Bleacher Report - Articles by Mark Strotman

Which Packers Deserve to Go to the Pro Bowl

Mark Strotman — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 10:24:29 -0500

Last season the Packers struggled to a 6-10 season and as a result only sent three players to the Pro Bowl in Honolulu.

All three came from the defensive backfield as Charles Woodson, Al Harris, and Nick Collins made the trip after posting the 12th ranked pass defense and combining for 14 interceptions and 41 passes defended. Collins made his first trip while Harris filled in as an injury replacement for Woodson, who passed on his fifth career pro bowl due to a toe injury.

Outside the defensive backfield, it was a rough season for the 2008 Packers, but the Packers might need to buy a few extra tickets for the 2009 Pro Bowl in Miami this season.

At 7-4, the Packers have a boatload of players who are putting up career numbers or close to it. Because of this, they ought to be well represented on January 31st for the 39th AFC-NFC Pro Bowl.

Leading the way for the Packers is quarterback Aaron Rodgers. In just his second year starting, Rodgers ranks third in the NFC in passer rating (104.9), first in yards (3,136), third in touchdown passes (22), and has thrown just five interceptions while begin sacked a league-high 44 times.

He also leads all quarterbacks in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. He didn't prove to be a winner in his first season and took some heat because of it, but he now has the Packers on the verge of the playoffs and has taken over the leadership role in Green Bay.

Drew Brees has put together another ridiculous season passing and has the Saints at 11-0 and has to be considered a shoo-in for the Pro Bowl, while Brett Favre will not need to get in on the fan vote like he did last season as he has had another rejuvenated season and is playing some of his best football.

After those two, Kurt Warner and Eli Manning are the closest to Rodgers statistically and the lovable Tony Romo is sure to garner votes based on his fan base and celebrity status.

What makes Rodgers nearly a sure thing is the fact that the Pro Bowl will be played in between the NFC Championship Games and the Super Bowl, meaning Super Bowl participants from the AFC and NFC will not be eligible to play in the game. If Rodgers isn't playing in the Big Game, it looks like Brees or Favre will.

Favre isn't the only one having a rejuvenated season, as Donald Driver is posting some of the best numbers of his storied Packers career.

Eleven games in, Driver is 13th in receptions and third in yards to go along with five touchdowns and 38 first down catches. Name recognition is huge for the wideouts and there are some darn good receivers in the NFC—meaning Larry Fitzgerald and Roddy White are sure to be in.

Also, New York's Steve Smith and other youngsters Miles Austin and Sydney Rice are putting up great numbers.

Four wide receivers will go to Miami so Driver is not a sure thing, but the Super Bowl rule could come into play with Rice or Fitzgerald, so a Pro Bowl trip could still be in the cards for Driver.

Two long shots for the Packers offense include running back Ryan Grant and right guard Josh Sitton, who are both quietly putting up very nice seasons. Grant is fourth in yards but has only five touchdowns and Sitton has been a true bright spot on an otherwise awful offensive line, so neither are likely to be voted in.

Asante Samuel leads all cornerbacks in Pro Bowl voting, but it would be absolute highway robbery if Charles Woodson was not voted to his second consecutive Pro Bowl. Two corners are voted in so Woodson will get the nod as the Defensive Player of the Year candidate and is having his best season as a pro.

Through the first 12 weeks, Woodson has 54 tackles, including seven for a loss, four forced fumbles, 11 passes defended, seven interceptions, two sacks, and two touchdowns. Not bad for a guy in his 12th season as a pro going up against each team's best receiver week in and week out. Those numbers are sure to go up as the season goes on, making Woodson a lock to visit Miami in January.

The 3-4 defense makes it difficult for defensive linemen to rack up stats but Cullen Jenkins deserves at least a look. For the season, he has 25 tackles, 4.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, an interception and has been key in opening holes for linebackers. Expected to have a huge year in the 4-3 defense, Jenkins has been just as disruptive under Dom Capers and is having a Pro Bowl-type year.

Minnesota's Jared Allen falls in the same category as Woodson and is a sure thing to get in—while Will Smith, Trent Cole, Julius Peppers, and Andre Carter are all having excellent seasons as well.

With Brian Dawkins leaving the conference, Nick Collins is in line to make his second consecutive Pro Bowl appearance. He has played consistently well and has 36 tackles to go along with four interceptions.

New Orleans' Darren Sharper is having a fantastic season and should get in, while Adrian Wilson will receive some votes as well.

Collins' playing in the Pro Bowl last season should help his cause during the last three weeks of voting and Sharper could very well be playing in the Super Bowl, making him a no-go for the Pro Bowl.

Other long shots on the Packers' roster include wide receiver Greg Jennings—who has name recognition on his side—as well as Clay Matthews, and Nick Barnett.

Then again, let's hope no Packers are eligible to play in the Pro Bowl as they prepare for Super Bowl XLIV the next week.

Why Tim Tebow Should Be a Packer Next Year—if Available

Mark Strotman — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:13:05 -0500

If, for whatever reason, you have never liked Tim Tebow and never given him a shot, don’t read the rest of this article.

If you think the media overplays what he does on and off the field to make him look like a saint, definitely stop reading this article.

Ever since the University of Florida’s all-everything quarterback gave his apology speech to Gator Nation after a loss to Ole Miss last season, he became my role model and also one of my favorite athletes to play the game.

Anyone who watched #15 tearfully enter The Swamp for the last time in a Gator uniform had to feel for him. What a legacy. The Heisman Trophy and two-time National Champ will leave in Florida in about a month. He has received more trophies than he probably knows what to do with, run for more yards as a quarterback than Duke has a team, and scored more touchdowns in his career than anyone to play in the SEC. Yes, that means you Bo Jackson and Herschel Walker.

That’s why in next April’s NFL Draft, the Green Bay Packers need to draft Tim Tebow—if he is within reaching distance on Day One. The verdict on Tebow’s draft stock is still out, with some believing he can be a first round starting quarterback, while others believe he will move to running back and work out of the Wildcat formation on most plays as an H-Back.

Whatever position or role that Tebow’s team decides he should take on, at the very least they know they are getting a great leader and even better attitude in the locker room. For as long as he has been in the spotlight, Tebow has done everything right. The son of two missionary parents, he has used God in every part of his life and believes that is the reason for his success.

Whether it is praising Him in post-game press conferences or wearing his favorite Bible verses under his eyes, Tebow’s gestures go a lot further than your typical athlete pointing to the sky after a touchdown or praising God after a big win. Looking for a word that describes Tebow? Legitimate .

In a sports world full of ego-driven athletes who want the biggest paycheck they can find, Tebow finds peace knowing that he is able to play the game he loves and there is no reason to believe that will change when he becomes a pro. He volunteers to talk to inmates in prison and has a 3.77 GPA.

But wait just a minute. There are plenty of nice guys in the NFL who just don’t make it and are not worth a high draft pick. Why should Tebow be the pick for the Packers just because he loves God and has turned a school in Florida upside down into a cult-like obsession?

The truth is that Tim Tebow is going to be just fine in the NFL. Many question whether or not he can be a full-time quarterback in the NFL, citing arm strength concerns as the reason why. Watching Tebow for 3+ years, it’s true that his arm is not good enough right now to play every down in the NFL and might never be strong enough.

But let’s not forget that Tebow has rushed for 56 touchdowns in his illustrious career at Florida—something no one else in the history of the SEC has done. Known for putting his head down and hitting the hole, Tebow would make an excellent H-back who could carry the ball five to seven times a game as well as line up in the Wildcat formation. His arm isn’t Brett Favre’s but it’s no Tim Couch either.

Some might call him a product of Urban Meyer’s triple option offensive system, but Tebow fights for yardage and has had nothing easy come his way on his path to stardom at Florida.

Coming out of high school, Tebow ran a 4.6 forty-yard dash time, meaning his current 40-time is probably somewhere in the 4.5’s, putting him right in the mix of where the bigger running backs in next year’s draft will be. Tebow is too big and not polished enough to run the ball 25 times a game for a team, but even making him a third down back to go with Wildcat responsibilities would make him worth the pick. He has that much talent.

So why the Packers? Why would a team who currently sports the sixth ranked offense in the NFL waste a first-day pick on an offensive mystery? Because Tebow would bring a brand new dimension to the Packers offense that they have lacked for quite some time.

At times, head coach Mike McCarthy’s play-calling has been critiqued for being too predictable and basic. Throw Tebow into the mix and suddenly you have a Wildcat general, a bruising runner in between the tackles, a 6′3″ athletic route runner, or a decent throwing quarterback. Pat White was deemed perfect for the Wildcat coming out of college and was promptly drafted by the Dolphins. On the season, White has rushed 12 times for 50 yards and is 0-3 passing, but then again Ronnie Brown and Rickie Williams have already mastered the Wildcat, meaning his production will take time.

Unlike White and running college quarterbacks like Michael Robinson, the thought of Tebow playing quarterback is not out of the question. Currently the Packers have two active quarterbacks on their roster and, while Matt Flynn is a more than serviceable number two quarterback, they have no emergency quarterback.

He is probably not worth a first round pick if the Packers are not selecting him to play quarterback, but if he slips to the second round and scouts believe he can not play under center, there’s no reason for the Packers not to take a very hard look at Tebow.

My man-crush on Tebow might have something to do with my thinking that he would be perfect in Green and Gold, but he is a true gamer that goes out and plays his game and wins. He does nothing fancy and might end up not having a true position in the NFL, but there will be a spot on the field where Tebow is going to succeed. Combined with his off-the-field, deserved God-like status, Tim Tebow fits Ted Thompson’s definition of “Packer people” and should be a Green Bay Packer next April.

NFC Wild Card Update: Packers Get Little Help from Bottom Teams

Mark Strotman — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 10:25:36 -0500

After the Green Bay Packers disposed of the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day in a 34-12 rout, they were able to sit back and enjoy Sunday’s slate of NFL games.

At 7-4, the Packers find themselves in good position to nab one of the two NFC wild card spots at the end of the season. They sport a decent conference record at 6-3, better than any wild card contender other than the Eagles (6-2).

Still, the Packers were looking for a little extra help this weekend from some of the bottom teams in the NFC. Unfortunately, things did not go as planned.

Here’s a look at the Packers’ situation and reviews of how each wild card contender did this past weekend.

Green Bay Packers: currently 7-4

The Packers play the Ravens and Steelers over the course of three weekends, and while it looked more difficult at the beginning of the season, both games will be difficult. Both teams sit at 6-5 and are very beatable, especially the Ravens at home, and the Packers will most likely need to take one of them to keep their playoff hopes alive.

If they lose one of those games, the good news is it will not count against their conference record, the first tiebreaker in determining the wild card spots. They also play two games in which they should be favored against the Seahawks and Bears.

To close the season out, they go to Arizona to play the Cardinals. The caveat there is that the Cardinals, who hold a two-game lead on the division, could very well have wrapped up the NFC West by then and will be resting their starters, making for a much easier game.

1. Dallas Cowboys: 7-3 entering Week 12

The Cowboys were sure thankful for whoever scheduled them to play the Raiders on Thanksgiving Day. America’s Team pummeled the Raiders 24-7 and now find themselves in the driver’s seat to win the NFC East at 8-3.

Someone has to win the NFC East by rule, but Packers fans were hoping that it would be the Cowboys vying for a wild card spot due to the head-to-head advantage they hold against them from the Week 10 victory in Lambeau Field.

The Eagles sit at 7-4 and are still very much alive in the NFC East hunt, but instead of worrying about tiebreakers and conference records and such, it would be best if the Cowboys won the rest of their games, including matchups against the New York Giants and Eagles.

Their schedule the rest of the way is tougher than their NFC East counterparts, but they should win the East if they win their division games.

2. Philadelphia Eagles: 6-4 entering Week 12

If it weren’t for some fourth quarter heroics from Donovan McNabb, the Eagles would have been looking at a 6-5 record and a two-game difference in the NFC East. They trailed the Redskins by eight points in the fourth quarter but ended up winning the game in the last two minutes, 27-24.

It would have been a huge gain for the Packers if the Eagles had tripped up, but alas, they pulled it out.

The Eagles have a better conference record than the Packers because they have played one fewer game and do not play the Packers head-to-head. They will face Atlanta next weekend, which is also fighting for its playoff life, as well as the Giants and Cowboys, so chances are the Eagles will either knock out one of the NFC East opponents or be knocked out by one of them.

3. New York Giants: 6-4 entering Week 12

After beginning the year 5-0, the wheels are starting to come off for Eli Manning and the Giants. They missed a golden opportunity to stay tied with Philadelphia and within a game of the Cowboys when they dropped their Thanksgiving Day matchup against the Broncos, 26-6.

They face the Cowboys next week, who they already beat in Dallas, meaning they could have taken possession of first place had they won last week. However, a win in Dallas would not only keep their playoff hopes alive, but their division hopes alive as well.

The next week they play the Eagles, meaning that the next 14 days will all but determine the playoff hopes for the Giants. If they win both, they will be in very good shape to win the division. Lose both, and they will probably be on their couches for the second season.

4. Atlanta Falcons: 6-4 entering Week 12

The Falcons were about 30 seconds and one down away from seeing their 2009 playoff chances fade away, but a Roddy White touchdown catch to beat the Bucs 20-17 kept them alive in the hunt. They now sit at 6-5 and are still on the outside looking in, but they face the Eagles next week in a matchup that, if won, would let them leapfrog the Eagles in the standings.

After the Eagles, the Falcons play the Saints at home and then do not face a team with a record over .500 the rest of the year. Sounds good for them if they can beat the Eagles, right? Not so fast.

Quarterback Matt Ryan and running back Michael Turner both left Sunday’s game with injuries, and the offense will go nowhere fast, regardless of who they play, if the two of them cannot go. They could sneak into the playoffs with a win over the Eagles, but keep a very close eye on those injuries.

Driver, Woodson Two Players to Be Thankful For This Thanksgiving

Mark Strotman — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 20:27:41 -0500

No one knows what head coach Mike McCarthy will say at his Thanksgiving Day dinner table, but you can bet that Charles Woodson and Donald Driver will be on his short list. The two veterans feasted on the young Detroit Lions Thursday as the Packers won their third straight game, 34-12 at Ford Field.

It was the same story for the Packers once again, who used Driver and Woodson on both ends of the field to lead their team to victory.

For Woodson, the task of shutting down Calvin Johnson was not going to be an easy one and looked to be a problem after Johnson scored from one yard out on a back shoulder route from quarterback Matthew Stafford. However, Johnson caught just one other pass for nine yards, finishing the game as a non-factor on offense.

Shutting down Johnson did not show in the box score for Woodson, but what did show up were Woodson’s seven tackles, two interceptions, forced fumble, fumble recovery, sack, and touchdown. It was a great performance for the 12-year veteran who now finds his name in serious contention for Defensive Player of the Year.

What made the performance even more impressive was the fact that Woodson was playing without his cornerback counterpart Al Harris, who was lost to a torn ACL the week before against San Francisco. The thought was that the Lions would stay away from Woodson and pick on Tramon Williams on the other side, but Johnson was targeted 12 times on offense and Woodson limited him to just the two catches.

On the season, Woodson has recorded 54 tackles, ranked third on the team, forced a team-high four fumbles and six interceptions, and also has two touchdowns to his name. A trip to Canton might be in the future for the former Heisman Trophy winner, but a DPOY trophy would sure help the resume.

Someone who might not make it to Canton but is a shoo-in for the Packers Hall of Fame is Donald Driver, who made the most of his Thanksgiving with a seven-catch, 142 yard performance that included a touchdown catch as well. Awarded the Golden Gobbler by Joe Buck and Troy Aikman, the 11-year veteran continued his outstanding season that has him leading the seventh-ranked passing offense in all major receiving categories.

It was Greg Jennings who received a major payday in the offseason and while some of Driver’s success can be attributed to the double teams and attention other teams pay to Jennings, Driver has made things happen on his own and has created his own success.

Known as one of the toughest players in the league, Driver ranks sixth in the NFC in receiving yards at 34 years old. The five players in front of Driver average 24.6 years in age, and as Driver put it, “I may be old, but I play young”.

