After the Packers preseason victory over the Cleveland Browns in which the new defense held the Browns to just 191 total yards, all systems look like a go.  While defensive stalwarts Charles Woodson, Al Harris, and Nick Barnett did not play along with rookies Clay Matthews and B.J. Raji, plus Jeremy Thompson, the defense still looked good, limiting the Browns running game to just 59 yards on the ground.

The Packers offense was also hitting on all cylinders, as the first-team put up 14 points in the first quarter on a 53-yard pass from Aaron Rodgers to Donald Driver on a third down, and a two-yard run by Ryan Grant late in the first quarter.  The running game put up an astounding 230 yards behind a thought to be suspect offensive line.  Rookie running back Tyrell Sutton paced the team with 91 yards on 18 second half rushes.  Kregg Lumpkin, who snuck onto the team in 2008 before suffering a season-ending injury, also have a productive night with 8 rushes for 48 yards.

Granted, this is the preseason, and this is the Cleveland Browns we’re talking about, but last night was a success.  The players are becoming more comfortable in the 3-4 scheme and it showed results (although it was against the Cleveland Browns in the preseason).  The most impressive part is the rushing defense.  Fifty-nine yards is impressive no matter the circumstances.  At various junctures of 2008, the Packers were just gashed by opposing running backs, so to see Jamal Lewis held to 17 yards on 7 carries.

The pass defense also held as well.  Brett Ratliff, an Eric Mangini favorite from the New York Jets, was harrassed all day, as he was sacked three times and only completed 7 of 13 passes for 84 yards and two picks.  Brady Quinn was 7-11 for 68 yards and a pick, while his main competition Derek Anderson was 0-2 with one interception.  The 3-4 held against an offense it should have held against.  Tramon Williams, Charlie Peprah, Anthony Smith, and Desmond Bishop had the interceptions for the Packers.

The most disconcerting aspect of the game was the fact that after two scores by the first team in the first quarter, the Packers didn’t score again the fourth quarter.  Brian Brohm did not play well at all, as he was 3-10 for 18 yards and two picks and a fat passer rating of 0.0.  He is looking more and more like trade bait for a veteran if he doesn’t keep improving.  Matt Flynn was solid, however, completing 5 of 6 throws 50 yards, although he couldn’t find the end zone.

Sure, it’s preseason and you’re playing with second teamers, but you’re playing second teamers (the Cleveland Browns’ second teamers at that).  There should be some offense generated by the offense that does have depth in the running game and the wide receivers.  Where’s the production from Flynn and Brohm?  Both are thought to be capable quarterbacks, but Brohm, who was projected as a high first-round pick had he left school after his junior year) has yet to live up to his potential and Flynn is playing like a third or fourth-round pick, as opposed to the seventh-round pick he is, which is a bit of a plus for the Packers.  Could veteran leadership help solve this issue?  Maybe.  But then again, we’re talking about scoring points in the preseason against the Browns, so it could be a moot point.

Anyhow, the Packers have Terrell Owens and the Buffalo Bills this Saturday, and we’ll have to see how the defense reacts to a team thought to have a potentially explosive offense and see how the offense reacts to a defense that isn’t Cleveland’s.

• Linebacker Nick Barnett is opening camp on the physically-unable-to-perform (PUP) list after he did not pass his physical.  Barnett flunking his physical has nothing to do with him being out of shape, as he is recovering from a torn ACL suffered last year in a game against the Minnesota Vikings.  There is no time table yet for his return to the practice field.  Brandon Chillar has replaced him on the No. 1 unit.
• Approximately 2,100 people attended the first practice, filling the stands that have a capacity of 1,500 people.
• The battle for the center and right guard spots is interesting, with Scott Wells, Jason Spitz, and Josh Sitton all rotating around the positions as Mike McCarthy looks to find the best fit for the team.
• In the aforementioned 3-4 defense, Jeremy Thompson was working with the No. 1 unit on the right side, opposite Aaron Kampman.
• Top draft choice B.J. Raji was not in camp yesterday, as the stalemate for contracts for draft picks above him and below him affects the ability for the Packers to get a contract done with him.
• Rookie linebacker Brad Jones, a seventh-round pick, also failed his physical and was put on the PUP list.
• After suffering a torn pectoral muscle that ended his season in Week 4 last year, lineman Cullen Jenkins is back in top shape, according to McCarthy.
• Tackle Chad Clifton told reporters he also had work done on his shoulders as well as his knees during the offseason.  Greg A. Bedard said he looked “nimble and strong” in practice.

With two-a-days starting today, the Packers look to get back into shape for the season as September 13 looms in the distance.

