SB Nation - Michael Montgomery

A Somewhat Depressing Blowout

Mitchell_M — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 03:03:02 -0000

Green Bay had several things going for it this week. In no particular order, they were:

Coming off the bye week
Getting Chad Clifton and Atari Bigby back from injury
Playing Detroit at home
Playing against a team missing it's best QB (Matthew Stafford) and WR (Calvin Johnson)

All together, these things pointed to a dominant Green Bay victory. And, in the end, it was, if you consider only the final score (26-0). So then why did this feel like a letdown? Short version: we saw the same old problems surfacing again. Long version: after the jump.

Here are some things that I saw that I didn't like. As usual (sadly), these are all impressions that I got despite not watching the game.

13 penalties for 130 yards. Green Bay netted 435 yards. They allowed Detroit to gain 149. Their 130 yards lost to penalties were over 25% of their offensive gains and nearly 90% of Detroit's. That is absolutely unacceptable. Let's do a rundown of how many of what penalty there were:

5 personal fouls - 75 yards
3 false starts - 15 yards
2 holding - 20 yards
2 illegal formation - 5 yards
1 illegal contact - 5 yards

False starts happen, even though they shouldn't. Holding happens way more than it's called. Illegal contact happens almost as much as holding. Even illegal formation happens, even though it's a stupid penalty that you should get out of your system in high school. But personal fouls? Absolutely ridiculous. Unless there's a brawl, there's no way any team should get called for five personal fouls in one game. I have no idea whether or not these were legit penalties, but the fact that Packer players were in position to have these penalties called in the first place infuriates me.

You know what that says to me? On-field discipline is a major problem. In a way, that's almost worse than off-field issues. Personal fouls cost the team 3/4 of a football field, while the rest of the penalties combined for 1/2 a field. This will kill you against an opponent with a better offense. I don't care how young a team is; you ABSOLUTELY CANNOT be whistled five times for 15 yard penalties. I cannot express in a family friendly manner how angry I am over these penalties.

Of course, penalties have been a problem all year. The Packers have been flagged 43 times (4th in NFL) for 359 yards (3rd in NFL). Mike McCarthy said that it was something they would have to fix. You had a bye week, coach. And even that didn't keep the team from putting up a season-worst performance penalty-wise. Ugh.
Five sacks for 30 yards. If the penalty yardage wasn't bad enough, tack on the losses to Detroit's pass rushers. Now, I have respect for Julian Peterson and Cliff Avril. They are the best pass rushers on a team that doesn't perform well in this department. Still, they combined for 3.5 sacks, which is not good. But Turk McBride, a player who had one tackle all season before Week 6 and isn't even listed on Detroit's depth chart on NFL.com, had 5 tackles and 1.5 sacks.

I know Clifton was dealing with an injury. I know the offensive line has been all shuffled and jumbled around this season. I know Mark Tauscher isn't ready yet. But you cannot give up five sacks a game! Yet that's exactly what they're doing (5 games + 25 sacks = 5.0 sacks/game average)!

In other news, Aaron Rodgers' contract was renegotiated to include extended medical coverage, a personal chiropractor, yoga classes, and sleep therapy. Because if the season continues this way, he will end up more messed up than Ryan Leaf. If there was any debate as to whether the Packers' O-line is broken, I think this should settle it.
30 rushes for 107 yards. This statistic isn't even that bad. But then you consider that the majority of the yards were gained by Ryan Grant (24 carries for 90 yards), which still isn't that bad. But then you look at the drive chart for the game, and you realize that nearly half of his yards came on the game's final drive, when Green Bay simply took advantage of a tired Lions' defense for the final 7 1/2 minutes (where Grant totalled 41 yards on 7 attempts, including a 22-yarder, resulting in his final stat line). Before the 7:52 mark in the 4th quarter (when the score was already 26-0), Ryan Grant had 14 carries for 49 yards.

Again, I didn't watch the game. I don't know if the lackluster running performance was the fault of Grant, the O-line, or just good run defense by Detroit. But surely the Packers can do a better job establishing the run against a team that is less than notorious for it's run-stopping. Even with Jason Spitz as a surprise inactive, you have to take it to a team that boasts Grady Jackson as their primary run defender.

Again, this falls to Mike McCarthy. For someone who still uses a workhorse back approach, why didn't he give Grant more carries in the first three quarters of the game? Detroit was a team ripe for the pounding, and Green Bay desperately needs to foster some sort of momentum for their rushing attack to build off of for the remainder of the season. They certainly haven't developed any momentum in the first 4 games. Unless, of course, the season is destined to end on January 3rd, which I sincerely hope it does not.

Okay, so those were all the things that bothered me. Here's what impressed me:

Zero. Nothing. Zilch. Nada. As a former defensive player, nothing quite compares to the feeling you get when you shut out an opponent. I think the best analogy in sports is a no-hitter in baseball, where everyone from the catcher to the pitcher to the outfielders does their job just right. That's what happened today on defense for Green Bay.

