SB Nation - Matt Giordano

WR Patrick Williams Signed From The Practice Squad

Brandon — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:00:19 -0000

by Patrick Semansky - AP

about 1 month ago: Carolina Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams (34), running back Tyrell Sutton, behind, and center Ryan Kalil (67) celebrate after DeAngelo's touchdown against the New Orleans Saints in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

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The Green Bay Packers made a roster move: signing WR Patrick Williams from the practice squad and releasing WR Biren Ealy. Here's what I wrote about the two receivers back in October:

As to the two receivers signed: WR Patrick Williams was barely mentioned here at all after a quiet preseason, but he should be familiar with the offense and have a short learning curve. WR Biren Ealy worked with the Saints and Ravens so far this season, but spent time dropping passes for the Titans in 2008.

I'm not really sure why they need a 6th WR on the active roster. There are a couple other guys on the roster, T Breno Giacomini and S Matt Giordano, who don't seem to fill a need on the roster either. Not that they especially need a 3rd QB or a 4th RB, but why did they let go of guys like QB Brian Brohm and RB Tyrell Sutton, and keep other guys like Giacomini, Giordano, and Williams?

Packers Pre-Game: Inactives and Turf

Brandon — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 17:30:57 -0000

Inactives from Greg Bedard at JSOnline.com:

Packers inactives: WR Biren Ealy, CB Trevor Ford, FB Quinn Johnson, S Matt Giordano, T Breno Giacomini, T/G Allen Barbre, NT Ryan Pickett, LB Jeremy Thompson.

Bears inactives: WR Juaquin Iglesias, S Craig Steltz, WR Devin Hester, CB D.J. Moore, LB Cato June, DT Matt Toeainia, LT Orlando Pace, DT Jarron Gilbert.

NT Ryan Pickett appeared unlikely all week, and I'm glad to see he'll get a week off to heal his injured hamstring. They'll get a little smaller up front with either DE Michael Montgomery or DE Jarius Wynn in the rotation this week.

The loss of WR Devin Hester will hurt the Bears, but it's not a fatal blow to their offense either. It does mean the Bears might be playing with 2 TEs for nearly the entire game. LT Orlando Pace might not be a starter anymore, even if healthy.

And one more thing from Greg Bedard:

The turf here at Soldier Field looks terrible and it could be a factor in today's game. It's holding up OK now. Doubt it during the game.

I had forgotten about the awful turf at Soldier Field, though I haven't heard much about it since it was replaced back in September.

Analysis: The Backup Safety

Brandon — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:00:30 -0000

by Jeffrey Phelps - AP

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With the return of SS Atari Bigby, to play alongside FS Nick Collins, the safety position is as solid as it has been all season. But the lack of depth behind the starters was exposed when Bigby missed 3 games.

Coming into the season, it looked like free agent S Anthony Smith would be the top backup, but he was surprisingly cut after the final preseason game. The backup job initially went to S Aaron Rouse, but his only start, the loss to the Bengals, was the final straw and they wisely decided to release him. Though he resurfaced with the Giants, and has become their starter, it's not because he's playing well. At this point, the Giants have no other options. The Packers also traded for S Derrick Martin before the season started, but he was bad in the Vikings game at Minnesota and hasn't played on defense since. Now he's suffered a concussion and it's not clear whether he'll be able to play next Sunday. After Rouse was released, they signed S Matt Giordano, but when asked whether Giordano was up to speed, McCarthy only said "he's been working." So apparently he's not up to speed. Now the Packers found themselves right back to where they started, and put a waiver claim in on Smith, but they lost out to the Jaguars.

Right now CB/S Jarrett Bush has to be the top backup for either safety position, and it's likely he's the best option of any the other backup candidates I've written about. Who's the best option at this point?

Chapter 2, Game 3 - vs. Green Bay Packers (Sept. 27th)

3k — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 03:27:57 -0000

Introductions are lame. I have to try and think of something interesting to write here that doesn't really say anything so that I leave all the high quality content you expect of me in the body. It's probably my least favorite aspect of these previews. So screw this, and let's get into the preview.

Breakdown of the home opener after the fold.

For game-specific info, check out the SBN event page for this game. For Redskins news leading up the game, check out Acme Packing Company.

St. Louis Rams, 0-2, 4th - NFC West

Green Bay Packers, 1-1, t-2nd - NFC North

Parentheses include NFL rankings in that area. Statistics taken from ESPN & FootballOutsiders.

STL pass - 32/64, 50% (31st), 145 yds/gm (31st), 1 TD, 0 int, 69.5 rat, -11.4% pDVOA (29th)

GB pass D - 32/59, 54.2%, 217 yds/gm, 4 TD, 6 int (t-1st), 62.9 rat, -42.7% pdDVOA (2nd)

This is a very strong, ball hawk defense led by the strength of their CB corps: Charles Woodson, Al Harris, Will Blackmon and Tramon Williams. Sadly, the Rams' offense has scored as many points as Green Bay's defense.

