The Dope Sheet - NFL.com

PACKERS PROJECTED STARTERS – DEFENSE
LDE Ryan Pickett, 12th Year, Ohio State, UFA-06 (StL)
Has played in 178 of a possible 192 regular-season games during his
career, missing just nine contests due to injury.
Was the only Green Bay defensive lineman to start all 16 games this
season and led the line with 75 tackles (27 solo)
Key component of Packers’ No. 1-ranked rushing defense in 2009
(franchise-record 83.3 yards allowed per game), the first time in team
history that Green Bay led the league in that category.
Signed with Green Bay as an unrestricted free agent in 2006 after spending
five seasons with St. Louis (2001-05). Led all NFL defensive linemen
with 115 tackles in 2005.
NT B.J. Raji, 4th Year, Boston College, D1a-09
Earned his first bid to the Pro Bowl in 2011, becoming the first Green
Bay defensive tackle since Bob Brown in 1972 to be voted to the all-star
team.
Has played in 51 games since 2010 (including playoffs), tied for the fifth
most in the NFL by a defensive lineman over that span.
Led all NFL nose tackles with 6½ sacks in 2010, the third most recorded
by a nose tackle since 1990 (according to STATS LLC).
Named to the Pro Football Weekly/PFWA All-Rookie team in 2009,
the first Green Bay defensive lineman to be selected since DE Vonnie
Holliday in 1998.
RDE C.J. Wilson, 3rd Year, East Carolina, D7-10
Has played in 42 games with 11 starts during his three seasons in Green
Bay. Had 37 tackles (18 solo) and a career-high 2.5 sacks this season.
Played in all 16 games in 2011 with two starts as he registered a careerhigh
35 tackles (21 solo).
Appeared in 15 regular-season games and all four playoff contests as a
rookie in 2010, starting Super Bowl XLV vs. Pittsburgh with the defense
employing a fourth lineman as part of its “Hippo” package.
Named the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year by Sporting
News each of his final two seasons at East Carolina.
LOLB Erik Walden, 5th Year, Middle Tennessee State, FA-10
Has played in 68 career games with 26 starts, including 40 games and
26 starts with Green Bay. Ranked No. 5 on the team with 69 tackles (38
solo) this season, along with three sacks, which matched his career high,
and a career-best two INTs.
Became a full-time starter for the first time in his career in 2011, opening
the first 15 games at ROLB and setting or tying his career highs in every
major statistical category.
Signed by the Packers as a free agent on Oct. 27, 2010, and went on to
appear in nine games with two starts along with another three starts in
the postseason.
Originally a sixth-round draft choice by the Dallas Cowboys in 2008, he
played in a total of 28 games for Kansas City and Miami from 2008-10.
BLB A.J. Hawk, 7th Year, Ohio State, D1-06
Has either led the team or finished second in tackles in six of his seven
seasons in Green Bay. Led the team with 142 tackles (105 solo) in 2012.
Has appeared in 110 of a possible 112 regular-season games in his
career, starting 107 of them.
Tied for No. 1 among NFL linebackers in 2010 with a career-high three
interceptions. Earned first career Pro Bowl selection in 2010.
Has posted 872 tackles (622 solo), 13½ sacks, eight interceptions, 34
passes defensed, two forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries during
his career.
MLB Brad Jones, 4th Year, Colorado, D7-09
Came on in relief of D.J. Smith, who sustained a season-ending knee
injury in Week 6 at Houston, and made his first career start on the inside
(13 starts at OLB) at St. Louis in Week 7. Registered 99 tackles (69
solo), two sacks and a forced fumble in his 10 starts this season.
Became a core member on special teams in 2011, appearing in a careerhigh
15 games and recording a career-best 11 coverage tackles.
Worked at OLB for his first three seasons, including his rookie campaign
of 2009 that saw him start seven games and register a career-high four
sacks.
Began working at inside linebacker during 2012 training camp.
ROLB Clay Matthews, 4th Year, Southern California, D1b-09
Ranked No. 5 in the league with 13.0 sacks this season, despite missing
four games due to a hamstring injury.
Became the first Packer to earn Pro Bowl recognition in each of his first
four seasons in the NFL (2009-12).
Is the only player in franchise history to score a defensive TD (interception
or fumble return) in each of his first three seasons in the NFL (2009-11).
Named first-team All-Pro by The Associated Press in 2010, the first
Green Bay LB to earn that honor since Tim Harris in 1989. Finished
second to Pittsburgh safety Troy Polamalu in the AP’s Defensive Player
of the Year voting.
LCB Tramon Williams, 6th Year, Louisiana Tech, FA-06
Is tied for No. 2 in the league in interceptions (15) and ranks No. 2 in the
NFL in INT return yards (296) since 2010 (including playoffs).
Ranked No. 2 on the team with 22 passes defensed this season.
Despite suffering a shoulder injury in the 2011 season opener, went on
to start 15 games last season and post career highs for tackles (65) and
passes defensed (24). Also added four interceptions.
With three interceptions during the 2010 playoffs, tied Joe Laws (1944)
and Craig Newsome (1996) for the franchise single-postseason record.
Is the only non-drafted free agent in the NFL to post four or more interceptions
each of the past four seasons (2008-11).
RCB Sam Shields, 3rd Year, Miami, FA-10
Was limited to 10 games with eight starts this season due to injury, but
registered 38 tackles (28 solo), three interceptions, 15 passes defensed
(No. 3 on the team) and a sack.
Made an impact in 2010 after making the team as a non-drafted rookie,
earning the nickel CB job despite playing the position only one season
in college.
In Green Bay’s NFC Championship win over Chicago in the 2010 season,
became the first rookie in NFL history to record two INTs and a sack in
a postseason contest.
Played primarily wide receiver and special teams during his first three
seasons at Miami.
SS Morgan Burnett, 3rd Year, Georgia Tech, D3-10
Ranked No. 2 on the team with a career-high 137 tackles (95 solo) and
was the only player on the club with a sack (two), an interception (two),
a fumble recovery and a forced fumble this season.
Enjoyed his first full season as a pro in 2011, joining NT B.J. Raji as
the only two Green Bay defensive players to start all 16 regular-season
games.
In 2010, became only the second Packers rookie to open the season as
a starter at safety since Chuck Cecil in 1988, joining then-teammate and
three-time Pro Bowl selection Nick Collins (2005).
Started the first four games of the 2010 season at SS before sustaining
a season-ending knee injury vs. Detroit in Week 4.
FS M.D. Jennings, 2nd Year, Arkansas State, FA-11
Played in all 16 games with 10 starts this season and recorded 46 tackles
(41 solo), an interception that he returned 72 yards for a TD, and
five passes defensed.
One of three non-drafted rookies to make Green Bay’s opening-day
roster in 2011.
Tied for second among Packers rookies in 2011 by appearing in 15
games in his first season, becoming a regular on special teams and
recording nine tackles on the coverage units.
A three-year starter at Arkansas State, he earned first-team All-Sun
Belt recognition as a senior in 2010 when he set or tied career highs in
almost every statistical category.
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