JonBob's Packer Blog

Keeping Tabs on the TEs: DJ Williams emerges as viable H-back

2011-09-13T07:36:00.000-04:00

Finley had a big first half, but was limited to no
catches in the final two quarters. (image via)

Maybe it's because I played the position throughout high school, and then again in interhall football , but I love tight ends. The perfect combination of strength and speed, they can do it all. So with the Packers now carrying an unprecedented 5 TEs on their roster, I'm paying attention. What follows is the first in a series of weekly assessments focusing on how Green Bay utilizes its plethora of TEs.

Jermicahel Finley - Finley started off the 2011 season hot. He caught 3 passes for 53 yards in the first half alone. The Packers used him in-line, from the slot, and split out wide, and it certainly looked like he was going to be a central part of the offensive attack.

But with Packers offense essentially off the field for the 3rd quarter and out of attack mode in the 4th, Finley's receiving production went static.

Nonetheless, I thought he played well in other areas of the game, too. I unfortunately don't have the technological capabilities of some more advanced blogs, so I wasn't able to DVR the game, but I do remember him making some nice blocks. Not bone-crushing pancakes, but plays where he utilized good positioning to do just enough. And that's really all they're expecting from him. Watch Starks' 17-yard TD run for an example:

It may not seem like much, but Finley's impedance of Saint's DE Jeff Charleston is probably the difference between an 8 yard gain and a touchdown.

All in all, it was a solid showing by Finley in his first regular season action since going down with an injury in Week 5 of 2010. He didn't necessarily "redefine" the position, but there's no reason to doubt that he will be an integral part of the Packers' passing attack throughout the year, and one of the most productive tight ends in the league.

Andrew Quarless- Quarless won't show up in the box score. He was an option on a handful of pass plays, but he didn't even receive a single target. I do expect this to change in the future though; he's just too much of an athlete not to factor in somehow. And the thought of pairing him and Finley together presents the type of match-up nightmares most defensive coordinators would probably like to avoid.

Again, while I'm not going to be able to go back and watch every play, I do remember being content with Quarless' blocking. This is something he really looked good at during the preseason, and I think it's carried over. I'll make no hesitations in saying that he is the clear-cut, second best blocking TE after Crabtree.

I did notice Quarless make some plays on special teams, especially a key block that helped spring Randall Cobb for his 108 yard kick-off return. Take a peek, particularly focusing on :45.

Quarless definitely wasn't a star on Thursday night, but he was a pretty solid contributor as both a blocker and special teamer. I think it's only a matter of time before he adds that third phase, receiving, to his game.

Tom Crabtree- This was an unusual game for Crabtree. He finished with 1 catch for 4 yards, his only target of the game. Certainly those numbers aren't anything out of the ordinary for the mostly-used-as-a-blocker Crabtree, but the fact that he made this catch after lining up split-out was a little peculiar. Just part of McCarthy's complex offensive scheme, I guess,

Even odder, though, was Crabtree's poor play on special teams. Specifically I'm referring to the fact that he was a complete non-factor on Darren Sproles' second quarter punt return for a touchdown. Take a look for yourself:

Crabtree shouldn't be held as the chief party culpable for this disgrace. That would be Pat Lee and Brad Jones (who completely biffs it). Nonetheless, he was completely taken out of the equation, and was not in a position to make a play when the first line of defense proved incompetent. Honestly, start watching at about :36; he was more or less completely man-handled, unable to disengage for an entire 3 seconds. And by that time, well it was obviously too late.

Crabtree will never be a primary threat in the passing game, so he needs to make his money as a blocker and special teamer. He could definitely use a little personal redemption in that latter category.

DJ Williams- The trajectory of DJ Williams' short career thus far has made for compelling stuff. He was one of the media darlings during the first couple weeks of camp, but leveled off and even began to start dipping as the preseason winded down. Some were even speculating that there wasn't room for him on the team. Not only did he survive cuts, but he was on the Packers opening night 46 man roster, and even played a somewhat substantial role as an H-back.

In order to keep 5 TEs, the Packers made room by releasing perennially underachieving FB Quinn Johnson. The move was made easier by the reasoning that both DJ Williams and Ryan Taylor could serve as competent depth at the position behind starter John Kuhn. Well that's exactly the capacity Williams was used in against the Saints, as a kind of TE-FB hybrid. He didn't play a ton, and certainly wasn't targeted for any passes, but he also didn't do anything glaringly wrong. Which is a decent start for a 5th round draft choice.

Williams needs to work on special teams, as I thought he looked a little lost and averse to contact at times. Even so, the fact that he got some snaps with the big boys on offense is a very positive sign for him. If he's been tabbed as step-in for Kuhn, I think it's very likely that he's kept active for most games.

Ryan Taylor- Taylor was not active against the Saints. However, his forte has been said to be special teams, and with how poor the unit looked at times on Thursday, I think he'll get an extra long look in practice this week in the lead-up to the Panthers game. If he is activated for Sunday's game, his ability in that area will be the reason why.

So about those Panthers...

2011-09-12T07:35:00.000-04:00

I, along with the rest of Packernation, was under the assumption that the Green and Gold would be able to stroll into Charlotte next week and come out with an easy win against the hapless Panthers. You know, the same Panthers team that went 2-14 last season and is now relying on an unpolished rookie QB, who completed only 42% of his passes and recorded a passer rating of 64.9 this preseason.

But that was before this afternoon.

Before Cam Newton put together one of the most impressive professional debuts for a rookie QB. Ever. At least statistically.

The former Heisman winner compiled 422 yards (an NFL rookie record), while completing just under 65% of his passes. He threw for 2 touchdowns and ran for another. His passer rating was an astounding 110.

It was like his pedestrian play in the preseason was a ruse, a ploy meant to lure NFL defenses into a sense of paralyzing complacency, leaving them helpless when the gloves came off and the Cam really decided to play...

Now let's take a step back and infuse some reality into this assessment.

The Panthers weren't playing one of the NFL's stalwart defenses. They were playing the Arizona Cardinals, who had one of the defensive worst units in the league a season ago. The Cardinals gave up the 23rd most passing yards in 2010, and that was when they still had Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie roaming their secondary. To be sure, Newton was the beneficiary of some blown coverages.

And Newton wasn't flawless, by any stretch of the imagination. I didn't watch the game, but I did see the replay on his lone interception, and it was pretty bad. Like throwing-into-double-coverage bad. Typical of what you'd expect from a green-behind-the-ears rookie signal caller. Which, after all, Cam Newton is.

Nonetheless, he played a lot better than many people were expecting him to so early in the season. And for Packer Backers, that might mean taking Sunday's game a little more seriously than we'd been planning to. It's also especially concerning that he seems to have found a rapport with the speedy Steve Smith, who has served as the Packers' kryptonite in seasons past. Against the Cardinals, Smith nearly reached 200 yards receiving and hauled in 2 TDs, so it would appear that he's back to his old tricks after a horrendous 2010 campaign.

Let me make this clear. The Packers are still going to win this game, probably by double-digits. They're simply the better team, in all facets of the game. But don't be surprised if Cam Newton isn't the turnover prone, mentally weak, inaccurate youngster we've been expecting him to be.

Packers bend (a lot), but don't break against Saints

2011-09-09T08:53:00.000-04:00

The Packers defense stood stout when
they most needed to. (via LA Times)

20%.

That's the only stat that matters from last night's action. Not the fact that the Saints owned the Packers D in-between the 20s, or New Orleans' ability to convert 64% of their third downs, or even Drew Brees' 419 yards passing.

I repeat: 20%.

It's the percent of times the Saints were able to score a touchdown after making it inside the Packers' 20.

The Packers defense, on their heels for much of the game, nonetheless found their resolve at just the right moments. There was Walden's third-down sack that held the Saints to a field goal on the opening drive of the second half. There was the pressure put on Brees that forced an incompletion on 4th and 1. And, of course, there was the way the game ended.

The last drive was a perfect testament to how the Packers defense played the entire game. After allowing Brees and Co. to march 77 yards down the field in only 1:03, the Packers made a goal-line stand for the ages, stone-walling rookie back Mark Ingram on a run from the 1-yard line with no time left on the clock.

The Packers sure as heck did a lot of bending. But more importantly, they didn't break, holding on for a wild 42-34 victory to open up the 2011 season.

Risers and Sinkers
In every game, there are guys who rise to the occasion-- and those whose performances leave much to be desired. Here's a brief look at Thursday's risers and sinkers.

▲Jarius Wynn- More than just a fill-in for Neal, Wynn was probably the defensive MVP.
▼Charles Woodson- Stupid penalty should've gotten him ejected.
▲Aaron Rodgers- Provided the fast start a team needs against New Orleans, with 188 yards and 3 TDs in the first quarter.
▼Tim Masthay- Gave Sproles all the help he needed, as he out-kicked the coverage on his first punt and line-drived another.
▲Scott Wells- You know your center had a sensational game when he's selected to take part in NBC's "Stars of Game" interview alongside Rodgers.
▲Erik Walden- Beat once, but otherwise looked good in coverage and also had a big sack.
▼AJ Hawk- Sproles can make most LBs look slow, but Hawk was awful in space all game.
▲Randall Cobb- Two TDs, including an NFL-record tying 108 yard return. Not a bad debut.
▲Jarrett Bush- -Shows up in the box score for the right reasons-- a sack an a pass defended in the endzone.
▼Sam Shields- Just like in SB XLV, Shields was victimized by a double-move up the sideline.
▲Jordy Nelson- Solid showing by Nelson, who is clearly emerging as the #2 WR.
▲James Starks- Grant isn't bad, but Starks is clearly better. Great combo of strength and speed.

Takeaways

From the fast start to the shaky third quarter, this game was eerily similar to the Packers victory over the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV. The most alarming part about the deja vu, however, was the Packers offense's inability to put their opponent away late in the game, instead placing the burden on the defense. It worked against the Eagles, Bears, and Steelers in last year's post-season, and again last night, but you have to think our luck is going to run out soon.
If I was grading the special teams, I'd give them a C. An A+ for the return units (Cobb's TD, Driver's onside kick recovery) and an F for the coverage unites (Sproles, Sproles, Sproles). While it's nice to have a return game with some lethality, I think ST Coach Shawn Slocum's number one priority needs to be limiting the opponents' ability to pick up big chunks of yardage-- and score without their offense taking the field.
The Pack, and Aaron Rodgers in particular, are near-unstoppable on 3rd down. We converted 8 of 12 3rd down attempts, including Rodgers first two TD passes.
Aside from TJ Lang's two false-start penalties, the offensive line was stupendous. They looked downright dominant at times in run blocking, and kept Rodgers clean for much of the night. The only two sacks he suffered came when the Saints had a numbers advantage and when Starks missed a blitz pick-up.
Donald Driver had a productive game, making all the naysayers look like idiots. He tied the Packers record for career receiving yards and will get a chance to break it next week in Carolina.
On a different note, where the HECK was James Jones? He had a meaningless 1-yard catch on 3rd and forever in the 4th quarter, but other than that he didn't make so much as blip on the game's radar. I didn't expect his lack of targets to carry over into the regular season, but that's what happened last night. I have to imagine they're considering dealing him, especially with guys like West and Gurley ready to step up from the practice squad.
The Packers did not get to Brees enough. Their defensive looks were pretty vanilla, and when they did bring pressure it was unproductive. AJ Hawk is not good in coverage, but he's equally inefficient as a blitzer. Capers needs to find a way to give Clay Matthews some help.
I mentioned Wynn above, but his performance deserves some more attention. Looking back on my in-game analysis, his name shows up three times: for a coverage sack before halftime, a stop on 3rd and 1 followed by an incompletion-inducing pressure on 4th down in the 3rd quarter, and a tackle for a loss with the Saints knocking on the goal line in the 4th (they scored anyway). Mike Neal may very well assume starting duties when he finally gets healthy, but it's good to know that the Packers have some quality depth backing him up.

