What To Expect From Morgan Burnett In His Second Season
by Brandon on Jul 17, 2011 8:00 PM CDT
in Green Bay Packers Analysis
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PrintGreen Bay Packers S Morgan Burnett has made news over the weekend based on this story that started back when he was playing college ball at Georgia Tech in 2009. But the news of it reminded me that he's a player that has largely fallen off my radar, which is a big change considering how much I was counting on him this time last year.
Flash back to June 2010, after the Packers had traded up that April to select Burnett in 3rd round. With SS Atari Bigby unsigned, and looking like an injury risk, Burnett was being counted on to give them some quality depth or claim the starting job alongside FS Nick Collins. CB Charles Woodson said Burnett was ready to play, and all he needed was game experience. And after Bigby failed his physical, and Burnett was given the first chance to replace him, he looked set as the safety of the future. Unfortunately his future was derailed by a torn ACL.
Since then, S Charlie Peprah has taken over as a reliable starter, and the team rewarded him with a two-year contract. It would be a surprise if Burnett can re-claim his starting job in 2011, but Peprah's 2011 salary is modest for a starter and the team might be willing to leave the competition open. I'd be fine with either of them starting in week 1.
What can we expect from Burnett in 2011? The second year can be a coming out party once a young player has his first training camp and a full season under his belt. But he didn't really have a full season due to his torn ACL. Now he has to get back in game shape after being off the field for nearly 10 months, and it can take an extra season to come all the way back from an ACL.
He's certain to be held out of some drills, and maybe even some early preseason game, as they access how his knee is progressing. That could give Peprah a big advantage as the coaches will have a preference for a player they know is ready to play.
With the team in no rush to force him back into the starting lineup, they might decide to take their time with him if they're at all concerned. He is still looks like the starting safety of the future, and he's certain to get playing time on special teams and in multiple DB sets. I'm not expecting a lot from him in 2011, but that might be just fine based on the circumstances. Instead I expect more from him in the future.
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Burnett
The guy has alot of talent, about that there can be no doubt. I have a couple concerns about him this season. 2nd year player typically make alot of improvement due to having a full offseason to study film on themselves and work w/ position coaches on their technique and decision making. Burnett and other 2nd year players won’t have that advantage this year. I also think it would be wise to take a cautious approach regarding his rehab and getting him back on the field.
Personally, I would have a competition, but based on Peprah’s steady, reliable play, I would give him every opportunity to keep starting. Burnett can use more time to get back to being 100% before getting on the field. I like Burnett going forward, but give him some more time…
You've been Stroh'd™!!!
Agreed
With Peprah playing solid, why rush Burnett back? Give him plenty of time to recover fully from the knee.
by Curly Lambeau on Jul 18, 2011 11:16 AM CDT up reply actions
Burnett is going to be really good
I was reading an ESPN article (sorry can’t remember by who), and the guy said Burnett was on his way to becoming an “all-world thumper” from the SS position.
If he’s solid at all, I think the GB secondary is the best in football with the talent we have at FS and CB
by rip_city_swagger on Jul 17, 2011 11:19 PM CDT reply actions
Burnett a "thumper"?
Uhmmm, one of Burnetts weaknesses coming out of Georgia Tech was that he wasn’t physical enough and not a very good tackler. He’s not a thumper, he’s a ballhawk and a damn good one.
You've been Stroh'd™!!!
that's just what they said - I was surprised too
I was also under the impression he was less of a tackler/big hitter and more of a ball hawk
And honestly, we don’t need a big hitter at safety. What we need are guys with enough speed and range to take away big plays and capitalize when the QB is under pressure. The 3-4 system Capers uses takes away the sideline passes, so we need guys at safety who can take away the middle of the field
Like I said, if Burnett can be that guy opposite Nick Collins, this is an incredible secondary
by rip_city_swagger on Jul 18, 2011 10:58 AM CDT up reply actions
Good problem to have
not knowing which of a number of solid options get the start.
"Show me a good loser, and I'll show you a loser." - Vince Lombardi
by AdamA on Jul 17, 2011 11:23 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
I expect him to make balloon animals...