The win put the Packers at 7-4 and on top of the NFC Wildcard, but the road does not get any easier from here on out. The last five games for the Packers include matchups against Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and Arizona with an NFC North rivalry game against Chicago in the Windy City.

General Manager Ted Thompson might live and die with building through the draft and having young players grow during the year to contribute, but this year has been the story of Woodson and Driver, two veterans doing everything they can to ensure the Packers play in January.

Green Bay Packers' Williams, Jones to Fill in For Injured Harris, Kampman

Mark Strotman — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:35:38 -0500

The Packers have to be feeling good about winning their last two games against the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers, but they received equally bad news when it was revealed that starters Aaron Kampman and Al Harris would miss the rest of the season with torn ACL’s.

Not that injuries ever come at a good time, but the news came at a terrible time for a Packers defense that, after a poor showing against Minnesota and Tampa Bay, had strung together two solid performances before Harris and Kampman went down.

Both players were injured on seemingly freak accidents where neither were involved in the play; in Harris’s case, it happened 30 yards away from the play.

It was a “here we go again” moment for the Packers defense, who up to this point had avoided major injury on defense. Last season, Cullen Jenkins, Nick Barnett, Atari Bigby, and Harris all missed time with injuries, leading to a 22nd-ranked defense.

In a season where the Packers continued to become more comfortable as each game passed in the new 3-4 defense, new personnel will have to step on the field and become acclimated even faster.

The two players most affected by the injuries are certainly cornerback Tramon Williams and outside linebacker Brad Jones.

Williams, the fourth year nickelback from Louisiana Tech, was to be the heir to Al Harris or Charles Woodson once either of them decided to hang up the cleats, but his number has been called earlier than expected and he should to be up to task.

More than the cornerback duo and safety combo of Nick Collins and Bigby, Green Bay’s secondary was considered one of the best in the league because teams faced three starting cornerbacks when they went with three wideouts. Williams was the reason why.

At 27, Williams is in the prime of his career and is arguably the Packers’ best bump n’ run cornerback.

The drop-off from Harris to Williams will not hurt the Packers much, but the real problem is the lack of depth the Packers now have in the nickel and dime spots. With Williams moving up to the starting role, either Jarrett Bush or Brandon Underwood will take over the third cornerback role.

Both are liabilities, but have shown flashes of being able to get the job done. Brandon Chillar coming back in a few weeks will help the cause and newly signed Josh Bell could compete as well.

At the outside linebacker spot, rookie Brad Jones will likely step in for Kampman.

Jones, a seventh round selection out of Colorado, started against the Cowboys as Kampman was unable to go with a concussion. He played well and finished the game with seven tackles; he also racked up two tackles after subbing for Kampman against San Francisco.

It is still a step down from Kampman, but Jones did a fine job getting after the quarterback and his speed will help on pass defense.

The Packers’ first test will come tomorrow against the Lions, and while no game should ever be overlooked (see Tampa Bay), it will help the Packers work their new starters into the defense. After that, the defense will have 11 days to figure out what is going to work and what needs to happen for the Packers to have continued success without two of their best defenders.

Replacing 92 tackles and two veterans in a span of four days will be no easy task for Dom Capers and the Packers’ defense, but both Williams and Jones have been on the field for a good amount of time already and have both started a game. It is definitely something to look for in tomorrow’s game, regardless of the opponent.

Marquette's Chris Otule Breaks Foot, Likely Out for the Year

Mark Strotman — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:48:29 -0500

Marquette received some bad news on the eve of their game against South Dakota when they learned that sophomore center Chris Otule will likely miss the remainder of the season with a broken foot he suffered in practice Monday.

In three games where Otule had been used sparingly against smaller competition, he was averaging 3.7 points and 2.2 rebounds to go along with 1.7 blocks per game.

He had played just 25 total minutes in the first three games due to the lack of height of the opponents Marquette faced, but was expected to get a heavy dose of minutes in the Old Spice Classic Tournament coming up later this week in Orlando.

This is not Otule’s first time suffering from a foot injury, as last season the 6′10″ center from Texas was lost for six weeks after injuring his foot early in November.

As a freshman on a senior-laced team, the injury set him back and he saw minimal minutes the rest of the year.

Despite the lack of production, Otule was expected to fill in for the graduating Dwight Burke as Marquette’s “big man”, and he had been preparing accordingly.

Daily workouts with trainer Todd Smith, and a trip to Germany over the summer that helped him gain confidence and skill as well, had Otule pegged as a breakout candidate for Marquette’s young team.

The Golden Eagles will be able to redshirt Otule if they choose to, but that is about the only positive that comes out of the injury.

This newest injury to Otule will surely set him back, but the hope is that he can come back with a positive attitude and is champing at the bit to get back on the court.

For the here and now, Marquette will need to continue on with their season down a man, and a big man at that.

While the loss of Otule will not hurt the Golden Eagles much in the box score or on the offensive end, Otule’s presence on defense and the fact that he was another body coming off the bench will.

Without Otule, Marquette has just one player over 6′7″, Youssoupha Mbao, who is more of a project than anything.

Because of this, Marquette will more than likely go back to the small lineup that they implemented last year and try to out-run teams on offense while playing aggressive defense to make up for the lack of size.

This will mean an instant increase in the minutes of freshman Jeronne Maymon and junior Joe Fulce, who is battling a knee injury of his own.

In particular, the young Golden Eagles will have to grow up even faster than they once thought, now done one more man on the bench.

Just as it was last season, the guards will need to step up big and carry the team on both ends of the court, while the front court will need to play out of position and compete while being undersized the majority of the time.

The injury to Otule probably shifts Maymon over to the 5 spot, while Lazar Hayward and Jimmy Butler could see some time there as well.

The guard rotation of Maurice Acker, David Cubillan, Dwight Buycks, and Darius Johnson-Odom helps, but expect to see some more of Buycks playing the three spot if Marquette finds themselves in foul trouble.

Even freshman Erik Williams will need to pick up the slack for a Marquette team that currently has 10 healthy players on their roster, including the less-than 100 percent Fulce.

The Golden Eagles have suffered a slew of injuries over the past year and a half that have really cut into the depth of the team, including Otule, Fulce, and Dominic James last season and Junior Cadougan, Darius Johnson-Odom, Fulce, and Otule this season.

Then-freshman Liam McMorrow also left the team for medical reasons after last season.

As little silver lining as their could be to having your best big man go down for the season, at the same time it will help the young guns progress even quicker.

While throwing them into the fire right away wasn’t the game plan, things change over the course of the year and coach Buzz Williams will have to make those adjustments.

Williams recruits players who are going to fight for their team because they want to win and they want to be here, and with Marquette’s back against the wall right now after Otule’s injury, it’s time to fight.

Marquette Gets Last Minute Signing From PG Reggie Smith

Mark Strotman — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:41:59 -0500

Buzz Williams and Marquette received some great news at the end of Wednesday night’s early signing period, as Illinois point guard Reggie Smith signed his letter of intent to play for the Golden Eagles. The signing came unexpectedly to most, despite Marquette’s involvement with Smith in the recruiting process.

The 6′1″ point guard seems to fit the mold exactly for what Williams is looking in a point guard. Smith’s speed sets him apart and his ability to play in transition will get him on the court sooner than later. In terms of offensive sets, Smith lives off driving to the basket to get his shots. He is still raw and has to work better at getting his teammates the ball off the dribble, but the talent is there for him to do that.

If you were on the fence on whether or not to go to Marquette Madness in 2010, Smith’s signing alone should push you over the edge. Why? Smith is one of the best dunkers in the 2010 class and has a knack to flush it home when he gets to the rim. He takes his fair share of layups, but any chance he gets to throw one down, he does.

Defensively, Smith has good size for a point guard “6′1″, 175 lbs.) and uses it very well against defenders. A high-end motor keeps him on his man and he has room to grow with the speed that he has. That energy will get him on the court and if he continues to work hard, he could be a steal.

Overall, Smith’s game is very raw and he needs to hone in his athleticism. Sometimes Smith’s athleticism gets him in trouble by playing out of control and trying to force things. As he slows down his game and becomes more of a true point guard, his natural position, his value will become even greater.

If it’s not too bold to say, Smith looks a lot like Dominic James with his athleticism and ability to drive. Like James, Smith can struggle with his outside shot at times but the talent and potential is there for him to improve on that part of his game.

Smith will play his senior year for Thornton High School in Harvey, IL. His AAU team, Mac Irvin Fire, was considered one of the best in Illinois last year with Smith and University of Illinois recruits Crandall Head and Jerome Richmond.

Looking to the 2010 back court, Smith is a great compliment to red-shirted freshman Junior Cadougan. More of a pass-first point guard, Cadougan will rotate with Smith at the point guard spot and create a great mismatch with the two different styles of play.

The signing of Smith most likely moves 2010 recruit Vander Blue to shooting guard, although his versatility will also allow him to handle the ball.

Ranked 105th according to Rivals.com and the 35th-best point guard according to Scout.com, Smith isn’t a top-tier recruit that pushes Marquette’s recruiting class into the top five for 2010.

However, another top-100 recruit that has the potential to blossom as he molds into a point guard is exactly what Williams was looking for to fill one of the two roster spots for next year. As usual, Williams and the Marquette staff semi-flew under the radar with the recruiting of Smith as many expected he was leaning towards USC.

After losing out on power forward Tarik Black, who ended up at Memphis, it was good to see Buzz and the staff pull out a third recruit before the early signing period was over.

With one scholarship remaining, expect Williams the Marquette staff to go hard after a big man to solidify their 2010 class. Rumors of a junior college forward have circulated to balance out the class and avoid having four freshman on the roster.

Buzz Williams has shown again that he is a great recruiter that can bring in top-100 talent and has done it again for 2010.

Last season it was easier for Buzz to bring in the talent that he did because he had so much playing time to offer, but now the recruits are coming in packs and giving great depth to a Marquette team that should compete for a Big East title in the next couple of years.

Marquette-Maryland-Eastern Shore: 10 Things To Look for

Mark Strotman — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:38:57 -0500

Trying to stay unbiased, it's still easy for me to say that the Marquette Golden Eagles should have no problem handling the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore tonight at the Bradley Center. Here are 10 things to watch for as the Golden Eagles look to improve on their 85-62 win over Centenary last Friday.

1. Lazar Hayward staying out of foul trouble

Buzz Williams was not all too happy about Lazar Hayward's foul trouble on Friday, as the senior picked up four fouls in 18 minutes of play and finished the game with just nine points and five rebounds. Foul trouble against Centenary is fine because Hayward's teammate were able to pick him up. But once the Big East season rolls around, the Golden Eagles will go as far as Hayward takes them. He can't try to do too much and pick early fouls because it throws the whole offense out of rhythm.

2. Jimmy Butler's response to his 27-point, 13-rebound performance

Butler was the unheralded MVP against Centenary and it will be interesting to see how he comes back against UM-ES. Last year it seemed as though Butler played his best in spurts when his confidence would pick up. One has to think his confidence is soaring right now. His tenacity on the boards makes up for his size when he plays down low and he gets after it on offense every possession.

3. Dwight Buycks' defense problems on the perimeter

Overall, the junior newcomer played quite well, but Dwight Buycks' defense on the outside was shaky at times and Centenary got too many open looks. Now is the time to make up for those mistakes and Buycks will get every opportunity to do so tonight against UM-ES's bigger backcourt. It's clear that Buycks can't wait to get on offense, where he was very efficient, but he has to do it on the defensive end as well.

4. Darius Johnson-Odom's health and ability to drive the lane

DJO was questionable for the Centenary game but was able to play. He logged 23 good minutes but stayed beyond the arc for most of the game. All summer we heard about DJO's ability to drive to the hoop and bring a Dominic James-like role to the offense, but five of his six shots were from beyond the arc. Hopefully he will be more aggressive tonight and show off that speed and strength.

5. Jeronne Maymon getting acclimated sooner

Freshman Jeronne Maymon put in nine points and hauled in five rebounds in the opener, but looked lost and slow at times. While he is really the raw one of the group, his play will be vital to Marquette's already-small front court. On defense, he was not tough enough in the paint and gave up easy layups while failing to rotate on passes from the post. It's nothing that can't be fixed, but his play on defense is something to watch for.

6. Erik Williams' playing time

Williams, a top-100 recruit entering Marquette, played as many minutes against Centenary as walk-on Rob Frozena and had just one more point than the jump-around guy. Williams was slowed down by the flu a couple weeks ago but seemed healthy when he took the court, so one has to wonder why he only logged two minutes. With a lack of depth this season, Marquette's front court will have to use every body they have and that includes the raw Williams. Check his minutes tonight.

7. Marquette's three-point shooting

Against a smaller team like Centenary, many expected Marquette to shoot from outside at will. However, the Golden Eagles ended the night 3-for-16 from behind the arc and exposed themselves as a team that can not hit the long ball. They have the players to do it (Hayward, Buycks, DJO, Cubillan) but must get the job done. For a small team, not being able to shoot from outside will be the Achilles' Heel for Marquette.

8. Keep the fast break points coming

If the Golden Eagles aren't going to shoot well, the least they can do is keep the ball moving in transition. Maurice Acker and Dwight Buycks did an excellent job running the fast break, leading to 28 points that really put the game away in the second half. Fast break points are sure to come in bunches against weaker teams, so expect more of the same tonight against MU-ES.

9. How Chris Otule will respond to his forgettable opener

For whatever reason, Chris Otule did not look like he had made any improvements over the summer. Passes will be given because we are just one game in and Otule was bound to have one hiccup, so maybe it just came in the opener. His hands were still all over the place and he just doesn't look comfortable. With Youssoupha Mbao out one more game, this is Otule's last chance to be THE big guy for Marquette. In my opinion, this is a big one tonight for Otule.

10. Overall Improvement

Marquette's opening win looked as average as a 23-point victory can look. The team is young and the players are just two actual games into their careers with each other, but the chemistry needs to improve as a whole. These cupcake games are scheduled so that players can get comfortable in their surroundings, but some players still looked a little star-struck. Tonight is another game. Hopefully the perimeter defense and outside shooting will improve and the fouls will be down.

LaDainian Tomlinson Finds New Motivation Sunday in Chargers Win

Mark Strotman — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:39:09 -0500

Entering Sunday’s game against the Eagles, LaDainian Tomlinson’s 2009 had been one to forget.

Six weeks in, the Chargers were 2-3 and looking through binoculars to see the 6-0 Denver Broncos at the top of the AFC West division.

Tomlinson had missed two of those games and had accumulated just 140 yards and caught five passes out of the backfield.

Questions began to be asked on whether this was the same LT that we had been spoiled to watch the last eight seasons. After all, he had just turned 30, the breaking point for running backs, and spell running back Darren Sproles had signed a one-year tender the year before and looked as though “feature back” would be his new title.

LT contemplated retirement and spoke of how he is beginning to cherish moments more because he knows he might be on his curtain call as an NFL player.

For a guy looking to cherish the moment more, the scene at his locker before Sunday’s game against the Eagles should certainly be added to the list.

As he entered the locker room, a purple bag sat in front of his locker. Inside was a positive pregnancy test that his wife LaTorsha had put there. Pretty special, right?

Throw in the fact that LaTorsha had suffered a miscarriage four years earlier when the Tomlinsons were expecting their first child, and it becomes a tearjerker.

LT called his wife as soon as he received the test and cried for five minutes on the phone, telling his wife how amazing she was. Take note, Travis Henry: This is what a real man looks like.

Forget the rap music or the pre-game chest bumps. LT had all the motivation he needed to go out and produce for his wife and unborn child. A season-high 96 rushing yards and two touchdowns later, LT and the Chargers were celebrating their fourth victory in a row and a tie in the AFC West in terms of record.

For the eight-plus years he has been in the league, Tomlinson has been one of the most likable guys on the field. It if weren’t for the fact that he has found the end zone 131 times in his career, more AFC opponents would probably like him.

The ultimate team player, LT will forever be remembered for his NFL-record 31 touchdowns in 2006. What might have gone over people’s heads was his post-game comment after he broke the record.

