Given the change to a new defense only one year ago, the Green Bay Packers are surprisingly strong at defensive end. Because Ryan Picket is playing so well in the middle, rookie B J Raji plays mostly at end. Cullen Jenkins, who had many outstanding games in the old defense adapted well and should be a force this season. However, the best of the group was Johnny Jolly, who emerged from being okay as a 4-3 tackle, to being a player who regularly shut down his side of the field against the run and became perhaps the best pass tipper in the league. That is the situation now, but it changes after that. Both Jenkins and Jolly will be free agents next year. In addition, Jolly is facing drug charges in Texas, and being suspended by the league could be the least of his problems. The Packers are unlikely to invest huge dollars in both Jenkins and Jolly.
There are other veteran possibilities. Dom Capers said last year that a healthy Justin Harrell could be an excellent fit as a 3-4 defensive end. Staying healthy is the issue. Since being selected in the first round by Green Bay, Harrell has spent more time in rehab than on the field. He could really help the team, but that is not likely to happen. Jarius Wynn was drafted last year with the idea that he could add weight and strength and become a 3-4 defensive end. We will see how that is going in the preseason. Practice squad player Ronald Talley is another undersized candidate. It is reasonable to expect that a defensive end will be added in the 2010 draft.
The top two 3-4 defensive ends this year are also the top 4-3 defensive tackles, and are almost certain to be 2 of the top 4 draft choices. The Packers will not trade up to land either Ndamukong Suh 6-4 305 Nebraska or Gerald McCoy 6-4 295 Oklahoma. They will be long gone.
A player who is likely to be selected in the 20's in round one is from Penn State. Jared Odrick 6-5 304 is the right size, and he was defensive player of the year in the Big Ten. As a defensive tackle in 2009, Odrick made 41 tackles with six sacks. He was nearly always double-teamed. He clearly has the strength to anchor against the run and some ability to rush the passer against interior linemen. The betting money would tell us that Odrick will not be a Packer, however if their player is gone and no trading partner steps up, they may consider a defensive end.
After all pro performer Nick Collins, the Green Bay Packer roster at safety is filled with special team players who, while they try hard, are not players who should be starters in the NFL. If healthy, Atari Bigby may be an exception, but the team has waited long enough for him to regain his form. One question is the type of safety they are seeking. In the man-to-man pass defense of the past, the Packers were looking for a safety with the coverage skills of a corner back. Under Dom Capers, the defense plays more zone, and the team may be looking for a bigger safety. Regardless of type, General Manager Ted Thompson will be looking for at least one safety in the 2010 college draft.
This is a good year for safeties. One well-known safety is Taylor Mays 6-3 230 USC. Mays has unusual physical skills. At that size, he ran a 4.31 forty and leaped to a 41 inch vertical and added 24 bench reps. If his on field play matched his numbers, Mays would be the number one overall selection. As matters stand, he may even drop to Green Bay at 23. If the Packers think he can learn how to be a pro safety, Mays might be a Packer. Some team will use a first round choice for this physical phenom.
One, and on some draft boards, two safeties are rated above Mays. The highest rated player is thought by many to be a future star in the league. Eric Berry 6-0 195 Tennessee is coming off an All American season, which included 72 tackles, 3 sacks and 7 interceptions, 2 of which were returned for touchdowns. He is a game changer. Though smaller, Berry had combine numbers close to Mays, and he excelled on the playing field. He will be long gone by the time the Packers announce what they will do at pick 23.
Not much needs to be said about the current state of the Green Bay Packers cornerbacks. Charles Woodson is an all pro. Al Harris has been a quality cornerback but he will be coming back from a serious injury that will cause him to miss most or all of the off-season, and whether he will be as good as he has been is a concern. His backup and probable successor Tramon Williams has not yet shown the consistency to justify that prediction. Behind Williams there is chaos. Will Blackmon, the most athletic of the group has not excelled at cornerback when given an opportunity, and he cannot stay healthy. Second round draft choice Pat Lee has never stayed healthy long enough to impress anyone. Brandon Underwood and Josh Bell did not make enough of an impression to move ahead of Jarrett Bush. The Packers need another cornerback.
