Greetings, G-Force.
A peaceful breath to the air. Stars slowly settling in. A beer. An old friend. It's a great night to talk Packers football. Such is life for me on this late March evening as I marinate with my good friend, Porter, and sip on a Southern Tier IPA. Porter - for those that don't know - is a dog. I've known him since the day he left the dog pound. 12 years later. He's still extra attentive and if you're not careful, his wagging tail will knock over your beer. Porter was best mates with my dog, Clayton. In fact, they grew up together. In many ways, they owned the St. Norbert College campus. As I relax, I football vibe overtook me. After all, it's the Ted Thompson Season
Yes, I wear Packers goggles. And, yes, there is no GM that I'd rather have than Ted Thompson. And, now, it's his time to shine. Over the last week, he's signed Jeff Saturday to replace Scott Wells. It was inevitable - Scott Wells was leaving. So, Thompson replaced him with Saturday and saved a couple million dollars on the cap. While Saturday is not the player that he was, he still has gas in the tank and he should be just as solid as Wells was last year. Saturday brings a presence. He's a leader. And - it's likely that he'll teach Rodgers a trick or two. I imagine great chemistry between our new starting Center and the NFL's MVP. Due to both players football IQ, it wouldn't surprise if that camaraderie will likely be immediate. They'll be dialed in with a common goal. Saturday came to Green Bay to get his 2nd ring. Rodgers wants the same. Word.
Don't overlook the Daniel Muir signing. Muir is not dominant, but he's an average run stopping DL who will compete for a roster spot and would give BJ Raji additional rest. It's all in an effort to create more pass rush on 3rd down. A well-rested Raji will add a boost.
Also, it's important to remember Lawrence Guy. Guy was a 7th round pick. Some had him projected as a potential 3rd rounder. But, he slipped. He's raw. He's young. Last year, he was on IR. But, you know he was building strength. Absorbing time in the meeting rooms. Getting better. Expect him to compete for a role on this defense this year. He'll be in the rotation this year.
The rumors of the Anthony Hargrove signing surprised me. The Favre bounty hunter was adamant on twitter that a deal was close. He talked about his first Lambeau Leap. He repeatedly claimed "Go Packers Go" and he busted out a handful of "Green and Yellow" comments. Further, he talked about his excitement of playing next to Pickett again. He also stated that he weighed 285 lbs, which is significantly higher than the 272 lbs that he was listed at last year. At 285, Hargrove might be big enough to hold the point as a DE in the 3-4. Hargrove would make a solid addition as a 3rd down pass rusher. Further, the reality is that the Packers don't need Hargrove to be a guy who gets 8-10 sacks. He'd simply be asked to get 5-6 sacks and to consistently collapse the pocket. Hargrove is an active pursuer. He's high energy. He's physical and in 2009, he was a legitimate force for the Saints defense.
In 2011, the Packers generated 4 passes defensed from the DL. 2 from Raji. 2 from Pickett. Continuously, the pass rush failed, but so did the DL's ability to get their hands in the air. Consider this: in 2009, Johnny Jolly had 10 passes defensed. If you can't get to the QB, get raise your hands and block the passing lane. The DL's failure to disrupt the QB's vision was a consistent issue throughout 2011.
So, what do these FA signings mean? To me, they signal something big on draft day. Thompson is building depth. Veteran talent at fair prices. He's loaded with draft picks. 12, to be exact. He hasn't made 12 selections in a draft since 2006. Look for Thompson to trade up in the 1st round. Per the draft pick value trade chart, it appears as the though Packers could trade a 1st and a 2nd to get all the way up to #17 in the Draft. At 17, the Packers could target Whitney Mercilus, OLB, Illinois. Physically, Mercilus appears to be the player most likely to transition to OLB in a 3-4 defense in this year's NFL Draft. He was dominant last year. Together, Mercilus and Matthews could form quite the tandem. Pair them with Raji and Hargrove on 3rd downs and the Packers would have legitimate options.
I'm expecting to have the Ultimate Packers Mock Draft Volume 1 for the 2012 NFL Season completed this weekend. Until then, In Ted I Trust!
Go Pack Go!
Talkin' S-Mac.
talkins-mac.blogspot.com
https://twitter.com/#!/buzzboy3
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Sunday, March 18, 2012
My Take ->Offseason Approach
Greetings, G-Force.
To start, I want to send out heart-felt "thank you" to those of you who have reached out to me over the last two months to see if I was going to continue to blog. I'm happy that you read. I'm happy that you enjoy. And, with that, I'm sorry I was distant. But, candidly, I'm still in shock as to how the 2011 Season ended. Defending Champions. 15-1. Coming off of a bye. Home Field throughout. 2 wins at Lambeau and we would have been playing for the Repeat. Yet, we failed to show up. It still hurts. The purpose of the blog is to write with a positive yet realistic approach on the outlook of the current state of the Packers. Mentally, I wasn't ready to keep that mindset when I tried to pen my thoughts. Additionally, my wife & I are expected our 1st child and for anyone who has gone through a 1st trimester, well, you know what I've been going through. Couple the exciting family news with a more demanding work schedule and free time is short. With that said, I'm back. Ready to write. Ready to get prepared for the upcoming 2012 NFL Draft. Stoked to see what happens in Free Agency over the next couple of weeks.
It's been interesting to read & hear Packers fans slowly pushing the panic button with regards to Ted Thompson's approach to Free Agency. Frankly, it's almost comical. G-Force, lest I remind you, at this stage the Packers are actually WINNING in Free Agency thus far. Yes, I said it. The Packers are WINNING in Free Agency. Remember that prior to Free Agency starting, the Packers resigned Josh Sitton, Jordy Nelson and J-Mike to friendly deals that won't tarnish the Packers salary cap situation for years to come. Sure, Buffalo has hit it big with Super Mario & Steve Johnson, but would you rather Johnson with his contract or Nelson with his? To me, it's a no-brainer.
It was sad to lose Scott Wells. Wells was a solid player for the Green & Gold. It would have been great to keep him, but Wells was intent on moving on. So, be it. Thompson will have a back-up plan. And, it might come in the form of Peter Konz as a 1st round pick. When healthy, the Center from WI has showed the athleticism and power to be able to immediately step in at the next level. Admittedly, I've never claimed to be an expert at scouting OL. But, I will say that this year I paid more attention to OL play at the college level than ever before. And - for the first time - I feel qualified to make a couple of OL predictions in the future. One of them is that I believe Ben Jones, C, Georgia will make a solid 2nd or 3rd round choice for some team, possibly the 13-time World Champions. More to come on some OL thoughts in the coming weeks...
As Mike McCarthy said post the 2007 NFC Championship, "we had our eyes on the target." In 2010, the Packers reached the target. In 2011, they fell short of that target. Now, the question begs: How can the Packers reach the target once again? Obviously, Ted will not go big in Free Agency. It's not his style. But, I do expect him to get involved in a couple of negotiations. But, before we become critical of Thompson's approach, we must remember that over the next 12 months, Thompson will have to take care of his own. Rodgers' contract needs to be upgraded. It wouldn't surprise me if Rodgers signs a deal that carries him through the rest of his career. Clay Matthews contract will be expiring. Greg Jennings will hit the Free Agent market. BJ Raji's contract will also expire and so will the contract for TJ Lang. Thompson's immediate priority will be to resign his guys. As it should be. Still, over the next couple of weeks, the Packers will target a Center. If Nick Collins cannot make a comeback, it wouldn't surprise me if the Packers make a play for LaRon Landry. Especially if the market for Landry continues to be fairly dry. Thompson may be able to sign Landry to a cap friendly, short term deal. If the price is right, I also anticipate that the Packers will be in play for Kamerion Wimbley.
Plainly stated, the Packers need cap space. And, from what I've read, they cannot free cap space by moving on from AJ Hawk. Therefore, I hate to say it, but it's time to move on from two future Packers Hall of Famers: Chad Clifton and Donald Driver. Unless, of course, they'll both return for near the veteran minimum contract. It's been well documented: if the Packers release Clifton and Driver, they'll free up nearly $10 million. With that $10 million, I'd lock up Lang to an extension. Presently, Thompson could likely get Lang at a decent price and it wouldn't shock me if Lang has a terrific year in 2012. I'd also initiate discussions with Rodgers, Matthews, Raji and Jennings, to see if hometown discounts are available. You'd have to imagine that Jennings is licking his chops after seeing the contracts that Steve Johnson, DeSean Jackson, Calvin Johnson, and Vincent Jackson have recently signed. But, I'm also hoping that Jennings realizes that he's currently in a really good situation that is hard to replicate elsewhere. He doesn't seem like a guy who would want to cripple the cap.
It'd be tough to release both Driver and Clifton. However, with the bonuses given to Gurley or Borel last year, it's hard to imagine that at least one of them isn't at least minimally in the plans for this year. At tackle, Bulaga had a strong year and Newhouse performed admirably. If Sherrod returns to full strength, the Packers would have options at tackle. It's also likely that Thompson will invest draft picks into a couple of developmental tackles this year.
Prior to last year, I would have never believed that I'd have said this, but I hope the Packers can afford to bring back J-Bush. He was terrific on special teams last year as a gunner. Truly, he was a weapon. It'll be interesting to see what his price comes in at. As for Ryan Grant, if he's not coming back at the minimum, I'm not biting. I like Grant. He's been a solid Packer, but the Packers are in decent shape at RB, assuming Alex Green makes it back healthy. Brandon Saine progressed well. When Starks was healthy, he did good things. And, you know that Thompson will add a back in either the Draft or as an undrafted FA.
In the non-breaking news category, Ted Thompson is smarter than me. I thought there would have been more of a demand for Matt Flynn. It doesn't appear as though Flynn will get the type of FA deal that most thought he might. With Peyton Manning and Alex Smith still on the market, the demand for Flynn has diminished. Further, teams are aware that if Manning signs with the Titans, Matt Hasselbach will likely become a Free Agent. Additionally, I'm not convinced that the Dolphins think Flynn is that much better than Matt Moore. Add in the current love affairs that teams are having with Ryan Tannenhill and Brandon Weeden and the market for Flynn is a lot softer than I expected.
The NFL Draft is rapidly approaching. Just over a month away. I'm behind where I'd normally be at. I still haven't watched the East-West Shrine Game. I have watched the Casino Del Sol Bowl game, the Senior Bowl, all of the Senior Bowl practices that were televised and the majority of the Combine. I have the rest of the Combine on tape and I expect to watch the East-West Shrine Game over the next two weeks. I have caught up on all of the games I DVR'd on the season with the exception of the North Carolina v Virginia Tech match. I'm hoping to watch that over the next two weeks as well. For now, here's my Mock Draft with limited captions. While it hasn't been announced yet, most project the Packers to receive two 4th round picks as compensation as well as two 7th round picks as compensations. It's also anticipated that the Jets will be sending a 7th round selection in the Caleb Schlauderaff selection from last year.
Round 1: Jerel Worthy, DL, Michigan State. The more I reflect on the 2011 NFL Season, the more I think that OLB is not the biggest weakness, rather it was the play of the DL. Throw in Mike Neal's 4-game suspension and the Packers must draft DL early and often this year. Worthy has tremendous upside. It does concern me that he was on the bench for some big plays vs WI (both times they played) and the same can be said for the Bowl game against Georgia. On big 3rd downs, Worthy was on the bench. Still, Worthy would immediately upgrade the Packers DL play. Others to consider are Peter Konz, C, WI; Vinny Curry, OLB/DE, Marshall; Brandon Thompson, DL, Clemson; Devon Still, DL, Penn State; Whitney Mercilus, OLB, Illinois. I'd expect Still and Mercilus to be off the board prior to the Packers selection, but if either one is around, they'd be excellent choices. If Wells is not replaced via Free Agency, the Packers will pick a Center in the first 3 rounds of the draft and Konz is the best of the bunch. Vinny Curry's game impresses me. I feel he was as dominant as anyone at the Senior Bowl. He was stellar almost every time I watched him at Marshall. He's a pure pass rusher. He's quick off the ball. He has a great motor. Not as fast as you'd ideally like a 3-4 OLB, but he's a football player that finds the QB. While the 1st round might be early for him, it's doubtful he's there when the Packers pick in the 2nd round.
Round 2: Cam Johnson, OLB, Virginia. In the 2011 NFL Draft, the Packers drafted heavily on the offensive side of the ball. In the 2012 NFL Draft, look for the Packers to do the same on the defensive side of the ball. Johnson started off in a 3-4 at Virginia, but they transitioned to a 4-3 early in his career. He puts his hand in the dirt. Gets after the QB. He was great as a closure against the []_[]. He'll get after you. I was disappointed in his Bowl game as I thought he winded early and had a limited motor. Others to consider: Shea McClellin, OLB, Boise State; Lamar Miller, RB, []_[]; Doug Martin, RB, Boise State; Jared Crick, DL, Nebraska; Josh Chapman, DL, Alabama; Ben Jones, C, Georgia; Bruce Irvin, OLB, WVU. McClellin has all of the tools that are required of an OLB at the pro level. He can get to the QB. He has an endless motor. He can drop and cover. He spent time at ILB in college. Played some ILB at the Senior Bowl as well. The crop at RB is strong in the 2nd & 3rd rounds. Not that RB is a necessity, but if Thompson is sticking to the best player available, if Martin or Miller fall this far, they'd likely be the "best player" on the board. If drafting for need, Chapman is a talented run stuffer. He'd play a solid rotational role and fill the spot that was vacated by the essentially absent Howard Green played in 2010. As I mentioned earlier, Ben Jones will make a solid starting Center for someone this year. Bruce Irvin is a talented pass rusher. He is not gifted as a run stopper, but he's a speed rusher who consistently displayed pressure over the past two years for WVU. Jared Crick is a classic Ted Thompson "football player." Crick is coming off a season ending torn pectoral muscle injury. Still, Crick is a player who gives it his all and fights on every play. He'd immediately upgrade the Packers DL and play in the rotational.
