Packers Sweep Da Bears Thanks to Defense!

After the dust settled, the Packers were 9-4 and in prime position for a wild-card playoff berth, while the Bears are now mathematically out of the playoff race. It wasn't pretty, but we've come a long way since the embarrassing loss to Tampa in November. Despite Ryan Grant's 137 yards rushing (with 2 TDs) and Rodgers throwing no INTs (even though he did have a screwy fumble that lead to the 2nd TD of the game for the bears), the Pack just couldnt seem to get anything going on the offensive side of the ball. The defense looked good again, with the exception of a couple of TD tosses by Cutler. 3 sacks, and 2 picks (and another 1 or 2 dropped) guaranteed a winning season for the boys from Green Bay.

Things I liked: Ryan Grant running tough. Pressure by the d-line and LBs. Improved play from Tramon Williams (with the exception of the 2nd quarter TD he gave up). The fact that the Bears gave up so much for a QB that isn't any better than Rex Grossman.

Things I didn't like: Mason Crosby missing another makeable FG (that's 6 out of the last 7 games that he's missed one). Rodgers holding the ball too long...again. Kicking FGs in the red zone.

All in all, it's a win and it was against Chicago so I'm happy. And with the flailing Steelers, the miserable Seahawks, and a Cardinals team that will likely be resting it's starters, the Pack are in good shape to make the playoffs this year! GO PACK!

It Wasn't Pretty...But it Counts!

In a hard-fought game on Monday night, the Packers came out on top with a 27-14 win over the Baltimore Ravens. If not for 3 turnovers, it could have very well been a shut out and a much higher score for the Packers' offense.

The Good Stuff: The Packers' D looks like they deserve their #1 ranking. The rookies look fantastic! It's not surprising that BJ Raji is improving now that his ankle is getting better (although he did reinjure it against the Ravens), but Brad Jones has done as good if not a better job than Aaron Kampman did at the OLB spot, and Clay Matthews has a legitimate shot at winning the Defensive Rookie of the Year for this season. JerMichael Finley looked good as well. Having him back in the lineup gives the offense some juice, and I like it!

The Bad Stuff: Penalties! I couldn't believe how many penalties went against the Pack on Monday. It was just ridiculous. I'm surprised we're the second most penalized team in the league this year...but the only reason i'm surprised is because I can't believe anyone else commits more penalties than we do! Tramon Williams is a great nickel DB. He's obviously got some improvement to make to be a starter though. Flacco was blatantly picking on him and rightfully so. Williams committed 3 pass interference penalties (although 2 i thought were questionable) and 2 of them were in the end zone, giving the ravens 1st and goal from the Pack's 1 yard line! Granted he did redeem himself by intercepting a Flacco pass 2 plays later on the 2nd, but still...there is no excuse for interefering so often.

All in all, the good outweighs the bad. The Packers are 8-4 and in prime position to make a playoff run. Let's all hope for some more losses by the Queens so we'll have a shot at a division championship. GO PACK!

The Lions are Improving...

But they still stink. Granted if Stafford and Calvin Johnson weren't both dinged up, it may have been a little closer but probably not. Even with the scare of the fumble on the opening kick off and quick score by Detroit, the Packers had the game well in hand by the beginning of the 2nd quarter. It made for a much more relaxing and enjoyable Thanksgiving Feast in the afternoon. But here's the good news:

Cowboys win (which makes little difference to us) and the Giants lose, which gives us another game of cushion in the playoff race. Now with the Ravens, Bears, Steelers, Seahawks, and Cardinals (respectively) ahead. I don't believe that there is any reason we wont finish with at least a 10 win season. Not even the Ravens and Steelers have had as impressive a season as anyone thought they would. Not to say they will be easy victories, but at 5-5 (Ravens) and 6-4 (Steelers) It's not impossible to think that we could end up at 12-4. The play of Cutler and the Bears has gotten worse since the opening game in Lambeau, and if the Pack don't win by at least 14, it will be a disappointment. If the Seahawks performance against the Queens is anyhting to go by, I believe that it should be the easiest game remaining on the schedule. The Cardinals will be tough, but hopefully they will have their playoff spot clinched at that point and sit Fitzgerald and Warner early. All in all, it's looking a lot brighter after losing to Tampa in week 9.

GO PACK!

Another Good Win, but 2 HUGE Losses

The Pack pulled out another great Conference win on Sunday vs the 49ers moving them 1 step closer to a playoff appearance. The big news coming from this weekend's game however is not good. OLB Aaron Kampman and more importantly CB Al Harris are out for the season with ACL tears. This is going to pose problems for what was a solid defensive unit. The trickle down effect is going to be the issue for the CBs. Tramon Williams is a solid CB and I believe that he will be a starter for years to come for the Pack, the problem is going to be our nickel and dime packages. Now Williams will be replaced by Jarrett Bush, Underwood (the rookie), or newly acquired Josh Bell. Bell is the most accomplished of the 3 having started 4 games in 2008 for the Denver Broncos, so I anticipate either he or Bush being the initial starter. I do like what i've seen from Underwood so far, but he's still a rookie and prone to make big mistakes which we cannot afford. Hopefully these 3 can form a rotation and be a suitable replacement for Williams. If they can't it takes something huge away from our defense...the ability for Charles Woodson to move aroudn the field as he has done over the past few weeks so successfully. It limits Dom Capers' ability to use him so liberally in blitz and coverage packages, which takes us back to where we were against the Vikings and Bengals. Let's hope for the best!

Kampman on the other hand is not as big of a loss. Although he is an effective pass rusher at times, he has not been nearly as successful in his OLB role as he was as a DE. Brad Jones has been effective in replacing him over the past 2 weeks, and i anticipate him to continue to play well. The return of Brady Poppinga and Brandon Chillar should make this transition easier as well. It's a good thing we play the lions this week!

Happy Thanksgiving...and GO PACK!

And We're Back in the Hunt!!!

Where did this defense come from? Dom Capers may have single-handedly saved Mike McCarthy and Ted Thompson's jobs in one fell swoop. This is how we all hoped this 3-4 defense would look when it was announced that we were making the switch from the 4-3. We blitzed the lights out, got pressure on the QB, and held a potent offense scoreless until there was only 0:38 left in the game. The Pack registered 5 sacks on Sunday...before then we had a total of 13. I think if this type of pressure was put on Favre, the outcome of both Vikings games could have been different.

Maybe the loss to Tampa was exactly what this team needed...a kick in the rear to get them jump started. And with losses to Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Chicago an NFC Wild Card spot is a realistic possibility for this 5-4 Packer team. The big question is will we keep up this defensive aggressiveness or will we go back to our conservative ways? I think it's proven that if you pressure the QB, you have a heck of a lot better chance to win the game. So my vote is to keep blitzing and keep up the momentum gained by beating the Cowboys. With the 49ers and Lions coming up, it's a legitimate possibility that this team could be 7-4 going into the game against the Ravens which will be a tough one. But with yesterday's performance at Lambeau, I finally believe that this team can be good!

Who's to Blame?

After coming off a disappointing loss to the Queens making the Pack 4-3, it was reasonable to think that we would enter the second half of the season with a winning record. Even with 10 minutes left in the 4th quarter it looked like it was in the bag. The score was 28-17 when the Packers' special teams buckled for the second time in the game giving up a huge return which would result in a quick buccaneers' TD cutting the score back to 3. From there, the offense could not move the ball, and the defense could not stop Josh Freeman (rookie QB making his first start) ultimately ending in a loss, a 4-4 record, and a shower of Gatorade for Bucs' coach Raheem Morris' first NFL win. So, who's to blame for the loss? For the mediocre record? For the disappointing season thus far?

My vote...EVERYONE! The fact is that this team is just not as good as all packer fans thought during the pre-season. The defense still gets no pressure on the QB (the fact is that we're even worse than we were in 2008). The offense is productive, but can't move the ball when it really needs to. The O-line is still having trouble protecting Rodgers and Aaron is still having trouble getting rid of the ball quick enough. And don't even get me started on the special teams, I believe that they had the most to do with both of the last 2 losses. I think it all comes back to coaching.

