Started from the bottom : Mike Daniels, not Clay Matthews, Will Lead Packers’ Defense

Posted on August 19, 2014 by Kris Burke

NFL, Green Bay Packers, Mike Daniels, Packers defense, 2014 Packers defense, Dom capers, 2014 Packers Training Camp, 2014 Packers preseason

Green Bay Packers fans have been screaming for what seems like forever about how the team needs a new attitude on defense. They’re understandably frustrated with seeing Green Bay’s defense get shredded year after year.

Some have called (loudly) for the firing of defensive coordinator Dom Capers but head coach Mike McCarthy apparently saw things differently and Capers is back again for 2014. Don’t let the return of the coordinator fool you, however. This is not the Packers defense fans have come to know and love/loathe from the past three seasons.

With the addition of Julius Peppers and first round pick HaHa Clinton-Dix, the defense seems prime for a rebound and if training camp and half the preseason are any indication, there is reason for optimism about the Packers defense in 2014.

Does it help that Clay Matthews will be healthy again? Of course. It’s never a bad thing when a player of his caliber is at full strength after two consecutive seasons battling various injuries including a hamstring and a (twice) broken thumb.

Another big reason to be excited about the Green Bay defense in 2014, even more than the return to health of Matthews, is defensive end Mike Daniels. Last year while Matthews was either out or limited with the thumb injury, Daniels broke out and showed signs of becoming the second fearsome pass rusher the Packers have been so desperately seeking. Daniels tallied 6.5 sacks and had 23 combined tackles while playing in all 16 games.

Take what he’s shown so far this preseason and one thing is becoming clear: it could be Daniels, not Matthews, that emerges as the leader of the 2014 Green Bay defense.

This is by no means any kind of a slight against the Claymaker, who has earned all the accolades he has received so far in his career. Matthews is a terrific pass rusher, but at times seems to lack that killer “I’m coming at you and I want to rip your head off”-type instinct that so many all-time great linebackers have. Take Dick Butkus or Ray Lewis, for example.

That is where Daniels comes into play. His repeated statements about being sick of seeing the defense pushed around and his willingness to “slap someone” are injections of fire and attitude the defense badly needs. The Packers have been accused in recent years of being “soft” and while things on the offense have improved with the arrival of running back Eddie Lacy, the criticism is definitely still valid.

Not if Daniels has his way. His combination of speed, power and hunger have him on the verge of becoming one of the NFL’s best defensive ends. If you combine his emergence and assume Julius Peppers still has something left in the tank plus a healthy Matthews, then suddenly the Packers have quite a ferocious pass rush. That in turn would take some pressure off the secondary where they have one rookie safety and another who is converting from playing cornerback last season (Micah Hyde).

Daniels may not run up a terribly high sack total thanks to linebackers being primary blitzers in a base 3-4, but his presence is going to be felt. If he opens up gaps for Peppers, Matthews and the rest of the linebackers, that’s fantastic. If Daniels can consistently get into the backfield however, then the Packers have one more weapon on their hands and all signs right now point to this being the case.
With the preseason only half complete, so many people are still solely focused on what Peppers will bring to the Green Bay defense or when it will “click” for Datone Jones. Even after the game he played in St. Louis where he was as disruptive as ever, not many national writers and analysts are focusing on Daniels.

By the end of the 2014 season, they will be. The Packers have a budding star on the defensive line and he’s flying under the radar.

Just how Mike Daniels wants it. Kris Burke is a sports writer covering the Green Bay Packers for AllGreenBayPackers.com and WTMJ in Milwaukee

Mayfield Sports Marketing www.MAYFIELDSPORTS.COM is a booking and marketing agency for off the field marketing for Green Bay Packers players such as MIKE DANIELS. If your company, association or charity may be interested in booking a Green Bay Packers player for a community event or private event, contact us today at www.MayfieldSports.com or 262.366.8188

Mayfield Sports Marketing is Wisconsin's premier sports marketing firm and booking agency. Specializing in community events, motivational speaking, autograph sessions and non profit events, our athletes take great pride in every event they attend. Packers Gilbert Brown is great at Motivational Speaking

We offer a wide range of players from the Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Brewers and other professional athletes for community events, autograph sessions and football camps, as well as other paid appearances or endorsement deals. Contact us today for more information at 262.366.8188 or please complete the booking form. Proud to work with numerous professional athletes from your favorite team. Book a player for your next event. Ask about players such as: Ahman Green, Eddie Lacy, AJ Hawk, Jarrett Boykin, Mike Daniels, DuJuan Harris, Gilbert Brown, William Henderson and more. Visit our clients page for a more extensive list.