Round 3: Antonio Allen, S, South Carolina. If you've followed the blog long enough, you know that I've wanted him since before the season started. He can play in the box. He has the capacity to cover out of the slot. He attacks the QB on the blitz. He doesn't play the ball like Sir Charles, but he'd certainly get after the QB like Woodson does. Others: Nigel Bradham, ILB, FSU; Isaiah Pead, RB, Cincy; Chris Polk, RB, Washington; Tyrone Crawford, DE, Boise State; Kirk Cousins, QB, Michigan State; Alameda Ta'amu, DL, Washington; Nick Toon, WR, WI. Again, RB's can be found in the 2nd & 3rd Rounds. Pead and Polk are both legitimate NFL backs who made people miss in the open field. Polk will punish you. He'll also run away from you. Wouldn't surprise me if he lands in Round 2, but some have him as a 3rd Round pick. Pead is a gifted runner who would fit well in a one-cut system. McCarthy will be looking for a new toy at QB. Cousins could be that guy. Crawford is another guy who always caught my eye. I would turn on Boise to watch Billy Winn or McClellin, but Crawford would always jump out. Ta'amu disappointed against Baylor as the speed was too much for him, but he responded with a strong Senior Bowl. Toon - who was seemingly a lock for the 1st round - has dropped to a projected 3rd round selection due to concerns about a foot injury. If he's healthy, he's a steal at this point. Nigel Bradham would immediately make an impact for the Packers. He's projected as a 3rd-4th round selection. Every time I watch him, he's making plays. He covers better than Hawk. He'd be a great compliment to Desmond Bishop's game.
Round 4 (3 selections): Cyrus Gray, RB, Texas A&M; Derek Wolfe, DL, Cincy; Casey Hayward, CB, Vanderbilt. Mike Sherman compared Gray to Ahman Green. While Sherman wasn't the greatest scout of talent for the Packers, he did have an eye for RB's. He positioned RB's for success. Gray has great hands. He picks up the blitz. He was with purpose. He fits. As for Hayward, simply stated, I haven't seen anyone play the ball in the air better than Hayward. Grab him! Derek Wolfe is one of the most underrated prospects in this draft. Great effort on almost every down. From what I saw, he was probably the best DL in the Big East this year.
Round 5: Jacquies Smith, OLB, Missouri. No, he's not the next Aldon Smith, but Jacquies does have the size and agility to be a difference maker at the next level. He's a solid value pick in the mid-to-late rounds. When Smith hits you, he's looking to force the turnover as well. He's slapping wrists and grabbing at the ball.
Round 6: Ryan Miller, OG, Colorado. I went to two games that the Buffaloes played this year. The only guy that even remotely caught my eye on the Colorado squad is Miller. He's massive at 6-7. And he moves decent for his size as well.
Round 7 (4 selections): Adrian Hamilton, OLB, Prarie View A&M; Brandon Hardin, S, Oregon State; Case Keenum, QB, Houston; Marcus Zusevics, OT, Iowa. Hamilton would be a Ted Thompson special. Possible small school gem. Hamilton flat out got to the QB. He got to the QB in the Casino Del Sol bowl game. Worth a late round selection. I was disappointed when Brandon Hardin suffered his shoulder injury this year. I went to the Wisconsin v Oregon State game and he was someone I was hoping to see. Instead, I was forced to watch both Lance Mitchell and Cameron Collins. Neither was overly impressive, but both Mitchell and Collins have the physique to play at the next level and are late round options for the Packers. At some point, the Packers will draft a QB and Keenum is a solid 7th round option. He was overly productive in a spread offense and is similar to Graham Harrell, who the Packers appear to have high hopes for. When watching Iowa, Zusevics - obviously - was always overshadowed by Riley Reiff, but I like Zusevics athleticism and he moves his feet well. He'd provide depth at Tackle for the Packers as a developmental prospect.
Hope everyone had a Happy & Safe St. Patrick's Day.
Go Pack Go.
Cheers,
Talkin' S-Mac.
talkins-mac.blogspot.com
https://twitter.com/#!/buzzboy3
To start, I want to send out heart-felt "thank you" to those of you who have reached out to me over the last two months to see if I was going to continue to blog. I'm happy that you read. I'm happy that you enjoy. And, with that, I'm sorry I was distant. But, candidly, I'm still in shock as to how the 2011 Season ended. Defending Champions. 15-1. Coming off of a bye. Home Field throughout. 2 wins at Lambeau and we would have been playing for the Repeat. Yet, we failed to show up. It still hurts. The purpose of the blog is to write with a positive yet realistic approach on the outlook of the current state of the Packers. Mentally, I wasn't ready to keep that mindset when I tried to pen my thoughts. Additionally, my wife & I are expected our 1st child and for anyone who has gone through a 1st trimester, well, you know what I've been going through. Couple the exciting family news with a more demanding work schedule and free time is short. With that said, I'm back. Ready to write. Ready to get prepared for the upcoming 2012 NFL Draft. Stoked to see what happens in Free Agency over the next couple of weeks.
It's been interesting to read & hear Packers fans slowly pushing the panic button with regards to Ted Thompson's approach to Free Agency. Frankly, it's almost comical. G-Force, lest I remind you, at this stage the Packers are actually WINNING in Free Agency thus far. Yes, I said it. The Packers are WINNING in Free Agency. Remember that prior to Free Agency starting, the Packers resigned Josh Sitton, Jordy Nelson and J-Mike to friendly deals that won't tarnish the Packers salary cap situation for years to come. Sure, Buffalo has hit it big with Super Mario & Steve Johnson, but would you rather Johnson with his contract or Nelson with his? To me, it's a no-brainer.
It was sad to lose Scott Wells. Wells was a solid player for the Green & Gold. It would have been great to keep him, but Wells was intent on moving on. So, be it. Thompson will have a back-up plan. And, it might come in the form of Peter Konz as a 1st round pick. When healthy, the Center from WI has showed the athleticism and power to be able to immediately step in at the next level. Admittedly, I've never claimed to be an expert at scouting OL. But, I will say that this year I paid more attention to OL play at the college level than ever before. And - for the first time - I feel qualified to make a couple of OL predictions in the future. One of them is that I believe Ben Jones, C, Georgia will make a solid 2nd or 3rd round choice for some team, possibly the 13-time World Champions. More to come on some OL thoughts in the coming weeks...
As Mike McCarthy said post the 2007 NFC Championship, "we had our eyes on the target." In 2010, the Packers reached the target. In 2011, they fell short of that target. Now, the question begs: How can the Packers reach the target once again? Obviously, Ted will not go big in Free Agency. It's not his style. But, I do expect him to get involved in a couple of negotiations. But, before we become critical of Thompson's approach, we must remember that over the next 12 months, Thompson will have to take care of his own. Rodgers' contract needs to be upgraded. It wouldn't surprise me if Rodgers signs a deal that carries him through the rest of his career. Clay Matthews contract will be expiring. Greg Jennings will hit the Free Agent market. BJ Raji's contract will also expire and so will the contract for TJ Lang. Thompson's immediate priority will be to resign his guys. As it should be. Still, over the next couple of weeks, the Packers will target a Center. If Nick Collins cannot make a comeback, it wouldn't surprise me if the Packers make a play for LaRon Landry. Especially if the market for Landry continues to be fairly dry. Thompson may be able to sign Landry to a cap friendly, short term deal. If the price is right, I also anticipate that the Packers will be in play for Kamerion Wimbley.
Plainly stated, the Packers need cap space. And, from what I've read, they cannot free cap space by moving on from AJ Hawk. Therefore, I hate to say it, but it's time to move on from two future Packers Hall of Famers: Chad Clifton and Donald Driver. Unless, of course, they'll both return for near the veteran minimum contract. It's been well documented: if the Packers release Clifton and Driver, they'll free up nearly $10 million. With that $10 million, I'd lock up Lang to an extension. Presently, Thompson could likely get Lang at a decent price and it wouldn't shock me if Lang has a terrific year in 2012. I'd also initiate discussions with Rodgers, Matthews, Raji and Jennings, to see if hometown discounts are available. You'd have to imagine that Jennings is licking his chops after seeing the contracts that Steve Johnson, DeSean Jackson, Calvin Johnson, and Vincent Jackson have recently signed. But, I'm also hoping that Jennings realizes that he's currently in a really good situation that is hard to replicate elsewhere. He doesn't seem like a guy who would want to cripple the cap.
It'd be tough to release both Driver and Clifton. However, with the bonuses given to Gurley or Borel last year, it's hard to imagine that at least one of them isn't at least minimally in the plans for this year. At tackle, Bulaga had a strong year and Newhouse performed admirably. If Sherrod returns to full strength, the Packers would have options at tackle. It's also likely that Thompson will invest draft picks into a couple of developmental tackles this year.
Prior to last year, I would have never believed that I'd have said this, but I hope the Packers can afford to bring back J-Bush. He was terrific on special teams last year as a gunner. Truly, he was a weapon. It'll be interesting to see what his price comes in at. As for Ryan Grant, if he's not coming back at the minimum, I'm not biting. I like Grant. He's been a solid Packer, but the Packers are in decent shape at RB, assuming Alex Green makes it back healthy. Brandon Saine progressed well. When Starks was healthy, he did good things. And, you know that Thompson will add a back in either the Draft or as an undrafted FA.
In the non-breaking news category, Ted Thompson is smarter than me. I thought there would have been more of a demand for Matt Flynn. It doesn't appear as though Flynn will get the type of FA deal that most thought he might. With Peyton Manning and Alex Smith still on the market, the demand for Flynn has diminished. Further, teams are aware that if Manning signs with the Titans, Matt Hasselbach will likely become a Free Agent. Additionally, I'm not convinced that the Dolphins think Flynn is that much better than Matt Moore. Add in the current love affairs that teams are having with Ryan Tannenhill and Brandon Weeden and the market for Flynn is a lot softer than I expected.
The NFL Draft is rapidly approaching. Just over a month away. I'm behind where I'd normally be at. I still haven't watched the East-West Shrine Game. I have watched the Casino Del Sol Bowl game, the Senior Bowl, all of the Senior Bowl practices that were televised and the majority of the Combine. I have the rest of the Combine on tape and I expect to watch the East-West Shrine Game over the next two weeks. I have caught up on all of the games I DVR'd on the season with the exception of the North Carolina v Virginia Tech match. I'm hoping to watch that over the next two weeks as well. For now, here's my Mock Draft with limited captions. While it hasn't been announced yet, most project the Packers to receive two 4th round picks as compensation as well as two 7th round picks as compensations. It's also anticipated that the Jets will be sending a 7th round selection in the Caleb Schlauderaff selection from last year.
Round 1: Jerel Worthy, DL, Michigan State. The more I reflect on the 2011 NFL Season, the more I think that OLB is not the biggest weakness, rather it was the play of the DL. Throw in Mike Neal's 4-game suspension and the Packers must draft DL early and often this year. Worthy has tremendous upside. It does concern me that he was on the bench for some big plays vs WI (both times they played) and the same can be said for the Bowl game against Georgia. On big 3rd downs, Worthy was on the bench. Still, Worthy would immediately upgrade the Packers DL play. Others to consider are Peter Konz, C, WI; Vinny Curry, OLB/DE, Marshall; Brandon Thompson, DL, Clemson; Devon Still, DL, Penn State; Whitney Mercilus, OLB, Illinois. I'd expect Still and Mercilus to be off the board prior to the Packers selection, but if either one is around, they'd be excellent choices. If Wells is not replaced via Free Agency, the Packers will pick a Center in the first 3 rounds of the draft and Konz is the best of the bunch. Vinny Curry's game impresses me. I feel he was as dominant as anyone at the Senior Bowl. He was stellar almost every time I watched him at Marshall. He's a pure pass rusher. He's quick off the ball. He has a great motor. Not as fast as you'd ideally like a 3-4 OLB, but he's a football player that finds the QB. While the 1st round might be early for him, it's doubtful he's there when the Packers pick in the 2nd round.
Round 2: Cam Johnson, OLB, Virginia. In the 2011 NFL Draft, the Packers drafted heavily on the offensive side of the ball. In the 2012 NFL Draft, look for the Packers to do the same on the defensive side of the ball. Johnson started off in a 3-4 at Virginia, but they transitioned to a 4-3 early in his career. He puts his hand in the dirt. Gets after the QB. He was great as a closure against the []_[]. He'll get after you. I was disappointed in his Bowl game as I thought he winded early and had a limited motor. Others to consider: Shea McClellin, OLB, Boise State; Lamar Miller, RB, []_[]; Doug Martin, RB, Boise State; Jared Crick, DL, Nebraska; Josh Chapman, DL, Alabama; Ben Jones, C, Georgia; Bruce Irvin, OLB, WVU. McClellin has all of the tools that are required of an OLB at the pro level. He can get to the QB. He has an endless motor. He can drop and cover. He spent time at ILB in college. Played some ILB at the Senior Bowl as well. The crop at RB is strong in the 2nd & 3rd rounds. Not that RB is a necessity, but if Thompson is sticking to the best player available, if Martin or Miller fall this far, they'd likely be the "best player" on the board. If drafting for need, Chapman is a talented run stuffer. He'd play a solid rotational role and fill the spot that was vacated by the essentially absent Howard Green played in 2010. As I mentioned earlier, Ben Jones will make a solid starting Center for someone this year. Bruce Irvin is a talented pass rusher. He is not gifted as a run stopper, but he's a speed rusher who consistently displayed pressure over the past two years for WVU. Jared Crick is a classic Ted Thompson "football player." Crick is coming off a season ending torn pectoral muscle injury. Still, Crick is a player who gives it his all and fights on every play. He'd immediately upgrade the Packers DL and play in the rotational.
