Maybe it was all that Wisconsin sports fan juju being directed at the Milwaukee Brewers that left the Packers powerless. Green Bay failed to get back in the win column and continued their futility in Tampa Bay. The Packers have now lost six times in seven trips to Raymond James Stadium and fell to 2-2 on the year. They are tied atop the NFC North division with Chicago, who beat Philadelphia on Sunday night.
The Packers were unable to protect the football in week four. Aaron Rodgers threw three interceptions and Ryan Grant fumbled once. The Buccaneers turned each of those turnovers into points, scoring three touchdowns and a field goal off of the four takeaways. The Packers were unable to overcome, falling 30-21 to Tampa Bay who is now 3-1.
“We’re making the same mistakes, which really bothers me,” Coach Mike McCarty said after the game. “Mistakes are going to happen. I’m not naïve to that. It’s unacceptable for us to do the fundamental things wrong week in and week out. We need to get it fixed.”
Green Bay also struggled mightily to sustain drives. The Packers looked like a confident team on the first drive, converting a fourth and short while marching 58 yards on 10 plays to a score. Rodgers completed a 25 yard pass to Greg Jennings for an easy touchdown in the first quarter, but the Packers offense was able to do little after that. With the offense unable to stay on the field for more than six plays on any drive the rest of the game, the defense was obviously laboring on the Buccaneers last two scoring drives, which resulted in a go-ahead field goal and a touchdown that set the final score.
For the Packers quarterback, it was easily Rodgers worst game thus far, as he completed just 52 percent of his passes and threw his first, second and third picks of the year. To his credit, the first interception should have been a completion that bounced off of Brandon Jackson’s chest and into Buccaneers linebacker Derrick Brooks’ hands. His second interception was badly overthrown as he was trying to hit Donald Driver over the middle. His last interception came as Rodgers was blindsided just as he was releasing the ball, resulting in an off-target throw that went directly to Tampa Bay defensive end Gaines Adams.
Rodgers did not return after that hit. He had also missed the Packers first possession of the fourth quarter. He said he may have injured his right shoulder on a third down, 7-yard scramble in the third quarter. It seemed to have little effect on him at the time, though, as he returned on the Packers next possession to complete a beautifully thrown 48 yard touchdown pass to Jennings that narrowed the Buccaneers lead from 13 to six. Matt Flynn played in place of Rodgers at the beginning and end of the fourth quarter, but was unable to advance the offense.
“Offensively, we were poor today. We’ve got penalties, turnovers,” McCarthy said, searching for words to describe the team’s performance. “It’s very difficult to win a football game like that. You’re playing a good football team, a good defense in a tough environment. I felt that offensively…we didn’t do enough to win the game.”
The defense nearly won the game for Green Bay, intercepting Tampa Bay quarterback Brian Griese on three occasions, the last of which Charles Woodson took back for his second touchdown of the year. It was his third interception in three games, and the takeaway and score gave the Packers the lead early in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, the Buccaneers were playing on a short field all day, and it was too easy for them to put points on the board.
Whether it was following an interception or a punt, the Buccaneers started in Green Bay territory on five possessions. The results were touchdown, field goal, field goal, field goal and touchdown. On the Buccaneers’ three field goal drives, they gained just 36, 37 and 30 yards, but the field position gifted them the nine points that proved to be the difference in the game. On Tampa Bay’s seven other possessions, all of which started in the Buccaneer territory, the results were punt, punt, punt, punt, interception, interception return for a touchdown and punt. McCarthy was very satisfied with his defense’s effort. Unfortunately, it was not enough.
“I thought our defense played outstanding. Time and time again they gave us a number of opportunities to win this football game and we didn’t take advantage of it. It’s disappointing.”
Report card:
Offense: D – The offense was unable to sustain drives and was a big reason the Buccaneers maintained nearly a 2:1 ratio on time of possession. The Packers were able to gain just 28 yards on the ground, and once again were held under 20 rushing attempts for the game. The offense was a big reason the Packers lost the field position battle.
Defese: B+ - The Buccaneers point total does not indicate a strong defensive performance by the Packers, but even with half of the defensive backfield out because of injury Tampa Bay accumulated just 149 yards passing. The Packers did not contain the run well, surrendering 174 yards to Tampa Bay running backs, but the interceptions helped keep the Packers in the game until late in the fourth quarter.
Special Teams: B – The kick coverage units surrendered above-average returns on both kickoffs and punts, and the return teams were serviceable. Derrick Frost was often punting from deep inside Packer territory which resulted in few opportunities for the directional kicking he was brought in to do. Mason Crosby did not attempt a field goal and was three-for-three on extra point attempts.
Overall: B – Had the offense been able to take care of the ball, Packers fans would undoubtedly be singing a different tune about this Packers team that has suddenly lost two in a row. The good part is that the mistakes are very correctable, and the defense looked better than may have been expected.
9.28.2008
9.27.2008
Packers @ Buccaneers Preview - Packers need strong defensive performance
The Green Bay Packers will look to get back in the win column on Sunday. They will be traveling to Tampa Bay to take on the Buccaneers who are coming off an improbable comeback victory against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field last weekend. The Bucs scored 10 points in the last three minutes and then marched 90 yards on their second possession in overtime to set up a game-winning field goal by Matt Bryant. Tampa Bay was aided by a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty on Bears cornerback Charles Tillman. Tillman drew the flag after Chicago had forced Tampa Bay into a punting situation, but the penalty gave the Buccaneers new life.
Tampa Bay quarterback Brian Griese shouldered a great deal of the comeback load, throwing on 26 of the Buccaneers 27 fourth quarter plays, including the last 24 plays of regulation. In all, Griese threw the ball 67 times, just three short of the NFL record held by Drew Bledsoe when he was with the New England Patriots in 1994.
The Packers can hope that Griese and the rest of his Buccaneers teammates will be worn out from such a grinding win. It would be particularly helpful if that were the case for the Packers defense. Green Bay is coming off its loss to the Cowboys at Lambeau a little nicked up. The Packers will be missing two opening day starters in the secondary. Strong Safety Atari Bigby will miss his second consecutive game with a hamstring injury. Cornerback Al Harris will also be on the bench on Sunday. Harris was knocked out of the game last weekend with what was originally diagnosed as a ruptured spleen, which most likely would have put Harris on injured reserve. Instead, Harris will probably miss a handful of games, but in that time other players must step up. Coach Mike McCarthy expects no less from the players on the roster.
“Guys have to step up. Tramon Williams is ready. Will Blackmon. And Patrick Lee has done some good things the last two days,” McCarthy, noted. “That's the focus of our football team, and that's the ability we have with our depth, and these guys need to perform.”
Green Bay will rely greatly on Williams to fill in for Harris in the next few weeks, opposite Charles Woodson. Despite being held out of practice with a toe injury, Woodson continues to perform at a high level on gameday.
The Packers have struggled when Williams was in at corner, though it is difficult to gauge the degree to which this is Williams’ fault or the rest of the defense. To his credit, the most significant game action he has seen came against the Cowboys both in 2007 and last weekend. The Cowboys aren’t exactly the easiest team to fill in against. Also, in the pre-season, the defense surrendered significantly more points when Harris on Woodson were on the bench. Really, though, other injuries prevented guys like A.J. Hawk, Ryan Pickett and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila from playing, so it would be presumptuous to put the defense’s pre-season struggles solely on the secondary. Besides, it was only the pre-season, right?
From William’s standpoint, he’s ready to play. “Somebody’s got to step up and I feel…ready for the opportunity,” the cornerback said on Wednesday.” It’s a big opportunity. I’m looking forward to it.”
On the other side of the football, the Packers expect to get a boost to the offensive line, as center Scott Wells makes his return to the starting lineup on Sunday. Wells has not played since the second pre-season game in San Francisco, when Rodgers was often hurried and unable to get comfortable in the pocket. The Packers hope that Wells’ return and the subsequent shifting of Jason Spitz to right guard will help to sure up an offensive line that was dominated by a bigger, faster Cowboys defense.
A cohesive offensive line would certainly help running back Ryan Grant who has yet to find his groove and will look to get an increased role in Tampa Bay. The Packers have been cautious with Grant after he missed most of the pre-season because of contract negotiations and then a hamstring injury. Grant has taken 12, 15, and 13 carries in the first three games and has just 166 yards rushing on the year. Now that Grant is healthy and participating regularly in practice, it would be ideal to get him 20 to 25 carries in the game. The Bucs defense can be had, as they have given up 103, 95 and 137 yards to opposing running backs in the first three games.
Aaron Rodgers will get a big target back in the passing game as Ruvell Martin makes his return to the lineup. Unfortunately, James Jones will be held out of the game on Sunday with a knee injury that occurred early against Dallas this past week, preventing the Packers from having all five wide receivers healthy yet again. Still, Martin’s return will give Rodgers another tall target in the red zone. Once they have established the run, the Packers may often try to test Tampa Bay with four-receiver sets, as Buccaneer nickelback Aqib Talib has been limited in practice with a hamstring injury.
Tampa Bay quarterback Brian Griese shouldered a great deal of the comeback load, throwing on 26 of the Buccaneers 27 fourth quarter plays, including the last 24 plays of regulation. In all, Griese threw the ball 67 times, just three short of the NFL record held by Drew Bledsoe when he was with the New England Patriots in 1994.