Packers' President Mark Murphy has publicly come out and said that both Mike McCarthy and Ted Thompson are being watched more closely now. And if they don't make the necessary changes in the final 8 games, I believe that at least 1 of them will be looking for a job come February.

I believe the talent is there and that we have the players to be a good team (we're only 5 starters different from the 2007 NFC Championship team). For some reason we just aren't able to put a 4-quarter game together on the field. Let's hope for some improvement this week against the Cowboys. I believe it will make or break the season. GO PACK!

What do you think? (Poll)

Where do we go from here?

Everyone put up 1 finger if you are #1...Not so fast Aaron.

Well Brett Favre made his historic return to Lambeau, got booed, and left with a "W". I watched the first half of the game and during halftime I set my alarm so that I could take a 20 minute nap and I ended up sleeping through the 2nd half. Regardless, i'm going to talk about the game anyways as well as talk about the rest of the season for the Packers.

It was a long game and the Packers put up a fight, but the momentum and the game were lost in the first quarter with Johnny Jolly's personal foul for headbutting on what would have been 4th down and a FG but instead lead to a TD for the Queens. I don't care what happened the rest of the game, that set everything in motion. What a tool!

After that the Packers did what they could and put up a fight but could not win the battle for field position because of Percy Harvin's return game. Aside from that, Greg Jennings made his return to the Packers for the first game this season (implying that he was worthless the first 7 games). Brandon Chillar has a broken hand and had surgery this morning, and Ahman Green returned kicks, weird.

I think that this was a good game for Packer fans because it showed us the most important thing of the season...the Vikings are better than us! Anyone can point out what we should have done or could have done, but lets all be honest and move on by saying that the Vikings are looking like one of the best teams in the NFL right now and there is no arguing it. I think we can rule out a Division Championship, but I think its time to start playing for a Wildcard, which is completely possible at this point.

The Packer's remaining schedule is as follows:

@ Tampa

vs Dallas

vs San Fran

@ Detroit

vs Baltimore

@ Chicago

@ Pittsburgh

vs Seattle

@ Arizona

The Packers right now are sitting at 4-3 and have the tougher part of their schedule upcoming. of the 9 remaining games, I think that if the Pack can win 5 games they give themselves a chance at a wildcard, and any more than that would be fantastic.

The Packers also have to rely on other teams throughout the NFC from this point forward. Right now the teams in front of us are the Falcons, Cowboys, Eagles, Giants, Saints and Vikings and we are tied with the Bears. The Saints, Vikings, and 1 of the 3 teams in the East will be division champions, and there are then 3 other teams ahead of the Packers in the race for the Wild Card. That being said, there will be little room for error should the Pack hope to make the playoffs this season. All we can do at this point is hope.

Thoughts on Favre's Return to Lambeau

Well I typically listen to sports radio and read other people's articles about the Packers and the NFL in general and it is clear that the highlight of Week 8 in the NFL is Brett Favre's return to Lambeau field as a Minnesota Viking. However, the main storyline is not that the Packers are in a position to grab hold of the lead in the division with a win, but rather, how the fans will react to Brett being announced and running out onto the field.

The reason that this question is so intriguing is because I don't think there are very many Packer fans who know at this point how they will feel watching Brett run out of the tunnel on Sunday. I think that the fans at the game will Boo him because they are there, they are in the moment and it will just be a different atmosphere. I on the other hand will be watching from my couch. I will be in the mindset of wanting to kill the Vikings, but I have watched Brett play as a viking 7 times now and I will not be in as intense of an environment. Moral of the story, at this point I don't really care about how the fans handle Brett Favre as I am more concerned with how the Packers defense handles Brett Favre.

That being said, the Packers currently rank #3 in overall Defense in the NFL. However, we have played the Lions, Rams, and Browns to this point. Regardless, this week will be a huge test for the Packers and for Dom Capers as he needs to call the game of his life this week and keep the Vikings off balance. It does help that Atari Bigby will be back in action.

On the offensive side of the ball we are still a little battered on the offensive line, but we are looking better. I think it is unrealistic to expect our offensive like to completely stop the the Vikings defensive line, but I do think that we are better for having already seen them this year, and we are coming off a confidence building game against the Browns where the line let up no sacks. I think that the Packers need to establish the run to take some pressure off of Aaron Rodgers.

There are a lot of things that I would like to see out of the Packers this weekend and i'm sure a lot of them are easier said than done. I think the main thing is to have a game plan and to stick to it and not become 1 dimensional on offense by only passing the ball. Can't wait for this game!

They are who we thought they were!

Well the Packers rolled on the Browns yesterday. No surprise there. The Packers looked good, but that isn't saying much. I didn't watch the whole game because lets be honest, it was pretty boring, but I thought we looked good. We ran the ball well, we played good defense, we kicked two kickoffs out of bounds! Jermichael Finley went out in the first quarter and I have yet to hear anything about him yet. Finley could be a huge loss if he doesn't play against the Vikings this weekend as he has become a great target for Aaron Rodgers.

It is going to be interesting to see how the Packers play this weekend against the Vikings coming off of two games against Pee Wee teams. A part of me thinks that having a Bye, playing the Lions and the Browns will give the Packers some confidence and be able to get in the groove of things so we can tackle the toughest part of our schedule coming up. The other part of me thinks that maybe the easy games we have played recently will let the Packers grow complacent and think that we are better than we actually are coming into what I consider our biggest game of the season given the Packers and Vikings records.

At this point, and i'm sure my thoughts will change over throughout the week, I think that the Packers need to again focus on stopping Adrian Peterson like we did the first time we played them, and second we need to be concerned with Brett Favre. I think that AP needs to be stopped if the Packers want a chance. I think that Brett has been playing very well to this point and he is due for a bad game. That being said, if he has as much time to throw the ball as he did in the first meeting, he will tear us apart like he did the first time. Our defense will need to play their best and our offense has to keep up on the scoreboard. I look forward to this game and can't wait to see what happens when Brett runs out of that tunnel.

Game Day!!!

Hello everyone. And by everyone I mean our two faithful followers, AKA the writers of this blog! Well I have heard that they are still waiting for the Brown fans to show up to the stadium as the majority of the fans at the Cleveland Stadium are Packer Backers.

Jordy Nelson is out, one of the beat writers for the Milwaukee Journal says that B.J. Raji is gonna play but it doesn't seem like his ankle is 100% yet.

The offensive line also remains unhealthy this week as Clifton is inactive and Mark Tausher is inactive. I think that its a good week to have some guys banged up considering that the Browns are just a bad team and they get very little pressure on the QB.

I will really be watching to see who Aaron Rodgers targets today and if Greg Jennings will pick his game up. To this point it seems as though Donald Driver is who Rodgers looks to most often. Maybe because he runs shorter routes and is easier to get the ball to when Rodgers is under pressure. I also am really liking the way that Jermichael Finley has played so far this year. I think that if he keeps it up he could be one of the premiere receiving TE in the league and he will be around for a long time to come as its only his 2nd year in the league.

Bottom line, I think this is a good opportunity for the Packers to be successful, and I think we should expect a blowout in this one. The more important games are the other divisional games as both the Bears and the Vikings could potentially get beat this weekend, making the Packers look a lot better moving forward. Only time will tell.

T.J. Lang to start against Browns

Rookie tackle T.J. Lang is slated to start this weekend for the Browns. He has stepped in the last couple games when Clifton has gotten injured and from what I remember he did a decent job. This is not a sexy story, but it could be a picture of things to come and it will show us what we can expect out of Lang in the future. Lets just hope that he looks good and can improve the line. All I know is that I hope I don't hear much talk about Lang on Sunday, because when you are an offensive lineman they only talk about you when you get beat. I know from back in my days with the Florida Tuskers!

What have I missed?

Well this is my first post in a while because I had some issues getting my wireless router to work. Needless to say, I ended up buying a new wireless router. So I'm just going to rant a bit about what's been going on with the Packers.

First of all, the Packer veterans are coming out of the woodwork! Packers bring back veteran lineman Mark Tauscher. Packers bring back veteran running back Ahman Green. Its a big story for no reason. They aren't going to help us very much so I'm going to move on.

The Packers play the Browns this weekend, it should be a cake walk...but, there are no free wins in the NFL.