Round 3: Antonio Allen, S, South Carolina. If you've followed the blog long enough, you know that I've wanted him since before the season started. He can play in the box. He has the capacity to cover out of the slot. He attacks the QB on the blitz. He doesn't play the ball like Sir Charles, but he'd certainly get after the QB like Woodson does. Others: Nigel Bradham, ILB, FSU; Isaiah Pead, RB, Cincy; Chris Polk, RB, Washington; Tyrone Crawford, DE, Boise State; Kirk Cousins, QB, Michigan State; Alameda Ta'amu, DL, Washington; Nick Toon, WR, WI. Again, RB's can be found in the 2nd & 3rd Rounds. Pead and Polk are both legitimate NFL backs who made people miss in the open field. Polk will punish you. He'll also run away from you. Wouldn't surprise me if he lands in Round 2, but some have him as a 3rd Round pick. Pead is a gifted runner who would fit well in a one-cut system. McCarthy will be looking for a new toy at QB. Cousins could be that guy. Crawford is another guy who always caught my eye. I would turn on Boise to watch Billy Winn or McClellin, but Crawford would always jump out. Ta'amu disappointed against Baylor as the speed was too much for him, but he responded with a strong Senior Bowl. Toon - who was seemingly a lock for the 1st round - has dropped to a projected 3rd round selection due to concerns about a foot injury. If he's healthy, he's a steal at this point. Nigel Bradham would immediately make an impact for the Packers. He's projected as a 3rd-4th round selection. Every time I watch him, he's making plays. He covers better than Hawk. He'd be a great compliment to Desmond Bishop's game.
Round 4 (3 selections): Cyrus Gray, RB, Texas A&M; Derek Wolfe, DL, Cincy; Casey Hayward, CB, Vanderbilt. Mike Sherman compared Gray to Ahman Green. While Sherman wasn't the greatest scout of talent for the Packers, he did have an eye for RB's. He positioned RB's for success. Gray has great hands. He picks up the blitz. He was with purpose. He fits. As for Hayward, simply stated, I haven't seen anyone play the ball in the air better than Hayward. Grab him! Derek Wolfe is one of the most underrated prospects in this draft. Great effort on almost every down. From what I saw, he was probably the best DL in the Big East this year.
Round 5: Jacquies Smith, OLB, Missouri. No, he's not the next Aldon Smith, but Jacquies does have the size and agility to be a difference maker at the next level. He's a solid value pick in the mid-to-late rounds. When Smith hits you, he's looking to force the turnover as well. He's slapping wrists and grabbing at the ball.
Round 6: Ryan Miller, OG, Colorado. I went to two games that the Buffaloes played this year. The only guy that even remotely caught my eye on the Colorado squad is Miller. He's massive at 6-7. And he moves decent for his size as well.
Round 7 (4 selections): Adrian Hamilton, OLB, Prarie View A&M; Brandon Hardin, S, Oregon State; Case Keenum, QB, Houston; Marcus Zusevics, OT, Iowa. Hamilton would be a Ted Thompson special. Possible small school gem. Hamilton flat out got to the QB. He got to the QB in the Casino Del Sol bowl game. Worth a late round selection. I was disappointed when Brandon Hardin suffered his shoulder injury this year. I went to the Wisconsin v Oregon State game and he was someone I was hoping to see. Instead, I was forced to watch both Lance Mitchell and Cameron Collins. Neither was overly impressive, but both Mitchell and Collins have the physique to play at the next level and are late round options for the Packers. At some point, the Packers will draft a QB and Keenum is a solid 7th round option. He was overly productive in a spread offense and is similar to Graham Harrell, who the Packers appear to have high hopes for. When watching Iowa, Zusevics - obviously - was always overshadowed by Riley Reiff, but I like Zusevics athleticism and he moves his feet well. He'd provide depth at Tackle for the Packers as a developmental prospect.
Hope everyone had a Happy & Safe St. Patrick's Day.
Go Pack Go.
Cheers,
Talkin' S-Mac.
talkins-mac.blogspot.com
https://twitter.com/#!/buzzboy3
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
My Take -> NFC Divisional Playoffs
Greetings, G-Force.
We're the Defending Champions. We have the NFL's MVP. We finished 15-1. We're well rested. We're playing at home. Yet, most I talk to are picking the G-Men. In fact, I heard on the radio last night that 84% of the money in Vegas that is being placed on this game is being put on the Giants. Let's do this, Lambeau!
Many I talk to point to the 2007 NFC Championship game as a reason to believe the G-Men will win. I hear the "they've done it before." Sure, there are similarities. It'll be at Lambeau. It'll be McCarthy vs. Coughlin. But, there are HUGE differences. Put it this way, the Packers will start 5 players on offense (Grant, Driver, Jennings, Clifton, and Wells) and 3 players on defense (Woodson, Hawk, and Pickett) that started the 2007 NFC Championship game. What more fresh in these players minds is the 45-17 drubbing that the Packers handed out the Giants last year as both teams fought for the 6th and final playoff spot. On that day, Eli threw 4 TD interceptions. What's even fresher is the Packers 38-35 victory in New York. The Giants are undoubtedly healthier now than they were on that day, but the Packers took the Giants best shot. Regardless of health, I'm not sure the Giants can play any better than they did in our earlier match-up this year. And the Packers left with victory. It's worth noting that McCarthy is 3-1 against McCarthy. Rodgers is 2-0 against Eli.
Since Mike McCarthy became the Head Coach of the Green Bay Packers in 2006, he's encountered immensely difficult scenarios. He dealt with the Favre exit and choosing Rodgers over Favre. Then, he had to face Favre as a Viking - 4 times. In the Super Bowl run, injuries attempted to derail the season. And, now, in the Run for the Repeat, once again, McCarthy is faced with drama. This time in absolutely tragic fashion. Obviously, the death of Michael Philbin will has had an affect on the locker room. It's an immensely sad story. Additionally, over the last week, the Packers have lost Reggie McKenzie, Philbin has had 2 interviews for Head Coaching opportunities, Tom Clements has been the subject of rumors to be an Offensive Coordinator elsewhere, John Dorsey has been offered opportunities to interview in other places, Winston Moss appears to be the leading candidate to coach the Oakland Raiders next year, and by some accounts, Darren Perry might be going with him. These are distractions. Major distractions. McCarthy has been quoted as saying "Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance." I have to believe the Packers will be prepared to receive the Giants best punch.
I have great respect for the Giants organization. They're a confident bunch who believes that they're peaking at the right time. In some ways, their season is aligned with what the Packers pulled off last year. After an embarrassing Division loss in December, they were forced to win their last two to make the playoffs. In Week 16, the Giants beat a team from New York. Last year, in Week 16, the Packers beat a team from New York. In Week 17, the Giants had to beat a Divisional Rival in order to make the playoffs. Last year, in Week 17, the Packers had to beat the hated Bears in order to make the playoffs. In the playoffs, the Giants had to get through the Falcons. Last year, in the playoffs, the Packers had to get through the Falcons.
No worries. The Packers aren't losing this game.
I have full confidence that the Lambeau Faithful will be rocking. ALL GAME! From the 1st snap, it'll be difficult for the G-Men. It'll be loud. It'll be rowdy. The atmosphere will be unparalleled in American sports.
Early in the game, look for the Giants to try and establish the run. They'll try to run the ball to the right side of our defense. Regardless of who is playing ROLB for the Packers, Capers should move either Peprah or Woodson to the right side of the defense as an 8th man in the box. Both Woodson and Peprah play the run well. While the Giants have struggled running the ball in 2011, they did have success against the Packers in the December match-up. They rushed for 100 yards on only 20 carries, averaging 5 yards an attempt. The Giants like to collapse the line and run a counter/cut-back to the left side of their offensive line. To reiterate, we must be prepared with an 8th man in the box.
Stop the run. Then come on inside blitzes with our middle LB's on passing downs. If Eli Manning gets pressure in his face, he makes mistakes. Eli is tough to sack as when the pressure comes, he throws off his back foot and floats the ball in the air. With our ball hawking DB's, good things will happen for the Packers. We'll have opportunities to make plays if we can get pressure between the guards. It'll be important to seize those moments.
I'm confident that T-Mon matches up with Nicks. I'm confident that Sammy Swagga can man-up against Manningham. I'm confident that Woodson can jam Cruz off his route at the line of scrimmage. Yes, the Giants WR's will make plays, but I believe the Packers will limit the amount of big plays that we've seen the Giants live off of in 2011. It didn't happen in the December match-up, but I have a feeling it'll be different on Sunday.
Offensively, it'll come down to protecting the NFL's MVP. The Giants DL is deep. It's lethal. It's a must to chip JPP. Early & Often. If not every play. Don't let JPP beat you. He's a game changer. In 2-TE sets, have one of the TE's chip JPP prior to his route. On long developing routes, roll Rodgers to the opposite side of JPP and have J-Mike chip JPP before running a safe, check-down crossing route.
If the Packers try to pound the ball, they'll struggle. Spread 'em out. They can't cover us. Early on, let's see some 12-yard back shoulder passes. It'll set up the stop and go for later on. Kenny Phillips and Antrel Rolle talk a good game. You can also beat Deon Grant. Neither is particularly good playing in space. 15 yard crossing routes. They could turn into BIG plays. We've seen Jordy Nelson get behind Antrel Rolle before, we'll see it again on Sunday.
In a back and forth game, the Packers have the ball and a 4 point lead mid-way through the 4th Quarter. Rodgers grabs the ball and the game on a big play to Greg Jennings over Corey Webster. Welcome back, Greg. Be great!
Packers 34. Giants 30.
Go Pack Go!
Talkin' S-Mac.
talkins-mac.blogspot.com
twitter.com/#!/buzzboy3
We're the Defending Champions. We have the NFL's MVP. We finished 15-1. We're well rested. We're playing at home. Yet, most I talk to are picking the G-Men. In fact, I heard on the radio last night that 84% of the money in Vegas that is being placed on this game is being put on the Giants. Let's do this, Lambeau!
Many I talk to point to the 2007 NFC Championship game as a reason to believe the G-Men will win. I hear the "they've done it before." Sure, there are similarities. It'll be at Lambeau. It'll be McCarthy vs. Coughlin. But, there are HUGE differences. Put it this way, the Packers will start 5 players on offense (Grant, Driver, Jennings, Clifton, and Wells) and 3 players on defense (Woodson, Hawk, and Pickett) that started the 2007 NFC Championship game. What more fresh in these players minds is the 45-17 drubbing that the Packers handed out the Giants last year as both teams fought for the 6th and final playoff spot. On that day, Eli threw 4 TD interceptions. What's even fresher is the Packers 38-35 victory in New York. The Giants are undoubtedly healthier now than they were on that day, but the Packers took the Giants best shot. Regardless of health, I'm not sure the Giants can play any better than they did in our earlier match-up this year. And the Packers left with victory. It's worth noting that McCarthy is 3-1 against McCarthy. Rodgers is 2-0 against Eli.
Since Mike McCarthy became the Head Coach of the Green Bay Packers in 2006, he's encountered immensely difficult scenarios. He dealt with the Favre exit and choosing Rodgers over Favre. Then, he had to face Favre as a Viking - 4 times. In the Super Bowl run, injuries attempted to derail the season. And, now, in the Run for the Repeat, once again, McCarthy is faced with drama. This time in absolutely tragic fashion. Obviously, the death of Michael Philbin will has had an affect on the locker room. It's an immensely sad story. Additionally, over the last week, the Packers have lost Reggie McKenzie, Philbin has had 2 interviews for Head Coaching opportunities, Tom Clements has been the subject of rumors to be an Offensive Coordinator elsewhere, John Dorsey has been offered opportunities to interview in other places, Winston Moss appears to be the leading candidate to coach the Oakland Raiders next year, and by some accounts, Darren Perry might be going with him. These are distractions. Major distractions. McCarthy has been quoted as saying "Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance." I have to believe the Packers will be prepared to receive the Giants best punch.
I have great respect for the Giants organization. They're a confident bunch who believes that they're peaking at the right time. In some ways, their season is aligned with what the Packers pulled off last year. After an embarrassing Division loss in December, they were forced to win their last two to make the playoffs. In Week 16, the Giants beat a team from New York. Last year, in Week 16, the Packers beat a team from New York. In Week 17, the Giants had to beat a Divisional Rival in order to make the playoffs. Last year, in Week 17, the Packers had to beat the hated Bears in order to make the playoffs. In the playoffs, the Giants had to get through the Falcons. Last year, in the playoffs, the Packers had to get through the Falcons.
No worries. The Packers aren't losing this game.
I have full confidence that the Lambeau Faithful will be rocking. ALL GAME! From the 1st snap, it'll be difficult for the G-Men. It'll be loud. It'll be rowdy. The atmosphere will be unparalleled in American sports.
