1) Introduction: Wilson is another Packers defensive lineman that was just another guy in 2011. It’s tough to distinguish Wilson from Jarius Wynn, Howard Green and Mike Neal because nobody in the grou did much of anything to stand out.
2) Profile:
Clifford James Wilson
Position: DE
Height: 6-3
Weight: 290 lbs.
AGE: 24
3) Expectations coming into the season: Capable backup. Wilson was expected to fill in if a starter got injured and give regulars like B.J. Raji and Ryan Pickett a breather when needed. Wilson ended up getting some starts later in the season when Wynn’s production fell off.
4) Player’s highlights/low-lights: Like the rest of the Packers D-linemen, Wilson could not pressure the quarterback. According to Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Wilson averaged one pressure every 113.4 snaps. Yikes. I can’t think of many individual plays that stand out as highlights for Wilson, but if he moved into a starting role, he must have been doing something right.
5) Player’s contribution to the overall team success: Every team needs role players and Wilson was definitely a role player this season. Unfortunately, the D-Line had plenty of role players and needed someone to step up. Wilson has the athleticism to be more than a role player, but we’ll see if he ever elevates above the status of a role player.
6) Player’s contributions in the playoffs: Howard Green was inactive and C.J. Wilson got the start. However, he never generated any sort of a pass rush as Eli Manning and the Giants knocked the Packers out of the playoffs.
Season Report Card:
(D) Level of expectations met during the season
(D) Contributions to team’s overall success.
(F) Contributions to team during the playoffs
Overall Grade: D-
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Adam Czech is a a freelance sports reporter living in the Twin Cities and a proud supporter of American corn farmers. When not working, Adam is usually writing about, thinking about or worrying about the Packers. Follow Adam on Twitter. Twitter .
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Yep
1 pressure in 113 attempts? Wow…..F-
Just look at some of these bums that TT had on this D, TT has hit on a few late rounders and FA but for the most part you get what you pay for.
Wynn, Walden, Green, Wilson, Neal….games are won and lost in the trenches, no wonder we lost when it counted most. No body will confuse our D line rotation with the Giants rotation. Good job Ted, way to think it through
That list of Dlineman/RO:B is depressing. They provided nothing to the effort.
I think the bigger question might be, how many times was Wilson’s assignment to pressure the quarterback vs. how many times he actually pulled it off. If he was asked to pressure the quarterback every time he was on the field then yah, 1 out of 134 is pretty atrocious. If on the other hand, he was asked to rush the passer like once or twice a game (probably more accurate), then 1 pressure out of 20 isn’t all that bad in the scheme of things considering he is a 3-4 DE Also, had Wilson ever played NT?
This post published before it was ready. Sorry for the X’s. I’ll update it quick.
Thomas:
The post got published before it was ready, so I just changed Wilson’s position to DE.
Also, if you’re a D-lineman, and the QB goes back to pass, your job is to rush the passer. I get that different players have different roles and assignments, but even if you’re a run-stuffer, there’s no rule against getting after the QB every now and then. No excuse for only 1 pressure all season.
I’m not entirely sure that’s true. For instance, if the quarterback drops back to pass and the OLB behind you is rushing the passer, I’d think its the DE’s responsibility is to keep blockers off of the OLB so that he can go and make the play. From a Bob McGinn article a while back (when did they start making you pay for archives at JSonline?)
[When the two interior players are permitted to go after the passer without restrictions, the Packers refer to that as their “Jet” rush. I’m sure B.J. would like to have some more ‘Jet’ rushes,” said McCarthy. “There’s not a guy that doesn’t want to have more ‘Jet’ rushes. But we’re not doing it as much as we did last year. If you want more production from a pure pass-rushing standpoint, put them in ‘Jet.’?”
Usually when the Packers pressure, the two defensive linemen are moving sideways in an attempt to tie up blockers and free the blitzers.]
My presumption is that if they are holding Raji back (who had 6 sacks last year) then Wilson is getting even less chances to rush the passer.
I’m sure it is the job of the DE to keep blockers off the OLB. And the best way to do that is to beat the guy or guys that are tying to block you and apply some pressure on the QB.
CJ is young and inexperienced. There is still time for him to develop.
Capers has frequent calls, though, where the d-line responsibility isn’t just “get to the qb” but rather “create pressure by doing this”. CMIII is usually coming from the outside, so d-line pressure must come from an angle that pushes the pocket into the QBs lap…etc.
The bottom line is the Packers need another stud at the all important ROLB position. Someone who can rush the QB, contain the run and cover when needed. Someone to take pressure if CM. Walden is not close to being the answer.
Sure. But the bottom line is no matter what Capers called or where the pressure was supposed to come from (or be created), it rarely actually happened.
Agreed.
Let’s see, three D-‘s and one C for the four defensive players reviewed so far. It’s a wonder how the Pack won 15 out of 17 games!
As Adam noted above – it didn’t matter what Capers schemed, the players didn’t produce. That points to a serve lack of talent on the defensive side of the ball. Capers pretty much said the same early in the season when he said; ” It doesn’t matter what the scheme is, the player have to produce.”
We simply out scored the other teams, Mojo. Our defense was #32 in the league.
There is a Cast Away II in the making and they needed another “WILSON” and had him audition.