The Packers can hope that Griese and the rest of his Buccaneers teammates will be worn out from such a grinding win. It would be particularly helpful if that were the case for the Packers defense. Green Bay is coming off its loss to the Cowboys at Lambeau a little nicked up. The Packers will be missing two opening day starters in the secondary. Strong Safety Atari Bigby will miss his second consecutive game with a hamstring injury. Cornerback Al Harris will also be on the bench on Sunday. Harris was knocked out of the game last weekend with what was originally diagnosed as a ruptured spleen, which most likely would have put Harris on injured reserve. Instead, Harris will probably miss a handful of games, but in that time other players must step up. Coach Mike McCarthy expects no less from the players on the roster.
“Guys have to step up. Tramon Williams is ready. Will Blackmon. And Patrick Lee has done some good things the last two days,” McCarthy, noted. “That's the focus of our football team, and that's the ability we have with our depth, and these guys need to perform.”
Green Bay will rely greatly on Williams to fill in for Harris in the next few weeks, opposite Charles Woodson. Despite being held out of practice with a toe injury, Woodson continues to perform at a high level on gameday.
The Packers have struggled when Williams was in at corner, though it is difficult to gauge the degree to which this is Williams’ fault or the rest of the defense. To his credit, the most significant game action he has seen came against the Cowboys both in 2007 and last weekend. The Cowboys aren’t exactly the easiest team to fill in against. Also, in the pre-season, the defense surrendered significantly more points when Harris on Woodson were on the bench. Really, though, other injuries prevented guys like A.J. Hawk, Ryan Pickett and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila from playing, so it would be presumptuous to put the defense’s pre-season struggles solely on the secondary. Besides, it was only the pre-season, right?
From William’s standpoint, he’s ready to play. “Somebody’s got to step up and I feel…ready for the opportunity,” the cornerback said on Wednesday.” It’s a big opportunity. I’m looking forward to it.”
On the other side of the football, the Packers expect to get a boost to the offensive line, as center Scott Wells makes his return to the starting lineup on Sunday. Wells has not played since the second pre-season game in San Francisco, when Rodgers was often hurried and unable to get comfortable in the pocket. The Packers hope that Wells’ return and the subsequent shifting of Jason Spitz to right guard will help to sure up an offensive line that was dominated by a bigger, faster Cowboys defense.
A cohesive offensive line would certainly help running back Ryan Grant who has yet to find his groove and will look to get an increased role in Tampa Bay. The Packers have been cautious with Grant after he missed most of the pre-season because of contract negotiations and then a hamstring injury. Grant has taken 12, 15, and 13 carries in the first three games and has just 166 yards rushing on the year. Now that Grant is healthy and participating regularly in practice, it would be ideal to get him 20 to 25 carries in the game. The Bucs defense can be had, as they have given up 103, 95 and 137 yards to opposing running backs in the first three games.
Aaron Rodgers will get a big target back in the passing game as Ruvell Martin makes his return to the lineup. Unfortunately, James Jones will be held out of the game on Sunday with a knee injury that occurred early against Dallas this past week, preventing the Packers from having all five wide receivers healthy yet again. Still, Martin’s return will give Rodgers another tall target in the red zone. Once they have established the run, the Packers may often try to test Tampa Bay with four-receiver sets, as Buccaneer nickelback Aqib Talib has been limited in practice with a hamstring injury.
9.22.2008
Cowboys @ Packers Recap - Big plays hurt Packers
It wasn't as though Green Bay played badly. Dallas just played better. In the end, the Cowboys were just too much for the Packers to handle.
The Packers gave the Cowboys an early opportunity by turning the ball over inside their own territory when Ryan Grant fumbled on one of his more explosive runs of the day in the first quarter. Dallas started the drive at the Green Bay 14, but the Packers defense was able to hold them to a field goal.
Green Bay then bookended two Mason Crosby field goals around a Nick Collins interception to take a 6-3 lead. Collins' interception came after the Cowboys had one of their better drives of the game, using 15 plays to get to the Green Bay 14 yard line. Collins intercepted the pass in the end zone and used some nifty running to take it back 61 yards into Dallas territory, setting up Crosby’s second field goal.
From there, the Packers were hurt by big plays. The Cowboys first touchdown came on a 60 yard scamper down the sideline by rookie running back Felix Jones in the second quarter. On the Cowboys second possession of the second half, a 62 yard bomb from Tony Romo to Miles Austin set up a Marion Barber touchdown that gave Dallas a 20-9 lead. Dallas’ final big play put the game out of reach for the Packers. Romo again hit Austin, this time on a third down and 20, for 52 yards and a touchdown that gave Dallas three score lead that Green Bay simply could not overcome.
Encouraging is that the defense was not beaten up and down the field on every drive. Discouraging, though, are the big plays and inability to get off the field on third down. The Cowboys converted seven of 14 third down opportunities. Fifty percent is not a horrible percentage in such a statistic, but in comparison to the Packers third down conversion rate of four in 14 opportunities, it is obvious why the game turned out as it did.
Romo looked to tight end Jason Witten on five of those third down plays, four times converting for first downs. Most of Witten’s catches came on such crucial plays. His numbers from this game (7 catches, 67 yards) are similar to those from last year (6 catches, 67 yards), but his presence was much more apparent in the Packers inability to get off the field on third down. Overall, Green Bay gave up six plays over 20 yards, with half of those being gains of more than 50 yards. In the end, it was simply too much as the offense wasn’t able to move the ball. It was also easy for the Cowboys to convert on these plays, because the size of their offensive line made it impossible for the Packers to get any sort of pass rush. Colin Cole commented after the game that he couldn’t even see around Flozell Adams to know where the ball was. To play defense in such a blind state against the Cowboys can only mean trouble.
The Packers offense looked eerily similar to the second pre-season game of the year, when they were unable to move the ball in San Francisco. Against the Cowboys, Rodgers was pressured early and got happy feet by the middle of the second quarter. He was sacked five times and flushed out of the pocket consistently throughout the game. The receivers were unable to get open quickly enough for Rodgers to find plays downfield. This combination led to Rodgers looking shakey and insecure in the pocket, unable to get into a rhythm throughout the game. Just as the Cowboys offensive line was too big for the Packers, Dallas’ front seven was too big and too quick for Green Bay’s offensive line.
The Packers were also hurt by penalties that left them in second- and third-and-long situations which made establishing the running game impossible. Coach Mike McCarthy always preaches to the importance of the running game, but in this contest he never had the opportunity to practice what he preaches. The Packers rushed only 16 times for 84 yards in the game and never had a rush of more than nine yards.
Report card:
Offense: C+ - The offense never got into rhythm. Rodgers was human but not horrible in throwing for 290 yards on 22 completions in 39 attempts while trying to escape an unending pass rush. The running game has yet to get off the ground, and the offense needs to do a better job of converting third downs than it did in this game.
Defense: B – Not a horrible effort from a group that was on the field for a long time with short breathers in between possessions. As with the offense, the biggest concern is third down conversions, an area this group prided itself upon last year. It may be the lack of depth on the defensive line that is hurting the Packers. They need to find a way to cover tight ends, but Charles Woodson and the rest of the Packers defense did a great job of shutting down Terrell Owens.
Special Teams: A - Mason Crosby was perfect again, going three for three. Derrick Frost averaged 49 yards on his punts, and the coverage units did a great job of containing two explosive returnmen in Felix Jones and Adam Jones. Special teams has been the most consistent phase of the Packers this year.
The Packers gave the Cowboys an early opportunity by turning the ball over inside their own territory when Ryan Grant fumbled on one of his more explosive runs of the day in the first quarter. Dallas started the drive at the Green Bay 14, but the Packers defense was able to hold them to a field goal.
Green Bay then bookended two Mason Crosby field goals around a Nick Collins interception to take a 6-3 lead. Collins' interception came after the Cowboys had one of their better drives of the game, using 15 plays to get to the Green Bay 14 yard line. Collins intercepted the pass in the end zone and used some nifty running to take it back 61 yards into Dallas territory, setting up Crosby’s second field goal.
From there, the Packers were hurt by big plays. The Cowboys first touchdown came on a 60 yard scamper down the sideline by rookie running back Felix Jones in the second quarter. On the Cowboys second possession of the second half, a 62 yard bomb from Tony Romo to Miles Austin set up a Marion Barber touchdown that gave Dallas a 20-9 lead. Dallas’ final big play put the game out of reach for the Packers. Romo again hit Austin, this time on a third down and 20, for 52 yards and a touchdown that gave Dallas three score lead that Green Bay simply could not overcome.
Encouraging is that the defense was not beaten up and down the field on every drive. Discouraging, though, are the big plays and inability to get off the field on third down. The Cowboys converted seven of 14 third down opportunities. Fifty percent is not a horrible percentage in such a statistic, but in comparison to the Packers third down conversion rate of four in 14 opportunities, it is obvious why the game turned out as it did.
Romo looked to tight end Jason Witten on five of those third down plays, four times converting for first downs. Most of Witten’s catches came on such crucial plays. His numbers from this game (7 catches, 67 yards) are similar to those from last year (6 catches, 67 yards), but his presence was much more apparent in the Packers inability to get off the field on third down. Overall, Green Bay gave up six plays over 20 yards, with half of those being gains of more than 50 yards. In the end, it was simply too much as the offense wasn’t able to move the ball. It was also easy for the Cowboys to convert on these plays, because the size of their offensive line made it impossible for the Packers to get any sort of pass rush. Colin Cole commented after the game that he couldn’t even see around Flozell Adams to know where the ball was. To play defense in such a blind state against the Cowboys can only mean trouble.
The Packers offense looked eerily similar to the second pre-season game of the year, when they were unable to move the ball in San Francisco. Against the Cowboys, Rodgers was pressured early and got happy feet by the middle of the second quarter. He was sacked five times and flushed out of the pocket consistently throughout the game. The receivers were unable to get open quickly enough for Rodgers to find plays downfield. This combination led to Rodgers looking shakey and insecure in the pocket, unable to get into a rhythm throughout the game. Just as the Cowboys offensive line was too big for the Packers, Dallas’ front seven was too big and too quick for Green Bay’s offensive line.