Donald Driver broke Sterling Sharpe's Packer record for most all-time receptions. Good for him, he deserves it. Not only did he break the record, but he has been playing great and looks like the #1 receiver at this point for the Packers.

The Vikings are playing the defending champion Steelers and the Bears have the Bengals. This could be a big weekend for the Packers if both of our division rivals were to get beaten. The Vikings would be just 1 win ahead of us and we would be able to settle the score and the lead in the conference the next week when the Queens come to Lambeau.

I think the Packers need to start playing better if they wish to do anything this season. The offensive line isn't very good, but we have to work around that. It is essential that we get the running game going and take some pressure off Aaron Rodgers. There are often times when I am watching him and he looks extremely nervous dropping back for passes. The defense is playing well, but we have the meat and potatoes of our schedule coming up and it would be great to get our shit together playing the cupcake teams so we are rolling into the games against the tougher teams. Only time will tell.

Ahman Green & Gold

The Packers re-signed veteran and 2nd all-time leading rusher for the Green & Gold this week. I'm intrigued by the move, but I believe it's a good one...or at least the idea is good. The packers have had the youngest roster in the NFL for 4 years running and although it's a talented group, when someone gets hurt the youth of this team shows. I don't think that the impact of Ahman Green will be seen directly on the field on Sundays, but it does provide a solid 3rd down back with great hands coming out of the backfield and more importantly it provides veteran leadership to help develop young players like Brandon Jackson, DeSean Wynn, and even Ryan Grant.

The fact is that this team needs to make more moves like this and the signing of Tauscher. Not necessarily to start, but to provide depth and reliability. These guys aren't going to wow you with their play, but they've proven that they can do the job sufficiently enough.

There are still question marks on these guys (Green & Tauscher) as far as their health and ability to keep up with the game at their age (early to mid 30s). But regardless, I think it's good that Thompson is realizing that there is a need for veteran leadership on this team...even if it comes from the bench.

GO PACK!

Optimism: Let's Give It a Try

Here's an interesing article from packersnews.com. I like the positive thoughts. Let's face it, we're 2-2, and bye week adjustments and the return of Atari Bigby could be the boost this Packer team needed to get back into the NFC North divisional race.

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20091015/PKR07/91015152/1058/PKR01&referrer=NEWSFRONTCAROUSEL

GO PACK!

Tauscher back in Green and Gold?

Long time Green Bay Packer and Wisconsin native worked out with the Packers today after being let go this offseason following knee surgery. Rumors say that he is close to a deal with the Packers. I think that Tauscher will provide much needed support on our offensive line if he is healthy and in shape. It was clear against the Vikings on Monday night that our offensive line is just a pathetic group of professional athletes and I’m glad that the Packers are addressing the concern. Let’s be honest though, we just played the top team in our conference and got sacked 8 times!!! Way to be proactive Green Bay front office! This situation is like a car window that gets hit by a pebble and gets a small crack…if you take your car in right away to get the crack fixed, they can do it without replacing the window and you save some money; if you wait, the crack spreads and you then have a shattered window!! The Packers let their window shatter and although we are working to pick up the pieces, the Packers did not address the concern early enough and now we are two games back in the division and have a lot of work left to do.

Packers-Vikings: What happened?

I want Ted Thompson’s head…and I’m serious! Hate is a strong word…and I feel strongly about the way I hate the Vikings. But let me explain myself…

I’m not angry about the way Favre was dealt with last year or that he’s not on the Packers. The quarterback was not the reason for last night’s loss. I am angry about the way our offensive and defensive lines are playing. These are the most critical positions for a championship team. You have to be able to protect your quarterback and put pressure on the one you’re playing against. This is something the Packers have been unable to do for some time now. Rodgers was sacked 8 times last night…EIGHT! And he was hit several other times. I counted 2 times that anyone in a white jersey was even close to Favre last night. Kampman hit him once, but it was still a completed pass, and Woodson tipped a ball on a corner blitz, which was also a completed pass. It’s a miracle that we actually had a shot at tying the game at the end.

Thompson has been the GM for 5 years now. That’s plenty of time to build a solid offensive and defensive line. The problem is that he is not willing to sign free agents. How do you think the queens got their lines to be so good? FREE AGENCY! I’m sorry but there is no way to stay competitive in the NFL without utilizing the free agent market. If Thompson doesn’t realize that, then we need to get someone else in there that does. I’m fine with using the draft for skill players and grooming future starters under proven veterans, but you have to have those veterans on your roster to groom the rookies. That’s my 2 cents on Thompson. Now on to last night’s game…

Things I didn’t like:

- Seeing Jared Allen obliterate our right tackles all game
- Seeing Favre in a purple jersey
- Counting to 10 while watching #4 sit in the pocket and just wait for one of his receivers to get open because there was no pass rush – even the best corners in the world can’t cover a receiver that long every play
- Aaron Kampman getting no pass rush from his standing position - he was much better as a 4-3 defensive end
- Packers receivers dropping very catchable balls (especially the ones in the end zone)
- Greg Jennings still not producing – 3 catches, 31 yds
- Turnovers (Int, Fumble, Downs, Safety)

Things I did like:

- Aaron Rodgers making plays with his feet – scrambling and throwing on the run for 386 yards and a 110+ passer rating
- BJ Raji in the lineup
- Holding Adrian Peterson to 55 yards on 25 carries *see #2
- Jermichael Finley finally breaking out – 6 catches, 128 yds, TD
- Donald Driver passing Sterling Sharpe as the Packers’ all-time leader in receptions
- That there was still a chance to tie the game with less than a minute left in the 4th quarter

The season isnt over at 2-2, but we need improvement from the offensive and defensive lines if we want to be anything more than mediocre. GO PACK!

How Should We as Packer Fans Feel about Favre?

I read a lot of Packer blogs and see a lot of mixed emotions about the once beloved #4 of hte green and gold. There are those out there who still root for Favre even though he's wearing purple, there are those who have stripped their walls of the posters that reflect his image, and then there are those who don't know what to think. I, personally, fall into the second group.

I read an article today on espn.com about how former Packer players feel about Favre playing for the Viqueens, and none of them like it one bit! That to me, leads me to believe that I am in the right by seeing him as a traitor. Players like Jerry Kramer, Fuzzy Thurston, and LeRoy Butler all share the same stance as me. His legacy as a Packer has been tarnished!

TAKEN FROM ESPN.COM

"Sorry Brett. You're on the other side now," said LeRoy Butler, who played with Favre on the 1996 Super Bowl winners, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
"It's not just another person that walked away, it's Brett, whom we all loved and admired and thought the world of, and now he's on the dastardly Vikings," added Jerry Kramer, a guard on Vince Lombardi's back-to-back Super Bowl winners, according to the report.
"The only thing that could be worse for me is the Bears, and I don't know if that would be worse," Kramer said, according to the report. "Brett Favre wearing a Vikings uniform playing the Packers? That's about as bad as it gets."

Joe Robbins/Getty ImagesPackers fans hoped they'd never see Brett Favre in Vikings colors. They'll see a lot more of it Monday night.
Whether they like it or not, Packers fans and ex-players will face the reality of seeing Favre's No. 4 jersey in Minnesota Vikings purple on ESPN's "Monday Night Football." The Chicago Bears may be the Packers' oldest NFL rivals, but the Vikings are the team many Packers players and fans love to hate.
"When you switch to the Vikings, that's the one team you hate and hate's a strong word," said Butler, according to the Journal Sentinel. "That's the one thing you dislike. You enjoy beating the Bears, it's a great rivalry. But when you play the Vikings -- Hatfield and McCoys, that's how it is. All the rules go out. You have to beat them. It's a must-win game. You can live with splitting with Chicago. You can't live and you can't sleep losing to the Vikings."

Sure, he'll go down in the record books for having all the records, he'll still be a first ballot hall-of-famer, but all of us who grew up watching and idolizing him will never be able to look at him the same way.

That's why when he runs onto the field (or should I say astro turf) on Monday night, I will be booing at my TV screen. GO PACK!

Vikings-Packers; Early thoughts

Here are some early thoughts on the upcoming matchup against Brett Favre and the Vikings. I'm going to make it short and sweet...

