A healthy Desmond Bishop is likely to be the biggest boost to the 2013 Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers drafted two running backs in the first four rounds of this year’s draft after many had been calling for the team to find more production in the run game.  With the addition of draftees Eddie Lacy and Johnathan Franklin, some would argue that each will end up playing a key role in the 2013 Packers’ storyline.

With Packers GM Ted Thompson having once again been very quiet in free agency, the draft was seemingly the team’s biggest chance to add to their existing roster.  Those draft picks, along with a few undrafted free agents, have garnered a lot of attention.  Actually, they have seen nearly all of it this off season, minus a few tiny contract situations that were recently ironed out.

Lost in the shuffle of all that is new, it’s what is “old” that I am anticipating will make the biggest difference when the smoke clears and the 2013 season is in the books.

Linebacker Desmond Bishop emerged as one of the team’s top defensive players during the team’s 2010 Super Bowl season.  That year, Bishop jumped from a career high of 29 tackles to 75.  The increase in playing time was a factor, but it’s hard to argue that Bishop became one of the team’s most productive defenders until a torn hamstring ended his 2012 season.

Bishop suffered the injury in the team’s first preseason game and he was placed on season-ending injured reserve shortly thereafter.  It’s hard to argue that the team’s production at inside linebacker wasn’t less-than-stellar without Bishop last season.  He figures to be back in action this year and has said that he will be “110% ready” for training camp, which begins in late July.  There are still questions about Bishop’s recovery and whether he can return to that same productive form.  That remains to be seen, but Packers fans should remain hopeful.  A healthy Desmond Bishop would mean more to this team, in my opinion, than any other player that the team has added.

When running on all cylinders, Bishop is a fiery one-man wrecking machine.  Need a reminder?  Click here.

Still need more evidence?  I looked at Bishop’s best season and compared it to counterpart AJ Hawk’s.  In Hawk’s best season, he accrued 83 tackles, two interceptions and 3.5 sacks in 16 games.  That was his rookie season of 2006 and the the team ran a 4-3 scheme.  In 2011, Bishop had 90 tackles and five sacks in 13 games played.  That same season, Hawk appeared in 15 games and had 53 tackles and one and a half sacks.

Bishop, to me, stands to offer the most to this team that it did not have in 2012.  If he truly can be 110% of what he was before he was hurt, the Packers could be a much improved defense in a hurry.  Share your thoughts on Bishop or who you think stands to add the most to the 2013 Green Bay Packers.

Jason Perone is an independent sports blogger writing about the Packers on "AllGreenBayPackers.com

Jason Perone
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'Who Will Be The Biggest Addition to the 2013 Green Bay Packers?

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Packers CB Casey Hayward

Packers cornerback Casey Hayward was the 62nd overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, but he was among most impactful defensive backs in football last season.

According to Pro Football Focus, opposing quarterbacks had a collective passer rating of 31.1 when throwing at Hayward. And among cornerbacks who played at least 50 percent of their team’s defensive snaps, Hayward came in at No. 3 in the league, sandwiched between Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman and Minnesota’s Antoine Winfield.

The rookie went from being buried on the depth chart early in the season–Hayward played just three snaps in the season opener against the 49ers—to being, perhaps, the most irreplaceable part of the secondary.

When veteran Charles Woodson suffered a broken collarbone in Week 7, Hayward’s presence became increasingly important. From Week 7 to Week 14, Hayward played 88.5 percent of the Packers’ defensive snaps.

Coming into the season, Woodson was expected to play safety in the base and bump up to slot cornerback in the nickel. But when Hayward emerged as the team’s most reliable turnover creator, playing primarily in the slot, Woodson’s role was drastically reduced by the time he returned for the playoffs.

This offseason, the Packers decided to cut ties with Woodson, who was set to count nearly $10 million against the salary cap. Woodson, 36, remained a fan favorite at the time of his release, but the presence of a promising young talent in Hayward made the move easier to swallow.

As a team, the Packers accounted for 18 interceptions in 2012, which was tied for eighth-most in the NFL. Hayward led all rookies and tied for fifth in the league with six picks.

1. Week 5 @ Indianapolis (4th Quarter, 13:09)

QB: Andrew Luck / WR: Reggie Wayne / Position: Slot

Hayward’s first career interception came against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 5. Matched up against Colts receiver Reggie Wayne in the slot, Hayward matched him stride-for-stride and made the play on the ball.

Wayne dominated the Packers throughout the game, catching 13 passes for 212 yards and a score. But according to PFF, Hayward allowed just one reception on three targets on the afternoon. Luck’s passer rating when throwing at Hayward was an abysmal 6.9.

2. Week 6 @ Houston (4th Quarter, 7:11)

QB: Matt Schaub / WR: Keshawn Martin / Position: LCB

When Charles Woodson crashes inside on a blitz, Texans quarterback Matt Schaub recognizes that he has Keshawn Martin in single coverage against Hayward. But Hayward wins this rookie battle and makes a great play on the ball.

Schaub’s pass came out a split-second late and didn’t have quite enough air under it to find Martin. Hayward snaps his head around just in time and comes up with a turnover with the game already in hand.

3. Week 6 @ Houston (4th Quarter, 3:40)

QB: T.J. Yates / WR: DeVier Posey / Position: LCB

Trailing big late in the fourth quarter, the Texans pulled Schaub in favor of second-year quarterback T.J. Yates, who tried pulling off (what would have been) an incredible throw to rookie wide receiver DeVier Posey.

