What position? If it's OL, hell no. Their OL is worse than the Packers. What did he do that stands out enough for you to make a thread about a non-Packers player in the Packers section?



Edit, thread, not threat! haha

Edited by member Tuesday, November 13, 2012 7:52:13 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Because I was asking about whether he should be a Packer. Ergo it was a Packers topic, just as it would have been had I started a draft thread about him. :)

And NT, not OL.

I think they need to figure out much trouble he could be in both now and the future. If he's about to spend a lot of time in jail, it might not be best to cut someone else to hold him of him He he's not going to jail and going to keep playing then that's a different story.

I've only heard him getting in trouble that once.... but that was/is HUGE trouble... if I think he's a good kid that just made a mistake and won't get into any more trouble than that's one thing. If he keeps getting in trouble than I want no part of it.

But as far as I know this is a one time thing and fixable in the future if he wishes to change it.


Talent wise, I say bring him in. People have some complains abut his style of game, but the kid is a rookie, and a lot to learn still, look at Raji, he wasn't a finished product his rookie year and had a lot to learn on the field.

Ta'amu has one of the same problem as Raji did... NT size/body but 3 technique DT attitude and playing style... the difference being Raji could get away with it because he's more talented, quicker and his shoulders aren't as wide. He hasn't played like a true NT because he hasn't had too, he's been asked to rush the passer more in college.

If he's asked to become more like a true NT then I think Ta'amu could become the new/young Pickett.

I'm honored.

Beast makes a good point, though. Thing is, I don't know if he's good enough of a player to make that transition and be of any worth to us as a NT. He's obviously not good enough to play a 5-technique the way Pickett does and I don't see him master that position, either, long term. He offers about the same as Pickett in the pass rush department, but gets moved around way too easily for his size.

Something that's obviously an even bigger problem when you play NT.

He got exposed in his last year in college to a certain extent, which is the reason he was a 4th round pick rather than a 1st rounder. He was just someone they took a flyer on because it looked like there was some talent there in years before, even if his last year made him look more like a 7th rounder than a 1st rounder.

Obviously, the talent wasn't there. Teams don't just cut player for one incident if they're good enough. If he would've been of some use, he'd still be on that roster right now.

I wouldn't mind giving him a shot, but I haven't paid any attention to him since he was drafted. I'd have to think he has a bit more potential than some of the folks on the have recently been on the Packers roster, practice squad, or injured reserve, like Johnny Jones, Lawrence Guy, et al. I know they all don't play the same position, but in terms of the potential to be a better football player, I would think he has a better chance. With that being said, the Steelers generally know what they're doing in terms of roster management. If they cut him, it's probably safe to say he currently isn't worth keeping for the Packers, either. Perhaps if he gets his head on straight and rededicates himself, but that's yet to be seen. I imagine a team that is more desperate for talent would pursue him much more than a team such as the Packers would. More desperate teams are generally more willing to take fliers on players because they have such a hard time finding it themselves. I wouldn't be surprised to see him end up with the Patriots honestly, and then quickly finding his way to injured reserve. Basically, just like the RB Demps situation. It's perhaps shady, but it gives them until next off season and beyond to evaluate players and comes with very little risk.

First off the Steelers don't have the best OL, but they cut G/T Chris Scott and the Packers signed him to their practice squad just this year... and signed Kuhn in years past. So it wouldn't be totally surprise to see the Packers pick-up a former Steeler.


I think Ta'amu has the talent, he's just gotten a bit lazy lately (which if you follow NTs, isn't uncommon), remember NT Howard Green who helped the Packers win the Super Bowl, that's basically his whole career... getting in shape long enough to make the team, then falling out of shape.

Ta'amu early years in college weight got WAY up there and got way out of shape. Coaches got him and he got into a lot better shape and according to some looked like a 1st round NT (because he was a pass rushing 350 pound guy which often get over rated at the college level). Then he got senioritis his senior year of college and his stock and play when down... and rumored to report to the Steelers out of shape and over weight... then got into trouble...


My point being is there is a pattern with NTs... and Ta'amu fits in it... gets out of shape their first years until coaches get on them, then they get into shape, then when they think they're safe get out of shape if the coaches don't stay on them.

Ta'amu is very out of shape right now, and wants to act like a pass rushing DT in the pros (which he's not and his body size and play style won't let him be on a full time level) but you get coaches to get on him and stay on him, and I think he'll get into shape and start trying to level how to act and play like a run stuffer instead of the pass rushing DT which he was able to get away with in college (and his coaches might of asked him to do) but won't get away with in the pros.

At the very least I think a practice spot with close to full roster pay is worth it just to see if he has the potential going forward to keep around and see if he can stay out of trouble. Because if he can he could be a long term back-up to Raji or better... if he gets back into his really good shape he might be able to rotate other places as well and maybe help with the nickel package.

When he was in good shape his bull rush was much better than Pickett moves. Of course Pickett is much better run stuffer because Ta'amu doesn't know how to (yet).