The Lions' quarterbacking duo of Daunte Culpepper and Drew Stanton combined to produce this line: 11/25 for 105 yards and 3 INTs. While that might be a good day for Jamarcus Russell, that's a terrible day for an NFL quarterback, and that's exactly what Dom Capers' 3-4 defense is designed to do. It's fitting that Atari Bigby got the final interception in the end zone to seal the shutout, considering his absence forced the defense into a more conservative (read: more crappy) approach.
Clay Matthews. I know I already talked about how well the defense played as a whole, especially against Detroit's passing game. And of course Matthews wasn't the only one responsible, as Aaron Kampman, Al Harris, Nick Barnett, and Michael Montgomery all came away with sacks. But Matthews' 2 sacks were just another example of how dynamic of a player he is becoming. I barely knew who he was before the draft, and I was clueless as to why Ted Thompson would trade back into the first round to grab him. But I am glad he did. Now the question is: which linebacker has to lose snaps in order to get Matthews on the field more?
Another interception for a defensive lineman. Remember my whole tirade above about poor discipline? Cullen Jenkins' read of the screen pass was the exact opposite. When an end or tackle gets that much penetration with minimal resistance, that means he either beat his man beyond recognition, or there's something unusual happening. In this case, it was the latter, and Jenkins immediately halted his rush to disrupt the screen pass. A wonderful play.
Green Bay's receivers. I made a big deal out of the erratic and sometimes frustrating play of the Packers' receiving corps. Well, today they all came to play. Greg Jennings' one-handed grab in the first quarter was a beautiful play, as was James Jones' juke of Marquand Manuel for a 47-yard TD. Even Jermichael Finley continued his development, putting up 54 yards on 5 catches.

But the big story from Lambeau was Donald Driver's record-setting catch in the first quarter, leaving him as the sole leader in receptions in Green Bay history. Of course, his 7 catch, 107 yard performance on the day was nice, but there's something about the story of a 7th round pick becoming a franchise leader in a major category that makes you smile, win or lose. Congratulations, Donald. You're a class act both on and off the field, a true role model, and a top receiver in the history of one of the NFL's premeire franchises.
Aaron MF'ing Rodgers. Of course, someone has to get Donald the ball so he can break that record. And Aaron Rodgers did that, and so much more.

Now, let's not go crazy, because Rodgers wasn't perfect. His fourth quarter interception to former Badger LB DeAndre Levy was simply underthrown, and Jones was closely covered anyway. Rodgers also danced around too much when faced with a collapsing pocket, which led to his fifth sack and a fumble recovered by Larry Foote.

But there was little else Rodgers did poorly. He bought time when he had to, and met with thrilling success on two occasions in the third quarter (especially the play where he faked one way, started out the other direction, then went back in the original direction and, as he was falling backwards, fired a strike to Jermichael Finley off his back foot). All his throws were crisp, and he did an excellent job providing space for his recievers to work after the catch. His 78.4% completion rate and his 113.7 passer rating were stellar, despite his protection issues.

Altogether, this was a decent game all-around. Not great, because the offense surely could have played better. But the defense was outstanding, and even the special teams performed well after Jordy Nelson got hurt. There were things we can take away from this games as positives, but still significant flaws that must be addressed before visiting Cleveland. I'm torn between optimism and pessimism, but perhaps you could sway me one way or the other in the comments section.

Preseason Analysis: Green Bay Packers defeat Arizona 44-37

Brandon — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 18:00:10 -0000

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The Green Bay Packers were in control for most of the game, they led 38-10 at the half, but a late rally made the game seem closer than it was.

The most important thing to watch out for during the preseason is the injuries. From Mike McCarthy:

Q:Can you give an update on the injuries?
A:Greg (Jennings) had a blow to the head, he did not return. Atari Bigby had a sprained thumb. Mike Montgomery has a broken hand. Brandon Jackson has a bruised shin.

Obviously WR Greg Jennings is the biggest concern. According to Rob Demovsky, the blow to the head is a concussion. Some athletes have problems with reoccuring concussions, so it's something to watch. DE Mike Montgomery actually has a broken thumb and he can probably play with a bandaged club on his hand, if necessary. We won't know until next week the severity of the injuries to S Atari Bigby or RB Brandon Jackson.

Much, much more after the jump.

Packers vs Cardinals coverage; Packers vs Cardinals recap; Packers vs Cardinals boxscore; Revenge Of The Birds

Arizona's head coach Ken Whisenhunt speculated that the Packers game planned for the Cardinals, but Greg Bedard said there was no game planning. I've never heard of game planning for a preseason game, so I'd have to go Greg on this one.

Overall this was the 3rd straight outstanding preseason game for the 1st team offense and defense. Not everything is perfect, but the good has significantly outweighed the bad. I had expected a slight let down because it was the best opponent so far this preseason and the first game outside of Lambeau. With a west coast trip added to it. But there was no let down at all, so this game exceed my expectations.

Sure the 2nd team defense didn't look great, but I'm not worried that their practice squad can beat our practice squad. Also, with the slight exceptation of DE Jarius Wynn and LB Brad Jones, the 2nd team defense can't rush the QB. The Cardinals 2nd team receivers did a good job creating some space between them and the Packers 2nd team cornerbacks. But that doesn't prove a fundamental flaw in the defense.

For my game review, I'm using the play-by-play from NFL.com.

First Quarter:

(12:09) 12-A.Rodgers scrambles up the middle pushed ob at ARZ 6 for 34 yards (21-A.Rolle).

What I loved about this run was that QB Aaron Rodgers wasn't taking any chances. He ran because the field was wide open and he got out of bounds before he could have gotten hit. Just another outstanding game for Rodgers who runs when he should, throws the ball away when necessary, and picks apart the opposing secondary the rest of the game.

