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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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…

Did the Pack make "The List"?

Julius Peppers is without question one of the most sought after free agents on the market in 2009. Peppers has made it very public that he does not want to be in Carolina any longer, and that he wants to play in a 3-4 defense. Just to point this out, the Packers are switching over to a 3-4 defense and they are in need of an OLB/DE hybrid. It seems to me like a pretty logical fit. However, the Carolina Panthers will most likely slap the franchise tag on Peppers sometime today and then they will be asking for something equivalent to a first round pick and two third round picks in return. The team that picks up Peppers will not only have to be willing to give up significant draft picks, but they will also have to be on "THE LIST!!!"

Yesterday, Julius Peppers aparently approached the Panthers with a list. The list included 4 teams that he would like to be traded to. Of the 4, only the Dallas Cowboys were released as being part of the list. So who else is on it?

There is part of me that wants to Packers to be on the list, and part of me that wants nothing to do with it. Julius Peppers would without question improve the Packer's defense if they signed him, but would he be worth it? I would love to see Peppers in a Packer uniform come Fall, but I dont really like the idea of having to give up several draft picks and give up so much in salary cap space for one player. The Packers are a very young team. I think that this is the time for the Packers to pick up the young talent in the first round of the draft. I think that the Pack needs to be patient and look at the long haul rather than break the bank to have a mediocre shot at the Super Bowl with Julius Peppers. There are a lot of good defensive players that will be available with the 9th pick in the draft that can make an immediate impact in 2009, my vote is to add more depth through free agency by signing a few players, than going for the home run with 1.

Draft Prospects: Brian Cushing, OLB Southern Cal

The Malnarn has gone into some detail regarding the needs of the Packers that will arise due to the change in defense from the 4-3 to the 3-4. I believe that the packers will need to address the front 7 of their defense by picking up a linebacker or defensive lineman either in Free Agency or the Draft. This is why the next Draft Prospect for the Green Bay Packers is Brian Cushing, OLB from USC.

Brian Cushing has moved to the top of the list for players that I like for the Packer’s first pick for 2009. He is fast, strong, and he flies around the field with intensity and emotion. I have watched his highlight video a few times and he really impresses me. I believe that the Packers need to acquire players this offseason that will make an immediate impact on our defense in order for us to be successful with the 3-4. I think that Cushing can take a lot of pressure off of Nick Barnett and more importantly, A.J. Hawk, and could also play a crucial role in blitz schemes and pass coverage with his speed.

Is the 3-4 going to be the opening of Pandora’s Box? Matt Williamson thinks so.

This afternoon I popped my head into an online chat on ESPN.com regarding the NFL Scouting Combine. I came across a question regarding the Packer’s needs for the draft. It had to do with the Pack drafting a defensive tackle or end. Matt Williamson was answering these questions at the time, and this was part of his response, “I continue to bring this up, but going to a 3-4 for GB is a terrible idea and by doing so, they have multiplied their D needs dramatically”.

I partially agree with this statement when it comes to player needs. I think that there are needs on the defensive line for the Packers regardless of the defense that is being played next season. And if anything, having one less lineman on the field may be one less player to worry about for GB in the offseason. However, there are a lot more questions that go along with the switch. Can Kampman take on an OLB/DE role? Can our linebackers handle the change? Where does A.J. Hawk fit in, as an OLB or does he change over to a MLB since he filled in for Barnett some last season? Can our cornerbacks play zone schemes as well as they played man-to-man? The list of questions goes on and on.

One thing is for certain this offseason, Ted Thompson and our defensive coaching staff needs to address all of these questions this offseason. This defensive switch needs to be seamless if the Packers are to have any hope of winning the NFC North and being a contender in the playoffs, and the first step I believe will be in Free Agency at the end of the month. The Packers’ front office has not always been the most outgoing when it comes to free agency, but I believe that this is the year to be a mover and a shaker. I think that the Packers need to acquire the right personnel so that when training camps start, the endless list of questions have been answered.

Tauscher to Remain a Packer?

The Packers don't have a lot to worry about this offseason as far as resigning key free agents goes, so the Pack have a lot of opportunity to make moves this offseason in free agency. The one notable free agent this offseason is Mark Tauscher, the Packers' long time tackle.

Tausher is coming off of reconstructive knee surgery, making him less valuable in the free agency market this offseason, making it more likely that the Packers will retain Tauscher. I think that the Packers are in need of some stability and experience on the offensive line. Too many times this season we had our linemen false start, and we were unable to sustain a valid running attack.

Although I think that the Packers will and should resign Mark Tauscher this offseason, I am not convinced that it will positively effect our team. I have doubts that the current personel on our offensive line have the talent needed for Aaron Rodgers and Ryan Grant to be effective next season. I think that there are some needs and concerns that need to be addressed with the hogmollies up front for the Packers.

Draft Prospects: Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State

This is the first installment of "Draft Prospects" on The Malnarn. I am going to take the next few weeks to highlight those players who may be potential first round selections for the Pack in 2009.