While the defense took a whole lot of punches and the special teams was atrocious at times, there were still far more positives than negatives in this game, most important of which was the fact that the Packers got the W and started the 2011 season off on the right foot. We'll have to see what comes of Tramon Williams' shoulder injury, but it looks like the Packers are going to have a very successful season. Next week's trip to Carolina should not be much of a contest.

Ongoing thoughts on Packers vs Saints

2011-09-08T21:34:00.000-04:00

I think I'm supposed to say something about how this is not a substitute for play-by-play....so, this is not a substitute for play-by-play.

1st Quarter
Randall Cobb with a nice little run back on the opening kick-off...C'mon Aaron, you gotta get rid of the ball when they're showing the blitz that badly...Rodgers is money on third down...Wow, I'll admit when I'm wrong: Driver looks spry...And there's your first touchdown of the 2011 season. Rodgers and Jennings have that back-shoulder pass down-pat. Unstoppable. Packers 7, Saints 0
Touch-back by Mason Crosby. I expect to see a lot of those this season...And the Pack get the ball right back. Nick Collins is the epitome of a play-maker.

Grant doesn't look bad, it just looks like he's missing that extra gear...Ugh, horrible blocking on the screen play. Looked like Grant had a lot of room. Finley catches everything, but I'd like to see him do more after the catch...And of course the Packers wait until third down to punch it in. Jordy has made some nice catches...but where is James Jones? Packers 14, Saints 0

Hawk-on-Sproles is a match-up the Saints are going to win every time. Clay almost got to Brees, though...had to be some secondary mix-up on that TD to Meachem. Williams gave him the entire middle of the field but had no help. Packers 14, Saints 7

It's worth repeating: Finley catches everything...Seriously, just put it within 5 feet of him, and he'll reel it in... Rookie Randall Cobb, who made his first reception earlier on this drive, gets his first TD. Exciting start for him. Packers 21, Saints 7

Saints moving the ball well with pass and run...Packers can't tackle.

2nd Quarter
This is the drive that will not end...Graham toasts Walden on third and long...Saints put together a great drive, but the Packers don't break. New Orleans settles for three. Packers 21, Saints 10

OUCH! Driver just got nailed. Still, I'm a little relieved to see they didn't throw a flag on that clean hit...Pack go three-and-out after back shoulder pass to Nelson is somehow defended. First punt of the game from Masthay is a beauty, but boy was the coverage team awful on that one. Sproles returns it for a TD and the Saints are right back in it. Packers 21, Saints 17

"Jeeeeeeez!" My exact word usage as Rodgers misses a wide-open Nelson deep. Nelson had two steps on the DB, but Rodgers overthrew him by another two steps...Aaron redeems himself with a pin-point pass to Jennings for a third down conversion...Seriously, where is James Jones?...Starks clearly has more speed on the edge than Grant, evident after a 10 yard burst...Cris Collinsworth nailed it: Greg Jennings is "slippery"...Crabtree, who was split-out wide, makes a big third-down catch...Screw a 50-50 split. Starks needs to get the ball way more than Grant. Heckuva 17 yard TD run with just under two minutes left in the half. Packers 28, Saints 17

We're not getting to Brees...And, as if on cue, Wynn gets a coverage sack...Sproles is single-handedly keeping the Saints in it. Huge third down catch and run...Walden steps up with a great pass break-up against Graham downfield...Pack sniff out a screen and force a punt, and kneel-down takes us to halftime.

Halftime Thoughts
Our offense has been near flawless. Rodgers is performing surgery and the WRs aren't letting him down. They're catching everything. Our defensive strategy thus far has been pretty vanilla. We've bent, but not broken too often. Still, I'd like to see us get to Brees a little more. Where are those exotic blitzes? Also, we need to figure out a way to contain Darren Sproles. He's the lone difference maker for the Saints. Speaking of, special teams made an inexcusable blunder, letting the Saints right back in the game with an easy punt return. Shawn Slocum needs to figure things out. All in all, if the Pack can keep putting up a steady stream of points, while holding the Saints to field goals, this game is ours to lose.

3rd Quarter
Sproles won't get a chance for a second TD return this time, as Crosby kicks it out the back of the endzone...We finally bring Collins on a blitz but Ingram runs it the other way...Another methodical drive by the Saints, utilizing some good runs and quick passes...Helps when Bishop pathetically misses an open-field tackle like that...Offsides by Matthews allows doesn't matter as Walden has a huge sack on third down. Pack hold 'em to three again. Packers 28, Saints 20

Randall Cobb, you are an answer to a decade worth of prayers. A sensational TD return that began 8 yards deep in his old endzone and was highlighted by an impressive barrel roll that allowed the rookie to stay on his feet. Tied for the longest kick return in NFL history. How about that for a debut? Packers 35, Saints 20

And Sproles nearly answers right back with a return across midfield...Hi, my name is Clay, and I can play the run...Shields toasted on a play eerily reminiscent of Wallace's TD in the Super Bowl. He's susceptible to double moves. Packers 35, Saints 27

Crowd chants "Kuuuuhhn" for the first time all year, after the FB has a nice snag out of the backfield...however, Pack can't pick up a first...Bad punt by Masthay and Sproles has another monster return. For the first time all night, I'm getting a little nervous.

Stupid penalty on Woodson only aids another Saints drive that is moving the chains far too easily...I love it when opposing teams burn a timeout in the third quarter...Big stop on third and inches from the five...And an even bigger stop on fourth down, as the Saints opt for play action but the Packers applied too much pressure. Jarius Wynn stepped up big time on that drive, and the Saints come away with nothing.

Greg Jennings' ball skills are just disgusting. Incredible body control...Starks is running with far more power and assertiveness than Grant...

4th Quarter
Rodgers with another incredible disappearing act to avoid a sack...Jennings has 6 catches, Nelson 5, and Driver 4. James Jones has none, and I've only seen him on the field a few times. What gives?...Kuhn caps off an impressive drive with a plunge in from a yard out. That was exactly what the doctor ordered. Packers 42, Saints 27

You can hate him all you want, but Jarrett Bush made his second huge play in as many games, with a big-time sack on third down. Cobb almost breaks the punt return for a TD, but it would've been called back for a holding penalty anyway.

Grant finally showing some burst. Maybe he's saved it all up for the 4th quarter?...I still like Starks a lot more. Grant dances too much...Well, one thing Starks does need to improve is pass-blocking. Too focused on carrying out a play-action fake and let a LB have a free run at Rodgers... James Jones lives! 3 yard catch on third and long...Masthay prevents any chance for a Sproles return by punting it out off bounds.

Our blitzes look really lackadaisical and aren't producing much...Hawk with a missed open field tackle that allows another promising Saints' drive to stay alive...Bush steps in for an injured Tramon and makes a big pass break-up in the endzone...Jarius Wynn has probably been the Defensive MVP thus far. Tackle for a loss with Saints knocking on the door...Play-action/pump fake combo completely fools Packers and the Saints are within 8. Packers 42, Saints 34

That's why we keep Driver around. Heads-up play on the hands team to thwart an onside kick...Packers don't pick up the first on 3rd down, but at least it's a completion to run the clock down a little more. Not ideal, but could've been worse...Jarrett Bush nearly pins the Saints on the one yard line, but his foot slid into the endzone.

Four passes in a row for first downs. They're on the 18...Saints kill the clock: 3 seconds left, ball on the 10...And a pass interference on AJ Hawk in the endzone will give the Saints another chance. On review, a horrible call...Doesn't matter. Once again, with their backs against the wall, the Packers D comes through and stonewalls Mark Ingram on an untimed down from the 1-yard line. A nerve-wracking finish, but the Packers get the win and are 1-0, so I'll take it.

Packers 42, Saints 34

Look for my post-game analysis early tomorrow morning.

Jon&Bob make some predictions about the 2011 Season

2011-09-06T08:35:00.000-04:00

With the start of the 2011 season only days away, it's time for Jon&Bob to make some predictions. Clearly we're both expecting big things from the Pack, although one of brandishes gung ho brand of optimism, while the other subscribes to a more tempered variety. Enough chatter; check out our picks. And make sure to leave your's in the comment section!

INDIVIDUAL PLAYER AWARDS

Rodgers is easy to agree upon.

Culver's of Baxter Offensive Dynamo

Jon's Pick: Aaron Rodgers- A boring selection, yes, but I'm not picking against your 2011 NFL MVP.

Bob's Pick: Aaron Rodgers- Duh.

ChuckClay Award for Impact Player on Defense

Jon's Pick: Nick Collins- Not many non-Packer fans know that Collins has been to 4 straight Pro Bowls. By the end of this season, he'll be a household name across the league, and will finally earn the respect normally reserved for Troy Polomalu and Ed Reed.

Bob's Pick: Tramon Williams- Down the stretch last year, a star was born. Williams will build on his breakout performance in the playoffs and continue his meteoric rise to one of the game's elite corners.

Breakthrough Performer

Jon's Pick: BJ Raji- He made big strides in his sophomore season and is poised for a monster year. The move to defensive end will help him establish himself as one of the league's best interior pass rushers.

Bob's Pick: Jermichael Finley- Before his season was cut short by a freak play last year in week 5, Finley was on pace for a 1,200 yard season. This year he's leaner, meaner, and poised to change the tight end position forever.

Rookie of the Year

Jon's Pick: Randall Cobb- Not many options to choose from, but that's no slight of Cobb. He'll make a big impact as a returner, and to a more a limited extent as a receiver.

Bob's Pick: Vic So'oto- Mark it down: Vic So'oto, will be the starting OLB opposite Clay Matthews by week 6. The rookie will record 6 to 8 sacks and reduce the amount of double and triple teams Matthews is sure to face.

Quarless, my candidate for
the John Kuhn Award for
Unhearleded Dude Who
Steps Up

John Kuhn Award for Unheralded Dude Who Steps Up

Jon's Pick: Andrew Quarless- With Finley back, everyone's kind of forgotten about Quarless. I expect him to be a big part of the passing attack.

Bob's Pick C.J. Wilson- Much has been made about Green Bay's "lack" of depth on the defensive line, but look for C.J. Wilson to make a solid contribution in his second year.

Jarrett Bush Designation for the Guy Who Earns Our Ire

Jon's Pick: AJ Hawk- I don't think Hawk will be bad--but I don't see him making the plays to justify the money we just paid him.

Bob's Pick: No one- I resent the word "earn" in the title of this category.

TEAM/LEAGUE PREDICTIONS

Record

Jon's Pick: 13-3- I don't expect to win at Atlanta or San Diego, but we should get most of the rest of them.

Bob's Pick: 14-2- I don't expect to lose any games this year, but this is the NFL. Anything can happen.

Final Result

Jon's Pick: Super Bowl XLVI Champions- Rodgers outduels Brady just months after the Brewers beat the Red Sox in the World Series.

Bob's Pick: Super Bowl XLVI Champions- After emerging from the superior National Football Conference, Green Bay easily handles the San Diego Chargers, 38-17.

Trap Game

Jon's Pick: vs Rams, Week 6- Don't sleep on St. Louis. Sam Bradford's legit.