Early in the game, look for the Giants to try and establish the run. They'll try to run the ball to the right side of our defense. Regardless of who is playing ROLB for the Packers, Capers should move either Peprah or Woodson to the right side of the defense as an 8th man in the box. Both Woodson and Peprah play the run well. While the Giants have struggled running the ball in 2011, they did have success against the Packers in the December match-up. They rushed for 100 yards on only 20 carries, averaging 5 yards an attempt. The Giants like to collapse the line and run a counter/cut-back to the left side of their offensive line. To reiterate, we must be prepared with an 8th man in the box.
Stop the run. Then come on inside blitzes with our middle LB's on passing downs. If Eli Manning gets pressure in his face, he makes mistakes. Eli is tough to sack as when the pressure comes, he throws off his back foot and floats the ball in the air. With our ball hawking DB's, good things will happen for the Packers. We'll have opportunities to make plays if we can get pressure between the guards. It'll be important to seize those moments.
I'm confident that T-Mon matches up with Nicks. I'm confident that Sammy Swagga can man-up against Manningham. I'm confident that Woodson can jam Cruz off his route at the line of scrimmage. Yes, the Giants WR's will make plays, but I believe the Packers will limit the amount of big plays that we've seen the Giants live off of in 2011. It didn't happen in the December match-up, but I have a feeling it'll be different on Sunday.
Offensively, it'll come down to protecting the NFL's MVP. The Giants DL is deep. It's lethal. It's a must to chip JPP. Early & Often. If not every play. Don't let JPP beat you. He's a game changer. In 2-TE sets, have one of the TE's chip JPP prior to his route. On long developing routes, roll Rodgers to the opposite side of JPP and have J-Mike chip JPP before running a safe, check-down crossing route.
If the Packers try to pound the ball, they'll struggle. Spread 'em out. They can't cover us. Early on, let's see some 12-yard back shoulder passes. It'll set up the stop and go for later on. Kenny Phillips and Antrel Rolle talk a good game. You can also beat Deon Grant. Neither is particularly good playing in space. 15 yard crossing routes. They could turn into BIG plays. We've seen Jordy Nelson get behind Antrel Rolle before, we'll see it again on Sunday.
In a back and forth game, the Packers have the ball and a 4 point lead mid-way through the 4th Quarter. Rodgers grabs the ball and the game on a big play to Greg Jennings over Corey Webster. Welcome back, Greg. Be great!
Packers 34. Giants 30.
Go Pack Go!
Talkin' S-Mac.
talkins-mac.blogspot.com
twitter.com/#!/buzzboy3
Saturday, January 7, 2012
My Take -> Bye Week
Greetings, G-Force.
15-1! Yes, 15-1! For real, 15-1! Amazing! Truly sensational. What a ride. And while the Packers are on bye for Wild Card weekend, I figured it'd be time for a Packers Mock Draft. After all, we have also just completed the most epic week of football all year, Bowl Week. And, of course, I was full throttle with regards to analysis. But, before I get too deep, I'd be a fool if I didn't give a huge shout-out to Matt Flynn. 31-44. 480 yards, a Packer record. 6 TD's, another Packer record. All against a playoff bound team. Sublime! Last year, I was highly critical of Flynn after the loss in Detroit. He proved me wrong. Once again, so did Ted Thompson.
Speaking of Ted Thompson, he'll have to adjust due to the loss of his wingman, Reggie McKenzie. Cheers to you, Reggie. The pain is that McKenzie is the 2nd member of Thompson's staff to depart in the last year - the other being John Schmeider. I'm not going to question Thompson, but it's only natural to wonder how this will affect Thompson's draft preparations.
If you've been following this blog, you know I want the 3-peat. It'd be the first in Super Bowl history. Twice in their rich history, the Packers won 3 consecutive championships. From 1929-1931 and from 1965-1967. The coaches? Lambeau and Lombardi. That's VIP! In order to grab 3 in a row, this draft class will need to provide difference makers.
As always, I have limitations in my Mock Draft. First and foremost, if I didn't watch the guy play a game in 2011, I can't select him. Secondly, as always, time has not permitted me to be fully caught up on OL. So, I won't draft them. Though I'm on board with my good mate, Stack, who suggests OG, Kevin Zeitler, WI, in Round 3. In Round 5, I'd also like Marcus Zusevics, OT, Iowa. Generally speaking, Iowa produces top notch prospects at OT. Zusevics has the size and athleticism to play at the next level. He's also had the coaching at the collegiate level to make an impact on an NFL Roster. Rightfully so, he's often overshadowed by Riley Reiff, I look for Zusevics to also have a solid NFL career. The reality is that the Packers are relatively set at the skill positions on offense and it'd surprise me if the Packers selected an offensive weapon in the 1st three rounds, even though Lamar Miller, RB, []_[], would be the proverbial "best player available" if he's sitting on the board at #32. He'd be the final piece to the offensive arsenal at the skill positions. He'd be the sexy pick. He's a game changer. However, it's unlikely Ted Thompson will ignore the Defensive front 7 early in the 2012 Draft. In fact, just as Thompson went aggressive on the offensive side of the ball early in the 2011 NFL Draft, it's likely he'll do the same on the defensive side of the ball in 2012.
Final stats with regards to compensatory picks are:
Cullen Jenkins - 16 games. 16 starts. 5.5 sacks. 40 tackles. Man, did the Packers miss him. I'd expect a 4th Round compensatory pick for him.
Daryn Colledge - Played in 16 games. Made 16 starts. Worth a 5th Round pick in the Draft.
Jason Spitz - Played in 10 games with 0 starts.
Ras-A-tari Bigby - Played in 15 games. Made 2 starts. Finished with 18 tackles, 2 passes defensed and a sack.
Anthony Smith - Played in 13 games before being put on IR for the year. Made 4 tackles.
Korey Hall - Played in 13 games. Made 0 starts.
B-Jack - Didn't play due to an injury. Was on IR all year.
I project the Packers to receive a 4, a 5, and two 7th round picks as compensation for the FA losses of last year. It's also worth noting that the Packers traded Caleb Schlauderaff to the Jets for an undisclosed late round pick. On the year, Schlauderaff made 6 appearances and had 1 start. I've yet to see what the Packers will receive as compensation. Until I learn what selection they received, I'll ignore it in the Mock Draft. Regardless, Ted Thompson will be spoiled with a minimum of 11 picks to work with in this years NFL Draft.
1.) If Sam Montgomery declares, he's my clear cut choice at #32. Merge Montgomery's gifts with those of The Claymaker and the Packers OLB spot would be fulfilled for the next decade. If Montgomery trays in school, I'm waffling a bit. Be sure to pay extra attention to #99 in the BCS Championship. Kendall Wright has been my favorite player to watch in college football this year, but the Packers aren't drafting WR in Round 1. I really like Fletcher Cox, Jerel Worthy and Nick Perry, but I don't envision any of them being available at #32. Therefore, my selection is Dontari Poe, DL, Memphis. The DL needs to improve. Ryan Pickett is still playing at a high level, but he's not getting any younger and Howard Green has not been the same player that he was last year. Poe will improve the run defense. He's not going to solve our pass rush issues, but he'll help when teams try the ground and pound approach against the XLV Champs.
Others that I am watching: Whitney Mercilus, OLB, Illinois. Mercilus had great success getting to the QB. He's the ideal size for a 3-4 OLB. I have his Bowl game on DVR. After I watch his game vs. UCLA, he could easily become my 1st Round choice. Lamar Miller, RB, []_[]. As I mentioned, Miller amazes me. He runs with grace. He's often the fastest player on the field. Every time he touches the ball, he's a threat to take it to the house. I'd love it if Miller were the selection.
2.) Vinny Curry, OLB, Marshall. He played a DE role at Marshall. He causes havoc on opposing Offensive Coordinators. He uses a variety of moves to get to the QB. With Curry, the Packers will get a legitimate playmaker who not only makes the tackle, but he swipes the ball away. I've been enamored with his game since the '10 Classic between Marshall and WVU when Curry and Mario Harvey almost knocked off the Mountaineers by themselves. In '10, Curry finished with 18 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles. In '11, Curry finished with 22 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, 7 forced fumbles,3 blocked kicks and a safety. Curry fits what we're seeking. At this stage, Curry is viewed as a late 2nd/early 3rd round pick. Don't be surprised if he jumps up draft boards after the Combine and his individual workout. I like Curry enough to draft him in the 1st Round, so it'll be interesting to see how he performs in the pre-Draft events as he could easily catapult to my 1st Round selection. Much like in 1999 when Ron Wolf went aggressive with CB's, it wouldn't surprise me to see Ted Thompson be aggressive with Pass Rushers.
Others: Cam Johnson, OLB, Virginia. He has had experience playing in a 3-4, however prior to his Junior Year, Virginia moved to a 4-3. He's a little heavier than the traditional 245-255 lb OLB. Nonetheless, look for the Packers to go after a number of pass rushers and in some ways, Johnson reminds me of Lamar Woodley. He has the attitude to play OLB in the 3-4. Moves well. Might be a decent compliment to Clay. At this point, Johnson is viewed as a 2-3 round pick. Billy Winn, DL, Boise. Winn is somewhat Jeckyl and Hyde. At times, he's pushed backwards or thrown to the turf. Other times, he's dominant. Alameda Ta'amu, DL, Washington. He disappointed in the Bowl game. He disappointed against Stanford. But, he's got the size, athleticism, and mobility that NFL teams crave. He uses his hands well and collapses the pocket well for his size.
3.) Since I initiated my first 2012 Mock Draft back In August, one name has been a constant: Antonio Allen, S, South Carolina. He's terrific in the box. He can cover the TE. He'll blitz with a ferocious approach out of the slot. Simply stated, his game translates to Dom Capers' system. I'm still not convinced that he's an elite player when he's asked to cover in space, but he does have terrific versatility. He's causes confusion for opposing QB's. He has to be accounted for on every play.
Others: Isaiah Pead, RB, Cincy. If I didn't enjoy Antonio Allen so much, Pead would be my unquestioned choice. Man, he'd fit perfectly. Great instincts. Tough to bring down. Finds space. Elite vision. One of the better runners I saw this year. Pead would fit in well in Green Bay. Let me repeat, Isaiah Pead in Green Bay would work out well for all parties. But, I'm higher on Brandon Saine than most and therefore, I'll hold off on a RB selection until later in the draft. Bernard Pearce, RB, Temple. Good one-cut runner. Sound vision. Have to question the level of competition, but regardless, he was a consistent performer with all of the tools to develop into a solid 1st and 2nd down runner. He reminds me a little of Ryan Grant.
4.) Casey Heyward, CB, Vandy. Heyward is currently a mid-round prospect. But, every time you watch him play, he's forcing turnovers, reading routes and making plays on the ball. Wouldn't surprise me if he jumps to the end of the 2nd round as we get closer to the Draft.
4a.) Derek Wolfe, DT, Cincy. He'd immediately improve the pass rush. Oddly, most have him projected as a late round pick. I see him as a 4th Round prospect. He's a great hustle player who pursues with intent. His figure doesn't seem to promote mobility, but he moves surprisingly well. He gets a good push and his motor is consistent.
Others: Nigel Bradham, ILB, FSU. Bradham attacks ball carriers. He drops well. He reads the QB's eyes with precision. He'd be a nice mid-round pick. I'm interested to see how Shea McClellin, OLB, Boise performs at the combine. Undoubtedly, he's athletic. Ideal size for the 3-4. Has shown that he can rush the passer and drop in coverage. Does he run the 4.7 that most are expecting him to run? If so, he'll be an attractive selection. Cyrus Gray, RB, A&M. If there's one thing that Mike Sherman is tremendous at, it is developing and utilizing RB's. He compared Gray to Ahman Green. Respect!
5.) Terrance Ganaway, RB, Baylor. Like Alex Green, Ganaway played in a spread offense, which requires a back to make a quick decision, one-cut move and then go! Ganaway had a solid year, with exclamation of an ending in his Bowl game. Ganaway runs hard. He's not going to outrun many DB's, but he's moves well for his size. He also pushes the pile forward upon contact. I'd prefer Cyrus Gray, but he'll be gone by this point and defensive improvements are top of mind in this years Draft.
5a.) Mike Martin, DL, Michigan. Martin is consistently active. He gives everything he has on every down. Not going to overwhelm you, but he's not going to be driven backwards. Stout at the point. Doesn't get moved easily. He also doesn't dominate the line of scrimmage. But, he's going to give you endless effort. And, due to his effort, he'll make plays. He reminds me of Don Davey. Davey was a little taller and a lot lighter, but they played with similar styles.
Others: The 5th and 6th Rounds look like a good time to target a WR. Jarius Wright, Arkansas, is favorite of mine. Marvin McNutt, Iowa, was an elite playmaker at the college level. BJ Cunningham, Michigan State, showed glimpses of brilliance. Joe Adams, Arkansas, is like watching a video game in real life. Jeff Fuller, Texas A&M, has all of the tools to be a legit NFL WR. Ryan Browles, OK, had a tremendous collegiate career before blowing out his knee. TY Hilton, FIU, is a fun weapon. I'll never forget watching him play as a Freshman. He was a lethal KR & PR. Jordan White, Western Michigan, has all of the gifts that translate to success at the next level. At RB, I also like Dan Herron as a 4th or 5th round prospect. Marred by the Ohio State scandal, no one can deny Herron's on-field production.
6.) Olivier Vernon, OLB, []_[]. When motivated, Vernon was an absolute baller. Very troublesome though is the fact that Vernon was often uninvolved. If he played with a high motor 100% of the time, Vernon would be a 2nd round pick. He'd be a terrific project for Kevin Greene. Greene would find a way to motivate Vernon - I have no doubt. And, much like Jimmy Graham, who also came from the []_[], he might be a late bloomer and a late round diamond in the rough.