The reality of this matchup is that Bulger is going to have to work around these guys. That means more underneath play trying to work into the LBs through the air or going over the top and trying to link up with either Laurent Robinson or Donnie Avery against the Pack's safeties. In fact, this might be the best opportunity the Rams have had at going deep with some of the chaos at the back of the Packers' D. Nick Collins is a solid FS, but he's dealing with a chest injury that might hold him out of Sunday's contest. On the other side, the SS position is up in the air. Atari Bigby started in week 1, but was injured soon after and he's out for another two weeks. That injury pushed Aaron Rouse into action, but Rouse was cut...yesterday. The Packers went out and signed former Colt Matt Giordano, but he'll still have to compete with with Jarrett Bush and Derrick Martin for the starting gig. If we don't go after the SS with some deep passes, expect me to call out the coaching in the game thread early.

STL run - 19.5 rsh/gm, 101.5 yds/gm (20th), 5.2 yds/carry (5th), 0 TD, -3.5% rDVOA (18th)

GB run D - 32.5 rsh/gm, 118.5 yds/gm (18th), 3.6 yds/carry, 1 TD, -9.7% rdDVOA (14th)

The statistics speak for themselves from a Rams' standpoint: 5th in yards per carry, but 20th in yards per game. With so many truncated drives, the Rams aren't getting the ball to Steven Jackson nearly enough. One might argue that his explosiveness in terms of YPC might drop if he were used more, but I'd be willing to see his yards per drop if his total yards jumped. Defensive fatigue is a statistic that isn't measured but has a huge impact.

Defensively, Green Bay boasts an enviable 3-4 LB group anchored by the trio of ILBs A.J. Hawk & Nick Barnett, and LOLB Aaron Kampman. It'll be a great matchup to see what Steven Jackson can do at the second level, He should get enough help again from the O-line to be effective. I'd just like to see him be effective more often.

STL O-line - 4 sacks allowed/game (t-18th), 5.2% ASR (Adj. Sack Rate) (16th)

GB D-line - 4 sacks/game (t-12th), 6.0% ASR (12th)

To put Green Bay's sack total in perspective, half of those sacks have come from OLBs (Brandon Chillar and rookie Clay Matthews). Still, the nature of the 3-4 means that OLBs play a significant role in the pass rush, so this becomes a bit of a hybrid section since the Rams' O-line will have to deal with a NT, two 3-4 DEs and whichever blitzing defenders come on any given play. It will require a bit more awareness, but the Rams' O-line should be up to the task. The real question mark going into this battle will be Adam Goldberg and how different he will be from Jason Smith. He'll have to deal with some combination of Johnny Jolly (great name) and Kampman mostly.

GB pass - 19/26, 73.1% (5th), 187 yds/gm, 2 TD, 0 int, 87.0 rat, 20.4% pDVOA (18th)

STL pass D - 48/72, 66.7%, 258 yds/gm (25th), 3 TD, 2 int, 90.1 rat, 25.8% pdDVOA (24th)

Green Bay's yard total is skewed by the 73 yards incurred by 10 sacks, but they still should be factored in. Unlike Bulger last week, Aaron Rodgers, in week 1, tossed a TD to win at home against Chicago. Granted, it was a 50-yard TD which negated the need for an Elway-like "drive", but it was a game-winning TD nonetheless, that obscured an otherwise Bulgerish game - 16 for 27, 134 yds., 0 TDs. Last week, Cincinnati was able to pressure Rodgers all game with 6 sacks (5 by Antwan Odom alone) and 4 knockdowns which kept him off base all game. Greg Jennings didn't log a single reception. This should be the template for Sunday.

The pressure should force Rodgers to try to make things happen on his own, which should have Ron Bartell, James Butler and especially Oshiomogho Atogwe salivating. It should also give us a great look at Jonathan Wade and Justin King who will find themselves against either Donald Driver or Jennings - a simple matchup by no means. Still, if the last two weeks were any indication, the Rams should be able to hold Rodgers to an agreeable finish by Rams fans' standards.