The Vikings clearly go into this game the favorites against a Packer team that isn't looking as good as they should be. The game is going to be won or lost with the big guys up front. First, our offensive line has a huge task against the Williams' and Jared Allen who I think are one of the toughest lines in the NFC, behind the Giants. If our line can run block and give Rodgers enough time to get rid of the ball, we should be productive. On our defensive line, we really need B.J. Raji to come back and make an impact on the line. Adrian Peterson will run all over us, hell Cedric Benson did!

Lastly, Brett Favre is playing against Green Bay....for the Vikings!!! This story will rule all stories for the entire week, and part of next week. I hope the Packers break his consecutive start streak for week 5.

Comments for an Un-Watched Packer Game

Well it turns out that they blacked out the Packer game yesterday so I didn't end up seeing it. I am going to make some comments based on what I heard though. So here goes...

Sounds like we started pounding the ball with our running game more against the Rams and it sounds like Ryan Grant is looking strong, not overly impressive, but strong. Once again it sounds like the main offensive issues are with the line. I am very nervous with the upcoming game against the Vikings and their extremely tough defensive line. Aaron Rodgers handled the pressure fairly well as he put up some good passing numbers. And FINALLY our recievers were catching the ball. Donald Driver leading the way and Jennings having a few grabs which is a step up from last game. I can't say enough how crucial Jennings is to our offense.

Defensively we played basically a 3-5 defense with 5 linebackers on the field and only 1 safety. I think that we got away with it because we were playing the Rams. We could really use Atari Bigby back and healthy. Overall, I think that the Pack have a long, long way to go before they are a legitimate playoff team like we should be.

Catching Up - Sorry for the Delay

It’s been a while since our last post, but there is good news…IT’S FOOTBALL SEASON!!!! A lot has gone on in the past couple of months that we haven’t blogged about. Raji’s contract issues (resolved), injuries to offensive and defensive players, a traitor signed with the queens, 3 unbelievable pre-season games, a victory over da Bears (thank you Jay Cutler for those 4 ints), and an awful performance against the Bengals resulting in a loss.

In a nutshell, those are the major things that have happened since June. Sorry we missed them. Anyway, this season so far has been disappointing for me. The Pack gave us all visions of a division championship and hopes for a long play-off run during their domination in the preseason. The starting offense/defense outscored opponents 73-10. I don’t care who you are, that’s impressive! But something went seriously wrong when the regular season started, and I’m not sure what it is. I believe that the switch to 3-4 is transitioning just fine as can be seen by the 7 turnovers that they’ve forced in the first 2 games of the season. And when Raji enters the line-up I expect to see some noticeable improvement on the defensive side of the ball. The offense however, is a different story. They have no excuses. The line can’t protect Rodgers, the receivers are dropping balls that hit them in the hands, grant isn’t getting enough carries, and we’re ranked 25th in the NFL in passing offense. The truth is the Packers should have won the game against the Bears by a lot more than 6 points. Jay Cutler looked like Rex Grossman and gave the offense good field position and plenty of opportunities to score a ton of points, but the offense (other than a couple of good plays) didn’t look good at all. And against the Bengals Greg Jennings didn’t even have 1 catch. Rodgers has been hit and sacked way too many times. I think improved play from the o-line will do wonders for the offense. It will give Rodgers some confidence to step up in the pocket and not have to run for his life, and provide some stability for the running game. And if the receivers decide to stop dropping balls that would be a welcomed change as well.

I’m not out to bash the Pack, and I haven’t given up on the season like a lot of the nay-sayers whose comments I’ve read on other blogs. I think there’s a favorable schedule ahead for the Packers, and I believe that the offense will rebound this week against the Rams. Plus Raji should return for his first regular season NFL game this week, which should prove helpful in stopping the run. GO PACK!

Kampman Impresses at Training Camp

ESPN.com had a blog article this week updating Aaron Kampman's transition to the OLB position in the Packer's new defensive scheme, stating that he has looked very impressive to this point. The article mentioned how, at first glance, Kampman seems to fit the mold as a prototypical DE in a 4-3 defense, but that they were very shocked to see how well he moved in the open field and how comfortable he looked in his new role.

As a Packer enthusiast, the move of Kampman this offseason often sent chills up my spine and I was worried about the complications that may have arrisen to do the move of one of the premier D-Ends in the league, but so far it sounds like smooth sailing. Aaron Kampman has shown that he is not only a great defensive end in this league, but an elite athlete as well. I believe that it shows a lot when you can switch positions and be selfless enough to not bitch and moan about it. There should be more Aaron Kampmans in this league.

Offseason Questions

This offseason has been plagued with questions. Will T.O. be the same in Buffalo as he has been everywhere else? What will happen with Plaxico Burress? Will Michael Vick have a future in the NFL? Will the Cardinals trade Anquan Boldin? Will Braylon Edwards stay in Cleveland? Will the Packers' new 3-4 defense be a good effective? Will the Jay Cutler trade be the beginning of a decent quarterback in Chicago? All of these have been brought up and discussed on every major sports network, but they've all been overshadowed by the question that's been brought up without fail throughout the past few offseasons and especially this one...

Is Brett Favre really retired?

As always, there are contingencies which bring up more questions. As a huge Packer fan all my life, I want Brett to continue to play because he has been an amazing player to watch for the past 17 years. I was as distraught as any other Packer fan when he decided to retire last year and even moreso when he was wearing a Jets jersey instead of the familiar green and gold, but I still supported him and wanted him to play well. I loved him in Green Bay, but I still rooted for him in New York. Shoot, I even had him on my fantasy football roster. As I told all my friends, last year "The Jets had become my 2nd favorite team."

I don't have a particular liking for the Jets, and once Brett announced his "retirement" this year I was happy to see him go out and hoped that he would come back to sign and retire as a Packer without tarnishing his legacy...but I guess during the past couple of decades, all of us Brett Favre fans were duped...

It's tough to understand that professional athletes just see football as a job. I really find that hard to believe. Football is competitive, and the rivalries are what makes watching and playing the sport fun. Especially when you have something so constant as a great QB for pretty much as long as you can remember watching it. Just like everything else, I knew that Brett's reign in Green Bay would come to an end and I planned on telling my kids and grand kids about how I grew up watching "the greatest QB of all time" play for the Pack...but it appears that I might have been wrong.

I watched the interview on HBO last week and I really just cannot believe that someone who is known to be a "great competitor" and someone who "loves the game" so much would even consider doing the most ridiculously awful thing a great player can do...PLAY FOR THEIR RIVAL TEAM!

Brett made comments about Vince Lombardi and how he left for the Redskins and how nobody considers him a traitor and he's right I don't think that very many people do consider him a traitor...Because he went to the redskins. If he had gone to the Bears it would have been a totally different story. He also said that there are 2 types of people out there, those who will support you no matter what, and those who will despise you no matter what (I'm paraphrasing). But he forgot about the third group...Those who love you, but will not be able to even bare thinking about you or the mention of your name if you go to the Queens...these will be the 70,000 strong who will be booing when Brett runs onto Lambeau Field wearing Purple late in the season.

I understand that he wants to play, and I think that if he can play he should...just not in Minnesota! I have enjoyed watching him play every year that I have watched, but if he goes to the queens everything will have changed. So my questions this offseason are:

How does someone as iconic as Brett Favre get so far off track that he doesn't see what he's doing by even considering playing for the Minnesota Vikings? Even if the queens win the Super Bowl, will it be worth the cost of that purple ring? What the heck are you thinking, Brett?

Kampman Upset with the New Defense?

Aaron Kampman has been one of the best pass rushing D-ends in the league for the past 3 seasons and he will be playing OLB this season in the new defensive scheme. This is clearly the biggest loss for the Packers with their defensive change. Aaron Kampman has been interviewed about his new position and although he did not say anything major, he clearly isn't as happy as he could be. Is this a problem? It depends. I think that it obviously revolves around his success this season. An athlete like Kampman should be able to make plays this season, and if he cant, you can expect Kampman to get trading sometime during the season or between this season and next. 

The Brett Favre Saga Continues...

So we found out that Brett Favre did in deed have his shoulder surgery, and we now know that the ViQueens gave him one week to decide what he wants to do. I am very sick of Brett Favre at this point, it makes me wanna cry when I picture him in a Vikings uniform. Favre has already damaged his legacy enough by not retiring a Packer and now with even the talk of going to the Vikings. Two thumbs down Brett!