“Once I got over the pylon, my initial thought process was to bring every guy on the offensive unit over to share that moment,” Tomlinson said. “When we’re old and can’t play this game anymore, them are the moments we are going to remember, that we’ll be able to tell our kids, tell our grandchildren. We can talk about something special that we did. We made history today.”

Whoa, whoa, whoa...we made history? Yes, that’s the kind of guy Tomlinson is and has always been. He rarely trash talks or goes to the media to air his concerns. Rather, he speaks through that intimidating pitch-black visor and the lightning-quick cuts that we could watch for days on end.

We sometimes hate to see good things happen to bad people, and we surely hate to see bad things happen to good people, but when good things happen to great people, it makes up for it all. That’s exactly what Tomlinson’s situation was last Sunday.

Losing your first child in 2005 and your father in a car accident two years later is something none of us want to go through, but how much of a reward must it have been for Tomlinson to open that bag?

With the Chargers sitting at 6-3 and a rejuvenated Tomlinson in their backfield, the Chargers look poised to make a playoff run. Turning points happen all the time for teams and players that make championships happen, and it looks as though Tomlinson just found his.

Twelfth in rushing yards and third in total touchdowns, Tomlinson is a first ballot Hall of Famer because of what he has done on the field. Before this season, he had never missed more than one game. For a running back who has carried the rock over 300 times seven out of his nine seasons, that’s not half bad.

His time might be running out, but there isn’t an organization out there that would turn Tomlinson away. The Chargers’ offensive line has struggled this season, and LT has taken some of the blame for lacking the speed he once had, but if the Chargers decide to decline the $5 million they have to pay him next season, he is sure to quickly find a new home.

It’s one of the best feel-good stories that we could have heard, especially after hearing way too much about the Larry Johnsons and Allen Iversons of the world.

Congrats on the 96 rushing yards and win over the Eagles, LT. But even more importantly, congrats on the news of your first child. To say you’ve earned it is an understatement.

Milwaukee Bucks' Brandon Jennings Looks Like the Real Deal

Mark Strotman — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 18:24:00 -0500

Before rookie Brandon Jennings was making headlines for the Milwaukee Bucks, he was making negative ones for himself leading up to the beginning of the 2009-10 NBA season.

Known by just about everyone because of his decision to skip college ball and play in Europe, Jennings had question marks all around him.

His upside was immense and GM’s knew that Jennings had the potential to be a franchise-changing player, unlike the majority of the players in last year’s draft class.

However, they also knew his downside was investing money into a cancerous teammate who would repeat his lackluster performance in Rome.

Before Jennings could even step on the court he was back at it, firing his mouth away about then-teammate Ramon Sessions and Luke Ridnour.

On a radio show with rapper Joe Budden, he mentioned being upset with the Knicks passing on him and deeming himself the starter over Ridnour.

He also made headlines by calling out Ricky Rubio, saying he was “overrated” and not as good as Jennings after a workout with the Kings.

Bucks’ general manager John Hammond decided that the upside of Jennings was well worth the potential of failure and he selected him with the 10th overall pick in the draft.

His cockiness and swagger is something that, to an extent, all great basketball players need to have, and Hammond believed Jennings had that.

What Hammond most likely did not think Jennings had was the ability to average over 20 points per game in his first six games, racking up four wins for the Bucks.

In many ways, Jennings is looking like the savior that is going to save the Bucks. Rumors have floated around that have the Bucks leaving Milwaukee, but Jennings could change all that.

His situation in Milwaukee this season is eerily similar to Derrick Rose’s last season in Chicago. The Bulls had reached the playoffs in 2006 before winning just 33 games the next year.

When the Bulls defied lottery odds and were awarded the No. 1 overall pick, they selected Rose and went on to win 41 games and make the playoffs.

In Chicago, Rose has seemingly rejuvenated the Bulls and made everyone around him better. Joakim Noah is finally playing up to his potential that we all saw at Florida, Luol Deng is flourishing under Rose’s lead, and he has worked to mold rookies James Johnson and Taj Gibson into role players this season.

The talent was there for the Bulls as seen by the three straight playoff appearances before 2007, but the team was growing old and John Paxson’s inability to trade for grade-A superstars had the Bulls wondering where the future would take them.

In the same sense, Jennings has done the exact same thing in Milwaukee. The Bucks made the playoffs during the 2005-2006 campaign with rookie Andrew Bogut, but three years of injuries and inconsistency had left the Bucks with nothing to show for the talent they had.

Now, Jennings has utilized Bogut as the big man that every good point guard needs, and vice versa.

Six games into his young career might be a little early to start crowning him the savior for the Bucks, but in basketball more than any other sport, early starts become trends.

The great ones usually start that way and do not fade as compared to baseball and football.

His skill set is very raw and at times he plays like the rookie that he is. He doesn’t seem to have picked up on the logistics of the offense yet and many times he will create for himself.

But with a big man who can shoot the outside shot, the way he moves off screens has to be considered close to the top of the league, and his closing speed while going to the basket warrants a replay on most possessions.

One of his big question marks coming into his rookie campaign was defense. However, six games in he is averaging over a steal per game and limited Chauncey Billups to 6-of-16 shooting, gave up just one point to Chris Duhon, and forced Derrick Rose to commit five turnovers.

No one will be forgetting about Chris Paul any time soon, but positive returns this early in the season are always good.

Just about every aspect of his game is raw right now, but that can be a good thing, too. Sometimes just letting players go out and be athletes can bring success and it seems like head coach Scott Skiles is letting Jennings do that for the most part.

It’s been an unbelievable start for a guy who, a year ago, was living out of a suitcase and traveling on a bus to foreign places in Italy to average under six points per game.

He’s got a long way to go, but Brandon Jennings is looking like the real deal.

Mid-Season Grades for the Green Bay Packers Defense

Mark Strotman — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:49:09 -0500

Defensive Line

Cullen Jenkins: Jenkins started the season on fire, with two sacks and eight tackles in the first two games, but he has been non-existent the last two games. His big mouth hasn’t helped him get anywhere, either. GRADE: B

Johnny Jolly: Look past the personal foul call on Jolly for two seconds and you will see that he has been one of our better linemen this season. Very good in the run game and has gotten the job done for the most part, despite struggling the last few weeks (like everyone). GRADE: B

Ryan Pickett: The best player on the Packers’ defense this season not named Charles Woodson. It will be interesting to see what Ted Thompson does next season with Pickett’s contract up and B.J. Raji waiting in the wings, but he might warrant another contract. GRADE: B+

Jarius Wynn: The rookie from Georgia has played better than most thought he would and seems like he could be a solid back-up for quite some time. GRADE: INC

Michael Montgomery: One of the many players on defense who are probably better suited for the 4-3 defense, Montgomery has failed to make an impact this season after posting a decent 2008. GRADE: D-

B.J. Raji: Due to the play of Pickett on the inside, Raji has not seen the field much. His ongoing ankle has had something to do with this as well, so hopefully he will come back fully healthy in 2010. GRADE: C-

Linebackers

Clay Matthews III: Saving the best for first, Matthews has been very good this season and seems like a keeper at the right outside linebacker. GRADE: B+

Nick Barnett: Barnett probably came back too early from his knee surgery and was not healthy at the beginning of the season, but he has picked it up as of late. GRADE: C+

A.J. Hawk: A dismal start to the season from the former fifth overall selection, but he has also picked it up lately and is second on the team in tackles. GRADE: C

Aaron Kampman: Clearly frustrated with the 3-4 defense, Kampman has done his best to keep his mouth shut and continue playing. His play has not been all that bad, especially when he is allowed to have this hand in the dirt. GRADE: B-

Brady Poppinga: Maybe it’s just that I wanted Matthews to start all along, but I never liked what Poppinga did at outside linebacker and am glad he is gone. GRADE: D

Brandon Chillar: Very close to Matthews for the award of best linebacker, Chillar saw some looks at safety in the “Big Okie” package and played very well. A broken hand will keep him out a while. GRADE: B

Desmond Bishop: The pre-season Hall of Famer has fared well on the field thus far, but makes too many mistakes to constantly be on the field as an ILB in the 3-4. GRADE: C

Brad Jones: The seventh rounder might see time on the field this week due to Kampman’s concussion, but he has done a good job on special teams thus far. GRADE: INC

Jeremy Thompson: I’ll raise my hand and say I was dead wrong on Thompson becoming a stud in the 3-4 defense. He has shown to be too slow but might also see reps this week with Kampman probably out. GRADE: D-

Defensive Backs

Charles Woodson: What more can you say about Woodson other than that he is a probable Pro Bowler and a great player stuck on a good defense. GRADE: A-

Al Harris: His stock has taken a tumble this season as he seems a bit slower than last year. Hopefully he can turn it around soon or it could be his last season in Green Bay. GRADE: B-

Tramon Williams: A personal favorite of mine, Williams plays with great tenacity and seems to have the most excitement of anyone on the field. A future starter for sure. GRADE: B

Brandon Underwood: Definitely a project this season, but if Pat Lee does not work out he might get his chance as a dime back in the future. GRADE: INC

Jarrett Bush: Nothing to say here. GRADE: F

Atari Bigby: Bigby has been injured for most of the season and he has really struggled against the pass so far. GRADE: C+

Nick Collins: The Pro Bowler continues to shine and has become more of an all-around player this year. He still finds himself out of position at times but is becoming a real playmaker. GRADE: B+

Derrick Martin: The only good part about Martin is that we lost Tony Moll because of it. GRADE: F

Matt Giordano: Strictly on the Packers for depth and special teams help, but could become something. GRADE: INC

Overall

As a whole the Packers’ defense has been just OK. Their stats would imply that they have been close to a top ten defense this season, but that is hardly the case. Their defensive line has played well and the linebackers have picked it up as of late, but their inability to get off the field and not commit penalties has really hurt them.

Special teams puts them in bad positions but it is still no excuse for why they have struggled to some extent. Hopefully Dom Capers’ 3-4 defense will pick up in the second half of the season and the Packers can rebound from their average start. GRADE: B-

A New Era of Basketball Begins for Marquette

Mark Strotman — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:35:49 -0500

One era of Marquette Golden Eagles’ basketball ended in Boise last March, while another will take flight Friday at the Bradley Center. Six newcomers will take the court Friday night along with the rest of Buzz Williams’ roster as they get ready for a season full of mystery that will be solved as the season progresses.

Any talk of Marquette playing basketball past the first week of March is due to senior Lazar Hayward. Playing outside the spotlight for his first three years, the senior from Buffalo will finally get his chance to show off his talents as Marquette’s go-to player. At 6′6″, Hayward will see playing time at both forward positions and get touches on offense everywhere on the court.

With an unmeasurable heart, one can expect to see Hayward guarding the opponent’s best big man night in and night out.

Two other key pieces to Marquette’s puzzle this season are the oft-forgotten about seniors, Maurice Acker and David Cubillan. With Marquette sporting one of the youngest teams in the Big East, the two experienced-filled guards will surely carry the load early on while the youngsters get their feet wet. At the very least, the two senior guards give Buzz Williams some depth on an injury-plagued team.

One of last year’s biggest surprises was then-sophomore Jimmy Butler and the energy he provided off the bench. A summer full of jump shot practice with Hayward and maturing has Butler geared up for a leadership role on and off the court.

As one of the most efficient players in the country last season, Butler will need to be even more aggressive on the offensive end and continue his stellar defense. Buzz Williams has praised Butler, calling him the team’s best defender, but he will have to improve even more if Marquette is going to shut opponent’s big men down.

While it’s true that the injury bug strikes just about every team at some point in the season, it could not have happened at a worse time for then-freshman Chris Otule and then-sophomore Joe Fulce. The pair of 2008 newcomers missed significant action last season with injuries and, now fully healthy, are primed for comeback seasons.

Otule took a trip to Germany this summer, where he improved his confidence and postgame while Fulce rehabbed his knee and showed off his health with a stunning dunk contest performance in front of Vander Blue, Tarik Black, and the Marquette faithful at Marquette Madness.

Depth is the key to Marquette’s success this season and both Otule and Fulce have the potential to start and, at the very least, be contributors off the bench.

Marquette has a core of returning players that will keep Marquette in games early in the season, but the buzz on the Golden Eagles has been the arrival of six newcomers, five of whom will get their feet wet in Divison One Basketball for the first time on Friday.

Leading the way is junior Dwight Buycks who is expected to take on a major scoring role and log major minutes. The 6′2″ combo guard has impressed just about everyone who has seen him play and should start out of the gates for Marquette.

With a pretty jump shot and a knack for getting to the basket, it would not come as a surprise to see Buycks rank second in scoring this season behind Hayward. In Marquette’s exhibition blowout over MSOE Saturday, Buycks poured in 15 points and played solid defense.

Right behind Buycks in terms of importance this season is true freshman Jeronne Maymon, a local product from Madison Memorial High School. The 6′7″ power forward is sure to see big minutes as part of a frontcourt rotation, and the DeJuan Blair look-a-like is hoping to crash the boards at all costs. His range extends out to the three point line, but look for Maymon to do his damage inside, bullying the opposition to get rebounds.

Darius Johnson-Odom, DJO, has struggled with a nagging foot injury that kept him out about six weeks early in the fall. After being deemed ready for action, he re-aggravated the injury against MSOE, leaving a big question mark next to his name as to when he will be caught up. As Marquette’s best athlete available, the combo guard will be sorely missed if he is not healthy to start the year.

Erik Williams and Youssoupha Mbao are two projects that will see the court this season but not make a huge impact. Mbao, the 7′2″ center from Senegal will have to put on weight (215 pounds) and is still raw in talent. Williams, a Buzz Williams dream at 6′6″ and able to handle the ball, will struggle to see minutes with a frontcourt rotation including Butler, Maymon, Fulce, and Hayward.

However, he was arguably Marquette’s best recruit from last season and has the potential to bust out in the next couple of years.

Marquette has dropped off from last season, and as talented and as full of potential as the new recruits can be, it will be a struggle this year. Growing pains will happen and players will hit mental and physical walls at some point during the season. However, the unknown can be a good thing when gauging the ceiling that some of the newcomers have.

Combined with the senior leadership and talent of Hayward, and it’s anyone’s guess as to how Marquette could finish this season. Early predictions have them ranked 12th in the Big East, but it’s hard to tell when no one has seen almost half the roster play a D-1 game.

One thing is for sure: Marquette basketball has turned over a new leaf and the future looks bright for Buzz Williams and the Golden Eagles.

Mid-Season Grades For The Green Bay Packers' Offense

Mark Strotman — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:43:08 -0500

The Packers' 2009 regular season has officially reached its halfway point and it is time to hand out grades for the 53 players currently on the active roster.