7.) Case Keenum, QB, Houston. Matt Flynn is gone. No question about it. It seems as though Thompson and McCarthy intend on promoting Graham Harrell, who is sure to benefit from an off-season with mini-camps and the QB school that McCarthy offers. How can you argue with Keenum's numbers? Granted, he did not take snaps from center, but remember, neither did Harrell in college. In fact, they're similar prospects. I believe Keenum is more mobile than he gets credit for. He throws a great long ball. He doesn't have significant zip, but in time, I see him as a reliable back-up QB. He's worth a 7th Round pick.
7a.) Sammy Brown, OLB, Houston. Brown caught my eye when I tuned into the Marshall v Houston game this past October. My intent was to watch Vinny Curry and Case Kenum. And while Curry was unproductive, Brown was a total stud. Active in pursuit. Aggressive off the edge. A potential 7th Round steal.
7b.) Najee Goode, ILB, WVU. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know. This one is a reach. But, why not? Watch the film. He makes tackles. He finds the ball carrier. He's around the ball. He finished with 87 tackles, 5 sacks, a forced fumble and an interception. He may not time well in the 40, but he gets sideline-to-sideline well. Further, he was a leader. I see him as a solid special teams contributor. ILB is not a position of need for the Packers, nonetheless, he'd be a fun selection.
Others: Tyrone Crawford, DE/OLB, Boise. Does he have a position on the field? I'm not sure. He is a tweener, no doubt. But, the guy is a football player. Arguably the most underrated prospect that I've seen in College Football. Every time I watched Boise, Crawford seemed to be making plays. Jermaine Kearse, WR, Washington. Ideal size. Runs a good deep route. Well coached. Had trouble holding onto the ball in 2010, but seemed to improve this year. Good late round option. Dominique Davis, QB, ECU. Escapes pressure well. He is a run-first QB, with the ability to throw on the run. He's elusive. Sees the field fairly well. High upside. Not sure he's scratched the surface of his potential.
More Draft vibes to come after the Packers claim the XLVI Crown. Pop Tarts!
Go Pack Go!
Talkin' S-Mac.
talkins-mac.blogspot.com
15-1! Yes, 15-1! For real, 15-1! Amazing! Truly sensational. What a ride. And while the Packers are on bye for Wild Card weekend, I figured it'd be time for a Packers Mock Draft. After all, we have also just completed the most epic week of football all year, Bowl Week. And, of course, I was full throttle with regards to analysis. But, before I get too deep, I'd be a fool if I didn't give a huge shout-out to Matt Flynn. 31-44. 480 yards, a Packer record. 6 TD's, another Packer record. All against a playoff bound team. Sublime! Last year, I was highly critical of Flynn after the loss in Detroit. He proved me wrong. Once again, so did Ted Thompson.
Speaking of Ted Thompson, he'll have to adjust due to the loss of his wingman, Reggie McKenzie. Cheers to you, Reggie. The pain is that McKenzie is the 2nd member of Thompson's staff to depart in the last year - the other being John Schmeider. I'm not going to question Thompson, but it's only natural to wonder how this will affect Thompson's draft preparations.
If you've been following this blog, you know I want the 3-peat. It'd be the first in Super Bowl history. Twice in their rich history, the Packers won 3 consecutive championships. From 1929-1931 and from 1965-1967. The coaches? Lambeau and Lombardi. That's VIP! In order to grab 3 in a row, this draft class will need to provide difference makers.
As always, I have limitations in my Mock Draft. First and foremost, if I didn't watch the guy play a game in 2011, I can't select him. Secondly, as always, time has not permitted me to be fully caught up on OL. So, I won't draft them. Though I'm on board with my good mate, Stack, who suggests OG, Kevin Zeitler, WI, in Round 3. In Round 5, I'd also like Marcus Zusevics, OT, Iowa. Generally speaking, Iowa produces top notch prospects at OT. Zusevics has the size and athleticism to play at the next level. He's also had the coaching at the collegiate level to make an impact on an NFL Roster. Rightfully so, he's often overshadowed by Riley Reiff, I look for Zusevics to also have a solid NFL career. The reality is that the Packers are relatively set at the skill positions on offense and it'd surprise me if the Packers selected an offensive weapon in the 1st three rounds, even though Lamar Miller, RB, []_[], would be the proverbial "best player available" if he's sitting on the board at #32. He'd be the final piece to the offensive arsenal at the skill positions. He'd be the sexy pick. He's a game changer. However, it's unlikely Ted Thompson will ignore the Defensive front 7 early in the 2012 Draft. In fact, just as Thompson went aggressive on the offensive side of the ball early in the 2011 NFL Draft, it's likely he'll do the same on the defensive side of the ball in 2012.
Final stats with regards to compensatory picks are:
Cullen Jenkins - 16 games. 16 starts. 5.5 sacks. 40 tackles. Man, did the Packers miss him. I'd expect a 4th Round compensatory pick for him.
Daryn Colledge - Played in 16 games. Made 16 starts. Worth a 5th Round pick in the Draft.
Jason Spitz - Played in 10 games with 0 starts.
Ras-A-tari Bigby - Played in 15 games. Made 2 starts. Finished with 18 tackles, 2 passes defensed and a sack.
Anthony Smith - Played in 13 games before being put on IR for the year. Made 4 tackles.
Korey Hall - Played in 13 games. Made 0 starts.
B-Jack - Didn't play due to an injury. Was on IR all year.
I project the Packers to receive a 4, a 5, and two 7th round picks as compensation for the FA losses of last year. It's also worth noting that the Packers traded Caleb Schlauderaff to the Jets for an undisclosed late round pick. On the year, Schlauderaff made 6 appearances and had 1 start. I've yet to see what the Packers will receive as compensation. Until I learn what selection they received, I'll ignore it in the Mock Draft. Regardless, Ted Thompson will be spoiled with a minimum of 11 picks to work with in this years NFL Draft.
1.) If Sam Montgomery declares, he's my clear cut choice at #32. Merge Montgomery's gifts with those of The Claymaker and the Packers OLB spot would be fulfilled for the next decade. If Montgomery trays in school, I'm waffling a bit. Be sure to pay extra attention to #99 in the BCS Championship. Kendall Wright has been my favorite player to watch in college football this year, but the Packers aren't drafting WR in Round 1. I really like Fletcher Cox, Jerel Worthy and Nick Perry, but I don't envision any of them being available at #32. Therefore, my selection is Dontari Poe, DL, Memphis. The DL needs to improve. Ryan Pickett is still playing at a high level, but he's not getting any younger and Howard Green has not been the same player that he was last year. Poe will improve the run defense. He's not going to solve our pass rush issues, but he'll help when teams try the ground and pound approach against the XLV Champs.
Others that I am watching: Whitney Mercilus, OLB, Illinois. Mercilus had great success getting to the QB. He's the ideal size for a 3-4 OLB. I have his Bowl game on DVR. After I watch his game vs. UCLA, he could easily become my 1st Round choice. Lamar Miller, RB, []_[]. As I mentioned, Miller amazes me. He runs with grace. He's often the fastest player on the field. Every time he touches the ball, he's a threat to take it to the house. I'd love it if Miller were the selection.
2.) Vinny Curry, OLB, Marshall. He played a DE role at Marshall. He causes havoc on opposing Offensive Coordinators. He uses a variety of moves to get to the QB. With Curry, the Packers will get a legitimate playmaker who not only makes the tackle, but he swipes the ball away. I've been enamored with his game since the '10 Classic between Marshall and WVU when Curry and Mario Harvey almost knocked off the Mountaineers by themselves. In '10, Curry finished with 18 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles. In '11, Curry finished with 22 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, 7 forced fumbles,3 blocked kicks and a safety. Curry fits what we're seeking. At this stage, Curry is viewed as a late 2nd/early 3rd round pick. Don't be surprised if he jumps up draft boards after the Combine and his individual workout. I like Curry enough to draft him in the 1st Round, so it'll be interesting to see how he performs in the pre-Draft events as he could easily catapult to my 1st Round selection. Much like in 1999 when Ron Wolf went aggressive with CB's, it wouldn't surprise me to see Ted Thompson be aggressive with Pass Rushers.
Others: Cam Johnson, OLB, Virginia. He has had experience playing in a 3-4, however prior to his Junior Year, Virginia moved to a 4-3. He's a little heavier than the traditional 245-255 lb OLB. Nonetheless, look for the Packers to go after a number of pass rushers and in some ways, Johnson reminds me of Lamar Woodley. He has the attitude to play OLB in the 3-4. Moves well. Might be a decent compliment to Clay. At this point, Johnson is viewed as a 2-3 round pick. Billy Winn, DL, Boise. Winn is somewhat Jeckyl and Hyde. At times, he's pushed backwards or thrown to the turf. Other times, he's dominant. Alameda Ta'amu, DL, Washington. He disappointed in the Bowl game. He disappointed against Stanford. But, he's got the size, athleticism, and mobility that NFL teams crave. He uses his hands well and collapses the pocket well for his size.
3.) Since I initiated my first 2012 Mock Draft back In August, one name has been a constant: Antonio Allen, S, South Carolina. He's terrific in the box. He can cover the TE. He'll blitz with a ferocious approach out of the slot. Simply stated, his game translates to Dom Capers' system. I'm still not convinced that he's an elite player when he's asked to cover in space, but he does have terrific versatility. He's causes confusion for opposing QB's. He has to be accounted for on every play.
Others: Isaiah Pead, RB, Cincy. If I didn't enjoy Antonio Allen so much, Pead would be my unquestioned choice. Man, he'd fit perfectly. Great instincts. Tough to bring down. Finds space. Elite vision. One of the better runners I saw this year. Pead would fit in well in Green Bay. Let me repeat, Isaiah Pead in Green Bay would work out well for all parties. But, I'm higher on Brandon Saine than most and therefore, I'll hold off on a RB selection until later in the draft. Bernard Pearce, RB, Temple. Good one-cut runner. Sound vision. Have to question the level of competition, but regardless, he was a consistent performer with all of the tools to develop into a solid 1st and 2nd down runner. He reminds me a little of Ryan Grant.
4.) Casey Heyward, CB, Vandy. Heyward is currently a mid-round prospect. But, every time you watch him play, he's forcing turnovers, reading routes and making plays on the ball. Wouldn't surprise me if he jumps to the end of the 2nd round as we get closer to the Draft.
4a.) Derek Wolfe, DT, Cincy. He'd immediately improve the pass rush. Oddly, most have him projected as a late round pick. I see him as a 4th Round prospect. He's a great hustle player who pursues with intent. His figure doesn't seem to promote mobility, but he moves surprisingly well. He gets a good push and his motor is consistent.
Others: Nigel Bradham, ILB, FSU. Bradham attacks ball carriers. He drops well. He reads the QB's eyes with precision. He'd be a nice mid-round pick. I'm interested to see how Shea McClellin, OLB, Boise performs at the combine. Undoubtedly, he's athletic. Ideal size for the 3-4. Has shown that he can rush the passer and drop in coverage. Does he run the 4.7 that most are expecting him to run? If so, he'll be an attractive selection. Cyrus Gray, RB, A&M. If there's one thing that Mike Sherman is tremendous at, it is developing and utilizing RB's. He compared Gray to Ahman Green. Respect!
5.) Terrance Ganaway, RB, Baylor. Like Alex Green, Ganaway played in a spread offense, which requires a back to make a quick decision, one-cut move and then go! Ganaway had a solid year, with exclamation of an ending in his Bowl game. Ganaway runs hard. He's not going to outrun many DB's, but he's moves well for his size. He also pushes the pile forward upon contact. I'd prefer Cyrus Gray, but he'll be gone by this point and defensive improvements are top of mind in this years Draft.
5a.) Mike Martin, DL, Michigan. Martin is consistently active. He gives everything he has on every down. Not going to overwhelm you, but he's not going to be driven backwards. Stout at the point. Doesn't get moved easily. He also doesn't dominate the line of scrimmage. But, he's going to give you endless effort. And, due to his effort, he'll make plays. He reminds me of Don Davey. Davey was a little taller and a lot lighter, but they played with similar styles.
Others: The 5th and 6th Rounds look like a good time to target a WR. Jarius Wright, Arkansas, is favorite of mine. Marvin McNutt, Iowa, was an elite playmaker at the college level. BJ Cunningham, Michigan State, showed glimpses of brilliance. Joe Adams, Arkansas, is like watching a video game in real life. Jeff Fuller, Texas A&M, has all of the tools to be a legit NFL WR. Ryan Browles, OK, had a tremendous collegiate career before blowing out his knee. TY Hilton, FIU, is a fun weapon. I'll never forget watching him play as a Freshman. He was a lethal KR & PR. Jordan White, Western Michigan, has all of the gifts that translate to success at the next level. At RB, I also like Dan Herron as a 4th or 5th round prospect. Marred by the Ohio State scandal, no one can deny Herron's on-field production.
6.) Olivier Vernon, OLB, []_[]. When motivated, Vernon was an absolute baller. Very troublesome though is the fact that Vernon was often uninvolved. If he played with a high motor 100% of the time, Vernon would be a 2nd round pick. He'd be a terrific project for Kevin Greene. Greene would find a way to motivate Vernon - I have no doubt. And, much like Jimmy Graham, who also came from the []_[], he might be a late bloomer and a late round diamond in the rough.
