Tag: karl brooks

Packers also seeing great growth from rookie DL Karl Brooks

Packers rookie Karl Brooks is really coming on over the last few weeks.

It’s not only on the offensive side of the ball where the Green Bay Packers are seeing growth from their young players, but on defense as well, specifically along the interior defensive line with rookie Karl Brooks.

Over the last two games, despite ranking 44th out of 88 eligible interior defensive linemen league-wide in total pass rush snaps during that span, Brooks ranks 14th in total pressures with seven and is tied for ninth in PFF’s pass rush win rate metric. For some context, Brooks totaled 11 pressures in Green Bay’s first nine games of the season, illustrating the growth that he’s experienced over the course of the year.

“For me, it’s a little bit just recognizing formations,” said Brooks when asked where he’s made the biggest jump from Week 1 to now. “Understanding the down and distance. Knowing how the offense is trying to attack you. I feel like little things like that. Communicating on the plays. I know my playbook a little bit better than I did at the beginning. I would say a lot of things like that.

“I would just say simple things,” added Brooks. “Little techniques. Having your hands in the right spot, having your eyes where they’re supposed to be. Not looking into the backfield and playing a complete game.”

Brooks, along with the play of Kenny Clark, has helped lead the Packers’ pass rush charge in recent weeks. Against Los Angeles and Detroit, Green Bay logged their second and third-highest quarterback pressure games of the season. Overall, this Packers defense has been inconsistent at times in terms of creating pressure, but when the interior defensive front specifically is able to generate push, every other player – the edge rushers, linebackers, and defensive backs – all benefit.

As is the case for any young player, consistency is key, as is continuing to build upon the recent performances so what we’ve seen from Brooks as of late is more the norm rather than the outlier. The Pittsburgh game, not only for Brooks but for many of the Packers’ young defenders, is a prime example of the work that still has to be done.

In that game, missed tackles, missed assignments, and an inability to shed blocks were all too common. As run game coordinator Jerry Montgomery pointed out during his last media availability, when an error is made by one player, the Packers haven’t had enough cohesiveness in the front seven for someone else to pick up the slack on that given play, which has then resulted in the play for the offense being much greater than what it should have been.

Brooks has primarily been utilized on passing downs this season, and there have been instances where late in games he’s been the one lined up next to Clark along the interior. As is the case for many young defenders, run defense is an area of improvement for the rookie. He currently ranks 133rd out of 143 eligible interior defenders in PFF’s run-stop rate metric.

“We look different than we have in the past, obviously, with the group of guys that we have,” said Montgomery. “We’re super athletic but these kids can play the game. There’s some growing pains with the younger guys but more importantly we are asking a lot of them. They’re playing anywhere from 18 to 25 snaps per game as rookies. If you go back since I’ve been here, it’s been rare that a rookie has played that much, even high draft picks.

”Normally you have guys in front of them that have been the guys, have the experience and things like that. These guys have to go in there and get their feet wet. They’re doing that. They are getting better each week and they are growing. Like I said, I like my group. It’s a good enough group to win at a high level, we’ve just got to be consistent and be consistent as a defense.”

Similarly, to the Packers rookie receivers and tight ends on offense, Brooks is getting his NFL education on the fly, being asked to take on a much larger role than what rookies in past years have been asked to do. Just look at Devonte Wyatt, a 2022 first-round pick, as an example of this, with him playing just 224 snaps as a rookie.

However, with more reps, we are seeing a more productive version of Brooks, especially over the last two weeks, and not coincidentally, with the defensive front playing better, so has the defense has a whole.

“The kid has always been around the ball,” added Montgomery. “He’s got a knack for it.”

Packers rookie class makes profound impact in Week 1 victory

The Packers got big impact from the 2023 rookie class during their Week 1 win over the Bears.

You never get a second chance to make first impressions, and the Green Bay Packers’ 2023 draft class left a mark during their first action on Sunday against the Chicago Bears.

“I was really proud of our young guys,” head coach Matt LaFleuer said following the game. “I’m not quite sure how many rookies we had out there today, but there were a lot of them…That rookie class has got just, they love ball.”

Lukas Van Ness, Luke Musgrave, Jayden Reed, Anders Carlson, Colby Wooden, and Karl Brooks all made an impact during Green Bay’s 38-20 victory against the Bears on Sunday.

