Bleacher Report - Green Bay Packers

Who Is the Best Running Back in Philadelphia Eagles History?

DMtShooter Five Tool Tool — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:28:00 -0500

News today is that Brian Westbrook will make a full recovery from his second concussion in three weeks, and while everyone is talking as if he'll return to the field (perhaps in time for a hoped-for playoff), I'm just happy to hear the man isn't looking at reduced capabilities. And since I'm still not convinced that I'm ever going to see him in the active laundry again, it seems as good a time as any to see how he stacks up for the title of Best RB in Franchise History.

Realistically, there are three choices for the honor. The first is more or less unknown to modern fans, but given that he's got infinitely more rings than the others, that might not be fair.

Steve Van Buren

8 years, 5,860 career rushing yards, 69 TDs on the ground. Led the league in rushing and rushing touchdowns in four different years. Played both ways, as usual for the era, with 9 career interceptions as a secondary player.

Added another 523 yards on the occasional screen pass, and scored 3 TDs through the air, and another 3 as a kick returner. Star player on two championship teams, 28th in career rushing touchdown, and a member of the Hall of Fame.

First running back to win three straight rushing titles; only three other backs (Emmit Smith, Earl Campbell and Jim Brown) have done that. As a 6'-1", 200 pound back who ran a 9.8 100-yard dash, I'm pretty sure he could hold up to today's game.

There is also this: before SVB, the laundry never finished above fourth, and barely survived World War II for fear of being contracted with the Pittsburgh franchise.

Had he not played for the club, there's a very real chance that the franchise would have had only one championship (the 1960 title over the not quite ready Packers) in over 75 years.

Old-time Eagle fans swear by van Buren, and for good reason. In both championship games, he was the best player on the field, and in the second championship, he set a then-league record with 196 yards on the ground.

A seven-time All-Pro, he was basically Jim Brown 1.0, and by doing what he did in the late '40s and early '50s, it's not like he was doing this before people knew what they were doing. If you want to call him the best, I'm not going to argue.

Wilbert Montgomery

9 seasons, 6,789 career rushing yards, 2,502 career receiving. 45 touchdowns on the ground, another 12 as a receiver. 42 fumbles, including a league-leading 14 in his big 1979 year.

At 5'-10", 195, he was a little small for every down use, and had good hands as a receiver and was just plain shifty. His emergence as a star after being picked in the sixth round in 1977 from Abilene Christian gave the populace the big clue that the Dick Vermeil/Carl Peterson era was going to be a good one in terms of finding untapped talent.

Wilbert led the league in all-purpose yards in 1979, and went to two Pro Bowls, and was the best offensive player for the Super Bowl losing 1980 season. He also had the ball in his hands for the best moment in the history of the franchise. Let's look at again now, shall we?

Forty two yards, untouched, and a generation of losing to Dallas was done. Now let's watch it again, but with Merrill Reese.

Yeah, it is better. Merrill's got a way.

The twin chinks in Montgomery's armor are injuries (he only played the full 16-game slate once), and fumbles (42 is a lot, especially when you are being considered for the title of best RB in franchise history).

Basically, he was fairly close to the late '70s Clinton Portis...or the next guy.

Brian Westbrook

Now in his eighth season, with 5,946 yards rushing and 3,765 yards receiving, which actually puts him just ahead of Montgomery for yards from scrimmage. 37 career rushing touchdowns and 29 through the air, so he's got the edge in total touchdowns, but this is an era in which more points are scored.

Dub has only 12 career fumbles so far, which is a huge advantage. Possibly the most dangerous back I've ever seen on a screen pass. At 5'-8" and 200, has never really been seen as a workhorse back, with only three years of over 200 carries.

Despite the waterbug size, was never really a change of pace back, mostly due to one of the best stiff arms in the business, and he never seemed to take a game off. He also had four straight years where you could count on him for 700 yards on 70+ catches.

Outstanding at blitz pickup, with two rookie year kick returns for touchdowns, one of which helped the team absolutely steal a win in New York. This clip has that highlight and four other minutes that produce much happiness.

To my mind, Dub gets the gold, despite his similar or worse injury problems. I'm also inclined to and not just because he is doing it in the modern eras, with presumably better athletes and coaching.

The fumbles are just too many for me to give the nod to Wilbert, and I'm also inclined to downgrade the better rushing TD numbers, since Captain Andy and the modern era have conspired to take away goal-line touches from many of the best backs.

Now, Dub's candidacy isn't perfect. Unlike SVB, there are no rings, and unlike Wilbert, he's never been as absolutely necessary to the team's success, and even more injury-prone.

Running yards should matter more than passing yards for a running back, too, and the very best Eagles RB in franchise history is probably SVB in between the tackles. Wilbert on any handoff that goes outside, and Dub on any pass play.

But all in all, give me Dub for everything. (And, shh, maybe Ricky Watters as a surprisingly good option. Only three years in the laundry, but the full career looks more like Walter Payton, Thurman Thomas, or Jim Brown than you might imagine.)

But again, if you want to argue for SVB, or just tell me how Wilbert had your vote now and forever for 42 Untouched Yards, that is your prerogative.

Read more Green Bay Packers news on BleacherReport.com

Green Bay Packers Midseason Grades

MJ Kasprzak — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:41:52 -0500

Every course has a midterm grade, and we have reached that point in the season. (Technically, the Packers reached that before the Dallas game. However, with all teams having now had their bye week, Week 10 is the most appropriate time to do any comparison.)

Thus, I will be examining the grades I have given each unit, and analyzing the team strengths and weaknesses. In this article, I will focus on the offense and aspects of coaching; my next installment will focus on defense and special teams.

Like any good teacher, I have also re-examined some of the grades to see if they are fair.

For instance, as was pointed out by my most frequently-commenting Vikings fan, Mark, even considering the strength of competition and special teams failures that enabled the Vikings to score 38 points, I clearly graded the defense for that week too high (A-/D-/B+).

Likewise, even with the sorry competition of the Lions and Rams, I graded the units too low considering both games were over early in the second half.

Hence, below are my revised midseason grades by unit. (For the original grades, you can look back at my articles following each game with key words in the titles like game recaps, analysis, and report cards.)

Note: To enable a B+ to rate higher than a B-, I am using the following values for each grade to determine average: A+=12, A=11, A-=10, B+=9…D=2, D-=1, F=0.

Quarterback: B

(B-, B, B+, A-, B+, A+, A-, D, B)

This averages to a value of 8.6—nearly a B+, but I will only give Rodgers a B thus far. His passer rating of 101.8 is good for fourth in the league, and despite the poor blocking, he has led this team to the 11th most passing yards in the league, and the third most per play.

However, 20 to 25 percent of the sacks Rodgers takes are the result of him holding the ball too long. He will not reach an A grade until he can correct this tendency. However, he is 189-296 (63.9) for 2444 yards (8.3 per attempt) with 17 touchdowns and only five interceptions.

Rodgers is also the team’s second-leading rusher with 33 carries for 229 yards (6.3 average), three touchdowns, and only two fumbles lost. That gives him 2673 total yards, 20 scores, and seven turnovers.

Running Back: C

(D+, D-, C+, B+, B-, B+, D, B, C-)

These grades average to a value of 5.4, or a high C—that is about right given decent production behind a horrible line. The team is 12th in rushing and tied for 11th in yards per carry.

Ryan Grant is ninth in the league in rushing with 168 carries for 700 yards. The resulting 4.2 yard average is 17th in the league among backs with 100-plus carries. He also has 18 catches for 132 yards (7.3 average), but has just four touchdowns and one fumble lost.

Those numbers are solid and would rate somewhere around a B-. Unfortunately, the rest of the backfield has accumulated just 131 yards on 38 carries (3.4) and 19 catches for 131 yards (6.9), with a total of three touchdowns. It is generally not a good thing to have one back account for 76 percent of a unit’s production.

Receivers (WR/TE): B-

(C-, D+, B+, A-, A-, A, B+, B-, B)

This unit has totaled 154 catches for 2196 yards (14.3) and 15 touchdowns with just one fumble lost.

Donald Driver is leading the team with 41 catches for 663 yards (16.2 average) and four touchdowns, but does have the unit’s only fumble lost. Greg Jennings is right behind him with 38 catches for 543 yards (14.3 average) and two scores.

Beyond them, the Packers have three players with over 200 receiving yards: James Jones (14 catches for 280 yards, a 20.0 average, and three scores), Jermichael Finley (17-260, 15.3, 1), and Donald Lee (26-202, 7.8, 0), despite Finley missing a couple games. Jordy Nelson (11-136, 12.4, 1) and Spencer Havner (7-112, 16.0, 4) round out a deep and talented corps.

Offensive Line: D

(F, F, D+, F, F, B+, F, F, D+)

This averages to just under a D, but in looking at the line’s running stats, I think they would warrant higher were it not for some pretty soft defenses faced.

