Green Bay Packers Unit Grades, Part VI: Inside Linebackers

May 20, 2010   ·   MJ Kasprzak   ·   Jump to comments

The Green Bay Packers changed from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4 defense in 2009. Much of the reason for this was attributed to the deep talent at the second level of the defense.
The move was risky without well-established players at outside linebacker, a key spot in the scheme. However, with weakside linebacker A.J. Hawk moving to the middle and a glut of depth, there was no lack of ability on the inside.
Strangely enough, the inside was not a strength of the defense, as you will see from the individual grades below (which as always are weighted based on expectations) as well as my analysis of the outside linebackers and pieces in this series on other units:
 
Nick Barnett: C+
Barnett had been a six-year starter since being drafted in the first round in 2003, and his change of responsibilities from the Mike of a 4-3 to inside in a 3-4 were minimal. Hence, he was being relied upon to be the unit's best player as he had been most of his career.
However, whil...

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