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posted 03/29/2006
As safety Marquand Manuel walks past the Vince Lombardi trophies on the way to the Packers' locker room, the former Seattle Seahawk knows why he decided to sign with Green Bay.
"The biggest thing was just the tradition," Manuel said.
Titletown's tradition also impressed outside linebacker Ben Taylor, but the main reason he joined the Packers instead of re-signing with the Cleveland Browns was because of Green Bay's defensive scheme.
When new Browns head coach Romeo Crennel installed a 3-4 defense in 2005, the 6-2, 238-pound Taylor had to move inside. In the 3-4, outside linebackers operate more like pseudo-defensive ends, rushing the passer and weighing 260 to 270 pounds while the lighter inside linebackers usually line up against guards. In the Packers defense, however, the interior defensive linemen clog up blockers, leaving the linebackers free to pursue the ball carriers.
"In this system you don't always have to hit an offensive lineman," Taylor said. "You can use your athleticism to make plays. That's something that plays toward my game."
When Taylor last played extensively in the 4-3 scheme in 2003, he racked up 73 tackles in nine games before injuring his elbow. He returned for the last four games of that season but with decreased strength in his upper body, which affected his play. With the Packers Taylor said he can return to the form he showed in the beginning of the 2003 season.
In 2006 Taylor could fortify a Packers linebacking corps with several unknown components. After setting a single-season Packers record for tackles with 194, Nick Barnett likely will continue as the starting middle linebacker. But with the departures of Na'il Diggs and Paris Lenon, Taylor may start at one of the outside linebacker positions. He mainly played weak-side linebacker before moving inside in 2005 but has manned all three linebacker spots.
"Versatility is one thing I can bring to the table," Taylor said.
Taylor brought a lot to the table in 2005. After a pectoral injury limited him to three games in 2004, Taylor played all 16 games last season and amassed 113 tackles.
Manuel also comes to Green Bay following one of his best NFL seasons. After starting free safety Ken Hamlin was critically injured during a night club incident, Manuel became the starter for the eventual NFC champion Seahawks in Week 7. In 16 regular-season games (11 starts), Manuel tied for third on the club with 67 tackles and recorded two passes defensed and one fumble recovery.
During the NFC Championship game, he collected three tackles, an interception and two passes defensed. The new Packers safety, however, may have demonstrated his greatest value by not playing.
Manuel tore his groin muscle with 10 minutes, 44 seconds left in the first half of Super Bowl XL when he knocked Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward out of bounds. Before Manuel left the game, the Seahawks led 3-0 and had allowed two first downs.
No one can predict what would have happened if Manuel had remained in the game, but the safety position had deep responsibility on two of the Steelers' game-breaking plays. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger threw a 37-yard pass to Hines Ward to set up the Steelers' first touchdown in the second quarter, and Antwaan Randle El threw a touchdown to Ward off an end-around play to seal the 21-10 win.
Having played on a team that reached the Super Bowl, the 26-year-old Manuel said he will use that winning experience to help a secondary, which features second-year players Nick Collins and Mike Hawkins and third-year players Ahmad Carroll and Jason Horton in prominent roles.
"A lot of people can't say that they have the (Super Bowl) experience," Manuel said. "(I want to) teach the young guys what I know already."