Even if one blames Rodgers for over 20 percent—say nine—of his 41 sacks (a reasonable guess, but consider that every quarterback can be blamed for almost half that percentage), this line would have yielded the most sacks in the league. They also “lead” the NFL in quarterback hits allowed.

The team is 14th in yards per carry, but that includes how well a back exploits a secondary when he can reach it. A better indicator of a line’s blocking is the number of negative plays they yield.

Surprisingly, the Packers are fifth in the league in lowest percentage of runs that result in a loss. (The ratio of rushes of 10-plus yards to negative plays gets better as the carries move to the right.)

Coaching: D+

Offensively, the team ranks eighth in yards, is tied for seventh in points, ninth in third down percentage, and tops in turnover ratio. However, the Packers struggle on special teams and with penalties. We have the most penalties and second most penalty yards.

Last season when the team was racking up penalties and yards, I chalked it up to inexperience. But after 25 games, those excuses do not hold up. The coaches are accountable for bringing discipline to the team.

I could live with the penalties, but there are other indicators of poor coaching, too. For instance, on Nov. 8, the Packers faced off against the previously win-less Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and looked like a team that took the win for granted.

It is absolutely unacceptable to have a lack of intensity. The failure to wrap up on tackles, no sense of urgency as the game was slipping away, no game plan to rattle a quarterback making his first start…

That lack of effort and preparation has led me to believe that not only should Ted Thompson be fired for the lack of talent on the roster, but Mike McCarthy has to go for not getting enough out of the talent he has.

Much like he did last season, McCarthy made the same mistakes leading to the same results.

He had a chance to rattle the emotional Old Guy in the previous two games with his chief rival. Why would you not pressure a player who is known throughout his career for making poor decisions because he wants to make big plays and who really wanted to show his old team up?

Yet he and Dom Capers sent almost no blitzes at the Old Guy in either game. They followed that up by rarely blitzing the young and presumably emotional rookie in his first start—a player who was described as raw coming out of college.

Moreover, the Packers were running the ball better than they were passing, and Ryan Grant is a back whose yards per carry go up as the game goes along. Nevertheless, McCarthy abandoned the run altogether once the Bucs took the lead.

If last week’s well-designed game plan is an indication the coaching staff is getting a handle on their role, fine. But they may have waited too long. Should the Packers fail to finish with a winning record, the coaches deserve as much blame for not maximizing talent as management does for not getting enough of it.

I originally wrote this article for SportsScribes.net.

Read more Green Bay Packers news on BleacherReport.com

Green Bay Packers Defense: By the Numbers

Chad — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:46:58 -0500

Dom Capers and his new 3-4 defense for the Green Bay Packers have come under a lot of scrutiny since being established this year. When head coach Mike McCarthy decided to clean house and switch to the new scheme, it was seen as a bold move, but hopefully one that would help solve the problems of a lackluster defense.

A little over halfway through the 2009 regular season, the Green Bay Packers are sitting at 5-4, and many people have wondered if Dom Capers and his staff are really making a difference. Many have pointed to this past Sunday— when the Packers defense dominated the potent Cowboys offense— as an indication that things are indeed looking a lot better.

However, others point to the previous week’s devastating loss to Tampa Bay as proof that things are still shaky. (Not to mention the heart-breaking games against the Vikings, who seemed to march down the field freely on each possession.)

So where do the Packers really stand defensively? It’s hard to say. Part of the problem has been inconsistency from game to game. But even more of the analytical fog comes from the disparity among Green Bay’s opponents. The Packers have played some really good teams along with some really bad teams.

Of course, the defensive has also been hampered by poor special teams play and struggles to move the ball on offense. Please stay tuned for another article that analyzes defensive data based on field position.

In the meantime, let’s take a look at some overall statistics from this season as compared to last season. Hopefully, this should provide some indication of Dom Capers’ successes and/or failures with the new 3-4 defense.

OVERALL DEFENSE

STAT	2008 Season	2009 Season (9 Games)
Pts/Game	23.8 (22^nd )	19.9 (10^th )
Yds/Game	334.3 (20^th )	282.3 (4^th )
Yds/Play	5.3 (16^th )	4.8 (4^th )
1^st Downs/Game	18.4 (14^th )	17.3 (T-6^th )
3^rd Down Pct	38% (14^th ) 13.1 att/g	33% (2^nd ), 13.0 att/g
Pen/Game	5.6 (T-18^th fewest), 45.0 yds/g	5.6 (10^th fewest), 40.7 yds/g
Fum/Game	1.3 (T-19^th )	2.0 (T-4^th )

When looking at the defense’s overall numbers, it’s clear to see that— especially in the rankings— there has been a lot of improvement since last season. The biggest jumps in numbers show up in perhaps the most telling of the statistics: Pts/Game, Yds/Game, and Yds/Play.

Currently, the Packers are giving up, on average, about four points less per game— a little more than a field goal— when compared to the 2008 season. And considering the number of games lost last season by less than that amount, it’s fairly significant.

Additionally, the defense this year is allowing 52 less yards per game, which amounts to just over half the length of the field. This places them in the Top Five teams in the NFL in that category— a ranking fans could only dream about last year.

But one of the big statistics that people like to also point out is Yds/Play. While the raw numbers only show a difference of about half a yard from last year to this year, it should be noted that the range between worst (6.3 yds.) and best (4.6 yds.) teams currently stands at 1.7 yds. Knowing this helps to put the improvement in a better perspective.

On the negative end, the one statistic that has not really seen improvement is the number of penalties called on the defense per game (5.6 each season). Of course, this should not come as a surprise to any Packers fan. The small silver lining to this statistic, though, is that the team is generating slightly less penalty yardage given the same number of penalties.

RUSHING DEFENSE

STAT	2008 Season	2009 Season (9 Games)
Yds/Game	131.6 (26^th )	93.1 (4^th )
Yds/Play	4.6 (26^th )	3.5 (T-3^rd )
Att/Game	28.6 (24^th )	26.4 (T-1^st )
TD	20 (27^th )	3 (T-2^nd )
Longest Play	60T (T-17^th )	33 (5^th )
20+ Yd Plays	15 (T-23^rd )	4 (T-6^th )
40+ Yd Plays	4 (T-25^th )	0 (T-1^st )
Fumbles	9 (T-7^th )	7 (T-5^th )

Before we get into the woes of the passing defense, let’s take a look at how far the rushing defense has come since last year. Some coaches believe that stopping the running game is the first step towards holding back the opposition. If that is truly the case, then the Packers are on their way toward being a dominant defensive unit.

The contrasts between this season and last season can really be seen across the board. Almost 40 less yards are given up per game, along with over a yard less per attempt. But more importantly, this season’s 3-4 defense has stopped the big running plays. The team is currently on pace to only allow half the number of 20-plus yard plays when compared to last season, and they have yet to give up a play over 40 yards.

Perhaps the biggest difference comes in the number of rushing TDs allowed. Even if the defense lets its current number double by the end of the season (to six TDs), it will still be less than half of last season’s allowed TDs (20). A marked improvement if ever there was one.

To top it all off, the Packers only need to force two more fumbles on running plays the rest of the season to tie their accomplishment from last season.

There really is no negative to this year’s defense when it comes to the run, and the numbers are showing it. Hopefully the team’s improvement in this area will allow it to start patching up the final piece of the puzzle: stopping the pass.

PASSING DEFENSE

STAT	2008 Season	2009 Season (9 Games)
Yds/Game	202.8 (12^th )	189.2 (6^th )
Yds/Play	6.5 (T-6^th )	6.6 (T-9^th )
Comp Pct	55.4 (3^rd )	55.0% (T-3^rd )
Att/Game	32.4 (17^th )	30.9 (8^th )
QB Rating	71.9 (4^th )	76.2 (6^th )
TD	22 (T-21^st )	17 (29^th )
Int	22 (T-3^rd )	13 (4^th )
Longest Play	70T (T-12^th )	68 (20^th )
20+ Yd Plays	41 (T-15^th )	27 (T-21^st )
40+ Yd Plays	11 (T-25^th )	6 (T-20^th )
Sacks	27 (T-25^th )	18 (T-20^th )

Here’s where things start to get ugly. While Capers' defense has been an overall success this year, being able to stop the passing game has remained a problem. While there have been some improvements, there has also been some deterioration.

Let’s start with the good. This year’s defense is giving up about 13 less yards per game, which, while not a fantastic improvement, is still a step in the right direction. In addition to this, the Packers are on pace to generate more sacks than last season. Their ability to put pressure on the opposing quarterback isn’t quite where we want it to be this year, but again, it’s better than last year.

Now to the bad. There are quite a few areas where the defense has stayed consistent (if that word is even in the Green Bay vocabulary). Even thought that means it hasn’t gotten worse, it also means it hasn't gotten better. Yds/Play, Completion Pct, and Interceptions are the biggest culprits in this.

