Green Bay Packers: The time has arrived for Carl Bradford

Brad Jones was selected in seventh round  of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers.

Due to a rash of injuries, Jones got his chance on the field and has remained on the roster since. He is now the starting inside linebacker paired with A.J. Hawk.

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If we open the stat sheet it’s glaring that Jones has underperformed. Since 2009 he has accumulated 244 total tackles to go along with only 10 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and a big goose egg for interceptions.

AJ Hawk is one of the better tacklers on the Green Bay roster but unfortunately he is not the greatest playmaker himself. To keep another non-playmaker beside Hawk is not going to take the Packers anywhere near the next level.

You can go all the way back to Brad Jones’ days on the campus of Colorado. The Buffalos linebacker netted only eight sacks and one interception during his college career.

Jones looked out of place several times in the opener against the Seattle Seahawks. Marshawn Lynch and the rest of the offense shed Jones like water off of a duck’s back several times. When Jones did have a chance to make a play – well, he dropped it.

The time has come to drop the conservative approach and insert fourth-round-pick Carl Bradford.

“lots of hustle and a great motor suited for an inside linebacker in a 3-4 defense”

Bradford may have not overwhelmed during the preseason but he has the pedigree to bring to the table just what the Packers’ defense needs. Many scouts said Bradford had lots of hustle and a great motor suited for an inside linebacker in a 3-4 defense.

During his 2012 season with Arizona State, Bradford was moved to the “Devil Position” that saw him shift between DE/OLB. Bradford shined while recording 101.5 total tackles, 11.5 sacks, 4 batted balls, 1 interception and 3 forced fumbles. Quiet the sophomore season to say the least.

After his junior season Carl Bradford decided to forego his senior season and enter the NFL Draft. Bradford left Arizona State with 21.5 career sacks. He’s an emotional player who was benched during the second half of the game against Oregon State after a verbal confrontation with the head coach. That’s some fire the Packers’ defensive unit could also use.

Zach Miller

(86) breaks up the interception by Green Bay Packers inside linebacker

during the first half at CenturyLink Field. Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

Athletic enough to cover and an absolute explosive tackler that can power-clean over 400 pounds, Bradford can also jump with most receivers as his vertical checks in at 37.5 inches.

The only knock most people have against Bradford, is at six-foot-one and nine-and-a-half-inch hands, he is on the smaller side for most NFL linebackers.

I don’t think the Packers have anything to lose by going ahead and pulling the trigger with Bradford and seeing how the kid can perform. Any production that he can bring to the table is an improvement.

The Pack could elect to stay with Brad Jones.

To see the only highlight-reel play he has made in the Green and Gold head on over to youtube and watch the lick he lays on the 15-year-old kid running onto the field.

Time for McCarthy and Capers to make the switch before it’s January and the Packers are getting bounced by one of the teams from the West yet again.