GB run - 20 rsh/gm, 82.5 yds/gm (23rd), 4.1 yds/carry (16th), 2 TD, 15.6% rDVOA (9th)

STL run D - 67 rsh/gm (t-4th), 146 yds/gm, 4.4 yds/carry (21st), 1 TD, -1.5% rdDVOA (20th)

Ryan Grant looks like a shadow of the running back who terrorized defenses as a rookie in 2007 and showed promise by performing with a target on his head in 2008. You have to hope he doesn't come into this game motivated to prove his first two games were a fluke (a la Donnie Avery), because he's still as talented as he was the last two years. This should be a good test for our LBs now that they don't have a premier receiving TE to deal with. Neither Jermichael Finley nor Donald Lee will be huge receiving threats, though the two did combine for 8 catches and 84 yards against Cincinnati, though that was partly because Greg Jennings wasn't a factor. That being said, the LBs should be able to handle the TEs enough that they can focus on holding Ryan Grant to a third straight disappointing performance.

GB O-line - 3 sacks allowed/game (t-18th)

STL D-line - 0 sack/game (t-29th)

This is where the Rams will either beat the Packers or beat themselves. Green Bay's offensive line has been more sieve-ic than civic this season, averaging 5 sacks against per game. This should continue to be a less than stellar line as long as Chad Clifton is out, which includes Sunday and may extend to Green Bay's divisional contest with Minnesota.

Bear in mind, though, this recipe includes 1 part Packer O-line, and 1 part Rams D-line. The Rams have been ineffective in getting pressure to the QB. If St. Louis wants to hold the Driver-Jennings duo to a manageable result, a pass rush is a necessity. Cincinatti did it by relying on their RDE. Chicago did it with their entire D-line and some blitz packages. As a Rams fan, I can honestly say I don't give a damn how we approach it, but we have to get at Aaron Rodgers early and often.

In light of Van's recent mini-diatribe on the circle jerk that is ESPN, this week's top 3 storylines brought to you by ESPN's favorite stories of 2009:

1.) Brett Favre is back: He is, and this is annoying, almost as annoying as seeing Bulger sit in the pocket for 5 seconds without throwing the ball. The pass protection he's gotten has been leagues better than the past two seasons, but now that he's got it, what can he do with it? Thus far not much. And that is annoying as hell, or as I tend to say, Favreing as hell.

2.) Michael Vick is back: The classic redemption story played through the eyes of a ghetto Adonis whose disdain for dogs broke him and remade him again. I get it. He went from being a stud to a villain who is now on his way to role model. Why? Because ESPN made sure it molded the caricature of Michael Vick at every step, the same way Spagnuolo is molding his team with every game. We saw it in week 1 with the NFL readiness of rookies like Jason Smith and James Laurinaitis. We saw it in week 2 with the reform of Richie Incognito. We'll see it soon in the rebirth of Donnie Avery. Spags is to the Rams what ESPN is to Vick - a constant source of promotion and energy.

3.) ESPN is back: There's nothing ESPN loves to remind you of more than something that's coming on ESPN. You didn't have to watch Monday Night Football before, really. You could if you wanted to. But now? You have to. Everybody does. Don't be that asshole; watch it. Why the difference? Because it's on ESPN. They ignored soccer from the day they turned on the cameras in Bristol. They mocked it as the pussy sport, the sport Americas don't like for good reason. Then around 2007, they started promoting it more and more. Why? They had rights to the World Cup and were aggressively pursuing rights to the English Premier League and the Spanish league (La Liga) which they finally accrued for this season. So now, you should be classy enough to like soccer. Don't be that neanderthal from west Texas who still doesn't accept soccer for what it is. It's somewhat like TST. We pound memes into people's heads. Last year, it was "we should be playing better." Now, it's "we will be playing better." And one day, hopefully one day soon, it will be " we are playing better." It's going to come, and it's going to be on....like another ESPN show with blowhard pundits who spend less time digesting sports' importance and more time regurgitating it.

Go Rams.

Analysis: Why Releasing Aaron Rouse Was A Good Move

Brandon — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:00:36 -0000

I should have linked to Tom Pelissero's excellent breakdown of the Green Bay Packers loss to the Bengals two days ago, but better late then never.:

♦ S Aaron Rouse was productive (nine tackles) in place of SS Atari Bigby, particularly in run support, but as usual, Rouse had some glaring errors as well. He took a poor leverage angle on the third-and-34 screen the Bengals converted, then was supposed to be playing deep zone on the next play, when Palmer hit WR Chad Ochocinco for 44 on a flea-flicker.

From Mike McCarthy:

Q: Was Rouse's performance on Sunday the catalyst for the move?
A: You never want to go off of just one performance. These decisions are made with a lot of information.

Most comments on his release have been negative. That was my first reaction too. But, as McCarthy said, this isn't a decision made after one game. After a good rookie season, he had some bad games last season in pass coverage and he took some bad angles to the ball. The disaster last season in New Orleans stands out in my mind. And 2008 wasn't a one year fluke. The scouting report, when he came into the NFL, said he struggled in pass coverage.

