SB Nation User Blog: Brandon

Top 10 Players in 2009: #7 - WR Donald Driver

Brandon — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 05:06:25 -0000

More photos » by Jim Prisching - AP

The first three players listed in the Top 10 for 2009 are guys who need to rebound from injuries and/or ineffectiveness. With the listing of WR Donald Driver, I'm entering into the realm of players who were great last season.

Obviously Driver is an easy pick for the Top 10. He's only missed a couple games in his long career, been to three Pro Bowls, and has been great every season. He was ranked as the 21st best receiver last season by Football Outsiders which is still very productive. He's one of the Packers' greatest receivers of all time.

So what the heck is he doing down at No. 7? He shouldn't be any higher for a couple reasons:

At age 34, his career is mostly behind him. And with this list I'm looking ahead. The list of receivers who stayed great after age 35 is a short one. And anyone who's fantasy team got killed by the sudden decline of the Colts' WR Marvin Harrison in 2007 knows how quick it can happen.
If something did happen to him, then the Packers would have other options. WR Greg Jennings has emerged as the No. 1 receiver. To replace Driver as the No. 2, they could call on either promising young WR Jordy Nelson or WR James Jones. Either would be a step down from Driver, but the pass offense could still produce without him.

Football Is Back - In Canada

Brandon — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 04:51:03 -0000

I'm always surprised to read about the Canadian Football League. I keep thinking the league was something that happened in the 1970s or 1980s and it isn't around anymore, like the USFL or the ABA. Instead, the CFL keeps on ticking. They kicked off the 2009 season with a game on Wednesday night and the Toronto Argos won.

I was surprised to find that there is a CFL section on Yahoo, but not on ESPN, although the Worldwide Leader in Sports still has a section for the defunct Arena Football League.

The Top 10 Players in 2009: #8 - LT Chad Clifton

Brandon — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 05:55:57 -0000

Before I get further into the list, and start pointing out some of the players who are obviously the best players on the team, I'm discussing a couple players that might be more important than you think. Yesterday it was RB Ryan Grant, and today it's LT Chad Clifton.

He's been a fixture at left tackle since the middle of his rookie season in 2000. He's been a solid player who arguably had his best season as a pro in 2007 when he made his first and only trip to the Pro Bowl. He entered 2008 as the unquestioned left tackle and one of the better pass blockers in the league.

But 2008 was his worst season. He was listed on the injury report for every game because of his bad knees. He had surgery on both of them this offseason and was held out for all of the OTAs. He started out strong last season; in week, DE Jared Allen didn't record a sack or tackle against him. But for most of the season, he struggled, as I'm sure his knees were bothering him.

Can Clifton rebound? If healthy, he's the most valuable player on the offensive line. But has the 10 year vet still got something left in the tank or will his bad knees keep him from returning to the Pro Bowl? Something else that makes him so valuable is there is no clear alternative. This summer, the coaches took a long look at rookie OL Jamon Meredith at left tackle, but the idea of starting a 5th round rookie at left tackle is scary. This is also a contract year for him; the six year contract he signed in 2003 is in its final year. Hopefully he's got at least one more good year left in him because there are not a lot of other options.

Detroit Trades S Gerald Alexander for WR Dennis Northcutt

Brandon — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 05:39:51 -0000

This trade was announced last week but finalized on Tuesday. Last week, I didn't think much of it. Detroit has been acquiring a lot of mediocre veteran players this offseason, and WR Dennis Northcutt just added one more. Not that this is a bad thing for Packer fans, but I continue to be unimpressed with the new direction in Detroit. Anyone might be better than Matt Millen, but their new GM Mayhew worked for Millen and he doesn't seem much better.

Over at Pride of Detroit, they liked the move. Northcutt adds depth where they needed depth. The Lions had too many safeties on the roster, so trading S Gerald Alexander opens up some room on the roster. But Alexander was a 2nd round pick that started all 16 games as a rookie in 2007. He lost his starting job in 2008, but they need to rebuild with young player in their mid-20s, not veteran WRs in their 30s.

Meanwhile, Jaguar fans at Big Cat Country are happy with the move too. They get something for a receiver who was going to be released, and the something they got was a young safety who's already started 17 games in his first two seasons. Plus, Jacksonville doesn't have a lot of depth at safety and he immediately becomes a potential starter.