Appearances by Green Bay Packers Current and Retired Players

Mayfield Sports Marketing athletes (Green Bay Packers Current and Retired Players) are committed to each event they attend and raising . Throughout 2013-2014, Mayfield Sports Marketing athletes and celebrities had the opportunity to make numerous appearances. Appearances included nonprofit fundraisers, school visits, motivational speaking engagements and many other events and programs.

Gilbert Brown grew up in Detroit Michigan. He played football at MacKenzie HS with Pittsburgh Super Bowl Champion Jerome Bettis. He went to Kansas and won the 1992 Aloha Bowl.

He played for the Green Bay Packers (1993–99, 2001–03). Brown played 125 Packers games (103 starts) recording 292 tackles (186 solo) and seven sacks. Nicknamed "The Gravedigger," in honor of his celebratory dance following a thunderous tackle, Brown played in 15 Packers playoff games. He was a major contributor on strong defenses during the mid 1990s. His best season was 1996, when Green Bay won Super Bowl XXXI.

Gilbert was inducted into the Green Bay Packer Hall of Fame in 2007. As a fan favorite, many Packer fans will never forget Brown’s loyalty when he had the opportunity to earn more money with Jacksonville and stated he was staying a Green Bay Packer.

Known for his positive personality, individual style and bringing the best out of everyone around him, Gilbert is a true Wisconsin Legend.

Life after football, Gilbert founded the Gilbert Brown Foundation and has donated funds to over 140 Wisconsin charities for youth.

Mayfield Sports Marketing is Wisconsin's premier sports marketing firm and booking agency. Specializing in community events, motivational speaking, autograph sessions and non profit events, our athletes take great pride in every event they attend. We are proud to work with Packers John Kuhn. Kuhn is an excellent motivational speaking and a fan favorite. www.MayfieldSports.com

Appearances by Green Bay Packers Current and Retired Players

Today’s featured Mayfield Sports athlete is Packers fullback John Kuhn. Kuhn was born on September 9th, 1982 in Dover, Pennsylvania. As an outstanding high school athlete he played football, basketball, baseball, and ran track. In football he played both sides of the ball, playing HB/FB and linebacker. He went on to play football for Shippensburg University. During his time there he was a 3 time All-American and was a finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy (the Division II equivalent of the Heisman trophy). Kuhn holds 27 school records and six PSAC records, with 4,685 career rushing yards and 53 career touchdowns. Kuhn went undrafted in 2005 but was signed by the Steelers and was a part of the Superbowl champion team in 2006. In 2007 he was signed by the Packers and has been with them ever since. Some highlights from his time so far in Green Bay include winning Superbowl XLV, going to the Pro Bowl in 2011, and Second-Team All-Pro honors in 2011.

John Kuhn is married to his wife Lindsey and they play an active part in Packers charitable events and are dedicated to the success of the House of Hope, a Green Bay shelter for homeless single mothers, ages 18 to 24, and their children. He has a pet dog- a boxer named Buckwheat and his favorite color is blue. His favorite thing about Green Bay is the rich tradition also saying he is humbled to play on the field following all of the great players who have played here and to play with his current teammates. He majored in chemistry, so if he weren’t playing football he would have wanted to be a dentist. Lastly he is currently reading the third Hunger Games book because he enjoyed the first two movies.

Appearances by Green Bay Packers Current and Retired Players

William Henderson played twelve seasons for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Henderson was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 1995, and has played every season in his career with the Packers. He came into the league as number 30, but after cornerback Doug Evans left, changed his number to 33.

Henderson was durable and effective for the Packers, solidifying the team at fullback after moving into the starting role in 1996. Nine times in his first 11 seasons he played in all 16 games. He was a major force on the 1996 SUPER BOWL PACKERS TEAM. He was also selected to the 2004 Pro Bowl.

Henderson blocked for six of the top nine individual Packer rushers including Dorsey Levens and Ahman Green. Henderson was also valuable as pass-catcher out of the backfield.

GM Ted Thompson released the following statement in 2007 upon William’s retirement. "The Packers organization is extremely appreciative of his efforts over the past 12 seasons. His leadership and work ethic set an excellent example for everyone in our locker room. It is difficult to part with a high-character individual like William. He has been an influential person on several outstanding Packers teams over his career. He always will be considered a Packer."

Off the field, Henderson enjoys spending time with his family. He is also an active businessman including his new venture Sweet Frog Frozen Yogurt. Sweet Frog has opened numerous new stores around Wisconsin in the last 18 months with more to come. Henderson enjoys spending time with Packer fans and today’s youth as well as speaking to many non-profit organizations.

Known for his positive attitude, work ethic and one of the most loved Packers of all time, we are very proud to welcome Super Bowl Champion, William Henderson

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Appearances by Green Bay Packers Current and Retired Players

Ahman Green is a former running back who played twelve seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He is the all-time leading rusher for the Green Bay Packers. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the 3rd round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He played college football at Nebraska.