The top prospect is Joe Haden 5-11 190, a junior from Florida. Should he surprisingly drop, the Packers would definitely consider him. This draft is different from the situation last season when Michael Crabtree was unexpectedly available when the Packers picked. Wide receiver was not close to being a priority last season. This year cornerback should be addressed within the first three rounds, and the opportunity to grab a blue chip prospect could prove irresistible. Haden is not only a great cover corner, but he also comes up in run support. He even volunteered to play special teams. Joe Haden will be a good to great player for some team, but it is not likely to be the Packers
After the consensus first talent comes off the board, there is little agreement who will be next. What is fairly clear is that a number of cornerbacks will be off the board before the second pick for Green Bay. That leads to the possibility that a player who General Manager Ted Thompson highly values may be gone before his pick. If that happens
we could see a replay of the trade up to land Clay Matthews last season.
The linebackers who play in Green Bay include three first round draft choices and no all pros. As a unit they played at a high level most of the time in 2009, but they under-performed in several crucial situations. Aside from rookie Clay Matthews, who may well be all pro in the future, the unit did not rush the passer or defend the pass well enough to achieve victories against offenses led by top rated quarterbacks. It is a unit that needs to improve.
There is potential for development from within. Everyone was adjusting to the new 3-4 defense last year and should be comfortable this season. Linebackers who are familiar with the system will allow coordinator Dom Capers to add more to the game plan. Although each player has some limitations, Capers has some talent to work with. Nick Barnett stops ball carriers at and behind the line of scrimmage and ranges across the field to make tackles. He is average in pass coverage and blitzing. A J Hawk is a good inside linebacker. He even made one outstanding play in pass coverage last season, but great plays of any kind and adequate work in pass coverage are not often seen. Brandon Chillar just received a big contract largely because he is far and away the best coverage linebacker on the team. Desmond Bishop is slightly behind the big three, and like the others, defending against the pass is a major weakness. The Green Bay Packer roster has room for an inside linebacker who can drop into coverage.
At outside linebacker, barring a case of the sophomore jinx, Clay Matthews figures to be a force on one side of the line. Brad Jones was the starter at the end of 2009 on the other side. If he continues to improve, he could be part of the answer. However, the Packers need a reliable pass rusher to fill that spot next year. Jones, and the other contenders to start are works in progress as pass rushers. One of the most promising candidates could be Jeremy Thompson, but his serious injury at the end of the season makes him a question mark. Easy to forget is the young man who excited many fans in the preseason. Cyril Obiozor. With good size, 6-4 249, and quickness, he has the raw materials to play the position. Whether a season on the practice squad has made him ready to contribute will be determined by the end of the preseason. Brady Poppinga, by contrast is more of a known quantity, but what we know suggests that he will be a dependable reserve at best.
It will be a big surprise if the 2010 draft ends without t the selection of at least one linebacker, and the position will probably be addressed early.
Adding a young player to play behind, and at some point replace, Green Bay left tackle Chad Clifton has been a an unfulfilled priority for several years. This year General Manager Ted Thompson has little choice in the matter. Clifton has sustained many injuries and is declining in his skills. Rookie T.J. Lang filled in late last year after Daryn Colledge proved inadequate. Lang was better, but he does not appear to be the answer. Even if he could improve to the point of being an adequate starter, that would not the best option for the Packers. Lang is a talented young man who is better fit for, and could be a long-term starter at, right tackle or guard. T.J. Lang will be needed elsewhere.
Happily the offensive tackle class in the 2010 Draft is strong and deep. There will be good opportunities beginning in the first round and throughout the remaining rounds. Unfortunately, at least seven other teams may be looking at an offensive tackle before Green Bay selects at 23. Seattle, who lost the great Walter Jones, has 2 picks in the top 15. The Lions, Redskins, Chiefs, Raiders, Bills and 49ers may also consider a first round offensive tackle. Most of those teams will pick ahead of Green Bay in later rounds as well. There will be competition for the quality tackle prospects.
Two of the top prospects are seniors from the state of Oklahoma. Russell Okung 6-5 302 Oklahoma State is number one on most boards. He will be gone in the top five. Trent Williams 6-5 318 is not rated as high by most observers, but he also is likely to be gone in the top 20 selections. Williams is probably best suited to play right tackle, which makes him an unlikely first round pick for Green Bay in any case.