And finally…the ugly. The most notable statistic that has gotten worse is the number of 20-plus yard plays allowed. So far, the Packers have given up way too many of these big plays, which is probably what hurts them more than anything else. Even on the 40-plus yard plays, the defense is on pace to match its results from last season.

But what is really disheartening is the fact that the Packers have allowed 17 TDs through the air. They can only allow four more passing TDs the rest of the season if they want to remain underneath last season’s total, which wasn’t all that great.

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

In general, the defense is improving. The Packers are finally containing opposing running backs and limiting overall yardage. However, they seem to have become more prone to the long passing plays. In a very simple way, this makes some sense. Focusing more on the running game can affect the focus on the passing game.

Of course, good defenses can do both. And the fact that the new 3-4 defense is giving up big bursts of yardage through the air suggests a number of things:

1) Not enough pressure is being put on the opposing quarterback, which gives him time to throw the ball deeper and lets the receivers work the field.

2) The players are still trying to get comfortable in the new 3-4 scheme, with regard to their assignments.

3) Some of the Packers' personnel might not be quite right for the job.

These conclusions are not new to the Packers community, but it’s important to note that the numbers defend the claims being made.

One thing can be certain, though. The Packers defense is becoming a bright spot for the entire team, and it should continue to improve. There are a number of factors involved, but as long as Dom Capers and his staff keep making the right calls and the players remain focused, there should be no reason why this defense can’t remain a Top Five unit.

After all, the game against the Dallas Cowboys showed the NFL what the Packers are capable of. They have set the bar, now they need to continue to set it higher.

Read more Green Bay Packers news on BleacherReport.com

Green Bay-Dallas: Three Reasons To Smile After Packers' Win Over Cowboys

Jersey Al Bracco — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:14:36 -0500

Hold on everybody, the Packer roller-coaster season is only in mid-ride. Just when most Packer fans were ready to bail out of the car, the season swooped up to its highest point so far.

The amazing win against the formerly on-a-roll Dallas Cowboys has left Packer fans everywhere just a bit giddy.

So what changed? What was responsible for the 180-degree turnaround from the putrid performance in Tampa? Specifically, what three things put a smile on my face?

1. Mike McCarthy had a good game plan and called a good game—for a change.

As critical as I have been of his coaching, I have to give him credit. Here are some of the things he did that I liked:

a) The running game. For once, Mike McCarthy ran the ball throughout the entire game, never abandoning it as he is so inclined to do. The Packers' running backs ran the ball 23 times for 90 yards, an average of 3.9 yards.

You wouldn't call that great, but it was enough to help keep the Cowboys honest. A good number of draw plays were called, again to keep the Dallas defensive linemen from committing all-out to the pass rush.Seems like a simple concept, but one that often eludes the Packers' head coach.

b) Screen passes: The Packers ran five screen plays, and while the average gain was not great, it would have been much better if the first screen to Ryan Grant hadn't been nullified by a penalty.

Not to mention what would have happened if Chad Clifton could just throw a block in the open field. On two quick screens to his side, Clifton had but one Dallas player to block and the Packers would have had large gains, as there were no other defenders in sight. Instead, he whiffed twice and the Packer running back was tackled for a loss or no gain.

And let me also add here that the Packers fool no one when they run a screen. They are very poor at disguising it. You can see the opposing players running to the ball carrier before the ball is even thrown. Perhaps if the Packers keep running it, practice will make perfect.

c) Blocking help: There were only three passes thrown to the tight ends this game, because the majority of the time, they were part of the protection package. When you are playing a team with a pass rush like Cowboys have, that's the right thing to do.

While in many cases Lee and Havner were of help in protection, Lee was called for two holding penalties and Havner was slow to react on two plays, both resulting in sacks.

But despite that, I am at least pleased that Mike McCarthy didn't do what he has done in other games this year—left inexperienced players out on an island to deal with All-Pro defensive lineman on their own.

d) Short passing game: Mike McCarthy finally realized that no matter the advantage he thinks the Packers receivers may have against opposing secondaries, it does no good to try to hit the home run if Aaron Rodgers doesn't have time to throw it.

The short routes and completions were plentiful. The slant route was back (despite Troy Aikman not realizing it had ever left). The screen pass, as discussed above, was back.

From my unofficial count after watching the game tape, 23 of the 35 passes thrown were passes of less than 10 yards in the air. To me, this was the best called game by Mike McCarthy in a long time.

e) Aaron Rodgers: Let's not give Mike McCarthy too much credit. Aaron Rodgers was given more responsibility for making line of scrimmage calls this past week. He managed the game well, and made an obvious conscious effort to get the ball out of his hands as quickly as possible.

Rodgers threw the ball away three times to avoid a sack (one was penalized, but I applaud the thought, anyway).

He also dumped the ball off four times to avoid a sack. These numbers may not seem earth shattering, but compared to his other games, it's a downright plethora of sack-avoidance maneuvers.

Rodgers also seemed to move a bit better in the pocket, avoiding a few sacks and only losing a total of 11 yards on the four times that he was sacked. For comparison, the Cowboys lost 34 yards total on the Packers' five sacks.

Perhaps the Monday "Come to Jesus" meeting clarified everything for Rodgers. Evidently, in this no-holds-barred meeting, a few Packer players called out Rodgers for holding the ball too long.

Hearing it from his own teammates is probably what it took for him to see things in a different light and make a concerted effort to change things. I think he did a great job of it and showed his commitment winning and to his teammates.

2) Dom Capers finally let it all hang out.

Blitzes from the Edge. I've been calling for it all season: "Where is Matthews coming off the edge?" I have asked. "Why do the Packers keep running the same crossover blitz with the inside linebackers over and over? What happened to the DB blitzing we saw against the Bears?" Well guess what, all of that arrived last weekend, plus a whole lot more.

Watching the game tape, it was startling some of the blitzes I saw. Capers called some things you hardly ever see, like two defensive backs blitzing from the same side. Now, unless you're in a situation where you're blitzing eight, you just don't see that.

Let me tell you, from one play to the next, Romo had no way to predict who was coming and from where.

As an example, lets just look at the first half. The Packers blitzed 13 times in the first half. Here's what occurred.

Blitz #1: Bigby
Blitz #2: Matthews
Blitz #3: Woodson
Blitz #4: Collins
Blitz #5: Matthews & Jones
Blitz #6: Collins & Bush (same side)
Blitz #7: Bigby
Blitz #8: Barnett & Hawk - inside crossover blitz - sack
Blitz #9: Matthews
Blitz #10: Matthews
Blitz #11: Matthews - sack
Blitz #12: Barnett & Woodson - inside crossover blitz
Blitz #13: Matthews & Jones

Eleven of the 13 blitzes were from the outside. The first seven of the game were all from the outside, from six different players. When the Packers finally ran their inside crossover blitz on Blitz no. 8, it worked to perfection. No wonder!

Suddenly the inside blitz was a surprise and not expected. This is what we had heard since the day Capers had been hired, that the Packers defense wanted to be unpredictable and confuse the offense. Looks like that day finally arrived.

3) T.J. Lang:

Early on in training camp, word was that the Packers were going to give T.J. Lang a chance to compete for the right tackle job. I want the head of whomever decided to change that.

T.J. Lang was very good against the Cowboys. Not just OK, actually very good . He did not give up a sack himself, he neutralized Ware and Spencer on running plays and I saw him plant a few players into the ground.

After the game, McCarthy commented on how Lang is more comfortable on the right side. I see, so that's why the Packers decided to slot him as a backup left guard and left tackle.

Of course, there were plenty of other reasons to smile; Superman, aka Charles Woodson, better kick coverage, shutdown run defense, and more. But the three items above you could say were pleasant surprises, and I'm still smiling...

----------------

You can find more of Jersey Al Bracco’s articles on several sports websites: Jersey Al’s Blog , Packer Chatters , Packers Lounge , NFL Touchdown , and, of course, Bleacher Report .

You can also follow Jersey Al on facebook and twitter .

Read more Green Bay Packers news on BleacherReport.com

Changes I Saw From The Packers-Cowboys Game

Chris Schei — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:22:15 -0500

Plenty of debate topics came out of the Packers' 17-7 win over the Cowboys on Sunday. It was a much-needed win for Green Bay, who got themselves back into the playoff picture. There were some things that I noticed, along with things I believe were confirmed on Sunday:

1.) Charles Woodson is the best overall cornerback in the league, but then again, we already knew that.

2.) It was nice to see the offense get back to committing to the run and running slant plays. The most encouraging sign for us were the plays Rodgers got the ball and turned and threw to Driver instantly. Whenever the corners are playing six or eight yards off of Driver or Jennings, it's a cheap five yards if they do that.

3.) Aaron Kampman is easily the biggest liability in the 3-4. Kampman has been having serious issues getting to the quarterback, and his coverage skills are well below average. Without him in there, I believe it was easier for Dom Capers to be much more exotic with his blitz packages, ensuring that he didn't have to call his plays knowing Kampman can't reach the QB and can't be left alone in coverage.