Bob's Pick: @ Lions, Week 12- Our third game in 11 days, on Thanksgiving day no less.

Longest Streak

Jon's Pick: W8- We always finish strong, so why not win every game of the second half of the season?

Bob's Pick: W10- Again, I'm expecting to win every game. But to be pragmatic, I'll say our first loss of the season comes on Thanksgiving day at Detroit.

Division Order

Jon's Pick: GB, DET, CHI, MIN- Chicago will be a lot closer to Minnesota's level than people think.

Bob's Pick: GB, DET, CHI, MIN- Lions over .500, Bears take a major step back after years of bad drafting and ill-advised free agent acquisitions. The Vikes just suck.

Expect to see a lot of Sad Jay this year.

Biggest Single Season Swings

Jon's Pick: Arizona (+), Chicago (-) - Kolb might not be Joe Montana, but he doesn't need to be for the Cardinals to win 10 games in that awful division. As for the Bears, I wouldn't be surprised if they win less than 7.

Bob's Pick: Houston (+), Chicago (-) - This is the year the Texans finally win the AFC South and end the Colts' yearly playoff tradition. The Bears are a house of cards right now and will be one of the worst teams in the NFL.

OVER/UNDER

24.5 TD/Int differential for Rodgers

Jon's Pick: Over- High 30s for TDs, low teens for INTs sounds about right.

Bob's Pick: Way Over- 45 TDs, 9 INTs. Plus 3 more rushing TDs for good measure.

[Editor's note: Bob's over-reliance on Rodgers in fantasy football really shines through here]

999.5 yards for our leading rusher

Jon's Pick: Under- Pass-first offense + committee backfield = no 1000 yard rusher.

Bob's Pick: Under- Given Rodgers' astronomical numbers, there won't be a 1000 yard rusher. However, our running game as a whole will be very good this year.

We need you, Chad!

9.5 games started by Clifton

Jon's Pick: Over- But I've got my fingers crossed.

Bob's Pick: Over- Pray that it's over.

14.5 sacks for Matthews

Jon's Pick: Over- With a leg that isn't broken, I wouldn't be surprised if he gets 20.

Bob's Pick: Over- 17 sounds about right.

79.5 FG percentage for Crosby

Jon's Pick: Over- He'll break 80% for the first time in his career. After that juicy contract he just signed, he better.

Bob's Pick: Over- He's finally got some continuity at long snapper and holder. Add in the fact that he's had a great camp, Crosby is set up for a career year.

49.5 percent chance this blog is still around at the end of the season

Jon's Pick: Under- Hey, if we aren't, then at least I got this one right.

Bob's Pick: Over- We control our own destiny. One of us is bound to post.

If there weren't enough reasons to love the guy...

2011-09-05T13:30:00.000-04:00

...he supports the Brew Crew and his BFF by sporting a cap during his locker room interviews. Rodgers, a native Californian, is nonetheless keeping tabs on his adopted-state's baseball team and their push to the playoffs. Can't think of a better way to even further ingratiate himself to the good people of Wisconsin.

The dust has settled...let's take a look

2011-09-05T06:13:00.002-04:00

Teddy's a little frazzled after his busy weekend.

Following the madness associated with Cutdown Weekend, the Packers 2011 roster appears to be solidified- at least for the time being. No doubt it will change as we progress through the season, with the inevitability of injuries and other areas of weakness that may need to be addressed.

What follows is my rather random assessment of how things went down this past Saturday and Sunday-- and how the Packers are situated on the cusp of the 2011 season.

What a difference a year makes
Some GMs like to follow a similar blueprint from one year to the next. Not Ted Thompson. The Architect (if that's not an exceptional moniker, I don't know what is) has proven time and time again that he is primarily concerned with keeping good football players, not filling positional quotas. After keeping 3 FBs for the previous two seasons, he opted to only roll with John Kuhn. Likewise, there are only 8 offensive linemen on the roster this year, down from 10 in 2010. The extra space has allowed TT to hang on to an unprecedented 5 TEs, and the number of linebackers on the team is 10, up 2 from a year ago.

Rookies Jamarai Lattimore and
Vic So'oto are two of the ten
linebackers on the Packers' roster.
(This picture is somewhat homoerotic)

In with the new...
The Packers are the second youngest team in the NFL this season. Keeping 10 rookies on the roster certainly contributes to that ranking. They say a dynasty is impossible to build in the modern era, but with the way TT recycles talent while keeping his core intact, the Packers could prove the naysayers wrong. But let's make it two in a row before we get too caught up on the "D" word.

Thompson's disdain for veteran free agents continues
Scanning the roster, I don't see a single player who was either not associated with the team last year or is not a rookie. Not a single one. I'm not complaining either.

We kept West and Gurley-- for now
My love affair with Chastin West is well-documented, so I was somewhat ecstatic when I found out he had survived waivers and made it back to the Packers' practice squad. In fact, Harrell and Tori Gurley had also made it through. This was too good to be true. However, my glee was soon tempered. Being on the practice squad guarantees nothing, as any team can sign a practice squad player to their 53 man roster at the drop of a hat. In fact, in recent seasons the Packers have had three players poached: Breno Giacomini, Jamon Meredith, and Brian Brohm. Granted, all three of these players were draft picks, and in the case of Brohm and Meredith, were pretty touted coming out of college. Still, it's a very real possibility that someone comes calling and steals one of our talented young players away. If I had to guess, I'd say West, given his level of polish, is the most "at risk."

Sorry Graham! Kareem and I tried!

I missed the mark on Harrell
I guaranteed that Graham Harrell would make the 53-man roster, and I wasn't the only one. He didn't. The Packers opted to roll with only 2 QBs for the second straight year, while Harrell was relegated to the practice squad yet again. Simply put, although the Packers may believe that Harrell could one day be a capable second-stringer, they either don't think he'll be poached off the practice squad or don't think his potential is irreplaceable. Probably both.

Going with what they've got on the D-line
We all knew Cullen Jenkins would likely be departing in free agency, so many of us scratched our heads when the Pack didn't place much emphasis on acquiring new blood for the D-line this offseason. We had a trio of solid big men, but the guys behind them were cause for some concern: Mike Neal was returning from a season ending injury, CJ Wilson didn't seem to be anything special, and Jarius Wynn had already been once-cut before the Packers decided to bring him back midseason. The only notable addition was 6th round pick Lawrence Guy, who was plagued by concussion issues during camp and will spend the year on IR. However, both Wynn and Wilson have looked much improved thus far, giving hope that the Packers' depth at the D-line is not as bad as some feared. Now if we could only get Neal healthy...

Rookie safety MD Jennings made the team in large part to
his excellent play on special teams.

Special teams got the special treatment
With very few holes on either side of the ball, the Packers were able to focus on upgrading their special teams, a unit that finished 2010 ranked 29th and has been the weak link of the Green and Gold for some time now. Obviously Randall Cobb will provide a big boost to the return game, but the upgrade to the unit goes far beyond that. First and foremost, the Packers kept a combined 15 TEs and LBs, players whose combination of moderate athleticism and size will allow them to contribute to a variety of ST units. Guys who excelled at special teams, like Jarrett Bush, Tom Crabtree, and rookies MD Jennings and Ryan Taylor, were kept on the team at the expense of those who did not. With all the love special teams has gotten, ST coach Shawn Slocum will have absolutely no excuses if his unit finishes at the bottom of the barrel once again.

Close, but not perfect
From top to bottom, the Packers roster is probably the deepest in the league. Our starters are set, and, in my estimation, we have no question marks regarding any of the depth backing them up-- except in one area. The Packers only kept 8 offensive linemen, and it wasn't because TT was feeling risque; it's because the talent simply wasn't there. Nick McDonald, considered a promising rookie just a year ago, showed nothing this preseason and is now on the Patriot's practice squad. 5th round pick Caleb Schlauderaff was traded away to the Jets after he didn't show enough in camp (plus his name is too hard to spell). The guys left to back up our starters don't inspire much confidence either. First round pick Derek Sherrod may very well be the LT of the future, but his play thus far would leave me expecting the worst if he had to fill in for Chad Clifton anytime soon. Marshall Newhouse has had a Jekyll/Hyde showing this preseason, looking great at times and atrocious at others. And expectations for Evan Deitrich-Smith can't be too high, considering that the Packers opted to cut him last year at this time. Obviously it'd be great if our starters could just just stay healthy, but look for The Architect to address his O-line depth in the near future.

So'oto impresses in preseason finale

2011-09-02T02:34:00.001-04:00

Pequot Lakes' freshman OLB Henry Liedl.
The next Clay Matthews?

I'll be honest. I had no intention of watching the Packers square-off against the Kansas City Chiefs in their preseason finale. My Badgers were opening their regular season on national television, and, as a resident of Minnesota, I wasn't sure how I was going to catch the Pack.

Then I remembered I live in the year 2011, and I was a simple Google search away from finding a live stream of the action from Lambeau. After a few clicks of the mouse and strokes of the keyboard, I was .Honestly, it's almost a little too convenient.

Admittedly, my focus was a bit fuzzy at times as I simultaneously juggled watching the Pack, taking in the Badgers' beatdown, and keeping tabs on my (14 year old!!) brother's first varsity football action.

However, even I wasn't able to miss Vic So'oto's dominance.

The undrafted rookie from BYU was a monster. He gave the Chiefs starting offensive line fits on his way to 1.5 sacks. By the second half, he was being routinely double and even triple teamed.

So'oto added an exclamation point to his stellar performance with a 33 yard interception returned for a TD. The play proved that So'oto's the real deal at OLB: he can stuff the run, rush the passer, and get by in coverage. His play the past two weeks not only necessitates that the Packers keep him on the roster, but that they make a concerted effort to get him on the field in the regular season. Outside of Clay Matthews, he may be the best pass-rusher they have.

Risers and Sinkers (Bubble Battle Edition)
It's the preseason, and jobs are on the line. Here's a quick look at who bolstered their chances of making the roster, and who may be looking for a new NFL team after Saturday.
▼Quinn Johnson- Unimpressive lead blocking makes the fullback very expendable.

▲ Tom Crabtree- Veteran TE may have been on the bubble before, but TD catch shows he's more than just a one-trick pony.

▼MD Jennings- Flashed talent, but still looks raw and is probably headed to the practice squad.
▲ Pat Lee- Was beat a few times, but was around the ball, tackled well, and made some plays.
▼ Josh Gordy- Lack of size and physicality was highlighted when he gave up a TD to Bowe. Also allowed McCluster score.
▲ Cardia Jackson- Came away with a "heads-up" interception and could get consideration for the practice squad.
▼ Nick McDonald- Bad snap resulted in a safety and could lead to his departure.
▲ Vic So'oto- UDFA linebacker has gone from on the fence to a potential day one contributor. Defensive MVP of the preseason.
▼Rickey Elmore- I thought he got decent pressure, but he was toasted in coverage and is not an OLB.
▲Kerry Taylor- No shot of making the roster, but his good play could earn him a spot on the practice squad.
▼Graham Harrell- His performance did not help his case
▲DJ Smith- It's cliche, but he has a noise for the ball; exactly what you want from an ILB.
▼Tori Gurley/Chastin West- Both WRs, possibly on the cusp of earning a roster spot, failed to make the type of big play that would've pushed them over the top.