With the postseason now history, the focus of Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy of the Green Bay Packers, will now turn to offseason issues. These include re-signing some players, signing free agents and the 2010 NFL Draft. Basic to all these concerns is an honest evaluation of what they now have and where they need to improve.
There are two main complications. First, the Packers have a number of free agents next season. Thus, far only linebacker Brandon Chillar has signed a new contract, although nose tackle Ryan Pickett may be close to a new deal. There will not be enough room under the salary cap to sign them all. The second issue is the pending expiration of the collective bargaining agreement between the NFL owners and players association. If a new agreement is not reached, some players scheduled to be unrestricted free agents will be restricted, which will give the Packers the right to match any offer. This further complicates an already complicated situation.
Offensive line should be the number one priority. Offensive Tackle Chad Clifton is an unrestricted free agent and his skills are deteriorating. He may be re-signed simply because he is the only semi-decent left tackle now on the roster, but competition must be added. While TJ Lang is a possible replacement, he is better thought of as a potential reserve behind either a veteran or high draft choice brought in to start at left tackle. Lang may also be part of the answer at right tackle. Mark Tauscher is also a free agent, but among Tauscher, Lang and Breno Giacomini, they should be able to find a starter and a backup.
This is my first mock Draft for the Green Bay Packers looking ahead to the 2010 NFL Draft. As of this time, neither draft position nor choices of underclassmen have been settled. Every pick is therefore subject to change at any time.
ROUND 1 Bryan Bulaga 6'6 313 OT Iowa Junior
Brian Bulaga started at left tackle for the Hawkeyes as a freshman and, except when he has been injured, Bulaga has been a force at the position ever since. Bulaga is a junior not yet declared for the draft. If he does, he could drop to the bottom of the first round because of a junior year hampered by a thyroid condition. The Packers may appreciate that he still played at a high level when at less than full strength. He definitely has talent and probably the motivation to become even better as a pro.
ROUND 2 Nate Allen 6'2 206 FS South Florida
Nate Allen has good size and speed and is one of those players who is always around the ball. He led his team as a senior in tackles, passes broken up and interceptions. For his career, he has returned an interception, a fumble and a blocked kick for a touchdown.
Last season, the Pittsburgh Steelers dominated on defense and won the Super Bowl. This season they are facing elimination from playoff contention already. One of the reasons for the difference is the absence of safety Troy Polamalu. Without his consistently disruptive presence, the Steelers are a good but not great NFL defense. The loss of tight end Owen Daniels has weakened a once high-flying Houston offense. Chicago is less of a threat without middle linebacker Brian Urlacher.
Offensive and defensive schemes are important. Tampa Bay has no identity having fired or demoted the coordinators who began the season. Coaches are very important. However, the best plans become irrelevant if players do not carry them out, and the worst plan can be saved by a great individual effort. Stated in another way, players make plays, and a few players make a disproportionate number of plays that affect the out come of a game. We call them difference makers.
For the Green Bay Packers this season the number one and uncontested difference maker has been Charles Woodson. He begins as a dependable coverage corner who also makes every tackle. To this he adds a practiced talent for stripping the ball for the offensive player. Woodson is also the most feared blitzer and best pass interceptor on the squad.
The Dallas victory may have been a loss without Woodson stripping the ball from Roy Williams after the longest gain of the day by the Dallas offense. Detroit is historically a challenge on Thanksgiving Day. Woodson individually dominated the Lions with two interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown, one sack, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He was honored as Defensive Player of the Month in both October and November.
Perhaps he was influenced by the commentary about always having the league's youngest roster. Perhaps he finally realizes that the Draft and street free agency are not enough to provide quality reserves in the NFL. Whatever the case, Packer General Manager Ted Thompson finally signed some veteran free agents in the last 2 weeks, and probably raised the average age of the team by 6 months or more. Running Back Ahman Green, age 32, and Tackle Mark Tauscher, also 32, bring some experience, but the signings do not show a new direction.