Green was a standout running back and three year starter for the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers. He was an integral component and key contributor on two national championship squads.

In 2000, Green was traded to the Green Bay Packers was selected to the NFL Pro Bowl every year from 2001 to 2004 and broke several franchise records. From the time he joined the Packers in 2000 up through the end of the 2004 season, Green gained more yards from scrimmage (9,036) and rushing yards (6,848) than any other NFL player. In 2003, he had his best year as a professional and set the Green Bay franchise record by running for 1,883 yards in the regular season. After the 2006 season he became a free agent.

In 2007, Green signed a four-year deal with the Houston Texans. He was reunited with his former head coach and former Texans' assistant head coach Mike Sherman along with former Packers running back Samkon Gado. He was asked to handle the bulk of the load at running back after a 2006 season in which the Texans used a "running back by committee" approach, with a lot of success.

Ahman Green officially re-signed with the Green Bay Packers in late 2009. With his former number, 30, taken by fullback John Kuhn, Green chose to wear No. 34 in honor of former Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton. On November 8, 2009 Green broke Jim Taylor's record to become the all-time leading rusher in Packer history. He was a four-time Pro Bowl selection with the Packers. He officially retired in 2011.

When the proud parent of five isn’t relaxing with his family, he generously lends his support to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Boys And Girls Club and the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin and Nebraska, just to name a few. He has also served as a mentor at Seahawks Academy in Seattle, providing special education and counseling to “at-risk” students. He founded The Ahman Green Foundation, a charity focusing on cancer research and youth development. When he retired from the NFL in August 2011, he closed the book on an impressive career that started in high school, where he earned all-American and Player of the Year honors, along with two Academic All-State awards. From the time he joined the Packers in 2000 through the end of the 2004 season, Green gained more yards from scrimmage (9,036) and more rushing yards (6,848) than any other NFL player. In 2003, he broke the Green Bay franchise record by rushing for 1,883 yards during the regular season. He made four consecutive Pro Bowl trips and became one of only two players in NFL history to have two touchdown runs of 90 yards or more. When he retired, Ahman Green had accomplished more than he could possibly have fathomed. He had achieved the dream: A record-breaking professional career, big-dollar contracts and lucrative endorsement deals. It would have been very easy for Green to use those accomplishments to settle into a life of leisure, outside the public eye, knowing that his future was well taken care of. But Green didn’t do that. Instead, he chose to become the type of person who practices what he preaches. For instance: Instead of simply telling children how important it was to get an education, Ahman Green returned to the place where it all began—the University of Nebraska—and completed his college education, earning a degree in geography. In addition to his degree work, he also took graduate level courses at The University of Green Bay. Now, he is a certified personal trainer who lives and promotes a healthy lifestyle; he was awarded a D1 sports training franchise (joining other D1 franchise owners such as Peyton Manning and Tim Tebow); he is part of the Green Bay Blizzard Football ownership group; he has volunteered as a coach/mentor at Oak Creek and De Pere high Schools, plus Southwest High School’s baseball team. He has built a long list of credits in television, including experience as a sideline analyst with the Big Ten Network, a panelist on the “Dancing With The Stars” wrap-up show on WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee, co-host of the Packers Locker Room Show and the Packers Pre-Game Show carried statewide on CBS affiliates, and regular interviews on local, regional and national radio.

Packers Mike Daniels and Datone Jones Revamped

MCT

Packers cornerback Davon House breaks up a pass intended for Rams receiver Stedman Bailey on Saturday.

By Tom Silverstein and Tyler Dunne of the Journal Sentinel

Aug. 18, 2014

Green Bay

— Getting up in the face of opposing wide receivers and jamming them at the line of scrimmage is what Green Bay Packers cornerback

Davon House

likes doing best.

At 6 feet and 195 pounds, he's got the arm length and the strength to press bigger receivers, and since the coaches give the cornerbacks some freedom whether to press or play off, House usually chooses press.

However, this training camp House is choosing to play off receivers more for what might be the most practical reason a player can think of. He wants to be on the field more.

"For me to, let me say, see more playing time, I need to get picks," House said. "In press, they don't like to throw the ball as much and if they do it's usually a comeback or a fade or sometimes it's a slant.

"Slants are really hard to pick off (in press). Comebacks are hard to pick off and fade balls the quarterback is going to throw it to where only he (the receiver) can catch it or incomplete."

When he's playing 5 or 6 yards off the receiver, House said, it is easier to track the ball.

"Playing off, you can see the ball thrown," he said. "You're encouraging slants where you can actually jump in front of it. You can run with a fade and locate the ball and pick off a comeback. So, for me to get to more balls I'm going to have to play off more."