Takeaways

Not a lot to gleam from this game, seeing as how the Packers' starters played a very limited number of reps. Still, Rodgers and company looked supremely efficient, and essentially having your back-ups beat a starting squad is always a positive.
CJ Wilson had a very good game. We still need Mike Neal to step up but it's encouraging to see that one of the other guys might be serviceable.
The personal foul called on Kansas City's Eric Berry was one of the worst calls I've ever seen. I later turned on SportsCenter to see a Jets player called for another bogus penalty on what was truly a good old-fashioned clean hit. I've ignored those who've claimed recent rule changes make the NFL akin to flag football, and I'm all for player safety, but this is getting absurd. It's gotten to the point where a guy is being flagged if he makes any sort of big hit, regardless of if he leads with his helmet or not. This can't be right-- at least I hope it's not the way the Goodell really wants the games to be called.
The Packers' second string offensive line looks really bad. Both Flynn and Harrell were harassed and the running backs couldn't generate anything.
I noted it above, but Quinn Johnson was bad. Real bad. I specifically watched him on a few plays, and his MO seemed to be running up to pile and doing a somersault. No way he sticks with versatile guys like Taylor and Crabtree on
Matt Flynn had a very poor showing. Who knows, maybe his stock has sunk so far that we'll be able to retain him after this season?
I may be eating my words come Saturday. I once said Harrell was a lock to make the team. I'm reconsidering. I also wrote off Lee, but his steadiness now seems more attractive than Gordy and Ross' inconsistency. Finally, I all but guaranteed that Chastin West would make the team as the 6th WR, but the odds seem to be against that now, too. Maybe I should just stop making predictions? .... Nah.

So the preseason is complete and the Packers can turn their attention to next week's contest against the New Orleans Saints. But before they do, they'll need to figure out which 53 players they'll be carrying into the regular season. The deadline is 5 PM on Saturday, so look for my forecast a little earlier.

Bob's Final 53 and Thoughts on Jarrett Bush, Super Bowl Hero

2011-09-01T07:00:00.002-04:00

It's that time of year again. Teams are breaking camp, roster "bubble" players are looking forward to showing their stuff in the final game of the preseason, and the kickoff to the regular season is just around the corner. So are teams' final roster cuts, which will reduce the total NFL labor force by almost 35% (anyone else see the irony of this happening over Labor Day Weekend?).

Naturally, you're wondering which players are good enough to crack our beloved World Champion Packers' 53 man roster. The following is my best guess as to who Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy are ready to roll with in 2011 on the way to Green Bay's second straight Super Bowl victory.

(Note: A * next to a player's name indicates that he is an absolute, stone-cold lock for the roster in my eyes. If one of these players are cut, I would be shocked.)

QBs (3)
Aaron Rodgers*
Matt Flynn*
Graham Harrell*

This was the easy part. Flynn is a top backup QB entering the final year of his rookie contract and his clipboard-holding days are numbered. Harrell has made leaps and bounds from his first year on the practice squad to now. Green Bay can't leave him there this season and risk losing him too. And yeah. It's safe to say the reigning Super Bowl MVP's roster spot is safe.

Bye bye, Quinn Johnson.

RBs (4)
Ryan Grant*
James Starks*
Alex Green*
John Kuhn*

This is the year the Packers finally don't keep more than one FB and Quinn Johnson gets the ax. Grant and Starks look to be 1 and 1A, with Starks having a slight advantage to this point. Alex Green will get some opportunities as a third down back and a kickoff returner. But did you notice that Starks was in on third down with the first string at Indianapolis?

TEs (5)
Jermichael Finley*
Andrew Quarless
Ryan Taylor*
D.J. Williams
Tom Crabtree

This is where it starts to get tricky. Five tight ends sounds crazy, but it's arguably the most valuable position on a roster. Jermichael is obviously a lock. No one can do what he does. He's too big for corners and safties and too fast for linebackers (and many safeties). Finley is a weapon that defenses don't have an answer for. Surprisingly enough, the only other lock in this group is rookie 7th round draft pick, Ryan Taylor. Taylor has entrenched himself on nearly every 1st team special teams units and has also been a pleasant surprise as a receiver. Quarless should make the roster based on potential and the fact that he's the only TE with extensive game experience behind Finley. Williams came on strong early in camp, but has faded of late. Still, it's hard to imagine Green Bay cutting a 5th round pick with great receiving potential. That brings us to Tom Crabtree. A fan favorite, Crabtree does the dirty work and is by far the best blocker of the bunch. Coupled with his valuable contributions on special teams, and the fact that he's Tweeted me back on a couple of different occasions, Tom Crabtree makes the cut.

WRs (5)

No room for the promising West in the Packers'
talented WR corps.

Greg Jennings*
Donald Driver*
Jordy Nelson*
James Jones*
Randall Cobb*

Best receiving corps in the league, hands down. No room for Chastin West or Tori Gurley here, and I'm not losing any sleep over it. I know West has gotten a lot of love from the media and fans during camp, but it's time to get real. With average size and only marginal speed, would West really be able to contribute here? He certainly can't beat out the new and improved Big 5, and even if he did make the roster, it's hard to believe Green Bay would keep 6 WRs active on game day. If the Packers were to keep 6 WRs, I would rather have Gurley. A big target with excellent leaping ability and body control, Gurley could develop into a matchup problem in the redzone. He's also able to use his length to his advantage on special teams: he has 5 blocked punts in camp, and nearly got one in Indy last week. The problem with Gurley is that he's a project player at Green Bay's strongest position. Maybe somehow he clears waivers and signs to the practice squad, but I doubt that happens. 6' WRs like Chastin West are a dime a dozen. 6'4" WRs like Gurley, however, are much rarer and highly sought after. Both will sign somewhere else. Maybe TT can find a team willing to trade a late round pick for them.

OL (10)
Chad Clifton*
T.J. Lang*
Scott Wells*
Josh Sitton*
Bryan Bulaga*
Derek Sherrod*
Marshall Newhouse
Evan Dietrich-Smith
Nick McDonald
Ray Dominguez

This is another tricky one since no player has really emerged as a reliable backup. Hopefully the first stringers can stay healthy all year, especially Clifton. If he goes down early in the year, we're in trouble. Marshall Newhouse has been an enigma, performing exceptionally well in practice during the one-on-one periods but struggling in games this preseason. Sherrod has shown that he's still very raw and is not ready to play at this level. Another victim of the lockout, it's not time to push the panic button on Sherrod yet. He just needs reps, reps, and more reps. Remember, Brian Bulaga struggled big time during training camp and couldn't earn a starting role at the beginning of last season either. Right now it's obvious that Sherrod is thinking too much and is still getting comfortable in Green Bay's scheme. Given time, it will click for Sherrod. Hopefully the Packers have that luxury. Look for rookie 6th round pick Caleb Schlauderaff to end up on the practice squad if undrafted free agent rookie Ray Dominguez does in fact make the roster.

DL (6)
B.J. Raji*
Ryan Pickett*
Mike Neal*
Howard Green*
C.J. Wilson
Jarius Wynn

Easy picks here. Do the Packers keep another defensive lineman as insurance for Mike Neal? How bad is that mysterious knee injury? It sounds like he'll be ready for the opener against New Orleans. I just hope Neal isn't a big tease. Loads of talent, but so far has had a lot of trouble staying on the field.

Rookie So'oto has more potential than Jones.

OLBs (4)
Clay Matthews*
Erik Walden*
Frank Zombo*
Vic So'oto

This is where I make my favorite pick. An undrafted rookie free agent who will make an impact. I was right about Sam Shields before this time last year, and I love Vic So'oto this year. I've been pulling for him since the beginning of training camp and his big game against the Colts starters may have secured him a roster spot. He's big, and more importantly, he plays like it. Kevin Greene is always preaching to his LBs to be physical, something So'oto has shown time and again. It's also something Brad Jones and Erik Walden have been lacking. The difference is, Walden has improved and Jones has seemingly plateaued and cannot stay healthy. I considered keeping a 5th OLB in Jones because of Zombo's injury, but I'll explain why I decided not to in the next section.

ILBs (4)
A.J. Hawk*
Desmond Bishop*
D.J. Smith*
Robert Francois

How about D.J. Smith? This dude is a gamer. He has a nose for the ball and is a tackling machine. Smith has probably had the best camp of any of the draft picks this year, continuing to impress in practice and in games. He is instinctive and assignment sure, making him the top backup if Hawk or Bishop were to go down. Francois is another reliable backup who coach Winston Moss calls the "thumper" of the group. Francois is big enough to play OLB and has actual game experience out there (started against the Giants last year). Francois' versatility and the emergence of So'oto make Brad Jones expendable.

DBs (9)
Charles Woodson*
Tramon Williams*
Sam Shields*
Jarrett Bush*
Davon House*
Josh Gordy
Nick Collins*
Morgan Burnett*
Charlie Peprah

I think it's the end of the road for Pat Lee and Brandon Underwood. Lee has never really shown anything when he's been healthy and the drafting of Davon House in the 4th round of this year's draft and the emergence of Josh Gordy make it hard to justify keeping the former 2nd round pick. I think Gordy has made enough splash plays and has been solid enough in coverage to earn the sixth CB spot. He's faster than Lee and has more potential. Underwood has been a nuisance off the field but is very talented. However, Charlie Peprah played admirably last season while filling in at safety for Morgan Burnett, and Jarrett Bush can play safety in a pinch. House may win the dime back role later in the season, but this fact will not affect Bush's standing with the team. He is an absolute stud on special teams, and along with punter Tim Masthay, Bush was one of the most important keys to victory in both Bears games at the end of the year. The man is constantly ripped to shreds in comment sections and message boards because of a few bad games where he's had to step in and help out an undermanned secondary and I'm tired of reading it. I'll admit, early on I was part of the general group of Packer fans who cringed whenever they saw #24 in the game. However, this feeling has changed over the last year and a half.

I've never heard of another dime back put under so much scrutiny. Think about it like this: how many dime backs in the league would you rather have instead of Bush? If you can even think of another team's 4th CB, I'll be impressed. It's time to give the favorite scapegoat of our secondary a rest. The man is a SUPER BOWL HERO. This CANNOT be denied. Bush stepped up in the biggest situation when both Shields and Woodson, the heart and soul of the defense, went down in the first half. He made a game-changing interception that led to a Packer touchdown. We don't win the Super Bowl without that play. And contrary to popular belief, he was not out of position on that play. He didn't blow a coverage and get lucky. Here's what Bush's position coach, Joe Whitt, had to say:

“Jarrett on that play played it perfectly,” Whitt said. “Everybody keeps saying the tight end was running free, but it wasn’t because of what he did. He did the right thing on that play.”

No, it wasn't luck but the countless hours of film study that prepared Bush to make the play of his life. He recognized the Steelers' play and created a turnover. If Woodson had made the interception, people would describe it as a "heads up play" instead of dumb luck.

I will always remember the footage of Bush, standing on the field with tears streaming down his face and the confetti raining down from above, and the vindication he must have felt in that moment of supreme victory. It's the kind of image that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up and appreciate the amount of heart and effort these men put into this game. So Jarrett, you will always have at least one fan here at JonBob's.

ST (3)
Mason Crosby*
Tim Masthay*
Brett Goode*

Since there is no competition for these spots in camp, nothing really needs to be said here. Good to see Crosby knocking the rust off right before the season and it looks like we finally found a long-term answer at punter in Masthay.

Green Bay would be better off if Driver had retired

2011-08-31T07:31:00.009-04:00

Donald Driver is back for a 13th season in Green Bay.

Get out the boiling tar. Calibrate the rack. Sharpen those screws. Bring out what ever Inquisition-era form of "persuasion" you want, I'm not recanting my potentially heretical position: The Packers would be better off if Donald Driver had retired this offseason.