(11:04) 30-J.Kuhn up the middle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

If you were following the whole RG Josh Sitton won the starting job from C Scott Wells thing, then this might have shown you why. Sitton has 20 lbs. on Wells and brings more push to the o-line, despite the fact that Wells has probably outplayed Sitton this preseason. FB John Kuhn ran right behind Sitton on the play, although Arizona's defense was completely fooled by the inside handoff.

(9:03) 13-K.Warner pass short left to 85-J.Urban to GB 49 for 9 yards (21-C.Woodson). FUMBLES (21-C.Woodson), RECOVERED by GB.

CB Charles Woodson just makes plays. He terrorized Arizona in this game.

(4:41) (Shotgun) 12-A.Rodgers pass incomplete short right to 42-D.Wynn.

(4:35) (Shotgun) 12-A.Rodgers pass incomplete short right to 87-J.Nelson.

There was nothing there. Rodgers did a good job of just getting rid of the ball and taking the 3 points.

(3:01) 34-T.Hightower right tackle to GB 34 for 23 yards (36-N.Collins).

There's so little redudancy on defense. DE Cullen Jenkins slipped the block, got into the backfield, and missed the tackle. Everyone else was blocked so Jenkins had to make the play. It's a tough break for him, RB Tim Hightower made a nice play to avoid the tackle, but that's how the defense works.

(1:34) (Shotgun) 13-K.Warner pass short middle to 11-L.Fitzgerald to GB 6 for 27 yards (38-T.Williams).

I'm a big CB Tramon Williams fan, but he struggled in this game. It happens, and I expect he'll bounce back next week.

(:04) 13-K.Warner sacked at GB 13 for -7 yards (21-C.Woodson). FUMBLES (21-C.Woodson), ball out of bounds at GB 9.

Woodson is so good at rushing the QB. He did this some last season too when he was 2nd on the team in sacks.

Second Quarter:

(12:19) (Shotgun) 12-A.Rodgers pass deep middle to 80-D.Driver to ARZ 9 for 55 yards (21-A.Rolle). Penalty on ARZ-56-C.Okeafor, Defensive Offside, declined. Penalty on ARZ-21-A.Rolle, Defensive Pass Interference, declined.

(11:08) 12-A.Rodgers pass short right to 88-J.Finley for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Rodgers, WR Donald Driver, and TE Jermichael Finley got all the stats, but the offensive line was great. Rodgers had all kinds of time to throw. Although Arizona had problems getting after the QB even before this game.

(8:41) (Shotgun) 13-K.Warner sacked at ARZ 22 for -8 yards (21-C.Woodson). FUMBLES (21-C.Woodson), RECOVERED by GB-74-A.Kampman at ARZ 24. 74-A.Kampman for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

I'd like to use this play to give a shout out to LB A.J. Hawk. He wasn't worth the No. 5 overall pick and shouldn't start ahead of either LB Desmond Bishop or LB Brandon Chillar, but he can still play. He came up the middle on a blitz that was picked up by the running back which left Woodson unblocked from around the left tackle.

This is also a good example of why I'd take Rodgers over QB Kurt Warner any day. Rodgers makes good decisions under pressure and is so careful with the ball, but Warner struggles to avoid the rush and has a big problem with fumbles.

(5:34) 26-C.Wells right tackle for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Arizona impressed me with their offensive line and RB Chris Wells. Their line did a good job protecting Warner and opening up some lanes for their running backs. Wells really surprised me with his open field moves, he cut right past S Nick Collins on the TD run. But despite his 240+ lb. frame, he's going to use his size to escape weak tackles and not to bowl over defenders.

(5:22) 12-A.Rodgers pass deep middle to 87-J.Nelson for 76 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

I had been noticing that the Packers under new defensive coordinator Dom Capers are using their safeties the same way they did last season. They rarely play close to the line of scrimmage, and instead are playing deep to avoid any big plays.

Arizona doesn't play like that. On this big play, Arizona S Adrian Wilson was close to the line and playing the run. When the Packers ran play action, WR Jordy Nelson used it to get past the cornerback and into an area where there was no safety help deep.

(2:33) 23-T.Sutton right tackle to GB 42 for 11 yards (21-A.Rolle).

Undrafted rookie RB Tyrell Sutton had been playing great against the opponents' 2nd team defenses in the first two games, but got the chance to play with the 1st string in this game. It may even be a sign he's moved up the depth chart to 2nd string, and ahead of RB Brandon Jackson.

(2:00) 12-A.Rodgers pass deep right to 89-J.Jones to ARZ 26 for 32 yards (29-D.Rodgers-Cromartie).

WR James Jones had another great game, and almost had a TD reception on this drive too. But Nelson got his first opportunity to play with the 1st team offense this preseason, and he looked great too. I don't see how you can put one of these guys over the other. They'll have to find some way for them to share time this season as the No. 3 WR.

(:21) (Shotgun) 13-K.Warner pass deep left intended for 85-J.Urban INTERCEPTED by 29-A.Smith at ARZ 49. 29-A.Smith to ARZ 11 for 38 yards (36-L.Stephens-Howling).

I wasn't too excited about the low cost signing of free agent S Anthony Smith after Pittsburgh let him go. But he's played great this preseason, and has earned the right to be the top backup.