I mean really, its not THAT hard if clowns can do it, and he’s been around for a while now. He should know how…..
In Every Climb and Place....
by PhoenicianPakFan on Jul 18, 2011 12:42 AM CDT reply actions
What does that have to do with race....
anyone can make balloon animals! Except that damn clown at the fair that one time. I wanted a puppy and he made a giraffe….. PUPPIES DON’T HAVE 8 FOOT NECKS!
In Every Climb and Place....
by PhoenicianPakFan on Jul 18, 2011 6:07 AM CDT up reply actions
What do the
Indianapolis Clowns have to do with race?
Really?
"It's a great day to be great, baby!"
"Here I am, brain the size of a planet,
and they ask me to pick up a piece of paper.
You call that job satisfaction?
'Cause, I don't."
The Munsters of the Midway still suck!
I'm not.
PPF was.
My reply to him was, “Really?”, after providing a link to that site about the I.C.s
"It's a great day to be great, baby!"
"Here I am, brain the size of a planet,
and they ask me to pick up a piece of paper.
You call that job satisfaction?
'Cause, I don't."
The Munsters of the Midway still suck!
Oh, I see what you were saying
I thought you meant the “Really?” was directed towards me, not him.
and PPF was just being his normal, ridiculous self. Which is great.
13.
It would seem
that we have a few Clowns on this site. ;)
"It's a great day to be great, baby!"
"Here I am, brain the size of a planet,
and they ask me to pick up a piece of paper.
You call that job satisfaction?
'Cause, I don't."
The Munsters of the Midway still suck!
"What To Expect From Morgan Burnett In His Second Season"
a 2nd ring on his fingers.
13.
by Wiedmann on Jul 18, 2011 5:49 AM CDT reply actions 3 recs
Plug and Play
As we saw last year our “Plug-ins” more than did the job. This year the team can be cautious w/ the SS starter from last year b/c they can plug in Peprah, the leading tackler in the SB.
If James Jones leaves they can plug in Randall Cobb who some say was the 3rd best receiver in the draft (Todd McShay had him going 30 spots earlier to Buffalo).
In an already strong and deep secondary, I recently read where Pat Lee was arguably the best cover corner coming out of his draft class. If he can stay healthy he’s a pretty good plug in if a CB gets injured. He showed up well in the SB.
If Justin Harrell can stay healthy (I know, a BIG if) we would be plugging in a 1st round talent into the D-Line.
This team is sooo deep, it’s scary. And BTW, If we lose Jenkins, Jones, and Colledge to FA, TT will most likely get at worst 4th, 5th, and 6th round compensation picks.
Honestly I don’t see it as Peprah’s job to lose. Honestly he was filling in for a starter. Not sure if McCarthy subscribes to the “starter can’t lose their job due to injury” take, but if he does, it would be Burnett’s job to lose, right?
Honesty, Peprah did a nice job, but I don’t see him getting any better than what we saw…maybe I am wrong, but I see Burnett’s ceiling being higher. What we saw last year was a rookie thrown into a starting job in a tough defense. I think the sky is the limit for him and i think he’ll be given every chance to be a starter.
The Green Bay Packers...Putting bad coaches out of their misery since 2010
it's tough when he was a rookie though
he was starting, but he was a rookie, so it’s not like he had a strangle-hold on the starting job. Also, coaches like to go with what works/the hot hand, and since Peprah did a nice job for us in our playoff run, you never know
That said – Burnett should be the one that starts, as he has the potential to be the future of the position for us.
by rip_city_swagger on Jul 18, 2011 11:00 AM CDT up reply actions
Burnett has lost oodles of quality time and experience with his injury. Add to the soup, the fact that there was no off season program, and he’s behind the curve. The Packers have the luxury of bringing him along at whatever pace they choose. The staff will have it’s hands full trying to cram 5mos into 10 days. Under that pressure, I’m sure that coaches will makes as few changes as possible in the early days of the season. While other teams are in the same boat, at least the Pack went 6wks further into the season and have a very veteran team returning.
And, more to the point, Trevor,
so it’s not like he had a strangle-hold on the starting job.
it’s not like he had earned the starting job.