Let me get something straight: this isn't some personal attack. I don't have a vendetta against #80. Simply put, I love the guy. I love his work ethic, his consistency, his drive and determination, and his plainly pleasant attitude.

No, I'm sure I love Donald just as much as the rest of you. I'm just able to take a step back, turn off my emotions, and realize that Driver's retirement probably would've left the Packers better positioned in the grand scheme of things.

Donald Driver's play is clearly declining. His heroics against the hapless 49ers aside, 2010 was his least productive season since 2001. Once thought to be ageless, the 35 year-old Driver began to show signs of slowing down. Injuries hampered him throughout the season, and he was unavailable for the second half of Super Bowl XLV. The ankle injury he sustained in that contest kept him in a walking boot for two months. Driver is not as spry and indestructible as he used to be.

Furthermore, his play on the field has not matched seasons past. Always a threat after the catch, Driver's YAC average dropped to a paltry 3.7. And despite the flak that James Jones and Jordy Nelson received, it was Driver who led the team in drops and drop percentage.

While his familiarity with the offense and chemistry with Aaron Rodgers cannot be questioned, it's a simple fact that he's no longer the clear-cut second best receiver on the team. Indeed, he's probably only be as good as the fourth best, behind Nelson and Jones.

Still, forth best on Green Bay's receiving corps is not too shabby, and if preseason action thus far is any indication, Driver still has the ability to serve as a decent possession receiver in the Packers multi-WR sets. But how much would the Packers really have missed Driver if he'd called it quits? Would the passing game drop-off in any significant way?

I doubt it. The Packers are so loaded at receiver that losing Driver would not be much of a blow. Greg Jennings has established himself as an elite player at the position. Jermichael Finley, back from injury, is an indefensible TE who will always open things up on the outside. The inconsistencies that have marred otherwise impressive play from Nelson and Jones would likely vanish with increased responsibility. And rookie second-rounder Cobb appears to be ready to contribute sooner rather than later.

With Driver back, promising youngsters
like Tori Gurley will most likely be let go.

So, while Driver still has the ability to contribute in a reduced capacity, his absence would not be much of a setback to Green Bay's aerial assault. In fact, they got through the second half of 2010 just fine with him playing on a limited basis. With that in mind, what's the cost of him returning to Packers for another season?

Tori Gurley, Chastin West, or both. The fact that Driver will have a spot on the roster means that one if not both of these talented, up-and-coming youths will not. Their futures in Green Bay will be sacrificed for a 36 year-old wide-receiver, the fourth best on his team, who's on the downswing of his career and has recently been plagued by injuries. It's a rare instance in which the Packers under Ted Thompson will pass on promising young talent in favor of a declining veteran.

Now, to be clear, I am not advocating that Ted Thompson releases Driver now. Such a move this late into the preseason would not only be wrong ethically, it would probably create exactly the type of locker room maelstrom that a Super Bowl champion looking to defend needs to avoid. At this point, Driver will and should remain a part of the team.

But just because it's the right decision doesn't necessarily make it the best. Gurley and West are talented players, and it will be difficult to see either of them go on to play somewhere else.

Donald Driver will go down as one of the greatest Packers ever to lace 'em up. He is the franchise's all-time leader in receptions and second on the list for career receiving yards. Coming off a Super Bowl win, the emotional zenith of his 13 year career, this past offseason was the perfect time for him to retire, to hang up his cleats and walk off into the sunset-- and I wish he would have.

Taking stock after Indy

2011-08-27T23:54:00.007-04:00

Well, not all of us could attend the Packers game in Indianapolis (I'm looking at you, Bob). In fact, some of us actually worked during the contest and only were able to catch the first quarter during our meal break. So no fourth quarter excitement for us (me).

Nonetheless, I've still been able to piece together a pretty solid secondary grasp of what transpired Friday night, so I figured I'd throw together some hodge-podge analysis. I mean, come on, when have I ever let a loose grasp of the facts stand in the way of me spouting off my opinions?

Risers and Sinkers (Bubble Battle Edition)
It's the preseason, and jobs are on the line. Here's a quick look at who bolstered their chances of making the roster, and who may be looking for a new NFL team in a couple of weeks.

▲ Vic So'oto- strong and explosive, this undrafted OLB is a threat against the run and the pass.
▲ Ryan Taylor- definitely looks like the better of the two rookie TEs at this point
▼ Jarrett Bush- I think he still has a roster spot, but poor coverage skills could lose him dime job.
▲ Graham Harrell- he was apparently awful early on, but his late game heroics will help his cause.
▼ Pat Lee- no way he makes the team. After Justin Harrell, probably Ted Thompson's worst miss.
▲ Jamari Lattimore- another undrafted OLB who made his mark, though he might need time on the practice squad.
▼ Anthony Levine- hard to blame a guy with a concussion for not playing, but Levine needs to show something-- fast.
▲DJ Smith- rookie is always around the ball, and may now be top back-up ILB.
▼ Rickey Elmore- college DE is clearly not a 3-4 OLB, and has been outplayed by So'oto and Lattimore.
▲ Alex Green- believe it or not, rookie's 9 yard run was Green Bay's rushing highlight of the night.

Takeaways

For anyone who thought Rodgers might hit a post-Super Bowl slump, watch the highlights. His TD to Finley and one-legged rifle to Driver were vintage.
Speaking of Rodgers, I heard he was wearing a Brewers hat during an interview (14-year old brother with the intel, so possibly suspect). It's a great time to be a fan of Wisconsin sports (Badgers, anyone?).
The stat line doesn't really indicate that Chastin West had the breakthrough performance I was anticipating, but there's more to it than meets the eye. He had a 20-yard scoring strike from Rodgers nullified by a holding penalty and he was also heavily involved in special teams. As I've been saying all along, it'll be hard for the Packers to cut him.
The guys at CheeseheadTV noted that James Starks was the Packers third-down back on Friday. He didn't disappoint on Friday, catching 5 balls for 38 yards. Everyone was so obsessed with talking about rookie Alex Green's potential to land this gig, we forgot about the guy who all along had the most natural receiving ability. In fact, this is the role that I anticipated Starks filling when we drafted him over a year ago.
Everyone's making a huge deal of the offensive line's struggles. Call me if it happens in the regular season. We seem to go through this same "crisis," specifically regarding Clifton, every preseason (okay, maybe it was actually a crisis in 2009). My bet is that once the games start counting, Clifton and the rest of the unit will be ready to go.
The Packers' no-huddle approach has already been talked to death, so I'll just say this: if it scores TDs, who cares about TOP? [that's "time of possesion"]
14 Packers had at least one catch in the contest. That number definitely won't be as high in the regular season, but it is somewhat of an indication that this team is loaded with talent at the play-making positions.

Packers Court: Andrew Quarless

2011-08-26T14:58:00.000-04:00

It's Packers Court! The JonBob's feature where a Packers player comes before the honorable Ted Thompson and pleads his case for more playing time, a fatter contract, or even a roster spot! In today's installment, second year tight end Andrew Quarless appears in Judge Ted's court against charges that he's a bust and doesn't deserve a second season in Green Bay.

All rise for the honorable Ted Thompson!

Ted Thompson: Good afternoon folks. I've got an exciting week of fun cuts to make, so let's get down to brass tacks! Will the accused please present his case?

Andrew Quarless: Well, your honor, I feel like I've been getting a bad rap. I'm only just starting my second season, and already people are calling me a bust and saying I should be cut. I'm sorry I didn't put up huge numbers my rookie season and I'm sorry I botched that trick play. Oh yah, and the lone touchdown I had probably shouldn't have counted. But seriously, I was only a rookie. What were ya'll expecting?

TT: Hmm. Enough about the past. What have you done for me lately?

AQ: Well I showed up to camp and couldn't pass my physical 'cause of some problem with my hip, so I missed some practices...

TT: Remind me why I drafted you again?

AQ: Well, at 6'4 and 250, I ran a 40 yard dash in the 4.6 range. That's pretty good, right?

TT: Go on...

AQ: For my size I'm a damn good athlete and a fairly fluid receiver. I'm definitely the best receiving TE aside from Jermichael, despite all the hype those two rookies have been getting. I feel like people have been too quick to forget about all my potential. I mean, Jermichael didn't breakout until his second season. In fact, he was a lot worse than me as a rookie!

TT: Those are some pretty solid points you raise there. I actually didn't draft you with the expectation that you'd play a lot last year. But when Finley went down, you were kind of thrown into the middle of things.

AQ: Exactly.

TT: Still, there's a lot of talent at tight end this year, and some tough decisions are going to have to be made. What separates you from the rest?

AQ: As I said before, after Jermichael, I'm your boy. No one else on the roster gives you this combination of size and speed. DJ Williams is decent, but he's a little on the small side. Not gonna give the type of match-up problems I bring to the table. And Crabtree and Taylor? Man, you just have to look at them to know they're only good at blocking and special teams. If Jermichael gets injured again, or worse, flys the coop after this season, I'm the best candidate to replace him.

TT: Alright, I think I've heard all I need to. But before we wrap this up, I just gotta ask you...what is with those ridiculous tattoos on your arm?

AQ: Uhhhhh...

TT: That's what I thought. On the count of being a bust I find the defendant innocent, and the accusing parties premature in their conclusions. On the count of not meriting a spot on the 53 man roster, I similarly find the accusing parties to be out of line. And on the count of having one of the worst tattoos in the NFL, and that's saying something, I find the defendant guilty.

AQ: Well I did add an "S" to the "gift", so my tats not as outrageously conceited anymore, and I did give a pretty good run down on the rest of them that actually kind of showed me to be a humble, God-fearing family man, but thanks for giving me another chance, Judge Ted!

TT: Don't thank me yet, sonny. We might be doing this same song and dance next preseason, and I might not be so lenient then. You best start proving you're worth your roster spot, and fast. Court adjourned.

Chastin West's "breakthrough" could come this Friday

2011-08-25T07:30:00.005-04:00

For most successful performers, whether they be actors, musicians or athletes, there seems to be a point in their career when they "breakthrough." A moment when their potential shines through and they propel themselves down the path to greatness. A game or a song or a role that we can all point to and say, "Yeah, that's where it began."

Peyton Hillis' big break came when he was traded as an afterthought from Denver to Cleveland. The success of Kelly Clarkson on American Idol served as a springboard to her (semi) productive career as a pop singer. And Will Smith, of Men In Black and Gettin' Jiggy With It fame, had his breakthrough performance on the still hilarious 90's sitcom, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.

On Friday night, Chastin West could have his.

For a guy who went undrafted out of Fresno State, stayed on the Packers practice squad for a year, and is trying to earn a roster spot at the defending Super Bowl champions' deepest and most skilled position, the opportunity West will have on Friday could not be any more golden.

When the Packers square off against the Indianapolis Colts for their third preseason game, West will take center stage. With Greg Jennings and Randall Cobb both injured and unlikely to play, West will have the opportunity not only to play with the Packers' starting offensive unit, but to play against the Colts' starting secondary. A sterling showing on his part could be just what the second year player needs to get over the hump and on to a regular season roster.

And he's primed for the occasion. He's already had an impressive training camp, and last week's stellar performance against Arizona was quite the tune-up. The conditions are ripe for a coming-of-age performance from Chastin West.

All eyes will be on him tomorrow night to see if he has what it takes to be an NFL receiver. If he passes the test, he may just earn himself a roster spot.