As we all know, both players had successful careers in Green Bay and each has maintained a connection with the city. Each is likely to contribute for no more than a season or two, and neither had lots of teams clamoring for their services. On the other hand, they know the Packer offense and the mental part of preparing to play should be comparatively easy. Nevertheless, with the team at 3-2 and thin at several positions, Ted Thompson did not exactly make a bold move.
The Packers certainly needed to do something to improve the running game and provide protection for Quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Both players will help. Tauscher is a competent run blocker and above average in pass protection. Green is a capable blocker in the backfield and an excellent receiver. In the past he has been effective at short yardage, but his ability to contribute much as runner remains to be seen.
A friend of mine always refused to dignify preseason encounters as games. He called them "scrimmages", merely an extension of training camp practices. He has a point. While Green Bay Coach Mike McCarthy talks about the importance of winning the games, it was clear, this preseason, that his decisions about personnel and play calling were directed toward evaluating his players rather than winning the game. This is all about practicing for the real thing.
Many coaches and commentators have been heard to say that a team plays the way it practices. That is what is encouraging about the third Preseason Game in Arizona. The Green Bay Packer starters were very impressive in the scrimmage. If they play like they practiced on Friday night, they could have a very good season.
Two players stood out in the contest. Aaron Rodgers, with a nearly perfect 151 quarterback rating, began the game by forcing a pass to James Jones between two defenders, showing that he can do the Bret Favre thing. A few plays later, he eluded some capable defenders on the way to a 34-yard scramble, showing he can do that as well. These were followed by a perfectly thrown fade pattern in the end zone, and a perfectly thrown bomb to an open receiver. Throughout the first half, Rodgers consistently waited for a receiver to break open when he had time, and moved around to get more time when he was rushed. All but one of his errant passes were intentional throw aways. It was a virtuoso performance.
There was also a nearly perfect performance on defense. Defensive back Charles Woodson has stood out in training camp with at least one interception in nearly every session. In the full contact scrimmage on Friday, he honed his skills in forcing fumbles. In the Cardinals opening drive, that powerful offense was moving well, until Woodson stripped the ball from a receiver and recovered the fumble. Later, he was asked to blitz the quarterback and succeeded in forcing two quarterback fumbles, the second of which led to an Aaron Kampman touchdown. That play turned a close game into a likely rout.
Week two of the preseason brought a more difficult challenge to the Green Bay Packers. The challenge was met, and all the justifiable concerns about this being meaningless seem a little less important. This team is moving in the right direction.
It is important to remember that two years ago, with most of the same players, the Packers were 14-3 and playing in the Division Championship. The team has talent.
Last season, they lost their way, but talent was not the issue. In retrospect, there was some good fortune in 2007 that caused a team to over achieve, and their luck moved in the opposite direction in 2008, and they under achieved.
Head Coach Mike McCarthy believes that the way forward for the Green Bay Packers will depend on superior coaching. He overhauled his defensive staff and reenergized a pretty good group of offensive coaches. We are seeing the results in the preseason. The offense, in its first season with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, was pretty effective until they were close to the opposing end zone. There they frequently faltered. This unit is finishing. In the opener, it was two touchdowns in two drives. Against Buffalo, Aaron Rodgers led the starters to 3 touchdowns in four drives, and the other would have produced a field goal had they not tried to run the ball on fourth down. The offense is successful because they are running the ball and passing to the tight ends. Both those elements were lacking for much of last season.
It did not count. The Game was against what at this point is a pathetic Cleveland Browns unit. But taking all that into consideration, the performance of the Green Bay Packers in their opening preseason contest has to be rated as a positive.
The performance is not typical. During most of the last decade and beyond, the performance by the first team offense in the initial pre season game was not like this. It was typical of the team in the Brett Favre years, for the first unit to be somewhere between substandard and barely adequate in the preseason. In 2000 against the Jets and 2001 versus these same Browns, Favre's offense managed 3 points in two series. The year 2002 brought the Eagles and a first quarter of no points and one interception. In the weather shortened Hall of Fame Game in 2003, the Chiefs shut out the Packers for the entire game. In 2004, the motivation of playing against Mike Holmgren was not enough to produce more than one field goal.