He'll probably end up somewhere in the NFL again, but he probably shouldn't be starting with his shortcomings in pass coverage. And there is the added benefit of adding S Matt Giordano, who made a lot of fans during his time with the Colts, and is probably healthier since Rouse suffered a neck stinger in the game against the Bengals.

And he's also a great special teams player, which was one of the reasons McCarthy mentioned for releasing Rouse. The Packers were bad on special teams last week, again from Tom Pelissero:

♦ P Jeremy Kapinos’ punts were too straight and low, but the coverage unit could have stopped PR Quan Cosby from breaking two big returns. Instead, Jeremy Thompson left his lane on one, giving Cosby a chasm to the near sideline for 60, and Chillar took a poor angle on the other, letting himself get pancaked as Cosby circled back to the far sideline for 32. The Bengals turned those returns into 10 points.

They could have kept Rouse for depth and instead released FB Quinn Johnson or LB Brad Jones since neither has been active for a game in 2009. But the coaches apparently have faith that recently acquired S Derrick Martin can start if S Nick Collins can't go on Sunday. S Jarrett Bush has struggled as a cornerback, but he's much better when only asked to help in coverage as a safety. With Bush, Martin, and Giordano available on Sunday, and CB Charles Woodson available to play safety in case of an emergency, the depth should be fine until Collins and S Atari Bigby return.

Where's Admiral Ackbar When You Need Him?

Mitchell_M — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 01:32:08 -0000

Because you know he's got the warning for this week.

Hmm, maybe that didn't get the point across like I wanted it to.

Not quite. It's urgent enough, but just not enough repetition...

Ah, here. This is exactly how I want to say it.

Packers. Rams. Week 3. Other short statements. After the jump.

Green Bay put up an uneven performance in week 1 against Chicago. Then they followed that with a positively dismal performance (Charles Woodson excluded, of course) against Cincinnati. Now, they sit at 1-1, and I'm sure many eyes are looking forward to the October 5th showdown between Green Bay and division-leading Minnesota.

But the NFL season, much like the flow of time, is completely chronological and cannot be disturbed. Unless of course your home city suffers a major catastrophe and you're awarded a "home" game in New York. But lets hope that doesn't happen.

The point of this mini-diatribe is that Green Bay has to play the St. Louis Rams before even thinking about the Vikings. And yes, I know, St. Louis has been dreadful for years, but so was Cincinnati (excluding 2006). They started out the year by getting shut out 28-0 to Seattle, and last week lost in an ~~epic~~ ~~entertaining~~ ~~watchable~~ ~~tolerable~~ ~~mediocre~~ awful 9-7 game against Washington. This team has problems. But do you want a repeat of last week? Me neither. So without further delay, let's get to it.

STL rushing vs. GB defense: Steven Jackson, Steven Jackson, Steven Jackson. The first-round pick in fantasy drafts everywhere has struggled over the last few years, usually because of injuries to St. Louis' sorry excuse for an offensive line and virtual lack of any semblance of a passing game. It's hard to run the ball when you're going up against 10 in the box.

That said, Jackson is still one of the top RBs in the game in terms of athleticism, versatility, and talent. Over two games, Jackson has amassed 171 yards on 33 carries, resulting in an excellent 5.2 ypc. He's been kept out of the end zone and hasn't had his usual impact on the passing game, but the potential is always there. Jackson had several injuries hampering his production in 2008, and he seems to have bounced back and looks healthy.

Up front is where St. Louis has suffered so much in recent years. On the left side, Alex Barron is a man who, as some critics put it, looks like Tarzan and plays like Jane. He is a monster at 6'7", 300+ lbs, and has the strength, agility, and quickness to dominate in both run and pass blocking. Unfortunately, Barron's biggest deficiency is work ethic, which undermines his consistency and keeps him a marginal starter (at best). The rest of the line (from LG to RT) is manned by Jacob Bell (6'5", 300), Jason Brown (6'3", 328), the ever mysterious Richie Incognito (6'3", 324), and Adam Goldberg (6'7, 309). Goldberg is starting in place of the injured rookie Jason Smith.

Green Bay did an excellent job in keeping Matt Forte under wraps in week 1, but then imploded when faced with the powerful blocking of Cincinnati's special run-blocking sub package of offensive linemen. The clever coaching maneuver torched the Packers to the tune of 141 yards on 29 carries. Naturally, this was helped by Green Bay's inability to wrap up on tackles, taking good angles towards ball carriers, and converging on the running back whenever a hole opened up.

Advantage: Push. Does Green Bay have a dominant run defense that had a bad day against Cincy? Or do they have a poor run defense that had a good day against Chicago? That debate, along with the juxtaposition of Steven Jackson's talent against his offensive line's limitations makes this matchup a complete draw.