Posey ran a post route to the middle of the field with Hayward right on his hip. Safety Jerron McMillian made the play for Hayward, deflecting Yates’s pass directly into Hayward’s hands. The Packers did a great job of disguising their coverage before the snap, as it looked like Morgan Burnett and M.D. Jennings would be playing two-deep coverage.

But just before the snap, Burnett bumps up to play the middle of the field, and McMillian floats back to where Burnett originally lined up. It was a great play all around, and although McMillian deserves the bulk of the credit for the turnover, Hayward couldn’t have covered Posey any better.

4. Week 7 @ St. Louis (3rd Quarter, 1:17)

QB: Sam Bradford / WR: Chris Givens / Position: RCB

Rams quarterback Sam Bradford is reading Morgan Burnett before the snap. When Burnett crashes to cover the tight end in the middle of the field, Bradford realizes that Hayward is in single coverage on the outside against speedster Chris Givens.

Bradford doesn’t set his feet for the deep ball and, as a result, delivers a poor ball to Givens. Hayward makes the play and sets the Packers up with great field position late in the third quarter. It was Hayward’s fourth interception in three games.

5. Week 11 @ Detroit (2nd Quarter, 2:16)

QB Matt Stafford / WR: Titus Young / Position: Slot

This play puts Hayward’s instincts on display. Hayward is mirroring Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew, who stays in to protect quarterback Matt Stafford. In case Pettigrew sneaks out into the flat on a delayed route, Hayward holds his ground and holds his ground.

Wide receiver Titus Young comes across the field on a crossing route, and Stafford never sees Hayward, who has settled in the passing lane.

6. Week 15 @ Chicago (2nd Quarter, 1:25)

QB: Jay Cutler / WR: Devin Hester / Position: Slot

In the words of Charles Woodson, this is just a case of Jay Cutler being “the same ol’ Jay.” Clearly, there was a miscommunication between Cutler and wide receiver Devin Hester. But no matter what the problem was, Cutler made a poor throw and it ended up directly in Hayward’s bread basket.

Hayward makes a nice play after the catch, setting the Packers up with great field position before halftime.

Will Hayward have a sophomore slump or be a second-year stud?

Not many people foresaw Hayward’s six-interception rookie campaign. In fact, it was then-second-year player Davon House who was the most impressive cornerback throughout training camp.

Between Hayward, House, Tramon Williams and Sam Shields, cornerback may have surpassed wide receiver as the Packers’ deepest position ground. All four players are capable of playing on the outside, while Hayward and Williams are also capable of pulling double-duty in the slot.

Hayward isn’t as physical as House, nor is he as fast as Shields, but he may very well be the team’s most well-rounded cornerback. And if any defensive back on the Packers’ roster is capable of moving around the formation as much as Charles Woodson did in years past, it’s Hayward.

Of Hayward’s six interceptions in 2012, three came when he was lined up inside, two came when he was lined up on the left and one was when he lined up to the right. As a rookie, it didn’t matter where Hayward lined up, the ball found him, and he made play after play.

Assuming Shields signs his tender or a long-term deal with the team before the season, the cornerback competition may be the most intriguing position battle this summer.

But regardless if Hayward is labeled a starter or not, he will definitely be on the field plenty in 2013 because, as Zach Kruse of CheeseheadTV points out, the Packers have led the league in nickel and dime defenses in each of the past two seasons.

Part of the reason the Packers have been using extra defensive backs is their lack of depth in the front seven. But while they’ve bolstered their defensive line in the past two drafts, the secondary remains the deepest part of the defense. Williams, Shields and House will all likely see playing time, but Hayward was clearly the team’s best slot cover man in 2012 and he’ll, at the very least, hold that same title in 2013.

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Marques is a Journalism student and also a columnist at Jersey Al's AllGBP.com and Bleacher Report. Follow Marques on Twitter @MJEversoll.

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'Casey Hayward: What’s in store for his encore?

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Packers CB Jarrett Bush has stuck with the team since 2006.

The pitchforks were out and the torches were lit after the 2009 season. Packers fans wanted cornerback Jarrett Bush off the team.

I admit that I was one of those Packers fans holding a torch high in one hand and a pitchfork in the other. I was sick of seeing Bush stumbling three yards behind a receiver after a double move left him in the dust and led to another touchdown against the Packers.

Ted Thompson has never paid much attention to the pitchfork- and torch-wielding sector of the Packers’ fanbase, and he held true to that philosophy with Bush. Now the undrafted free agent out of Utah St. and claimed by the Packers off waivers from Carolina is one of the longest-tenured Packers, a good special teams player and, dare I say it, somewhat beloved by fans.

I say “somewhat” because if Bush ever ends up playing significantly as a defensive back again, it will probably get ugly and fans will turn on him again. But as long as he remains the blue-collar, hard-working leader of the special teams unit, the love for Bush will only get stronger.

Admit it: When Bush picked off Ben Roethlisberger in the Super Bowl, you slapped yourself and wondered aloud if you just watched Jarrett Bush intercept a pass in the Super Bowl. For the Green Bay Packers. In January of 2011.

That play sticks in my mind to this day. Bush, a player who didn’t even get love from the fanbase of the team he played for, kept plugging away and made an impact when called upon to do so on the biggest stage.

If you were paying attention throughout the 2010 season, you would have noticed Bush making an impact on special teams. On Packers teams not known for their physicality and tackling, Bush goes as hard as anyone on special teams and is never afraid to stick his nose in the middle of the action and attempt to make a tackle.

Ever since Bush has been able to focus on special teams (albeit for one start in the 2012 season opener that didn’t go well), he’s found a place in Green Bay as a veteran and emotional leader.