4.) The running game is there, when we use it. I'm not going to say that Ryan Grant will run for over 100 yards each game, but when we commit to the run, it is effective, and it gives opposing defensive lines something else to think about other than pinning their ears back and going after Aaron Rodgers.

5.) Screen passes! Where in the HELL have you been this year?

The one major change I would consider doing is either benching Aaron Kampman or using him strictly as a DE on passing downs. Other than that, if the offense continues to commit to the run and do the things that play to their strengths(slants, quick screens), the Packers may be able to give themselves a playoff berth.

Read more Green Bay Packers news on BleacherReport.com

Packers-Cowboys Report Card

MJ Kasprzak — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:00:30 -0500

The Green Bay Packers bounced back from their shameful effort (or lack thereof) against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with an inspired performance against Dallas on Sunday to jump back into the playoff race. This was easily the most impressive game of the year for the Pack, as they played well from top-to-bottom.

The fact that they did it against a division leader—the fourth they have played but first they have beaten—nullifies the help they got in having Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Chicago lose to put them in the hunt.

As of now, the Packers are the second wild card team, with a record overall and within the conference equal to the Altanta Falcons but better record against common opponents. (Note: Green Bay has had one more home game than the Falcons.)

Here are the grades for Sunday’s game by unit:

Quarterback: B

This was Rodgers’ third-worst game of the season statistically, as he compiled a passer rating of only 91.1. In this contest, he was a game manager: no interceptions or fumbles lost, completing 69.4 percent of passes (25-36), but averaged just 5.3 per attempt (189 yards). He was sacked four times, but one was for no loss and he did not hang onto the ball as long.

He added another touchdown (rushing) and completed passes to 10 different receivers (another thing the Old Guy has never done, even though he has always been exceptional at finding diverse targets). It is a mark of leadership to be able to change your style (in this case, big plays for dink-and-dunk), and even more of a mark to be able to find so many different teammates to get it done.

Running Back: C-

The backfield combined for 90 yards on 23 carries (3.9 average) with no scores or fumbles, nor any runs of over 13 yards. Ryan Grant led the way with 79 yards on 19 carries (4.2 average) against an above average rush defense (ranked 11th in both yards and yards per carry coming in).

Through the air, a foursome of backs caught seven passes for 22 yards (3.1 average), also without any scores, thanks to Ahman Green’s four-yard loss. Brandon Jackson had three catches for 15 yards to lead in both receptions and yards for the unit.

Receivers: C-

There was nothing spectacular about anyone’s performance in this unit. Donald Driver led in all categories except touchdowns: four catches, 50 yards, 12.5 average. Overall, this unit produced 18 catches, 167 yards (9.3 average), and one score (a two-yard toss to third tight end Spencer Havner) without their best receiving tight end in the lineup. They had only one dropped pass, but also did not get a lot of yards after the catch.

Offensive Line: D+

They were playing a pretty good front seven and a pretty good pass rush—Dallas was averaging 2.5 sacks per game coming in, ranking them in the top third of the league. While they gave up four sacks and none of them can be blamed on Rodgers proclivity for holding onto the ball, for this unit against this team, that is a pleasant surprise (How sad the bar is so low, but as is too often said, it is what it is). And they opened up just enough lanes for the team to generate 105 yards rushing, albeit on 28 carries.

Defensive Line: B

The Packers gave up just 61 yards in this game, and while it was on only 14 carries (4.4 average), it was to one of the league’s best trios of backs. They also did a great job occupying blockers to finally resurrect an anemic pass rush. They only generated six tackles and no assists, but particularly Johnny Jolly and Cullen Jenkins seemed to be disrupting every play.

Linebackers: A-

This was probably the corps’ best performance of the season, facing good backs and a Pro Bowl tight end in Jason Witten. In the passing game, Cowboys backs and tight ends got 10 receptions for just 73 yards and no scores. Meanwhile, the unit compiled 21 tackles, four assists, three sacks, and two fumble recoveries (both by rookie Clay Matthews).

Defensive Backs: A

Charles Woodson was a monster. Apparently, he is like fine wine—getting better with age—because all I heard about the entire off-season (albeit mostly from subjective Rodgers/Thompson haters and Vikings fans…yeah, you know who you are!) when I was trumpeting the virtues of this defense was how old our backs were. (For the record, Woodson is only 32.) He had eight tackles, one assist, one sack, two fumbles forced, and an interception.

The rest of the unit wasn’t bad, either: 11 tackles, two assists, and a sack. Overall, former first round pick Roy Williams had five catches, 105 yards, and a score. But that score came with a 17-point deficit and 38 seconds remaining. Moreover, on his longest reception, Woodson got one of his two fumbles forced and Matthews one of his recoveries.

They held dangerous downfield threat Austin Miles to just 20 yards on four catches, and Cowboys receivers totaled 14 catches for 178 yards (12.7 per catch). The only reason this is not an A-plus is they have to shoulder a little of the responsibility for the tight ends’ 53 yards and they did give up some yards along the way.

Special Teams: C+

Mason Crosby missed another field goal, but it was from 52 yards out and he hit from 48 to take a lead at the end of the first half. None of his three kicks went into the end zone, but the Cowboys averaged just 20 yards per return. (He hit on both extra points).

The punting game saw a lot of work and improvement: Jeremy Kapinos punted seven times for a 35-yard net average (Patrick Crayton averaged eight yards on five returns) and one kick inside the 20. Meanwhile, the Packers return game averaged 12 yards on two punt returns and got 24 on its only kick return, plus recovered the onside kick to seal the game.

Finally, the coaching staff came in with a gameplan. Rodgers’ seven-step drops were gone, and the ball was out quickly. The blitz was turned loose to rattle Tony Romo.

Now let’s see if this means the coaching staff is going to get the most out of talent on this roster—if so, this team should be playing meaningful games at least a few days into the new year.

Read more Green Bay Packers news on BleacherReport.com

Packers-Cowboys Recap: 10 Things I Learned

Jerome Harrison — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:42:24 -0500

1. There was a whole new level of intensity brought by the Packers defense today. Aggressive blitzes. Aggressive plays on the ball. Aggressive fumble recoveries. Where was this reckless abandon last week against the Bucs?

2. Charles Woodson set the tone for the game. He was the best player on the field today and is consistently overlooked as one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. This is the year Woodson's name should come up in Defensive Player of the Year discussions. What a stud. Absolute stud.

3. Two rookie linebackers, Clay Matthews and Brad Jones, looked terrific. The two rookie Linebackers combined for eight tackles, a sack, and two tackles for loss.

Matthews is what the Packers thought they were getting when they drafted A.J. Hawk #5—an athletic playmaker who will not only make the plays that he should, but will also make your jaw drop once or twice a game.

Matthews is playing with a new level of intensity (probably because he is more familiar and comfortable with the defensive scheme) since the first eight games. He may just be that Kevin Greene-like blitzing force (isn't he lucky to have such a coach) to wreck havoc in the Packers new 3-4 defense for years to come.

Jones, the rookie LB from Missouri, also looked like he belonged out there today. In fact, he played better, in some respects, than Aaron Kampman, who was out with a concussion. Unlike Kampman, Jones looked smooth dropping back into coverage and held his own at the point of attack on off-tackle running plays.

I think the Pack may have found their two future stalwarts at OLB today.

: Gotta love the 'stache

4. Boring, maybe. But Aaron Rodgers did an excellent job of managing a physical, grind 'em out game. Many Packers fans are criticizing Rodgers for holding the ball too long, which may be a contributing factor in some instances, but is preposterous as explanation by itself for the ungodly amount of sacks the Pack has given up. For those fans who criticize Rodgers for NOT taking more chances, I ask you this:

How many times have you seen that old Gunslinger get impatient in tight, grind 'em out games, and launch an ill-advised missile between two defenders that was, well, intercepted. I can think of more than a few. And I, for one, am proud of Rodgers for hanging tough today and leading the Pack against a 6-2 division-leader with a menacing pass rush. And most importantly...NO INTERCEPTIONS. I can get used to this.

5. Call me a hater, but Ryan Grant has worse field vision than Hellen Keller. The Packers O-Line could open up a hole for a Mack Truck to run through, (I know, doesn't happen) and Ryan Grant would make it seem as though a ZipCar could not fit through it. In other words, Grant still struggles at finding the hole and making the right cut-back. Sure, he ran hard today—harder than I've seen him run all year—but I long for the days when the Pack can hand the ball off to a running back who can actually make something happen.

6. Mike McCarthy can be a poor game day coach. I have been saying this for awhile now, but it often seems like McCarthy is overwhelmed by the game day responsibilities of a head coach.

I won't get into the penalties (yes, they keep on comin'), but calling a challenge in the 2nd half when you HAVE NONE LEFT is unacceptable. I mean, seriously, Mike? Since when did you get three challenges?