The Packers were also hurt by penalties that left them in second- and third-and-long situations which made establishing the running game impossible. Coach Mike McCarthy always preaches to the importance of the running game, but in this contest he never had the opportunity to practice what he preaches. The Packers rushed only 16 times for 84 yards in the game and never had a rush of more than nine yards.
Report card:
Offense: C+ - The offense never got into rhythm. Rodgers was human but not horrible in throwing for 290 yards on 22 completions in 39 attempts while trying to escape an unending pass rush. The running game has yet to get off the ground, and the offense needs to do a better job of converting third downs than it did in this game.
Defense: B – Not a horrible effort from a group that was on the field for a long time with short breathers in between possessions. As with the offense, the biggest concern is third down conversions, an area this group prided itself upon last year. It may be the lack of depth on the defensive line that is hurting the Packers. They need to find a way to cover tight ends, but Charles Woodson and the rest of the Packers defense did a great job of shutting down Terrell Owens.
Special Teams: A - Mason Crosby was perfect again, going three for three. Derrick Frost averaged 49 yards on his punts, and the coverage units did a great job of containing two explosive returnmen in Felix Jones and Adam Jones. Special teams has been the most consistent phase of the Packers this year.
9.21.2008
Cowboys @ Packers Preview - Green Bay looks to avenge loss in Big D
When the Packers and Cowboys met last year, it was one of the most highly anticipated games of the year. Both teams were 10-1, and the winner of the game was expected to follow the path of home field advantage to the Super Bowl. Dallas took a 27-10 lead in the first half, and held off the Packers to win 37-27. (Neither team would make it to the Super Bowl after both were beaten at home by the Giants.)
For many Packers fans, it was the first time they felt comfortable with their post-Brett Favre plan. After Favre was knocked out of the game in the second quarter, Rodgers led the Packers on scoring drives to end the first half and to begin the third quarter. He was efficient in the game, completing 18 of 26 passes for 201 yards and a score in just over one half of action. Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo was the star of the game, though, throwing for over 300 yards and four scores.
One of the big factors in last year’s loss was the absence of Charles Woodson. Without the shutdown corner, Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens was able to amass 156 yards on seven receptions. The Packers were unable to shadow Owens with pro bowl corner Al Harris because Owens was often in motion, preventing Harris from executing the bump-and-run coverage that makes him so effective.
This year, Woodson will be back on the field, and it will be more difficult for Owens to find the open field he got to in last year’s game. Woodson has been playing at an extremely high level this year, even without practicing. Woodson’s broken toe has prevented him from practicing during the week, but his performance on gameday suggests he’s getting more practice than anyone else.
“He has a ton of experience and is a very smart football player,” McCarthy said about Woodson on Friday. “But the ability to pull it all together and then deal with the pain threshold and things like that, I think it's very unique what he's been able to do.”
While Woodson’s presence will certainly help a defense that struggled to contain the Cowboys last year, the loss of Atari Bigby may have a greater effect than some expect. Bigby left the game against the Lions last week with what was originally thought to be cramps, but it was later found out that Bigby has a slight hamstring strain that will keep him out of action on Sunday. In his place, second year safety Aaron Rouse will get the start. It’s not as though Bigby was a particularly outstanding coverage safety, but he was usually where he needed to be and often made the kind of hits that made receivers nervous to catch the football. While Rouse certainly has a knack for the football, his propensity to go for the home run leaves him vulnerable to give up the big play. Still, McCarthy has confidence that he can fill in, noting that Rouse “had some bumps in the road in the second game…but he's shown the ability to be very productive when he is out there.”
It will be particularly important for Rouse and the defensive backfield to contain not only Owens, but Romo’s other favorite target, tight end Jason Witten. Through two games, Witten has accumulated 13 catches for 206 yards. Tight ends gave Green Bay trouble last year, especially hot targets like Chris Cooley of the Redskins and Antonio Gates of the Chargers. The Packers did a fairly good job of controlling Witten last year, holding him to 67 yards on six catches, but the defense must not lose focus.
“Witten is as steady a guy as I think you'll see in the league,” McCarthy explained.” He's a tough guy. He makes big catches week in and week out. He does all the little things too, in the run game, pass protection, and the underneath catches. Just very smart, has a great feel for what you're trying to do to him from a coverage standpoint.” The linebacking group will also play a pivotal role in containing Witten, and the Packers are fortunate to have six athletic linebackers that will allow them to control these types of matchups.
On the other side of the football, the Packers will look to exploit a Dallas defense that surrendered 37 points just six days ago. Missing from action will be strong safety Roy Williams who injured his forearm in the victory over the Eagles on Monday night. Had Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb been on his game early on Monday night, it is likely that Philadelphia would have scored touchdowns on their first four possessions, and may have put the game out of reach for the Cowboys early on. Still, McNabb was able to throw for 281 yards without a proven big-play receiver. The Packers have the type of receiving corps that can put up big numbers on a vulnerable defense. Williams has been a mainstay in the Cowboys defensive backfield, and while his backup, Pat Watkins may have the tools, he does not have the experience.
The Packers, as always, would like to set up their air attack with their running game. They have been unsuccessful in trying to establish a ground game in the first two weeks, and it seems Ryan Grant has yet to fully recover from his hamstring injury. If the Packers can play within the gameplan instead of chucking the ball downfield as they did early against Dallas last year, they should find the success they found after Rodgers replaced Favre at quarterback in the second quarter.
Rodgers has been magnificent in two NFL starts, throwing for over 500 yards and four touchdowns. He has yet to throw a pick, but perhaps his biggest challenge will be re-acquainting himself with the man in front of him. Center Scott Wells is looking to make his first start of the regular season. Last time Wells was under center, the Packers had serious protection issues in the second week of the pre-season against the 49ers. Wells’ return allows Jason Spitz to move back to left guard and leaves Tony Moll on the bench. It will be the first time this year that last year’s starters are on the field for a regular season game. If the Packers can continue to get the protection they’ve been able to get in the first two games, the offense should not have problems moving the ball down the field.
For many Packers fans, it was the first time they felt comfortable with their post-Brett Favre plan. After Favre was knocked out of the game in the second quarter, Rodgers led the Packers on scoring drives to end the first half and to begin the third quarter. He was efficient in the game, completing 18 of 26 passes for 201 yards and a score in just over one half of action. Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo was the star of the game, though, throwing for over 300 yards and four scores.
One of the big factors in last year’s loss was the absence of Charles Woodson. Without the shutdown corner, Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens was able to amass 156 yards on seven receptions. The Packers were unable to shadow Owens with pro bowl corner Al Harris because Owens was often in motion, preventing Harris from executing the bump-and-run coverage that makes him so effective.
This year, Woodson will be back on the field, and it will be more difficult for Owens to find the open field he got to in last year’s game. Woodson has been playing at an extremely high level this year, even without practicing. Woodson’s broken toe has prevented him from practicing during the week, but his performance on gameday suggests he’s getting more practice than anyone else.
“He has a ton of experience and is a very smart football player,” McCarthy said about Woodson on Friday. “But the ability to pull it all together and then deal with the pain threshold and things like that, I think it's very unique what he's been able to do.”
While Woodson’s presence will certainly help a defense that struggled to contain the Cowboys last year, the loss of Atari Bigby may have a greater effect than some expect. Bigby left the game against the Lions last week with what was originally thought to be cramps, but it was later found out that Bigby has a slight hamstring strain that will keep him out of action on Sunday. In his place, second year safety Aaron Rouse will get the start. It’s not as though Bigby was a particularly outstanding coverage safety, but he was usually where he needed to be and often made the kind of hits that made receivers nervous to catch the football. While Rouse certainly has a knack for the football, his propensity to go for the home run leaves him vulnerable to give up the big play. Still, McCarthy has confidence that he can fill in, noting that Rouse “had some bumps in the road in the second game…but he's shown the ability to be very productive when he is out there.”
It will be particularly important for Rouse and the defensive backfield to contain not only Owens, but Romo’s other favorite target, tight end Jason Witten. Through two games, Witten has accumulated 13 catches for 206 yards. Tight ends gave Green Bay trouble last year, especially hot targets like Chris Cooley of the Redskins and Antonio Gates of the Chargers. The Packers did a fairly good job of controlling Witten last year, holding him to 67 yards on six catches, but the defense must not lose focus.
“Witten is as steady a guy as I think you'll see in the league,” McCarthy explained.” He's a tough guy. He makes big catches week in and week out. He does all the little things too, in the run game, pass protection, and the underneath catches. Just very smart, has a great feel for what you're trying to do to him from a coverage standpoint.” The linebacking group will also play a pivotal role in containing Witten, and the Packers are fortunate to have six athletic linebackers that will allow them to control these types of matchups.
On the other side of the football, the Packers will look to exploit a Dallas defense that surrendered 37 points just six days ago. Missing from action will be strong safety Roy Williams who injured his forearm in the victory over the Eagles on Monday night. Had Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb been on his game early on Monday night, it is likely that Philadelphia would have scored touchdowns on their first four possessions, and may have put the game out of reach for the Cowboys early on. Still, McNabb was able to throw for 281 yards without a proven big-play receiver. The Packers have the type of receiving corps that can put up big numbers on a vulnerable defense. Williams has been a mainstay in the Cowboys defensive backfield, and while his backup, Pat Watkins may have the tools, he does not have the experience.