(:07) (Shotgun) 12-A.Rodgers pass short right to 88-J.Finley for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

This is the 3rd strong preseason game by Finley. While his speed is too much for linebackers, on this play he lined up wide right like a receiver, and had too much size for the cornerback. Although he got away with a slight push.

Third Quarter:

(12:13) (Shotgun) 7-M.Leinart pass incomplete deep left to 19-L.Long (33-B.Underwood). PENALTY on GB-33-B.Underwood, Personal Foul, 15 yards, enforced at GB 49 - No Play.

CB Brandon Underwood is better than I expected. He could become a good cover corner, and he appears to be good in run support. But the Packers have some tough roster decisions to make and drawing a personal foul for an illegal helmet-to-helmet hit has probably hurt his chances. It's a stupid mental mistake that coaches hate.

(12:07) 7-M.Leinart sacked at GB 41 for -7 yards (94-J.Wynn). FUMBLES (94-J.Wynn), recovered by ARZ-63-L.Sendlein at ARZ 43. 63-L.Sendlein to ARZ 43 for no gain (90-B.Raji).

(10:04) 7-M.Leinart FUMBLES (Aborted) at GB 26, and recovers at GB 26. 7-M.Leinart to GB 26 for no gain (59-B.Jones).

This half was a very good opportunity to watch QB Matt Leinart in action. It was a pretty good example of why he's not a good NFL QB. When he can sit back or step up in the pocket, he can find the open receiver. But he had problems whenever Wynn or Jones got after him. Fortunately for him, the Packers blitz was usually picked up by his offensive lineman. A lot of QBs look good if their pass protection holds up.

(10:04) 7-M.Leinart FUMBLES (Aborted) at GB 26, and recovers at GB 26. 7-M.Leinart to GB 26 for no gain (59-B.Jones).

Nice play by DT Anthony Toribio to get into the backfield and create the fumble. I don't think there's room for him on the 53 man roster, but I expect he'll either play for another team or get an invite to the practice squad.

(6:46) 7-J.Kapinos punts 52 yards to ARZ 23, Center-61-B.Goode. 19-L.Long to ARZ 30 for 7 yards (30-J.Kuhn). PENALTY on ARZ-23-W.Fontenot, Illegal Block Above the Waist, 10 yards, enforced at ARZ 25.

Kuhn is still starting ahead of FB Quinn Johnson, and he's also great on special teams. He won't be cut, and the Packers won't keep 3 FBs, so I expect Johnson will be released at some point.

(2:13) (Shotgun) 11-B.Brohm sacked at GB 25 for -8 yards (93-C.Campbell).

Arizona's offense rarely got off the field in the 2nd half, so there wasn't a lot of opportunities to watch QB Brian Brohm. I'm still a big fan of his because he looks so much better now compared to last season. The Packers would be OK if he had to start a game, although he's still behind QB Matt Flynn on the depth chart. But taking a sack on 3rd down in FG range is a big mistake.

Fourth Quarter:

(15:00) 7-M.Leinart pass short middle to 36-L.Stephens-Howling to ARZ 47 for 8 yards (58-D.Lansanah). FUMBLES (58-D.Lansanah), RECOVERED by GB-94-J.Wynn at ARZ 47. 94-J.Wynn to ARZ 47 for no gain (82-L.Pope). Arizona challenged the fumble ruling, and the play was REVERSED. 7-M.Leinart pass short middle to 36-L.Stephens-Howling to ARZ 47 for 8 yards (58-D.Lansanah).

With all the praise for LB Desmond Bishop this preseason, when Bishop is on the field, LB Danny Lansanah is the other LB who plays alongside Bishop in the 4-2-5 alignment. If it weren't for Bishop, we might notice Lansanah more. On this play, he almost took the running back's head off. The Cardinal player actually suffered a concussion. Lansanah rocked him.

(14:25) 7-M.Leinart pass deep middle to 39-D.Byrd pushed ob at GB 8 for 45 yards (24-J.Bush). PENALTY on ARZ-80-E.Doucet, Unnecessary Roughness, 15 yards, enforced at GB 8.

Unfortunately, on the next play, the Cardinals tight end blew past Lansanah in coverage and was left wide open for a big gain. His inability to cover receivers will probably keep him off the 53 man roster.

(4:33) (Shotgun) 11-B.Brohm sacked at ARZ 30 for -10 yards (59-W.Davis).

Hey, another sack of Brohm in field goal range. A 38 yard FG becomes a 48 yard miss. Although in his defense, on this sack, RB Kregg Lumpkin completely whiffed on the block and the blitzing linebacker came in unblocked.

1-N.Rackers kicks onside 16 yards from ARZ 30 to ARZ 46. RECOVERED by ARZ-1-N.Rackers. PENALTY on ARZ-1-N.Rackers, Delay of Game, 5 yards, enforced at ARZ 46.

Special teams coach Shawn Slocum admitted the special teams players were too far apart. They left the middle of the field wide open for K Neil Rackers. But what the hell was Arizona doing risking their kicker at the bottom of a scrum in a meaningless preseason game?

(:59) (Shotgun) 7-M.Leinart pass short middle to 31-J.Wright to GB 11 for 21 yards (58-D.Lansanah).

This was a rare 2nd half play for big yardage. The 2nd team defense had trouble stopping them on 3rd downs, but Arizona had to slowly work their way up the field. It was all short passing stuff.