STL passing vs. GB defense: For Steven Jackson, the offensive line made life in the NFL a nightmare. However, nobody suffered more than Marc Bulger. You think Aaron Rodgers has happy feet after two games? Imagine getting pounded into mush week in and week out for at least 3 seasons. Marc Bulger was the conductor of the second phase of the Greatest Show on Turf, and was fairly effective until his protection vanished. He is still an above-average quarterback with decent accuracy, decent arm strength, average mobility, and the ability to read coverages and make the necessary throws (if he has time, of course).

Bulger has always found success whenever surrounded with skilled teammates. Unfortunately for him, that is no longer the case. Steven Jackson is an outstanding receiver, but the rest of the receiving corps includes the like of Donnie Avery, Laurent Robinson, TE Randy McMichael, and the recently-departed Ruvell Martin. Avery has a little bit of speed on vertical routes, and Martin and McMichael have excellent size, but that's all that is notable about this group. As far as pass blocking goes, the Rams' success depends on three things: good line calls from center Jason Brown (their best lineman, but currently dealing with a knee injury), a motivated Alex Barron, and a healthy Jason Smith. They've already lost one of those, so protection will really be at a premium if Green Bay decides to bring heavy pressure.

Of course, that's if Green Bay can afford to bring pressure. The situation at safety is certainly a red flag for the Packers' pass defense. With Atari Bigby out and Nick Collins' availability (currently "day-to-day") unknown, and Aaron Rouse cut in favor of Matt Giordano, Dom Capers' playcalling figures to be much more vanilla than some of us would like. Cullen Jenkins and Clay Matthews both showed off their pass rushing skills last week by recording sacks, and Charles Woodson (2 INT, 1 TD) continues his quest to single-handedly carry the team when the offense isn't working.

Advantage: Green Bay. This defense can get to the quarterback, and no team is more vulnerable than this St. Louis squad missing its top draft pick. If they get a chance to blitz, expect another dominating performance.

GB rushing vs. STL defense: Ryan Grant was a huge disappointment in 2008, but his new contract, attendance at training camp, and a healed hamstring make it look like he's ready to shine again. He hasn't found much help up front, limiting him to 107 yards on 30 carries, but you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone that doesn't think he'd have better stats if he hadn't been limited to 3 carries in the second half of the Cincy game.

With Clifton out for the forseeable future with a sprained ankle, the offensive line is shuffled once again. The lineup, from left to right, will likely be Daryn Colledge, Jason Spitz, Scott Wells, Josh Sitton, and Allen Barbre. According to Jason Wilde, there are several other options that the team is considering, including moving Barbre from RT to LT and promoting either Breno Giacomini or T.J. Lang to RT. This would keep the interior line of Colledge-Spitz-Sitton intact.

With so much uncertainty, Green Bay's chances of mounting an effective ground attack are up in the air. Fortunately, St. Louis is far from a stalwart run defense. As a team, they're giving up 146 yards per game. This is even more glaring when considering their first opponent (Seattle) is no longer a powerhouse rushing team. Still, despite giving up large chunks of yardage, the Rams' run defense did not allow Clinton Portis to score in Week 2. The addition of James Laurinaitis and return to health of Will Witherspoon more than makes up for the release of Pisa Tinoisamoa, and the tandem of Clifton Ryan and Jake Long are fairly strong against run blockers. However, Adam Carriker's trip to the I.R. promoted the undersized Gary Gibson to start alongside the aging Leonard Little, leaving the right side of their defensive line vulnerable to the run. Nobody in St. Louis' secondary can be described as a run-stopper.

Advantage: Green Bay, but only if they actually call run plays. If Grant sees less than five carries in a half, you'll know something went wrong. If there's a team vulnerable to a strong running game, it's the 2009 Rams.

GB passing vs. STL defense: Aaron Rodgers looked like a world-beater in the preseason...until teams started stepping up their pass rush and the offensive tackles forgot how to pass block. Allen Barbre made remarkable improvement from the first week to the second, but he will have his hands full with Leonard Little. The winner Barbre-Little matchup will likely determine the owner of the RT position for the rest of the season. On the other side, Jake Long is a capable pass rusher in the mold of Aaron Kampman before he got famous (unathletic but high motor, poor mechanics but determined, blah blah blah...) Whoever starts at LT (most likely Daryn Colledge) won't have as difficult of a matchup as the RT (Barbre), but still a matchup to pay attention to.

St. Louis' pass defense is ranked 25th in the league, giving up 258 yards per game. This is largely because of the average defensive backfield they employ. At CB, Ronald Bartell and Jonathan Wade are merely decent players with an average skill set. They're not lightning fast or amazing athletes or strong bump-and-run style corners; they're just guys who go out and try to execute whatever coverage is given to them.