7. The Packers CAN establish a running game if the coaches commit to it. It was certainly nothing to write home about, but the Packers were finally able to establish a legitimate running game to balance their pass-heavy offensive attack. Far too often, McCarthy has given up on the run after only a couple of failed series.

If the Packers are going to compete for a wild card, they MUST establish a legitimate running game to take the pressure off of Rodgers and the pass protection. A little Ryan Grant explosion in the 2nd half, a la 2007, would be prettttttty prettttttttty good.

: The Samurai is back in Full force!

8. Nick Barnett looks healthy and ready to bust out the Samurai on a regular basis. I got the impression during the first half of the season that Barnett was still favoring his knee and not quite playing with his usual reckless abandon. Today, that changed. The Samurai was flying around the field.

Packers insiders have seen Barnett practicing the Five Point Palm Exploding Heart Technique every Wednesday after practice. He could be preparing that for Jay Cutler in Week 14.

9. It never fails to amaze me how quickly the tides can turn. One week ago, the Packers' season looked like a lost cause, and fans were screaming for drastic changes.

Now, momentum seems to have turned and fans are whispering playoffs again.

10. The Packers have as good of a chance as anyone at an NFC Wild Card berth. The Pack got lucky today as Chicago, Atlanta, and Philadelphia all lost.

In one week's time, the Packers' playoff chances went from seemingly nothing to pretttttttty good. Win the games that they should and a couple that they shouldn't, and the Pack can grab that wild card fo' sho.'

Read more Green Bay Packers news on BleacherReport.com

Credit Where Credit Is Due: Life After The Packers' Win Over Dallas

WI-OH Sports Fan — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:57:07 -0500

This just in: The Packers played an outstanding game.

Yes, I’m admitting that, even as Green Bay’s self-appointed chief pessimist as of late. After seemingly bottoming out against the then-winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers the weekend before last, they managed to defeat the red-hot Dallas Cowboys by a score of 17-7 with countless Dallas and Green Bay fans looking on.

No, I didn’t see it coming, either. After hearing of the Packers’ loss to the Bucs whilst hanging around downtown Milwaukee that afternoon, I would’ve considered the Packers lucky to lose to the Cowboys by less than two touchdowns.

Of course, the Pack proved me wrong—and in a good way, too—as evidenced by their decisive ten-point victory over Dallas that was a shutout until very late in the game. They deserve credit for their performance, and for that, I do give them said credit.

However, the Packers still have a ways to go if they are to salvage this season. One game does not make a satisfactory season, and the fact remains that the Packers are still 5-4.

Could they make the playoffs? Yeah, sure, in theory. It’d most likely be a wild card berth if it does end up happening, though, as the Vikings may very well go 14-2. In addition, the Packers will have to really “clean up” on the rest of their schedule by way of consistently dominating, something they’ve had problems doing as of late.

One thing the Packers have going for them as far as their remaining schedule goes is the overall strength of their seven remaining opponents. With the Seahawks, Lions, and 49ers all coming up, a 9-7 or 10-6 finish is not entirely out of the question.

Of course, the Packers shouldn’t get complacent with their recent victory, either. It could be argued that the Buccaneers wanted their victory against the Packers more than the Packers did; much the same, it could very well be argued that Green Bay wanted their win this past Sunday much more than the Cowboys did.

Anything’s possible in football. For all we know, the Packers could be beginning a tear that leaves them at 12-4; on the other hand, they could also begin an unthinkably bad free fall similar to last year that leaves them at 6-10 or even 5-11, however unlikely either of the aforementioned situations may actually be.

We won’t know for sure until those upcoming games in question are actually played, but one thing’s for sure: If the Green and Gold play hard, bear down, and take the rest of this season one week at a time, they may very well find themselves in the playoffs for the second time in three years.

As that guy from the beer commercial would say: Stay thirsty, my friends.

Read more Green Bay Packers news on BleacherReport.com

Packers-Cowboys: Green Bay Stifles Dallas, but Did It Save Its Season?

kevin roberts — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 01:51:34 -0500

Do you hear that ? That's not the sound of the Green Bay Packers winning a game for the first time in three weeks. That's the sound of every sports writer changing their tune.

Everyone who wasn't a complete Packers homer had just about written this team off (including this writer), and rightfully so, after getting beaten by the Minnesota Vikings for the second time in 2009, and then following it up with an embarrassing loss to the previously winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

But with every passing week in the NFL , we're still learning.

For instance, before Tampa Bay upset the Packers, no one thought anything of them. They were just another team driven into the ground by their own disoriented coaching and youth at the most important positions and had simply been a victim of a tougher schedule than they can handle.

Three weeks after getting destroyed in London by the hands on the New England Patriots, this so-called awful Buccaneers team had it's first win and was suddenly one Dan Carpenter field goal away from a winning streak.

Hot damn, stop me now, but I think we might be seeing the same thing with these Green Bay Packers. They, however, don't have seven losses and actually have a shot at the playoffs yet.

Firstly, they just showed that they can hang with an (supposedly) elite team. They also showed they could play some defense.

And after losses by the Philadelphia Eagles, Atlanta Falcons, Chicago Bears, and Seattle Seahawks, they are officially right back in the playoff mix.

Two weeks ago, Mike McCarthy's head was about to roll. Ted Thompson was the worst GM in recent memory (still is), and Aaron Rodgers couldn't get it done (he's still working on it).

But the real story of this week was how the Green Bay defense came to life, clogged the running lanes, and made life a living hell for Tony Romo all game.

It wasn't until the fourth quarter than Romo finally connected with his stud receiver, Miles Austin, or that the Cowboys finally scored a touchdown.

This was, despite a paltry 17-7 final score, a truly dominant effort.

The Packers didn't kill themselves with mistakes on offense, simply doing what needed to be done while their defense kept the Cowboys rushing attack at a mediocre standing and their high-powered aerial assault, well, grounded.

Romo had no time to throw all day, succumbing to five sacks, while throwing an interception.

The Packers led just 3-0 after half-time, and took the same score into the fourth quarter. It took two huge fumble recoveries by Clay Matthews to put the offense in position to win the game, but in the end, they did just that.

It's starting to look like, at least for one game, that the defense is beginning to catch up with the offense. While the Packers offensive line is still having issues with pass protection (four sacks given up this Sunday), they made improvements and actually did a solid job against a very good pass-rushing defense.

Regardless of any opinions on either side of the ball for Green Bay, or a sudden "fraud" label placed on the Cowboys and the rest of the NFC East, there is no knocking Green Bay's tremendous effort and ability to come away with a huge win against a team that hardly anyone gave them a chance against.

Green Bay has almost zero chance at taking their division. But with four of their seven remaining games coming against teams that will be competing for an NFC playoffs spot, their odds of snagging a Wild Card just got a lot better.

And at the very worst, their 2009 season just got a lot more entertaining.

For more NFL news, editorials, and fantasy advice, go to NFLSoup.com

Read more Green Bay Packers news on BleacherReport.com

Green Bay Packers: Five Best Second-Half Surges

Ryan Cardarella — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:31:08 -0500

The Green Bay Packers have struggled to "clean up" the problems that have plagued them at the midpoint of the season, and appear hard-pressed to make a playoff push with a difficult second-half schedule.

However, in an attempt to keep the faith, here are five Packers squads that had things come together in the second half of the season.

Perhaps the 2009 edition can follow their lead.

1984

Lynn Dickey and Co. made a ferocious second-half surge, winning seven of their final eight games, losing only at Detroit on Thanksgiving.

The Packers feasted on a relatively weak NFC Central division, winning five second-half games against division rivals, including a Week 16 road win against a Chicago Bears team that would peak a season later in their Super Bowl Shuffle campaign.

The bad news?

They started the season a dismal 1-7 and failed to make the playoffs in one of three straight 8-8 campaigns under Lombardi dynasty-era members Bart Starr and Forrest Gregg.

Outside of a strike-shortened playoff season in 1982, this stretch was as good as it got for Packer fans of the seventies and eighties.

For those of you lamenting the agony of 2009 just remember, it used to be a lot worse folks.

1989

The Majik man gave Packer fans hope as he helped lead Green Bay to a 10-6 record in 1989, including a 6-2 second half.

Quarterback Don Majkowski had a stellar 1989 season, putting up over 4,300 yards passing and throwing 27 touchdown passes, most of them to stud wide receiver Sterling Sharpe.

They also defeated the eventual Super Bowl champion San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park, prevailing 21-17 in one of only two losses for the Niners on the season.

Unfortunately, 10-6 failed to secure a playoff spot for the Packers in an extremely competitive NFC and Green Bay would fail to build on their solid '89 campaign, going 6-10 in 1990 and 4-12 in 1991.

1992

Behind a baby-faced Brett Favre and an improving defense, the 1992 Packers won six straight second-half games to force a must-win game at Minnesota for a playoff berth.