1-N.Rackers kicks onside 9 yards from ARZ 30 to ARZ 39. 82-R.Martin for 39 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Making a big play on special teams gets players noticed. It's been a quiet preseason for WR Ruvell Martin, but showing up big on special teams will help him stay on the 53 man roster.

TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 23-T.Sutton rushes left tackle. ATTEMPT FAILS.

It was an interesting opportunity to see how Sutton did in a power situation. He only had one man to beat, and he got stood up by the linebacker right at the goal line. If he made it, he's a lock for the roster. Now the coaches have to figure out whether he has enough strength to succeed in the NFL.

(:12) (Shotgun) 7-M.Leinart pass incomplete deep right to 87-S.Morey.

This pass was a dropped INT by CB Trevor Ford, and a good indication of how lucky Arizona was to get back in the game. Leinart had one INT and at least 3 fumbles, all recovered by Arizona. They could have easily had 5 turnovers in the 2nd half alone. They got lucky that the fumbles bounced their way, but they can't expect to be that sloppy with the ball and win.

Tuesday Packers Practice: Raji, Sutton, and Montgomery

Brandon — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 17:00:14 -0000

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I know it's not QB Brett Favre news, but I'm sure some people (like me) are interested in what's going on with the guys who are currently wearing Green Bay Packers jerseys.

The practice schedule: there were two practices on Tuesday, Wednesday's an off day, two on Thursday, private practice on Friday, and then the Buffalo Bills travel to Lambeau on Saturday.

Reports from practice were rather subdued and distracted by all the Favre talk. But a couple things to note:

The big news with DT B.J. Raji is that he's been practicing a lot. Although he missed about 12 practices due to his late signing, he's been playing in the 3-4 base defense and in the nickel defense (a 4-2-5 alignment). He's kept himself in shape and the coaches aren't holding him back. But he hasn't been blowing them away in practice either.
We've been discussing why there isn't more talk about undrafted free agent RB Tyrell Sutton. I discussed a couple points in in the linked FanPost, but another problem is that he's not good at picking up the blitz, which is essential for a running back, especially a potential 3rd down back.
One surprise last Saturday was that DE Michael Montgomery started at left end. I expected DE Johnny Jolly would start, but apparently he didn't because the coaches are still holding him back as he recovers from an ankle injury suffered early in training camp. Montgomery's played well as far as I can tell, he almost made another great play in practice on Tuesday, but at 273 lbs., he's the lightest player still considered a defensive lineman. What's so odd about Montgomery starting at left end is that position has usually been played by much bigger guys like Jolly (320 lbs.), Raji (337 lbs.), and DE Justin Harrell (320 lbs.)

Monday Packers Practice: Barnett, Raji, Hawk, and Harrell

Brandon — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 12:00:31 -0000

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No one is more relieved that LB Nick Barnett is back on the practice field then the man himself. From his Twitter:

And shot out to the fans who cheered me out today thanksq a lot.. Even the hater who sad Nick you better be worried about your spot lol...

I just got done watching the film I must say I am really proud of myself.. I know it's the first day but man I put in a lot of work

Also it was the first training camp practice for DT B.J. Raji.

Is LB A.J. Hawk a part-time player? I've been pulling for the guy, but 2008 was a big disappointment. Unfortunately the reality is that he's only a marginal starter. He's one of the better LBs in pass coverage, which itself is a debatable point, but he's very poor at stopping the run. Not a good trait for an inside linebacker.

It's been a hell of an August for DE Justin Harrell. He went from miracle acupuncture recovery to having a setback to talking about the end of his career. He hasn't given up yet, and I still hope he can overcome his back injuries. But if he can't make it back this season, DE Michael Montgomery has had a strong camp (he got the start on Saturday night) and rookie DE Jarius Wynn played well again and again on Monday.

Position Analysis: Defensive Line

Brandon — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:00:21 -0000

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One item that has caught my eye when I'm reading reports from practice is that NT B.J. Raji or NT Johnny Jolly are playing defensive end. Jolly is now even listed as a defensive end on the roster at the Packers' website! So is DT Justin "Bustin" Harrell. A 320 lb. defensive end. They are getting serious about adding some bulk on the defensive line to shape up the run defense. And occupy some blockers so the linebackers can make some plays.

These paragraphs on the Packers' awful run defense came straight from my analysis of the linebackers:

Now the Godfather, Dom Capers, is in town. He's brought with him the 3-4 defense, moved DE Aaron Kampman to outside linebacker, and GM Ted Thompson drafted OLB Clay Matthews to revamp the starting lineup around Hawk and Barnett.

Running defense in 2008. They were 7th worst last season allowing an awful 4.6 yards/carry. They also allowed a 1st down on 26.4% of opponent's rushing attempts; "good" for 3rd worst. They also seemed to collapse at key times last season, such as the overtime loss at Tennessee when the Titans just ran right at them on their first O.T. possession to set up the game losing FG.

The run defense was ranked 29th overall by Football Outsiders. The run defense was clearly bad and deserved the bad ranking, but it was good in 2007 (and great in 2006) so it can rebound.

Although I broke up the analysis of defensive line and linebackers, the entire front seven is part of the run defense. The cornerbacks and safeties should come up and help, but often something has gone wrong if someone in the secondary is making the stop on a running play.

The starters are probably set, but since I'm only expecting them to keep six defensive lineman, there should be a heck of a battle among the final six players for that one roster spot (and probably one more spot on the practice squad).