The Packers, as always, would like to set up their air attack with their running game. They have been unsuccessful in trying to establish a ground game in the first two weeks, and it seems Ryan Grant has yet to fully recover from his hamstring injury. If the Packers can play within the gameplan instead of chucking the ball downfield as they did early against Dallas last year, they should find the success they found after Rodgers replaced Favre at quarterback in the second quarter.
Rodgers has been magnificent in two NFL starts, throwing for over 500 yards and four touchdowns. He has yet to throw a pick, but perhaps his biggest challenge will be re-acquainting himself with the man in front of him. Center Scott Wells is looking to make his first start of the regular season. Last time Wells was under center, the Packers had serious protection issues in the second week of the pre-season against the 49ers. Wells’ return allows Jason Spitz to move back to left guard and leaves Tony Moll on the bench. It will be the first time this year that last year’s starters are on the field for a regular season game. If the Packers can continue to get the protection they’ve been able to get in the first two games, the offense should not have problems moving the ball down the field.
9.14.2008
Packers @ Lions Recap - Packers stack wins to start season 2-0
The Packers used 21 unanswered points in the first half and 24 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to roll to a 48-25 victory over Detroit at Ford Field on Sunday. Detroit’s sixteen points in the fourth quarter made for a combined total of 40 points scored between the two teams in the final 15 minutes. The Lions gave the Packers a run for their money, but in the end Green Bay left Detroit with a huge victory that pushed the team to 2-0.
After going three and out on the first series, the Packers scored touchdowns on their next three possessions, the first of which was a 15 play drive that ate up over eight minutes of the clock and resulted in James Jones’ first touchdown of the year. Rodgers also completed first half touchdown passes to Donald Driver and rookie Jordy Nelson. Greg Jennings was the benefactor of a fallen Lions cornerback when he caught a 62 yard pass that set up Driver’s touchdown. Rodgers finished the game 24 of 38 for 324 yards.
After the game, McCarthy said he felt comfortable with the aggressive approach his team used with a quarterback making only his second NFL start. “I think the play calling reflected it,” said McCarthy, who is now 5-0 against the Lions. “We kept pushing the envelope, and I think that speaks volumes about the coaches and everybody involved having confidence with Aaron to stay aggressive, and I thought he managed it very well.”
The Lions put together perhaps their highest quality drive of the day at the end of the first half. Jon Kitna completed passes of 14, 12 and 22 yards as the Lions worked their two-minute drill almost to perfection. The drive stalled, though, after a holding penalty negated a first down that would have given the Lions first down and goal to go with 30 seconds to work with. Detroit had to settle for a Jason Hanson field goal, instead.
Hanson also connected on field goals of 49 and 53 yards on the Lions first two drives of the second half, cutting the Packers lead to 21-9. The second field goal was only made possible by an Aaron Rodgers fumble on the Packers preceding drive. Rodgers was guilty of holding onto the ball a little too long at various points throughout the ballgame, and this time he paid for it. The Packers defense held their ground, however, and actually pushed the Lions back a few yards to set up the long field goal.
At the beginning of the fourth quarter, it seemed as though the game was slipping away from the Packers. Lions receiver Calvin Johnson first beat Charles Wooden, making a juggling catch and finishing the play off with a dunk of the football over the crossbar on the goalpost. On the next Packers possession, the Packers went three-and-out, before a high--but catchable--snap went over the head of punter Derrick Frost, giving the Lions two points and the ball. The safety trimmed the Packers lead to just six points at 24-18. It didn’t take long for the Lions to capitalize as the Lions exploited a mismatch when Tramon Williams lined up in coverage on Calvin Johnson. Johnson’s second touchdown came on a pattern similar to his first touchdown. He caught the ball on an “in” pattern and eluded tacklers on his way to a 47 yard touchdown that gave Detroit the lead.
From there, the Packers took control of the game. Rodgers hit Jennings on a 60 yard catch and run that led to a Mason Crosby field which gave the Packers a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. The Packers intercepted three of Kitna’s next six pass attempts, taking two back for scores that clinched the victory. Charles Woodson, who was playing on an injured toe, intercepted two passes and scored on one of them. McCarthy was very impressed by the effort.
“(He) didn’t even practice all week and to go out and perform at the level he did today, I just can't say enough about him…he turned that game around in the fourth quarter.”
McCarthy was equally content with how his team responded to the quick turn of events that led to Detroit taking the lead. “I just didn't want to see any panic,” McCarthy noted. “Guys stayed up, no one blinked, and I think it really showed the character of our football team the way they responded.” It truly could have been a disaster, but instead the NFL’s youngest team turned the tide the other way and took control of the game away from the Lions.
The win allowed a lot of Packers fans to breathe a sigh of relief. The game truly was played much closer than the outcome would indicate, but the Packers were in control the majority of the game. Coming off of a difficult Monday night game against the Vikings and on short rest, the Packers played up to their potential and won a game they absolutely had to have to become pace-setters in the NFC. Next Sunday night, the Packers will take on a Dallas team that will be coming off of a short week after playing Philadelphia on Monday night.
Offense: B+ - The Packers put together three very nice series in the first half, and, while not as productive in terms of points, played solid in the second half. Brandon Jackson finished off the game well after Ryan Grant struggled to gain any yardage (20 yards on 15 carries). Rodgers was mostly good other than underthrowing Jennings after his defender slipped and scrambling out of the pocket more than was necessary at a few points. Packers receivers made some good plays but also dropped some easy balls. The line held up well, and it seemed as though the Packers were actually using this game as a practice in inserting Daryn Colledge at right guard for a while.
Defense: B+ - A couple of late scores boosted this performance rating up a full letter grade. The defense did a much better job of containing the big play. Although Calvin Johnson reeled in two long touchdown passes, the Packers did not give up a play over 20 yards other than Johnson’s touchdowns. The defense did a good job of holding the Lions to a field goal after the Packers’ only turnover on their own 30 yard line.
Special Teams: C+ - The botched snap on the punt obviously could have played a much bigger role than it did in this game. Outside of this play, Frost did a good job of punting the ball and preventing any big returns. Mason Crosby tacked a few more touchbacks onto his 2008 total and was two of two on field goal attempts. The coverage units were solid and helped the Packers to win the field position battle.
Overall: B – The Packers did put on a pretty impressive show for their fans today. At the same time, they were playing a pretty bad team. They took care of business and turned the game into a route, but there are certain facets (dropped passes, blown coverages, the running game) that need to be corrected and improved if the Packer would like to remain among the elite in the NFC. Considering the circumstances (young team with a new quarterback playing on short rest), the Packers can be very satisfied with their effort.
After going three and out on the first series, the Packers scored touchdowns on their next three possessions, the first of which was a 15 play drive that ate up over eight minutes of the clock and resulted in James Jones’ first touchdown of the year. Rodgers also completed first half touchdown passes to Donald Driver and rookie Jordy Nelson. Greg Jennings was the benefactor of a fallen Lions cornerback when he caught a 62 yard pass that set up Driver’s touchdown. Rodgers finished the game 24 of 38 for 324 yards.
After the game, McCarthy said he felt comfortable with the aggressive approach his team used with a quarterback making only his second NFL start. “I think the play calling reflected it,” said McCarthy, who is now 5-0 against the Lions. “We kept pushing the envelope, and I think that speaks volumes about the coaches and everybody involved having confidence with Aaron to stay aggressive, and I thought he managed it very well.”
The Lions put together perhaps their highest quality drive of the day at the end of the first half. Jon Kitna completed passes of 14, 12 and 22 yards as the Lions worked their two-minute drill almost to perfection. The drive stalled, though, after a holding penalty negated a first down that would have given the Lions first down and goal to go with 30 seconds to work with. Detroit had to settle for a Jason Hanson field goal, instead.
Hanson also connected on field goals of 49 and 53 yards on the Lions first two drives of the second half, cutting the Packers lead to 21-9. The second field goal was only made possible by an Aaron Rodgers fumble on the Packers preceding drive. Rodgers was guilty of holding onto the ball a little too long at various points throughout the ballgame, and this time he paid for it. The Packers defense held their ground, however, and actually pushed the Lions back a few yards to set up the long field goal.
At the beginning of the fourth quarter, it seemed as though the game was slipping away from the Packers. Lions receiver Calvin Johnson first beat Charles Wooden, making a juggling catch and finishing the play off with a dunk of the football over the crossbar on the goalpost. On the next Packers possession, the Packers went three-and-out, before a high--but catchable--snap went over the head of punter Derrick Frost, giving the Lions two points and the ball. The safety trimmed the Packers lead to just six points at 24-18. It didn’t take long for the Lions to capitalize as the Lions exploited a mismatch when Tramon Williams lined up in coverage on Calvin Johnson. Johnson’s second touchdown came on a pattern similar to his first touchdown. He caught the ball on an “in” pattern and eluded tacklers on his way to a 47 yard touchdown that gave Detroit the lead.
From there, the Packers took control of the game. Rodgers hit Jennings on a 60 yard catch and run that led to a Mason Crosby field which gave the Packers a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. The Packers intercepted three of Kitna’s next six pass attempts, taking two back for scores that clinched the victory. Charles Woodson, who was playing on an injured toe, intercepted two passes and scored on one of them. McCarthy was very impressed by the effort.
“(He) didn’t even practice all week and to go out and perform at the level he did today, I just can't say enough about him…he turned that game around in the fourth quarter.”
McCarthy was equally content with how his team responded to the quick turn of events that led to Detroit taking the lead. “I just didn't want to see any panic,” McCarthy noted. “Guys stayed up, no one blinked, and I think it really showed the character of our football team the way they responded.” It truly could have been a disaster, but instead the NFL’s youngest team turned the tide the other way and took control of the game away from the Lions.