Their situation at safety is better with James Butler and Oshiomogho Atogwe starting with our beloved Anthony Smith filling the backup role for both positions. Both Butler and Atogwe are young players with good experience starting in the NFL, they're both rangy athletes who can cover space, and Atogwe in particular has a knack for finding the ball. Neither one is particularly strong in run support, but they won't shy away from it either.

Aaron Rodgers' protection is priority #1 on offense, but catching passes is a close #2. In both games, the dependable cast of Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, James Jones, and Jordy Nelson have all had at least one dropped ball. Jermichael Finley and Ryan Grant also have drops, but Finley is still maturing and Grant has never been a good receiver. The return of Brandon Jackson to practice on Wednesday might give Rodgers another weapon on passing downs, but that shouldn't matter. The talent is there, and Rodgers has done an excellent job keeping control of the ball despite getting batted around like a ball of yarn in the first two weeks. If the receivers can shake off whatever is keeping them from catching passes, Rodgers' punishment at least won't be in vain.

Advantage: Green Bay by a slight margin. Again, the talent is there; they just need to execute.

Preliminary Verdict: Green Bay has an excellent chance of bouncing back from the Cincinnati debacle and playing a dominant game against the Rams. But be warned, if the players are thinking more about Adrian Peterson, Jared Allen, and You Know Who than they are Steven Jackson, Jake Long, and Marc Bulger, expect another major disappointment (and even more Vikings fans coming to the site to let us know that the Packers failed.)

Let's put it this way: Neither team has very much momentum right now. Green Bay has higher aspirations for this season, so they could definitely use the boost. Hopefully, they don't overlook the Rams like some people feel they did the Bengals.

Poll

What outcome do you see for Week 3 vs. St. Louis?

Big GB win.

213 votes

Slim GB win.

149 votes

Too close to call.

32 votes

Slim STL win.

36 votes

Big STL win.

22 votes

452 votes | Poll has closed

Green Bay Trades In A Safety

Mitchell_M — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 18:12:17 -0000

More photos » by Mike Roemer - AP

From right to left: Jarrett Bush (sucks), Aaron Rouse (cut), Chad Ochocinco (crazy).

Browse more photos »

Green Bay addressed it's need at safety by signing Matt Giordano today. Giordano was one of the three players the Packers brought in to shore up the lack of depth in the defensive backfield. Giordano, a five-year NFL veteran, was best known for his special teams contributions with the Colts, along with his amazing open-field speed.

This is a great move; it helps reinforce the glaring hole at safety, especially since Atari Bigby and Nick Collins are hurt. That means that Giordano will be competing with Jarrett Bush and Derrick Martin for the starting spot alongside Aaron Ro...

Wait a minute...

...

In a related move, the Packers cut safety Aaron Rouse to make room on the 53-man roster.

Let me type that sentence again, because I'm frankly not sure if it makes any sense.

The Packers cut Aaron Rouse to make room on the 53-man roster.

Cut him. Let him go. Released him. Asked him to clean out his locker, gave him a cardboard box, and sent him along his merry way. No matter how you spin it, Green Bay cut a safety to make room for...another safety.

Please, if you have small children that are of reading age, cover their ears.

* * *

TED THOMPSON, YOU SLACK-JAWED, CROSS-EYED, IN-BRED, TWO-BIT, LOOKING HIGH-ALL-THE-TIME, RIDICULOUSLY RIDICULOUS MORON! WHAT THE HELL?! WHY WOULD YOU RELEASE THE MOST ATHLETIC PLAYER LEFT AT THE SAFETY POSITION IN ORDER TO PICK SOMEONE ELSE UP? YOUR TWO STARTERS ARE HURT, SO HOW IS THE NEXT LOGICAL MOVE TO CUT THE PLAYER WITH THE MOST RELEVANT EXPERIENCE?!

* * *

Ahem. I'm back. I'm sorry to use my big boy voice in here, but I just can't help myself.

The last week or so has really made me question Thompson's plan for 2009 and beyond. Our quarterback got killed in Week 1 because Allen Barbre (one of his guys) was playing like garbage. OK, I understand the need for continuity on the line, and he should have gotten a chance to redeem himself, and he did. Then, our quarterback gets killed in Week 2 because a) Chad Clifton is far further on the decline than we care to admit, b) Clifton got hurt after giving up 2 sacks, and c) Daryn Colledge (another Thompson pick) was forced to move to LT and got demolished.

And you know what, I was okay with that too, because Colledge has practical experience at left tackle and, before Sunday, was one of our best linemen in terms of blocking assignments. But why did it even get to that point? Because Thompson decided to release the only player he brought in to compete for the backup LT spot (Jamon Meredith). And I was even okay with that, because Meredith had a poor showing in preseason and training camp against second- and third-stringers. Besides, he managed to stash him on the practice squad, so the chances that Meredith would stick around for 2010 were pretty good.

