Packers Counting on Pass Rush From First Rounder Nick Perry

It looks like the Green Bay Packers will have a pass rush in 2012, and a rookie may be leading the way.

Expectations are high as Nick Perry puts on the green and gold, and he's fine with that.

"I can't really say that I'm going to be the savior," Perry, an outside linebacker, said during the Packers' weekend rookie minicamp. "But I'm going to put my best foot forward to help the situation, just to try and help the team any way I can."

Last month, the Packers spent their first six picks on defensive players -- Perry, linemen Jerel Worthy and Mike Daniels, cornerback Casey Hayward, safety Jerron McMillian and inside linebacker Terrell Manning.

Things seemed to go well in Perry's first minicamp appearance.  The new Packer looked explosive moving forward, but started tentative and sluggish in pass coverage. Perry is making the transition from defensive end to outside linebacker, that is to be expected. However, the 270 pounds he's carrying might be contributing to the problems with pass coverage.

Packers Pick USC's Perry for Defense

Nick Perry will be joining a former USC teammate in Green Bay.  That former teammate would be on Clay Matthews.

Perry got to know Matthews as a freshman at USC and is looking forward to the reunion.


The Packers made a move to boost their pass rush in Thursday’s first round of the NFL draft, taking Perry with the No. 28 overall pick. At 6-2 and 271 pounds, Perry will play outside linebacker in the Packers’ 3-4 scheme. That could make him a complement to fellow former Trojan Matthews, something the team has lacked in recent seasons.

Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers said being able to get pass rush pressure from both sides is critical.

“It means a great deal,” Capers said. “I think the basis of our defense starts with being able to threaten offenses from both sides. You see us do a lot of things with our inside linebackers and a lot of their success is based on the type of threat that you have, I think, from both sides of your defense.”

Perry had 21.5 career sacks in three seasons.  Half of that total next season in Green Bay would be a big help.

Packers Impressed By Wisconsin Quarterback

With the impending loss of QB Matt Flynn, the Green Bay Packers will be in the market for a backup quarterback and University of Wisconsin's Russell Wilson is getting a long look from Packer brass.

Wilson threw 63 passes at his Pro Day workout on Wednesday run by former NFL quarterback Chris Weinke, who has worked with Wilson for seven weeks.

Wilson was on target with 59 of his throws and there were two drops.

Wilson threw every route he could possibly throw in the NFL, including several deep balls.

He also showed scouts good arm strength and velocity on the ball.

The NFL scouts also seemed impressed, including Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson.
"He's a very impressive fellow," Thompson said of Wilson, "articulate, knowledgeable, confident, and he projects that confidence. He's going to be a good get for somebody."

The biggest question about Wilson may be his height as he has been measured at 5'11".

"I've been this way my whole life," he said. "My height's not a factor. I played this way my whole life. I think I only got three balls batted down all (last) season. The key is finding lanes and delivering the ball on time.

Now That You Have the Stock, Get the T-shirt

Thousands of Packer fans and wannabe NFL owners are shelling out hundreds and thousands of dollars to buy shares of Green Bay Packer stock today.

You will be an actual owner of the team with many others, but you will have no say in draft decisions and who will be starting at running back next week.

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Matt Leinart to Start in Houston

One "Matt" is out and one "Matt" is in. With Matt Schaub out with a foot injury, Matt Leinart gets a chance to silence the critics and get his name back.

Leinart, the 2004 Heisman Trophy winner for Southern California, re-signed with the Texans in the offseason after not taking a snap in 2010. He turned down other offers to return to Houston because he was comfortable with Kubiak and his offensive system.

Houston rank eighth in total offense this season (396.2 yards per game).

"Your time's going to come, and you've got to be accountable for when that opportunity comes," Leinart said. "They know that I work hard and I study hard and I'm prepared very well. We'll going to take this and go game-by-game and I don't think much is going to change."

Leinart guided Southern Cal to national championship games after the 2004 and `05 seasons, and went 37-2 as a starter in college.

He was drafted 10th overall by Arizona in 2006 and appeared in 12 games as a rookie under coach Dennis Green, throwing 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He broke his collarbone in the fifth game of the next season, Kurt Warner took over and Leinart was mostly a spectator over the next 2 1/2 seasons.

Leinart talked openly during training camp about earning another starting job. Now he'll get it, just not under the circumstances he wanted.

"I'm bummed. My heart goes out for him," Leinart said. "But he knows and everyone knows that in this profession, things happen, and the next guy has to step up. That's my job and my responsibility.
"That's what I've wanted for a long time, and that's what I've worked hard for every day and prepared for every day," he said. "It's a great opportunity. I'm just excited about the chance."

Kubiak has been increasing Leinart's repetitions in practice, and he's confident Leinart is ready.

"He's played in big football games in this league, he's played in big football games in college," Kubiak said. "Matt's been around it. The key is the whole team rallying around him, and playing well as a team. Matt doesn't have to go win a game, the team has to go win a game. We'll rally around him and get him ready to go."

Schaub, acquired in a trade with Atlanta in March 2007, has started every game for Houston since the start of the 2009 season. Kubiak would not say if Schaub would miss the rest of this year.