Return This Week To Face The Buccaneers?

by Brandon on Nov 16, 2011 4:04 PM CST in Green Bay Packers News

OK, I'm still skeptical about the return of DE Mike Neal to the Green Bay Packers, but it couldn't hurt. From the Press-Gazette:

"Am I ready to play? I feel I’m ready to play, but I’m not a doctor. Doctor knows more than I do and the trainers know more than I do. They can look at film and tell whether or not they feel I’m ready to go. I feel like I’m ready to play. If they activate me this week, I’m playing."

Last week I wrote about how winded NT B.J. Raji looked at the end of the Chargers game. It might help if he played less and let the other defensive lineman step up in the rotation. Well they did just that against the Vikings, as reported by the Press-Gazette, and they gave DE C.J. Wilson more playing time. It's hard to tell how effective this strategy was, but Wilson did record 4 tackles and 1 tackle for a loss, which was his best statistical performance in a game this season. On the other hand, Raji failed to record a single stat for the second week in a row, which isn't too surprising since he didn't play as much.

While Neal is not a nose tackle, he should be their best defensive lineman at rushing the passer (in theory anyway). If he can put some pressure on the quarterback, then the interior offensive lineman can't always double-team Raji. Hopefully the combination of Neal's return and fewer snaps can turn Raji back into the force he was late in the 2010 season.

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Neal's return

Maybe not ready against the Bucs but if he can put in some time in
Detroit I’m sure Raji will perk up some. He is facing double teams
nearly every snap that will wear down anyone. In order to return to the
late 2010 form, Raji needs more breaks from the constant beating he’s
taking and someone else on the D-line to step up & draw some of the
pressure off him when he is in the game.

BJK

by Crotext on Nov 16, 2011 4:33 PM CST reply actions

Agreed 100%

Raji almost never doesnt have 2 or 3 lineman hitting him on a play… NO ONE can win in those situations when they are wore out… Give Raji some rest have the other DLineman step up and get Neal going and Raji will come back around.

by Charles Heath on Nov 16, 2011 4:39 PM CST up reply actions

MM and or Capers need to get something going to get Raji rest.

Expecting him to get beat up every week and now even more with the next two games with the Bucs and Lions in 4 days,the fatigue injury odds are sky rocketing especially in the Lions game.
Personally,I’m sitting him this game and if we still win and can continue for the perfect season,great.If it ends this week fine but,I want Raji playing in Indy and if that means sitting now…do it.
Besides,since he hasn’t recorded any stats in two weeks and we can score at will…

by Tarynfor12 on Nov 16, 2011 5:21 PM CST reply actions

No way

He’ll get plenty of rest week 16, 17 and wild card weekend.

by alpo on Nov 16, 2011 5:39 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

I agree with Tarynfor12--Sit him this week or use sparingly..need him down the stretch...

because as Rodgers put it—-Every game counts and nobody will slack off even if we have home-field advantage thru the Playoffs..I know he won’t sit on the last 2 games—DaBears and DaLions at home…no way !!

by Buddyruff on Nov 17, 2011 12:01 AM CST up reply actions

I don't have much hope in Neal contributing

even if he is healthy, he wont be in “game” shape.

by Jeffersap on Nov 16, 2011 5:26 PM CST reply actions

D line

Looking ahead, it would be my guess that TT will use the `12 draft on D like he used the `11 draft on offense.

by glblank on Nov 16, 2011 6:04 PM CST reply actions

HEAVY SIGH

Dear Mike Neal,

We really want you to play and play well. But don’t campaign for a spot if you’re still hurt. If you aren’t like, “I feel ready to ground a QB/RB/OL into turf paste,” I just can’t buy your rhtoric right now. Sorry man!

Since this is your first stint in the professional world (you’re not a rookie but you haven’t played a whole season either), let me tell you what a former boss told when I took ONE day off for being at death’s doorstep with pneumonia: “If you can’t do your job, you’re no good to me.”

Get healthy dude. Be ready to lay some hurt one some people. The Packers ain’t losing right now! We need that badass we’ve been hoping for.

And good luck. Looking forward to seeing your best.

"Show me a good loser, and I'll show you a loser." - Vince Lombardi

by AdamA on Nov 16, 2011 6:23 PM CST reply actions

BJ Raji not the same

I posted the same comment on jsonline about BJ Raji being slow and tired last week and got lit up by indignant posters. I like Acme so much better, and here’s hoping whenever the Pack brings Neal he will be a FORCE!!

by Paul Haugen on Nov 16, 2011 7:07 PM CST reply actions

Don’t even waste your time posting in the comments at newspapers…its just idiots and trolls trying to rile people up (well and YOU of course)! :-)

The Green Bay Packers...Putting bad coaches out of their misery since 2010

by TrevorR on Nov 17, 2011 8:30 AM CST up reply actions

Raji needs to be moved back to nose

His skill is more strength than speed and the closer to the middle he plays the better he can use that strength. Giving Raji a little more rest and getting Neal back should also help

"IF CARDS CAN SIGN SUPPAN THEY CAN GIVE ME A HOME"

by Buddhasillegitimatechild38 on Nov 16, 2011 9:06 PM CST via mobile reply actions

Actually,

Raji is extremely quick and agile for a man his size… He is able to win w/ his initial quickness and then his strength and power. When he was coming into the draft he was thought to be a better 3 tech DT, than he was a NT, which goes to his quickness! When it come strictly to playing strength and the ability to hold the point of attack Pickett is better than Raji. I do agree that Raji should be moved back to NT, there he can use is quickness to get into the center and disrupt running plays and get pressure in the QB’s face.

On the surface moving Raji to DE/DT made sense, but it hasn’t played out that way and its time to move Raji back to NT.

You've been Stroh'd™!!!

by Strohman on Nov 16, 2011 9:29 PM CST up reply actions

Sb

Didn’t we win the superbowl?

Granted we had jenks, but bj did pretty well.

by Acme on Nov 16, 2011 9:57 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

He played extremely well...

Not sure of the point your making. Saying Pickett is the better holding the POA isn’t really anything new. Raji has admitted as much, and the coaches all said so too.. The Packers thought it might make the run D better and it has, but Pickett doesn’t get much penetration when a team passes at NT and that had contributed to the lack of interior pass rush.

You've been Stroh'd™!!!

by Strohman on Nov 19, 2011 1:40 PM CST up reply actions

Sb

Didn’t we win the superbowl?

Granted we had jenks, but bj did pretty well.

by Acme on Nov 16, 2011 9:57 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

At NT.

Go Suns, Packers, Jays, and Huskers!

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by Omaha Sun on Nov 18, 2011 12:33 PM CST up reply actions

Considering that the defense plays in a 2 down linemen nickel formation for maybe 75-80% of the plays, I’m not certain that Raji being at DE or NT makes a huge difference. I wouldn’t dispute that it makes some difference, but I’m not sure how much.

I’m also pretty certain that in the Monday night game that he lined up at NT and Pickett and DE at least once. I also noticed that in the nickel package Raji and Wynn (or sometimes Wilson) would switch places, so that sometimes Raji was on the left and at other times on the right.

I also like the way that Capers rotated defensive linemen in the last game. Wilson played fairly well. Green seems to get penetration. It seems like keeping these big guys fresh and playing all 5 of them through out the game may give the best chance for them to make plays up front.

by MikeDB on Nov 17, 2011 10:20 AM CST up reply actions