And where's Meredith now? Buffalo. So now what's the plan to fix the offensive line while Clifton is out with a sprained ankle?

That's one issue. The other issue, of course, is what to do at safety while Atari Bigby (sprained knee) and Nick Collins (sprained clavicle (you can sprain your clavicle?)) are on the sideline. Obviously, it would behoove Thompson to sign somebody as to avoid playing Derrick Martin before he's ready or playing Jarrett Bush at all. And when I heard that they were bringing in the aforementioned Giordano, Nate Ness, and DeAndre Wright, I said to myself, "Self, this is a good sign, because Thompson usually doesn't sign veterans mid-season. He recognizes a problem and is trying to fix it."

Then he releases Aaron Rouse.

And I'm not even a huge Aaron Rouse fan, but when you're missing your top two players at a position, why release the third guy to pick up somebody who may or may not even contribute anywhere but special teams? Maybe it's because this week's opponent doesn't have a decent passing game (I was actually doing research for my weekly preview before learning of this news). Does Thompson think that Martin will be able to step into the starting role while Bigby and Collins heal? Maybe. Does he think that Jarrett Bush will avoid failing in spectacular fashion against one of the worst teams in the league? God, I hope not.

This might work out eventually. Shoot, we don't know how long Collins is going to be out, so it might even be a moot point if Derrick Martin can contribute. And Giordano, as Brandon said, looked like the most worthwhile player to invest in, even for this season. So, hey, what do I know, I'm just a writer.

But what I do know is this: The offensive line is currently in shambles, and with our top LT injured and therefore shuffling around the starting five, pass protection is going to be an even bigger problem. Simultaneously, our defensive backfield has a huge hole in the middle of the field, and we might be putting the worst player on the roster in one of those spots. Why are we in that position? Because Thompson decided it was more important to carry three fullbacks than keep a player who started six games last year (plus one game the year before and one game in 2009) and was second on the team in tackles against Cincinnati. Does he have weaknesses? Absolutely, but he's the best option to start at safety, and now he's on the street.

In the short term, I'm unsure of how this will work out. With no decent safeties, Green Bay is liable to give up several big plays, probably for scores. That means the team will be behind early and often, and Mike McCarthy (the genius playcaller he is) will likely abandon the run and lean on Aaron Rodgers to carry the offense, even though Rodgers' protection is below-average at best. In the long term, after these injuries pass, the team might be able to regain its form. But who knows when that will happen?

I have always been a supporter of Thompson's vision for building a championship contender, and up until two weeks ago, I thought his vision was manifesting itself on the football field. But looking at his history of drafting offensive linemen (which one could argue is either remarkable or terrible), the amount of players he's kept at a fringe position (seriously, THREE fullbacks!), and now releasing a starting-caliber player to make room for a special teams guy? Let's just say I'm not seeing what he's doing there.

Poll

Will this move work out?

Yes

161 votes

No

390 votes

Not sure

197 votes

748 votes | Poll has closed

Three Defensive Backs Who Could Be Signed

Brandon — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:00:19 -0000

More photos » by Michael Conroy - AP

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Depth at safety has become a major problem for the Green Bay Packers. S Atari Bigby is out. S Nick Collins and S Aaron Rouse were injured against the Bengals, and Mike McCarthy didn't confirm on Monday that either would be available next Sunday. They should be OK with S Jarrett Bush starting, although the other possible starter is S Derrick Martin, who was acquired in a trade just a couple weeks ago. Since there is literally no depth behind Bush and Martin, the Packers brought in a couple free agent safeties for workouts. From the Press-Gazette:

With both their starting safeties injuried this week, the Packers worked out three defensive backs Tuesday, including five-year NFL veteran Matt Giordano...

The other player the Packers worked out, according to the NFL transactions wire, were Nate Ness, an undrafted rookie from Arizona who was cut by Seattle during training camp; and DeAndre Wright, a sixth-round draft pick of the New York Giants this year who was cut at the end of training camp...

Of that group, it sounds like Giordano might be worth signing. From Stamp ede Blue:

The last few seasons, one of the best special teams players on the Colts was safety Matt Giordano. Giordano was also one of the fastest players on the team PERIOD, and he had a knack for delivering big hits (like the one he placed on a Bears tight end in the Super Bowl).

Nate Ness was in Seattle for about a minute. From NFL Draft Scout: He's an undrafted free agent who was generally unknown until he ran a 4.46 in the 40 at his pro day, and he's been signed and released by three NFL teams in the last six months. I don't like combine stars who didn't do enough make a name for themselves in college.

