GREEN BAY — Defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila doesn’t see what the fuss is all about.

But considering his job description as the Green Bay Packers’ pass-rushing specialist entails, you know, rushing the passer, and he hasn’t done so effectively this season, the concern should be obvious.
Gbaja-Biamila heads into Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts with a measly half-sack this season, and he hasn’t mustered so much as a quarterback pressure since the Packers’ Sept. 14 victory at Detroit.

Considering Gbaja-Biamila’s $6.15 million base salary this season is the highest on the team — and his salary-cap number of $7.727 million ranks first on the team, too — that’s simply not enough production for the price.

And yet, the always-optimistic Gbaja-Biamila says his struggles are temporary.

“Am I frustrated? That’s so negative,” Gbaja-Biamila said. “I work hard, I study film, I’m practicing. I don’t want to state the obvious. I’m just trusting in the Lord that this is going to work out. And when it works out, it’s going to pour like rain.

“I’m going to keep working, keep grinding. It’s going to get better. I’m not saying that in a wishful way. I know it’s going to get better.”

But is it?

After offseason arthroscopic knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus, Gbaja-Biamila, 32, missed large portions of training camp when the knee flared up on him. He has since developed arthritis in the knee and has had his practice time limited throughout the first six weeks of the season.

While coach Mike McCarthy said Gbaja-Biamila “has gotten stronger and stronger each week,” defensive ends coach Carl “Big Daddy” Hairston said KGB clearly is not himself because of the knee.

“He’s not back where he used to be. He knows that and I know that,” Hairston said.

Not so, Gbaja-Biamila argued.

“I don’t think (the knee) is limiting me. I think it’s perfectly fine,” said Gbaja-Biamila, who had 9 1/2 sacks last year in his part-time role, making him the franchise’s all-time sack leader with 74 1/2. “I just haven’t had many opportunities. When we’re doing well, I’m able to be a part of it.”

Defensive coordinator Bob Sanders said the Packers’ inability to stop the run has prevented them from generating the third-and-long situations in which Gbaja-Biamila excels. His playing time was limited early in the season, including in games against Dallas (nine snaps) and Atlanta (13).

However, Gbaja-Biamila played a season-high 33 snaps against Seattle on Sunday. He was forced into extended early-down action by injuries to Cullen Jenkins (season-ending torn pectoral muscle), Mike Montgomery (inactive with a sprained ankle) and Jason Hunter (hamstring) — and managed just two tackles.

Rookie Jeremy Thompson was more stout against the run than Gbaja-Biamila, and while Aaron Kampman (two sacks) snapped the Packers’ 10-quarter streak without a sack, Gbaja-Biamila contributed zilch to the pass-rush package.

Hairston said the loss of Jenkins’ inside pass-rushing presence has allowed teams to commit extra blockers to stop Gbaja-Biamila and Kampman on the edges. Hairston expects teams to continue that approach until the Packers start generating greater interior pressure.

As a vested veteran, Gbaja-Biamila was guaranteed his full base salary for 2008 when he was on the roster on opening day. Thus, there would be no benefit to releasing him if his downward trend continues.

If McCarthy wants to experiment with another pass-rushing option, he could go to recently added defensive end Kenny Pettway. The other option, Hunter, is still dealing with his hamstring injury.

Thus, Gbaja-Biamila figures to remain in the mix, with the coaches hoping he can get going and help expand a pass rush that has 12 sacks and 34 pressures.

“Obviously, we want to do better,” Gbaja-Biamila said. “We’ve got to get better. It’s not a frustration. You see a problem, you fix it. We roll up our sleeves and get to work and try to correct the mistakes we’re making.”

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