Quarterbacks

Aaron Rodgers: Rodgers has been under some scrutiny for his inability to get rid of the ball and throw to check downs, resulting in some sacks, but he is a huge reason the Packers have four wins to their name. GRADE: A-

Matt Flynn: He has seen little time but rumors flew around that while Rodgers was held out of practice, Flynn played exceptionally well with the first team. It's too early to tell, but Flynn could still be something more than a back-up quarterback in the NFL. GRADE: INC

Running Backs

Ryan Grant: While he has done the majority of his damage on poor teams, he is still a serviceable running back that has a few more years of mileage in him. GRADE: B-

Brandon Jackson: Some people forget that Jackson was a second-round draft pick. Regardless of where he was drafted, all he has done this year is pick up the blitz decently for a team that leads the league in sacks allowed. GRADE: D

Ahman Green: Saving Jackson's behind somewhat this year has been Ahman Green, a breath of fresh air when Grant comes out of the game. He also passed Jim Taylor as the Packers' leading rusher this season. GRADE: C+

Wide Receivers

Greg Jennings: It's a fact that teams have doubled Jennings on most plays and Donald Driver's successes can be attributed to that somewhat, but Jennings really needs to improve on getting open. GRADE: B

Donald Driver: By far the Packers' MVP on offense halfway through the season, Driver has come up in big situations and showed no signs of slowing down at age 34. GRADE: A

James Jones: Jones has filled in nicely for the injured Jordy Nelson and caught a long touchdown pass last week in Tampa Bay. He seems to be progressing back towards his rookie season. GRADE: B-

Jordy Nelson: Nelson was expected to be the third wideout in the Packers' deadly passing attack, but a knee injury has limited him. GRADE: C

Jake Allen: Allen was put on the roster when Brett Swain went down for the year. He does not have a catch in the two weeks he has been on the roster. GRADE: INC

Biren Ealy: Ealy was signed to the roster due to Nelson's injury and the questionable status of Allen and Driver last week. GRADE: INC

Fullbacks

John Kuhn: One of the pleasant surprises for the Packers this season, Kuhn has established himself as the "skill position" fullback with three touchdowns. GRADE: B+

Korey Hall: Hall has not been used as much as he was last year but has still blocked well and played decently on special teams. GRADE: C

Quinn Johnson: The bruiser of the three fullbacks plays the least, but when he is in, he crushes linebackers. Also had a nice catch against Minnesota. GRADE: INC

Offensive Line

Chad Clifton: Clifton has not been able to stay healthy. And when he is in, the results have not been good at all. This could be Clifton's last year in Green Bay. GRADE: D

Daryn Colledge: The experiment of Colledge at left tackle is officially over, but improvements can be made at left guard as he has struggled over the last few weeks. GRADE:C-

Scott Wells: Wells was not expected to see much playing time this season (rightfully so), but he has stunk up the place since taking over for Jason Spitz at center. GRADE: D

Josh Sitton: Finally! The bright spot in the offensive line has been Sitton, who has pass-protected very well for the Packers and is arguably their best run-blocker. GRADE: B

Allen Barbre: For as bad as he was against Chicago and Cincinnati, he had a few weeks where he played very well. Unfortunately, he has been back to his old ways lately. GRADE: C-

Jason Spitz: Spitz's season-ending back injury really hurt the offensive line, and his future in Green Bay is now in question. GRADE: B-

Mark Tauscher: Tauscher got his first start in 2009 against the Buccaneers but was injured and is expected to miss a couple of weeks. GRADE: INC

T.J. Lang: Lang has been another bright spot for the Packers on the offensive line. In his brief stint at left tackle, he held his own for the most part and is the potential left tackle of the future for the Packers. GRADE: B-

Evan Dietrich-Smith: EDS has not seen any playing time this season but provides good depth on a shaky, injury-prone offensive line. GRADE: INC

Breno Giacomini: One has to wonder just how poorly Giacomini must have played in the preseason to not have warranted a start after Barbre's first two starts. GRADE: INC

Tight Ends

Jermichael Finley: A knee injury has forced Finley to the sidelines the last couple of weeks, but he is clearly the future at tight end and has become a favorite target of Aaron Rodgers down the seam. GRADE: B

Donald Lee: Lee has taken a back seat to Finley as the go-to guy, but still finds himself on the field in blocking situations and has recorded a reception in all but one game. GRADE: B-

Spencer Havner: "Duct tape" has done it all this year and has really come on as a tight end that can make things happen. He's not half-bad on special teams, either. GRADE: B+

The Packers (4-3): Reasons Why They Will and Will Not Make the Playoffs

Mark Strotman — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:55:12 -0500

Seven games into the Packers' season they stand at 4-3 and in relatively good position to make a playoff run. Their schedule matches up favorably compared to other teams and the talent is there for them to make it to the second season.

In honor of their current record, here are four reasons the Packers will make the playoffs and three reasons they will not.

Why They Will

1. Remaining Schedule

When one takes a look at the NFL playoff picture, it’s safe to assume the Saints (South), Vikings (North), and Cardinals (West) will win their respective divisions.

The NFC East is a little cloudy with the Cowboys, Giants, and Eagles all in contention.

In the North, the Packers and Bears stand at 4-3 and in the South the Falcons are very much alive as well.

The Falcons have the easiest schedule moving forward, playing just three teams with records above .500 the rest of the season. The Bears, Cowboys, and Giants all play six teams with records above .500, while the unlucky Eagles play seven.

As for the Packers, they play just five teams with winning records, the best being the currently 5-2 Steelers. They have gotten the Vikings out of the way and lost to a very good Bengals team, but the Bears still have to play the Vikings twice, the NFC East is going to beat up on each other, and the Falcons have another matchup with the Saints looming.

There are games on the Packers’ schedule that are relatively easy wins (Detroit, Tampa Bay) and games which are probably going to be losses (at Pittsburgh), but the big games are against other playoff contenders in Dallas, Chicago, and Arizona.

Those will be deciding games in the Packers’ season.

2. Aaron Rodgers

Football is a team game.

It’s impossible to win with just one guy, but if you are going to attempt to do so, start with a quarterback.

Rodgers has been the highest-rated passer in the league this season and has thrown just two interceptions, which is a big reason the Packers lead the league in turnover differential.

The Packers’ defense is not good enough for Rodgers to be average the rest of the way and expect to make the playoffs.

If they earn a Wild card spot, it will be Rodgers that gets them there.

Questions of him holding the ball too long or being afraid to throw an interception still linger, but any way you slice it, he has played well.

Greg Jennings has yet to get going as a No. 1 receiver, but we all expect a breakout.

Rodgers has the poise and consistency to match his talents this season and it has really shown in his stats.

Now it’s time for it to show in the wins column.

3. Talent

Whether you blame Ted Thompson or Mike McCarthy for the Packers’ struggles this season, the fact is this team has a ton of talent and has shown flashes of greatness over the last three seasons.

When healthy, they have the deepest receiving corps in the league, a top five secondary, a fantastic up-and-coming LB in Clay Matthews, and a defensive line playing very well.

Putting everything together is a completely different story, but the talent is there for the Packers to make a run.

If McCarthy and Capers can put their team in the best position to win based on the talents they have, there’s no reason the Packers can’t win 11 games this season.

They don’t need to be the New Orleans Saints to earn a playoff spot, and as of now the Packers have enough talent to win games.

4. Time

The best part about the Packers is that they have time to get better. It will be on the go and during a potential playoff run, but the offensive line is settling down and is at least looking more cohesive than the first couple weeks.

Rodgers has developed good chemistry with Jermichael Finley and his consistency is back.

Coming into the season, everyone spoke of how it might also take more than training camp and preseason for players to get comfortable with Dom Capers' 3-4 defense.

Either way, the defense is a new wrinkle that everyone is adjusting to.

It’s not as easy as it is in Madden to just switch the formation and have three down linemen instead of four. Time will allow the Packers to continue getting comfortable in the scheme, and hopefully better results will form because of it.

Why They Won't

1. Team Rifts

It is somewhat concerning that Packers players are going to the media to air their concerns.

When Ted Thompson took over as GM, he explained how he wanted “Packer people” who were going to make the team better, as well as the organization. This meant staying out of trouble and not throwing players and coaches under the bus to the media.

Compared to other seasons, that's happening a lot this year.

Cullen Jenkins, Charles Woodson, and Aaron Kampman have been spotlighted for this and seem to be opponents of the new defense.

I understand it was a big loss to the Vikings that played with people’s emotions, but there’s no reason to call out a coordinator to the media.

Capers is highly specialized in the 3-4 defense and knows what he is doing more than any of the players on the Packers roster. He is doing everything he can to make sure the Packers’ defense is playing to its potential.

If this kind of garbage continues, the playoffs will be a distant memory and we will have to start wondering about next season.

Relationships are huge in the NFL and a player must be able to trust his coordinator and vice-versa.

Let’s hope they resolve this soon.

2. Offensive line

Watch one or two possessions for the Green Bay Packers and you will understand why this is such a concern.

Musical chairs is the latest game to be played on the Packers’ offensive line and it looks as though Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher will get starts this week.

Hopefully they can make things manageable for Rodgers when he drops back to pass more than three steps, but don’t count on it.

The theory of building an offensive line through the draft has fallen flat and the Packers have no back-up plan…unless you count Tauscher.

Unless the offensive line can pull something together during these last nine games, Rodgers is not going to make it through a full season. He cannot keep taking the hits he has been taking and be expected to stand upright for 16 games. What’s more, he can’t be expected to put up these numbers if he has a man in his face, three steps into his drop-back.

The run game has been average at best, feasting on the worst of the NFL worst, but then again the Packers always seem to be playing from behind against legitimate teams and must pass the ball.

The Packers will play some pretty good pass-rushers in the coming weeks, so let’s hope they find the answer soon or the Matt Flynn-era might start a lot sooner than we all want.

3. Youth

The Packers have the hunger to earn a playoff spot and even win a championship, but one has to wonder if they actually understand what it’s all about yet?

They have failed their tests against good teams so far and do not seem to have the discipline that a championship team needs. Part of this could fall on the coaching staff, but youth might have something to do with it.

The Packers are the league’s youngest team and have a lot of youngsters seeing a lot of playing time this season. Their veteran leadership is helping, but they have a lot of players who have yet to reach their potential.

When fighting to the death for a playoff spot, being cool under pressure is important and the Packers might not have that this season.

They have a head coach who has been to the playoffs before, as well as a defensive coordinator who has experienced just about everything a football coach can, but only time will tell if the undisciplined, young Packers can grow up to the postseason.

The penalties, especially the bone-headed ones (listen up, Johnny Jolly), will get a team nowhere. Unless that changes, the Packers will watch the playoffs from their coach instead of the sidelines.

Green Bay Packers' Mike McCarthy's Seat Becoming Hotter with Every Loss

Mark Strotman — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:21:54 -0500

After another loss to the Minnesota Vikings that all but wrapped up the NFC North Division, the Green Bay Packers were left wondering what it’s going to take in order for them to play a mistake-free game and come through in the clutch.

One of the more confused looks on the Packers’ sideline yesterday came from Coach Mike McCarthy, who once again failed to win a big game and watched his team commit six penalties and give up six sacks.

While at 4-3 the Packers’ season is hardly over, it might be time to start thinking about who will be running the show next season in Green Bay if things do not turn around.

Not once have I ever questioned McCarthy as the head of the Packers, but after the loss to Minnesota, it seems as though the blame needs to at least start heading in his direction.

In his fourth season as Packers head coach, McCarthy sports a respectable 31-24 record and has also won a playoff game. He also has a 13-3 season and an NFC Championship Game to his name and has seen some very high points as head coach in Green Bay.

In 2006, McCarthy’s Packers went 8-8, including winning their last four games of the season. However, outside of a Week 17 win over the 13-3 Bears who were resting their starters for the playoffs, the Packers beat zero teams with winning records.

That next year, McCarthy led the Packers to a magical 13-3 run that included a huge victory over the San Diego Chargers in Week Three. They failed to defeat the eventual No. 1 seed Dallas Cowboys in the regular season but had a successful season nonetheless.

2008 was McCarthy’s worst season as the Packers went just 6-10, but McCarthy got big wins over the Vikings and Colts during the season. The Packers lost seven games by four points or less and could have had a much better record had some things gone their way down the stretch.

In 2009, the Packers have had three “tests” in the early season and failed them all.

So what’s the point to all this? Mike McCarthy has failed to win the big game for the Packers.

In each of McCarthy’s four seasons, he has failed to beat the team with the best record on their schedule. Whether it’s the Packers’ roster being inferior in all those games or McCarthy not getting his team ready to play, something is wrong here.

It’s tough to say that McCarthy does not show enough discipline toward his team in terms of penalties because, when all is said and done, McCarthy isn’t on the field.

False starting has nothing to do with whether or not your coach disciplines you well enough. Now, plays like Johnny Jolly’s headbutt can be seen as a lack of discipline, but even that was a heat of the moment action.

McCarthy seems to get on his players when they mess up in games, but one has to wonder how much it’s doing if we never see improvement. With an inability to get his players ready for big games and a lack of discipline, is McCarthy getting enough out of this talented, young team?

With one of the most high-powered offenses in all of football, some of McCarthy’s play calls have been questionable at best. Completely forgetting about the run game at times and being predictable on most of his calls, one has to wonder if McCarthy should be the one calling plays.

Things don’t look terrible for the Packers’ playoff hopes. With three wins pretty much in the books (Tampa Bay, Detroit, Seattle), the Packers are looking at a guaranteed seven wins.

With three huge swing games against the 49ers, Bears, and Cowboys, they would move to eight or nine wins and still have games against the Ravens, Steelers, and Cardinals in looking for a potential upset.

However, if McCarthy fails to get the Packers to the playoffs this season, after all the talent and personnel Ted Thompson has given him, it might be time to start looking in a different direction.

The list of potential head coaches next season is one of the deepest of all-time, including the likes of Jon Gruden, Bill Cowher, Mike Holmgren, and Mike Shannahan, just for starters.

The Packers have a darn good resume for potential head-coach candidates when you include the history of the Packers, a franchise quarterback, and the youngest team in the league.

The Packers would move in a different direction rather than re-build if they switched head coaches next season, so one of those veteran coaches would fit right in.

Divisions, conferences, and Super Bowls are not won seven weeks into the season and it’s true that there is a ton of football to be played. But the consistent miscues by the Packers and sub-par play with above average players is getting tiresome, and someone needs to take the blame.

I’ve been in McCarthy’s corner since the day the Packers hired him, but there comes a time when you have to realize problems with a team start at the head.

If we believe the Packers have the talent to be a playoff team, then that is where a good head coach will take them. Time will tell, but Sunday’s loss to the Vikings made McCarthy’s seat a little hotter.

Five Reasons Why The Packers Will Get the Best of Favre at Lambeau

Mark Strotman — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:07:25 -0400

In what could be the most watched regular season Sunday afternoon game of all-time, the Packers will host Brett Favre for the first time in his career. In Week Four, Favre torched his old team in a 30-23 victory that seemed more like 30-3. But four weeks later, some things have changed for each team. Here’s five reasons why the outcome will be different this time around.

1. Location

Last time around, Brett Favre and the Vikings had the leisure of not only playing at home in the Metrodome, but also playing without the weather factor. Fast forward three weeks and the weather conditions call for temperatures in the mid-40s with a 30 percent chance of precipitation.

Lambeau Field calls for a 100 percent chance of a hostile environment that is sure to shake the “ol’ gunslinger” into making errant passes. Naturally, the nerves have to be getting to Favre as he prepares to face his old team in his old stadium for the first time ever. In Week Four, the jerseys on defense were green and gold, but the stadium wasn’t.

It’s easy to forget with all the Favre hype, but this game means a ton in terms of determining who stands on top of the NFC North in a few weeks. The Packers are one-and-a-half games behind the Vikes and face Tampa Bay the next week. A win against Minnesota would mean first place for the Packers.

Combine that with the temperature change that has hurt Favre over the last three seasons and you have a recipe that, at the very least, is much different than it was in Minnesota. It’s never easy to win on the road in the NFL and next week will be no exception for the Vikings.

2. Packers’ Offense

In Week Four, the box score would have told you that Aaron Rodgers and the Packers played an outstanding game on offense and had their way with the Vikings’ secondary. But the truth was that most of Rodgers’ stats came in garbage time while the Vikings played prevent defense.

While the offense was able to move the ball and scored 17 points on offense, the Packers allowed eight sacks and Rodgers was pressured on just about every play, leading to errant passes and a fumble on Rodgers’ part.

The offensive line remains the same for the next week’s game. Daryn Colledge will not see any time at left tackle like he did in Week Four. Also, rookie T.J. Lang has had extra reps at left tackle if Chad Clifton can not go due to an ankle injury. Expect Jared Allen to get his fair share of pressure, but the Packers have changed up their offense and have implemented many short passes that should help.

Rodgers has the second-best passer rating in the league and has averaged the most yards per attempt, all while being sacked more than any other quarterback. If the Packers can get those short passes to work, it will take pressure off Rodgers in a mental and physical sense.

3. Injuries

In Week Four, the Packers were without Atari Bigby and it showed as Favre and the Vikings’ pass attack had their way with the Packers’ secondary. This time around, Bigby will suit up and hopefully change the outcome in the passing game. Vikings coach Brad Childress admitted that the Packers are a “different team” with Bigby and the difference between him and Derrick Martin will be night and day.