7.) Case Keenum, QB, Houston. Matt Flynn is gone. No question about it. It seems as though Thompson and McCarthy intend on promoting Graham Harrell, who is sure to benefit from an off-season with mini-camps and the QB school that McCarthy offers. How can you argue with Keenum's numbers? Granted, he did not take snaps from center, but remember, neither did Harrell in college. In fact, they're similar prospects. I believe Keenum is more mobile than he gets credit for. He throws a great long ball. He doesn't have significant zip, but in time, I see him as a reliable back-up QB. He's worth a 7th Round pick.
7a.) Sammy Brown, OLB, Houston. Brown caught my eye when I tuned into the Marshall v Houston game this past October. My intent was to watch Vinny Curry and Case Kenum. And while Curry was unproductive, Brown was a total stud. Active in pursuit. Aggressive off the edge. A potential 7th Round steal.
7b.) Najee Goode, ILB, WVU. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know. This one is a reach. But, why not? Watch the film. He makes tackles. He finds the ball carrier. He's around the ball. He finished with 87 tackles, 5 sacks, a forced fumble and an interception. He may not time well in the 40, but he gets sideline-to-sideline well. Further, he was a leader. I see him as a solid special teams contributor. ILB is not a position of need for the Packers, nonetheless, he'd be a fun selection.
Others: Tyrone Crawford, DE/OLB, Boise. Does he have a position on the field? I'm not sure. He is a tweener, no doubt. But, the guy is a football player. Arguably the most underrated prospect that I've seen in College Football. Every time I watched Boise, Crawford seemed to be making plays. Jermaine Kearse, WR, Washington. Ideal size. Runs a good deep route. Well coached. Had trouble holding onto the ball in 2010, but seemed to improve this year. Good late round option. Dominique Davis, QB, ECU. Escapes pressure well. He is a run-first QB, with the ability to throw on the run. He's elusive. Sees the field fairly well. High upside. Not sure he's scratched the surface of his potential.
More Draft vibes to come after the Packers claim the XLVI Crown. Pop Tarts!
Go Pack Go!
Talkin' S-Mac.
talkins-mac.blogspot.com
Saturday, December 31, 2011
My Take -> Week 17
Greetings, G-Force.
It was rich in Holiday Cheer. 14-1. The most victories in franchise Regular Season History. Defeating the Bears for the 4th time in the 2011 calendar year. Proving, in fact, that the Bears do still suck! In convincing fashion. Whether it was Nutler, Hanie or McCown as the QB for Chicago, the Packers owned the Bears in 2011. It was a magical year. Purely dominating our old rivals. Bears fans will claim injury. But, last I checked, the Bears had Urlacher, Tillman, Briggs, and Peppers all playing on the defensive side of the ball. All were neutralized. In return, the NFL’s MVP connected on 5 TD’s without his best weapon, Greg Jennings. Ultimately, as the most cherished theater in American sports echoed with “Bears Still Suck” chants, the play on the field showed that the Lambeau Faithful was quite accurate in our assessments.
Quick hits from the thrashing of the Bears:
· Aaron Rodgers is the NFL’s MVP. He beat Brees head to head. He didn’t have a 2-interception game all year. Brees has had multiple 2-interception games. He has thrown for more TD’s than Brees. He’s averaged more than an extra yard per attempt than Brees. Rodgers is your MVP. No doubt in my mind.
· Mike McCarthy, you own Lovie Smith. And we love you for it. When Lovie Smith was hired in 2004, he said his top priority was to beat the Packers. Well, Lovie, you went 0-4 in 2011. Cheers to you, Lovie!
· Jordy Nelson running the deep route to perfection.
· Clay Matthews making big plays! In the 1st half, it was almost as if he was the only one on defense who showed up. He baited McCown with a magic touch. And the interception was a game changer.
· Desmond Bishop, welcome back. You were missed.
· I’m not in panic mode, but I’m starting to wonder whether DJ Smith should be starting over AJ Hawk.
· We’re going to need improved Safety play in the playoffs. Both Burnett and Peprah appear to be a step late in pass defense.
· J-Mike, stay confident, young man. You’re a threat. Defenses key on you. You’re a match-up nightmare. In order for the Repeat to come to fruition, we’ll need you in a BIG WAY!
· Good to see James Jones step up and get the offense in rhythm with the crossing route in front of his nemesis, Peanut Tillman.
· I enjoy watching Brandon Saine run.
· Hope Starks can stay healthy for the stretch run.
· GAME MVP: MARSHALL NEWHOUSE!
· Thought TJ Lang did a remarkable job as well.
· Big ups to Evan Diedrich-Smith!
· The Packers OL > The Bears DL. Music to my ears.
· BJ Raji is struggling. Even when he gets a push, he’s not finishing plays.
· I’m beginning to wonder about Mike Neal. CJ Wilson is getting more push than him and that scares me.
· T-Mon has to get his MOJO back. Giving too much separation. Doesn’t seem overly inspired. When he’s “on” – he’s as good as it gets in this league. His body language hasn’t seemed like himself.
· J-Bush & P-Lee are absolute difference makers on special teams. Brad Jones played well on special teams as well. Fun to watch.
· Tim Masthay is LEGIT!
· Randall Cobb brings a dimension to Packers football that hasn’t been seen since Desmond Howard left. Rossum did some good things, but not to this level. Packer historians are reminded of Travis Williams! Cobb makes a 10-yard return look so exciting. Hope his injury isn’t serious.
· Let me repeat, Aaron Rodgers is the NFL’s MVP. G-Force, don’t take this for granted.
· Speaking of the G-Force. Even when the game is in doubt, the crowd needs to stay elevated. This defense needs our help. We have to make it tough on the opposition. Play our role.
This week – it’s Detroit. And frankly, I’d rest our stars. No Aaron Rodgers. And if he plays, make it one series at the most. But, seriously, save the roster spot. Make him inactive. Jennings and Starks are already ruled out. I’d do the same with Bulaga as there is no need to push him. I would also sit Woodson and Matthews. Pickett would not play. Neither would Raji. I’d work Green, Wilson, Neal, and Wynn on the DL. Run them hard. I’d play a lot of 2 down lineman. Give some of the LB’s a shot. I’d like to see Davon House. T-Mon would see limited action. So would Bishop. We’d see more of DJ Smith and Robert Francois. We’d see more of So’oto and Lattimore. I’d like to see MD Jennings at Safety. Jennings was a ball hawk in the preseason. I’d like to see him in the rotation.
Offensively, I’d give the game to Brandon Saine. I’d like to see him touch the ball 20-25 times. I’d like to see him catching passes. With the Packers likely to only have 3 WR’s in the lineup, we’ll see a lot of double TE’s. With J-Mike likely to get limited reps, I’d like to see Ryan Taylor getting his shot. The same with DJ Williams running down the seam. Give the kids the reps that they didn’t get during mini-camps. I’d also test Clifton to see if he’s good to go for the Run to the Repeat.
Frankly, it could be argued that it’d be in the Packers best interest to lose this game. Assuming the 49ers beat the Rams, the #6 seed would travel to New Orleans. If the Lions win, the Falcons would get their third crack at the Saints. Traditionally, the Falcons have battled the Saints well. It’d be a rivalry game. Remember that the Falcons beat the Saints in New Orleans in 2010. In ’09, they battled the Saints and eventually fell by 8 points. In ’08, they fought hard against the Saints, only to lose by 4 points. If you can’t tell, I’d prefer to not play the Saints in the playoffs. I’m not scared of New Orleans. In fact, I think we’d beat them. But, I’d like to make the Saints road to the NFC Championship as difficult as possible.
With that said, the Packers are playing for 15-1 with their back-ups. I’d like to see Flynn in control of the offense. A good performance by Flynn could potentially affect his status with the Packers next year. It’d also affect the compensatory pick we’d get for him. It’d be fun to see him play well.
Look for the Lions to try and attack us with Kevin Smith. The formula is to run the ball against the Packers. Smith will pound it at us. Then, they’ll send Calvin Johnson on deep routes and dump the ball to Smith underneath. The Lions will pester us. Eat the clock. Almost stunningly, the Packers are OK with the Lions strategy. The Packers would like to keep the clock moving as well as the #1 motivation for this week is to stay healthy. And, when the Packers get the ball, we see a lot of short passes. We set a lot of Saine pounding the ball. Saine pushing the pile forward. Then McCarthy calls play action and he hits Jones on a deep ball.
As the Lions spread the ball to Burleson, Pettigrew, Johnson, Smith and Titus Young, they find some efficiency. They move the ball, but break down near the Red Zone on a couple of occasions. Additionally, the Packers force 2 big turnovers. Flynn throws for 200 yards and a TD. Saine rushes for 80 yards and a TD.
The Lions haven’t won against the Packers on the road since 1991. It’s not happening this year. Even with our back-ups.
Packers 23. Lions 20.
Before I sign off, I had to give a huge shout-out to my good mate, Pat Hoeft. He's started a clothing line named "GEEBZ" - get after his line. It's fun stuff. Check out his website at www.geebzshirts.com. You'll like what you see. Well done, Pat!
Go Pack Go!
Happy New Year,
Talkin’ S-Mac.
talkins-mac.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/#!/buzzboy3
It was rich in Holiday Cheer. 14-1. The most victories in franchise Regular Season History. Defeating the Bears for the 4th time in the 2011 calendar year. Proving, in fact, that the Bears do still suck! In convincing fashion. Whether it was Nutler, Hanie or McCown as the QB for Chicago, the Packers owned the Bears in 2011. It was a magical year. Purely dominating our old rivals. Bears fans will claim injury. But, last I checked, the Bears had Urlacher, Tillman, Briggs, and Peppers all playing on the defensive side of the ball. All were neutralized. In return, the NFL’s MVP connected on 5 TD’s without his best weapon, Greg Jennings. Ultimately, as the most cherished theater in American sports echoed with “Bears Still Suck” chants, the play on the field showed that the Lambeau Faithful was quite accurate in our assessments.
Quick hits from the thrashing of the Bears:
· Aaron Rodgers is the NFL’s MVP. He beat Brees head to head. He didn’t have a 2-interception game all year. Brees has had multiple 2-interception games. He has thrown for more TD’s than Brees. He’s averaged more than an extra yard per attempt than Brees. Rodgers is your MVP. No doubt in my mind.
· Mike McCarthy, you own Lovie Smith. And we love you for it. When Lovie Smith was hired in 2004, he said his top priority was to beat the Packers. Well, Lovie, you went 0-4 in 2011. Cheers to you, Lovie!
· Jordy Nelson running the deep route to perfection.
· Clay Matthews making big plays! In the 1st half, it was almost as if he was the only one on defense who showed up. He baited McCown with a magic touch. And the interception was a game changer.
· Desmond Bishop, welcome back. You were missed.
· I’m not in panic mode, but I’m starting to wonder whether DJ Smith should be starting over AJ Hawk.
· We’re going to need improved Safety play in the playoffs. Both Burnett and Peprah appear to be a step late in pass defense.
· J-Mike, stay confident, young man. You’re a threat. Defenses key on you. You’re a match-up nightmare. In order for the Repeat to come to fruition, we’ll need you in a BIG WAY!
· Good to see James Jones step up and get the offense in rhythm with the crossing route in front of his nemesis, Peanut Tillman.
· I enjoy watching Brandon Saine run.
· Hope Starks can stay healthy for the stretch run.
· GAME MVP: MARSHALL NEWHOUSE!
· Thought TJ Lang did a remarkable job as well.
· Big ups to Evan Diedrich-Smith!
· The Packers OL > The Bears DL. Music to my ears.
· BJ Raji is struggling. Even when he gets a push, he’s not finishing plays.
· I’m beginning to wonder about Mike Neal. CJ Wilson is getting more push than him and that scares me.
· T-Mon has to get his MOJO back. Giving too much separation. Doesn’t seem overly inspired. When he’s “on” – he’s as good as it gets in this league. His body language hasn’t seemed like himself.
· J-Bush & P-Lee are absolute difference makers on special teams. Brad Jones played well on special teams as well. Fun to watch.
· Tim Masthay is LEGIT!
· Randall Cobb brings a dimension to Packers football that hasn’t been seen since Desmond Howard left. Rossum did some good things, but not to this level. Packer historians are reminded of Travis Williams! Cobb makes a 10-yard return look so exciting. Hope his injury isn’t serious.
· Let me repeat, Aaron Rodgers is the NFL’s MVP. G-Force, don’t take this for granted.
· Speaking of the G-Force. Even when the game is in doubt, the crowd needs to stay elevated. This defense needs our help. We have to make it tough on the opposition. Play our role.
This week – it’s Detroit. And frankly, I’d rest our stars. No Aaron Rodgers. And if he plays, make it one series at the most. But, seriously, save the roster spot. Make him inactive. Jennings and Starks are already ruled out. I’d do the same with Bulaga as there is no need to push him. I would also sit Woodson and Matthews. Pickett would not play. Neither would Raji. I’d work Green, Wilson, Neal, and Wynn on the DL. Run them hard. I’d play a lot of 2 down lineman. Give some of the LB’s a shot. I’d like to see Davon House. T-Mon would see limited action. So would Bishop. We’d see more of DJ Smith and Robert Francois. We’d see more of So’oto and Lattimore. I’d like to see MD Jennings at Safety. Jennings was a ball hawk in the preseason. I’d like to see him in the rotation.