Starters:

NT B.J. Raji. He was drafted to anchor the new and improved run defense. We've got big expectations pinned on him, but he appears to have the talent to reach them. He should be starting on the strong side, over the right tackle. That would make him the left defensive end, but really he's just one of the two starting defensive tackles.

NT Ryan Pickett. If I had to give blame to one player for the bad run defense in 2008, although I do think the it was a group effort, I would blame ex-Packer DT Colin Cole. Good luck with that signing Seattle! But Pickett was M.I.A. for most of last season too. I've been a fan of his in the past, but 2008, for whatever reason, wasn't his year. Although he's a veteran and plays in the trenches, good defensive lineman can often have long NFL careers. Exhibit A: Teams keep signing DT Grady Jackson. Here's to hoping Pickett bounces back in 2009 as continues to anchor the middle of the line.

DE Cullen Jenkins. The only player under 330 lbs. expected to start on the defensive line. He's a great player. I was in shock when he was injured last season with a torn pectoral muscle. He should be able to recover from this injury, but we'll have to wait and see.

Backups:

NT Johnny Jolly. So far in practice, he's been playing a lot as Pickett has missed at least a couple practices. He should be the primary backup in a three-man rotation at NT and left-DE with Raji and Pickett. Assuming his June 26th trial goes in his favor.

DT Justin "Bustin" Harrell. I can't imagine they'll give up on the former 1st round pick unless he completely falls apart in the preseason. But I can't imagine he'll stay healthy for all 16 games either. I would expect he'll see limited time behind Jolly, Raji, and Pickett, which might become significant time if Jolly's legal problems keep him out.

The final backup spot should be someone to play behind Jenkins as the right-DE. Depending on how Jenkins' recovery is going, this player might even find himself as the starter.

DE Michael Montgomery. He was a 6th round pick in GM Ted Thompson's 1st draft (2005) and he's managed to hang on for four seasons. He even managed to start 8 games last season. He checked out the free agent market for a couple weeks before resigning in mid-March. He'd have to be considered the front runner.
DE Jarius Wynn. He might have an advantage as one of this April's 6th round draft choices. He's a talented player who never quite played up to it at Georgia.
DE Alfred Malone. He was listed as a tackle when they ran the 4-3, but now he's an end. He might have an advantage since he spent all of last season either on the Packers' practice squad or active roster.
DE Anthony Toribio. The undrafted free agent signed with Miami in 2008, was on the Dolphins' practice squad for most of the year, and then was signed to the Packers' practice squad last November. He even made it to the active roster in December, although he didn't make it into any games.
DE Ronald Talley and DE/NT Dean Muhtadi. The pair were undrafted in this April's draft. They are probably playing for a spot on the practice squad. The edge might go to Talley since he was signed immediately after the draft, while Muhtadi only received an invite and had to earn his contract during the rookie camp.

Raji's addition alone greatly improves this unit. Otherwise it's comprised mostly of the same players who struggled in 2008. They've got a lot to prove in 2009.

Greg Ellis is Released; Diggs Misses Peppers; Corey Williams in Cleveland; and Thompson vs. Matthews

Brandon — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 12:00:31 -0000

After a few weeks of speculation, Dallas finally released LB Greg Ellis. He's tallied 8 or more sacks in 5 of the last 6 seasons, so he provides a good pass rush. Also, the former DE has been playing outside LB in a 3-4 defense the last three seasons, so he would have some familiarity with the Packers' new defensive scheme. GM Ted Thompson pursued free agent DE Jason Taylor back in May, so he is looking for another pass rusher. The only reliable pass rusher currently on the roster is DE/LB Aaron Kampman, and his strange silence at last week's OTA might be due, in part, because he's unhappy with his contract. Unfortunately, the Packers can't guarantee him a starting job while teams like New England or Miami might, so I doubt they'll actually sign him.
Yesterday I was surprised to read that ex-Packer S Mark Roman still has a starting job in the NFL. LB Na'il Diggs is another ex-Packer who I never expected to see starting again in the NFL, but he's managed 35 starts over the last three seasons in Carolina. Rumors of trading Kampman for disgruntled DE Julius Peppers have been floated recently, but that's not what Diggs wants to happen. He "Misses The Hell Out Of" him.
One of the big moves in 2008 was the trade of DT Corey Williams to Cleveland for a 2nd round draft pick. The pick was used on QB Brian Brohm who didn't play in a single game last season. Maybe they could have used Williams last season as injuries to DE Cullen Jenkins and DT Justin Harrell stripped a poor run defense of depth. Except Williams had a poor 2008 season, and foreshadowing to 2009, he wasn't good in Cleveland's 3-4 defense. Since Williams' acquistion cost Cleveland a lot (a high draft pick and a big signing bonus), they are going to give him another chance, and he's hoping to make the best of it.
Although LB Jeremy Thompson started at outside linebacker in place of LB Clay Matthews, he sat out part of the practices with a strained hamstring, I doubt he's any competition. Thompson didn't show much in 2008 and seems to be just another version of DE Michael Montgomery. Now he has to learn how to play LB, and despite Matthews' similar learning curve, I expect it's a bigger adjustment for Thompson.
Another victim of the bad economy; ShopKo's Packers luxury box.
"My instincts are still very instinctive."