It was pretty much given to him, and made his to lose, when Bigby reported injured.
Since Burnett went on IR, Peprah has really done more to earn the starting job than Burnett ever did, IMO.
"It's a great day to be great, baby!"
"Here I am, brain the size of a planet,
and they ask me to pick up a piece of paper.
You call that job satisfaction?
'Cause, I don't."
The Munsters of the Midway still suck!
Your second paragraph is spot on. Peprah is never going to be better than what he was last year — which would be fine for the record. But like you said, Burnett has a really high ceiling. With him back there, our defense can take a lot more chances, which could lead to even more takeaways.
Fire Slocum
by packallday555 on Jul 18, 2011 12:05 PM CDT up reply actions
Tell Nick Barnett that...
He was a starter and got hurt. Now nobody thinks he’ll be the starter next year. Hell he might not even be on the team! Same for Tauscher, he was the starter now Bulaga is. Why would it be different w/ Burnett and Peprah. Peprah played better than Burnett did anyway, IMO! So yeah, I can easily see Peprah being the starter this year again. Especially early in the year, w/ Burnett coming off an ACL injury!
You've been Stroh'd™!!!
That's different though because salaries are involved
SUPER BOWL CHAMPS
by Chief Oshkosh on Jul 18, 2011 4:42 PM CDT up reply actions
True... Kinda
But like I said…
Peprah played better than Burnett did anyway, IMO!
Nothing regarding salaries there, and I don’t think salary is why Bishop is going to start over Barnett either. Same is true w/ Bulaga starting over Tauscher. They just played better. Nothing more, nothing less.
You've been Stroh'd™!!!
And I agree Burnett has a much higher ceiling
Peprah is probably about maxed out for potential. I just don’t see a reason to rush Burnett back just to give him his job back. Let Burnett take his time to get back to being completely healthy and regain confidence in his knee again. That can take well over a year. Physically the healing is much faster than regaining confidence again.
Peprah is very assignment sure and is more physical at this point than Burnett. Keep Peprah as the starting while we wait for Burnett to get everything back… Healthy and confidence.
You've been Stroh'd™!!!
we're missing the real point
Isn’t it nice to have two capable players at safety. We certainly learned last year what depth means.
2 capable players
Isn’t it nice to have 2 capable players at almost every position up and down the roster?!
You've been Stroh'd™!!!
by Strohman on Jul 18, 2011 10:28 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Except at LG.
As you know, until proven otherwise, we only have Colledge. :)
"It's a great day to be great, baby!"
"Here I am, brain the size of a planet,
and they ask me to pick up a piece of paper.
You call that job satisfaction?
'Cause, I don't."
The Munsters of the Midway still suck!
Some might say we have 0 capable players at that position.
13.
by Wiedmann on Jul 19, 2011 5:50 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Some might be wrong,
since we are using no stronger adjective than ‘capable’.
"It's a great day to be great, baby!"
"Here I am, brain the size of a planet,
and they ask me to pick up a piece of paper.
You call that job satisfaction?
'Cause, I don't."
The Munsters of the Midway still suck!
SOME would be wrong.
Colledge has been quite capable actually. And we DID just win a SB w/ him!
You've been Stroh'd™!!!
What we have at LG, without Colledge, is the great unknown. Thoughts of the Barbre experiment still resound as one of the worse Packer moves ever. But Lang is no Barbre. Newhouse? Who knows? I wouldn’t be shocked, given McCarthy’s philosophies, to see Sherrod plugged in to gain experience awaiting his turn at tackle.
Lang is no Barbre?
On what exactly do you base that judgement? He needed help on every play it seemed when he played LT vs Allen. I mean, I like Lang too, but we don’t have enough to base that conclusion on, and Lang has missed every chance to get alot better missing the offseason to last year being injured and the offseason to this year due to the lockout. Newhouse’s biggest weakness, was that he wasn’t physical enough coming out of TCU. Has he learned to play w/ physicality since then? I like Newhouse too, but they haven’t had a chance to improve themselves…
You've been Stroh'd™!!!
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