Of course, that might not be with the Green Bay Packers. Even if Chastin West turns in an impressive performance, Packers management could decide that their team simply has too many other positions to address to afford keeping a sixth WR. West knows this. But so do the other 31 teams in the league. For West, Friday night is a try-out in front of the entire NFL, as many around the country will tune in to watch the nationally televised, prime-time contest. If West plays well and the Packers still don't make him a member of their regular season roster, some other team almost assuredly will.

Let me make it clear that no matter where West ends up, I'm not trying to make him out to be a future All-Pro. The kid needs to make a team and play in a handful of regular season games before those projections can be made. But if he does develop into a successful wide-receiver, either on the Packers or elsewhere, we might all look back at an innocuous preseason game in August of 2011 as the moment of his big breakthrough.

Good luck, Mr. West. Make the most of your opportunity.

Dastardly foreign plot to undermine Packers revealed

2011-08-24T18:06:00.002-04:00

Have you ever accidentally stumbled upon something so sinister, so evil, so disturbing that you just wanted to gouge your eyes out with a broken pencil and then bang your head repeatedly on a cinder block until you induced amnesia?

Me neither.

Until today, when I uncovered what can only be described as a foreign plot to sabotage the Packers in the most vile way possible. We're not talking about a harmless prank, like putting Icy Hot down McCarthy's pants. Instead, a member of the Green and Gold's life may very well be at stake.

I wish I wasn't the one to pass this on to you. Your lives would be so much easier if you were ignorant of what's brewing across the Pacific. But you need to know. So brace yourself; this isn't an easy truth to swallow.

The people of the Philippines want to eat Bryan Bulaga.

PROOF!

That's right. Those happy-go-lucky island nation folk are intent on scarfing down our starting right tackle like a big dish of adobo.

At the center of the devious campaign is a television program with the sole purpose of stirring the masses into a swarm of fomenting crazies bent on chowing down on Bulaga. The reprobates behind this propaganda platform will stop at nothing to entice all Filipinos to join them, utilizing cash prizes, song and dance, and barely clad women to this end. Take a look for yourself. My sources inform me that the show airs at noontime everyday in the Philippines, conveniently when people's rationality is suspended in favor of their appetites.

The first and only time Miley Cyrus
appears on this blog

The plot has even enlisted the aid of American singer Miley Cyrus, who recently appeared on the show and triggered the type of feeding frenzy that would make a great white shark blush. If sweet little Hannah Montana has joined the conspirators, then there's simply no telling what other celebrities may involved in the plot to eat Bulaga. But I'll venture a guess and say Lady Gaga. I always figured her for someone who wouldn't mind nibbling on a finger or two.

At first this may seem patently absurd. What do the people of Manila care about American football? But after Chinese commandos dressed as basketball players roughed up the Georgetown Hoyas, I think it's pretty clear that no one associated with American sports is safe from international treachery.

Bulaga: The other, other white meat.

We're not sure of their motive. Perhaps Bulaga insulted Manny Pacquiao? Or maybe they're convinced that the entire country could sustain itself off his blubber for years to come (they may have a point there). But whatever the case may be, as loyal members of Packernation we must stand up to this foreign menace.

Grant usurped by Nance? Not even a chance

2011-08-24T02:46:00.001-04:00

I'm not going to lie. Tom Silverstein's article asserting that Ryan Grant could be cut in favor of Dimitri Nance makes no sense whatsoever. It seems like a reach of epic proportions, something that he just fabricated out of nowhere on a slow news day. The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel writer goes to great lengths to make it seem like Grant's status is tenuous, and likewise blows Nance's preseason accomplishments way out of proportion. He creates a competition where one does not exist. Not very good journalism in my opinion.

These are the facts. Grant is the teams' only proven rusher capable of lasting a full 16 games. Aside from his last season, which was lost due to an ankle injury, he has been a steady and dependable presence in the backfield. He's not exceedingly flashy, but he wears down a defense and he hangs on to the ball, too. He has proven production, with 1,200-plus yards in both of the seasons he's played as the team's starter. Furthermore, though 28, he's really only had two and half seasons as a featured ball-carrier, and shows no signs of breaking down just yet. All reports from camp indicate that he is running strong, and that there are no lingering effects from last year's injury.

James Starks is exciting, yes, but let's not forget that he had injury concerns throughout his collegiate career at Buffalo and even into the first half of his rookie year in Green Bay. Alex Green also has potential, but is still very raw. And Nance-- well he already had a chance to show what he could do last year and didn't show much.

The only way Grant isn't on the roster come opening day is if the team decides James Starks is so good and reliable that Grant becomes expendable. And we've seen nothing to indicate that so far, as Grant has gotten the bulk of carries with the first unit. There really is no sort of "battle for the last spot" between Grant and Nance, and to suggest so is ignorance at best and sensationalism at worst.

With so many more interesting and plausible things to speculate on, this article is simply a waste of webpages.

The Zombo Aftermath

2011-08-22T17:29:00.002-04:00

AHHH! Get your mitt off my broken scapula, coach!

I don't have all the information yet, but it's a safe to say to say that second-year OLB Frank Zombo will be out for some time. Zombo broke his scapula (shoulder blade to us less medically inclined folks) when he collided with FB John Kuhn in warm-ups before the Arizona preseason game. And he played with it. If he was trying to prove his toughness and grit, he's convinced us. But if he's trying to be the Packers opening day starter opposite Clay Matthews, he's now out of contention.

McCarthy has indicated that he believes Zombo will return "sooner rather than later," but word is that this type of injury takes about six weeks to heal. That timetable for recovery would put us well into the regular season, so it's all but a given that Erik Walden will be the starter at OLB. Additionally, Brad Jones, who I think was previously a candidate for the cutting block, can now feel a little safer about his roster spot.

While this much may be true, there's a lot of uncertainty involving depth at OLB, as well as Zombo's own roster status. Because he's not eligible to be placed on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, the Packers really only have three options.

Option 1 - Keep him on the active roster
As McCarthy intimated, Zombo has a history of overcoming injuries in a timely fashion. He fought through an ankle injury last preseason to make the team, and recovered from a knee injury in time to start in the Super Bowl and make a key contribution. This injury may mean that he's out of contention to be the opening day starter, but there's no reason to think he can't recover quickly and be healthy and available a week or two into the regular season.

This approach, however, would necessitate taking out some insurance, and probably keeping an additional OLB on the 53 man roster. UFA outside linebackers Vic So'oto and Jamari Lattimore, who are both on the bubble right now, would be the likely candidates. However, by keeping Zombo on the roster and carrying an extra OLB, there may not be room on the team for the likes of a Chastin West or a young defensive back like Josh Gordy.

Option 2 - Place him on Injured Reserve
It's never appealing to place a guy on IR and render him ineligible for a whole season, when in reality his injury will only keep him out for a handful of weeks. But that may be an option the Packers have to consider. Reserving a roster spot for an incapacitated Zombo at the expense of another player is equally unappealing. While the Packers like Zombo and want to keep him as an option for next year, they may decide that the gap between him and Walden and Jones is minimal enough to move on without him available for 2011.

If the Pack go this route, then they definitely need to add another OLB behind Clay Matthews, Walden, and Jones. Again, barring the addition of an outsider, that competition would come down to So'oto and Lattimore, and the loser would probably end up on the practice squad.

Option 3 - Cut him
With the option to place him on IR, cutting Zombo seems pretty unlikely. At the very least, you'd probably want to bring him back and have him compete in 2012. But we've seen Ted Thompson make rasher decisions before. Perhaps the Packers were only planning on moving on with two OLBs out of the Zombo-Walden-Jones trifecta, and Zombo has just eliminated himself from consideration. Perhaps Ted Thompson concludes that Zombo's health problems will always make him an unreliable asset, and decides to part ways with him now. Who knows. While this option is definitely a remote possibility, I wouldn't be completely caught off guard if it transpired.

Conclusion
At this point, this is all speculation. Until we know for certain how long the Packers expect Zombo to be out, it's futile to think one of the above courses of action is a guarantee. But these are the options Thompson and Co. are considering as they wait for the prognosis. If they can afford to wait, it's Option 1. If they need the roster spot for someone else, it's Option 2. And if TT wants to flabbergast us once again, he'll go with Option 3.

Graham Harrell is an absolute, surefire, 100% guarantee to make the roster

2011-08-22T07:43:00.000-04:00

At the start of the 2010 regular season, the Packers elected to carry only two quarterbacks, Aaron Rodgers and Matt Flynn, on their 53 man roster. Graham Harrell, a former Texas Tech standout who'd had trouble catching on in the NFL, was stashed on the practice squad for most of the season.

As the date for final cuts approaches, there's been some speculation within the Packers community that Ted Thompson and Co. will follow the same approach they took last year, and go into the regular season with only Rodgers and Flynn on the roster, hoping to land Harrell on the practice squad yet again. After all, the reasoning goes, what's changed from last year to the present to warrant keeping 3 QBs on the 53 man roster? If anything, the emergence of Flynn as a dependable, durable backup would give us even more reason to use that extra roster spot at a different position. Harrell can spend another year on the practice squad.

I'm not sure how many people out there think this way, but I couldn't disagree more strongly. In fact, I'll go as far as to bet my firstborn son that Graham Harrell makes the opening day roster (it's easy to gamble with your kids when they don't exist). But my convictions are pretty absolute. Here's the logic to back it up.

First of all, Matt Flynn will not be on the Packers roster at this time next year. Since his fine performance against New England, talk around the league has been that he has the potential to be a starting quarterback in this league. His impressive play this preseason has only further legitimized such talk. And with his contract expiring at the end of this season, teams with unsettled quarterback situations (Seattle, Cincinnati, and Miami, to name a few) will come calling to see if Flynn can be the next Schaub or Hasselbeck. He's a competitive guy, and probably doesn't want to hold a clip board in Green Bay behind Rodgers for the next decade. Come 2012, he's as good as gone.

So, what have the Packers done to prepare for Flynn's inevitable departure? Well, in terms of personnel moves, nothing. They didn't add a single QB to the roster this offseason. Not a free agent, not a draft pick, not even an undrafted rookie--nada. Still just Rodgers, Flynn, and Harrell. Hmm...I wonder who they're counting on to back-up Rodgers next year after Flynn departs?

With Harrell as the obvious number-two-to-be, attempting to sneak him on the practice squad is a risk the Packers will not be willing to take. His strong performance in training camp and last week's preseason game coupled with the fact that the Packers are renowned around the league for developing QBs make it likely that another team would claim him off waivers if given the chance. Keeping an extra DB or WR on the roster is not worth gambling with the only option for next year's back-up QB with any familiarity with the Packers' system.

Then, of course, there's the whole thing about McCarthy actually preferring to keep three quarterbacks:

I like keeping the third quarterback, and frankly it's risky the way we've gone about it. If you asked me my druthers, if I could keep three quarterbacks, I would always keep three, and I would have a fourth on developmental. It's the most important position in football. ... When it was Brett [Favre] and Aaron you never blinked. But Matt [Flynn] has also now shown he is durable and a tough guy, so he's also given us that flexibility to go and carry the extra DB. But if you're asking me to assess it from a risk standpoint, I would definitely lean toward keeping a third.

Write it in ink, or better yet, permanent marker: Graham Harrell will make the roster.

Checking up on the 2011 draft class

2011-08-21T10:00:00.001-04:00

As we approach the third week of preseason and impending cuts, let's take a look at how the Packers 2011 draft picks have faired thus far-- and what the future may have in store for them.