The signing of Matthews means that ninth-overall pick B.J. Raji is the only Packers not signed as of today, July 30.

Matthews joins a crowded battle for the outside linebacker spots in Dom Capers‘ new 3-4 defense.  Aaron Kampman appears to have the left side under wraps, leaving right side wide open for Matthews, Jeremy Thompson, who impressed during mini-camps after revamping his body, and veteran Brady Poppinga, a strong run stopper.  Matthews appeared to have the inside track after being drafted, but after tweaking his hamstring during OTAs, it opened the door for Thompson to make a splash and an impression, which he most certainly did, making the battle for outside linebacker in the 3-4 defense one of the most important of camp.

Matthews will wear No. 52 for the Pack.

Remember, get your daily updates from Lombardi Ave through its RSS Feed here and follow @LombardiAve on Twitter here!

Thompson is a big man at 6-4, 270, good size for the outside linebacker position.  The only problem for him was that his speed wasn’t up to par with what the position requires.  So he changed his workout pattern:

This offseason, Thompson changed his workout regimen to make himself into a pseudo linebacker for the new 3-4 defense. That included changing the pace at which he lifted weights and adding hip work between lifts.

He lifted the same amount of weight for the same repetitions but instead of resting between lifts, he did more situps and abdominal work or active stretching.

“A lot of the stretches I was doing worked on my hip flexibility, swiveling my hips back and forth for flexibility just so I’m a more fluid athlete,” Thompson said.

With that, Thompson has moved into the starting lineup of the defense this offseason.  He has seen most or all of the reps opposite Aaron Kampman and the two have developed a rapport that will be vital for the defense to succeed.  The combination of size and speed is important for an outside linebacker in the 3-4, as they have to rush, cover, and take on blockers.  It seems Thompson can do all three.

If I were a coach, I’d want 11 Jeremy Thompsons on my defense.  The Wake Forest product has impressed nearly everyone he has worked with.

“It definitely wasn’t easy, the whole defense being new, plus a new position. It definitely wasn’t easy,” Thompson said. “Whatever we went through during the day I studied that night. So I would study an hour every night.”

Thompson has done so well he has drawn rare praise from coaches on the field for dropping back into coverage. Coach Mike McCarthy also sees potential for Thompson in disrupting the quarterback.

“He’s a natural pass rusher,” McCarthy said. “His experience playing defensive end really will help him this year as it carries over to the outside linebacker position. He’s as natural of an athlete that you’ll see out there at that position as far as dropping and doing all the different things. I know our defensive staff, particularly Kevin Greene and Dom Capers, are very excited.”

One of the best things this does for the Packers defense is create competition and flexibility on the defense.  Thompson’s improvement will push Matthews to get better, giving the Packers two outstanding possibilities for the defense.  It also gives the Packers choices on which athlete they want in the game in different scenarios, giving the opposing offenses more things to gameplan for and more things to think about in the line.  It’ll be a blessing for the defense.

Still, Thompson comes off as a guy you can’t hate, someone that you just want to root for:

“Anytime you work with the ones, it’s an opportunity,” Thompson said. “I’m just trying to be the best I can be. If he comes back and he’s better than me and he can help the team, I mean, I’m not going to be content. But I’m going to have to know my role. But I’m going to do the best I can. If it is being starter, I’m going to try to take off and be the best starter in the league.”

Maybe we’ll see him rolling off of a battered Brett Favre at some point this year.

This means there is so much more turnover that has to be expected with the depth chart, but at least all of the players with the exception of Thompson were expected to work with the first team defense at some point.  Thompson rarely saw the field in his rookie season and now appears to be making a case to be taken seriously on defense and not just a special-teamer.

Linebackers coach Kevin Greene on Thompson:

“Jeremy Thompson brings a lot to the table. He’s very athletic, very athletic. He’s very fluid. His fluidity at outside backer is going to obviously be a plus.”

Greene was one of the best, so you know he has to like what he sees.  I like Thompson.  Wake guys are usually pretty intelligent, and Thompson really seems like he could be a plus to the defense in 2009 if he keeps his improved performance up.

Step 1: Hire Dom Capers.

The vacancy Bob Sanders left at defensive coordinator is particularly glaring for the Packers.  The defense, although ravaged by injuries, always seemed to be a step behind the offense in certain games, most notably the Packers 51-29 defeat against the New Orleans Saints.  After a 2007 season where the defense was fantastic, the Packers defense looked old and out of sync in 2008.  The schemes were stale and bringing in Capers would add a breath of fresh air.