A glance at the new 3-4 Defense

Well the offseason so far is pretty slow, with the exception of the Brett Favre Saga. As of now, the Pack is pegged to be the 3rd best team in the NFC North, and it comes from the tornado of questions that surround the new defensive scheme. The photo is from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article that I recently looked at, and to me, I think our defense seems pretty solid. I'm still worried that the Packers will not be utilizing one of the premier pass rushers in the league by moving Aaron Kampman to OLB/DE, and I'm not sure that A.J. Hawk has the prowess to make the necessary plays at MLB, but if those two players pan out, the Pack should be alright. Only time will tell.

Summertime...The Dead Zone for Sports

Let's face it, football defines sports. Sure we all enjoy filling out our brackets for March Madness and we'll watch the NBA and MLB playoffs but it's just not nearly exciting enough. Any true sports fan craves football season and knows that something is just missing when there is no football on tv. As soon as the super bowl is over, everone is trying to decide who they want their team to take in the draft or see who from their favorite collegiate team will be drafted and where. Once the draft is over, everyone is analyzing it and trying to predict who will go where in Free Agency. Come July, we're all starting to listen to what's going on in the training camps and see who the big sleeper pick will be for our fantasy team. Then we watch the preaseason, even if it's only for the first quarter, to try to determine how good our team will be this year. All this being said, we're always digging for something that will make us feel like it's football season.

My point is proven through ESPN and their following of the whole Favre/Vikings saga. So far the only thing that anyone has been able to prove is that Brad Childress has not been to Mississippi and that nobody actually knows what the heck is going on. We've seen 3 different reports of "a source close to" someone saying what one of the sides is going to do. If you ask me, it's pretty ridiculous. My opinion is that they should just shut up and let the thing play out, and then when they actually have some sort of conclusive evidence then they can be the first to report it. Until then, just accept that it's the time of year that there is very little sports news and deal with it. We all wish it was football season, and we all want to know what will happen with Brett Favre and whether he will ruin his legacy forever by going to the Vikings or if he'll remain honorable and retire, but until you have some conclusive evidence about something...let's all just stop speculating.

Comments on the Favre Saga

I was reading a blog entry on ESPN.com regarding the Brett to Minnesota story, and at the bottom of the page I started to read the various comments left by the readers. Most of them were just typical responses, but I came across this comment and I think that it really hit the spot. The reader goes by "Kennysiology". I have always liked Brett Favre, but I find myself agreeing with almost everything that is written below; I'm getting sick of it, he is damaging his reputation, and more importantly he is jerking people around, most notably, the fans of the Green Bay Packers. As far as i'm concerned, anyone who is covering the Favre story should be bashing him for the terrible decisions he is making.

___________________________________

Hey Brett!:
"Give up your selfishness, and you shall find peace; like water mingling with water, you shall merge in absorption."
SERIOUSLY!!! What a joke! I have grown to harbor a REAL disrespect for Brett Favre, and am borderline hating ESPN for blowing this crap up every time BRETT wants to get back in the limelight. Who cares if he CAN still play...It's the fact that he keeps QUITTING and then keeps coming back and putting his fans(which I am NOT one of) through heartache. He, to me, is crushing his legacy. Brett: SIT DOWN!...GO FISHING!...MOW YOUR YARD! At this point, I'd much rather hear about the A-Rod saga than stories of a washed-up QB trying AGAIN to come back! And OH YEAH BRETT!!...Didn't you want retire a "PACKER"?...Way to cheat all your loyal fans!
Please ESPN....STOP IT! UGGGGHHHHH!!!! 
UGGGHHHHH!!!!

__________________________________________________

If it were the 1600's, Brett Favre would be hung for Treason

Brett Favre retired last spring as a Green Bay Packer, only to come back and end up playing for the New York Jets. It was very sad for all Packer fans to see #4 wearing a different uniform, but the team had to move on and had to start looking into the future. I was not too disappointed that Brett played for the Jets, because I know how great of a competitor he is, and it seemed best for both him and the Packers. After one season with the Jets, Brett retired again, but it is looking like he is coming back again, but with the Minnesota Viking!

I am not sure how everything went down last spring when the Packers and Brett Favre parted ways, but I do know that if Brett went to the Vikings, he would be everything that is wrong with the NFL. I believe that I would no longer admire/worship Brett Favre, and I know that it would be extremely difficult for me to follow the NFL in the Fall. Not only would I never forgive Favre for going to Minnesota, but I don't think that any true Packer fans will either. And all I know is that I have already lost a lot of respect for Brett just for speaking with the Vikings.

Who is the favorite in the NFC North?

The NFC North will be very different in 2009. New acquisitions like Jay Cutler and Matt Stafford, and big changes like the Packers' 3-4 defense will all be intruiging this season. With the exception of the Lions, I see this division being up for grabs between the Pack, Bears, and Vikings. 

Starting with last years NFC North Champs, the Minnesota Vikings are looking to get another title under their belts and get back into the playoffs this season. The Vikings are continuing to add weapons to their offense except at the QB position, and that will be the area that will be in question for the Queens this season. Tavaris Jackson is still expected to be the Week 1 starter, with Rosenfels waiting in the wings. I expect that either QB will be better suited this season with targets, especially newly acquired Percy Harvin who will be a threat whenever he is on the field. However, the well being of the Vikings will still remain in the hands of Adrien Peterson running the ball. If he can stay healthy and have success running the ball, the Vikings will be tough to stop. I predict, based on the toughest schedule in the division that the Vikings end up at 10-6.

The Chicago Bears finished 2nd in the North last season and have very high asperations for 2009 with the arrival of Jay Cutler. Bears fans are very excited for this season and really expect Cutler to be their franchise QB for a long time to come. The Bears have greatly increased their chances by picking up Cutler, but there are still some holes that exist, most notably, at reciever and at safety. The Bears have picked up a couple recievers in the draft, but at this point, Greg Olson, Devin Hester, and Matt Forte will be Cutlers main targets throwing the ball. It is difficult to say how the Bears will be this season, they have improved their offense and gotten a great DE in the draft, but they have a thin secondary and Brian Urlacher is not what he used to be at MLB. Given the Bears schedule for the season, i'm predicting them to be just behind the Vikings at 9-7.

Next we have the Green Bay Packers. The Pack finished 3rd in the North last season following the 2007-08 season where they advanced to the NFC Championship Game and had a regular season record of 13-3 behind the arm of Brett Favre. I believe that the Packers still have the talent throughout their roster to win the North in deciding fashion. However, poor defensive play in 2008, a young QB, and a switch to a new defensive scheme in 2009 makes me hesitant about putting the Packers atop the division. Aaron Rodgers showed that he could lead the team and be the quarterback of future for the Pack and I only expect him to get better as his career goes along. The Packers have talent in their offensive skill positions but are not very strong on the offensive line. I don't believe that the concern for the Pack is with their offense, but rather their defense. Last season, injuries plagued the defensive secondary, which lead to the biggest weakness on the team. The Packers have added B.J. Raji at nose tackle, and Clay Matthews at OLB.  These two picks greatly improves the front 7 and gives the Pack one of the best linebacking corps in the league. I think that if the veteran defensive backs can stay consistent, the Packers defense will be great. My heart tells me the Pack can end the season at the top at 11-5, but my head tells me they will under achieve again at 8-8. 

The Detroit Lions don't have what it takes to challenge for the title and I will leave it at that!

Kiper gives Pack Top Draft Grade!

Mel Kiper, Jr. has been covering the NFL Draft for decades. Whether you agree with him or not, there is no arguing that he is the authority when it comes to the draft. This morning I came across an article by Mel where he graded each team's draft picks. Kiper gave only two A's, one for the Packers, and an A- for the Jets. 

Going into the draft, every team has needs that they must address. The Green Bay Packers knew what positions they needed and they were aggressive in getting the best players they could at those positions. 