Van Ness, the 13th overall pick showed off the athleticism that made him a Top 15 pick when he chased down Justin Fields for his first career sack on second down near the goalline that helped keep the Bears out of the endzone. To go along with his first career sack, Van Ness logged five pressures on 35 snaps.

Luke Musgrave, the 42nd overall pick reeled in three receptions for 50 yards. Musgrave also had a key block on an Aaron Jones third down run that kept Green Bay’s opening drive alive. His stumbling 37-yard catch in the fourth quarter set up a touchdown. 

Jayden Reed, the 50th overall pick made an impact on offense and special teams. The dynamic wide receiver caught two passes for 48 yards. On special teams, Reed had a 35-yard punt return in the third quarter that set the Packers up at Chicago’s 42-yard line. The Packers scored four plays later on a touchdown pass from Jordan Love to Aaron Jones to go up 24-6.

Colby Wooden and Karl Brooks, a pair of day three defensive linemen combined to play 65 snaps. The duo recorded seven pressures (four for Wooden, three for Brooks) and one sack (Brooks). 

Anders Carlson, the 207th overall pick was perfect in his pro debut. The Auburn kicker made his lone field goal attempt and went 5-5 on extra point attempts. The rookie kicker drilled a 52-yard field goal as time expired in the first half to put the Packers up 10-6 at the break.

Rookie of the Game

After a turbulent training camp and preseason, it was great to see Carlson put together a perfect afternoon on the road at Soldier Field. His 52-yard field goal right before halftime would have been good from 60-yards.

There are bound to be bumps in the road during his rookie season, but a perfect start to the season will go a long way for Carlson’s confidence moving forward. 

Packers rookies Colby Wooden and Karl Brooks take advantage of opportunities at OTA practice

Kenny Clark likes what he sees out of rookie DL Colby Wooden and Karl Brooks at OTAs.

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Green Bay Packers defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt did not participate during the team drills of Wednesday’s open OTA practice, which meant more opportunities for rookies Colby Wooden and Karl Brooks.

Among the defensive starters during team drills was Wooden at defensive end, lining up alongside of Kenny Clark and TJ Slaton. It was a great opportunity for Wooden, who took advantage by making his way into the backfield on a few occasions.

“Colby, he’s been doing good,” said Kenny Clark after Wednesday’s practice. “From Day 1, he’s been coming in, and he learned the playbook pretty fast. He’s having a good OTAs. We just need to stay on top of him and keep going.”

Brooks also made some noise, forcing what would have been a sack of Sean Clifford with the second-team defense.

One thing that we know these two players add to the Packers’ defensive front is versatility. During each of their respective college careers, Wooden and Brooks played up and down the defensive fronts. Wooden had over 600 snaps at Auburn from the B-gap and as a traditional edge rusher, along with 355 at defensive end. Brooks, meanwhile, played over 1,400 snaps as a 300-plus pound edge rusher and over 900 from the interior.

With veterans Jarran Reed and Dean Lowry a season ago, the Packers had the luxury to bring along Wyatt slowly during his first season. However, given the current state of the interior defensive line room, which is relatively young and inexperienced, Green Bay won’t have that same ability with Wooden and Brooks — both will see playing time right away.

What remains to be seen is how these two are going to be utilized, and with it being so early in the offseason, perhaps the Packers don’t quite have that answer yet. Although both have ample edge rusher experience, run game coordinator Jerry Montgomery confirmed that neither would be lining up at edge rusher and that they’ll be interior players.

The most likely role for each player will come on third downs or obvious passing situations, where they can pin their ears back and rush the quarterback. Oftentimes, a young interior defender’s greatest impact comes as a pass rusher, whereas in the run game, the learning curve is a bit steeper given the required technique and nuance that comes with filling that role.

But, again, given the makeup of the interior defensive line position, Wooden and Brooks will likely have to take some run defense snaps as well, rather than only being utilized in passing situations. I go into greater detail here, but in short, Wyatt still has his own growing to do as a run defender, and it’s not as if he and Clark can play every run defense and pass rush snap from week to week. Meaning others — Wooden and Brooks — will also have to be relied upon to fill those early down roles. In these situations, either could line up at defensive end with their versatility and be tasked with setting a strong edge, funneling the ball carrier back inside.

If we are going to see this Packers’ defense improve in 2023, as both Montgomery and Clark have pointed out, that begins with being better against the run, which will put the opponent in predictable passing situations.