Rookie Camp Wraps Up

Brandon — Mon, 04 May 2009 17:00:14 -0000

More photos » by Mike Roemer - AP

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How excited are you about these draft picks? Now I'm thinking LB Clay Matthews will have a bigger impact on the defense then NT B.J. Raji.

The Packers brought in all the draft picks, undrafted rookie free agents, and undrafted rookies who were invited to tryout for their 3rd annual rookie camp. A mini-camp for rookies. There was a lot of news on Friday because it was open to the public. But Saturday and Sunday were closed practices.

There wasn't a lot of interesting bits in Mike McCarthy's Sunday press conference. S Nick Collins was in Green Bay to meet with Dom Capers and new safeties coach Darren Perry, although he's probably still not thrilled about his contract. A lot of discussion about the offseason QB school, which isn't as important this year since all three QBs are so much more experienced now. But McCarthy is looking forward to the new and improved defensive line in 2009:

"I've talked to Ryan Pickett, and it's definitely an opportunity for him, No. 1, to be the nose guard of this football team. When you look at our defensive line and some of our veteran players on defense, we're making a scheme change, but there are individuals we feel very strongly about. I've said it since the day we made this change to the 3-4, Ryan Pickett will be an excellent anchor for us at the nose guard position. We want flexibility in the rotation with those defensive linemen. That's why B.J. will work the nose guard and the left end position. Cullen Jenkins, we'll probably move him around more in the sub groups and so forth. So we're trying to, if you recall two years ago we had an excellent rotation we felt in the defensive line, and we're trying to get back to that. Justin Harrell is looking better and better each week in the offseason program. Johnny Jolly has been productive for us in spots. It's a group we're trying to bring together and get some more flexibility with."

Tom Pelissero has a good list of where the draft picks played:

WHERE THE DRAFT PICKS LINED UP
* 90 B.J. Raji: Nose tackle with first group. Also played left end.
* 52 Clay Matthews: Right outside linebacker with first group.
* 70 T.J. Lang: Right tackle with first group. Also played left guard.
* 45 Quinn Johnson: Fullback.
* 69 Jamon Meredith: Left tackle.
* 94 Jarius Wynn: Right end with first group.
* 33 Brandon Underwood: Left cornerback with first group.
* 59 Brad Jones: Left outside linebacker with first group.

The possiblity that Raji can play inside or outside gives them so much flexibility. But I'm expecting he'll only play inside. Maybe he'll play at end during goal line situations. Matthews is playing exactly where I expected. I'm not sure Meredith and Lang will wind up at those particular spots on the line. It looks like Wynn would challenge DE Michael Montgomery to backup DE Cullen Jenkins. I still expect Underwood will be moved to safety. Jones might be able to beat out LB Desmond Bishop for a backup spot, or maybe he's a candidate for the practice squad.

Early Look at Position Battles

Mitchell_M — Mon, 04 May 2009 14:29:40 -0000

More photos » by Mike Roemer - AP

Pass rusher of the future? Or the next 2008-version of A.J. Hawk?

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The months between February and August always seem the longest, don't they? Sure, the NBA Playoffs are a welcome respite, and I suppose some people out there still like baseball, but c'mon. Football is where it's at.

The draft is done, and the first rookie minicamp is in the books as well. OTA's are coming up, and training camp is far off in the distance. This offseason will be interesting because of the number of rookies and other young players that figure into key personnel moves. Let's take a look at where the focus is going to be in regards to position battles.

Backup QB: Matt Flynn vs. Brian Brohm

Last preseason, Flynn and Brohm were complete opposites: Brohm played great in practice, while Flynn played great in games. Flynn managed to get the nod for his in-game performance, a surprising move considering he was a 7th rounder and Brohm was a 2nd. But after a year has passed, these two get another shot at holding Aaron Rodgers' clipboard for the upcoming season.

Fullback: Korey Hall vs. John Kuhn vs. Quinn Johnson

The fullback position is a dying one in the NFL, but Green Bay is still holding on to the hope of finding someone to fill the void left by William Henderson. Hall and Kuhn battled injuries last year, but played relatively well. Johnson's arrival will either push one of the incumbents to be better, or will bump one of them off the roster entirely.

Center: Jason Spitz vs. Scott Wells

Spitz is good enough to start at any of the three interior line positions. Wells was a very good young center until injuries derailed him last season. Can Wells return to form, or is he destined for a role on the bench?

Right Tackle: T.J. Lang vs. Breno Giacomini vs. Tony Moll

Mark Taushcer still recovering from an ACL injury and remaining unsigned, one of the bookends on the offensive line is open. Moll has the edge on experience, but Giacomini has superior physical tools. Lang might be the best balance between athleticism and technique.

Tight End: Donald Lee vs. Jermichael Finley

Lee has been solid, if unspectacular, as the starter. Finley is a dynamic athlete who adds a new dimension to the passing game, but he has to improve his run blocking to merit time on the field. Additionally, he needs to refrain from blaming Rodgers for throwing a pass that he could and should have reached out to grab.

No. 3 WR: Jordy Nelson vs. James Jones

Nelson played extremely well for a rookie last year, especially in the non-pass-catching role of WR. His run blocking on the edge ranged from above average to superb, something that is a commodity at WR. Jones' season was cut short by injury, but he has the tools to regain the dynamic form of his rookie season. An important footnote for this battle is that the winner will likely have the inside track at Donald Driver's job when DD retires.