For the Vikings, standout cornerback Antoine Winfield is expected to miss the contest and Bernard Berrian has yet to practice this week. Both players were huge contributors in the Vikings' Week Four victory. Winfield compiled 10 tackles and an interception, while Berrian caught six passes for 75 yards and a third-quarter and eventual game-winning touchdown from Favre.

Jermichael Finley, who led the Packers in receiving against the Vikings with 128 yards and a touchdown, will miss Sunday’s game along with wide receiver Jordy Nelson. Brett Swain was also lost for the season with a torn ACL against Cleveland, so Rodgers’ targets will be limited to Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, James Jones, Donald Lee and the backs.

There are injuries for both teams, but clearly the Vikings’ injuries hurt more than the Packers right now. It was the opposite situation in Week Four.

4. Momentum

Aside from the fact that the Packers are coming off a bye week and two wins while the Vikings are coming off a loss, the Packers seem to be hitting their stride while the Vikings are fighting for their lives. The Packers have had three easy weeks to prepare for their big division rivalry game in playing the Lions and Browns off a bye week.

On the other hand, the Vikings just barely held on to defeat the Ravens in a shootout and went wire-to-wire with the Steelers in a loss. At the very least, the Vikings are more tired than the Packers are at this point. Losing the game in the last six minutes had to be disheartening for the Vikings and while they will not be resting on that fact, it’s different than coming out of Heinz Field with a victory.

No one needs to tell either team to get up for this game, but you can bet the Packers do not want to see Favre leave Lambeau Field with a victory. The tension was not as high in Week Four as it will be at 3:15 p.m. in Green Bay and the Packers will thrive off that.

The Packers finally feel confident in their offensive schemes and their defense has limited teams to three points in the last two weeks combined. Rookies Clay Matthews and B.J. Raji are getting much more involved and Rodgers has settled in, throwing eight touchdowns in the last three weeks. All signs point to the momentum being in Green Bay’s favor when the initial whistle is blown.

5. Twelve is greater than four

You knew it was coming, people. I stayed away from it in Week Four because thinking about Favre playing against the Vikings in Minnesota didn’t hit me as weird. But seeing Favre walk out onto the Frozen Tundra will be heartbreaking and as much as I love the man, Aaron Rodgers is my team’s quarterback.

Say what you will about the success Favre has had this season, but in four years when Aaron Rodgers is in his prime and Favre is (God, hopefully) on a tractor somewhere in his Wrangler Jeans, you’ll understand why Ted Thompson made the right call. Rodgers has been a top-five quarterback this season and has four wins to prove it. Cheer Favre for everything he did for the Packers, but once 3:15 hits, look to the other side of the field and watch the future of Green Bay Packers football, No. 12.

Packers Turning The Corner at The Right Time

Mark Strotman — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:10:18 -0400

While the difference in the victories against the Detroit Lions (26-0) in week six and the Cleveland Browns (31-3) Sunday was just two points, the blowouts were about as different as they could be and showed what exactly the Packers have in store for the rest of the season.

Say what you will about the Browns easily being one of the worst teams in the league and that it is hard to gauge just how good the Packers really are based on two straight victories against teams with a combined record of 2-11, but Sunday’s contest wasn’t even close. After Phil Dawson connected on a field goal to give the Browns a 3-0 lead, the Packers reeled off 31 straight points to coast for the win.

Don’t let anyone fool you: the Browns are bad. They are very bad. But it wasn’t as if the Packers struggled to find rhythm on offense and were making mistakes on defense like they did against the Lions. They found a bad team at the wrong time and absolutely destroyed them in all aspects of the game, something great teams do.

Defensively, the Packers did what they had to do, forcing two turnovers and holding the Browns to just 139 yards on offense. What helps is that they did most of their damage out of normal sets, making sure not give much away for next week’s matchup against Minnesota.

Call it a tune-up, but the Packers have used the last two weeks to become more comfortable within their defense and players like A.J. Hawk and Nick Barnett are finally starting to get things down. Aaron Kampman has been able to rush the passer more and has three sacks in the last four weeks, and Charles Woodson reminded the NFL why no one should throw his way as he picked off a pass and forced a Josh Cribbs fumble.

The Lions rank 22nd in total offense and the Browns 31st, but the Packers did what they were supposed to do and then some. While some may say their stats are inflated from the last two weeks, the fact of the matter is their defense ranks third in total defense and is giving up just 16 points per game, good for fifth in all of football.

The big play threats are still there and are coming at the expense of trying to force turnovers, but that is something the Packers are hoping will cancel out by season’s end. Their 13 takeaways rank third in the league and their turnover difference of +8 is second in the league.

Leading the way in that department has been the play of quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who has feasted on lesser opponents and seen his quarterback rating soar. Rodgers has eight touchdowns in his last three games and has had a passer rating over 110 in each of his last four contests. For the season, only Peyton Manning has a higher passer rating (114.5) than Rodgers (110.8).

His two interceptions have kept Packers’ drives alive and are a big part of the reason why the Packers rank fifth in the league in total offense and points per game.

The offensive line finally put together a rock solid outing, regardless of who it was against, in not allowing a sack and rushing for over 200 yards against the Browns. T.J. Lang made his first start at left tackle and was solid all day in his potential warm-up for Jared Allen next week. The right side of the line created holes all day and helped Ryan Grant to his best outing of 2009.

All in all, the last three weeks have been exactly what the Packers needed. Defensive adjustments were clearly made during the bye week as the Packers not only beat up bad offenses, but completely shut them down. Regardless of how bad the Lions and Browns may be, the Packers’ defense could not have played any better.

Offensively, the Packers continue to get better every week, improving their total yards in each of the team’s first six games. They have also gone over the 400-yard mark on offense in each of the past four games. Question marks arose in the first two weeks about Rodgers’ consistency, the dropped passes, and the offensive line, but that has not been the problem as of late. If Rodgers’ can get time, the Packers’ offense is a top ten unit.

With just 16 games on the schedule, no team ever looks past games, but the Packers’ might have peeked at their match up next weekend against the Vikings. The past two weeks have allowed the Packers to try out new things during blowouts and also disguise others. Coming off a bye week and two blowouts is surely different than the Vikings, who have yet to play their bye and have battled to the extremes against two AFC powerhouses in the Ravens and Steelers the last two weeks.

The Vikings might not be tired but they will not be as well rested as the Packers. While it’s too hard to judge whether or not the Packers’ wins over the Lions and Browns just met expectations or were a start of something new, it’s no secret the Packers have momentum coming into next week. Not only are they playing great football, but the NFC North is on the line and the winner of the game will have that title all to themselves.

Six Thoughts on the Green Bay Packers for Week Six

Mark Strotman — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 22:53:31 -0400

1. The Packers have the worst offensive line in the NFL.

Coming into the season, the Packers’ offensive line was hardly thought to be a liability but was still not a strong point on the team. Six weeks in, the unit is as big a liability as one will find in the NFL. Aaron Rodgers has put up outstanding stats considering he has been sacked a league-high 25 times. The current NFL record for times sacked in a season is David Carr, with 72. Rodgers is on pace to be sacked 80 times, which would set a new record.

Injuries to Chad Clifton, Jason Spitz, and Daryn Colledge—combined with Rodgers holding on to the ball too long sometimes—might be excuses, but the Packers also rank 25th in rushing. Ryan Grant and Brandon Jackson are not going to make anyone forget about Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor, but every rushing attack starts with the offensive line.

2. Clay Matthews is a future Pro Bowler at outside linebacker

A risky prediction? You bet. But one I will stick to until I see him in the actual game. Five games into his short NFL career, Matthews has already taken over a starting role, racked up 12 tackles, been credited with three sacks, had three more tackles for loss, stripped Adrian Peterson and run it back for a touchdown, and defended three passes. Dom Capers and Kevin Greene have a long history with the 3-4 defense and must have seen something in Matthews to make Ted Thompson trade up for him.

It sounds cliche, but he’s just a genuine football player out on the field. His strength combined with his fluidity is perfect for the 3-4 defense and he is making the most of his time on the field. With the starting job now in hand, he should be on the field a whole lot more and continue to improve his skill set. It seems as though the sky’s the limit for the USC grad.

3. Donald Driver can play into his 40s if he chooses to

Take Donald Driver’s name and number off his jersey and then show film to someone and ask them what they think of that certain player. Assuming Driver didn’t do a first-down shimmy after a big catch to give his identity away, that certain someone would probably guess the player was a young and energetic rookie.

At 34, Driver seems to have more energy than he ever has and is showing no signs of slowing down. He is in excellent physical condition, is loving the game, and has a quarterback suited perfectly to his skill set. This season, he leads the Packers in receptions, yards, and touchdown catches. He also set the Packers’ record for receptions last week in Detroit. With Greg Jennings constantly seeing double coverage, Driver has made the most of his opportunity to beat his man one-one-one.

4. Al Harris has lost a step and it might be time to give Tramon Williams a look

Maybe the second part of my thought is more of the reason I think Williams should get more looks a starter, but Harris does not look like the same cornerback. For starters, his reaction time has decreased and it seems as though receivers are getting a clean break on routes a step or two before Harris realizes it. One has to wonder whether the penalties on Harris for illegal use of the hands has tamed him a bit.

His 23 tackles—which rank fifth on the team—are a tad bit misleading because none of those are for losses, meaning Harris more times than not gave up a reception to make that tackle. It’s not an easy task when Charles Woodson is on the other side of the defense and your safety help has been banged up all year, but Harris just has not looked the same. Even his interception against the Lions was off blown coverage, and the ball was tipped by the Detroit receiver.

5. Even with Matthews’ great play thus far, Brandon Chillar is the Packers’ best linebacker

The interior of the Packers’ linebacking corps has struggled this season in comparison to their defensive line or outside linebackers, but Brandon Chillar has been a breath of fresh air and a versatile part of the defense. He has seen time at inside linebacker but also has played strong safety in the Packers’ “Big Okie” five-linebacker defense, and has done a nice job.

His sack on Jay Cutler was arguably the play of the year for the Packers thus far and he currently ranks second on the team in tackles. With A.J. Hawk and Nick Barnett struggling, Chillar’s play has been a nice surprise and he seems to be fitting in very nicely in the 3-4 defense. Most of his tackles are within three or four yards of the line of scrimmage while other inside LBs are making tackles down field.

6. If the Packers cannot cut down on penalties, they can kiss the playoffs goodbye

The Packers are not a good enough team right now to be able to make up for their penalties. Their offensive line is shaky, meaning deep passes are at a minimum, their defense is playing good but not great , and overall they’re having trouble making up for their mistakes.

Last season, the Packers ranked second in penalties and first in yards. Six weeks in, the Packers are fifth in penalties and fourth in yards. It’s extremely frustrating as a fan to see yellow flags out on the field on seemingly every drive. Mike McCarthy claims it’s just part of the game, but penalties say a lot about a team’s structure and discipline.

It’s not McCarthy’s fault because he isn’t the one jumping the snap on false starts or holding on defense, but maybe it’s time for him to get on his players a little more disciplined. In a division or wild-card race that could come down to the wire, penalties can change the complexion of a game.

The next few weeks will be telling because, against lesser competition they should not have to be committing silly penalties.

Second Quarter of Schedule Will Be Crucial For Packers

Mark Strotman — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:36:26 -0400

When breaking down the schedule for NFL teams, many coaches and staffs like to break the season down into quarters, much like an actual game. In that sense, the Packers completed the first quarter of their season and stand at a reasonable 2-2. They have not set the world on fire like they did in the preseason but are still in good position as they begin quarter number two of the season.

The Packers have looked solid in some places (defensive line, cornerbacks) while they have struggled in others (offensive line, linebackers), but the fact of the matter is .500 football the rest of the way is not going to cut it in the NFC this season. Teams like the 49ers and Falcons look rejuvenated under their young head coaches, three teams are undefeated, and only six teams currently have losing records in the NFC.

There needs to be a stretch run where the Packers can distance themselves from the middle of the pack and take a shot at regaining the top spot in the NFC North. It will not be easy considering the Vikings are 5-0 and the Bears are 3-1, both ahead of the Packers, but if there was ever a "quarter" for the Packers to move up, the upcoming four games are it.

In week six, the Packers come home to visit the last-place Lions. As if it wasn't bad enough that the Packers have not lost to the Lions in Green Bay since 1991, the Packers are also coming off a bye week in which they have had an extra week to prepare for Jim Schwartz's ball club.

Making matters worse is the fact that Calvin Johnson suffered a knee injury and was not able to return in the Lions' week five loss to the Steelers and starting quarterback Matthew Stafford sat as well. Regardless of whether the Lions' two best offensive players suit up Sunday, the odds are with the Packers to take this game.

In the NFC North, the Vikings will take on the Baltimore Ravens at the Metrodome, in a battle of two top teams this season. The Ravens seem to have found their stride on offense while their defense has come alive once again through veterans Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. It will be a tough game for both teams, but it would not be a shock to see either team come out on top.

The Bears, coming off their bye week, meet up with the Falcons on Sunday Night Football in week six. The Falcons, fresh off their bye week, crushed the 49ers 45-10 last week and are on a roll as it stands. It will be a tough game for the Bears to win with the Falcons playing so well, so there's a chance the Packers could pick up a game on both teams.

In week seven the Packers travel to Cleveland to take on the Browns and, while road games are never sure things, the Browns are just 1-4 with a win over Buffalo to their name. The Browns rank last in the league against the run and have already given up eight rushing touchdowns. Brandon Jackson should be back for the Packers and join with Ryan Grant to get the ground game going again.

While the Packers are taking on the Browns, the Bears and Vikings will be taking on a pair of AFC opponents. The Vikings draw the Steelers in Pittsburgh and Troy Polamalu is expected to be back for the Steelers. While they are surviving without him, the dominant safety will help in shutting down Adrian Peterson and helping out in pass protection.

The Bears will take on the resurgent Bengals on the road in what suddenly looks like a good game as Carson Palmer and the Bengals are atop the AFC North with a 4-1 record. Clearly the Packers have the easiest game on the week seven schedule and should gain ground on at least one of their NFC North mates.

If the Packers are able to defeat both opponents over the next two weeks, they would stand at 4-2 heading into a week eight match-up with the Vikings. Assuming the Vikings drop one of their previous two games, the top of the NFC North could once again be on the line when the two teams meet. As much pressure as everyone thought was on Brett Favre in week four, the butterflies will really be floating around his stomach when he walks onto Lambeau Field.

The Packers are sure to make adjustments and play well against the Vikings. In my schedule breakdown, I noted how much added incentive there would be for the Packers if the Vikings won in week four. After a 30-23 defeat in the Metrodome, the Packers are going to want this game bad.

The Bears will host the Browns in week eight in what will probably be an easy victory.

Rounding out the second quarter for the NFC North contenders, the Bears will stay at home and take on the Arizona Cardinals in what looks to be a shootout. The Cardinals have been very inconsistent this season and it will be interesting to see which team steps on the field for Ken Whisenhunt.

The Vikings have their bye so the Packers have the potential to pick up a half a game on them when they travel to Tampa Bay to take on the struggling Buccaneers. The transition to Raheem Morris has not been smooth at all, and with quarterback problems as well as pass defense issues, the Packers should be favored on the road.

Two road games over the next four contests are never sure things, and with the way the offensive line has played, there is always the possibility of a slip-up against one of the three sub-.500 teams. The game against the Vikings will be huge because there's a chance for Minnesota to run away with the division if they can enter their bye week at 7-1 or 8-0.

In the "second quarter", the Packers will face teams with a combined record of 7-13, with five of those wins coming from the Vikings. The Bears' opponents currently have a combined record of 10-8 while the Vikings will take on a combined record of 8-6. Clearly the opportunity to get their name back in the running for NFC North is there. Not to say their hat is not in the ring for the North, but they should go 3-1 at worst over these next four games, making them 5-3 and in prime spot to make a late run at the division.

No NFL team is easy or a cupcake, but working the kinks out on defense will be easier against the 18th, 29th, and 30th ranked offenses in the league. Just as the bye week came at the right time for the Packers, it seems the easy part of the schedule is as well.