If Bush makes a big tackle on special teams, he’s fired up and running his mouth. If he finds himself on the field for a defensive snap and makes a routine play, he’s fired up and running his mouth.

Yeah, the latter can be annoying, but it’s who Bush is. Raw emotion helped him stick with the Packers as long as he has and he’s not going to change.

Bush will be the second-longest tenured Packer behind Aaron Rodgers once the 2013 season starts. There’s a chance rookie Micah Hyde and a deep defensive backfield could lead to Bush’s exit in final training camp cutdowns, but I’m not betting against Bush.

Then again, maybe I should. We all bet against him before and he turned into a useful player.

Adam Czech is a freelance reporter and a Packers fan living in the Twin Cities. Follow Adam on Twitter. Read more of Adam's writing on the Packers here.

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'Packers Jarrett Bush has Managed to Stick Around

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Frustrating doesn’t even begin to describe the feeling that Packers fans have in response to this data. Arguably the best player in the game right now is on his back way more often than he should be, and we are all left wondering why. Well, perhaps some fans are looking more for an answer to “who” than for “why.”

Who is to blame for this risk to our precious franchise quarterback? Who can we channel our anger towards when we’re yelling at the 60-inch plasma television?

Unfortunately, that’s not easily answered. But we can give you some suspects to choose from . . .

(don’t forget to cast your vote in the poll below…)

SUSPECT #1: The Blockers (Offensive Line, Running Backs, etc.)

In most cases, the offensive line is usually who we shout profanities at immediately after Aaron Rodgers gets sacked. After all, when it comes to the passing game, their number one responsibility is to protect the quarterback long enough for him to complete a pass. If he goes down, then it means they failed.

During the 2012 season, the two biggest culprits were Marshall Newhouse and T.J. Lang. They each allowed 9 sacks according to ProFootballFocus.com, which accounts for roughly 35% of the 51 total sacks. It’s not surprising that Mike McCarthy felt the need this offseason to shake up the offensive line, pointing specifically to a weakness “on the left side.”

There’s plenty of blame to go around, though. Josh Sitton, Jeff Saturday, Evan Dietrich-Smith, Bryan Bulaga, and Don Barclay combined for another 17 sacks allowed. All in all, that makes 35 sacks from the offensive line, which is a clear majority of the season total.

Let’s not forget, though, that tight ends and backs also share some responsibility for blocking pass rushers. Fullback John Kuhn allowed two sacks and tight end Tom Crabtree allowed one. (Some might be surprised that none of the halfbacks allowed a sack according to PFF, especially in recalling the major gaffes by James “Neo” Starks.)

With those numbers, it’s easy to see why fans (and coaches) are unhappy with their pass blockers. But for all the times they failed, there are other times where they might merely have played the scapegoat.

SUSPECT #2: Aaron Rodgers, the Quarterback

A common criticism of our beloved quarterback throughout the years has been his propensity to hold on to the ball in trying to extend plays. Whether he ends up scrambling for a first down or hitting a receiver on an improvised route, there have been numerous times where Aaron Rodgers’ has saved failing plays. Yet we are ever so reluctant to take the bad with the good.

Kevin Seifert over at the ESPN NFC North Blog recently shared some statistics about the division quarterbacks and their “time in pocket.” (This was actually the impetus for my blog post.) According to ESPN Stats and Information, Rodgers spent an average of 2.82 second in the pocket, which was longer than 34 other quarterbacks. He also had the highest sack rate per drop-back in the NFC North.

Really, this is some fairly damning evidence. It doesn’t take into account plays made outside of the pocket or even the average sack speed, but it does clearly show that Aaron Rodgers took longer to throw the ball than most quarterbacks in 2012.

The major counterpoint is that Rodgers more than makes up for this with the successful extended plays and that he balances out the productivity with fewer interceptions from forced throws. Rodgers is, after all, the only quarterback in NFL history to have been sacked 50+ times in two separate seasons while still maintaining a 100+ passer rating in each. Still, we’re not talking about productivity, we’re talking about sacks, and we want to know whom to blame.

Of course, if the quarterback has no one open to throw to, then can he really be at fault?

SUSPECT #3: The Receiving Corps

It’s easy to forget about this aspect of the offense when it comes to sacks, especially because they spend so much time off of the television screen. Okay, maybe that’s not completely the reason, but it is hard to tell without some well-managed replays who was actually open for a pass and when. From passing lanes to the quarterback’s vision of the field, there are a lot of details involved.

That doesn’t make them faultless, though. If the wide receivers, tight ends, or even running backs are getting open for the quarterback to throw to, then he’s clearly in a bind. No matter how good the blocking is or how accurately Rodgers can make his throws, a blanketed receiving corps can effectively destroy the play. Defenders can’t be blocked forever, and the quarterback doesn’t always have an out.

There’s not much more to say on this point, because as mentioned, it’s difficult and time consuming to accurately identify and track this.

SUSPECT #4: Mike McCarthy, the Play Caller

For as much as some people like to blame the offensive line and Aaron Rodgers for the sacks, there seems to be an equal amount of fervor towards head coach Mike McCarthy and his play calling. A lack of balance between rushing and passing sits as the crux of this condemnation, and it started from the very beginning of the season. Cedric Benson only saw nine carries against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1 with Rodgers dropping back a season-high 52 times.

He only suffered three sacks in that game, but the real breakdown came in Week 3 against the Seattle Seahawks. Despite the fact that Bryan Bulaga seemed to be having a horrible day individually, McCarthy provided no relief by running the ball only three times in the first half.  It resulted in eight sacks for those first two quarters, tying an NFL record.