While Green Bay lost 27-7 in that final game, the 1992 campaign laid the foundation for a team that would win big throughout the rest of the decade.

The Packers didn't miss the playoffs again until 1999 and didn't post a losing record until 2005.

Favre's gutsy performance playing with a separated shoulder in a 27-24 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles helped sway Hall-of-Fame defensive end Reggie White to come to Titletown via free agency, and the team steadily improved each season until they brought the Lombardi Trophy back home four years later.

1997

The defending Super Bowl champion Packers went 7-1 to close out the 1997 season, with only a shocking 41-38 road loss to the 0-10 Indianapolis Colts as a second-half blemish.

Packer fans will also fondly remember the hated Dallas Cowboys finally visiting Green Bay in Week 13 that season to receive a 45-17 thrashing at Lambeau Field.

Following a Deion Sanders pick-six to put Dallas up in the second quarter, Green Bay scored 38 of the next 45 points to exact a bit of revenge on their long-time tormentors.

Green Bay also excelled in spite of a tough December schedule featuring three straight December road wins at Minnesota, Tampa Bay, and Carolina.

The Packers would ride that momentum all the way to Super Bowl XXXII...and I'll just leave it at that.

2003

While the 2003 ended in a cruel, soul-crushing loss at Philadelphia, it is easy to forget the incredible run Green Bay had leading up to that game.

Following a Thanksgiving day loss to the lowly Detroit Lions that appeared to end the Packers playoff hopes, Green Bay won their final four games, including the unforgettable Monday Night contest against Oakland following the death of Brett Favre's father Irv.

But it still didn't appear to be enough, as the Packers needed the hated Vikings to lose at Arizona.

Improbably, Arizona quarterback Josh McCown found receiver Nate Poole in the end-zone with no time remaining and the Cardinals pulled out an 18-17 victory after what seemed like a two-hour official review to determine whether Poole was forced out of bounds.

While the season ended in the worst of ways, for a few short weeks it did seem as though the football gods were smiling upon the Green Bay Packers, and still ranks as one of the most incredible stretches in team history from a personal perspective.

Honorable Mention

1972

Closed the season by winning six of their final seven games and made the playoffs for the only time in the decade.

Both of their second-half losses came to the Washington Redskins, who knocked them out of the playoffs with a 16-3 victory en route to the Super Bowl, where they would lose to Don Shula and the undefeated Miami Dolphins.

2007

The 2007 Packers went 6-2 in the second-half of their run to the NFC Championship game.

However, they lose points for having a stronger first-half, and for that ugly 35-7 loss at cold, windy Soldier Field.

Their struggles in Chicago would be a precursor to their poor home performance in the cold against the New York Giants, in what turned out to be the last game of the Brett Favre era in Green Bay.

Read more Green Bay Packers news on BleacherReport.com

Are Rodgers, Packers Prepared For "Last Stand" Against Romo, Cowboys?

Casey Mabbott — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 06:07:33 -0500

The time has come for the “Do or Die” attitude.

Cue any cheesy montage music you like, the moment is upon us.

Aaron Rodgers is about to be either the hero or the goat of the Packers' 2009 campaign.

It is officially the second half of the season, and Green Bay needs to play each game like it is a playoff.

That is a lot of stress and pressure to put on a team for eight contests, but that is the hole they have dug for themselves.

The Packers are a .500 team at the midway point, and they struggled to get there.

They won their prime-time matchup in week one, facing a Chicago team that gave the Packers all they could handle, barely coming out alive thanks to a game ending touchdown pass between Rodgers and Greg Jennings.

The Bears are now 4-5, having lost two in a row (side note: they also struggled to put away Cleveland, which should count as a third straight loss).

The other three wins came easy against St. Louis, Detroit, and Cleveland.

Those are teams with a combined record of 3-21. Not exactly a murderers' row of opponents.

The four losses came against Cincinnati, Minnesota (twice) and Tampa Bay.

Of those teams, only the Tampa loss is shameful, as Minnesota and Cincy are a combined 13-3.

In the losses to the Vikings and Bengals, the Packers only stayed in the game thanks to a passing attack that exploited the soft underneath coverage provided by defensive coordinators looking to make the offense use large chunks of time.

Since each of their losses has been by 12 points or fewer, it is hard to be too down on the team as a whole, but the offense definitely needs to score quicker, and more often.

On that same note, the defense needs to figure out a way to apply pressure to opposing QB’s. Even thought the run defense has been near top notch, the pass defense leaves more than a little something to be desired.

Last year, even with an injury riddled defensive line, the pass rush still applied enough pressure to force some bad throws.

This helped a talented secondary pick off passes left and right en route to a franchise record for defensive scoring and a very high number in the takeaway column.

The pass rush has not had the same success this season, which has left a lot of open receivers catching passes with relative ease.

Former coach Marv Levy put it best during his first season with the Bills:

“If you can run, pass, catch, block, cover, and tackle better than the other team, you will win.”

The Packers have yet to accomplish this against top-notch talent, but they will have the chance against a red-hot Dallas team this Sunday.

Tony Romo and the offense have been near perfect lately, closing out games with great balance in the running and passing game.

An assortment of great pass catchers featuring Miles Austin, Jason Witten, and Roy Williams will give any secondary fits.

One of the largest and most talented offensive lines in the league will make pass rushing difficult.

A defensive line led by the resurgent DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer will pressure an offensive line that has given up a league-high 37 sacks.

Add that to a group of linebackers, corners, and safeties triple-dipped in Pro Bowl talent, and you have one hell of a problem.

The Packers need a tune up game, but they are getting the fight of their lives instead.

They face Dallas, San Francisco, Detroit, Baltimore, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Seattle, and Arizona to finish the season. Only Seattle and Detroit may offer the cupcake games they need, but the rest should be hard-fought battles.

Long story short:

The Packers desperately need a spark. In order for that to happen, several things need immediate change:

They need the offensive line to block more effectively. Keep your quarterback on his feet and good things will happen. Passes will be completed more often and it will keep the defense honest with an actually useful running attack.

They need Aaron Rodgers to start game managing. Don’t stop throwing, just stop throwing as much.

If the defense shows blitz, check down to a slant or another short route. Dump it off to the back if the receivers are covered.

If the defense lines up soft, check to a draw or counter.

If the play is a run and the defense shows blitz, check to a quick out.

Try something different. This inconsistent approach of quick strikes here and there while filling the rest of the play calling with deep routes that cause you to hold on to the ball way too long and take sacks is clearly not working.

The receivers need to get better separation and help out the quarterback. Running your route and remaining near one or more defenders doesn’t help. If you aren't getting the ball, start getting open. It will help 100 percent of the time.

The offensive coordinator needs to dump the four-and five-wideout packages from his play sheet. Leave an extra lineman or tight end in to block, as this five-man line is not working. Help out your players and they will help you. Give them the tools to succeed, not the wounds to bleed.

The defense needs to find a way to be more aggressive. During preseason as well as week one, Cullen Jenkins, Charles Woodson, and Aaron Kampman celebrated their new 3-4 alignment with regular meetings at the QB.

Somewhere, the effectiveness of the gameplan fell apart as the Packers defense currently ranks 29th in sacks with 13 (1.6 per game).

The secondary has collected a lot of picks with 12, but that has come mostly against cellar-dwelling competition. The Packers never picked off Brett Favre, and their two picks off of Carson Palmer are irrelevant as the Bengals ended up winning anyway.

No one is going to celebrate the fact that you can intercept Jay Cutler (Bears QB, leads the league in interceptions), Derek Anderson (Browns QB, worst rated starting QB), Daunte Culpepper (not good enough to be starting for Detroit) or Marc Bulger (26th rated passer).

So you can confuse four of the worst active QB’s in the current season? Big whoop.

Time to throw those numbers out the window.

Last but not least, the linebackers need to aid the pass rush and cover the short routes better. Either rush the QB into a horrible throw, or at least cover the receivers long enough to buy the d-line more time.

It is time to do things right.

It is time to show this team has pride.

It is time to show this team has heart.

We have known all along this team has talent, but have yet to see them score at will against a worthy opponent.

Its simple:

Win a statement game against a great team and the world will say you have pride and talent.

Lose games you are supposed to be an equal part of, and the world will say you lack heart and perhaps are not as talented as we thought.

The Packers need to win this game.

It doesn’t matter how close or far apart the score is, as long as they win.

Give yourself something to build on, and you have seven more game to sweat the small stuff.

Lose this one, and you then spend seven more games back-pedaling and trying to figure out how to stop the skid. Not the best way to close out a season.

Inevitably analysts and fans alike will compare Brett’s accomplishments to Aaron’s, whether or not the comparisons are fair or warranted.

Brett has his team at 7-1, and now plays the Lions. Look for them to be 8-1 and a near lock for the first round bye.

Aaron has his team at 4-4, desperately trying to stay in the wild card race.

If he wants to stop the madness, Aaron will coolly orchestrate a winning drive against Amercia’s team, a team Brett always had trouble beating.

