1) Introduction: Packers outside linebacker Nick Perry was the team’s first round draft pick in 2012 (28th overall). Perry was thought to be high on Green Bay’s list and sure enough, he was their selection on draft day. Having been primarily a defensive end at Southern Cal, Perry was said to be a project for the Packers, who planned to use Perry standing up as an outside linebacker opposite Clay Matthews.
2) Profile:
Nick Perry
- Age: 22
- Born: 4/12/1990 in Detroit, MI
- Height: 6’03”
- Weight: 265
- College: Southern California
- Rookie Year: 2012
- NFL Experience: 1 year
3) Expectations coming into the season: The hope was that Perry would be an immediate and regular contributor to the team’s pass rush and start opposite Clay Matthews on the left side. Perry showed some burst in training camp but it was clear early on that he would need guidance in learning a new position and at the next level. Perry understood the team’s expectations and spent much time with Matthews during camp absorbing the defensive scheme and learning his trade. He was the starter at left outside linebacker in week one against the San Francisco 49ers.
4) Player’s highlights/low-lights: Perry started out the season slowly with his worst statistical game in week one. He quickly turned that around in week two with his best performance as he continuously pressured Bears quarterback Jay Cutler in a winning effort. Perry also had a very memorable shot on Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck early in week five but the play was flagged for roughing the quarterback and nullified. Those types of plays were evidence that Perry had the potential to be a solid force against opposing quarterbacks. Unfortunately, Perry’s season was cut short when he suffered a season-ending wrist injury in week six. Forced to miss the team’s last 10 games, Perry missed some valuable on-field experience and will need to rebound well during the 2013 offseason program.
5) Player’s contribution to the overall team success: Perry’s season was a short one but he did show some flashes of what he can bring to the defense. If healthy, he has the speed and power to develop into a player that offensive lines cannot ignore. His biggest contribution was in the week two win against Chicago when he was effective enough to shift the offensive protection away from Matthews just enough for Clay to have a field day with Cutler. He unfortunately wasn’t healthy enough to make much of an impact on the team’s season.
6) Player’s contributions in the playoffs: Perry was on injured reserve and did not play in the postseason.
Season Report Card:
(C+) Level of expectations met during the season
(B-) Contributions to team’s overall success.
(N/A) Contributions to team during the playoffs
Overall Grade: B-
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Jason Perone is an independent sports blogger writing about the Packers on AllGreenBayPackers.com
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I like what Perry showed, he can drop into coverage but needs to work on it. That is expected out of someone that played with his hand on the ground in college.
His ability to hold point against the run was excellent, something Walden and Moses cannot do at all. He showed the ability to bull rush something else Walden and Moses cannot do.
And he has the quickness to be a pass rusher.
You get a DE in this draft that can hold point against the run and that pushes to need a double team to go with Perry.
Put Neal with Matthews on the other, that combination showed a lot of promise this last year and you have a very interesting problem for any defense.
LOL make that a very interesting problem for any offense.
As one of Perry’s biggest cheerleaders, I have to say incomplete for a grade. Just not enough time to really evaluate his performance. He is probably the returning player with the highest amount of potential. Even sitting on the bench he was able to reivew the others who played outside LB and learn. A good camp should help him emensely. I predict a very good year for Nick coming up.
I agree, he gets an incomplete. Only played bout 5 games, so its hard to say he was a contributor to the teams success. Like some things he showed particularly vs run game, had hoped to see more pass rush. The thing that disappointed me tho, was that he just never seemed to play w/ aggression or energy. Seemed he was going thru the motions.
I imagine he’ll get alot better this year and hope being more comfortable w/ the scheme will allow him to be more energetic and aggressive. He was the guy I predicted before the draft last year for the Packers, so I’m really hoping he takes his play to another level next year!
We will need him to play like a 1st rounder. No QB pressure, no SuperBowl.
The arrow is pointed straight up for this team!
Which part of the defensive line grades he’s been handing out give you that idea? In fact, which part of the games you watched told you this D is headed in the right direction?
I wonder how much better than Walden he would have been. Slate.com just put up an article about running QBs and injuries. They included a photo of Kaepernick’s awful run. Besides showing that Pickett was being held (I am sure that he would have run down Keapernick and saved the TD) it shows Walden running like he was on the 49er Offensive line. I can’t imagine what he was thinking. I will try to put the photo here but if it doesn’t work you can see at Slate.com. Hopefully Perry won’t ever look that in a game.
130131_SN_ColinKaepernick.jpg.CROP.rectangle3-large.jpeg
Way too generous. How can you miss most of the season and make a significant contribution to the team’s success?
Did he meet expectations? It was optimistic to think that he’d be a big help at OLB this season. All the same, that was the main reason the Packers took him in the first. I wanted to see some flash of greatness. Doesn’t have to be sustained, just some indication of potential above-averageness. Didn’t see it.
An Incomplete would be fair, but you could also say that he made a below average contribution and therefore merits a D.
Don’t see how you give Perry a B- for his contributions to the teams success. He was only a good player, certainly not very good or great and only for about 5 games played. A C- would be more appropriate and an incomplete since he played so little much better. More inconsistency it seems.
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