Green Bay Packers' Biggest Draft Needs and Players Who Can Help

Mark Strotman — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 21:16:20 -0400

Because it’s never too early to start looking toward the NFL Draft in April, here are the top five biggest draft needs for the Packers as well as potential picks that could help them in 2010 and beyond.

It is only October and many things can happen, and most likely will, but it’s good to get an early grasp on the potential future Packers.

It’s no secret that the Packers’ offensive line is struggling mightily this season. While the line is relatively young, minus Chad Clifton, production is an issue for the struggling youngsters, while age is a concern for the productive veterans.

It’s not a good combination for a team trying to protect their franchise quarterback and trying to get their high-powered offense back on track.

Despite Mark Tauscher and Levi Jones working out for the Packers, it’s obvious that no-one on the current roster, or in the free agent pool, is going to be the answer going forward. While the potential for improvement is there for the young players, if there is going to be a drastic improvement on the offensive line, it is going to need to come in the form of an early draft pick.

Last season, the Packers selected two offensive linemen in T.J. Lang and Jamon Meredith.

Both were selected on the second day of the draft (Lang in the fourth, Meredith in the fifth) and were not expected to make a huge impact in their first seasons. General manager Ted Thompson has been a huge fan of taking project linemen in the later rounds of the draft and letting them gain experience before putting them on the field.

In 2005, Thompson selected center/guard Junius Coston in the fifth round and guard Will Whitticker in the seventh round, neither of whom are still on the active roster. In 2006, he used his first of two second-round selections to take current starter Daryn Colledge, and also used the latter of his third-round picks to take center Jason Spitz.

The next year, in 2007, Thompson’s lone offensive lineman selection was in the fourth round in Allen Barbre, the team’s current but struggling right tackle.

In 2008, Thompson used his fourth and fifth-round picks to select Josh Sitton and Breno Giacomini. It would be quite deceiving to say that Thompson has done a good job selecting offensive linemen because four of his nine offensive line picks are current starters.

When he took over as GM in 2005, he declined to re-sign veteran guards Marco Rivera and Mike Wahle and tried to replace them with free agent signings Adrian Klemm and Matt O’Dwyer.

O’Dwyer was cut in training camp and Klemm lasted just a year with the Packers. The only other free agent signing Thompson has gone for on the offensive line was this past off-season in Duke Preston. However, he flopped as well and was cut before the season began.

Simply put, Thompson has put all his offensive line eggs in the draft basket and it clearly is not working, especially when he waits so long to select them. Granted it makes little sense to take a guard or center in the early rounds of the draft, but this season Thompson will surely be expected to address the tackle position on Day One.

Luckily for him, there will be options available when the Packers go on the clock in April.

Scouts, Inc. has Russell Okung listed as their top left tackle in next year’s draft, and just by looking at him it’s easy to see why. The 6'6" senior from Oklahoma State is big in size and moves extremely well for his size. He has everything you look for in a franchise left tackle and could potentially learn for a year under Chad Clifton.

The only issue with Okung is that he is almost a lock to be taken within the first half of the first round. So maybe Packers’ fans should hope they don’t have the opportunity to take him.

More realistic options include Trent Williams from Oklahoma, who has the versatility to play both tackle positions if he can improve on his pass blocking. His run blocking is superb, which gives him the ability to play right tackle, the position he played up until this season.

If his pass blocking improves, his name could be called in the top ten picks. For now, he looks like a viable option for the Packers come draft day.

Bryan Bulaga from Iowa is almost a sure-fire first-round draft pick and someone who can help in the run game as well. Bruce Campbell from Maryland and Charles Brown from USC round out the borderline first round picks for 2010. While many things can and will change, but keep an eye on these five players leading up to the draft.

The Packers have relied on middle of the pack linemen for too long and need to go out and get a stud next season.

Clifton and Colledge are both free agents after this season and it will be interesting to see what they do and who they keep. Either way, there’s a good chance a spot (or two) is opening up at the tackle position next season.

It’s time that Ted Thompson moved away from the defensive front seven and focused on shoring up the offensive line.

Bye Week Coming At a Perfect Time for the Packers

Mark Strotman — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:10:42 -0400

It sounds cliche to say, but the Green Bay Packers’ bye week is coming at a perfect time. The Packers will have week five of the NFL season off and will use that extra week to pick up the pieces to a very shaky start to the season. While bye weeks never really come at a bad time for any team, the Packers need it now more than ever.

For starters, the injury bug has hit the Packers in two of their most shallow positions on the field, offensive line and safety, and is becoming not only a weak spot on the field, but rather a liability. Entering the season, the Packers put rookie tackle Jamon Meredith on the practice squad, but he was picked up by the Bills in late September after Buffalo had injuries of their own on the offensive line when Brad Butler went down for the season.

The injury left the Packers with three roster players that were capable of playing left tackle in Chad Cliton, Daryn Colledge, and rookie T.J. Lang. When Clifton suffered a high ankle sprain in week two against the Bengals, Colledge had to move to left tackle from left guard, shifting the entire line around. Colledge then suffered a knee sprain against the Vikings, leaving the rookie Lang to play out of position, going up against All-Pro Jared Allen nonetheless.

With the bye week coming, Clifton expects to be healthy enough to suit up against the Lions in week six and Colledge will get extra rest on his knee. Had the bye not come this week, there’s a chance the Packer faithful would have been subjected to T.J. Lang round two, something no one wants to see.

The Packers’ offensive line is hardly tops in the league this season, but getting Clifton back and moving Colledge back to his natural left guard position will do wonders for the line. It will move Jason Spitz back to center and presumably bump Scott Wells out. The bye week also gives the Packers the opportunity to evaluate former tackle Mark Tauscher. Currently a free agent after ACL surgery last season, the Packers have worked him out and will now get an extra week to evaluate him and see if he can help the line out more than the inconsistent Allen Barbre.

With the bye week coming, safety Atari Bigby is expected to use that week to get ready for his return in week six. After a knee injury forced him out of the Packers’ home opener against the Bears, he is hoping to get back on the field after the bye week. His return can not come soon enough as recently-acquired Derrick Martin and Jarrett Bush have, to put it nicely, done a less-than-stellar job manning his position the last three weeks.

Atari Bigby (20) was injured against the Bears, but should make his return after the Packers' bye week. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

The Packers have had to use five-linebacker sets, called the “Big Okie”, where Brandon Chillar plays in the box as a safety. With the return of Bigby, there should be an improvement in the pass defense, where the Packers currently rank 20th in the league.

Other players who have battled injury such as B.J. Raji will also get a full week of rest away from football activities to get their bodies back in healthy shape.

More so than the injuries that will be helped out by the bye week, the week off will help the Packers regroup after four weeks of football that saw them all over the place on many accounts. The offense has had many opportunities to succeed this season, and while pass protection can account for some of those issues, chemistry and timing has been off as a whole. Greg Jennings has failed to break out of his “ugly” slump, posting just five catches and no touchdowns the last three weeks.

Hopefully Dom Capers will go back to the drawing board and film room and realize that a weak pass rush has gotten the Packers defense nowhere. Something needs to change defensively so that the big plays are extinguished and the Packers can get a better pass rush on the quarterback to force errors, much like they did against the Bears in week one.

There is reason to believe the Packers will right the ship with a very favorable schedule coming up. There is a chance the Packers could win their next four games or, at the very worst, three of four. Dates with Detroit, Cleveland, and Tampa Bay are in the near future and it looks like now is the time for the Packers to bust out.

As a whole, the Packers are in good position to re-group, players and coaches alike, and get back to their winning ways with an offense that is clicking and a pressure-filled defense. They will be as healthy as they have been since week one heading into their matchup with Detroit, and hopefully a big win against the Lions will light a match underneath the Packers that propels them into November and December with some confidence.

Packers' Matthews Showing Early Signs of Promise

Mark Strotman — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:52:49 -0400

When the Packers traded up in the 2009 NFL Draft, it marked just the second time in general manager Ted Thompson’s tenure that they had done so. The trade involved moving back into the first round in exchange for the Packers’ only second round pick (41st overall) and both third round picks (73 and 83). The Packers also received the Patriots’ fifth round pick (162). There was a buzz over who the Packers had traded up for, with some believing it to be Florida State outside linebacker Everette Brown or potentially Rey Maualuga.

It turned out that, in typical Ted Thompson fashion, the Packers went with the wild card pick by selecting Clay Matthews III, an outside linebacker from Southern California. Weighing 240 pounds and standing six feet-three inches tall, Matthews was the perfect fit for the Packers’ new 3-4 scheme under Dom Capers.

One rumor said that Thompson and Capers liked Matthews enough that they considered taking him with the ninth overall pick, instead opting to go with Boston College defensive tackle B.J. Raji. When the Packers moved back into the first round, it was an easy decision for management in taking Matthews.

Matthews’ path to the NFL was anything but easy and even he would admit that four years ago, he wouldn’t have expected to hear his name called on draft day, let alone the first round. In high school, Matthews did not start on his high school team despite his own father being the defensive coordinator.

His father also happened to be Clay Matthews, former linebacker for the Cleveland Browns and Atlanta Falcons wh started 278 straight games and was elected to four pro bowls. Bruce Matthews, considered one of the best offensive linemen of all time, is Matthews III’s uncle. Even Matthew III’s grandfather, Clay Matthews Sr., played four years for the San Francisco 49ers.

Instead of taking offers from community colleges or small division one schools, Matthews opted to walk on for the same team that his father and uncle played for: Southern California. Matthews dedicated himself for the next two years and was awarded a scholarship for his junior year in 2007. Despite seeing just limited time on defense and work on special teams his first three season, Matthews entered the starting lineup in 2008 and recorded 54 tackles, four sacks, and a forced fumble.

He won the Special Teams Player of the Year Award the last three seasons he was at Southern California, making him the only Trojan to ever win three times. His hard work, tenacity, and commitment to football made him the prime candidate to become a Packer in 2009. His 4.58 forty time and 35-inch vertical at the NFL Combine didn’t hurt, either.

Four games in, Clay Matthews III (middle) looks like the real deal. (AP Photo/Tom Olmscheid)

Matthews reported to camp on time and new defensive coordinator Dom Capers fell in love with his athleticism and smarts. Despite coming from an NFL-style team in USC, Matthews was still considered a bit of a project entering the season. He began the year backing up Brady Poppinga at the right outside linebacker position, but as of late the reps have began to even out 50-50.

Four games into the regular season, Matthews has not racked up the stats to prove he is making improvements and is succeeding, but his presence on the field has been felt. Already, he is getting push on the line and is showing enough speed to rush on the outside. He recorded his first sack against the Bengals and stripped Adrian Peterson last Monday night and ran 40 yards for his first career touchdown.

It is obvious the Packers drafted Matthews to become their future on the outside. When looking at the most successful 3-4 defenses in the league, players like James Harrison of the Steelers and Terrell Suggs of the Ravens are so important in applying pressure and also making plays in the secondary. While the inside linebackers rack up most of the tackles in the 3-4 defense, the reason for that is because containing the edge and forcing plays back inside is vital. That is the job of the outside linebackers, making Matthews that much more important.

In the Packers’ first overall selection B.J. Raji, as well as Matthews, the Packers believe they have the foundation to a young, up-and-coming defense. Up to this point in the season, Matthews has been the Packers best outside linebacker. The lack of speed shown by A.J. Hawk, Nick Barnett, and Aaron Kampman has been tough to watch, but the athleticism and tenacity Matthews has shown has been a breath of fresh air.

The best part about Matthews is that his career is four games deep right now. As much push as he has made against offensive lines, he has not learned good enough technique to be a double-digit sack player. Right now, his speed and coverage abilities are being used but as he progresses and gains more muscle weight, he will become more of a complete player and starter for a long time.

Packers-Vikings: My Q+A With Examiner Joe Oberle

Mark Strotman — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 18:43:43 -0400

For the Packers’ week four game against the Minnesota Vikings, I did a Q+A with Examiner Joe Oberle. These are his responses to my questions on the Vikings. You can see my responses to his questions by clicking here.

Mark Strotman: What has the transition been like in going from hating Brett Favre for the last 17 years to embracing him as your team leader? Is it still as weird to see him in purple as it is for me?

Joe Oberle: The first time I saw him Brett Favre in a Vikings’ purple uniform during preseason, I laughed at the almost surreal nature of it. It really looked strange because he truly was the face of that team to all us Vikings fans. It has taken some getting used to, but is happening sooner than I expected, and I think it is because he is seems to be emerging as the team leader.

It is his personality and love for the game that is coming through with his teammates and also with the fans. Personally, I never hated him. I didn’t like the Packers, but I always respected Favre for the way he played the game–all out and with a genuine love for it. I always wanted the Vikings to squelch his joy, but I thought he was great for the game and a great rival. He single-handedly took this rivalry to new heights, and this season, he is doing it again.

MS: When the Packers offense takes the field, it will really mark the first good passing team the Vikings have gone up against this season after facing Brady Quinn, Matt Stafford, and Shaun Hill. The run defense is outstanding, but has the loss of Darren Sharper hurt the pass defense a considerable amount?

JO: I don’t think so. As you have noted, the pass defense hasn’t been tested all that much because the Vikings’ first three opponents have attacked the Minnesota run defense to help keep the pressure off their quarterbacks. Sharper was great while he was here, but he seemed to have lost a step–and it really showed during last season’s playoff game. It was time for some new blood in the secondary; it may come at the loss of some experience, but I think they Vikings will gain in terms of speed and ability.

MS: For the first two weeks of the season you were able to run the ball with ease against both the 3-4 defense in Cleveland and a 4-3 scheme in Detroit. From what you could see, which seemed to be easier for AP to run against: the 3-4 with quicker athletes or the 4-3 with bigger bodies to clog up the line?

JO: That’s a good question, and it is one that I think will play out all season as Peterson and the offense will face a variety of those two types of defensive schemes. Speaking statistically, AP rushed for more yards against Cleveland’s 3-4, but I think that may be the better defense for him to run against—if they play it straight and don’t cram the box with eight or nine defenders. If he can get past the first line of defense, his speed and agility come more into play, not to mention his size and speed with some linebackers and defensive backs. If you clog the middle on him at the line and slow him down there, he has less change to break free into the open field to do what he does best.

MS: The Vikings now use a form of the Wildcat because of their specialty man Percy Harvin. I have never been a fan of the Wildcat, but how has it worked so far with two of the game’s fastest players in the backfield (Harvin and Peterson). Do you see it being a factor against the Packers or more of an “every now and then” play?

JO: We have only seen it on a limited basis for the Vikings, and head coach Brad Childress, who has long demonstrated a proclivity for the clandestine, may be either teasing opponents so they have one more thing to think about, or really sitting on it until he feels it’s ready to go. So far, at least in the Vikings version, I am not a fan either, mostly due to its lack of success.

For a team with a rookie running it and a new quarterback learning the rest of the system, it seems like right now there is a greater chance of something going really wrong with the Wildcat than having it really surprising someone. I am for keeping under wraps until you really know it’s going to work or else make it a bigger part of your offense (a la Miami) and really dedicate yourself to it. I am not sure they would be interested in doing the latter if it is going to put their $12 million dollar man on the bench.

MS: Staying on topic with Harvin, has he overtaken Bernard Berrian as the Vikings’ number one receiver? In Green Bay, Favre favored Donald Driver over Greg Jennings because Driver was more of a possession guy than a home run threat as Favre favored the short pass. Both Harvin and Sydney Rice have more often been targets than Berrian this season.

JO: For the time being, Harvin has emerged as Favre’s favorite target, connecting on two (what we like to call) “Farvins”—a Favre to Harvin TD pass. The Vikings offense has been seemingly designed to go underneath quite a bit this season, as Favre continues to acclimate himself to the offense and his new receivers. It has worked well so far, as he is league leader in completion percentage. In addition, Berrian missed all of the preseason with a hamstring injury and is working his way back into the lineup.

Once he is at full strength, I think you will see Favre take more shots downfield. To be honest, I am surprised Favre hasn’t connected more with Visanthe Shiancoe, as No. 4 made a career out of hitting his tight ends in Green Bay.