The win allowed a lot of Packers fans to breathe a sigh of relief. The game truly was played much closer than the outcome would indicate, but the Packers were in control the majority of the game. Coming off of a difficult Monday night game against the Vikings and on short rest, the Packers played up to their potential and won a game they absolutely had to have to become pace-setters in the NFC. Next Sunday night, the Packers will take on a Dallas team that will be coming off of a short week after playing Philadelphia on Monday night.
Offense: B+ - The Packers put together three very nice series in the first half, and, while not as productive in terms of points, played solid in the second half. Brandon Jackson finished off the game well after Ryan Grant struggled to gain any yardage (20 yards on 15 carries). Rodgers was mostly good other than underthrowing Jennings after his defender slipped and scrambling out of the pocket more than was necessary at a few points. Packers receivers made some good plays but also dropped some easy balls. The line held up well, and it seemed as though the Packers were actually using this game as a practice in inserting Daryn Colledge at right guard for a while.
Defense: B+ - A couple of late scores boosted this performance rating up a full letter grade. The defense did a much better job of containing the big play. Although Calvin Johnson reeled in two long touchdown passes, the Packers did not give up a play over 20 yards other than Johnson’s touchdowns. The defense did a good job of holding the Lions to a field goal after the Packers’ only turnover on their own 30 yard line.
Special Teams: C+ - The botched snap on the punt obviously could have played a much bigger role than it did in this game. Outside of this play, Frost did a good job of punting the ball and preventing any big returns. Mason Crosby tacked a few more touchbacks onto his 2008 total and was two of two on field goal attempts. The coverage units were solid and helped the Packers to win the field position battle.
Overall: B – The Packers did put on a pretty impressive show for their fans today. At the same time, they were playing a pretty bad team. They took care of business and turned the game into a route, but there are certain facets (dropped passes, blown coverages, the running game) that need to be corrected and improved if the Packer would like to remain among the elite in the NFC. Considering the circumstances (young team with a new quarterback playing on short rest), the Packers can be very satisfied with their effort.
9.11.2008
Packers @ Lions Preview - Green Bay looks to get on a roll
After beating one NFC North rival on Monday night, the Packers follow a short week of practice with a trip to Detroit to take on another division opponent in the Lions. While the Packers are favored to win the game, don’t expect the green and gold to take their opponents from across the lake lightly.
“When you have a common opponent in a division game, the atmosphere being their home opener…we're expecting an incredible environment,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said on Wednesday. “We're expecting the Lions to play with a lot of energy and emotion.”
The Packers will attempt to avoid overlooking a lesser appointment in what is commonly referred to as a trap game. With the matchup against Dallas following the Detroit game, there is always the chance that the players will look beyond this weak team, falling into the trap of taking a win for granted. Fortunately, though, McCarthy has instilled a one-week-at-a-time attitude that has prevented his team from looking past an opponent, no matter how inferior they may be.
The Lions surrendered over 300 yards rushing last week—and to the equally lowly Falcons, nonetheless. Still, there is no reason to believe Detroit will just roll over against Green Bay. While the Packers should put points on the board, the defense will have to deal with a number of weapons on the Lions offense, most notably the receivers.
The Lions employ one of the best receiver tandems in the league in Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson. At 6’3” and 6’5”, respectively, Williams and Johnson are the prototypical, physical receivers that make for easy targets for the quarterback and create matchup problems for any team.
“They're very talented,” McCarthy noted about the duo. “You talk about big, athletic receivers that can run. They've definitely got a pair of them.”
Of course, the line is the defensive backfield’s best friend. If the Packers defensive linemen can get enough of a push to make Lions quarterback Jon Kitna release the ball early, the Packers secondary should not have a problem containing the Lions receivers. Kitna is a much different quarterback than the Vikings Tarvaris Jackson, who was able to create a lot of problems for the Packers using his feet. Kitna, on the other hand, is more of a pocket passer. He also is much more experienced than Jackson and will be able to go through his reads to find the open receiver. The goal of the defense, of course, is to ensure that Kitna does not have enough time to go through his progressions to find the open receiver. The Packers were able to knock Jackson down a lot on Monday night, but only got one sack. Against a weaker offensive line, the Packers should be able to significantly increase their sack total.
Behind Kitna, rookie Kevin Smith lines up as the number one running back. Smith led all college rushers last year while playing for Central Florida. He is joined by former Cincinnati Bengal Rudi Johnson in the backfield. Smith will undoubtedly get most of the carries against the Packers this weekend, but Johnson is a savvy veteran whom the coaches will not hesitate to use as he becomes more familiar with the offense. Both running backs have their work cut out for them, though, as defensive tackles Johnny Jolly and Ryan Pickett hope to clog up the middle of the line, as they did against Adrian Peterson and the Vikings on Monday night.
The Packers should be able to get the best of their divisional opponent. The offense should be able to score points, and Ryan Grant should have one of his better games of the year. While the Lions certainly have weapons on offense, a healthy Packers defense can compete with most any team in the league. McCarthy has not lost a game to the Lions since taking over in 2006.
“When you have a common opponent in a division game, the atmosphere being their home opener…we're expecting an incredible environment,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said on Wednesday. “We're expecting the Lions to play with a lot of energy and emotion.”
The Packers will attempt to avoid overlooking a lesser appointment in what is commonly referred to as a trap game. With the matchup against Dallas following the Detroit game, there is always the chance that the players will look beyond this weak team, falling into the trap of taking a win for granted. Fortunately, though, McCarthy has instilled a one-week-at-a-time attitude that has prevented his team from looking past an opponent, no matter how inferior they may be.
The Lions surrendered over 300 yards rushing last week—and to the equally lowly Falcons, nonetheless. Still, there is no reason to believe Detroit will just roll over against Green Bay. While the Packers should put points on the board, the defense will have to deal with a number of weapons on the Lions offense, most notably the receivers.
The Lions employ one of the best receiver tandems in the league in Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson. At 6’3” and 6’5”, respectively, Williams and Johnson are the prototypical, physical receivers that make for easy targets for the quarterback and create matchup problems for any team.
“They're very talented,” McCarthy noted about the duo. “You talk about big, athletic receivers that can run. They've definitely got a pair of them.”
Of course, the line is the defensive backfield’s best friend. If the Packers defensive linemen can get enough of a push to make Lions quarterback Jon Kitna release the ball early, the Packers secondary should not have a problem containing the Lions receivers. Kitna is a much different quarterback than the Vikings Tarvaris Jackson, who was able to create a lot of problems for the Packers using his feet. Kitna, on the other hand, is more of a pocket passer. He also is much more experienced than Jackson and will be able to go through his reads to find the open receiver. The goal of the defense, of course, is to ensure that Kitna does not have enough time to go through his progressions to find the open receiver. The Packers were able to knock Jackson down a lot on Monday night, but only got one sack. Against a weaker offensive line, the Packers should be able to significantly increase their sack total.
Behind Kitna, rookie Kevin Smith lines up as the number one running back. Smith led all college rushers last year while playing for Central Florida. He is joined by former Cincinnati Bengal Rudi Johnson in the backfield. Smith will undoubtedly get most of the carries against the Packers this weekend, but Johnson is a savvy veteran whom the coaches will not hesitate to use as he becomes more familiar with the offense. Both running backs have their work cut out for them, though, as defensive tackles Johnny Jolly and Ryan Pickett hope to clog up the middle of the line, as they did against Adrian Peterson and the Vikings on Monday night.
The Packers should be able to get the best of their divisional opponent. The offense should be able to score points, and Ryan Grant should have one of his better games of the year. While the Lions certainly have weapons on offense, a healthy Packers defense can compete with most any team in the league. McCarthy has not lost a game to the Lions since taking over in 2006.
9.09.2008
Vikings @ Packers Recap - Packers ovecome penalties to beat Vikings
The Packers looked solid in their season opener against the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night. Aaron Rodgers was extremely efficient, passing for 178 yards and a touchdown. The throw was an across the body, off-balance bee-liner to Korey Hall for the Packers first score. It was the first time a Packers fullback caught a touchdown pass since January 2, 2005, when Brett Favre hit then-Packers fullback William Henderson for a 38 yard touchdown. Rodgers also ran for a score, sneaking into the end-zone for the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Ryan Grant led the Packers in rushing with 12 carries for 92 yards, bolstered largely by a hard-nosed 57-yard scamper in the fourth quarter to set up Rodgers’ touchdown run. It was not an overwhelming ground attack, but the Packers came into the game knowing they were facing one of the league’s best run defenses. Green Bay ran the ball well enough to keep Minnesota’s highly touted defense off-balance.
The story early on was penalties. In the first quarter, the Packers were whistled for five penalties. At one point, Green Bay was assessed for three separate penalties (holding, 12 men on the field, tripping) that pushed the offense back to their own nine yard line, facing a first and 33. Fortunately, the Packers were “only” charged with seven penalties the rest of the way, the most notable of which came on a 68 yard touchdown pass from Rodgers to Driver. Right guard Tony Moll was whistled for being ineligible downfield for the second time in the night, bringing the touchdown back. Moll was in the wrong place at the wrong time after falling forward in trying to engage the defensive line.
In the second quarter, Rodgers hit Greg Jennings on a 56-yard bomb on first down that would set up Hall’s touchdown. It was a beautiful catch by Jennings but an even prettier play call by coach Mike McCarthy. Vikings cornerback Cedric Griffin was injured on the preceding kickoff, leaving the Minnesota secondary susceptible to a long pass. McCarthy attacked and the aggressiveness paid off with a huge play that put momentum in the favor of the Packers.