After some overdue adjustments at halftime, the Packers came out in the third quarter and ran the ball seven times in the first drive alone. I resulted in a field goal and some hope that the game was finally reversing its momentum.

For the sake of avoiding redundancy, we won’t go into some of the other examples throughout the season. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out, though, that running the ball with more balance and consistency helps with pass protection. Not only does it keep the defense honest, but it also allows the offensive line to get more aggressive and wear down the opposing defensive linemen.

Granted, it’s hard to stay balanced when the running game isn’t productive enough. It can also be difficult to know how audibles and adjustments at the line of scrimmage change the plays called.

THE VERDICT

Here is where you get to decide whom to point the finger at. Do you blame the offensive line and pass blockers for not getting the job done? Or do you chastise Aaron Rodgers for holding on to the ball too long? Is he holding onto the ball because his receivers aren’t open, though? And yet what can be done when the play calling is detrimental to the situation?

As with most things, there’s probably plenty of blame to go around. Fortunately, Mike McCarthy and Ted Thompson seem to be making a strong attempt at fixing things. The changes along the offensive line highlight a desire to better protect Rodgers’ blind side (Bulga, Sitton) while getting some road graders on the right side (Lang, Barclay?).

To further highlight these changes and foreshadow a more balanced offense, the Packers drafted two high-value running backs in Eddie Lacy and Johnathan Franklin.

There’s hope for the 2013 Green Bay Packers offense and its ability to keep Rodgers upright. If the team was able to bounce back from 50 sacks during a disappointing 2009 season and win the Super Bowl, then they can surely do the same thing after what happened last year. They’re making the commitments, so now it’s time to put the plan into action.

Who’s to Blame for Aaron Rodgers’ Record High Sacks?

The Blockers (Offensive Line, Running Backs, etc.)

Aaron Rodgers, the Quarterback

The Receiving Corps

Mike McCarthy, the Play Caller

View results

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The Blockers (Offensive Line, Running Backs, etc.)0%

Aaron Rodgers, the Quarterback0%

The Receiving Corps0%

Mike McCarthy, the Play Caller0%

Other: (Please specify)0%

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Chad Toporski, a Wisconsin native and current Pittsburgh resident, is a writer for AllGreenBayPackers.com. You can follow Chad on twitter at @ChadToporski

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'Who’s to Blame for Aaron Rodgers’ Record High Sacks?

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Surviving Sundays with no Packers Football.

If I was creating my own perfect media universe to feed me information on the Green Bay Packers, here’s what it would look like:

Play-by-play announcer: Wayne Larrivee. No explanation needed. I could listen to Wayne all day — even if the Packers were losing by seven touchdowns — and still get enjoyment out of the game.

Color commentator: Mike Mayock. I used to have Cris Collinsworth ahead of Mayock, but not any more. Mayock made those boring Thursday night games on NFL Network tolerable last season. I’ll take substance over style from my color commentary each and every time.

Sideline reporter: Doris Burke. Ok, I’m cheating a little bit. Those of you who watch Burke work the sideline and conduct in-game interviews with coaches during NBA games know why I choose her, however. She takes the job seriously and actually tries to tell the viewer something that doesn’t insult his/her intelligence. Her questions are always light on fluff and high on substance.

Studio host: Trey Wingo. Doesn’t need catch phrases or tired schtick to be effective.

Studio analysts: LeRoy Butler and Mark Tauscher. Both guys have ties to the Packers, are extremely engaging and provide good insight.

Main beat writer: Tom Silverstein. Hard working. In-depth. No frills. Smart. Insightful. Gets a little snarky on Twitter. Everything you want out of a beat guy.

Secondary beat writer: Rob Demovsky. Doesn’t get enough credit because the talent pool of Packers reporters is deep. He’s one of the better ones.

Columnist: Bob McGinn. Years upon years of working with sources and dropping knowledge. He also tends to get people a little riled up, which a good columnist will do every now and then.

Radio talk show hosts: Jason Wilde and Bill Johnson. No need to re-create the wheel. Just keep Green and Gold Today what is already is: A show to discuss the Packers, not rant and rave incoherently like most sports talk radio shows.

Blogger: Jersey Al. One of the originals and still the best.

5 Packers people to follow on Twitter: @PackerRanter: Deep. @jrehor: Passionate. @Aaron_Nagler: NFL. @Packerpedia: Informative. @BrianCarriveau: Dedicated.

That about sums it up. I’m sure I left some good people off, but hopefully they get over it and their feelings aren’t hurt too bad by being left off such a prestigious list.

How would you all set up your ideal Packers media universe to stay up to date and engaged with the greatest franchise in the history of sports?

Packers News, Notes and Links

• Jason Hirschhorn at Acme Packing Company has a great post about Randall Cobb and the upcoming 2013 season. I wrote about Cobb this week as well. The headline I chose for the post leaves it wide open for a Michael Scott “that’s what she said” remark.
• Alex Petakas at ESPN Milwaukee has an interesting profile on Packers rookie WR Charles Johnson. It’s hard to not cheer for a guy to make it when his resume includes a stint at Antelope Community College.
• I have yet to participate in a Google+ hangout (isn’t it basically Skype?), but Eddie Lacy did with the folks from CheeseheadTV.com. Brian Carriveau recaps the occasion here.
• The Packers Tailgate Tour kicked off this week and Alex Green is one of the players participating. With the addition of Lacy and Jonathan Franklin, Green is a bit of a forgotten man. He talks about that and other topics with Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in this story. I had high hopes for Green when he took over last season, but he wasn’t nearly as explosive as I thought he’d be. Sounds like his knee was still hurting, so we’ll see what another offseason of recovery did for him come training camp.
• Aaron Rodgers doing more great things to boost the MAAC Fund’s fight against childhood cancer.
• Seahawks CB Richard Sherman has invited Lance Easley — the clown/ref who was behind the Fail Mary debacle — to umpire his charity softball game. I have to admit, that’s pretty funny.
• Packers president Mark Murphy would like to one day see Brett Favre on the annual offseason tailgate tour. I think that’d be great for multiple reasons: 1) Favre will be welcomed back to the Packers family one day and getting out and mingling with the fans is the best way to continue rebuilding his image; 2) Favre’s image likely will never be totally rebuilt, which could make for some entertaining and awkward moments on the tour; and 3) I’d love to be in the same room as Favre when he starts telling Packers stories from the 90s. Love him or hate him, that would be some great entertainment.
• Need more Favre talk? John Rehor addresses Murphy’s comments on Packerstalk.com.

