February
Erik Walden: 2012 Green Bay Packers Evaluation and Report Card
Erik Walden
1) Introduction: Packers outside linebacker Erik Walden came into the 2012 training camp with slim odds of staying on the roster. The team had just drafted Nick Perry with their first round pick and Perry would surely get every opportunity to start opposite Clay Matthews. The team also saw undrafted rookie Dezman Moses emerge durin camp and it looked lik Walden was all but out the door. When it became apparent that the Packers would need some depth as Perry developed, they decided to hang onto Walden. When Perry went down early in the season and Moses wasn’t quite ready to be an every-down player, Walden became the starter at LOLB as he had been in 2011.
2) Profile:
Erik Lashawn Walden
- Age: 27
- Born: 8/21/1985 in Dublin, GA
- Height: 6’02″
- Weight: 250
- College: Middle Tennessee State
- Rookie Year: 2008
- NFL Experience: 5 years
3) Expectations coming into the season: Walden’s initial expectations were low as his ability to stay on the roster was in question from day one of the Packers offseason program. When he was kept after training camp, Walden was there to serve as a veteran backup. With Frank Zombo on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, the Packers needed the depth at this vital position in its defense. When Perry went down early in the season, Walden became the starter and was expected to solidify the left side of the pass rush/run defense and improve over his 2011 performance. Walden moved to the left side when Matthews moved back to the right side.