Derek Sherrod - OT - Round 1 (32)
Sherrod has struggled. There's really no other way to put it. After starting 36 games at left tackle for the Mississippi St. Bulldogs, the Packers tried to mold Sherrod into a guard, a position he's never played. The experiment didn't work, and he looked out of place and a step behind. The rookie hasn't fared much better at tackle either, as he turned in a poor performance in last week's preseason match-up against the Cardinals.

Prognosis: It's obviously way too early to be disappointed in Sherrod, let alone label him a bust. The Packers should quit with the gimmicks and groom him to be what they drafted him to be-- Chad Clifton's replacement. A season backing up and learning from the 11 year veteran is exactly what Sherrod needs.

Randall Cobb - WR - Round 2 (64)
Alas, apparently Cobb is mortal. After a scintillating start to training camp and the preseason, he had a so-so showing against Arizona and left the game with a bruised leg. Still, let's not forget his dynamic athleticism, solid hands, and sky high football IQ. There's reason to be excited about him.

Prognosis: Cobb will contribute immediately as the most dangerous return man the Packers have had since Allen Rossum. As long as he continues to hone his route running, there's no reason to think he won't get a few snaps per game as a slot receiver as well.

Alex Green - HB - Round 3 (96)
We had to wait a little while to see what Green could do, but he didn't disappoint in his first game action of the preseason. He showed good hands and solid running ability. And although he whiffed on a blitz pick-up, that's something he's done very well at in practice.

Prognosis: As long as Green can convince the coaches he can protect the QB, he'll get reps in the regular season as a 3rd down back.

Davon House - CB - Round 4 (131)
House was a scratch from the latest preseason contest, but he performed very well in the preceding weeks. As advertised, he's got good athleticism and size, and appears capable in a variety of coverage types.

Prognosis: House will see a healthy serving of the field this year as member of some special teams units, and he could possibly edge out Jarrett Bush for the dime back position.

DJ Williams - TE - Round 5 (141)
With the veteran TEs out with injuries in the first weeks of camp, Williams stepped in and performed admirably. He's a good receiver who's been described as a poor man's Jermicahel Finley. He's cooled off in the past few practices, but he's still showed a lot of promise.

Prognosis: Depending on what happens to Andrew Quarless, Williams could be as high as TE2 on the depth chart. Even if Quarless remains, Williams will see some action in some of the Packers multi-TE sets, and he may be able to contribute on special teams.

Caleb Schlauderaff - OG - Round 6 (179)
It's hard to get a read on this Utah product. He's performed well at times (7-1 in 1v1 drills this past week), but poorly at others (bad showing in first preseason game against Cleveland). Like Sherrod, he may be a talented offensive lineman who just isn't ready to step in and contribute at a high level.

Prognosis: Schlauderaff is on the bubble right now for a spot on the 53 man roster. Nick McDonald is a better guard than him, and Marhsall Newhouse and Evan Dietrich may also be graded higher. At this point, he may be a candidate for the practice squad.

DJ Smith - ILB - Round 6 (186)
It's been a quiet, steady preseason for DJ Smith. There's been nothing bad said about him, and while he hasn't stood out with any sensational plays, he's described as always being around the ball. Sounds like AJ Hawk. The Packers must have known what they were getting with Smith when they cut both Barnett and Chillar.

Prognosis: Smith will make the 53 man roster, but will probably be last on the depth chart for ILBs behind Hawk, Desmond Bishop, and Robert Francois. Still, he could make valuable contributions as a special teamer.

Ricky Elmore - OLB - Round 6 (197)
Elmore's been a flop. He was a productive DE in college, but that hasn't translated well in Green Bay, where he's trying to fit in as an OLB in the Packers' 3-4 scheme. His game has been described as soft.

Prognosis: Elmore will be cut and I doubt he makes the practice squad.

Ryan Taylor - TE - Round 7 (218)
Like Williams, Taylor also got the chance to show of his skills in the first couple weeks of practice, and he turned a few heads. While definitely not in the mold of a Jermichael Finley, he proved to be a competent receiver and picked up the offense quickly. But he's really made his mark on special teams, as he's a member of nearly every starting ST unit.

Prognosis: Another nice late round pick-up by the Packers, Taylor will fill the role of Spencer Havner as a special teams ace and capable fill in at TE.

Lawrence Guy - DE - Round 7 (233)
Guy is a big end with excellent athleticism, but he hasn't gotten the chance to show much this preseason. A concussion and its nagging symptoms have prevented him from practicing and kept him out of last week's preseason game.

Prognosis: It's hard to get an indication of what Guy's capable of doing. He has the measurables, but hasn't really had a chance to demonstrate his ability. He's got practice squad written all over him.

Will there be room for Chastin West?

2011-08-20T18:35:00.000-04:00

Chastin West is making things difficult for the Packers.

The second-year pro out of Fresno State has been dominant this preseason. He's been spectacular in practice, has earned high praise from Aaron Rodgers, and just put together an impressive 5 catch, 134 yard performance in last night's game against the Cardinals, which included this 97 yard catch and run to pay dirt.

So what's the problem?

Well, West is a wide-receiver. He's attempting to make the team at a position at which the Packers already have an embarrassment of riches. Jennings, Driver, Nelson, Jones, Cobb-- West would be behind all of them on the depth chart. And although the Packers are pretty solid in most areas, carrying a sixth WR may be a luxury they can't afford.

The reality is that if West is not given a spot on the 53 man roster, he'll find a home elsewhere. Given his standout preseason and all the press he's generated, the Packers have absolutely no chance of sneaking him on to the practice squad. West himself is aware of this, as he's acknowledged that he's essentially trying out for the entire NFL, not just the Packers.

So what will Ted Thompson do? Does he allow the talented West to walk, or does he hold on to him at the risk of leaving another position thin? Truth is, it's difficult to tell, because he's taken different approaches at different times.

In 2009, the Packers were faced with a similar conundrum. Rookie HB Tyrell Sutton had put together an impressive preseason and was the talk of the town. Although the Packers already had veterans Ryan Grant, Brandon Jackson, and DeShawn Wynn, surely they could find room on their team for the talented back from Northwestern.

As it turns out, they didn't. Sutton was not offered a spot on the Packers 53 man roster and was promptly picked up by the Panthers before the Packers could get him on the practice squad. The Packers lost out on a talented young ball carrier, and some may argue that it came back to bite them in the butt when the Packers had trouble finding a replacement for the injured Grant in the 2010 season.

The name Quinn Johnson carries polar opposite connotations. Johnson, also a rookie in 2009, was viewed as a raw prospect at fullback with tons of upside. He made the team that year on his potential alone, but when 2010 rolled around , his production was still marred by the same inconsistencies. With veteran FBs Korey Hall and John Kuhn also in the mix, it seemed unlikely that the Packers would hang on to all three of them, especially at such a limited position. Of course, as we all know, TT and Co. did the unthinkable, and carried three FBs on the 53 man roster for the second season in a row.

These different approaches to similar problems tell us something we already know; Ted Thompson is unpredictable. Just when you think you have him figured out, he pulls a 180. His behavior concerning draft day trades is evidence of this. A couple years ago, we were all convinced he would rather eat arsenic than trade up. The wheeling and dealing that landed Clay Matthews and Morgan Burnett has forced us to reconsider.

And so it is with Chastin West. Thompson has shown before that he's willing to keep a position overstocked if the talent is there to justify it. But this certainly isn't a steadfast rule of his. Saying that he could go either way is like saying the wind changes directions.

In closing, I'll throw in my two cents. There is no doubt that teams in the NFL nowadays live and die by their ability to throw the ball. For the Packers over Mike McCarthy's tenure, this has been doubly true. The Packers two greatest offensive priorities are protecting Aaron Rodgers and making sure he has some talented players to throw to. It seems we've at least accomplished the latter.

But with Driver's career winding down, and Jordy Nelson's future in Green Bay beyond this season unclear, keeping a player like West around may not be the luxury it initially seems to be. When my predictions for the 53 man roster come out next week, Chastin West will be on my squad.

Chiming in on the Pack's 2011 Schedule

2011-04-21T16:00:00.000-04:00

Well, the NFL released the 2011 schedule and the pundits have been quick to offer their thoughts, so here are mine:

(For reference, click here for the Packers' schedule)

I'm fine opening up against the Saints. Some people are griping that it should've been the Pack and the Bears, the NFL's oldest rivalry, but I see why the schedulemakers avoided that match-up: the Bears just aren't going to be very good in 2011. 9-7, at best.
I don't understand how we have to play AT Atlanta AGAIN. I realize the playoff game shouldn't be factored in, but even still, that's two times in a row. Why?
We play the Vikings TWICE in less than a month. And factor in the bye week in there, and they're our opponents two out of three weeks during that stretch. Astoundingly stupid.
November 6 in San Diego could be the last time the Packers play in 50+ degrees weather all year.
Vikings, Buccaneers, @Lions...all within 11 days. November 14-November 24 could make or break this season.
That being said, I'm not complaining. The Packers on Thanksgiving is totally worth it.
NFL football on New Years day...not sure how I feel about that. I suppose it's inevitable that there'd be some clash with College Bowl Season but making fans choose between the Pack and potentially the Badgers just doesn't seem right.

Bob's 2011 NFL Mock Draft

2011-04-20T23:25:00.000-04:00

Cam Newton

Here it is, folks. My official mock draft. Enjoy:

1. Carolina Panthers: Cam Newton, QB Auburn

2. Denver Broncos: Marcell Dareus, DT Alabama
With the arrival of new head coach John Fox, the Broncos will be switching to a 4-3 defense and need a serious upgrade at D-line. As the best DT in the draft, Dareus makes the most sense here.

3. Buffalo Bills: Blaine Gabbert, QB Missouri
The Bills have a lot of needs and I could see them going with Von Miller or Patrick Peterson here, but I think they go with Gabbert.

4. Cincinnati Bengals: A.J. Green, WR Georgia
Green is a phenomenal talent and fits a glaring need with the futures of Ochocinco and T.O. in Cincinnati uncertain.

Von Miller

5. Arizona Cardinals: Von Miller, DE/OLB Texas A&M
Easy decision here. With no top rated QB left on the board, Arizona can focus on adding a lethal pass rusher.

6. Cleveland Browns: Robert Quinn, DE North Carolina
If the Bengals don't end up nabbing A.J. Green at 4, he shouldn't get past Cleveland at 6. The Browns could take Julio Jones, but I think they like Quinn better.

7. San Francisco 49ers: Patrick Peterson, CB LSU
This seems to be the trendy spot to put Peterson. We'll see if he lasts this long.

8. Tennessee Titans: Nick Fairley, DT Auburn
No-brainer here if the draft falls like this.

9. Dallas Cowboys: Tyron Smith, OT USC
The Cowboys seem to be in love with Smith and don't want to see Romo's collarbone snapped in half again this year.

10. Washington Redskins: Julio Jones, WR Alabama
Washington has a lot of options here. I'm giving them Jones here, but it wouldn't surprise me if they went defensive line.

Prince Amukamara

11 .Houston Texans: Prince Amukamara, CB Nebraska
Houston's secondary is awful and Amukamara could be the answer here. Don't rule out a trade up for Patrick Peterson though.

12. Minnesota Vikings: Cameron Jordan, DE California
That D-line in Minnesota is getting old and Ray Edwards is probably (hopefully) leaving via free agency. Whenever that may be.

13. Detroit Lions: Anthony Castonzo, OT Boston College
Gotta protect Matthew Stafford better. If he stays healthy, the Lions might make some noise this year.

14. St. Louis Rams: Da’Quan Bowers, DE Clemson
Microfracture surgery rumors have dropped Bowers out of the top 10, but I think the Rams take a chance on Bowers' potential.