The situation has improved some in the last few years. Brett Favre and company were effective against San Diego in 2005, scoring the only touchdown of the game on a pass to Donald Driver. That was followed by two years of frustration as San Diego and then Pittsburgh applied enough pressure to disrupt the Green Bay offense and shut out the starters. In 2008 with Aaron Rodgers in command, the opening offense scored 10 points, but it took 4 offensive possessions, rather than the usual two.
This season was different. The Packers ran the ball with some success. The first opportunity for third and short was conquered with room to spare. The passing game was crisp and effective, and when the Browns rushed three and covered with the rest, ageless Donald Driver got behind double coverage for the opening touchdown.
The finest quarterback to ever play in Green Bay has put his fans to a test the past few years. After a couple of years of threatened but withdrawn retirements, Brett Favre appeared to actually retire in 2008. Of course he unretired a few months later and ended up with the New York Jets. At that time he publicly asked to be allowed to sign with arch rival Minnesota. After one up and down season with the number two team in the Big Apple, there was another retirement announcement, which was soon repudiated. His mating dance with the Minnesota Vikings has been the story of the Summer. As the story has unfolded, the reaction of Packer fans has been all over the map.
One view is to remain loyal to a true Packer Legend and wish him well in the future. An example of this view is contained in a YouTube video, which owed some of its popularity to the fact that Annette Summersett, a very attractive young woman, performs the song. Here is the link.
The argument is clearly made in this column in Bleacher Report. Many fans agree with his sentiments, at least to some extent.
The mainstream media mostly supports the "let him play and honor his career" view of the situation. There was a nice article this Summer in either the Green Bay or Milwaukee paper, which listed the many Packer greats who ended their careers with another team. The list of such Packers included Vince Lombardi, Reggie White, Jim Taylor and even Curley Lambeau. It is difficult to call Brett Favre a traitor given the iconic status of these other former Packers.
Nevertheless, traitor, or synonyms for that term is the label many fans give to "number 4". While the profit motive may also be involved, the fact that tee-shirt makers believe there is a market suggests that many fans hold a very negative view about Favre playing for other teams. A UK website offered #4 Traitor tee shirts last year.
Read Article
Given the change to a new defense only one year ago, the Green Bay Packers are surprisingly strong at defensive end. Because Ryan Picket is playing so well in the middle, rookie B J Raji plays mostly at end. Cullen Jenkins, who had many outstanding games in the old defense adapted well and should be a force this season. However, the best of the group was Johnny Jolly, who emerged from being okay as a 4-3 tackle, to being a player who regularly shut down his side of the field against the run and became perhaps the best pass tipper in the league. That is the situation now, but it changes after that. Both Jenkins and Jolly will be free agents next year. In addition, Jolly is facing drug charges in Texas, and being suspended by the league could be the least of his problems. The Packers are unlikely to invest huge dollars in both Jenkins and Jolly.
After all pro performer Nick Collins, the Green Bay Packer roster at safety is filled with special team players who, while they try hard, are not players who should be starters in the NFL. If healthy, Atari Bigby may be an exception, but the team has waited long enough for him to regain his form. One question is the type of safety they are seeking. In the man-to-man pass defense of the past, the Packers were looking for a safety with the coverage skills of a corner back. Under Dom Capers, the defense plays more zone, and the team may be looking for a bigger safety. Regardless of type, General Manager Ted Thompson will be looking for at least one safety in the 2010 college draft.
This is a good year for safeties. One well-known safety is Taylor Mays 6-3 230 USC. Mays has unusual physical skills. At that size, he ran a 4.31 forty and leaped to a 41 inch vertical and added 24 bench reps. If his on field play matched his numbers, Mays would be the number one overall selection. As matters stand, he may even drop to Green Bay at 23. If the Packers think he can learn how to be a pro safety, Mays might be a Packer. Some team will use a first round choice for this physical phenom.
One, and on some draft boards, two safeties are rated above Mays. The highest rated player is thought by many to be a future star in the league. Eric Berry 6-0 195 Tennessee is coming off an All American season, which included 72 tackles, 3 sacks and 7 interceptions, 2 of which were returned for touchdowns. He is a game changer. Though smaller, Berry had combine numbers close to Mays, and he excelled on the playing field. He will be long gone by the time the Packers announce what they will do at pick 23.