Driver’s nullified touchdown and a missed interception by Brady Poppinga in the third quarter really gave the Vikings an opportunity to get back into the game. Consider that Driver’s touchdown would have put the Packers up 17-6 in the middle of the third quarter, and Poppinga’s interception would have ended Minnesota’s drive that eventually ended in a Sidney Rice touchdown. That is a 14 point swing and may have led to even more points for Green Bay.
Still, the game had to be played out in reality, and the Packers were able to hold off the Vikings offense. Johnny Jolly and Ryan Pickett were plugs in the hole for the most part, yielding a fourth quarter Adrian Peterson touchdown only after a penalty gave the Vikings the ball at the Packers three yard line. Unfortunately, the offense couldn’t hold the ball with under three minutes remaining, and the Vikings were given new life when they got the ball back just after the two minute warning. After two short pass plays, Atari Bigby capitalized on a bad throw by Tarvaris Jackson, intercepting the ball with a minute to play. Rodgers knelt on the ball twice to end the game.
Report Card:
Offense: B - Protection was solid. Chad Clifton did an excellent job of containing Jared Allen. With the help of Daryn Colledge, Allen was held to no sacks, no tackles and just one pass deflected. As a result, Rodgers was efficient in the passing game. Many of Rodgers throws were safe and short, but these conservative looks set up the long plays to Jennings and Driver. The running game was contained for the most part, as was expected against such a stout defensive line. Tony Moll and Mark Tauscher opened up a huge hole in the fourth quarter that led to Grant’s 57 yard run to the two yard line.
Defense: B- – The defense did a great job of containing Adrian Peterson. Other than two consecutive plays in the first quarter on which he gained 11 and 34 yards, the stud sophomore was held to just 58 yards on 17 carries, a 3.4 yard average. Charles Woodson was great in coverage and Al Harris was nearly beat a couple of times, but the receivers were often overthrown. With deep ball threats like Bernard Berrian and Sidney Rice, it was expected that the receivers would get behind the secondary a couple of times. The linebackers were solid, though they did get lost a couple times and allow Jackson to scramble for significant yardage. The Packers had only one sack but consistently knocked Jackson to the ground and certainly disrupted his psyche.
Special Teams: A- - The minus is the blocked field goal, but this should be corrected with repetitions. Derrick Frost will improve in holding and allow Crosby to get better lift on the ball. Frost punted well, ending up with a 42.6 net yards average. Crosby was also very solid, booming a couple of kickoffs deep into the endzone. When he did not, the coverage was there to contain the returnmen. Will Blackmon and Jordy Nelson did their job on kick returns, and Blackmon’s third quarter punt return provided a huge lift to the team and the crowd.
Overall: B – It’s good to be able to bring your B game and beat the Vikings. The Packers certainly have work to do, and they need to clean up some dirty spots. Mental errors like 12 men on the field and “leverage” penalties on meaningless extra points could have proven to be more costly. The defense needs to prevent the big play; on three consecutive plays in the Vikings opening drive of the second half, the defense gave up plays of 19, 24 and 23 yards. The Packers can be happy with the effort, especially playing thin on the offensive and defensive lines.
Ryan Grant led the Packers in rushing with 12 carries for 92 yards, bolstered largely by a hard-nosed 57-yard scamper in the fourth quarter to set up Rodgers’ touchdown run. It was not an overwhelming ground attack, but the Packers came into the game knowing they were facing one of the league’s best run defenses. Green Bay ran the ball well enough to keep Minnesota’s highly touted defense off-balance.
The story early on was penalties. In the first quarter, the Packers were whistled for five penalties. At one point, Green Bay was assessed for three separate penalties (holding, 12 men on the field, tripping) that pushed the offense back to their own nine yard line, facing a first and 33. Fortunately, the Packers were “only” charged with seven penalties the rest of the way, the most notable of which came on a 68 yard touchdown pass from Rodgers to Driver. Right guard Tony Moll was whistled for being ineligible downfield for the second time in the night, bringing the touchdown back. Moll was in the wrong place at the wrong time after falling forward in trying to engage the defensive line.
In the second quarter, Rodgers hit Greg Jennings on a 56-yard bomb on first down that would set up Hall’s touchdown. It was a beautiful catch by Jennings but an even prettier play call by coach Mike McCarthy. Vikings cornerback Cedric Griffin was injured on the preceding kickoff, leaving the Minnesota secondary susceptible to a long pass. McCarthy attacked and the aggressiveness paid off with a huge play that put momentum in the favor of the Packers.
Driver’s nullified touchdown and a missed interception by Brady Poppinga in the third quarter really gave the Vikings an opportunity to get back into the game. Consider that Driver’s touchdown would have put the Packers up 17-6 in the middle of the third quarter, and Poppinga’s interception would have ended Minnesota’s drive that eventually ended in a Sidney Rice touchdown. That is a 14 point swing and may have led to even more points for Green Bay.
Still, the game had to be played out in reality, and the Packers were able to hold off the Vikings offense. Johnny Jolly and Ryan Pickett were plugs in the hole for the most part, yielding a fourth quarter Adrian Peterson touchdown only after a penalty gave the Vikings the ball at the Packers three yard line. Unfortunately, the offense couldn’t hold the ball with under three minutes remaining, and the Vikings were given new life when they got the ball back just after the two minute warning. After two short pass plays, Atari Bigby capitalized on a bad throw by Tarvaris Jackson, intercepting the ball with a minute to play. Rodgers knelt on the ball twice to end the game.
Report Card:
Offense: B - Protection was solid. Chad Clifton did an excellent job of containing Jared Allen. With the help of Daryn Colledge, Allen was held to no sacks, no tackles and just one pass deflected. As a result, Rodgers was efficient in the passing game. Many of Rodgers throws were safe and short, but these conservative looks set up the long plays to Jennings and Driver. The running game was contained for the most part, as was expected against such a stout defensive line. Tony Moll and Mark Tauscher opened up a huge hole in the fourth quarter that led to Grant’s 57 yard run to the two yard line.
Defense: B- – The defense did a great job of containing Adrian Peterson. Other than two consecutive plays in the first quarter on which he gained 11 and 34 yards, the stud sophomore was held to just 58 yards on 17 carries, a 3.4 yard average. Charles Woodson was great in coverage and Al Harris was nearly beat a couple of times, but the receivers were often overthrown. With deep ball threats like Bernard Berrian and Sidney Rice, it was expected that the receivers would get behind the secondary a couple of times. The linebackers were solid, though they did get lost a couple times and allow Jackson to scramble for significant yardage. The Packers had only one sack but consistently knocked Jackson to the ground and certainly disrupted his psyche.
Special Teams: A- - The minus is the blocked field goal, but this should be corrected with repetitions. Derrick Frost will improve in holding and allow Crosby to get better lift on the ball. Frost punted well, ending up with a 42.6 net yards average. Crosby was also very solid, booming a couple of kickoffs deep into the endzone. When he did not, the coverage was there to contain the returnmen. Will Blackmon and Jordy Nelson did their job on kick returns, and Blackmon’s third quarter punt return provided a huge lift to the team and the crowd.
Overall: B – It’s good to be able to bring your B game and beat the Vikings. The Packers certainly have work to do, and they need to clean up some dirty spots. Mental errors like 12 men on the field and “leverage” penalties on meaningless extra points could have proven to be more costly. The defense needs to prevent the big play; on three consecutive plays in the Vikings opening drive of the second half, the defense gave up plays of 19, 24 and 23 yards. The Packers can be happy with the effort, especially playing thin on the offensive and defensive lines.
9.07.2008
Vikings @ Packers Preview - Green Bay to be tested early
The Green Bay Packers will host the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football tomorrow night at Lambeau Field, and as much as you would like to call it just another game, this game carries a lot of baggage with it.
The Packers and Vikings are expected by most analysts to contend for the NFC North crown this year. The winner of this game will start off the year with the upper hand on the rest of the season. Certainly there are 15 more football games to be played, but this single game could prove to be of extreme importance when week 17 rolls around.
The Vikings will look to take advantage of a quarterback making his first start and a running back who has seen no live football action in nearly eight months. While Aaron Rodgers has three pre-seasons and a total of one game of football (two quarters in 2006 against the New England Patriots and the same amount of time in 2007 against the Dallas Cowboys), starting a game on national television in prime-time carries a bit more pressure. The Packers are expecting to see the Aaron Rodgers that threw for 117 yards and a touchdown in a little over one quarter of work against the Cincinnati Bengals. Incidentally, that game was also on Monday night.
Behind Rodgers, Ryan Grant will line up at running back for his first season-opening start. Grant accumulated 939 yards and eight touchdowns over the last 10 regular season games for the Packers last year, including seven of those scores in his last six games. Due to contractual and hamstring issues in the pre-season, Grant was unable to take any pre-season carries and may take some time to adjust to real opponents coming at him. Still, the Packers are hoping he can pick up where he left off and hit the grounding running, so to speak.
It will not be easy for Grant to run between the tackles as the Vikings possess one of the best defenses overall and one of the most intimidating defensive lines in football. Pat and Kevin Williams—all 628 pounds of them—will clog up the middle of the line while Ray Edwards and newly acquired Jared Allen play the outside of the line. The Vikings paid a huge price to get Allen and then paid a huge price to keep him, signing him to a six-year deal that may be worth up to $74 million if Allen hits certain incentives. Allen, who had 43 sacks in four seasons with the Chiefs, is expected to be the answer to a team that was among the best in run defense last year but fell on the low end of the list in terms of passing defense. He will be expected to put a lot of pressure on the quarterback, especially on passing downs. Packers left tackle Chad Clifton will face the task of blocking Allen and protecting Rodger’s blind side.
