As a recent sixth-round pick, Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Christian Ringo has nothing assured to him. Not playing time, not a role on defense - not even a roster spot. But while Ringo's nascent NFL career remains very much in question, it seems the team is already comparing him to and potentially grooming him for a spot in the defensive line rotation very much like the one currently occupied by, former fourth-round pick Mike Daniels. And at the same time as Daniels is held up as something of a model for Ringo, the team is apparently attempting to steer him clear of an approach like that of former Packers second-rounder, Jerel Worthy, per Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.
"Daniels is a good, good player," an executive in personnel for an NFC team told McGinn. "Obviously, they see some of the same traits. While they are quick, both of them are strong.
"Ringo is probably more physical (than Worthy). Worthy didn't want to get dirty."
Ringo, a former Louisiana-Lafayette standout, had 11.5 sacks last season for the Ragin Cajuns and posted a school-record 21 sacks in 45 games. His physical dimensions are similar to Daniels - 6-foot-1 for Ringo, 6-foot-1.5 for Daniels, 33-inch arm length for Ringo, 32.5 for Daniels, 4.97 40-yard-dash for Ringo, 4.93 for Daniels - a player who has turned himself into arguably the Packers best interior pass-rusher, but so are their games.
While Worthy wanted to win with quickness, Daniels figured out right from the start that he needed to establish a physical presence. To hear coaches and teammates tell it, Ringo is capable of the same. Like all NFL rookies though, it will require work and study for Ringo to make good on the promise he's shown.
"Ringo has the ability to be a destructive 3-technique (tackle)," nose tackle B.J. Raji said, via McGinn. "Up the field, quick. He doesn't have the size or the height, but he has the natural leverage and the quick twitch to react to blocks."
While Ringo also seems to share Daniels' lack of a clear-cut home along defensive front in a 3-4, something Daniels struggled with initially, Ringo made it clear to McGinn that he's simply trying to be his own man - something the team has encouraged him to do.
"I don't think I pattern my game after (Daniels)," Ringo said, via McGinn. "I'm not Mike Daniels. I have to find a way to do what I do best.
"I've got to execute on Sundays. I can be successful in practice all I want, but if I'm not producing on Sundays, that's a problem."
Considering the depth in front of him, Ringo has an uphill battle just to stick on the Packers roster and may be headed for a practice squad spot in Year One. Then again, if he can establish himself as a physical, productive role player right away, there's no reason Ringo can't garner significant snaps right from the get-go.