MS: The Packers huge weakness this season has been the offensive line, while the Vikings biggest strength on defense is their defensive line. Do you think the Vikings will be able to rush just four linemen effectively so they are able to drop seven back in coverage? Because of your secondary, will this be a key factor in stopping Green Bay’s passing game?

JO: If I were drawing it up, I would certainly try it. Aaron Rodgers is arguably Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier’s biggest concern, and if you can put pressure on the Rodgers with the four lineman augmented by a few blitzes, it would seem to attack the Packers at the weakness. But with this game, as with many in the past, I think you can throw records, expectations and plans out the window, as emotion will take over the game and it could be pretty wild.

There will be so much hype coming into this game that any number of things could happen. That said, I believe the team that controls their emotions the best will come out on top—and I am not yet sure who that is going to be.

The Green Bay Packers' Good, Bad, and Ugly: Ugly Personnel Edition

Mark Strotman — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:05:25 -0400

In those three weeks, there have been many positive things to get excited about, some struggles that need to be fixed, and some ugly things that are getting the Packers by in easy games, but will not as the season goes on and games become tougher.

Today, we will look at the Packers ugly personnel through three weeks. After that, we will look at schemes and intangibles that have been good, bad, and ugly for the Packers. Enjoy and make sure to check out all parts of the segments!

Monday: Good Personnel Edition

Tuesday: Bad Personnel Edition

The Ugly

Let me preface this by saying that the “ugly” players include performances that have not helped out the Packers much this season and have played below expectations. However, these performances have not hurt the Packers enough to warrant putting them in the “bad” category.

Greg Jennings: Fresh off an offseason that saw him work out with Larry Fitzgerald and receive a contract extension, Jennings has had a tough time being a consistent target to Aaron Rodgers. As a proven No. 1 receiver, he has received double coverage looks often and has seen his receptions and yards dip.

For now, it has not hurt the Packers as much because Donald Driver has stepped up his performance and seen more targets from Rodgers because he is usually in single coverage. However, if the Packers’ offense is going to get back to where it was last season, Jennings is going to have to work to get open and spread the field. He has made the big play when necessary but over the course of a season that it not going to work.

Ryan Grant: For whatever reason, Grant has not looked the same as he did in 2007 over the past two seasons, and it has hurt the run game considerably. The Packers have committed to Grant as their starter, but currently injured Brandon Jackson is looking over his shoulder at that starting spot.

He is a combination of a power back and a speed back, but lately that speed has disappeared from his game and he does not cut back like he used to. When he hits holes, there is hesitation and you never get the feeling that he is going to break off a huge run. His long rush is just 17 yards and he is averaging just 3.7 yards per rush.

Some of the blame can be put on the consistency of the offensive line but Grant still needs to step up. It has not killed the Packers because Grant has not had an atrocious season (14th in the league in rushing) but getting him back to that 2007 form will be key for the run game moving forward.

Jeremy Kapinos: Kapinos punted his way onto the roster but the punt team unit as a whole has been less than stellar this season. His average punt is 45.4 yards, ranking 15th in the league, but his net punt is just 35.9 yards, ranking second to last in the league.

Some of those woes can be attributed to bad coverage, but Kapinos’ hang time is an issue as he has induced just one fair catch. On average, the Packers’ punt unit is giving up the second most yards per return at just under 17 yards a return, and it must change so that the defense does not always have such a short field.

Jermichael Finley: After a spectacular preseason that saw him slice up defenses at will, Finley has been quiet to start the year. He has seen a fair amount of snaps as the Packers have gone with two tight end sets this season, but his targets and receptions have not added up.

Starter Donald Lee had caught nine passes and been targeted 11 times to Finley’s five receptions and nine targets, although Finley has more receiving yards (62) than Lee (46). When Finley went on his tear in the preseason, everyone seemed to forget about the value of Lee, who has the highest catch-per-target on the team.

Still, Finley becoming a vertical threat in the Packers’ offense would do wonders for what the offense could do. Finley can line up wide against a cornerback and use his size, or can set up on the line and use his speed on a linebacker.

Because of the great depth the Packers have at wide receiver as well as Lee’s strong start, his performance has not hurt the Packers as much. If he can pick things up like he did in the preseason, it would be a huge lift.

The Packers' Good, Bad, and Ugly: Bad Personnel Edition

Mark Strotman — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 19:27:12 -0400

After a superb preseason, expectations for the Green Bay Packers could not have been higher. Three weeks into the regular season, the team stands at 2-1 after wins over the Chicago Bears and St. Louis Rams, and a loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. In those three weeks, there have been many positive things to get excited about, some struggles that need to be fixed, and some ugly things that aren't hurting the Packers in easy games but need to be addressed as the season goes on and games become tougher.

Today, we will look at the Packers' bad personnel through three weeks, followed by the ugly personnel. After that, we will look at schemes and intangibles that have been good, bad, and ugly for the Packers. Enjoy and make sure to check out all parts of the segments!

Monday: Good Personnel Edition

The Bad

Allen Barbre: Any discussion about players that have performed poorly and hurt the team must start with Allen Barbre. In the preseason, Barbre beat out Breno Giacomini for the starting right tackle position and excelled in the run game in that span of four weeks. In his first start next to Josh Sitton, the fourth-rounder from Missouri Southern State, he struggled mightily and allowed two sacks and constant pressure from Adewale Ogunleye.

He has fared better since his awful first half against the Bears but still remains a concern. The Packers have worked out veteran Levi Jones, but it does not appear that he will sign with the team. If anything, it should be a wake up call to Barbre that his position is hardly set in stone.

Barbre has been just average, along with the rest of the offensive line, in the run game and needs to improve on pass protection if quarterback Aaron Rodgers is ever going to have time to pass. He has not extended his arms well and his feet have been slow against speed rushers. Bull rushers do not seem to give him as much problem due to his raw strength, but when defenders get outside him, he struggles.

Nick Barnett: Before you go and rip this selection of Barnett as players that have been bad this season, realize that he has just 12 tackles on the season and was yanked in the second half of the Rams game last weekend. Recovering from ACL surgery, Barnett missed significant time in the preseason and it is showing now.

In the 3-4 defense, Barnett’s position asks him to shed blockers to make tackles; unlike the traditional 4-3 defense, where he would shoot gaps to make plays. He looks rusty on the field and, while the surgery can be an excuse, he is still playing poorly and needs to step up.

Right now, the Packers’ best combination on defense inside is A.J. Hawk and Brandon Chillar. Argue that they might not be the two best, but their styles of play complement each other well. Barnett still plays well against the pass, so there’s no need to think Desmond Bishop will take much more time from him in the future, but he needs to get back to his 2007-form quickly.

Deshawn Wynn: I can’t remember the last time I wanted Brandon Jackson to be healthy this badly. One of the biggest position battles in the preseason was who would take over as the third running back on the roster. In the end, Deshawn Wynn beat out rookie Tyrell Sutton and Kregg Lumpkin for the spot. With Jackson still out with a bad ankle, Wynn was expected to fill the third down role and complement Grant in the backfield.

Three games in, Wynn has four rushes for nine yards and one reception for eight yards. The expectations for Wynn were low because no one thought he would have to take the second string duties. But amazingly, Wynn has performed below his already small expectations.

He is not a threat on screen passes and, despite his solid pass blocking, has not done much on third downs. When Jackson comes back (no timetable), Wynn will go back to spelling both, but for now, he needs to step up and at least pound the ball on occasion. The coaching staff has little confidence in him after he looked slow going through the line on his runs, something he must change.

All those fans who wanted Sutton as the third back are looking pretty smart right about now…

Brady Poppinga: For the life of me, I cannot understand how Brady Poppinga is still a starter in the National Football League. He has outstanding size and strength that he uses when he makes plays. Unfortunately, he rarely makes plays. The Packers have struggled against the run and even though all the linebackers are to blame, Poppinga has not helped the cause one bit.

He gets caught in the wash on just about every play and has a hard time shedding blockers to contain on the outside. In pass coverage he struggles to stay with tight ends and just looks too slow to play any kind of zone. The answer lies in Clay Matthews III, who has shown a great knack for getting to the football and creating pressure on the offense.

Matthews has registered just four tackles on the season due to lack of major playing time, but he has managed to get those tackles, a sack, and two passes defended. His pass rushing skills are much better than Poppinga’s and he can cover more ground as well.

As the season goes on and Matthews continues to get his feet wet, I expect him to overtake Poppinga at some point. Poppinga was a borderline cut this preseason and has done little to show why the Packers were correct in keeping him.

The Packers' Good, Bad, and Ugly: Good Personnel Edition

Mark Strotman — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:17:12 -0400

After a superb preseason, expectations for the Green Bay Packers could not have been higher. Three weeks into the regular season, the team stands at 2-1 after wins over the Chicago Bears and St. Louis Rams, and a loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. In those three weeks, there have been many positive things to get excited about, some struggles that need to be fixed, and some ugly things that are getting the Packers by in easy games, but will not as the season goes on and games become tougher.

Today, we will look at the Packers good personnel through three weeks, followed by the bad and ugly personnel. After that, we will look at schemes and intangibles that have been good, bad, and ugly for the Packers. Enjoy and make sure to check out all parts of the segments!

The Good

Aaron Rodgers: As is the case for most teams that have two or more wins so far, Rodgers has excelled at the quarterback position and is the main reason for the Packers’ success. His stats are not as flashy as they were last season, but through three games he has thrown for just 82 less yards than he did in 2008 (which included a game against the Lions) and has thrown just as many touchdown passes (four).

Along with Kyle Orton, Rodgers is one of two quarterbacks who have played in all three games and not thrown an interception or lost a fumble. Life has been easy on Orton as the Broncos have rushed 102 times through three games, third in the league, compared to the Packers’ 77.

Rodgers has managed games beautifully and let the action come to him instead of pressing. Things may change next week when the Packers take on the Vikings Monday night in what is surely the biggest game of the year for both teams. As for now, the Packers’ signal caller has been outstanding running the ship that is the Packers offense.

Charles Woodson: Anyone looking for a drop off in the 12-year veteran should probably start looking for something else, because it is clear Charles Woodson is here to stay. Through three games, the Pro Bowl cornerback has 18 tackles, ranking second on the team, two tackles for a loss which is tied for most on the team, a team-high three interceptions and a touchdown to go with it.

For as good as he has been in pass coverage this season, Woodson has done a fantastic job against the run near the line of scrimmage. Teams rarely throw to his side, but when they do there is trouble to be found. Dom Capers’ pressure-filled 3-4 scheme has been golden for Woodson who preys on jumping routes.

The Packers lead the league with seven interceptions and opposing quarterbacks have a 66.3 quarterback rating against Green Bay, good for fifth in the league. Woodson has been the main reason why and is in line for another Pro Bowl visit this February if he keeps this type of performance up.

Donald Driver: Much like Woodson, Driver has shown zero signs of slowing down and is poised to have one of his better statistical years if he continues on the pace he is at. Teams have clearly labeled Greg Jennings the team’s number one receiver and Driver has reaped all the benefits. Driver has been targeted by Rodgers 23 times this season compared to Jennings’ 16, and has the advantage 14-8 in catches.

Donald Driver, the ageless wonder, has 14 catches this season.

Also, Driver’s catches have not just been short slants and check down passes. He leads the team with five catches of 20 or more yards and has also rushed one time on an end around for 13 yards. With Rodgers’ slow start, Driver’s fast start has been key in keeping the passing game alive. Jennings will end the season with more targets and receptions than Driver, but for the time being the two are complimenting each other perfectly.

Cullen Jenkins: For the die-hard Packers fan, we knew how much we were going to miss Jenkins when he was lost for the season last year, so to see him out on the field wreaking havoc is that much more enjoyable. Never a big name, Jenkins has quietly become the Packers’ best lineman and disruptor in the backfield.

His stats, ten tackles including two for losses, two sacks, and two forced fumbles do not even tell the whole story of how valuable he has been. As a defensive end, Jenkins has required two blockers on occasion which has completely freed up the outside for rushers.

He is constantly in the backfield and has provided great emotion on the all-important defensive line in the 3-4 defense. While his stats are above average for a defensive end, his best work of taking up blockers goes unnoticed for the most part but has been key in the success of the Packers’ defense thus far.

Johnny Jolly: Staying with the defensive line theme, many expected first round pick B.J. Raji to come in and be the answer to all of the Packers’ defensive line issues as they transitioned to the 3-4. Raji missed the first two games and left the Packers thin on the line, something no defensive coordinator likes to see.

However, the presence of Johnny Jolly at the defensive end/nose tackle position has made things much easier on the Packers defense. Jolly has the ability to play both line positions, shifting to nose tackle on passing downs. On the season, Jolly has 12 tackles, a tackle for a loss, two passes defended, an an interception on a screen pass in what was one of the more athletic plays you are ever going to see a 325-pound human being make.

His versatility has helped with Raji sidelined and he seems to have found his 2007 swagger again, when he performed well as a defensive tackle in the Packers’ old 4-3 scheme. Linemen need to be constantly rotated in the 3-4 defense, but Jolly’s ability to play both positions gives the Packers an added body to use in specific situations. His continued success is necessary for the Packers to continue getting to the quarterback with a great pass rush.

Honorable Mentions: Clay Matthews III, Donald Lee, Tramon Williams, Aaron Kampman, A.J. Hawk

Why the Minnesota Twins Can Catch the Detroit Tigers in the AL Central

Mark Strotman — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 16:11:19 -0400

With just under two weeks remaining in the 2009 MLB regular season, the Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers find themselves locked in a race to the finish line in the American League Central. As of today, the Tigers (82-71) have a two game lead on the Twins (80-73) with just nine games to play.

Broken down, here are five reasons why the Twins have a very good chance to catch the Tigers and steal the AL Central.

Remaining Schedule

Outside of the four game series the two teams will have starting on Sept. 28th, the Tigers will match up against the White Sox five more times, with two of those coming on the road and a three game home series to end the season.

The Tigers are 7-6 against the White Sox this season but Chicago is sure to be up for these games. Ozzie Guillen always wants to play for something and since his team has been mathematically eliminated, this is like a mini-playoffs for him.

On the other side, the Twins will play five games against the Royals to close out the year. The twins have won eight of 13 games over the Royals this year, and while Kansas City will be trying to help Zach Greinke make his case for the AL Cy Young, there is clearly less for them to play for. Greinke will get two starts against the Twins to make things interesting, but the fact remains the Twins have an easier path.

Pitching

While the Twins’ pitching staff has won more games (58) than the Tigers (57) have, it’s clear that the starting pitching edge still goes to the Tigers. However, baseball is a game of what have you done for me lately, and it’s clear that the Twins are rolling right now. In September, Minnesota pitching has sported a 3.53 ERA, good for third in the AL.

On the other hand, Detroit’s September stats include a 4.66 ERA, which is ninth in the American League.

Justin Verlander, Edwin Jackson, and Rick Porcello make for an outstanding trio in the Tigers’ rotation and each will make two more starts before the year is over, but Jarrod Washburn’s status is up in the air and the back of the Tigers’ rotation is in question.

The Twins have stayed afloat with their starting pitching but their bullpen is what has really kept them close in the AL Central. Joe Nathan is as good as it gets in the ninth inning and the Twins bullpen ranks fifth in the AL in ERA from their bullpen. Minnesota has blown 15 saves this season compared to Detroit’s 23.

Joe Mauer

Baseball is a team game and it is hard for just one player to completely take over a game, but if there was one guy who was going to accomplish that, my pick would be Joe Mauer. The Minnesota catcher has been unbelievable this season after missing time to start the year, and is the No. 1 reason the Twins are in position to creep up on the Tigers.

The All-Star has hit .378 in the month of September and, since Aug. 1, has struck out just 15 times in 216 plate appearances. If the Twins are able to make the post season, Mauer has to be considered the front-runner for the AL MVP.

Against Kansas City this year, Mauer is batting a gaudy .457 (21-46) with two home runs, ten RBI’s, and 11 walks. Look for him to have huge success the rest of the way as he leads the Twins down the stretch.

Head to Head Matchup

As important as the remaining schedule is for both teams, the fact of the matter is whoever comes out on top during the four game series is going to have the head up on the division.