Competition for playing time in the secondary is fierce withTramon Williams and Sam Shields locked into starting spots and House, Casey Hayward and Micah Hyde all in the mix to play in the nickel and dime personnel groups.

Lately, Hayward has been playing in the slot in the nickel and Hyde and Williams have been playing in the slot in the dime with House taking over Williams' usual spot on the outside. House and Hayward are completely different kinds of cornerbacks, so their playing time could depend on matchups.

Hayward led the team in interceptions his rookie season two years ago and made it so the coaches felt they had to have him on the field. House would like to force his way onto the field with similar game-changing production.

He had his first interception last year against Cleveland'sBrandon Weeden.

Though he'll be playing off more this season, House probably will still be called upon to go toe-to-toe with big, physical outside receivers like the New York Jets' Eric Decker, Chicago's Alshon Jeffery, Detroit's Golden Tate and Minnesota's Cordarrelle Patterson.

"I feel like I can," House said of shutting down that type of receiver. "I feel like I did a good job against (Michael) Crabtree, who's a bigger guy. I did a good job against Josh Gordon, who's a bigger guy. I personally feel like I can play against the bigger receivers."

Raji's move: The exhibition games mean different things to different veterans. For B.J. Raji, it's about relearning nose tackle. After inking Raji to a one-year, prove-it deal, the Packers slid him back inside in their 3-4 base defense.

The Packers are hoping the Raji of 2010 returns in the process.

On Monday, Raji indicated it's a process. Playing a different team helps.

"In practice in training camp, I'm used to seeing one scheme," Raji said. "But through the season, we practice one way but our opponent plays another way. So I think it's been good to play against teams who do different things up front, as far as blocking schemes to get my instincts and my thinking back into mode."

That revamped front of Raji, Mike Daniels and Datone Jones held Zac Stacy — the St. Louis Rams' 2013 leading rusher who had 973 yards and seven touchdowns — to 6 yards on six carries. Raji mostly occupied blockers, at times redirecting Stacy's path.

"It feels like everything is starting to slowly come back to me," Raji said. "Because when you're down inside, everything happens so much faster. So you have to keep your head up, eyes up and your pads down. The more games I play, the more comfortable I'll get."

Possibly, Raji's 6-2, 337-pound frame can clog the lanes and the athletic Daniels and Jones will work off that.

Of course, Raji also will be wanting to make more plays himself at the position he held during the Super Bowl run. Last season, he had a career-low 17 tackles (12 solo) and no sacks. At defensive end, his numbers dipped, yet as Raji said in May he didn't see a need to speak up since the Packers were winning the NFC North three straight years.

Now, he'll be working against a smaller offensive lineman more often.

"By design, centers typically have to be more athletic because they have to step in, snap the ball, so you really don't have a lot of big, big guys at center," Raji said. "Some guys are bigger than others. But typically, centers are quicker, smarter guys who just have a sense for the offense calling protections. They're generally not the biggest guys."

And that's good for him, right?

"Hopefully, hopefully," he said.

Thumb's up: In his first extensive game action since finishing 2013 on injured reserve with a broken thumb, outside linebacker Clay Matthews passed his first test. He stayed healthy. He's not worrying about the thumb.

Matthews used a spin move to beat No. 2 overall pick Greg Robinson onone play and tried not to think about the digit that gave him so much trouble last season.

"Definitely took a step in the right direction," Matthews said. "As I've said before, this preseason has been a little more integral as far as my play, just because getting the mental confidence to go back out there, throw my hand around, throw my body around and feel good about that.

"The football, it'll fall into place exactly how I anticipated, just making steps from the first step to this week, I anticipated going into this next week.

"I feel good about it. I think by the time the season rolls around, I'll be flying out there and making plays and having fun. That's what I'm doing now, but just a little more crisp."

Not panicking: If Tennessee was a major step forward for tackle Derek Sherrod, St. Louis was a major step back. The former first-round pick struggled mightily on the Rams' fast surface, raising concerns about the contingency plan behind starters Bryan Bulaga and David Bakhtiari.

But if the sky's falling in fans' views, it's not with the team, coach Mike McCarthy said.

"Well, the sky's not falling," McCarthy said. "We have two more weeks to get ready for the season. Derek Sherrod did a lot of good things. He had a couple plays that he obviously wished he could have back but, nah, I think we're progressing fine there."

Mayfield Sports Marketing www.MAYFIELDSPORTS.COM is a booking and marketing agency for off the field marketing for Green Bay Packers players. If your company, association or charity may be interested in booking a Green Bay Packers player for a community event or private event, contact us today at www.MayfieldSports.com or 262.366.8188

Packers DB Davon House on the prowl for interceptions