On the other side of the ball, Minnesota possesses one of the most exciting young players of the NFL in Adrian Peterson. In 14 games last year, Peterson ran for 1,341 yards on 238 attempts, an astonishing 5.6 yards-per-carry average. The Packers knocked him out of the game last year after only 45 yards on 11 carries, and Green Bay went on to win the game 34-0. In all likelihood, the Packers will have to face Peterson for a full 60 minutes on Monday night. . The Vikings will start unproven quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, who made the first start of his career at Lambeau in 2006 and is starting just his second full NFL season. In 2007, Jackson threw nine touchdowns against 12 interceptions in 12 starts. Expect the Packers to load the box early, forcing Minnesota to throw the ball. Like Grant, Jackson also missed significant time in the preseason due to injury and may take some time to adjust to the speed of the NFL.
The Packers and Vikings are expected by most analysts to contend for the NFC North crown this year. The winner of this game will start off the year with the upper hand on the rest of the season. Certainly there are 15 more football games to be played, but this single game could prove to be of extreme importance when week 17 rolls around.
The Vikings will look to take advantage of a quarterback making his first start and a running back who has seen no live football action in nearly eight months. While Aaron Rodgers has three pre-seasons and a total of one game of football (two quarters in 2006 against the New England Patriots and the same amount of time in 2007 against the Dallas Cowboys), starting a game on national television in prime-time carries a bit more pressure. The Packers are expecting to see the Aaron Rodgers that threw for 117 yards and a touchdown in a little over one quarter of work against the Cincinnati Bengals. Incidentally, that game was also on Monday night.
Behind Rodgers, Ryan Grant will line up at running back for his first season-opening start. Grant accumulated 939 yards and eight touchdowns over the last 10 regular season games for the Packers last year, including seven of those scores in his last six games. Due to contractual and hamstring issues in the pre-season, Grant was unable to take any pre-season carries and may take some time to adjust to real opponents coming at him. Still, the Packers are hoping he can pick up where he left off and hit the grounding running, so to speak.
It will not be easy for Grant to run between the tackles as the Vikings possess one of the best defenses overall and one of the most intimidating defensive lines in football. Pat and Kevin Williams—all 628 pounds of them—will clog up the middle of the line while Ray Edwards and newly acquired Jared Allen play the outside of the line. The Vikings paid a huge price to get Allen and then paid a huge price to keep him, signing him to a six-year deal that may be worth up to $74 million if Allen hits certain incentives. Allen, who had 43 sacks in four seasons with the Chiefs, is expected to be the answer to a team that was among the best in run defense last year but fell on the low end of the list in terms of passing defense. He will be expected to put a lot of pressure on the quarterback, especially on passing downs. Packers left tackle Chad Clifton will face the task of blocking Allen and protecting Rodger’s blind side.
On the other side of the ball, Minnesota possesses one of the most exciting young players of the NFL in Adrian Peterson. In 14 games last year, Peterson ran for 1,341 yards on 238 attempts, an astonishing 5.6 yards-per-carry average. The Packers knocked him out of the game last year after only 45 yards on 11 carries, and Green Bay went on to win the game 34-0. In all likelihood, the Packers will have to face Peterson for a full 60 minutes on Monday night. . The Vikings will start unproven quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, who made the first start of his career at Lambeau in 2006 and is starting just his second full NFL season. In 2007, Jackson threw nine touchdowns against 12 interceptions in 12 starts. Expect the Packers to load the box early, forcing Minnesota to throw the ball. Like Grant, Jackson also missed significant time in the preseason due to injury and may take some time to adjust to the speed of the NFL.
9.05.2008
Packers Season Preview - Offense
Did you know the Packers have a new quarterback behind center this year?? Brett Favre was traded.
Not exactly a conversation you hear very much these days around Green Bay. It is impossible to be a football fan and not know that Aaron Rodgers will be taking snaps this year for the Packers, the first time a man other than Favre will start games for Green Bay since 1992. Everything that can be said has been said about the situation, so it is not worth spending a lot of time on. For all the question marks about Rodgers, there was a reason this guy was being considered as the number one pick in 2005. Also, remember that, unlike other highly-touted quarterbacks who came into the league, Rodgers has had three years to observe, has playmakers all around him and has a solid defense on the other side of the ball. Expect numbers around 22 touchdowns and 14 picks from Rodgers.
The man to whom Aaron Rodgers will hand the ball off has a lot of work to do. Ryan Grant was set to get the ball on the second play from scrimmage in the final pre-season game, but Rodgers and Greg Jennings had other plans. The end result is the Grant has had minimal contact since January, due to his hold out during contract negotiations and the short-term injury bug. The Packers are expecting big things from Grant, but it is not known whether he can handle a full-season workload (Had only six carries over the first six weeks last year). For that reason, Brandon Jackson and Kregg Lumpkin will be of utmost importance to the Packers down the stretch. Jackson did not play a lot himself last year, dealing with injuries on three separate occasions and taking a backseat to Grant. He has shown drastic improvement since last year and should get 80 to 100 carries this year. Lumpkin, an undrafted rookie who was given virtually no chance to make the roster over the recently released Vernand Morency and Noah Herron, will see some action but will probably not be asked to shoulder too much of the load. Green Bay surprised many in keeping two fullbacks in Korey Hall and John Kuhn.
The Packers receiving corps is rivaled in depth on the team only by the linebacking group. Veteran Donald Driver heads up a group of otherwise young receivers that will give trouble to defensive backfields across the league. Driver, Greg Jennings and James Jones all specialize in yards after the catch (YAC) and were among the league’s best in that category last year. On more than one occasion, Jennings used a 180 degree spin (catching the ball on an in-pattern and spinning away from the center of the field to run along the sidelines) to fool defenders and boost his quarterback’s numbers. Jones is built like a rock and showed in the pre-season that he can take a hit and still find his way into the end zone. Ruvell Martin and Jordy Nelson complete a five-wide receiver set that creates matchup issues for any team. The 6 foot 4 inch Martin and 6 foot 3 inch Nelson will be particularly attractive options in the red zone.
Of course, none of these guys will look any good unless the line can hold it together. The Packers were among the best in preventing sacks last year, ending up in the lower part of the league in sacks allowed. However—and this is where Favre may most be missed—they had a veteran quarterback who had over a decade and a half of reading defenses and making the right calls at the line. Favre’s ability to know when to get rid of the ball contributed to low sack totals, as well.
The bookends of the line, Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher, are mainstays for the Packers, and as long as they can stay healthy there are no questions. The Packers expect Scott Wells to be their center for the fourth year, but back problems may keep him out of the Packers first couple of games and could have lingering effects. The man to Wells’ right, rookie right guard Josh Sitton, is also expected to miss at least one week of action. Needless the say, the first few weeks of the season might prove difficult and frustrating for the Packers offense, but all should be in place by week four or five. It has to be, or this offense won’t click.
Not exactly a conversation you hear very much these days around Green Bay. It is impossible to be a football fan and not know that Aaron Rodgers will be taking snaps this year for the Packers, the first time a man other than Favre will start games for Green Bay since 1992. Everything that can be said has been said about the situation, so it is not worth spending a lot of time on. For all the question marks about Rodgers, there was a reason this guy was being considered as the number one pick in 2005. Also, remember that, unlike other highly-touted quarterbacks who came into the league, Rodgers has had three years to observe, has playmakers all around him and has a solid defense on the other side of the ball. Expect numbers around 22 touchdowns and 14 picks from Rodgers.
The man to whom Aaron Rodgers will hand the ball off has a lot of work to do. Ryan Grant was set to get the ball on the second play from scrimmage in the final pre-season game, but Rodgers and Greg Jennings had other plans. The end result is the Grant has had minimal contact since January, due to his hold out during contract negotiations and the short-term injury bug. The Packers are expecting big things from Grant, but it is not known whether he can handle a full-season workload (Had only six carries over the first six weeks last year). For that reason, Brandon Jackson and Kregg Lumpkin will be of utmost importance to the Packers down the stretch. Jackson did not play a lot himself last year, dealing with injuries on three separate occasions and taking a backseat to Grant. He has shown drastic improvement since last year and should get 80 to 100 carries this year. Lumpkin, an undrafted rookie who was given virtually no chance to make the roster over the recently released Vernand Morency and Noah Herron, will see some action but will probably not be asked to shoulder too much of the load. Green Bay surprised many in keeping two fullbacks in Korey Hall and John Kuhn.
The Packers receiving corps is rivaled in depth on the team only by the linebacking group. Veteran Donald Driver heads up a group of otherwise young receivers that will give trouble to defensive backfields across the league. Driver, Greg Jennings and James Jones all specialize in yards after the catch (YAC) and were among the league’s best in that category last year. On more than one occasion, Jennings used a 180 degree spin (catching the ball on an in-pattern and spinning away from the center of the field to run along the sidelines) to fool defenders and boost his quarterback’s numbers. Jones is built like a rock and showed in the pre-season that he can take a hit and still find his way into the end zone. Ruvell Martin and Jordy Nelson complete a five-wide receiver set that creates matchup issues for any team. The 6 foot 4 inch Martin and 6 foot 3 inch Nelson will be particularly attractive options in the red zone.
Of course, none of these guys will look any good unless the line can hold it together. The Packers were among the best in preventing sacks last year, ending up in the lower part of the league in sacks allowed. However—and this is where Favre may most be missed—they had a veteran quarterback who had over a decade and a half of reading defenses and making the right calls at the line. Favre’s ability to know when to get rid of the ball contributed to low sack totals, as well.
