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“Everybody’s going to be writing, ‘Kabeer’s back,’” the ninth-year defensive end said Friday. “If you finish strong it really doesn’t matter what happened in the beginning. I’m going to be around when it really counts.”
Few of Gbaja-Biamila’s coaches or teammates on the Green Bay Packers care if he might be slightly delusional. The fact that he counts more against the team’s salary cap ($7.73 million) than any other player despite his minuscule contribution is of minimal importance.
What matters is one thing: With Cullen Jenkins out for the year, the Packers are beyond desperate for pass rush from “KGB,” starting today against Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts at Lambeau Field.
“We talked,” Carl “Big Daddy” Hairston, the team’s defensive ends coach, said at midweek. “I told him he’s got to show this weekend against this quarterback.”
Gbaja-Biamila’s drop-off this season has been of seismic proportion.
Through six games of 2007 (203 snaps), he had 4½ sacks, 9½ knockdowns and five hurries for a “pressures” count of 19.
Through six games of 2008 (138 snaps), he has one-half sack, one-half knockdown and one-half hurry for a “pressures” count of 1½.
Gbaja-Biamila had cartilage surgery on his right knee May 28, missed almost all of training camp, still didn’t feel right when the season started but played anyway.
As the right end on passing downs, his speed rush has been witnessed a thousand times. After a rapid takeoff, he drives up the field against the tackle, plants his left leg and then turns in by pivoting off his right leg. When it works, he propels himself under and around the tackle to the quarterback.
Gbaja-Biamila figured that his left knee, the non-surgical one, was more critical in the process. What he learned was that the right knee needed to be equally sound.
“I used to think this (left knee) is all I really need,” he said. “But you don’t realize how much this (right knee) is really posted. You have to plant. So you play like a one-legged guy. You’re not able to get low.”
When “KGB” planted the right knee that lacked strength, invariably the tackle would be jamming him at the same time. Once that happened, he usually was knocked far off track and out of the rush.
“I call it ‘dip and rip,’ “ Hairston said. “To do that you’ve got to be pretty athletic and have great knee bend. That’s what he depended on. It’s coming back.”
Hairston said “KGB” looked less stiff this week in practice. “KGB” said his knee was completely healed.
“You’ve got to have four guys who are pushing that pocket,” Hairston said. “If not, then you’re going to be in trouble. We can’t keep blitzing and leave holes in our secondary. Besides, this guy (Manning) is great. We’ve got to win quick. Get there faster than we normally do.”
Once an elite speed rusher, Gbaja-Biamila has been eclipsed by others. Two of the best are lining up for Indianapolis, Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis.
Freeney and Mathis have to deal with Green Bay’s Chad Clifton, who remains a Pro Bowl-caliber pass blocker at left tackle. “KGB” will face left tackle Charlie Johnson, a common player, and a pair of rookie guards when he runs stunts.
“Most of those guys got zero experience,” Hairston said. “That’s something we’ve got to exploit. It’s on us up front.”
In Manning’s only previous appearance at Lambeau Field, coordinator Ed Donatell blitzed merely 10.6 percent on passing downs, rolled coverage to Marvin Harrison and shut him down (two catches, 28 yards), registered eight “pressures” and beat the Colts in light snow and 27 degrees, 26-24.
That game, played in November 2000, was followed in 2004 by Manning’s only other game against Green Bay. At the RCA Dome, coordinator Bob Slowik blitzed 37.2 percent, had five “pressures” and lost, 45-31.
The current coordinator, Bob Sanders, is blitzing just 18.4 percent through six games. The lowest total for a full season by a Packers defense in the last decade was 19.7 percent in 2002.
Clearly, Green Bay must find ways to make Manning uncomfortable with four-man rushes. Other than Charles Woodson, the Packers don’t have an effective blitzer, and they will need Woodson in the slot to cover Reggie Wayne.
“You’ve got to get Peyton out of his element, and it’s hard to do,” said an executive in personnel for a recent Colts opponent. “It’ll be (Aaron) Kampman vs. (Ryan) Diem. I’ve got to think Kampman will be able to generate a little bit of pressure.
“Their pass game is different. Peyton is so good reading where the pressure is coming from. He can check and get rid of the ball quickly. Really quickly. And he can make some things happen with his feet so (pressure) doesn’t affect him that much.”
The Packers’ other healthy speed rusher, Kenny Pettway, has played just five snaps in two games. Hairston called him “rusty” but likes his leverage and toughness.
But this isn’t a moment for free agents. For his team to win, Gbaja-Biamila simply must start regaining the form that made him valuable for years.
“Optimistic?” “KGB” said. “I just have faith, man. It’s going to be good.”