There is a lot of talk that the Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago Bears will be battling for NFC North title. The Packers still have a lot of work to do in order to be in the conversation, but I think that Ted Thompson has made the right moves not only in the draft, but also with the coaching personnel changes that were made as well. The Packers have the potential to be a great team this season, but there are still a lot of pieces that need to fall into place in order for us to be competitive this coming season. Luckily, I think that some of those pieces came into place this weekend.

Packer Draft Highlights: Day 1

Well, I'm happy to say that I think Ted Thompson really out did himselt so far in this year's draft. First of all, B.J. Raji is exactly what the Pack needs to anchor the defensive line this season. That pick was a no-brainer! The surprise came when the Pack traded up to get Clay Matthews from USC at OLB. I love Matthews and I think that this puts the Packer linebacking core among the best in the league with Barnett, Hawk, and now Matthews. I praise Thompson, and i really enjoy seeing the Packers be aggressive in getting solid defensive players.

Mocking the Draft; How hard can it be?

Anyone who is interested in the draft and is excitingly waiting to see who their team is going to draft, they check their favorite online sports sites or watch their favorite sports shows to check the mock drafts of the Professional Draft Analysts. I have checked several different sites and I have seen many mock drafts from different analysts, and it doesn't seem like any of them can agree on who should go where. So I found myself thinking, why am I relying on these people to get insight into the who my team is going to pick with their first round pick? The reason is because I haven't taken the time to do my own Mock Draft!

Over the next couple of days, I will be working on my own mock draft of the first round, and we will see how far off The Malnarn is compared to the "Experts". Granted, I have kept my ear pretty close to the ground when it comes to the Draft, so my picks will not be based on knowledge that I gained through personal interviews i've had with teams, or any knowledge that i've gained on my own. Either way, I think that Mel Kiper, Jr. and Todd McShay have the easiest jobs in sports broadcasting. Check back soon to see me making a mockery of the Mock Draft.

NFL Draft Draws Near

Well, the NFL Draft is almost here, finally! There is still a great deal of uncertainty going into this weekend, as the Lions still have not made it clear which direction they are planning to go with the first overall pick. They must have been spending all of their time working on their new logo. After listening to some of the "experts" on ESPN, I was suprised to hear as many people saying that the Lions should NOT take Matt Stafford with the #1 pick. Their arguments make sense and I would definitely love to see them not take Stafford because it shake things up a great deal. Lets be honest, the exciting thing about the NFL Draft is the suprises! If all of the Mock Drafts were completely accurate in the first round, I know that I wouldn't watch. One thing that I do expect is for there to be a couple trades in the first 10 picks, and also some players traded in the first round, perhaps Anquan Boldin. All I know is that i'm very excited to see what happens, and I hope that Ted Thompson made the right move in saving all of his time, energy, and money on the Draft rather than free agency. Only time will tell!

Bears get a new QB; what can we expect in 2009?

It has been a few weeks since i've put a new post on the blog so I apologize to all of my loyal followers. I live in Chicago now so I have to put up with all of the lame bears fans who think their team is God's gift to the NFL. As everyone knows by now, the Bears have picked up Jay Cutler from the Broncos. There is a lot of talk now about the Bears potentially being the team to beat in the NFC North now, and it makes me sick!

I think that Jay Cutler is a very good quarterback, but I also think that he is a whiny baby and makes me hate the Bears that much more. I don't doubt the fact that he will make the Bears a better team, but I think that the thought of them being the favorite to win the division is a little premature. Bears fans have a lot to be excited about, but they forget to understand that he is only one player, they still need someone to be able to catch the ball, I mean, their TE was their leading receiver in 2008.

I don't necessarily think that the Packers are going to be a huge threat to win the North this season, but you never know. The Packers are a very good team and Rodgers is getting better and better the more snaps he takes. The question mark with the Pack is the new defensive scheme coming into play this season. I have a feeling that there will be some serious growing pains and our defense is going to be a problem for the team this season.

Regardless, I hope that Bears fans are disappointed when Cutler gets pissed for not having the threats that he is expecting and the Bears end up behind both the Pack and the Queens in the North. That would be great!!

Packers plan to use Cap Space on Upcoming Free Agents

Wisconsinrapidstribune.com had an article on their website that Ted Thompson and the Green Bay Packers have been quite in free agency because they are looking to allocate much of thier $29 million in Cap Space on securing up to 17 players who will become some type of free agents in 2010. Some of the most notable of these players being Greg Jennings, Nick Collins, and Aaron Kampman. 

I think it is a good idea to make key existing players a priority for the long term. Players like Jennings and Collins could garner a lot of interest from other teams should they become free agents, so much like we did with Aaron Rodgers, we could extend these key player's contacts and not give them as much of a chance to leave and go to free agency. These players are the foundation of the team, they are players at key positions that have shown that they are Pro-Bowl caliber, and I think it only makes sense to build the team around those players like Jennings and Collins who are still at the beginning of their careers. I would much rather have those players stay in Green and Gold for years to come than to see the Pack spend all of their money this year on free agents. 

Obama picks UNC to win it all; When will he start doing his job?

I apologize ahead of time for this post because it goes outside of the scope of this site, but it has a little to do with sports. 

I am in support of whoever the President of the United States is, whether its Barack Obama, George Bush, or Hilary Clinton, but with the country hurting because of the economy, I don't appreciate seeing Barack filling out March Madness Brackets or appearing on the Jay Leno Show. I'm venting a little because it makes me upset that he is trying to be a celebrity, rather than the leader of the most powerful country in the world. 

Prior to the election, I had no problem with Obama being just a regular guy, a guy for the people, and him trying to be popular with younger people and take on more of a "celebrity" role. That time needs to be over! The country is in termoil and the President is filling out his bracket and watching the tourney in Air Force 1. Don't get me wrong, I am still going to be behind Obama because he is the only president we have, but we should have elected McCain.

Packers match offer to Bush

Jarrett Bush was a restricted free agenct and had been given an offer on Friday from the Tennessee Titans. Since he is a restricted free agent, the Pack were given seven days to match the offer if they wanted to keep Bush. The Packers took only the weekend to make thier decision on Monday to match the offer and keep Bush on the roster for 2009. I think that this is a good move for the Packers, not a very exciting one, but a good move.

The last thing that the Packers need to do right now is lose more players on the defensive side of the ball. We know that several defensive players will be taken in the draft this year, but the current depth of that side of the ball has me worried about how effective we can be this year. Bush wasn't a defensive starter, but he is very active on special teams, and like I said, he adds a little depth to the secondary. It was really a no-brainer for the Packers, Bush isn't a high money player, and we weren't going to get anything in return for him, so it was worth keeping him.

Will the Packers match offer to keep Jarrett Bush?

On Friday night the Tennessee Titans extended an offer to Restricted Free Agent Jarrett Bush. This means that the Packers were given 7 days to match the offer if they wish to keep Bush on the team, and if they dont, it turns out that the Packers gave him the lowest tender, and would be given little compensation if he was to leave. Bush played all 16 games last season, mostly on special teams, and he ended the season with just 11 tackles. So it really isn't a huge loss to our team if Ted Thompson decides to just let him walk. I find it sad right now that i'm wasting time talking about whether or not the Packers are going to match an offer on a player who doesn't really make that much of a difference to the team's well being. I guess thats what happens when you try to cover the offseason for a team like the Packers who do basically nothing in free agency. Oh well, Jarrett Bush is a top story for me today, and I hope you are all interested.

The Definition of Versatility by Brian Orakpo

"A versatile guy is a guy who can be very versatile," Brian Orakpo said while describing his game.

I was reading a recent compilation mock NFL draft on ESPN.com by Chris Sprow from ESPN the Magazine and found this quote from Orakpo. I think that Orakpo is a really great football player, but lets be honest, the guy is clearly not "Versatile" off the football field and he shows it with this quote. I think Orakpo is my favorite potential player for the Packers with their first pick and this quote by him doesn't worry me at all. I mean, look at the picture above and tell me honestly that you wouldn't be happy to have him. I know that come draft day, I am really hoping that he falls to the Pack at #9.