Non-Packers Links and Other Nonsense

• It’s not every day you see the mayor of a major metropolitan city involved in a crack scandal, with video evidence.
• Ever wonder what happens when a deer crashes through the window of a bus? Wonder no more.
• The Office on NBC came to a close on Thursday. It got pretty bad the last couple of seasons, but all in all, it was a great run (despite forcing Aaron Rodgers to say some terrible lines).
• “Stone Cold” Steve Austin has a podcast and it might be the greatest thing ever. The episode where he spends 30 minutes talking about flies is comedy gold.

Adam Czech is a freelance reporter and a Packers fan living in the Twin Cities. Follow Adam on Twitter. Read more of Adam's writing on the Packers here.

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'Surviving Sunday: Packers News, Notes and Links for the Football Deprived

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Nate Palmer, 6th round pick, OLB Illinois State

J.C. Tretter, 4th round pick, OL, Cornell

Datone Jones, 1st round pick, DE, UCLA

Follow Jersey Al:

          Follow @JerseyAlGBP           Add to Circleson

Jersey Al Bracco is the founder and editor of AllGreenBayPackers.com, and the co-founder of Packers Talk Radio Network. He can be heard as one of the Co-Hosts on Cheesehead Radio and is the Green Bay Packers Draft Analyst for Drafttek.com.

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'Saturday Listen: Three Radio Interviews with Packers Draft Picks

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Packers WR Randall Cobb.

Breakout WR/HB/KR/PR Randall Cobb touched the ball 159 times and amassed a Packers franchise record 2,342 all-purpose yards in 2012.

It was quite the season for the second-year talent out of Kentucky, and very necessary. Greg Jennings and Jordy Nelson all missed significant time with injuries. Cobb, along with James Jones, stepped up to fill the void left by Jennings and Nelson and helped negate the Packers struggles running the ball.

But 159 touches is a lot for a player who is 5-foot-10 and 191 pounds. Cobb injured his ankle and missed the season finale against the Vikings. He also managed just six catches for 31 yards in two playoff games and was taken off of punt returns against the 49ers, only to see rookie Jeremy Ross muff one deep in Green Bay territory that led to a San Francisco touchdown.

I was at the wild-card win over the Vikings and watched Cobb limp around on that ankle. He was hurting. The explosion wasn’t there.

With Jennings gone, it’s assumed Cobb will have an even bigger role in the offense. His role probably will be bigger, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll touch the ball 159 times again.

Cobb was targeted 104 times in 2012, the most since Jennings’ 125 targets in 2010. If Nelson stays healthy, and Jones repeats his stellar 2012 season, perhaps that number will come down a bit.

The addition of Eddie Lacy and Jonathan Franklin — and the shuffling of the offensive line — could also lead to more success in the running game and fewer touches for Cobb.

Of those 159 touches, 10 came as a halfback. You have to figure he won’t carry the ball any more with Lacy and Franklin around.

As great as Cobb is, a little bit less of a workload might be good for him and ensure that he’s just as productive in the playoffs as he is in week eight.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying the Packers should purposely look away from Cobb and reduce his role in the offense. He’s too talented to set off to the side.

All I’m saying is that other players stepping up might take some of the burden off the shoulders of the smallish Cobb, making him that much more explosive when he does get the ball.

A total of 69 touches came on kick and punt returns. If the Packers remove Cobb from special teams, that should also help keep him fresh. It’s unclear at the moment which way Mike McCarthy is leaning on that topic.

I’m fine with taking Cobb off of special teams as long as there’s a close-to-equal replacement. Having a talented return man is a major weapon and worth a bit of a tradeoff in wear and tear and production on offense.

Perhaps a reduced special teams role is in store for Cobb, one where he returns kicks only on certain occasions when the Packers need a spark.

The next step in Cobb’s bright young career is to stay healthy and be productive for an entire season. If that means carrying less of the load, then so be it. If the Packers aren’t ravaged by injuries again, they should be able to not lean so heavily on Cobb.

But if injuries do strike once again, or Jones/Nelson/Lacy/Franklin falter for whatever reason, it’s good to know that Cobb is able to touch the ball 159 times and do all he can to pick up the slack.

Let’s just hope it doesn’t come to that. I think Cobb be just as productive, maybe even more productive, with 125 touches.

Adam Czech is a freelance reporter and a Packers fan living in the Twin Cities. Follow Adam on Twitter. Read more of Adam's writing on the Packers here.

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'Could Fewer Touches Lead to More Production for Packers WR Randall Cobb?

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Packers CB Davon House

Every NFL season begins with a blank slate and ends with a long list of newly-minted star players.

Last season, 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick may be the prime example of a player that took the next step and pushed his team to the next level, as San Francisco won the NFC and advanced to Super Bowl XLVII.