Not much needs to be said about the current state of the Green Bay Packers cornerbacks. Charles Woodson is an all pro. Al Harris has been a quality cornerback but he will be coming back from a serious injury that will cause him to miss most or all of the off-season, and whether he will be as good as he has been is a concern. His backup and probable successor Tramon Williams has not yet shown the consistency to justify that prediction. Behind Williams there is chaos. Will Blackmon, the most athletic of the group has not excelled at cornerback when given an opportunity, and he cannot stay healthy. Second round draft choice Pat Lee has never stayed healthy long enough to impress anyone. Brandon Underwood and Josh Bell did not make enough of an impression to move ahead of Jarrett Bush. The Packers need another cornerback.
The linebackers who play in Green Bay include three first round draft choices and no all pros. As a unit they played at a high level most of the time in 2009, but they under-performed in several crucial situations. Aside from rookie Clay Matthews, who may well be all pro in the future, the unit did not rush the passer or defend the pass well enough to achieve victories against offenses led by top rated quarterbacks. It is a unit that needs to improve.
Adding a young player to play behind, and at some point replace, Green Bay left tackle Chad Clifton has been a an unfulfilled priority for several years. This year General Manager Ted Thompson has little choice in the matter. Clifton has sustained many injuries and is declining in his skills. Rookie T.J. Lang filled in late last year after Daryn Colledge proved inadequate. Lang was better, but he does not appear to be the answer. Even if he could improve to the point of being an adequate starter, that would not the best option for the Packers. Lang is a talented young man who is better fit for, and could be a long-term starter at, right tackle or guard. T.J. Lang will be needed elsewhere.
With the postseason now history, the focus of Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy of the Green Bay Packers, will now turn to offseason issues. These include re-signing some players, signing free agents and the 2010 NFL Draft. Basic to all these concerns is an honest evaluation of what they now have and where they need to improve.
This is my first mock Draft for the Green Bay Packers looking ahead to the 2010 NFL Draft. As of this time, neither draft position nor choices of underclassmen have been settled. Every pick is therefore subject to change at any time.
Last season, the Pittsburgh Steelers dominated on defense and won the Super Bowl. This season they are facing elimination from playoff contention already. One of the reasons for the difference is the absence of safety Troy Polamalu. Without his consistently disruptive presence, the Steelers are a good but not great NFL defense. The loss of tight end Owen Daniels has weakened a once high-flying Houston offense. Chicago is less of a threat without middle linebacker Brian Urlacher.
Perhaps he was influenced by the commentary about always having the league's youngest roster. Perhaps he finally realizes that the Draft and street free agency are not enough to provide quality reserves in the NFL. Whatever the case, Packer General Manager Ted Thompson finally signed some veteran free agents in the last 2 weeks, and probably raised the average age of the team by 6 months or more. Running Back Ahman Green, age 32, and Tackle Mark Tauscher, also 32, bring some experience, but the signings do not show a new direction.
A friend of mine always refused to dignify preseason encounters as games. He called them "scrimmages", merely an extension of training camp practices. He has a point. While Green Bay Coach Mike McCarthy talks about the importance of winning the games, it was clear, this preseason, that his decisions about personnel and play calling were directed toward evaluating his players rather than winning the game. This is all about practicing for the real thing.
Week two of the preseason brought a more difficult challenge to the Green Bay Packers. The challenge was met, and all the justifiable concerns about this being meaningless seem a little less important. This team is moving in the right direction.
It did not count. The Game was against what at this point is a pathetic Cleveland Browns unit. But taking all that into consideration, the performance of the Green Bay Packers in their opening preseason contest has to be rated as a positive.
The finest quarterback to ever play in Green Bay has put his fans to a test the past few years. After a couple of years of threatened but withdrawn retirements, Brett Favre appeared to actually retire in 2008. Of course he unretired a few months later and ended up with the New York Jets. At that time he publicly asked to be allowed to sign with arch rival Minnesota. After one up and down season with the number two team in the Big Apple, there was another retirement announcement, which was soon repudiated. His mating dance with the Minnesota Vikings has been the story of the Summer. As the story has unfolded, the reaction of Packer fans has been all over the map.