Offensively, I’d give the game to Brandon Saine. I’d like to see him touch the ball 20-25 times. I’d like to see him catching passes. With the Packers likely to only have 3 WR’s in the lineup, we’ll see a lot of double TE’s. With J-Mike likely to get limited reps, I’d like to see Ryan Taylor getting his shot. The same with DJ Williams running down the seam. Give the kids the reps that they didn’t get during mini-camps. I’d also test Clifton to see if he’s good to go for the Run to the Repeat.
Frankly, it could be argued that it’d be in the Packers best interest to lose this game. Assuming the 49ers beat the Rams, the #6 seed would travel to New Orleans. If the Lions win, the Falcons would get their third crack at the Saints. Traditionally, the Falcons have battled the Saints well. It’d be a rivalry game. Remember that the Falcons beat the Saints in New Orleans in 2010. In ’09, they battled the Saints and eventually fell by 8 points. In ’08, they fought hard against the Saints, only to lose by 4 points. If you can’t tell, I’d prefer to not play the Saints in the playoffs. I’m not scared of New Orleans. In fact, I think we’d beat them. But, I’d like to make the Saints road to the NFC Championship as difficult as possible.
With that said, the Packers are playing for 15-1 with their back-ups. I’d like to see Flynn in control of the offense. A good performance by Flynn could potentially affect his status with the Packers next year. It’d also affect the compensatory pick we’d get for him. It’d be fun to see him play well.
Look for the Lions to try and attack us with Kevin Smith. The formula is to run the ball against the Packers. Smith will pound it at us. Then, they’ll send Calvin Johnson on deep routes and dump the ball to Smith underneath. The Lions will pester us. Eat the clock. Almost stunningly, the Packers are OK with the Lions strategy. The Packers would like to keep the clock moving as well as the #1 motivation for this week is to stay healthy. And, when the Packers get the ball, we see a lot of short passes. We set a lot of Saine pounding the ball. Saine pushing the pile forward. Then McCarthy calls play action and he hits Jones on a deep ball.
As the Lions spread the ball to Burleson, Pettigrew, Johnson, Smith and Titus Young, they find some efficiency. They move the ball, but break down near the Red Zone on a couple of occasions. Additionally, the Packers force 2 big turnovers. Flynn throws for 200 yards and a TD. Saine rushes for 80 yards and a TD.
The Lions haven’t won against the Packers on the road since 1991. It’s not happening this year. Even with our back-ups.
Packers 23. Lions 20.
Before I sign off, I had to give a huge shout-out to my good mate, Pat Hoeft. He's started a clothing line named "GEEBZ" - get after his line. It's fun stuff. Check out his website at www.geebzshirts.com. You'll like what you see. Well done, Pat!
Go Pack Go!
Happy New Year,
Talkin’ S-Mac.
talkins-mac.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/#!/buzzboy3
Thursday, December 22, 2011
My Take -> Week 16
Greetings, G-Force.
For the first time in nearly a full calendar year, we've tasted defeat. We were beat up. We were humbled. We lost discipline. We lost focus. And, for the first time in over a calendar year, we were out-coached. But, no need to panic, we're still the Champs. We still have the MVP throwing the damn ball. We still have a first round bye. We're still a victory away from having home field throughout. We're still the class of the NFL. And, really, what better way to clinch than to beat the Bears on Christmas Day in a Lambeau celebration? The Bears Still Suck!
Quick hits from the Chiefs game.
* We struggled to find rhythm. As a team, we were frustrated. Annoyed. Pestered. McCarthy didn't stick with what was working. We had success running the football. Randall Cobb is a weapon and should be used. We didn't stick with what was working.
* Defensively, we lost containment. Zombo and Walden were not discipline. They were exposed.
* The DL was abused. Beat up. Donde esta, Mike Neal? Neal must arrive soon. At some point, Neal has to make a play.
* Where was Clay?
* Rodgers is the MVP. Enough with this Brees noise. Head to head, Rodgers beat him. With that, as defenses continue to press us at the of scrimmage and drop two safeties, Rodgers must remember to dump it off to the underneath route when it's not there over the top or down the field.
* Jordy Nelson couldn't get open. It was almost as if the Chiefs new the route before the play. They were cutting beneath crossing routes as the WR's were coming out of their breaks.
* Prior to going for it on 4th & 8, on 3rd down, Rodgers had Cobb wide open. He overlooked him. I wish he wouldn't have.
* Ryan Grant had his stride.
* Stating the obvious, the OL must get healthy...meaning Bulaga & Clifton. Clearly, its present state is a huge concern.
* J-Mike. WTF.
* Bummed me out when Kuhn failed to get 3rd & 1.
* AJ Hawk must nowhere to be found.
* DJ Smith played decent, but I wish he would have dropped deeper on the seam route to the TE.
* Sir Charles was our best defender.
* James Jones couldn't get off the line of scrimmage. He was a huge disappointment.
* No forced turnovers. With this defense, we won't win much without them. With that, I'd expect our offense to score 20 points every game. So, in part, the defense put us in position to win. And the offense lacked tempo. The combination equaled defeat.
This week, it's the Bears. The hated Bears. On Christmas Day. It doesn't get better. Win and we clinch home field throughout. Win and the Bears are officially eliminated. It'd cap a perfect 4-0 over the Bears in 2011. It'd include a January 2nd bash that got the Packers into the playoffs. It included the Halas Trophy at Soldier Field inside the visitors locker room. Trump card forever. Pop Tarts! Now, we can put the dagger in their 2011 Season while clinching home field throughout. That's fairly epic and sheer domination. Word.
We know them. They know us. We're both banged up. They're coming after the MVP. We have a banged up OL. It's their strength against our weakness. We'll have to establish Grant, much like we did against Chicago in the earlier match-up at Soldier. With that, the play action will open up. Finley is a tough match-up for the Bears. He must be focused. He seems like he's lost confidence. Get J-Mike the ball early in the game. Make him feel involved.
The Bears will try to run the football in bunches. They'll want to model the Chiefs game plan. They'll coach McCown to play it safe. Expect to see less of Marion Barber and more of Khalil Bell. He is a decent back. He can catch. Runs hard. Not a HR threat but he'll move the pile.
But, in the end, the injured Packers have far more talent than the injured Bears. The Packers defense makes a big play. Hester is limited. Rodgers throws 2 TD's. It's a Lambeau celebration as the chorus of "THE BEARS STILL SUCK" echoes loudly throughout the greatest sports palace in America.
Packers 23. Bears 16.
Go Pack Go. The Bears Still Suck. Have a Merry Christmas.
Talkin' S-Mac.
talkins-mac.blogspot.com
For the first time in nearly a full calendar year, we've tasted defeat. We were beat up. We were humbled. We lost discipline. We lost focus. And, for the first time in over a calendar year, we were out-coached. But, no need to panic, we're still the Champs. We still have the MVP throwing the damn ball. We still have a first round bye. We're still a victory away from having home field throughout. We're still the class of the NFL. And, really, what better way to clinch than to beat the Bears on Christmas Day in a Lambeau celebration? The Bears Still Suck!
Quick hits from the Chiefs game.
* We struggled to find rhythm. As a team, we were frustrated. Annoyed. Pestered. McCarthy didn't stick with what was working. We had success running the football. Randall Cobb is a weapon and should be used. We didn't stick with what was working.
* Defensively, we lost containment. Zombo and Walden were not discipline. They were exposed.
* The DL was abused. Beat up. Donde esta, Mike Neal? Neal must arrive soon. At some point, Neal has to make a play.
* Where was Clay?
* Rodgers is the MVP. Enough with this Brees noise. Head to head, Rodgers beat him. With that, as defenses continue to press us at the of scrimmage and drop two safeties, Rodgers must remember to dump it off to the underneath route when it's not there over the top or down the field.
* Jordy Nelson couldn't get open. It was almost as if the Chiefs new the route before the play. They were cutting beneath crossing routes as the WR's were coming out of their breaks.
* Prior to going for it on 4th & 8, on 3rd down, Rodgers had Cobb wide open. He overlooked him. I wish he wouldn't have.
* Ryan Grant had his stride.
* Stating the obvious, the OL must get healthy...meaning Bulaga & Clifton. Clearly, its present state is a huge concern.
* J-Mike. WTF.
* Bummed me out when Kuhn failed to get 3rd & 1.
* AJ Hawk must nowhere to be found.
* DJ Smith played decent, but I wish he would have dropped deeper on the seam route to the TE.
* Sir Charles was our best defender.
* James Jones couldn't get off the line of scrimmage. He was a huge disappointment.
* No forced turnovers. With this defense, we won't win much without them. With that, I'd expect our offense to score 20 points every game. So, in part, the defense put us in position to win. And the offense lacked tempo. The combination equaled defeat.
This week, it's the Bears. The hated Bears. On Christmas Day. It doesn't get better. Win and we clinch home field throughout. Win and the Bears are officially eliminated. It'd cap a perfect 4-0 over the Bears in 2011. It'd include a January 2nd bash that got the Packers into the playoffs. It included the Halas Trophy at Soldier Field inside the visitors locker room. Trump card forever. Pop Tarts! Now, we can put the dagger in their 2011 Season while clinching home field throughout. That's fairly epic and sheer domination. Word.
We know them. They know us. We're both banged up. They're coming after the MVP. We have a banged up OL. It's their strength against our weakness. We'll have to establish Grant, much like we did against Chicago in the earlier match-up at Soldier. With that, the play action will open up. Finley is a tough match-up for the Bears. He must be focused. He seems like he's lost confidence. Get J-Mike the ball early in the game. Make him feel involved.
The Bears will try to run the football in bunches. They'll want to model the Chiefs game plan. They'll coach McCown to play it safe. Expect to see less of Marion Barber and more of Khalil Bell. He is a decent back. He can catch. Runs hard. Not a HR threat but he'll move the pile.
But, in the end, the injured Packers have far more talent than the injured Bears. The Packers defense makes a big play. Hester is limited. Rodgers throws 2 TD's. It's a Lambeau celebration as the chorus of "THE BEARS STILL SUCK" echoes loudly throughout the greatest sports palace in America.
Packers 23. Bears 16.
Go Pack Go. The Bears Still Suck. Have a Merry Christmas.
Talkin' S-Mac.
talkins-mac.blogspot.com
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
My Take -> Week 15
Greetings, G-Force.
13-0. 19 straight. In dominating fashion. It took 23 minutes for the Packers to completely dismantle an Oakland Raiders team that is battling for an AFC playoff berth. For 23 minutes, the Packers were hitting on all cylinders. The offense poured on 31 points in the first 23 minutes. The defense forced 2 turnovers in the first 23 minutes, which led to 14 points. The special teams was on point for the first 23 minutes as Crosby drilled a FG into windy conditions, Cobb had an impressive 10 yard return and on each Oakland Kickoff Return our pursuit was top-notch. The last 37 minutes were slightly more than a walk-through.
Quick hits from the victory over the Raiders:
* Another brilliant coaching display by Mike McCarthy. As an offensive play caller, he's in rhythm. He understands this team. He's found the tempo of this team. He sees the mismatch. Early in the game, the Packers were quick to the line of scrimmage and the Raiders defense was on its heels the entire game.
* Congratulations to Aaron Rodgers for throwing #39. Looking forward to seeing the record breaking #40 at Arrowhead!
* It took me four years to feel this way, but my apologies to Ted Thompson. I wanted DeSean Jackson. You took Jordy Nelson. You were right. I was wrong. As DeSean Jackson pouts. Jordy Nelson produces.
* Get healthy, Greg Jennings.
* James Jones, it's all in the shoes.
* Double-D running crossing routes like it's 2004! 18.8 yards per catch.
* Randall Cobb with the ball in his hands is pure excitement.
* Rodgers' cadence at the line of scrimmage was a thing of beauty. The Raiders came out antsy to pressure the NFL's MVP. Rodgers slowed down their pace with heavy voice fluctuation.
* Good to see Ryan Grant finding open space.
* Ryan Taylor finds the end zone!
* TJ Lang played extremely well.
* Admirable performance by Evan Diedrich-Smith.
* Mason Crosby is having a Pro Bowl year.
* Huge shout out to DJ Smith. The guy was absolutely disruptive early in the game. In addition to the interception, he was all over the field. Reading screens. Taking down Bush when it looked like he had yards in bunches. He played with personality. He closes quickly on the ball. He's fun to watch. He struggled getting to the QB on the blitz, but he comes with a vengeance.
* If you've been following this blog for long enough, you know that in 2009, I wanted the Packers to use a late round pick on Robert Francois. I've been a fan of his for a while. Happy to see he's making plays. Again, he displayed solid cover skills. He's making it seem as though he should be our 3rd down ILB when the opposition is in an obvious passing down. He drops well. He moves laterally well. In 3 weeks of action at ILB, he has 2 interceptions and another near interception. He also forced a fumble that was returned for a TD. Solid game by Francois.
* Rodgers. MVP
* After watching Smith and Francois, the Packers don't need to draft an ILB.
* Sir Charles with another pick!
* Sammy Swagga with a pick!
* Is it just me or has Ryan Grant regressed with regards to pass protection? Seems uncertain. Slow to react.
* No reason to get Sherrod snaps with Rodgers at QB. Sure, Newhouse has struggled on occasion, but he hasn't been so bad that we'd need to risk Rodgers back-side.
* Rodgers. MVP.
* Last year, at this time, T-Mon was playing as one of the best cover CB's in the league. He was at the line of scrimmage. Jamming WR's in the chest. Playing physical. Against the Raiders, you could find T-Mon 8-12 yards off the line of scrimmage. It's possible that he was simply respected the speed of the Raiders WR's, but I like to see T-Mon challenging receivers.