DeAndre Wright might be a good candidate for the practice squad, but not for the active roster. NFL Draft Scout called him "very raw and unpolished" and Big Blue View described an ugly play he was involved in this preseason:

DeAndre Wright: The rookie sixth-round pick got himself all turned around, then fell on the field in a heap on Erik Ainge 70-yard touchdown pass to Aundrae Allison late in the fourth quarter. Probably appropriate, though, since I think Wright's chance to make the team crashed to the ground as soon as he did.

The big problem with signing someone like Giordano is that someone else would have to be released to make room for him. If disaster strikes and Collins's season is over, they could place him on I.R. Otherwise someone like CB Brandon Underwood would have to be released.

When will Bob Sanders return?

BigBlueShoe — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 21:08:18 -0000

by Darron Cummings - AP

3 months ago: FILE - In this Aug. 20, 2009 file photo, Indianapolis Colts defensive back Bob Sanders looks on before an NFL preseason football game in Indianapolis. Colts coach Jim Caldwell wouldn't say whether Sanders will play Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009, against Jacksonville. He does expect the 2007 NFL Defensive Player of the Year to be back on the field within five weeks. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

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Colts coach Jim Caldwell is playing it intentionally vague when naming a timetable for Bob Sanders' return. From John Oehser:

"Probably the biggest thing on that is we feel obviously he's going to be inside that 5-to-6 week window," Caldwell said. "He's making good progress. He's coming along. Whenever he's ready, we'll put him out there. He's doing well."

No offense to coach, but if Sanders does not return until after Week Five, it would have made more sense to place him on the PUP list and retained safety Matt Giordano. The only reason to keep Sanders on the active roster is the Colts have to sense that he will be back sooner rather than later.

Regardless, it makes sense to play it vague. While Melvin Bullitt is a high quality safety who can certainly get the job done, Sanders is a difference maker. He changes the complexion of games and makes special plays that often help the Colts win.

Plus, there's just the overall fear factor. Bob Sanders flat out intimidates people.

So, if I had to guess, I'd say he'll be back by Week Four, which is a home game against the Seattle Seahawks. That game could also mark the return of Edgerrin James, who signed with the Seahawks a few weeks ago.

Colts begin to sign players to practice squad; Matt Giordano waived

BigBlueShoe — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 22:40:48 -0000

More photos » by Matt Slocum - AP

FILE - In this Feb. 1, 2009 file photo, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Santonio Holmes (10) makes a touchdown reception against Arizona Cardinals safety Aaron Francisco (47) during the fourth quarter of the NFL Super Bowl XLIII football game in Tampa, Fla. Francisco signed with the Indianapolis Colts today. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

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The last few seasons, one of the best special teams players on the Colts was safety Matt Giordano. Giordano was also one of the fastest players on the team PERIOD, and he had a knack for delivering big hits (like the one he placed on a Bears tight end in the Super Bowl). However, despite Giordano's contributions on special teams, the Colts decided to release him today and in his place sign former Cardinals safety Aaron Francisco.

You all might remember Francisco as the safety who was covering Santonio Holmes on his game winning TD in last year's Super Bowl. According to Mike Chappell at the Indy Star:

Francisco’s forte is special teams. He was the Cardinals’ special-teams captain the last two seasons and ranked second on the team with 18 tackles in 2008.

Francisco has some big shoes to fill. Colts fans very much liked Giordano as a safety and as a special teamer. Tip to hoosier in sodak for the FanPost.

The Colts have also started signing players to their practice squad. From my friends at 6 Verges et les Buts, a Montreal-based NFL fan site, have informed me that Sam Giguere was signed to the practice squad. Also signed to the practice squad were John Gill, Colin Cloherty, Mike Hart, John Matthews, Jaimie Thomas, and Taj Smith.

Mike Hart to the practice squad is a bit of a surprise to me, but it says the team is not ready to give up on him this season.

Indy also claimed linebacker Cody Glenn, who was cut by the Washington Redskins. No word yet on who was cut from the active roster to make room for Glenn. Tip to nmbrthry for the FanPost. Also, no word on Adrian Grady possibly signing onto Indy's practice squad. By my count, the colts have seven signed, leaving one spot open.

Practice Squad:

John Gill, DT
Colin Cloherty, TE
Mike Hart, RB
John Matthews, WR
Jaimie Thomas, OG
Taj Smith, WR
Sam Giguere, WR
[UPDATE] ~~Cody Glenn, LB~~

[UPDATE]: Cody Glenn was signed to the practice squad, not the active roster. Thus, the practice squad is set, and it does not include Adrian Grady or this year's 4th round pick Terrance Taylor.

[UPDATE]: Colts.com informs us that Matt Giordano was cut to make room for Cody Glenn on the active roster. This means there is one more open spot of the PS.