15. Miami Dolphins: Mike Pouncey, C/G Florida
Miami's interior line is less than stellar and Pouncey gives the Dolphins a lot of flexibility. Don't think Mark Ingram is their guy here.

Ryan Kerrigan

16. Jacksonville Jaguars: Ryan Kerrigan, DE Purdue
High-motor, physical guy for a defense that got pushed around last year, especially down the stretch.

17. New England Patriots: J.J. Watt, DE Wisconsin
Watt has ideal size for a 3-4 DE and would be a good fit for the Pats who are still trying to replace Richard Seymour.

18. San Diego Chargers: Aldon Smith, DE/OLB Missouri
I think it's either a defensive lineman or an OLB for San Diego. Larry English was a major disappoint last year and the Chargers hope Smith can pick up the slack.

19. New York Giants: Gabe Carimi, OT Wisconsin
Look for the Giants to upgrade their offensive line here. Carimi is probably the best prospect available, but I wouldn't be surprised if Mike Pouncey was in the mix if Miami passes on him.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Adrian Clayborn, DE Iowa
The Bucs add another piece to their formidable young D-line with Clayborn who looks like the real deal. Don't be surprised if Tampa Bay drafts Jimmy Smith though. Rhonde Barber is old and Aqib Talib is facing gun charges.

Nate Solder

21. Kansas City Chiefs: Nate Solder, OT Colorado
I think Phil Taylor's foot injury scares Kansas City away. Instead, the Chiefs will look to bolster the offensive line.

22. Indianapolis Colts: Danny Watkins, OT Baylor
The offensive line in Indy has been pretty suspect the past few years, but Manning has been able to cover for them. Watkins is big and versatile and will take some of the pressure off of "The Sheriff."

23. Philadelphia Eagles: Jimmy Smith, CB Colorado
The run on the top OT's will cause the Eagles to look hard at Derek Sherrod. But Jimmy Smith will be too much of a talent to pass up. Some analysts have him as the top rated corner in this draft.

24. New Orleans Saints: Corey Liuget, DT Illinois
The Saints need another DT to pair with Sedrick Ellis. Liuget would be a great pick up here.

25. Seattle Seahawks: Jake Locker, QB Washington
I like Locker as a late first rounder. Wouldn't be surprised if the Vikings traded back into the first round to take him before Seattle does.

26. Baltimore Ravens: Aaron Williams, CB Texas
A bit of a reach, but Baltimore's corners are TERRIBLE. Muhammad Wilkerson could also come off the board here.

Kyle Rudolph

27. Atlanta Falcons: Kyle Rudolph, TE Notre Dame
Rudolph is the complete package at the tight end position. Tony Gonzalez is nearing retirement age and Atlanta really needs to add another offensive weapon.

28. New England Patriots: Brooks Reed, DE/OLB Arizona
The Pats add another high-effort guy that fills a need. Green Bay is envious.

29. Chicago Bears: Derek Sherrod, OT Mississippi State
Chicago has to go offensive line given how many times Jay Cutler got hit last year. But let's be honest. It's not going to stop The Claymaker.

30. New York Jets: Phil Taylor, DT Baylor
Taylor isn't as much of a risk here at 30 and with New York cutting ties with Kris Jenkins, this just makes sense. Which means it definitely won't happen.

31. Pittsburgh Steelers: Muhammad Wilkerson, DT Temple
The Steelers D is getting old and could use some youth in the trenches. Wilkerson is a beast.

Cameron Heyward

32. Green Bay Packers: Cameron Heyward, DE Ohio State
And now it is time for your SUPER BOWL XLV CHAMPIONS, the Green Bay Packers. We're loaded at almost every position, but there are some holes that need to be filled. Sadly, Cullen Jenkins will more than likely leave in free agency this year and with Johnny Jolly's career suicide, it's time to draft another defensive lineman. Fortunately for our beloved Pack, this draft is chock full of 'em and Cameron Heyward is a steal here.

Possible Packers: Randall Cobb

2011-04-20T14:09:00.001-04:00

I think it's a real possibility that the Packers take a WR with their first-round pick. Wait, you say, a wide receiver? Don't we already have the NFL's consensus best receiving corp? Yes. But think about it; it's not as crazy as it sounds.

Let's do a brief evaluation of what the Pack has at wide-receiver. Greg Jennings has finally broken out as a true star at the position. Jordy Nelson's future also looks pretty bright. But Donald Driver's age is finally starting to catch up with him at age 36 and there's no telling how much longer he'll be productive. James Jones has a lot of physical talent and he's had moments of brilliance, but Nelson's elevation (due to Jones' drop problems) coupled with his desire to be a starting NFL receiver may mean he seeks greener pastures. And finally, Brett Swain really isn't anything to write home about.

So where does that leave us? Potentially, it leaves the Packers with only two viable WRs moving forward. Certainly the return of Jermichael Finley will be a boost to the passing game, but shouldn't Ted Thompson and Co. do their best to provide Aaron Rodgers with all the weapons he needs? People often say that Tom Brady was able to win Super Bowls with a weak supporting cast around him. But didn't he have his best year when the Patriots got him this guy?

You may disagree, but I think it's in the Packers' best interest to pick up another talented receiver. It doesn't necessarily have to be in the first-round, but if they do address this need with the 32nd overall pick, I have a guy in mind.

Kentucky's Randall Cobb is the type of all-purpose threat that the Packers lack. He may be this year's Dexter McCluster--a threat as a runner, returner, and receiver. Last year, he totaled 13 TDs (4 of them against the eventual NCAA champion Auburn) and almost 1700 yards. He had a mind-boggling 211 touches, 84 catches. Oh, and did I mention that he can pass the ball too? Not that I'm advocating for the Packers to utilize the Wildcat, but is always nice to have an athlete like Cobb who can also rear up and throw the ball down field every once in a while.

At 5'10, Cobb doesn't have a lot of size, but he'd probably be playing in the slot for the Packers anyway. This is a guy who could help out the Packers woeful return game immediately. I actually think he could make the type of impact Percy Harvin has made over in Minnesota. His scintillating athleticism and ability to contribute in a variety of ways could be just the what the Packers need to make them a truly unstoppable offensive juggernaut.

You gotta love it...

2011-04-15T11:14:00.000-04:00

ESPN "Where Champions Are Built" from Packer Aaron on Vimeo.

Speaking of the draft, look for our "Possible Packers" features to become more frequent, with on coming later on today. Have a happy weekend!

Is Shields for Real?

2011-04-08T04:03:00.000-04:00

ESPN sure seems to think so.

And I have to agree. A lot of people had (for some reason) high expectations for Shields coming into the season, even as an undrafted rookie free-agent who'd only played one season at CB. Most of us were expecting Shields to contribute as a speedy return specialist. Well, he didn't pan out in that department, but what the Packers get out of him was much more important: a lock down slot defender.

We all knew that Shields has blazing speed, but what impressed me most this year was his fluidity in coverage and his sensational ball skills. He played WR before CB and it showed, as he was a natural at going after the rock, an ability that so many corners seem to lack. He got burned a few times, as most rookies do, but he was certainly a big part of the Packers' success defending the pass. One thing's for sure: Whenever Charles Woodson decides to hang it up, the Packers are looking pretty good with the likes of Tramon Williams and Shields on the edges.

One Month Warning and the first installation of "Possible Packers"

2011-03-28T05:08:00.002-04:00

The 2011 NFL Draft is a month away. Wow. Reread that again. Is anyone else as shocked by this as I am? Usually I'm obsessed with anything draft related by February 1st, with WalterFootball.com's mock drafts consuming my life, but this year I've been relatively apathetic. Not even revelations that Ryan Mallet is Eminem incarnate have done much to stir my interest.

The reasons for my less than zealous following of draft developments are numerous, many of them obvious. For starters, the high I'm experiencing from the Packers' Super Bowl victory (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) has yet to fade away, and was, in fact, reinforced when Rob and I sat down to watch his copy of NFL Film's Super Bowl XLV DVD (which was a bit of a disappointment; as Rob said, not enough "belt-age"). The incentive to start thinking about next year is definitely mitigated by a desire to simply sit back and bask in the glory of the previous season.

There's also the fact that there might not be a next season. Collective bargaining really isn't my area of expertise so I won't be spending anytime attempting to provide some misguided insight into NFL-NFLPA talks, but it certainly appears that the two sides have a long way to go before there will be football in 2011. And while I'm positive some type of deal will get worked out eventually, it's still difficult to fully invest oneself in a season that could begin with an ugly lockout.

And then there's the draft itself. Simply put, this year's crop is boring. There's very little star power out there: no Calvin Johnson, no Darren McFadden, no Ndamudkong Suh. Sorry, but Nick Fairley and Blaine Gabbert don't do it for me.

Finally, reality is that the 32nd overall pick just really isn't that sexy. There doesn't seem to be much point in over-analyzing who the Pack will take, because the 31 selections made prior will really be what determines who Ted Thompson and Co. draft. In other words, we have little control in terms of who's still available, so it doesn't make much sense to get worked up about who we'll end up taking.

NOW, with that being said, I do think it is worthwhile to sit back and reflect upon what needs the Packers can address in this year's draft. I know the talk is that TT always goes with the best player available, and there may be some truth in that, but there's also the reality that his past three 1st round picks (Matthews, Raji, Bulaga) have come at areas of need. What I'm trying to say is Thompson takes a more nuanced approach than people give him credit for. While it's true that he doesn't reach to fill a need, I also don't think he sticks to his board with absolutely no exceptions.

So with all that said, we here at JonBob's will be providing you with the weekly profiles of players we think the Packers could possibly be selecting on April 28th with the last pick of the first round. Here's our first possibility:

Possible Packer: Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa

Even before Johnny Jolly went and destroyed his chances of ever again playing in the NFL, defensive end was a great need for Green Bay going into the draft. Justin Harrell is (and always has been) a non-factor; Mike Neal is recovering from a season-ending shoulder injury; and Cullen Jenkins,who in my opinion has been one of the team's best players over the past few years, seems bound for free agency. Replacing Jenkins' disruptive abilities as both a pass-rusher and a run-stopper will be no easy feat-- big men with that type of athleticism are just hard to find.

Iowa's Adrian Clayborn fits the bill. At 6'3, 280, Clayborn may not be the prototypically sized 3-4 DE, but he plays with the type of explosion, strength, and physicality that's needed at the position. Did I mention that he makes big plays? If selected by the Packers he'd probably need to add some weight, but I have no doubt in my mind that he has the skill-set to be a highly effective, chaos-wreaking DE in the Pack's scheme.

The biggest question is whether he'll be around at the end of the first round. Probably not. At the end of the 2009 college season, Clayborn was considered a top 10 talent, and for good reason: he posted 11 sacks on the year and absolutely dominated Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl. But a less than stalwart 2010 campaign and a run in with the law have combined to drop Clayborn out of most mock draft's top 15. The consensus seems to be that he'll go around the twentieth pick, well before the Packers are on the clock. (UPDATE: NFP's mock has him going 27th)

But stranger things have happened (see: Aaron Rodgers, 2005 NFL Draft). And it's not like the Packers need Clayborn to fall all the way to them at No. 32 to have a chance of taking him. Ted Thompson has demonstrated that if he likes a prospect, he's willing to trade up for them, something he made perfectly evident with the recent selections of Clay Matthews and Morgan Burnett. And, after all, the point of this feature isn't to tell who the Packers will take, without a doubt...it's just a fun little way to think about who could be in the picture.