The bookends of the line, Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher, are mainstays for the Packers, and as long as they can stay healthy there are no questions. The Packers expect Scott Wells to be their center for the fourth year, but back problems may keep him out of the Packers first couple of games and could have lingering effects. The man to Wells’ right, rookie right guard Josh Sitton, is also expected to miss at least one week of action. Needless the say, the first few weeks of the season might prove difficult and frustrating for the Packers offense, but all should be in place by week four or five. It has to be, or this offense won’t click.
9.04.2008
Packers Season Preview - Defense
It is almost impossible for any prognosticator to avoid bringing up the quarterback position when talking about the fate of the Packers this season, but this is a team that has been built around its defense. Exciting young players and seasoned veterans give the Packers a tremendous mix that should provide the opportunity for the Packers to win a lot of football games this year.
The biggest question mark for the defense is the line. Obviously this is a big deal, because if the line is unable to pressure the quarterback, the secondary will struggle as a result. In the offseason, the Packers traded away defensive tackle Corey Williams, expecting second year man Justin Harrell to fill his role. Unfortunately Harrell has been plagued by injuries and may not be effective this year, and certainly not during the first six games while he is on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. The Packers may need reserve Johnny Jolly to play more extensively, and, if need be, defensive end Michael Montgomery may see more action in the middle as well. The other tackle, Ryan Pickett, hasn’t played live action since January. The Packers expect his return to bolster the defense, but it may take him some time to get back into the swing of things.
On the outside of the defensive line, the Packers are much more solid with pro-bowl defensive end Aaron Kampman returning for his seventh year with the team. Kampman has totaled 27.5 sacks over the last two seasons, and is expected to contribute again this year. On the right side of the ball, Cullen Jenkins will look to bounce back after the lowest sack output of his career. Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila will spell his number in passing situations. Gbaja-Biamila will be looking to reach double digits in sacks for the first time since 2004, but there are some concerns about durability as KGB has struggled with injuries throughout the preseason.
Make no mistake that the Packers were able to win football games at the end of the game last year because of their versatility in subbing their linemen in and out of the game. It kept the unit fresh within the game and also across the season. The Packers have the talent up front, but durability may come into play more this year than last.
The second level of the defense is perhaps the organizations strongest unit. Middle linebacker Nick Barnett is playing with a chip on his shoulder after again being left off the starting Pro-Bowl roster. He will be flanked by Brady Poppinga on the strong side and A.J. Hawk—once he is healthy—on the weakside. Hawk’s pectoral strain has limited his action in pre-season, but head coach Mike McCarthy has not ruled out the possibility of Hawk playing in the opener against the Vikings. Free agent acquisition Brandon Chillar is the most notable of the second string of linebackers and will be able to fill in nicely should there be any injuries. Desmond Bishop continues to show improvement at the linebacker position, but both he and Tracy White will most likely make a greater mark on special teams.
In the secondary, the Packers possess one of the best cornerback tandems in football in Al Harris and Charles Woodson. Packers fans are hoping that the poor performance by Harris in last year’s NFC Championship game was an aberration and not the beginning of a downswing for Harris. McCarthy limited Harris’ and Woodson’s action in pre-season games, but the defense was considerably better with those two on the field.
The free safety position will be occupied by Nick Collins, another undrafted gem of the Ted Thompson era. While many casual observers like Aaron Rouse in this spot, Collins is far more consistent and continues to show improvement entering his fourth year. Rouse should be able to fill in if necessary, but he is just as prone to give up the big play as he is to actually make the big play. Hard-hitting Atari Bigby will play the strong safety position and had a very solid preseason. It is essential that this unit stay healthy. Jarret Bush, Will Blackmon and Tramon Williams all continue to develop and are answers down the line. However, the bulk of the big plays given up by the defense came with Harris and Woodson on the bench. Playing any of those three (Bush, Blackmon and Williams) does not spell disaster, but it will most likely put a lot more pressure on the offense.
9.03.2008
Packers Season Preview - Special Teams
Though oftentimes unnoticed and underrated, special teams plays an important role in a football game. Kick and punt coverage teams can dictate whether an opponent has to go 40 yards or 80 yards to get into the end zone. In the same way, kick and punt return teams can dictate whether their own offense has to go 40 or 80 yards for a score. When a team kicks a field goal, it is often described as "settling" for three points, rather than taking six. In fact, kickers usually go unnoticed for doing their jobs right and are attacked ferociously by fans and the media if they are not perfect.
In Green Bay this season, there are strengths, weaknesses and question marks across various parts of special teams. Perhaps the most important piece to consider in an assessment of the special teams is that long-snapper Rob Davis retired after 11 seasons with the Packers. Davis provided the Packers with stability and consistency at an unsung position during his tenure, playing in 151 consecutive games, a streak second in Green Bay only to a certain departed quarterback. Davis made the clock tick in both the punting and field goal kicking units. His departure has already been noted.
The Packers expected J.J. Jansen to replace Davis this season, but Jansen was injured during the Packers final pre-season game against Tennessee. There was talk of coaxing Davis out of retirement, but Ted Thompson ultimately decided to sign free agent Brett Goode. Goode attended the University of Arkansas and spent time in training camp for the Jacksonville Jaguars last year. His most recent job was pouring concrete. Packer fans can hope that his snaps are as solid as the pavement he was working with.
Goode’s performance will prove important for two facets of the special teams game: field goals and punts. In the field goal unit, Goode will be snapping to a new holder who will be holding for a second year kicker who has room for improvement. Mason Crosby had a solid first year, but had the opportunity to be even better. While Crosby was golden inside 40 yards (19 for 20) he looked more green from 40 yards and deeper (12 for 19). Certainly he made a couple of clutch field goals during the season, but after the bye week, 9 of Green Bay’s last 10 games were decided by 10 points or more. It is likely that Crosby will have to make more of those long field goals—and in clutch situations if the Packers are to repeat their success of 2007.
Goode will also be snapping to a new punter, Derrick Frost, whom the Redskins released during the final rounds of cuts this past weekend. In response to concern about the fluctuation at the punter position, General Manager Ted Thomspon noted that there are always changes at this time of year, citing the Packers’ running back situation last year. Frost joins the team after spending three years with the Washington Redskins. Frost seems to present the same problem Jon Ryan displayed in outkicking his coverage, sacrificing hang time for gross yardage. The Packers, though, are hoping Frost will be more consistent and avoid having any games like Ryan had last year in the Chicago debacle.
On the return side of the special teams, the Packers will hope to build off of a strong pre-season. Jordy Nelson was impressive in returning kickoffs for Green Bay, averaging over 35 yards on five kickoff returns in three games after returning punts for the first pre-season game. The Packers may also utilize rookie cornerback Pat Lee to return punts, a position primarily occupied by Charles Woodson. Woodson is probably the more dynamic of the two, and has proven to have value at the position, but the risk for injury may be too great, especially considering the Packers’ struggles to contain opposing wide receivers with Woodson and Al Harris on the bench. Lee presents good speed to go along with a solid frame that can take some extra hits on the punt return team.
In Green Bay this season, there are strengths, weaknesses and question marks across various parts of special teams. Perhaps the most important piece to consider in an assessment of the special teams is that long-snapper Rob Davis retired after 11 seasons with the Packers. Davis provided the Packers with stability and consistency at an unsung position during his tenure, playing in 151 consecutive games, a streak second in Green Bay only to a certain departed quarterback. Davis made the clock tick in both the punting and field goal kicking units. His departure has already been noted.
The Packers expected J.J. Jansen to replace Davis this season, but Jansen was injured during the Packers final pre-season game against Tennessee. There was talk of coaxing Davis out of retirement, but Ted Thompson ultimately decided to sign free agent Brett Goode. Goode attended the University of Arkansas and spent time in training camp for the Jacksonville Jaguars last year. His most recent job was pouring concrete. Packer fans can hope that his snaps are as solid as the pavement he was working with.
Goode’s performance will prove important for two facets of the special teams game: field goals and punts. In the field goal unit, Goode will be snapping to a new holder who will be holding for a second year kicker who has room for improvement. Mason Crosby had a solid first year, but had the opportunity to be even better. While Crosby was golden inside 40 yards (19 for 20) he looked more green from 40 yards and deeper (12 for 19). Certainly he made a couple of clutch field goals during the season, but after the bye week, 9 of Green Bay’s last 10 games were decided by 10 points or more. It is likely that Crosby will have to make more of those long field goals—and in clutch situations if the Packers are to repeat their success of 2007.
Goode will also be snapping to a new punter, Derrick Frost, whom the Redskins released during the final rounds of cuts this past weekend. In response to concern about the fluctuation at the punter position, General Manager Ted Thomspon noted that there are always changes at this time of year, citing the Packers’ running back situation last year. Frost joins the team after spending three years with the Washington Redskins. Frost seems to present the same problem Jon Ryan displayed in outkicking his coverage, sacrificing hang time for gross yardage. The Packers, though, are hoping Frost will be more consistent and avoid having any games like Ryan had last year in the Chicago debacle.
On the return side of the special teams, the Packers will hope to build off of a strong pre-season. Jordy Nelson was impressive in returning kickoffs for Green Bay, averaging over 35 yards on five kickoff returns in three games after returning punts for the first pre-season game. The Packers may also utilize rookie cornerback Pat Lee to return punts, a position primarily occupied by Charles Woodson. Woodson is probably the more dynamic of the two, and has proven to have value at the position, but the risk for injury may be too great, especially considering the Packers’ struggles to contain opposing wide receivers with Woodson and Al Harris on the bench. Lee presents good speed to go along with a solid frame that can take some extra hits on the punt return team.
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