Broncos receiver Demaryius Thomas went from being an afterthought in a Tim Tebow-led offense in 2011 to being one of the most dangerous offensive players in football in 2012. Thomas ranked fourth in the NFL with 1,434 receiving yards.

And in Green Bay, a pair of Packers wideouts enjoyed breakout years of their own.

After showing flashes of brilliance as a rookie in 2011, Randall Cobb exploded onto the scene last season, leading the team with 80 catches and 954 receiving yards. Cobb is the odds-on favorite to lead the team in both categories in 2013.

Fellow receiver James Jones enjoyed a breakout season of his own. Jones set career highs in all three major categories, catching 64 passes for 784 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Playing in an offense with Aaron Rodgers under center, any receiver could become the team’s “go-to guy” on a week-to-week basis. But Jordy Nelson had his coming-out party in 2011, and Jones and Cobb had their last year. So unless one of the Packers young, unproven receivers can take a step forward and join the rotation, this year’s breakout player may be on the defensive side of the ball.

Let’s take a look at five potential breakout candidates for the 2013 season. Feel free to comment and let me know who you think will be the team’s breakout player this season, even if they’re not on the list.

(NOTE: Rookies will not be included on this list. It’s tough to forecast a rookie having a breakout year when he has yet to play a single down at the NFL level. That means Eddie Lacy, Johnathan Franklin and Datone Jones are not listed.)

1. FS Morgan Burnett

It took Nick Collins until his fourth season to reach his potential. Morgan Burnett may not be Collins, but there are some distinct similarities between the two. And through their first three NFL seasons, Burnett trumps Collins in most statistical categories.

Last season was undoubtedly Burnett’s best as a professional. He was arguably the team’s most valuable player in a rather uneventful game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 8, and he emerged as Christian Ponder’s go-to receiver against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 13. Without a clear-cut starter alongside him in the secondary, Burnett will be counted upon to take his game to the next level this season.

Burnett is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and with a productive 2013 season, he’ll likely be paid handsomely next summer. Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor has become one of the top safeties in the league, and he just received a five-year extension worth $35 million, including $17 million guaranteed. Burnett may not be at Chancellor’s level yet, but this upcoming season will play a huge role in determining his open-market value next summer.

2. CB Davon House

Prior to suffering a shoulder injury in the team’s first preseason game in San Diego, Davon House looked like one of the team’s most impressive players throughout training camp. Last summer, it became abundantly clear that Randall Cobb would have an expanded role within the offense in his second year, and it certainly looked like House would be the starting cornerback opposite Tramon Williams.

One of my favorite position battles to watch at practice is when the wide receivers and cornerbacks go one-on-one. Randall Cobb was virtually uncoverable throughout the summer, as was Jordy Nelson. But when House lined up across from either player, all bets were off. To me, House was the most impressive cornerback throughout the summer.

But after the shoulder injury, House was inactive until Week 7 in St. Louis. His absence allowed Sam Shields to return to 2010 form, while rookie Casey Hayward emerged as one of the most reliable slot cornerbacks in the league. With such a crowded depth chart at the position, House will need to have another impressive training camp if he’s going to find the field in 2013. But assuming he’s 100 percent healthy again, don’t be surprised if House takes a giant leap forward in his third NFL season.

3. TE Jermichael Finley

No player on the Packers roster elicits as much of a reaction as Jermichael Finley. For whatever reason, there doesn’t seem to be much of a middle ground–either you can’t stand Finley the player or Finley the person, or you think he’s a talented player who has an interesting way with words. Either way, 2013 is a crossroads for Finley, as he enters the final year of the contract.

Before suffering a season-ending knee injury in Week 5 of 2010, Finley was the focal point of the Packers offense. Through the first four games of 2010, Finley had already racked up 21 catches for 301 yards. Over the course of a 16-game season, those numbers equate to 84 receptions and 1,204 yards. That’s pretty good.

Finley has drawn the ire of many Packers fans for dropped passes and a loud mouth, but after the team’s Week 10 bye, he was one of the most effect tight ends in football. Mike McCarthy said he saw “a change” in Finley over the second half of the season. And now that Greg Jennings is playing in Minnesota, Finley will have every opportunity to become a key component of the team’s passing attack this season.

4. OLB Nick Perry

After getting off to a slow start in his rookie season, Nick Perry gave football fans a glimpse of his potential when he clocked an unsuspecting Andrew Luck in Week 5. Perry hit Luck directly below the chin, in the middle of the breastplate, drawing a 15-yard flag for playing football. But nonetheless, that one play gave Packers fans reason for optimism.

On the opposite side of Clay Matthews, the Packers have had somewhat of a revolving door. Brad Jones, Frank Zombo, Erik Walden and Dezman Moses have each taken turns to be the starter, but nobody has firmly grasped the opportunity. Perry will enter 2013 as the favorite to start, and despite only suiting up for six games as a rookie, being around the system for a full calendar year should help his development.

Perry played defensive end at USC, and he still looks like a defensive end. At 265 pounds, he’s certainly built more like LaMarr Woodley than James Harrison. Fortunately for Perry, he has the opportunity to watch Matthews–one of the best outside linebackers in the NFL–play the position on a weekly basis. If Perry reaches his potential in his second NFL season and Matthews stays healthy, the Packers defense will be much improved.

5. SS Jerron McMillian

Despite safety being one of the deeper positions in the 2013 NFL Draft, the Packers decided not to draft a single player at that position. That means either the Packers weren’t as high on this year’s crop of safeties as most draft analysts and/or other teams–or–they’re excited about someone already on the roster.