The Top 10 Players in 2009: #9 - RB Ryan Grant

Brandon — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 04:27:19 -0000

No. 9 on my Top 10 in 2009 countdown is RB Ryan Grant.

There are several things wrong with including Grant on the Top 10:

He signed a big contract last season and then immediately injured his hamstring.
His yards/carry dropped from 5.1 to 3.9.
Although his carries increased from 188 to 312, his ran for 4 fewer TDs (8 to 4) and had 5 fewer runs over 20 yards (11 to 6).
His fumbles increased from 1 to 4.
RB Brandon Jackson ran for 5.5 yards/carry last season and looked like the better back.

All of these points are true, but it doesn't matter because Grant is the guy. As a team the Packers only had 437 carries in 2008, and 312 of them went to Grant. He's the big back that Mike McCarthy prefers, and the other two big backs on the roster (RB DeShawn Wynn and RB Kregg Lumpkin) combined for only 9 carries last season. They are there to provide insurance, not competition. Plus, barring a complete collapse during the preseason, his big contract guarantees that he'll win the job.

I was in love with the guy after his incredible 2007 season, but he fell to earth in 2008. The Packers are counting on him to play better in 2009 because he is the run offense.

How To Describe LB Brady Poppinga?

Brandon — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 04:23:20 -0000

How To Describe LB Brady Poppinga?

"Brady’s a glass eater," Greene said. "He’s a head-buttin’, coconut-buttin’ guy. I like Brady. He’s got a great work ethic."

New linebackers coach Kevin Greene is a quote machine.

The Top 10 Players in 2009: #10 - DE Cullen Jenkins

Brandon — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 06:10:24 -0000

Being able to write a top 10 list helps me think about football. Also, it enables me to avoid writing about QB Aaron Rodgers' new girlfriend. It's a win-win situation.

Starting with No. 10 on my Top 10 in 2009 countdown is DE Cullen Jenkins.

He missed the last 12 games in 2008 with a torn pectoral muscle. I expect he's fully recovered, so let's talk about what Jenkins has done over the past couple seasons, when healthy. When he finally broke into the starting lineup at right DE, in place of DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, it was for his run defense. He immediately improved it, although that was a low bar since KGB was generally so awful at stopping the run. In 2008, he was providing a monster pass rush, he had 2.5 sacks in the first 4 games. The 2.5 sacks doesn't even cover it; he was constantly in the backfield and after the QB.

In 2009, the Packers need someone other than LB Aaron Kampman to provide a pass rush, and Jenkins should be the first option. Also, the run defense needs to improve, and he has proven solid in that regard too. But what really makes him so valuable is that there is no one else like him on the team. NT B.J. Raji might be a great pass rusher too, we'll have to wait and see, but as of right now, I'm expecting he'll be primarily an anchor on the line. I don't expect him to be running down the QB. Jenkins is the only one on the DL that should be getting after the QB.

The Hangover from Brett Favre Fatigue

Brandon — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 19:06:12 -0000

It's Saturday afternoon, and after drinking a pot of coffee, I'm feeling recovered enough to write about QB Brett Favre. I've avoided the subject since Monday because of Brett Favre Fatigue. Although I'm sure millions of fans reached that point months (years) ago, as a die-hard Packer fan, it took me longer to get there then most. But one intervention by Stephen Colbert later, and I'm ready go.

The Colbert Report

Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Sport Report - Soccer, Tennis & Brett Favre

www.colbertnation.com

Colbert Report Full Episodes

Political Humor

Mark Sanford

After the jump is my recap of all the Favre rumors that flew last week.