Three wins in the series means two games in the standings, while a four game sweep would mean four games in the standings and more than likely a division win for whoever completed the sweep.

This season, Minnesota has won nine of 14 matchups between the two teams and will look to add to that total. The series will take place in Detroit which has to help the Tigers who are 48-26 at home, while the Twins are just 35-40 on the road.

In the season series, the Tigers have won three of five games at home and are scheduled to have Porcello and Verlander get starts in the series. If the final game of the series is an important one (it more than likely will be), then the Tigers will have the option of bumping Edwin Jackson up a day and pitch in the series finale. For the Twins, all starters but the struggling Francisco Liriano will make starts.

Momentum

So many times in baseball, the team playing better baseball at the end of the season will take down a team that has more talent. The Twins have gone 14-8 in September while the Tigers have gone 13-10. That difference is less than two games in the standings but for a team like the Twins who are chasing, it means everything. For the Tigers, every loss is another day they do not pick up more ground.

Detroit has played well in the season but Minnesota is now starting to play just that much better. Pressure is on both sides, but Minnesota is playing somewhat of a Cinderella-type role while the Tigers are trying not to choke away the season. Advantage: Minnesota.

Packers-Rams: Q+A With Rams Examiner Tim Klutsarits

Mark Strotman — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:45:05 -0400

This week, I tried a new theme out by agreeing to do a Q+A with Rams Examiner Tim Klutsarits. We both asked each other questions about the opposing teams to get a grasp on the matchup that will take place on Sunday in St. Louis. Up first are Tim’s questions on the Packers followed by my questions on the Rams.

Tim Klutsarits: I think there are a lot of Rams fans who were shocked by what happened to the Packers against the Bengals. What happened?

Mark Strotman: The Bengals seem poised to have a resurgent year. Minus Carson Palmer’s mistakes, they looked very good on offense and their defense looks much improved. The combination of Leon Hall covering other team’s number one receiver and Antwan Odom getting to the quarterback at will is a darn good one. The Packers are ready to get back on track and simply had a bump in the road that was going to happen at some point this season.

TK: Should that loss give Rams fans hope that they will pull off the upset on Sunday?

MS: It should give your defense a lot of hope that if they get to Aaron Rodgers, it will make things interesting. Cedric Benson reminds me a lot of Steven Jackson so the run game will be key, but Rodgers is due for a breakout game so the Rams will need to score points early and often.

TK: Aaron Rodgers has had a relatively quiet start when you compare what he did last season to this year. Is he struggling because of his offensive line or should we be expecting a breakout game from Rodgers soon?

MS: Rodgers has been good (zero interceptions) but not great (two touchdowns) and a game against one of the weaker NFC teams is what he needs. He has noted the concerns of the offensive line and I believe the Packers will adjust to that this week. Look for short passes and lots of slants to back the defense off. Rodgers will not throw for a ton of yards but his completion percentage will be very high.

TK: The Rams have had problems stopping the run in the past few seasons and it continues this season. How has Ryan Grant looked and what do you expect on Sunday?

MS: Grant has looked alright but certainly not anything spectacular. Some can say it is due to the lack of production on the offensive line, but that extra burst that Grant showed in 2007 is still nowhere to be found. Brandon Jackson will be out once again, so Grant will produce yards because of the touches he gets, but as of now the Packers are still relying heavily on the passing game.

TK: The Rams have also had problems stopping the tight end. Is Donald Lee capable of having a huge game?

MS: Lee might not be the one to look at here, but rather Jermichael Finley. He was touted as a breakout player coming into this season but has not benefitted at all from Rodgers’ lackluster start. If what you say is true, look for Finley to become a vertical threat on your linebackers.

TK: Defensively it looks like the Packers secondary is really beat up. Is this something the Rams can exploit?

MS: Thankfully, Nick Collins will be back in action and recently acquired Derek Martin will get the start for the injured Atari Bigby. The way the Rams will be able to exploit the secondary is through the run game. Bigby was by far our best run support in the secondary and so there will be a big hit there. With Collins back and Woodson playing like an MVP, I wouldn’t expect a big outcome from the passing game. If the Rams are going to win, it will be because Steven Jackson had success on the ground.

TK: What is your prediction for Sunday?

MS: Packers 31, Rams 17

Mark Strotman: Steve Spagnuolo took over as head coach this season. Have you noticed an attitude change on the team and is there a sense of resurgence on the horizon in the city of St. Louis?

Tim Klutsarits: There has definitely been a change in attitude under Steve Spagnuolo although the results have not shown it. He wants to be a tough hard nosed football team that plays smart. They have been hard nosed but lack talent at a lot of positions. There is definitely a plan in place and people do believe that the Rams are going to be better...at some point. No one is believing in any miracles in 2009 but there is hope to be much more competitive this season.

MS: Steven Jackson has been relatively quiet in the first two games. The Packers gave up a ton of yards against the Bengals by running outside the tackles. Do you expect them to try to run the ball or finally get the passing game going?

TK: Steven Jackson is the Rams entire offense and the Packers should expect a heavy dose on Sunday, especially because of what Benson did to the Bengals. The Rams underutilized Jackson in Seattle and it showed with a 28-0 loss. The next week against the Redskins they used Jackson more, he had over 100 yards, and the game was 9-7. The Rams know they have to get Jackson a lot of touches and that will increase as the season goes along.

MS: Speaking of the passing game, where has Donnie Avery been? Is this a matter of the Rams not having a number two to compliment him (so he is doubled) or has he just been unproductive? It seems like he is they key to the Rams’ offense being able to get going.

TK: Avery has been horrible in the first two games. He committed a fumble inside the Redskins 5 yard line on Sunday which was arguably the reason the Rams lost the game. He had two drops in D.C. and committed another costly penalty. In Seattle he had drops as well and had penalties. He in all reality lost his #1 receiver job to Laurent Robinson. The Rams are still high on Avery but they have put him on notice that he better get better….real quick.

MS: Entering the 2009 Draft, the three players I wanted the Packers to look at were Jason Smith, B.J. Raji, and Brian Orakpo. How has Jason Smith looked early as your left tackle of the future?

TK: Jason Smith has been a project thus far. He is getting better and better but has not dominated like you would hope a number two overall pick would do. He has played almost exclusively at right tackle during the regular season and will remain there for 2009. The plan is to move him in 2010 when Alex Barron is done with his contract. Smith will not play on Sunday vs. the Packers due to a knee injury.

MS: Will the Rams be able to stop Aaron Rodgers after giving up 240+ yards to both quarterbacks in the first two games? Rodgers seems to be poised to break out this week and a dome only makes it that much more likely that he will. How do the Rams plan to stop him?

TK: Stopping Rodgers will be a very interesting project this week. The Rams have not been good at getting to the quarterback (only 1 sack this season) but they are not giving up the big play in the secondary. The Rams have been picked apart by the running game and short passes to the tight end. Rodgers may have a big game but his stats will reflect a high completion percentage with low yardage. The Rams number one concern this week has been about getting to the quarterback. We’ll see how it plays out on Sunday.

MS: What are the top three things the Rams need to do in order to upset the Packers this Sunday?

TK: If the Rams get to Aaron Rodgers multiple times, get Steven Jackson close to 150 yards rushing and can protect Marc Bulger then the Rams will pull off the upset. Being 0-2 and with the situation the Rams are in here in St. Louis they can’t afford to lose this one. Going 0-3 and having another “lost season” is not something this organization can afford. Jobs are on the line for the players and the organization desperately needs to sell tickets for the remaining 7 games. This game is a sellout but most are not. If the Rams can win the season becomes interesting again. If not the Rams will fall off the radar completely because the Cardinals will be in the playoffs and the Blues will be starting their season. This is as close to a must win game as the Rams are going to have this season. Be aware Packers fans.

What Are the Chances of Marquette's “Big Three” Making the Pros?

Mark Strotman — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:11:04 -0400

After the 2009 NBA Draft had been completed, 60 players from across the world had NBA teams to call homes after hearing their name called.

None of those 60 drafted was a Marquette Golden Eagle.

Jerel McNeal, Wesley Matthews, and Dominic James all had their names supplanted in the Marquette basketball history book as McNeal led all players in scoring and games played, James finished second all time in assists, and Matthews had made more free throws than anyone else.

However, measurements were not on the “Big Three’s” list of attributes, and subsequently none of them were drafted.

McNeal was dubbed as more of a point guard because of his size (6′2″) and inability to consistently knock down outside shots. Matthews had played more of a small forward position in college and needed to shoot better to become a shooting guard. Point guard Dominic James’ foot injury slowed him down considerably in pre-draft workouts.

As much of a shock as it was to see the Big Three be shut out on draft day, all three have been presented the opportunity to make an NBA roster this fall.

Matthews played for the Kings in the Summer League but was picked up by the Jazz and was invited to their veteran’s camp. Prior to the draft, Matthews saw his stock rise a fair amount with good workouts and a solid showing at the Portsmouth Invitational.

The 6′4″ guard has the best chance among the Big Three to make a squad this fall. The Jazz have major question marks at the shooting guard and small forward position, and Matthews might be able to sneak on the roster.

Kyle Korver, Andrei Kirilenko, Ronnie Brewer, and C.J. Miles are the only listed two's and three's as the Jazz have three point guards (Deron Williams, Ronnie Price, rookie Eric Maynor) and three centers (Mehmet Okur, Kosta Koufos, and Kyrylo Fesenko) on their current roster.

One roster move that could substantially help Matthews’ chance is whether or not veteran Matt Harpring decides to come back and play a 12th season for the Jazz, as constant ankle and knee problems have slowed him down. Indications right now are that Harpring will not play which opens up another forward spot for Matthews.

Matthews claims the Jazz have liked him from the start, and if a spot is open they might just take a chance with him and put him on the roster.

As much room as there is for Matthews on the Jazz roster, Jerel McNeal finds himself bunched together with a group of young guards in Los Angeles with the Clippers. He has been asked to attend camp as well and finds himself in a position to make the team, but will have his work cut out for him.

The Clippers have stocked up on point guards in the last couple of years, adding veteran Baron Davis and Sebastian Telfair to join Mardy Collins.

At shooting guard, the Clippers have one of the game’s better young shooters in Eric Gordon to go along with recently traded-for Rasual Butler, and Ricky Davis who is listed at small forward, but plays a fair amount of shooting guard.

If McNeal is able to establish himself as a shooter that can also handle the point, he may garner a look. Odds are that McNeal will make his way overseas for the next couple of years before trying to make his case in the Association.

Reports say that Dominic James’ foot injury is nearing 100 percent; that should help him as he makes his case to join the Milwaukee Bucks this season. James looked to be in good position entering the Summer League with the Bucks, but he sprained his knee the day before the team was to leave for Las Vegas.

Now, he will go up against Brandon Jennings, veteran Luke Ridnour, and recently acquired Roko Ukic to try to make the roster. Fellow point guard Salim Stoudamire was cut from the team after an average showing in the Summer League, so James has already one upped his chances.

The Bucks lack depth in the front court and are looking to add size at all costs, so they will probably not keep four point guards on the roster, but if James outplays Ukic in preseason he may get a look.

Preseason Expectations of the Packers Are Blinding Some

Mark Strotman — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:00:30 -0400

Ask just about any media outlet who the breakout team of 2009 would be before the season started, and odds were you were going to hear the Green Bay Packers.

After all, they had absolutely dominated all four preseason games and looked pinpoint-accurate on offense. Their defense had stayed pretty much vanilla on the play calling yet still forced turnovers left and right.

Everyone was ready to crown the Packers kings of the NFC before the season had even started, and one got the feeling that there was no way this team could be stopped. Their defense was now healthy, the offense had more weapons than it knew what to do with, and the special teams were starting to rise up to an average standard.

After Week one, fans cited a tough, grind-it-out game against a solid Bears' defense as the reason the Packers did not put up 30 points. However, they still won the game and did so by making good on the one thing they failed to do last season: win the close game.

A week later, the Packers had just been defeated by a suddenly resurgent Bengals team that should be 2-0 (see Stokley, Brandon), and all of a sudden, the majority of Packers fans were seen either heading for the nearest bridge to jump off or seeking shelter due to the sky falling. As is typical with most sports fans early in the season, good outcomes are overvalued and bad outcomes are undervalued (Jay Cutler, anyone?).

The fact of the matter is the Packers are a better team than what they trotted out last Sunday afternoon against the Bengals, but they aren’t as good as what they showed in the preseason.

The Packers finished their 2008 campaign with a 6-10 record that slotted them in the ninth spot in the draft. Say what you will about the close losses and how they were in just about every game they played in, you are what your record is, and the Packers were just plain bad last season.

In the offseason, they brought in Anthony Smith, a former backup safety from the Steelers who was known more for his smack talk to Tom Brady than his on-the-field play. The Packers also drafted a slough of defensive players that included first-rounders B.J. Raji and Clay Matthews III. Raji has yet to play in a game, and Matthews III has seen limited time but looked good.

The Packers also instilled a 3-4 defense with new coordinator Dom Capers that was expected to take time to work. Running the scheme with players used to a 4-3 defense was not the most ideal of situations, and a learning period was going to need to occur.

After an outstanding preseason, optimistic Packers fans seemingly threw that learning curve out the window and expected results right away. So when the defense struggled against the Bengals and everyone wondered why all of a sudden the 3-4 wasn’t working, it didn’t make any sense.

Not everyone on the Packers is as experienced as Donald Driver.

Any way one slices it, the Packers still have the exact same personnel that won them six games last season and have not made a huge improvement or change in a big part of the system that would expect immediate results.

Last season, Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan came in and took over the helm at quarterback along with brand new coaches and saw results.

That’s not to say the Packers need to fire head coach Mike McCarthy and trade Aaron Rodgers, but what it means is the process is going to take time. Everyone knows that Rodgers is going to be just fine this season with all the weapons he has, but the defense is still getting their feet underneath them.

Unlike the situations of the Ravens and Falcons last season, a whole new scheme is taking place on defense that is going to take more time than an NFL-ready quarterback does.

In a way, their performance against the Bears was like a pitcher making his first start in the major leagues. He has made starts in Double-A, Triple-A, just as the individual players on the Packers’ D have played the 4-3 defense their whole careers. Once that pitcher comes to the big leagues, there is a huge change in how you approach batters and how fast the game moves.

The one caveat is that when that starting pitcher makes his first start in the Bigs, no team has a good enough scouting report to figure out what is going to come. The first time through the order, he torches the offense who have never seen him before. As the season progresses, teams will pick up scouting reports and that pitcher will also become better.

Much is the same for the Packers' defense. True, they have been with Capers since July and have been working on the defense, but there is no replacement for the real thing and the Packers are still figuring out the defense at game speed.

There are going to be growing pains with the Packers this season, but the hope is they figure it out at a fast pace so they can continue to win football games.

The offensive line is extremely young and inexperienced for the most part and has struggled to date. Experts who chose the Packers to win the NFC might have been premature because they looked at it with Fantasy Football goggles on. The Packers have the skill positions on offense and defense down pat.

But the little things like fluidity on defense and consistency on the offensive line are going to take time, so being confused as to why the Packers had a bump in the road against the Bengals is nonsense. Dom Capers did not make the Packers the second coming of the Steelers in one night, and Aaron Rodgers is not Tom Brady just because he led one fourth quarter comeback.

All the pieces for the Packers to be successful are in place, but this isn’t Madden 2010. Give the team some time and let them work out the kinks as the season moves along. For what it’s worth, the Packers are again the youngest team in the NFL, and it has shown to some extent.

As long as they stay healthy and keep progressing under Capers, there’s good reason to believe the Packers will be in contention come December. However, the preseason made the Packers out to be the 2007 Patriots before they had even taken one snap in the regular season, so the Bengals game came as a shock.

It’s how the Packers respond to them that becomes important. Take Allen Barbre, for example. He had a very rough game against the Bears, allowing two sacks and constant pressure from the right side. Against the Bengals, he fared much better and was stellar in the running game again.

The Packers are a much better, more disciplined, and better coached team than they were last year so it’s not as if six wins should be expected again, but growing pains and inexperience are going to creep up during times this year, and Packers’ fans need to understand that they are there.