Orakpo slated as potential pick for Pack at #9

Mel Kiper and Todd McShay are ESPN's "Draft Experts" and just today on ESPN.com they posted a combined Mock Draft where each of their mock drafts were put together with the hope of ironing out some answers for draft day. I have watched the NFL Draft in it's entirety for the last 5 or 6 years and I follow it pretty closely, so I consider myself somewhat of a "Draft Dork". Up until this point, Malcolm Jenkins was slotted to be drafted by the Pack, even though I didn't think a CB should be high on our priority list. Finally today, Kiper and McShay gave me some hope as they listed both Brian Orakpo and Aaron Maybin for the Packers' first round selection.

This got me very excited because Orakpo has such huge potential and raw talent. He is a beast and I would absolutely love to see him on the Packers. He reminds me a lot of Javon Kearse or Julius Peppers. I think that he could make a great OLB/DE that we need for the 3-4 Defense, and I think he would make Ted Thompson look really good in the eyes of Packer Fans. Check out the video above and let me know what you think.

Why Ted Thompson should be Patriotic!

I was talking earlier this week with one of the other writers of this blog and we were discussing how there are certain teams that are very active in free agency every year, and others, like the Packers and the Bears, who do virtually nothing. And there were a couple of things that jumped out at me. First of all, we notice how active the New England Patriots are in Free Agency and we compare that to their relative dominance so far this decade. Being Packer fans, we had to compare their offseason strategy with ours and some of the other teams in the NFC North.

It seems that every year the Patriots pick up a good amount of players through free agency. The pick up a lot of veterans and value players that will fit into their system and add depth at their position. Perhaps this is why they have been Super Bowl contenders for the last 5 years. In comparison, the Packers and the Bears never seem to pick anyone up in Free Agency, and maybe that explains why the NFC North was one of the weakest conferences in the NFL last season and why the Vikings went to the Playoffs.

You can say whatever you like about Bill Belichick and whether he is a cheater or whatever, but in my mind, there is no questioning that he is one of the best, if not the best coach in the NFL. Whether you like him or not, I would suggest reading "The Education of a Coach" by Bill Belichick and you will see the time and thought that he puts into not only being a coach, but also in the front office and in understanding the Salary Cap system. All I know is that I would love for the Packers to be in a similar position as the Patriots, and maybe the hands off approach to free agency isn't getting the job done.

What ever happened to Kevin Burnett?

Last week there were rumors that the Packers had been in contact with OLB Kevin Burnett from the Dallas Cowboys. Time went on and no visit was scheduled and there was no new information on the status of the Packers' interest. On Tuesday the 10th, Burnett signed with the San Diego Chargers. So what is going on in the Packers' front office? Burnett is not a superstar player who we would have needed to shell out big bucks to get, and he also wouldn't have been a player that would have single handedly taken us to the Super Bowl, but i think that he would have added depth to our linebacking corp. I wouldn't say that I am disappointed that we didn't pick up Burnett, because in the long run I dont see him making that big of a difference. I just like to see that the Packers are looking to improve our team, and when we sit back and do nothing, it seems to me like we aren't trying very hard to do that.

Depth Needed?

There isn't a whole lot going on right now with the Green Bay Packers. We have done virtually nothing in free agency and it doesn't look like that is going to change anytime soon. As I was sitting at my desk thinking about the NFL and the Pack, I found myself looking back to the 2008 season and one glaring question jumped out at me...what will happen to the Packers if Aaron Rodgers has a season ending injury like Tom Brady did? I think that if that happened, we would be in serious trouble.

This season Rodgers got banged up a little and we got a glimpse of our depth at QB, and it wasn't pretty. Matt Flynn and Brian Brohm, both were drafted last season and neither seems to be able to through worth a damn. I have a feeling that if we needed to rely on one of them, we had might as well call it a season. So my question is this: why don't we pick up a decent back up QB in free agency? I'm not saying that we need to spend a lot of money and pick up an all-star or anything, just a decent back up. There are some guys out there who would be perfect candidates; guys who may not lead us to a Super Bowl, but guys who can at least throw the ball. Jeff Garcia is still a free agent, so are Byron Leftwich, Rex Grossman, J.P. Losman and Kyle Boller. All of these players have experience as starters in the NFL, and they would all be quality back ups who could provide some security should we need it. I think of it in the same way as owning a gun; its better to have one and never need to use it, than to need one and not have one.

P.S. You have to love a QB who can pull of a moustache! I just couldn't resist using this photo.

CB Williams Holding out?

Rumors are circulating that Packer Cornerback Tramon Williams may be holding out for more money. Williams is the #3 CB on the depth chart for the Packers and could play a big role in the future should Woodson and Harris be moving on towards the end of thier careers.

The Packers have done pretty much nothing this free agency, so they have plenty of Cap room to rework Williams' contract, but is he worth it? Williams started in over half of the games this year and ended up with over 100 tackles and 5 picks, but he also gave up the most plays greater than 20 yards. There is a lot of potential with Tramon Williams and I see him as the type of talent that will be a great asset to the Packers Defense for years to come. Although I never like to see players hold out for more money, sometimes it is inevitable and sometimes it is worth it in the long run. With all of the so called "experts" saying that the Packers need to address the cornerback position, it would seem logical that the Packers would make an attempt to keep Tramon around and happy. Ted Thompson is the only one who has an idea of what the Packers will look for with their first round selection, and some say it will be Malcolm Jenkins, CB from Ohio State with the 9th Pick Overall. If the Packers are thinking about picking up Jenkins, maybe they have different thoughts on keeping Williams around. I think that at this point, there is too much uncertainty regarding the strategy of the Packers' front office this offseason to know what we can expect.

Packers sign Safety Smith

The Packers made thier first free agent acquisition by signing former Steeler Safety Anthony Smith. The Pack has been after a safety this offseason for some reason. Smith has some experience in a 3-4 defense, but didn't start a single game for the Steelers in 2008 and had only 9 tackles on the year. My question is, what do we really expect out of this pick up? We have Nick Collins and Atari Bigby as starting safeties for this season and I suppose adding depth on defense isn't the worst thing, but as expected, any addition that the Packers were going to make this offseason weren't expected to be a big name or an immediate contributer but more of a value player. Its always exciting for me to see that the Packers are adding new players to the team, but we let Igor Olshansky, who could have made an impact on the D-Line go to the Cowboys, and there is no sign that they are seriously looking at anyone else who may be able to help this team greatly in 2009.

Would Jason Taylor look good in Green and Gold?

Former defensive Player of the Year Jason Taylor was cut this week by the Washington Redskins after having a mediocre 2008 season that was plagued with injury and brought him only 3.5 sacks. There is speculation that the Pack might be interested in Taylor, but as we have seen so far this season, just because the Packers are interested in someone doesn't mean that they are going to open up the wallet.

Since the Packers have changed up their coaching staff and announced that they will be changing defensive schemes, I have read a lot of different articles about the types of players that the Pack will need and the types of players that work best in a 3-4. All signs pointed to a "streamlined" DE/OLB type of player that is tall, fast, and lighter than the typical 4-3 defensive end. Jason Taylor fits the mold at 6'6" and 244 lbs. There are some question marks that go along with his ability and skill level, but there are other things that he can bring to the team such as leadership, and experience. I think that Taylor would make a great Packer, even if it is only for a couple years. He would at least add some depth to a defensive line that doesn't have any, especially since Colin Cole left for Seattle.

Another Hole to Fill; DT Cole headed to Seattle

Packer DT Colin Cole is gone. Cole signed a contract with the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, leaving the Packer defense even more needy than before. There was some interest by the Pack in Chris Canty from Dallas, who would have been a great addition to the 3-4 scheme, but he was signed by the G-Men on Sunday. So once again I find myself disappointed that the Packers have done nothing in Free Agency and we are relying completely on the Draft. I think that the Packers are putting all of their eggs in one basket, and I think that the Packers at times need to be less frugal in the front office and pull the trigger on making the franchise better.

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The Minnesota Vikings are making some moves offensively this offseason. They have already added Sage Rosenfels and now it looks like T.J. Houshmanzadeh is the next potential Queen. I have some thoughts on the Vikings in 2009, and they make me kind of nervous. The Vikes took home the NFC North crown in 2008 and it seems as though they just keep adding more weapons to their roster. Rosenfels doesn't really scare me that much because I don't think that he is a big step up from Tavaris Jackson. If the Vikings land Housh, I would start to worry some.