Jerron McMillian is entering his second year now, and he certainly has enough athletic ability to become an every-down player in the Packers defense. Barring a late addition of a veteran player, McMillian will battle M.D. Jennings to be the team’s starting safety alongside Burnett.

At this point, McMillian is clearly better in run defense than Jennings, and the two are pretty comparable in pass coverage. McMillian may be another year or two away from reaching his full potential, but he is a candidate to take a giant step forward in his second NFL season.

Follow @MVEversoll

Marques is a Journalism student and also a columnist at Jersey Al's AllGBP.com and Bleacher Report. Follow Marques on Twitter @MJEversoll.

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'Five potential breakout players for 2013: Who will it be?

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Naturally, I was intrigued to see how the Packers and some of their individual players ranked among the rest of the league for 2012. I braced for the worst, knowing the defense was lacking against opposing rushing attacks. (They gave up 132.6 yards per game, for 25^th in the NFL.) And then, of course, were the games against Adrian Peterson.

Imagine my surprise when I found out the Packers were in the top three best teams when it came to missed tackles.

Now, let’s clear something up first. Football Outsiders clearly defined their criteria for a “broken tackle,” which should not be confused with the PFF “missed tackle” statistic. (Though for comparison’s sake, the 109 missed tackles from 2011 dropped down to just 81 in 2012 as charted by PFF.) That aside, here is how FO defines a “broken tackle”:

We define a “broken tackle” as one of two events: either the ballcarrier escapes from the grasp of the defender, or the defender is in good position for a tackle but the ballcarrier jukes him out of his shoes. If the ballcarrier sped by a slow defender who dived and missed, that didn’t count as a broken tackle.

Before we get to the team’s overall numbers, I want to highlight the two Packers players that made “best” and “worst” lists. First, take comfort in the fact that no player from Green Bay recorded 10 or more broken tackles. None of the defensive backs made the bottom ten in broken tackle rate; of course, none of them made the top ten either.

No, our two players in question were linebackers.

Inside linebacker Brad Jones made the “naughty” list as one of the twelve worst linebackers when it came to broken tackles in 2012. For his 61 solo tackles on the season, he had 7 broken tackles, for a rate of 10.3%. That put him seventh from the bottom.

There was, however, another Packers inside linebacker to make the “nice” list. You get one guess as to who it is . . . Yes, the infamous A.J. Hawk. For his 90 solo tackles, he had just two broken tackles, for a 2.2% rate. That made him the NFL’s eighth best linebacker in this statistic, and he showed some improvement from 2011, when he had six broken tackles.

If you haven’t suffered a heart attack from that news, then just keep the ambulance on hold until after you read the next part.

The Green Bay Packers were the second best team in the NFL when it came to their percentage of plays with a broken tackle in 2012. They ranked just behind the Buffalo Bills and just ahead of . . . wait for it . . . the San Francisco 49ers. Of their 1026 plays, the Packers had broken tackles on 35 of them for a rate of 3.4%.

Football Outsiders: 2012 Broken Tackles by Team

Now, you might notice that their total number of broken tackles was a bit higher at 45. That means that on 10 plays at most, they suffered more than one broken tackle. In this case, it is higher than San Francisco’s total number of broken tackles – the only NFL team to not have more than one in a single play. However, if you calculate the Total BT as a percentage of Total Plays, then the Packers still rank third, just eking out the Denver Broncos at 4.39%.

This should be good news for the Green Bay Packers. For a team that emphasized tackling technique this past year, their efforts have seemingly paid off.

Just be careful, you do have to take this information at face value to know what it really means. The Packers were very good at taking their guy down once they made contact. Note those key words: “once they made contact.” This statistic reflects nothing in regard to the defensive players getting in position to actually get their hands on the ball carrier.

And really, that is one of the biggest issues coming out of last season, especially in regard to defending the run. According to FO’s unique statistical analysis, the Packers ranked 14^th in Rush Defense DVOA at -6.4%. Not horrible, but leaving a lot to be desired.

Whether it’s the players getting off of blocks to make the tackle, or closing up gaps and forcing ball carriers into defenders, or just simply taking good angles, the Packers defense still has some improvements to make. Just because the players are making their tackles doesn’t necessarily mean that they were at a beneficial location in reference to the chains.

But it is a comforting step in the right direction. We should all be thankful to see some much-needed improvement in this aspect of the defense’s play. Again, fans did do a lot of fist shaking at poor tackling just a year ago, and we got what we asked for. Now it’s time to take the next step in 2013 and make those tackles really count.

Chad Toporski, a Wisconsin native and current Pittsburgh resident, is a writer for AllGreenBayPackers.com. You can follow Chad on twitter at @ChadToporski

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'Packing the Stats: Defense Tackling Improvements

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The Packers face some interesting history when they take on the Cowboys & Steelers in 2013

When the Green Bay Packers 2013 schedule was announced, one thing was very clear:  it’s going to be a doozy of a season for the Packers.  They have one of the toughest schedules in the league and it will certainly challenge them to repeat as NFC North division winners.

I thought we’d take a quick break from our daily coverage of current Packers happenings and look at some interesting history.

There are two games that really stand out to me on this year’s slate.  Not because of the playoff implications or because they are the “team to beat”.  It’s simply about some Packers history and how it also connects these two opponents.  I’m talking about the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Connection

The Packers visit Dallas and will play the Cowboys on December 15th.  One week later, they will host the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 22nd. The last time the Packers beat the Cowboys in Dallas was on December 24, 1989.  The last time they beat the Steelers during the regular season was on December 24, 1995.