Wooden and Brooks are going to be thrown into the fire as rookies. This means that there will be mistakes, and the Packers have to be prepared to weather that storm. But hopefully, that experience shortens the inevitable learning curve and leads to a greater impact from each of them sooner.

“Great athletes, really explosive, especially when they’re playing fast,” said Clark. “The main goal is to get them to see everything, see formations so they can really use their abilities. Colby, KB, they’ve been doing a really good job, always asking questions, even when we are hard on them and pushing them, they are guys who are staying after it and got the right mentalities.”

2023 NFL Draft: The best draft steal for every NFL team

Every NFL draft has its selection of steals — those players who could surprise despite their low selections — and here’s one for every NFL team.

One of the many reasons the Kansas City Chiefs won Super Bowl LVII was the job that general manager Brett Veach did outside of the first round of the 2022 draft. Three defensive backs (Bryan Cook in the second round, Joshua Williams in the fourth, and Jaylen Watson in the seventh) were difference-makers all season, and seventh-round running back Isiah Pacheco became the team’s bellcow back down the stretch. Also, second-round receiver Skyy Moore joined Pacheco with touchdowns in that Super Bowl victory over the Eagles.

First-round hits are nice, but it’s almost worse to miss in the first round than it is better to win there from an opportunity cost perspective. If you want to refresh your roster at a championship level, you had better get those picks right on the second and third day. Veach and his staff did that, and it was the difference that made all the difference in the end.

Moving to the 2023 NFL draft, we’ve selected one second- or third-day pick for every NFL team who could have a similar impact on their NFL roaters sooner than mater. Each of these players have reasons for their relatively low picks in line with their tape, stats, and talent, but these are the kinds of finds that can turn a team around over time.

Green Bay Packers 2023 sixth-round pick: DL Karl Brooks

The Green Bay Packers selected Bowling Green defensive lineman Karl Brooks in the sixth round (No. 179 overall) of the 2023 NFL draft.

The Green Bay Packers selected Bowling Green defensive lineman Karl Brooks in the sixth round (No. 179 overall) of the 2023 NFL draft.

Height: 6-3
Weight: 296
Age: 22
From: Lansing, MI

Breakdown: Dominant MAC edge rusher in the 300-pound range who will move inside and play on the interior for Green Bay. Proven disruptor; led Bowling Green in sacks all five seasons. Made 48 starts and tallied 46 tackles for loss, 27.5 sacks and six forced fumbles. Strong, powerful, contact-seeker who did 28 reps on the bench. Versatile but has tweener traits and needs to find a home along the defensive line. Two-time team captain.

Brugler’s scouting report: “A five-year starter at Bowling Green, Brooks was primarily a defensive end in former defensive coordinator Eric Lewis’ 3-4 base, lining up outside as a 7-technique, head up over the tackle or inside as a 3-technique. Very few college players can say they led their team in sacks five straight seasons, but Brooks is one of them, including a prolific senior campaign as one of only six FBS players to finished with 18-plus tackles for loss and 10-plus sacks. With his initial quickness and effort, Brooks should be Bowling Green’s first defensive draft pick since 2013. His hands are active, but not always efficient and his sawed-off frame makes it difficult for him to control blockers or stay square. Brooks has a unique package of tools, which creates questions about his ideal position fit, but he has the light feet and urgent hands to be a gap disruptor. He projects best as a 3-technique who can be flexed up/down the line.”

Zierlein’s scouting report: “The inclination to shrug off Brooks’ production based on level of competition — or because of questions about his positional fit — might be a mistake. Brooks’ snap quickness, footwork, hand usage and motor are all translatable play qualities. His movement and counters are intuitive, allowing for quick access into the backfield. Against the pass, he frequently beat tackles as a bull rusher off the edge. Brooks has the size of a three-technique but the versatility and athleticism to move around a defensive front. He flashes disruptive, three-down talent as a future starter in a one-gap scheme.”

Bowling Green profile

They said it: “What he was able to display, even against the MAC, you turn on the tape and he was a man amongst boys. When you see players from non-Power 5 or FCS schools, you want to see them dominate, and you can put on the tape and see that kid dominate for stretches.” — director of football ops Milt Hendrickson

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Instant analysis of Packers taking DL Karl Brooks in sixth round of 2023 draft

Breaking down the Packers’ selection of Bowling Green DL Karl Brooks in the sixth round of the 2023 draft.

The Green Bay Packers used the 179th overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft to select Bowling Green defensive lineman Karl Brooks, a 293-pound disruptor who filled up the stat sheet over five seasons in the MAC.