They added Bernard Berrian last year. Berrian is the type of player who can stretch the field and can be a deep threat. If you were to combine him with Housh, who is more of a possession receiver and is very good in short routes, it could be a deadly combination. I hate the Vikings with a passion, but I am not going to deny that they are going to be the team to beat this year in the North, and maybe even the NFC.

Free Agency: I Like What I'm Seeing

Ted Thompson, with the exception of Charles Woodson, has never really done much in free agency, but in 2009 he just might venture into new free-agent territory.

Friday, the first full day of free agency, he had his scouting staff try to bring in defensive end Chris Canty of the Dallas Cowboys for a free-agent visit knowing the Packers will be competing with at least a couple and probably more teams if they get in on the bidding.

Canty was a fourth-round draft pick out of Virginia by Dallas in 2005. At 6-foot-7 and 304 pounds, he has prototypical size for a 3-4 defensive end, a position that doesn’t generate big statistics because it requires skills more like a 4-3 defensive tackle than a 4-3 defensive end. He’s played defensive end in the Cowboys’ 3-4 scheme all four years in the league and had three sacks last season and nine sacks for his career.

He is scheduled to visit the New York Giants Saturday, and Seattle Seahawks on Sunday and Monday according to Brad Blank, his agent.

The Packers, San Francisco and Tennessee also want to bring in Canty, but Blank said his client probably will take only one or maybe two other visits after this weekend. He’ll determine where else to go after getting firm contract offers and seeing which of the other teams remain most interested. There’s also a chance it won’t get to that point, because many clubs push hard to a sign a free agent while he’s visiting, and Canty might not get out of New York or Seattle without a deal.

“It’s a perfect situation for him because of the 3-4,” Blank said of the Packers. “These other teams are 4-3.”

After Blank gave the Packers a general idea of the contract Canty appears in line for, the team’s co-director of football operations, Reggie McKenzie, still wanted Canty to visit as soon as possible after Seattle. But the sides put off setting up a visit until the Packers can confirm they’re still in the running after Canty’s meetings with the Giants and Seahawks.

The Packers’ interest indicates they think highly of Canty as a possible piece in their new 3-4 defense, and they have more than enough salary-cap room (about $34 million) to sign him, though that also would probably mean eventually losing one or more of their own players who will be free agents a year from now. Canty isn’t in the small group of elite free agents this year but is in the second tier of players available.

“I think there is legitimate interest,” Blank said.

Information from packersnews.com

I like that the Thompson is making some early attempts at filling the needs of the Packers' defense in free agency. As impressed as I've been with a some of the draft picks that he's brought to the team (i.e. Greg Jennings), it's been equally disappointing to see some of the other high picks that we've wasted (i.e. Justin Harrell).

I think that it is important to draft well, but it is also important to address the immediate needs of the team with proven players in the NFL through free agency. This team was 13-3 2 years ago and was playing in the NFC Championship game. There is definite talent and potential on the Packers' roster...the key is to fill the few question marks on the defensive side of the ball quickly in order to give us an opportunity to get back to where we were in 2007.

Good job, Ted...I like what I'm seeing so far. There are a lot of other good free agents out there that I'd like to see us pursue.

Do you trust Ted Thompson?

Anyone who knows a little about the Green Bay Packers and follows them some, knows what kind of General Manager Ted Thompson is. Thompson is not known to be a big player in free agency, but rather likes to take a more active approach to the NFL Draft. He is known for trading draft picks on draft day and he seems to focus most of his attention on that.

This brings up my concern for Ted Thompson. In an offseason like this where the team is making a large transition between a lot of new coaching changes and most notably a defensive scheme change, would the Packers be better off trying to add depth and value to the team through free agency, or continue to build the team through the Draft? The more important question is this: Do you trust Ted Thompson? Do you trust that the Pack is in good hands and that we are making steps in the right direction towards winning another Super Bowl?

I have mixed thoughts. I have a lot of faith in Ted Thompson. I dont think that what he does is very exciting, but I feel that he is consisent in the front office. The Packers are one of the youngest teams in the league. We have very talented core of young players that the team is being built around. I think that concentrating on the Draft is beneficial while the team is so young and they can all get better and come together at the same time. I'm picturing the team building up to a point where they can be Super Bowl winners or contenders for 3 or 4 years in a row. On the other hand, the draft carries with it a lot of uncertainty, and with the changes we are making on defense, it would be nice to know if the players we add to the team are going to be able to contribute right away. I dont see the Packers picking up anyone though free agency this year, so hopefully our draft picks will pan out and we will be able to find a couple steals in later rounds. Like I always say, only time will tell.

Free Agency rapidly approaching; what can we expect out of the Packers?

The NFL scouting combine is in progress and teams are all trying to figure out how to come out ahead on Draft day. But the draft is still two months away and there will be plenty of time for everything to fall into place. In five days however, some teams will be looking to pull the trigger in free agency which starts this Friday. Ted Thompson is not typically a big player in free agency, but with a lot of needs, can we expect any moves to be made by our front office?

There are several positions that the Packers need to address this offseason. With the defensive switch this offseason, there is a lot of talk revolving around the OLB/DE position and that is the position that I expect the Packers to draft in with their first round selection. So that will be one position that will be addressed right away, and hopefully that player makes an immediate impact, but can we expect our second and third picks to make any impact? There is so many question marks that go into the draft, so why not try to acquire someone who has already proven themselves as a solid NFL player? I would like to see the Packers find a quality player through free agency this year, an offensive lineman perhaps, or maybe someone that has played in a 3-4 defense in the front 7. I don't expect the Packers to be very active in free agency this year, but i always enjoy seeing the Packers adding quality contributors to the team. I hope to be pleasantly surprised next week.

NFL Combine Underway; Crabtree injury steals spot light

The NFL Combine has started in Indianapolis and teams are going through interviews with potential targets, offensive lineman are starting to run their drills, and the offseason picture is becoming clearer for every team as the weekend progresses. Along with the combine comes a lot of articles and blogs attempting to make predictions for draft day. I have read several blogs posted on ESPN.com that are following the happenings in Indy, but this morning, the main story followed the injury of Michael Crabtree. Crabtree got a stress fracture in his ankle, and he is projected to be out for 6-10 weeks. Some think that this may shake up the draft a little bit and he may slide down the board on draft day. I personally dont think that his draft stock will be that effected. He has a lot of time to make a full recovery before any training camps start and he is clearly the top WR and one of the most dynamic offensive threats in the draft this year. I would be very suprised if he fell out of the top 10 and if he wasn't the top wideout taken. But you never know what could happen, only time will tell.

Draft Prospects: Everette Brown, DE, Florida State

Unanimously projected as a first round draft pick, Everette Brown could fit perfectly into the Packers’ new 3-4 defensive scheme. He is big enough to play defensive end at 6’4” 260lbs (although he could stand to put on a few more pounds in the weight room), and fast enough to play linebacker. Although at FSU he was strictly on the defensive line, Brown is talented enough to adapt to any position in the front 7.

The questions have to do with Brown’s ability to cover tight ends and running backs in the 3-4. But his absolute upside outweighs his downside immensely. I had the privilege of watching Everette play in Tallahassee and at the Bowl game in 2008, and he is the type of player that fits the mold of Mickey Andrews’ FSU defense. He has the potential to have a career worthy of being mentioned in the same sentence as FSU and NFL greats such as Peter Boulware, Darnell Dockett, Cameron Wimbley, and Broderick Bunkley. He is fast enough to run around and strong enough to run through offensive linemen and running backs, he stands up well to a double-team, provides good run support, and seems to always find his way to the opposing QB regardless of the offensive blocking scheme.

Teams that run the 3-4 prefer their outside linebackers to be 6-3 or taller, and the weight generally ranges from 240 pounds to 265 pounds. Teams look for long and streamlined athletes such as Miami’s Joey Porter (6-3, 255), because they have to be versatile enough to rush the passer from the outside, hold up adequately at the line of scrimmage against the run, and cover at least the flats, and often more, in pass coverage. I believe that with the obvious need being in the front 7 for the Packers, Everette Brown would bring depth and explosiveness to the d-line and linebacking corps, making him a perfect fit at the 9th pick. Need more proof? Just watch the video below…