Thus far, the majority of the Draft experts have the Pack taking Cornerback Malcolm Jenkins from The Ohio State University with the 9th pick overall.

Malcolm Jenkins is the top Defensive Back that will come out of the Draft this year. He has good size at 6'1", he has great speed, and although he is not a big hitter, he does not shy away from run support.

I believe that Jenkins is the type of player that would make immediate contribution to the Packer's Defense and he would be the type of player that the Pack could rely on for many years to come. At this point, many believe that the Packers need to look at finding replacements for the aging Al Harris and Charles Woodson, and Jenkins would definately be that player. I personally think that Woodson and Harris have a couple good years left in them and that addressing the CB position is not the greatest priority, but I think that Jenkins would be a very safe pick for Green Bay, but he may not end up fitting with our needs at this point in time, considering the defensive changes that the Packers are looking to make this offseason from the 4-3 to the 3-4.

How the 3-4 changes the needs of The Pack this Offseason

The Malnarn has already discussed some of the Pros and Cons of the Packers' switch from the 4-3 defense to the 3-4, but I have some things to add to the converstion.

I am completely in favor of the Packers switching to a 3-4 defense, but there are several changes that are going to need to be made this offseason to be successful. The 3-4 allows you to have more speed on defense by using an additional linebacker in place of a lineman, but there are some questions regarding whether or not our current personel are capable, and that will be tough to determine before free agency and the draft.

The needs of the Packers before the defensive change was that we are in need of a 1st round cornerback to eventually replace our aging corners Al Harris and Charles Woodson. I personally think that these guys both have a couple good years left in them and that the zone schemes that go along with the 3-4 may even work to their favor.

There is a rumor out there that does have me concerned, that being the movement of All-Pro lineman Aaron Kampman to an outside lineback position, much like the Giants did with Mathias Kewanuka. Kampman is one of the best pass rushers in the league so my initial response to this is that it doesn't seem like a very good idea. I thought about it further and my stance is that the Packers' D-Line with the exception of Kampman has not been very good, so I believe that it comes down to the costs associated with it. If moving him means that he is less productive, but improves the overall defense, which I believe that the coaching staff is anticipating, then it will be a good move, but only time will tell.

So here is what i'm looking for out of the Packers this offseason:

Free Agency should be relatively easy for the Pack with the notable free agents being Mark, Tauscher, Atari Bigby, and Ruvell Martin. The Packers dont have a great deal of big money players that are needing to be resigned, and with the Pack having between $25-30 million in cap space, they have the potential to make some moves this off season.

As far as the NFL Draft goes, the experts are expecting the Packers to choose Malcolm Jenkins, CB from Ohio State with thier first pick and the 9th pick overall. I think that Ted Thompson will look to the defensive line or maybe even an outside linebacker with the first pick. My potential picks include Aaron Maybin who is considered a DE/OLB from Penn State, Brian Orakbo who is also considered a DE/OLB from Texas, Everette Brown a DE from FSU, or maybe the Packers will sure up their linebacking corp and go with Brian Cushing, an outstanding OLB from USC.

Only time will tell, but I am very excited for the move to the 3-4 defense and I think that we will see a far superior defense on the field next year than we did this year.

The Future of the Packers' Defense

Open for Discussion: How will the Packers fare with Dom Capers and his 3-4 defensive scheme?

I believe that it was a much needed change for the Pack on the defensive side of the ball. The 3-4 scheme plays toward the strength of the defense in that we get to keep more of our linebackers on the field and not as many of our d-linemen. With Hawk, Barnett, Poppinga, Chillar, and Bishop in the rotation at LB, it's definitely a positive to keep as many of those guys playing as often as possible.

If there was a weak spot on the field this past season it was definitely at the defensive line. With the return of Cullen Jenkins, the continuing solid play of Aaron Kampman, and Ryan Pickett clogging up the middle I think the defensive line just needs a couple more additions to make the Packers a competitive force to be reckoned with in the NFC. These additions could be addressed in the draft with the 9th pick (but that's another discussion) or in free agency. But seeing the way that Ted Thompson runs the team's personnel decisions, it will most likely be through the draft...and let's all just hope that it doesn't turn into another Justin Harrell fiasco.

The major concern that I have with the 3-4 is that it will take away from the Packers' biggest strength on defense...its man-to-man coverage in the secondary. Most commonly with the 3-4 defense the coverage is more zone-oriented. This plays away from the strengths of lock down corners like Al Harris and Charles Woodson. Capers has mentioned that he will mix up the looks as far as man-to-man and zone coverage are concerned, but it is likely that it will mostly be a zone scheme.

All in all, I think it's the right decision because of the lack of strength at d-line and the potential at LB, but only time will tell what the offseason will bring and let's all hope that we'll be crowned the Kings of the NFC North once again in 2009.

Weigh in with your thoughts and let's talk about the advantages and disadvantages of the Packers' future on Defense...