Here’s our instant analysis of the Packers taking Brooks in the sixth round:

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Packers select Bowling Green DL Karl Brooks at No. 179 overall in sixth round of 2023 draft

The Green Bay Packers selected Bowling Green defensive lineman Karl Brooks at No. 179 overall in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL draft. 

The Green Bay Packers selected Bowling Green defensive lineman Karl Brooks at No. 179 overall in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL draft.

Brooks produced 46.0 tackles for loss, 27.5 sacks and six forced fumbles over 52 games and 48 starts at Bowling Green. He led the school in sacks during all five seasons and is third in school history in sacks overall.

In 2022, Brooks deliverd 18 tackles for loss and 10 sacks over 13 games.

Like fourth-round pick Colby Wooden, Brooks played all over the defensive front at Bowling Green.

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Brooks was a two-time team captain and two-time All-MAC pick.

Brooks (6-3, 296) wasn’t invited to the combine, but he did run the 40-yard dash in 5.08 seconds, hit 26.5″ in the vertical leap, cover 8-9 in the broad jump, finish the short shuttle in 5.0 seconds and three cone in 7.63 seconds and complete 28 reps on the bench press at Bowling Green’s pro day. His Relative Athletic Score is 5.87 out of 10.0.

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NFL Draft: 11 best Minnesota Vikings fits

Going into the NFL Draft, @TheKevinFielder identifies the best fits for the Minnesota Vikings.

It’s finally here.

Beginning today, 259 players will hear their names called during the NFL Draft. The draft is the NFL’s best answer to reality television, with the event taking over three days and countless hours.

For the Minnesota Vikings, it’s an opportunity to continue building a roster that found itself in the playoffs just a year ago. However, the Vikings have just five draft picks after multiple trades, including for T.J. Hockenson in at the trade deadline. That number could decrease even further if general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah chooses to get aggressive by moving up for a quarterback.

Regardless of how the Vikings maneuver the board, they’ll have to get creative to add impactful players at positions of need, especially with three picks coming on Day 3 of the draft.

Here are eleven players the Vikings could target during the NFL Draft.

Secret Superstars of the 2023 NFL draft: The best underrated prospects

Who are the best underrated prospects in the 2023 NFL draft? Doug Farrar runs down the sleepers who could make surprising differences in the NFL.

Several NFL executives have already made it clear that they’re struggling to find as many as 20 prospects in the 2023 NFL draft class deserving of a first-round grade.

That may look like a pull quote, but it’s not entirely uncommon. Drafts like the 2023 one, which starts Thursday at 8:00 p.m. EST, are wider than they are tall, which means that while there aren’t a ton of obvious first-round guys, there are second- and third-day players who can make a difference on an NFL roster right away.

And that’s why it’s so important to have your scouting go all the way through all seven rounds and beyond. Ask the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, who got their eventual starting running back (Rutgers’ Isiah Pacheco) in the seventh round. Or the Seattle Seahawks, who bagged starting cornerback Tariq Woolen out of UTSA in the fifth. And of course, there were few more interesting rookie stories in 2022 than the tale of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, the most relevant “Mr. Irrelevant” in pro football history.

Looking ahead to the most talented sleepers in the 2023 draft class, there are prospects who have been pushed down in loaded position groups, those who need a bit of finishing work to fully unlock their NFL potential, and those who don’t have a total skill set, but who do a few things very well. They are all more than worthy of NFL consideration, and just because they’ll probably hear their names called in the late second or early third day of the draft, don’t automatically discount their NFL potential.

That’s a mistake the smartest NFL teams never make. Here are my most gifted sleepers — the “Secret Superstars” of the 2023 NFL draft.

NFL Draft: 6 Vikings defensive targets on day 3

The Minnesota Vikings aren’t likely to have many day three picks, but there are some gems out there to be had.

The Minnesota Vikings are currently slated to have five picks in the 2023 NFL draft. They are likely to use them as currency to trade up and down in the draft.

What they won’t have is 10 picks on day three to add a lot of depth to the roster. Last year, the Vikings drafted six players in round four or later to add depth that was void due to Rick Spielman’s poor drafting.

This year, I expect the Vikings to pick five or less times on day three. Just because they will have less swings doesn’t mean they can’t find talented players. Here are six defensive targets the Vikings should prioritize on day three.

6 offensive targets