A high school football coach watched Favre and said "he looks good" and he threw the ball with "zip on it." So that's settled...
The next day a little birdie told WCCO's Mark Rozen that Favre will be in Vikings training camp.
GM Ted Thompson said he's not taking it personally that Favre wants to play for the Vikings. At first I was skeptical. He worked so hard to keep Favre out of Minnesota last summer. But on second thought, I can see it. Last summer, QB Aaron Rodgers had never started an NFL game, and if he struggled, while Favre outplayed him in Minnesota, it could have hurt Rodgers' confidence. The fans might have turned on them both. But now, Rodgers had a great 2008 season and got a long-term contract last October to guarantee that he's the man going forward.
Then Favre went to visit a doctor in Minnesota. Truly an Elvis-like sighting. And the ever unreliable Bus Cook denied Favre had already signed a contract.
Mike Ozanian speculated that signing Favre was all about making the Vikings more appealing to a potential buyer. Although I doubt it. The sight of a tight credit market and them playing in a 20+ year old Metrodome is not offset by the vision of them employing a twice retired QB.
Now current and former players are sounding off about Favre because it's June and interviewers got nothing more interesting to ask them.
The most unsubstantiated rumor of the week; Favre's bought a house in Minnesota. Even Mike Florio wouldn't stand behind that one.
But at the end of the week, no contract has yet been signed.

Meredith is Signed, McCaskill is Cut, and a Great Blogcast

Brandon — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 03:42:10 -0000

More photos » by Jim Prisching - AP

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While the Packers have made a few minor moves:

G Nevin McCaskill, who I had never written about because never thought had a chance to make the team, was released.
OL Jamon Meredith brought the total of signed draft choices up to four when he was signed.

I had the chance to participate as a panelist on the Blogcast over at Cheesehead TV. Aaron and Corey lined up two great interviews; former Packers' VP Andrew Brandt and Journal-Sentinel beat writer Greg Bedard.

We talked about players, contracts, mini-camp, and Nick Saban.

Brandt came on first and said:

The biggest change from Sherman to McCarthy in re: to contracts was to reduce roster bonuses and increase workout bonuses, so long as the workouts took place in Green Bay.
Grant might have gotten a big contract last summer, in part, because the front office was so distracted with the QB Brett Favre situation.
Getting players to agree to contract at the end of June, when the Packers' profit reports are released, makes negotiations difficult.

Then Bedard brought up some great points:

CB Tramon Williams looked great in mini-camp. He probably said it because Aaron and Corey are his biggest fans.
LB Jeremy Thompson doesn't look ready to really compete as the starting outside linebacker.
LB Aaron Kampman really shouldn't be afraid to talk about his transition to linebacker.
He told a great story about how Nick Saban is a jerk and Greg fought with him throughout the 2007 season when he was a beat writer covering the Dolphins.
Both DT Ryan Pickett and DT Johnny Jolly are both probably gone after this season.
There are people who want RB Ryan Grant to start ahead of RB Brandon Jackson no matter how much Grant struggles. There is no way Grant will lose the starting job in training camp.
This might be the last season for LT Chad Clifton, and the recently signed rookie Meredith might be the future. It probably won't be OL Tony Moll, who Greg said had too many brainfarts during games.
Bottom line; it was impossible to find out if anyone beat anyone else out. The guys were preoccupied with learning the plays and schemes, and running around without helmets or pads.

There was probably more I missed, this recap was just off the top of my head. Aaron did a great job with the interviews. Go check it out.

Around the NFL: Northcutt is Out, Boley has Surgery, Peppers Signs, Benson Makes a Funny, and Charles Rogers

Brandon — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 05:25:07 -0000

More photos » by Rick Havner - AP

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Another failed WR drafted/signed by Jacksonville, WR Dennis Northcutt, is on his way out of town. Instead they're expecting big things from former Vikings bust WR Troy Williamson.
Before free agency began, there was some thought that Atlanta's LB Michael Boley might be a fit in Green Bay. Instead he signed for a bunch of money with the NY Giants. Unfortunately for them, he's going to need hip surgery. I'm not sure what type of player they're going to get for their millions in 2009.
Carolina's DE Julius Peppers decided he can play for $17 million in 2009 after all. I'm glad the rumors of him to the Packers turned out to be nothing. The team just didn't need the headache of trying to sign him to a long-term contract while trying to find him a role in the new 3-4 defense.
Cincinnati, and former Bears bust, RB Cedric Benson has a career average of 3.7 yards/carry and a bad history with boats. But he can make a joke when needed: "No doubt, I’m ready to carry this team on my back," Benson said.
He says his alcoholism is behind him. Will some NFL team give ex-Lions WR Charles Rogers another chance?