But if the Packers want Capers, they will have to move quickly.  The New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys also have interest in Capers as the Giants lost Steve Spagnoulo to the St. Louis Rams and Dallas fired Brian Stewart.  The Cowboys could be an enticing option for Capers, as owner Jerry Jones has deep pockets and the Cowboys already run a 3-4, Capers’ preferred scheme.  Capers also has ties with Giants head coach Tom Coughlin, making the Giants look like a good option to him.  However, Dallas is currently a cesspool of unrest and the personnel in New York is more suited towards a 4-3 defense.

The Packers have been a 4-3 team for as long as I can remember, but head coach Mike McCarthy has said that he is open to changing the scheme to a 3-4.  A 3-4 defense could work pretty successfully in Green Bay with the right personnel.  Which brings us to…

Step 2: Sign Julius Peppers.

The Carolina Panthers freak athlete/defensive end wants out of Carolina.  From a Toronto Star report:

Four-time Pro Bowl defensive end Julius Peppers has decided he won’t sign a long-term deal with the Carolina Panthers when he becomes an unrestricted free agent Feb.26.

Peppers, who grew up in tiny Bailey, N.C., starred in college at North Carolina and was the Panthers’ first-round pick in 2002, believes Carolina’s defensive system is not for him – even after recording a career-high 14 1/2 sacks this season.

Agent Carl Carey said Peppers wants to play in a 3-4 defence. The Panthers use a 4-3 alignment.

The key to this is that last line.  “Peppers wants to play in a 3-4 defence.”  Bringing Capers up to Green Bay and inserting the 3-4 would make an inviting situation for Peppers.  The Packers had difficulty getting pressure on the quarterback this season.  Aaron Kampman was steady as always, but Cullen Jenkins was ill-suited to be a defensive end before his season-ending shoulder injury, leaving the Packers with Jason Hunter, Michael Montgomery, and rookie Jeremy Thompson to get pressure on the quarterback, which was not too successful.

Signing Peppers would allow the team to move Jenkins back to defensive tackle, allowing him to team with Johnny Jolly, Ryan Pickett, and Colin Cole, and push injury-riddled super-bust Justin Harrell out of the lineup until the Packers can finally figure out what’s wrong with him.  Teaming Peppers with Kampman would give opposing offensive lines and offensive coordinators headaches for weeks.  Peppers, being the freak athlete he is, could be used as the fourth linebacker as well, adding more versatility to the defense.  The Packers would be able to have their top four linebackers, Nick Barnett, A.J. Hawk, Brady Poppinga, and Brandon Chillar, on the field at the same time.  Young Desmond Bishop would also get more time to see the field.

The catch to this is that I don’t see Peppers signing with the Packers unless Capers and the 3-4 is in place.  This would mean that the Packers have to move fast on signing Capers, giving Peppers time to see that Green Bay would be a welcoming scenario for him.

Peppers will command a lot of money, but he would be a big splash for a team that has been quiet on the free agency market for the past few years.  Even the signing of Charles Woodson was low-key, but has turned into a great move for the team.  Ted Thompson can’t be afraid to make a move right now.  It’s not the end of the world if the Packers miss out on Capers and Peppers, but it would most definitely turn the Packers into a contending defense.

Some of you will argue that the Packers need to shore up the secondary before they can focus on the front seven.  Sure, Woodson and Al Harris are aging, and Tramon Williams, Jarrett Bush, and Pat Lee aren’t the best options out there, but teams in the past, most likely the Super Bowl XLII Champion New York Giants showed that a great pass rush can help cancel out shoddy defensive backs.  Did you really think that Corey Webster and Sam Madison would be Super Bowl Champion corners against an the explosive New England Patriots offense?  Not really.  But the relentless pass rush of Michael Strahan, Osi Umenyiora, and Justin Tuck turned a decent defensive backfield into a Super Bowl Champion defensive backfield.

Don’t underestimate what the addition of Capers and Peppers could have on the Packers in 2009.

1. Aaron Rodgers: No position carries more weight than the starting quarterback. As Rodgers goes, so go the Packers.

2. Aaron Kampman: Two-time Pro Bowl player keeps getting better and makes opposing offenses account for him.

3. Greg Jennings: He is poised to have a breakout year in his third NFL season and will serve as a catalyst for the offense. He has a knack for finding the end zone.

51. Jermichael Finley: He likely will be a regular member of the game-day inactive list.

52. Jeremy Thompson: The rookie needs more seasoning before he can make an impact.

53. Breno Giacomini: He’s a work in progress but could be an offensive starting tackle of the future.

I can’t say I found anything to totally disagree with on his list.