If he cannot silence the critics this week, A-Rod will probably have to wait until next season to shut down the nay-sayers.

Which brings me back to my original point:

Aaron Rodgers will either be the hero or the goat.

Game on!

Read more Green Bay Packers news on BleacherReport.com

Green Bay Packers Report Card: Grading the Team in Tampa

MJ Kasprzak — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 05:23:53 -0500

I originally wrote this article for SportsScribes.net .

Here is how each unit ranked last week and how that applies to this Sunday's matchup against the Dallas Cowboys:

Quarterback: D

Aaron Rodgers had easily his worst game of the season, and second worst of his career—at least in last season's game in Tampa Bay he had the excuse of an injured shoulder. It was the first game of the season in which he did not have a passer rating over 80, dropping him from first to fifth in the league.

For only the third time in 24 starts, he had more picks (three) than scores (two, although he did add a third rushing), more than doubling his season total. While he had 266 yards, he failed to complete half of his passes (17 of 35).

Of the Packers are to have any chance against the Dallas Cowboys, he has to have a huge bounce back game.

Running backs: B

Both Grant and Ahman Green had runs of 20-plus yards, and Grant got into the endzone. The unit provided 144 yards rushing on 29 carries for five yards per carry and three catches for 26 yards (8.7), for 170 total yards on 32 touches (5.3). There were no fumbles.

Green Bay will need to run the ball effectively against the 11th-ranked (both in yards per game and per carry) rush defense of the Cowboys in order to keep the pressure off Rodgers.

Receiving Corps: B-

The wide receivers did great, as third receiver James Jones led the way with four catches for 103 yards and a score. Donald Driver had four catches for 71 yards and a score, and Greg Jennings had five for 61.

But there was nothing from the tight end position—it is clear the team misses JerMichael Finley. Donald Lee had just one catch for five yards and Spencer Havner did not appear on the scoresheet.

Dallas is 20th in passing yards allowed and tied for 17th in yards per play. This is one area the Packers can exploit.

Offensive Line: F

What is left to say? Sure they did okay in opening holes for the running game, but this is still the worst unit in all of the NFL.

They allowed six sacks to a team that came in with 11 in seven games. It is the sixth time in eight games they have allowed four or more sacks and the fourth in which they allowed six or more.

Let me spell out just how much it bolsters a team to play against this line:

1) The Minnesota Vikings lead the league in sacks thanks to getting 14 of their 31 in the two games against Green Bay. That means they averaged fewer than three sacks a game against the rest of the league and seven against the Packers.

2) The Cincinnati Bengals had six sacks against Green Bay and have just 15 in their other seven games, an average of just over two per contest.

3) The Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions are also among the five of seven Packers opponents to garner at least twice as many sacks against Green Bay than they have averaged against the rest of the league.

And now this line has to face the pass rush of the Cowboys? They average 2.5 per game, more than any Packers opponent thus far has against teams not dressed in green and gold. The only question is whether Dallas can top the Vikings' week four total of eight sacks.

Defensive Line: B-

Tampa Bay had 25 rushes for 81 yards (3.2), helping the Packers maintain their ranking of third best in yards per carry allowed. At the same time, they managed just four tackles and two assists. They will need to continue their control of the line of scrimmage with Marion Barber, Felix Jones, and Deshard Choice coming to town.

Linebackers: F

They had 16 tackles, four assists, and one sack, led by AJ Hawk's six, one, and one respectively. That might not seem worthy of an F, but remember the line does all the work in a 3-4 so the linebackers can make the big plays.

In a game in which a rookie started at quarterback, you need to contain the dump off options and make him throw downfield under pressure. Instead, this unit that failed to pressure him or make any big plays also allowed seven catches for 111 yards and two scores to the tight ends and running backs.

If the Packers are going to have any chance against the Cowboys, they will need to put pressure on Tony Romo and get some plays out of this unit.

Defensive Backs: D+

This unit looked good on paper. They gave up one score and generated one pick. They contributed greatly to Josh Freeman's sub-50 percent completion rate, the fourth game in which they have accomplished that feat. Only seven passes were completed to wide receivers.

However, those catches amounted to 94 yards, a 13.4 average per catch, and Tampa was without its only real wide receiver threat, Antonio Bryant, injured. And they have to take some responsibility for Kellen Winslow's big day, too.

Finally, while they amassed 15 tackles, they missed a few by tackling high and not wrapping up. My high school coach would have had us doing grass drills for a good 30 minutes for that!

Dallas comes in with solid receivers in Roy Williams and Miles Austin, plus Patrick Crayton as a third option. If they can shut down Williams for the first half, he will shut himself down in the second and they can focus on Austin.

Special Teams: F

Mason Crosby did okay, hitting all four extra points (he did not attempt a field goal) and putting five of his six kickoffs in the endzone resulting in four touchbacks. But every other phase of this unit struggled—on the two kicks that were not touchbacks, the Packers allowed over a 50-yard average on returns.

Jeremy Kapinos had two punts inside the 20, but Clifton Smith averaged 13 yards per return. The Packers managed just four yards per punt return and, thanks to a Tramon Williams fumble that limited his return to two yards when the team really needed a big return to regain the lead and the momentum, the Packers averaged only about 16 yards per kick return.

Sunday is going to be a long day for Packers fans...Cowboys 27, Packers 16.

Read more Green Bay Packers news on BleacherReport.com

Losing The Edge: Sacking Kampman Could Be Double-Edged Sword For Packers

Peter Bukowski — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 12:43:10 -0500

When Aaron Kampman heard the Packers were switching to the 3-4 defense, he kept his mouth shut about his frustrations. As we all know, that was as good as saying, “I’m not on board.” Through eight games in 2009 it isn’t hard to see why.

Kampman has just 2.5 sacks and has been rendered useless on many passing downs, having to cover running backs and tight ends from his new linebacker position. Now, out with a concussion, Kampman will be replaced by Colorado rookie Brad Jones for Sunday’s key face-off with the Dallas Cowboys.

That is great news for Packer fans this week (“this week” is important).

Aaron Kampman is not an outside linebacker, not a very good one anyway. He should have his hand down as a 4-3 end because Kampman is a technician pass-rusher. That is to say he doesn’t beat tackles with speed or power, but rather by working them over and over all game long. He has great hands, quick feet, and no one will out-hustle him.

That used to be enough. It isn’t in this defense.

Kampman is regarded as an elite pass-rusher even though he’s had double-digit sack numbers just twice in his career. Before his break-out season in 2006 Kampman had only 12.5 sacks in 48 career starts. And since his career high 15.5 sack season in 2006, his numbers have gone from 12.5 in 2007 to 9.5 in 2008. He’s currently on pace to finish with just 7 in 2009.

The former Iowa Hawkeye will be 30 at the end of this month. He was still an elite pass-rusher despite the numbers last season, but how much longer can that continue? Late bloomers are tough to predict.

Despite Kampman’s frustration with it, this new defense has made light year strides against the run. Adrian Peterson was essentially a non-issue in both Vikings contests, and the Packers currently rank ninth in the league in rush yards allowed.

It wouldn’t matter if Kampman were playing or not, that number would likely be the same.

The problem this season is the pass-rush. The problem last season was the pass-rush. The problem next season will be the pass-rush if Aaron Kampman is still in Green Bay, assuming the Packers stick with their new defense and that isn’t necessarily a knock on Kampman.

I’m not saying Brad Jones is the definitive answer either, I’m just saying he’s closer.

Kampman does not have the agility to play in space against tackles. He beats them by getting them off-balance and working them for position. But when talking about Aaron Kampman’s skill set, “explosive” is not an appropriate word.

Brad Jones on the other hand, runs a sub 4.6 40. From a pure athletic standpoint, there just is no comparison.

If you look at the elite defenses in the league, nearly all of them have an explosive pass-rusher. Teams like the Giants, Steelers, and Colts have a couple. That’s why they’re scary teams for opposing offenses.

The Packers are an edge rusher and an offensive tackle away from really being a contender in the NFC (let’s not forget a coach). Whether it’s the draft (There are probably seven or eight first round pass-rushers and a deep crop of tackles), or free agency, there are places to go to sure up this team.

Kampman heads to free agency after this season, and will expect a big payday (that he’ll likely get). The smart move would have been to make a Jared Allen-type trade with Kampman months ago, ensuring the Packers would receive SOMETHING for their Pro Bowl pass-rusher. Now, he can walk away and head to say, the Vikings where he signed an offer sheet as a restricted free agent in 2005.

You’d like to keep Kampman because pass-rushers can take over a game. Just ask the Packer tackles. But in this defense, Kampman isn’t a game-changer at outside linebacker. In fact, he’s just barely average, particularly with his deficiencies in coverage.

But whether you like it or not Packer fans, Dom Capers is here for a while. What’s more, it wouldn’t surprise is Ted Thompson hired him knowing Mike McCarthy may not be long for this world.