The entire defensive line:

Cullen Jenkins and B.J. Raji are probably the only two that are good enough by themselves to earn a starting spot somewhere on the line. Ryan Pickett is still solid, but aging. Johnny Jolly is inconsistent, Justin Harrell is talented but fragile, Michael Montgomery is undersized, as is newcomer Jarius Wynn.

OLB pass rusher: Aaron Kampman vs. Clay Matthews vs. Brady Poppinga vs. Jeremy Thompson vs. Jason Hunter

Talk about a whole lot of potential and a lack of definition. Kampman tore it up as a DE for most of his career, but makes a switch that many players find do not suit them. Matthews is young and certainly has a lot of upside, but expecting him to fill this role immediately is unreasonable. Poppinga was allegedly a pass rusher in college, but hasn't shown any ability in the pros. Thompson has the tools to fit well at 3-4 OLB, which is good considering he was an undersized 4-3 DE. Hunter actually played this role in college, and was fairly successful at it.

Dime corner: Will Blackmon vs. Pat Lee vs. Brandon Underwood

Harris, Woodson, and Williams have the top three corner spots locked up, leaving the fabled no. 4 spot somewhat open. Blackmon performed inconsistently last season and might be better used as a kick returner/no. 5 corner. Pat Lee was a 2nd round pick last year and is the early heir to Al Harris' throne. Underwood is an athletic prospect who could have played at tOSU were it not for some poor decisions and bad luck.

Strong Safety: Atari Bigby vs. Anthony Smith vs. Aaron Rouse

Bigby was a terror when he was on the field. The key there is "on the field", as he found himself in the trainer's room all too often. Anthony Smith was Thompson's biggest free agent signing, and played well at Pittsburgh before getting shown up by the 2008 Patriots, who purposefully targeted him after he shot his mouth off to the media. He's never been the same, but perhaps a change of scenery can do that. Rouse has the tools, but can't put it all together. This year is a do-or-die year for Rouse; if he can't contribute this season, there's no reason to expect him to stick around for the next.

Punter: Jeremy Kapinos vs. Durant Brooks.

Blech.

Did I miss anything?

Filling The Defensive End Void

Brandon — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 04:08:30 -0000

DE Cullen Jenkins will fill one of the two starting defensive end roles, but former DE Aaron Kampman is moving to outside linebacker, so someone has to take his place on the strong side (over the right tackle).

At the start of free agency the Packers showed interest in unrestricted free agents DE Chris Canty and DE Igor Olshansky, but they were priced much higher than GM Ted Thompson was willing to pay.

There hasn't been much mention of filling the spot since then. I assume Thompson is interested in adding a defensive end if he was talking with their agents. The only player mentioned in a while was veteran DE Kevin Carter, but there has been very little news about him recently. From his career stats at NFL.com, he's been a starter every year since his rookie season in 1995, so he's probably looking for another starting job. I wouldn't be surprised if Thompson told his agent that nothing would be guaranteed in Green Bay, and so Carter is still waiting for the right offer. At age 35, he might never get that offer again, so he might still be willing to consider the Packers. He's the best remaining free agent at defensive end that can fill the run stuffing role the Packers need. Right now, it looks like Thompson intends to find someone in the draft instead of free agency.

As it stands without a free agent signing, or a rookie defensive end drafted, it might be DT Johnny Jolly. Maybe they're keeping the opening job warm for DT Justin Harrell. I wouldn't be surprised if recently resigned DE Michael Montgomery is a possibility too.

..........

I'm out of here for a long weekend. I'll have something fresh up next week.

Poll

What should they do about finding a new starting defensive end?

Give the job to Justin Harrell

114 votes

It's Johnny Jolly's job to lose

216 votes

Look for someone in the draft

375 votes

Sign Kevin Carter

168 votes

873 votes | Poll has closed

The Packers Make A Trade With Carolina

Brandon — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 14:00:12 -0000

More photos » by John Bazemore - AP

8 months ago: FILE - In this Feb. 1, 2009, file photo, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison returns an interception for a 100-yard touchdown during the second quarter of the NFL Super Bowl XLIII football game in Tampa, Fla. At right is Arizona Cardinals guard Reggie Wells. Harrison reached terms Monday, April 13, 2009, on a $51.75 million, six-year contract that will make him the second highest-paid player in franchise history. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)

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Anyone who read the above title expecting something regarding Carolina's unsigned franchise DE Julius Peppers will be disappointed.

Instead they traded LS J.J. Jansen to Carolina for what might amount to a 6th round pick in 2010. Not a bad haul for a player who spent all of last season on the I.R. and, as far as I recall, has never played in a single regular season game for the Packers.

And GM Ted Thompson has done pretty well in the 6th round since 2005. He's drafted four players who started games last season (DE Michael Montgomery, DT Johnny Jolly, LB Desmond Bishop, and FB Korey Hall) plus K Mason Crosby.

.....

On a side note, Pittsburgh signed reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, LB James Harrison, to a contract extension that will pay him $20 million in guaranteed money. That's a good contract for Pittsburgh, it's probably much less than he would have gotten as an unrestricted free agent. But since I don't know much about the Steelers or their roster, this really caught my eye:

Harrison, cut four times earlier in his career, cashed in after being an NFL starter only two seasons.

He was released four times? Looking back at the list of former winners of that award, none of them have ever been an undrafted player. I doubt any of them were released before they won that award either.