Packers: Is Adrian Hubbard the future at outside linebacker?
By Dan Kasper
Before we head into training camp and the preseason, there is one thing that is for sure regarding the 2015 Green Bay Packers. The Packers have talented players all across the board. The outside linebackers group is no exception.
The Packers have to look toward the future when they view their outside linebacker group and that could factor into some of their decisions this year of who they will keep and who they will cut.
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With Clay Matthews playing multiple positions and the uncertain future of Julius Peppers, Mike Neal, and Nick Perry after this offseason, the Packers could be looking to retool that group for the future.
There is one player on the Packers roster right now that has a golden opportunity to make a case for himself to be in that discussion of who will play outside linebacker. Adrian Hubbard is a player that, if he can improve his game this training camp and preseason, could be a guy Packers fans see for a few years on the field.
By now we have all heard the ambivalence regarding whether Clay Matthews will play inside linebacker or outside linebacker. It’s safe to say now that Matthews will be playing both positions and he will excel at both. However, he will not be committed to playing outside linebacker 100 percent this year. That means Peppers, Neal, and Perry will be the main outside linebackers this season.
Other than Matthews, what does the future look like at outside linebacker for the Green Bay Packers? Peppers is entering year two of his three-year contract with the Packers and is at that stage in his career where he is now answering retirement questions. Neal is a free agent after this season and the Packers did not pick up Perry’s fifth-year option, making him a free agent after this season.
To summarize, the Packers could potentially be very thin at the outside linebacker position after next season.
The Packers did not draft an outside linebacker in this year’s draft. It’s obviously not a position of need for this season, but it could become their No. 1 need depending on how their 2016 offseason goes. So did the Packers take a big gamble by not drafting an outside linebacker for the future?
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Perhaps … or perhaps maybe they feel like they have their future at outside linebacker already on their roster.
Common logic would assume the Packers will keep at least Mike Neal or Nick Perry and re-sign at least one of those players, depending on how this upcoming season goes.
Or maybe the Packers are intrigued with another in house option. That option could be Adrian Hubbard.
Hubbard was on the Packers’ practice squad all of last season. He has very intriguing physical attributes that anyone would want in an outside linebacker. He stands 6’6″ and weighs in at just more than 250 pounds. His height is similar to that of the intimidating presence of Peppers.
Hubbard wasn’t ready last year to make an impact in the NFL, but the Packers obviously saw something in him and liked something about him to keep him on the practice squad in order to take a chance on developing him into a better player.
No one can say Hubbard isn’t committed to getting better on the field. He spent most of the offseason working out in Green Bay, trying to make an impression with the coaches. He has also benefited with Peppers, Neal, and Perry missing time in OTAs and with Matthews getting some action at inside linebacker, because it meant Hubbard was playing with the No. 1 defense.
But does Hubbard have a realistic shot this year to make the 53-man roster? Absolutely. Roster spots will be extremely tight for the Packers this year, as they have an extremely talented team and cutting guys will be a difficult task for Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy.
But the Packers might not want to afford the risk of losing a guy like Hubbard if they have seen improvement in his game.
Two things will help Hubbard in his quest to make the Packers team this year: being healthy and making plays. Hubbard won’t be able to attract the attention of his coaches if he isn’t on the field and playing. Hubbard has to stay on task with his health and make sure he is ready to go at every second the coaches need him.
Some injuries are out of players’ hands, but he has to prepare and be ready to play the best he can.
The preseason is it for guys like Hubbard. That is their regular season. That is the time of year guys that are on the edge of making a team need to make plays and stand out from the rest of the bubble players. Jayrone Elliott did it last year for the Packers and Hubbard needs to do the same thing this preseason.
He’s got to make plays that stand out for the coaches and become the MVP of the preseason. If you play hot in the preseason, your chances of making the team become increasingly better.
Hubbard has the physical tools to be a good player in the NFL. He just needs to improve his game and take it to another level. He has the commitment level to want to succeed in this league. If Hubbard can shine in training camp and the preseason, he has a great chance to make the team.
Depending on how well he does after preseason, it may contribute to making the decisions on what to do with Neal and Perry a lot easier come next offseason. Hubbard will get his chance to make the team with the Packers. It’s up to Hubbard to take advantage of it.
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