Kampman’s potential departure would open up a starting spot for someone who could be an impact player, but it also opens up the possibility of Kampman coming back to hurt the Packers, something Cheeseheads know all about this season.

The problem is Aaron Kampman can’t help the Packers much more this season and probably couldn’t in the near future either. Unfortunately for fans, he could certainly help someone else.

Read more Green Bay Packers news on BleacherReport.com

NFL Fantasy Football Match-Up Issues: Correcting the Myths

kevin roberts — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:13:27 -0500

It all starts with two bad games of lazy tackling and facing two elite running backs, and then all of a sudden the Houston Texans have one of the worst run defenses in the league.

But for the entire season?

Something I've been noticing lately, and luckily some of my opponents in fantasy haven't, is that owners get far too caught up in defense rankings and match-ups, without actually taking a close look for themselves .

The trouble is, if you hear that the Tennessee Titans defense is "horrible" in Week Six, you're bound to start any quarterback against them, no questions asked, from that point on.

But this philosophy doesn't work.

The Houston run defense got better. It got much better.

The Tennessee Titans got Cortland Finnegan back and played more controlled offensive football with Vince Young in the line-up, and now their pass defense is, you guessed it, better .

But it doesn't stop at these two defenses. Here are two more 2009 Urban NFL Legends that were begotten early in the season and are still living in the minds of many.

The Arizona Cardinals Pass Defense Stinks

Yeah, it can. But take this week for instance. They're facing Matt Hasselbeck and a Seattle Seahawks offense that they destroyed four weeks ago, 27-3. They went after Hasselbeck all day, sacking him five times, picking off a pass, and forcing him to complete just 10 of 29 passes.

He and Seattle still might get the last laugh in a revenge game, but even if they do, Arizona's pass defense will have still played its part in allowing 21 or less points in six of their eight contests this season.

That Great Green Bay Packers Run Defense

Well, I'm not so sure anyone is calling it "great", but it's solid. Sort of. I mean, if you consider stopping the likes of Jamal Lewis, Kevin Smith, Matt Forte (this season, anyways), and Carnell Williams, then yes, the Packers run defense is solid .

But like with most things, a closer look exposes the truth:

To find out what we're saying about the Packers and for the rest of this piece, head over to NFLSoup.com

Read more Green Bay Packers news on BleacherReport.com

Re-Igniting the Flame: Getting Greg Jennings Back into the Game

Jason Potvin — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:35:32 -0500

With their backs against the wall, the Green Bay Packers are desperate for a win this Sunday.

Aaron Rodgers must step up, and put the team on his back if the Packers look to upset the 6-2 Dallas Cowboys at Lambeau Field.

It all starts with getting the ball into the hands of Green Bay's most dangerous weapon: Greg Jennings.

Whether it was Brett Favre's 82-yard touchdown pass in overtime in Denver (2007), or Rodgers' 50-yard touchdown pass with 1:11 left, to win over the Bears in Week One, Greg Jennings has been Green Bay's most dynamic player, who can make a play when called upon.

In the two seasons prior to 2009, Jennings had turned into Favre's, and now Rodgers', favorite target.

After signing a lucrative four-year extension in the offseason, Jennings' numbers have taken a dip.

With half of the season completed, Jennings is on pace to catch 68 balls for 996 yards, and four touchdowns. These stats are a far cry from 2008 when he hauled in 80 balls for 1,292 yards, and nine touchdowns.

What's even more interesting is that he is on pace to receive only five less targets than last year.

Is there something wrong with Jennings?

Though he is averaging 14.6 yards a catch (down from 16.2 last year), the problems lie more within the offensive game plan, and execution.

This year, Aaron Rodgers has been averaging one less pass per game (32.5), and has a completion rate of 63 percent (compared to 64 percent in 2008).

Rodgers' passing stats may seem similar to last year, yet his offense has changed...not so much for the best.

With the lack of pass protection, Rodgers has been utilizing his tight ends more than ever. This year, targets to tight ends have more than doubled (11 percent of pass attempts in 2008) where Rodgers is throwing to his tight ends one out of every four attempts.

The disruption of chemistry between Rodgers and Jennings is apparent.

Only 57 percent of targets to Jennings have been caught, down from last year's 64 percent. The accuracy between the two has taken a hit more because Rodgers is looking for Jennings deep, when he only has about three seconds to deliver the ball.

With two productive seasons already under his belt, Jennings was not a one-season wonder. With his agility and deep speed, he has the ability to run any route, whether it's a streak down the sidelines, or a quick slant over the middle.

The simple answer to this problem is to run a more West Coast passing offense.

Too many times this year, the offense has been relying on "the big play" to move the ball down the sideline. The three-step drops and slant passes have disappeared from the offense.

With the lack of pass protection, it makes even more sense to implement quicker release passes. The offense that was so successful in 2007 and 2008 was built around quickly getting rid of the ball into the receivers' hands in order for them to make a play.

This Sunday, look for the Packers to try to establish a pass game that uses screen passes and quick slants. With 20 sacks last year, DeMarcus Ware will look to constantly harass Rodgers in the pocket. The best way to avoid the pressure is to implement a quick delivery.

If the Packers look to turn their season around, it is going to start with getting the ball out at a much faster rate in order to let the rest of the team make the play.

Read more Green Bay Packers news on BleacherReport.com

Week 10 Start and Sit: Aaron Rodgers' Turn for a Bounce Back

Michael McNeil — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 06:08:58 -0500

Last week it was Kurt Warner and Brandon Jacobs due for a fantasy turn-around. This time, it is Aaron Rodgers' turn.

After throwing three interceptions and losing on the road in Tampa Bay, Rodgers and the Packers return home this weekend to face the Dallas Cowboys. Now it still is about midseason in the NFL, but if ever there was a "must win" game this is it for the Packers.

The loss was not a complete wash for Rodgers in terms of fantasy value. He totaled three touchdowns in the game. But obviously it could have been a little better without the turnovers.

Expect Rodgers to bounce back nicely with the support of the home crowd against a surging Cowboys team.

A few injury updates before this week's start/sit advice:

Clinton Portis, RB, Redskins : After getting knocked out last weekend in Atlanta, Portis has been ruled out for this Sunday's game against the Broncos. Popular week 10 waiver wire add Ladell Betts will start in his place. No word on how long this will keep Portis out of action but his body certainly could use the rest.

Brian Westbrook, RB, Eagles : Westy returned to a full practice yesterday and is slated to start this weekend at San Diego. However, he was cleared to play last week before a post-concussion headache sprung up on Friday before the game. Keep a close eye on his situation.

Anquan Boldin, WR, Cardinals : A one-week hiatus from football was apparently long enough for Boldin. He has practiced at full capacity this week and ready to start this weekend against the Seahawks. His presence in the lineup certainly negates some of the value Steve Breaston had been building for himself again this year.

Start 'em

Quarterbacks

Aaron Rodgers vs. Cowboys
After throwing three interceptions against the Bucs last weekend, Rodgers certainly is due for a big game in front of the home crowd.

Matt Hasselbeck @ Cardinals
Hopefully this potential shoot-out in the desert lives up to the billing.

Running Backs

Marshawn Lynch @ Titans
Lynch has had a few decent outings since returning from suspension, he could be due for a big one for the first time this year.

Ladell Betts vs. Broncos
No Clinton Portis means plenty of opportunity for Betts, who also is a good pass-catcher out of the backfield.

Wide Receivers

Derrick Mason @ Browns
Mason is a throwback to the old school and should have a solid outing on Monday Night Football.

Hines Ward vs. Bengals
Ward is having one of the best seasons of his career. Fantasy owners are glad to have him these days.

Tight End

Brent Celek @ Chargers
Always start your tight end when he plays against the Chargers.

Sit 'em

Quarterbacks

Carson Palmer @ Steelers
This game could be more about the running game than the passing game for Cincinnati, especially on the road.

Kyle Orton @ Redskins
Now that the Broncos appear to be who we thought they were, Orton becomes a risky start for fantasy owners.

Running Backs

Julius Jones @ Cardinals
Perhaps Julius Jones would be better suited with the Jags because he tends to fair unwell on the road.

Kevin Smith @ Vikings
Minnesota is coming off a bye and returning to the comfort of home; This may as well just be another bye week.

Wide Receivers

Austin Collie/Pierre Garcon vs. Patriots
Not sure how these rookies will fair against a scheming defense as good as the Pats.

Roy Williams @ Packers
Williams clearly has become a lesser option in the Cowboys' passing game.

Tight End

Jason Witten @ Packers
Witten owners can thank me after this weekend. My sit advice when it comes to studs usually ends up rejuvenating the player.

For more great fantasy roster advice this week, including a plethora of Start & Sit links and consensus rankings, head over to the Fantasy Football Libraria n. Don't forget to grab your library card.

Read more Green Bay Packers news on BleacherReport.com