So how ironic is it that this year’s games against each opponent come in back-to-back weeks and so close to the Christmas holiday?  As you’ve heard me say before: history has a tendency to repeat itself.  Is this the year the Packers finally exercise the ghost of Christmas Eve?  Beyond that connection, there are others throughout these rivalries.  Let’s take a look at each.

Packers at Cowboys

Here’s the box score from that last Packers win in Dallas over the Boys.  To put some perspective on how long ago that was, that year was Jimmy Johnson’s first as Cowboys Head Coach and it was quarterback Troy Aikman’s rookie season.  Emmitt Smith was still in college and hadn’t yet started collecting any of his NFL-record 18,355 yards.  The Cowboys were 1-15 that year and they seemed destined for some rough seasons ahead until that little trade with the Minnesota Vikings.  Herschel Walker went to Minnesota and in Dallas, the rest is history.  They would go on to win three Super Bowls in the next six seasons. Along that Packers losing streak in Dallas have been some memorable games, including the 1996 NFC Championship game that the Packers almost came back and won.  More on that in a bit.

What is amazing is that the streak has lasted through the careers of both former Packers and future Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre and current Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (although I do acknowledge that, in Rodgers’ case, his only regular season appearance there was as a backup). It seemed that Favre could do anything on the gridiron, except beat the Cowboys in Dallas.  Favre apparently grew up a big Cowboys fan and dreamed of playing for them.  Perhaps those daydreams got the best of him.

Rodgers was never a Cowboys fan (that we know of) and I’m sure he would love to get the monkey off the back of the Packers franchise.  Some could argue that it was in Dallas during the 2007 season that Packers nation and the rest of the NFL finally got a glimpse of what Rodgers was capable of.  With Favre injured in the second quarter of a nationally-televised Thursday night matchup, Rodgers stepped in and finished the game.  Here are the Rodgers highlights from that night:

The Packers came up short in their comeback bid that night, but the idea of Rodgers eventually taking over the helm at quarterback became a lot less scary after his performance in that game.  At one point, he completed 10 passes in a row.  Even back then and as green as Rodgers was, his accuracy was evident.

There’s still the draft and training camp before the 2013 season kicks off but as it stands, the Packers should head into Dallas as the better team and favorite to win.  Hopefully when the Packers head to Dallas this December, they can channel some of the 2010 Packers team that went into that same Cowboys Stadium and won Super Bowl XLV against the Steelers.

Pittsburgh Steelers – Regular Season

While the Packers achieved the ultimate goal and enjoyed one of the biggest wins in franchise history against Pittsburgh, the regular season has not been so kind to Green Bay in this very limited rivalry.  What is interesting about the Steelers and Packers matchups is that there have not been many over the past 20 years.

Besides the Super Bowl win, another very memorable win over the Steelers came on September 27, 1992.  Many of you already know why this game was significant.  It was  Brett Favre’s first start for the Packers and was just one week after Favre  came in to relieve injured starting quarterback Don Majkowski to beat the Bengals.

After that game, the next time the Packers faced the Steelers was on December 24, 1995.  The Steelers came in looking to secure the top seed in the AFC and the Packers needed a victory to win the division and make the playoffs.  It was simple for Green Bay:  win and you’re in.  Lose and you’re going home.  With seconds left and the Packers clinging to a very slim lead, the Steelers had the ball near the goal line.  Here is how that game ended:

The Packers won that season ending game (and it should be noted that the hearts of Detroit Lions fans everywhere were broken as the Lions would have claimed the division and a playoff berth had Yancy Thigpen held onto the ball.  I couldn’t resist an opportunity to take a jab at the Lions!).  Instead, that Packers win pushed them into a playoff run that got them to the conference championship game in Dallas against the Cowboys.  A win over the Cowboys would have put the Packers into their first Super Bowl in nearly 30 years and against those same Steelers.  Dallas prevailed and went on to face Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XXX, a game that the Cowboys eventually won.   The Cowboys haven’t been to a Super Bowl since.  The Steelers have been to three in that time and have won two.

Since that 1995 meeting, the packers have faced the Steelers just three times.  Seems hard to believe but that’s how the scheduling shook out.  There was a Monday Night loss in Pittsburgh during the 1998 season, Mike Holmgren’s last as Packers Head Coach, which was then followed by a seven year hiatus.  Back then, the Packers were still in the NFC Central.  The NFL had not yet restructured the divisions and moved to its current format whereby NFC teams play each AFC team once every four years, rotating venues when they can.

The next regular-season matchup between these two teams didn’t come until the 2005 season and the timing couldn’t have been better for the Steelers.  That season, the Packers couldn’t buy a win and even at Lambeau Field they were no match for the eventual Super Bowl champs.

In 2009, the Packers traveled to Pittsburgh for the first time in 11 years.  Green Bay was streaking and looking to make a strong push for the top Wild Card seed.  They seemed to have secured a big comeback win on the road and were up 36-30 with :03 seconds left.  Here’s how that one ended:

That one still hurts to watch.

So here we are in 2013 and the Packers not only have a chance to get these two elusive wins, but they come in back-to-back weeks.  As I said, a lot can happen between now and then that can change the complexion of these matchups, but Packers fans have to be hoping that there’s a little holiday cheer in the air.  While it seems that Green Bay will be facing both of these teams as well as the long history that comes with the game, these are two games I think the Packers can and should win.

Until next time, wishing you and yours a very merry 2013 football season!

Jason Perone is an independent sports blogger writing about the Packers on "AllGreenBayPackers.com

Jason Perone
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'Cowboys, Steelers on Packers Schedule Evokes Ghost of Christmas Past

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