* After Woodson's pick, I loved seeing the Claymaker beg for the ball. He wanted the pitch from Sir Charles so badly!
* The Packers special teams cover units are playing at a level that we haven't seen since the days of Lamont Hollinquest, Keith McKenzie, Mike Prior, Bernardo Harris, Travis Jervey, and Terry Mickens. Love to see the hard work of J-Bush, P-Lee, MD Jennings, Crabtree, Saine and Ryan Taylor.
* Find the end zone Erik Walden! Touch pay dirt, young man!
* The Raiders had some success pressuring the Packers up the middle of the gut. Wonder if others will come aggressively with inside blitzes in the coming weeks.
* Morgan "the Predator" Burnett making tackles in the open field is a fun sight.
* Charlie Peprah is a solid safety when he's kept in the box as an 8th man.
* Nice to see Frank Zombo grab his 1st sack of the season. It'd be fun to see Mike Neal do the same.
* After 13 games, the Packers have forced 32 turnovers and generated 27 sacks.
* In the compensatory pick column for next years NFL Draft, it's worth noting that Anthony Smith was placed on IR this week. I still think Cullen Jenkins is probably worth a 5th round pick. So is Daryn Colledge. And the combination of Ras-A-tari, Spitz, Anthony Smith, Korey Hall, and B-Jack are probably worth two 7th round picks as well.
This week - the Packers are off to Arrowhead. My wife and I are heading to Kansas City as well. Going with a crowd of friends. Bringing the G-Force. With a vengeance. We'll be witness to the 20th straight win, a Packers QB record for TD passes as Rodgers strikes for #40 and as Bob McGinn reported this week; Mike McCarthy will accomplish something Vince Lombardi never did by going unbeaten on the road. To top it off, a win gives the Packers home field advantage all the way to the Super Bowl. I'm stoked!
The Chiefs are 5-8. But, they can't be overlooked. Arrowhead is a hostile environment. And - although I expect the stadium to be 1/3 Packers fans - the Chiefs aren't going down easily. Romeo Crennel will have his time ready to play. The defense will be fired up. And - a small piece of history reminds me of a 13-0 Denver Broncos team facing a 5-8 New York Giants team in New York, only to lose to New York 20-16. In this league, if you want to win, you must be ready. Every game of the year.
Once again, the Packers will face an under-appreciated defense. Tamba Hali can flat-out rush the passer. Last year, Hali had 15 sacks and this year he has 9 sacks. Justin Houston has 4 sacks in the last 2 weeks. Glenn Dorsey and Tyson Jackson are stout at the point of attack against the run. Derrick Johnson is a total stud at ILB. Johnson is a tremendous pass rusher when he comes on the blitz. Brandon Flowers has been a solid NFL CB. He's able to man-up with most WR's in the league. Brandon Carr can be beat, but he'll also man-up against a WR and try to run with you. Kendrick Lewis is a young and improving Safety. The Chiefs defense will fight us. They'll compete. They'll mix it up and bring a variety of blitzes. If the Packers, can protect Rodgers, the Chiefs defense can be beat on double-moves over the top.
Offensively, the Chiefs are beat up. It appears as though Kyle Orton will make his first start as a Chief. As I mentioned earlier in the year when Orton started for the Broncos, Orton has fared well against the Packers throughout his career. He's 3-2 in his career as a starter against the Packers. He possesses the ball control skills to pull of the upset. Expect the Chiefs to throw a bundle of bubble screens to Steve Breaston, Dwayne Bowe and Jonathan Baldwin. The Chiefs will also try and control the line of scrimmage by pounding the ball with Thomas Jones and Jackie Battle. Then - the Chiefs will spread the Packers out and jam the ball at you with the elusive Dexter McCluster.
With Mother Nature looking to keep the rain away until Monday, the weather looks like it'll be in the high 40's to low 50's at Kickoff. Sunny skies. Football weather for the Green Bay Packers. A classic AFC v NFC battle. A rematch of the 1st Super Bowl.
Protect Rodgers. Don't turn the ball over. Don't let the dangerous Javier Arenas get loose on a Punt Return. And the Packers will win by a large margin.
I can't be convinced that Orton has a full grasp of this offense and even if he does have an understanding, just a couple of days ago he wasn't even throwing the ball in practice. Orton might know our nuances, but the Packers defense has too many playmakers. Turnovers will be had. At least two of them.
Earlier in the year, when Orton was a Bronco, he had success against the Packers throwing it deep. Look for Orton to use the height advantage that Baldwin presents on a couple of fly patterns. As the Packers keep 8 in the box to protect against the bubble screen and the Chiefs ground game, it'll be up to Burnett to provide help over the top. Burnett grabs a jump ball interception this week.
Look for the Claymaker to have a big game with 2 sacks.
Rodgers throws for 250 more yards and 2 more TDs, eclipsing the Packers single season TD record. Jordy finds the end zone. So does Finley.
Playing loose, the Chiefs keep the game close for a half. But, they can't run with the Champs.
Packers 34. Chiefs 20.
Celebrate Home Field advantage.
Go Pack Go!
Talkin' S-Mac.
talkins-mac.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/#!/buzzboy3
13-0. 19 straight. In dominating fashion. It took 23 minutes for the Packers to completely dismantle an Oakland Raiders team that is battling for an AFC playoff berth. For 23 minutes, the Packers were hitting on all cylinders. The offense poured on 31 points in the first 23 minutes. The defense forced 2 turnovers in the first 23 minutes, which led to 14 points. The special teams was on point for the first 23 minutes as Crosby drilled a FG into windy conditions, Cobb had an impressive 10 yard return and on each Oakland Kickoff Return our pursuit was top-notch. The last 37 minutes were slightly more than a walk-through.
Quick hits from the victory over the Raiders:
* Another brilliant coaching display by Mike McCarthy. As an offensive play caller, he's in rhythm. He understands this team. He's found the tempo of this team. He sees the mismatch. Early in the game, the Packers were quick to the line of scrimmage and the Raiders defense was on its heels the entire game.
* Congratulations to Aaron Rodgers for throwing #39. Looking forward to seeing the record breaking #40 at Arrowhead!
* It took me four years to feel this way, but my apologies to Ted Thompson. I wanted DeSean Jackson. You took Jordy Nelson. You were right. I was wrong. As DeSean Jackson pouts. Jordy Nelson produces.
* Get healthy, Greg Jennings.
* James Jones, it's all in the shoes.
* Double-D running crossing routes like it's 2004! 18.8 yards per catch.
* Randall Cobb with the ball in his hands is pure excitement.
* Rodgers' cadence at the line of scrimmage was a thing of beauty. The Raiders came out antsy to pressure the NFL's MVP. Rodgers slowed down their pace with heavy voice fluctuation.
* Good to see Ryan Grant finding open space.
* Ryan Taylor finds the end zone!
* TJ Lang played extremely well.
* Admirable performance by Evan Diedrich-Smith.
* Mason Crosby is having a Pro Bowl year.
* Huge shout out to DJ Smith. The guy was absolutely disruptive early in the game. In addition to the interception, he was all over the field. Reading screens. Taking down Bush when it looked like he had yards in bunches. He played with personality. He closes quickly on the ball. He's fun to watch. He struggled getting to the QB on the blitz, but he comes with a vengeance.
* If you've been following this blog for long enough, you know that in 2009, I wanted the Packers to use a late round pick on Robert Francois. I've been a fan of his for a while. Happy to see he's making plays. Again, he displayed solid cover skills. He's making it seem as though he should be our 3rd down ILB when the opposition is in an obvious passing down. He drops well. He moves laterally well. In 3 weeks of action at ILB, he has 2 interceptions and another near interception. He also forced a fumble that was returned for a TD. Solid game by Francois.
* Rodgers. MVP
* After watching Smith and Francois, the Packers don't need to draft an ILB.
* Sir Charles with another pick!
* Sammy Swagga with a pick!
* Is it just me or has Ryan Grant regressed with regards to pass protection? Seems uncertain. Slow to react.
* No reason to get Sherrod snaps with Rodgers at QB. Sure, Newhouse has struggled on occasion, but he hasn't been so bad that we'd need to risk Rodgers back-side.
* Rodgers. MVP.
* Last year, at this time, T-Mon was playing as one of the best cover CB's in the league. He was at the line of scrimmage. Jamming WR's in the chest. Playing physical. Against the Raiders, you could find T-Mon 8-12 yards off the line of scrimmage. It's possible that he was simply respected the speed of the Raiders WR's, but I like to see T-Mon challenging receivers.
* After Woodson's pick, I loved seeing the Claymaker beg for the ball. He wanted the pitch from Sir Charles so badly!
* The Packers special teams cover units are playing at a level that we haven't seen since the days of Lamont Hollinquest, Keith McKenzie, Mike Prior, Bernardo Harris, Travis Jervey, and Terry Mickens. Love to see the hard work of J-Bush, P-Lee, MD Jennings, Crabtree, Saine and Ryan Taylor.
* Find the end zone Erik Walden! Touch pay dirt, young man!
* The Raiders had some success pressuring the Packers up the middle of the gut. Wonder if others will come aggressively with inside blitzes in the coming weeks.
* Morgan "the Predator" Burnett making tackles in the open field is a fun sight.
* Charlie Peprah is a solid safety when he's kept in the box as an 8th man.
* Nice to see Frank Zombo grab his 1st sack of the season. It'd be fun to see Mike Neal do the same.
* After 13 games, the Packers have forced 32 turnovers and generated 27 sacks.
* In the compensatory pick column for next years NFL Draft, it's worth noting that Anthony Smith was placed on IR this week. I still think Cullen Jenkins is probably worth a 5th round pick. So is Daryn Colledge. And the combination of Ras-A-tari, Spitz, Anthony Smith, Korey Hall, and B-Jack are probably worth two 7th round picks as well.
This week - the Packers are off to Arrowhead. My wife and I are heading to Kansas City as well. Going with a crowd of friends. Bringing the G-Force. With a vengeance. We'll be witness to the 20th straight win, a Packers QB record for TD passes as Rodgers strikes for #40 and as Bob McGinn reported this week; Mike McCarthy will accomplish something Vince Lombardi never did by going unbeaten on the road. To top it off, a win gives the Packers home field advantage all the way to the Super Bowl. I'm stoked!
The Chiefs are 5-8. But, they can't be overlooked. Arrowhead is a hostile environment. And - although I expect the stadium to be 1/3 Packers fans - the Chiefs aren't going down easily. Romeo Crennel will have his time ready to play. The defense will be fired up. And - a small piece of history reminds me of a 13-0 Denver Broncos team facing a 5-8 New York Giants team in New York, only to lose to New York 20-16. In this league, if you want to win, you must be ready. Every game of the year.
Once again, the Packers will face an under-appreciated defense. Tamba Hali can flat-out rush the passer. Last year, Hali had 15 sacks and this year he has 9 sacks. Justin Houston has 4 sacks in the last 2 weeks. Glenn Dorsey and Tyson Jackson are stout at the point of attack against the run. Derrick Johnson is a total stud at ILB. Johnson is a tremendous pass rusher when he comes on the blitz. Brandon Flowers has been a solid NFL CB. He's able to man-up with most WR's in the league. Brandon Carr can be beat, but he'll also man-up against a WR and try to run with you. Kendrick Lewis is a young and improving Safety. The Chiefs defense will fight us. They'll compete. They'll mix it up and bring a variety of blitzes. If the Packers, can protect Rodgers, the Chiefs defense can be beat on double-moves over the top.
Offensively, the Chiefs are beat up. It appears as though Kyle Orton will make his first start as a Chief. As I mentioned earlier in the year when Orton started for the Broncos, Orton has fared well against the Packers throughout his career. He's 3-2 in his career as a starter against the Packers. He possesses the ball control skills to pull of the upset. Expect the Chiefs to throw a bundle of bubble screens to Steve Breaston, Dwayne Bowe and Jonathan Baldwin. The Chiefs will also try and control the line of scrimmage by pounding the ball with Thomas Jones and Jackie Battle. Then - the Chiefs will spread the Packers out and jam the ball at you with the elusive Dexter McCluster.
With Mother Nature looking to keep the rain away until Monday, the weather looks like it'll be in the high 40's to low 50's at Kickoff. Sunny skies. Football weather for the Green Bay Packers. A classic AFC v NFC battle. A rematch of the 1st Super Bowl.
Protect Rodgers. Don't turn the ball over. Don't let the dangerous Javier Arenas get loose on a Punt Return. And the Packers will win by a large margin.
I can't be convinced that Orton has a full grasp of this offense and even if he does have an understanding, just a couple of days ago he wasn't even throwing the ball in practice. Orton might know our nuances, but the Packers defense has too many playmakers. Turnovers will be had. At least two of them.
Earlier in the year, when Orton was a Bronco, he had success against the Packers throwing it deep. Look for Orton to use the height advantage that Baldwin presents on a couple of fly patterns. As the Packers keep 8 in the box to protect against the bubble screen and the Chiefs ground game, it'll be up to Burnett to provide help over the top. Burnett grabs a jump ball interception this week.
Look for the Claymaker to have a big game with 2 sacks.
Rodgers throws for 250 more yards and 2 more TDs, eclipsing the Packers single season TD record. Jordy finds the end zone. So does Finley.
Playing loose, the Chiefs keep the game close for a half. But, they can't run with the Champs.
Packers 34. Chiefs 20.
Celebrate Home Field advantage.
Go Pack Go!
Talkin' S-Mac.
talkins-mac.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/#!/buzzboy3
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