SB Nation User Blog: Green and Bold

I Am Fantasy and so Can You!

Green and Bold — Thu, 07 May 2009 00:47:35 -0000

Hey ya'll. I'm looking to get involved in some serious fantasy football this season. I'm not talking about your namby-pamby Yahoo one season stuff. I'm talking the big time: a dynasty league.

I've really only played in seasonal leagues before, but I believe I am prepared for the requsitie commitment that comes with a dynasty league. Here's the problem: I don't really know of any good dynasty sites and I don't really know anyone who particpates in them.

Anyone out there interested in something like this, or can you at least point me in the right direction?

Favre Can't Stand Green Bay

Green and Bold — Sat, 02 May 2009 22:15:18 -0000

Favre Can't Stand Green Bay

http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/real_scouts/entry/view/23736/report_favre_cant_stand_green_bay

Grading the Pack (Using Math!!!)

Green and Bold — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 17:21:48 -0000

First off, as a disclaimer, let me just warn everyone that I am the last person that should be utilizing the likes of formulas, tables, and basic algebra. I loathe numbers in general, and find math to be a thoroughly detestable discipline.

With that being said, doesn't running a few meaningless calculations and coming up with your own simplistic, probably-not-applicable formulations make you feel like you really know what you're talking about?

Yah, I thought so.

Basically, that's what I've done. We can all grade the picks and then look at our grades and get a rough idea of how the team did overall and hand out a grade accordingly. I wanted to do something a bit more in depth. Not only have I graded each pick but I have come up with a conversion table in order to apply some more value to higher picks. It is, of course, not the result of any statistical analysis I've conducted, but rather my wandering mind during my 11:45 lecture. Here are the rates I used dependent on the round.

1st Round	x5
2nd Round	x4
3rd Round	x3
4th Round	x2.5
5th Round	x2
6th Round	x1.5
7th Round	x1

There are some obvious kinks with this table. First of all, according to it, the difference in value between the 32nd and the 33rd pick is the same as the difference between the 1st and the 56th. This would definitely be a problem if I used this conversion table for every pick of the draft. However, the Packers generally drafted in the top half of the round, so I don't think the values will be skewed too much.

On to the grades. I used the basic 4.0 scale that most of us are all familiar with. Essentially an A translates to a 4.0, a B to a 3.0, a C to 2.0 and on ward. A "+" or a "-" will move a grade up or down 1/3 respectively.

But what exactly does each grade mean? Again keeping with the theme of simplicity, it's pretty straight-forward. If a pick got an A, I think it was the perfect pick at that spot in the draft. A B denotes that I generally liked the pick, but that something kept it out of the A range, possibly what I felt was a bit of a reach or maybe character concerns that come along with the player. A C-grade is basically neutral. A D I definitely don't like, and an F, if there was one, would probably translate to "What was Teddy on when he made this selection?"

So onward to the picks! You'll see in the 5th column the overall score of the draftee after I've factored in the value of the pick. And, of course, on the far right are my comments on why each selection deserved what I gave it. Follow the jump to my overall team grade.

1	B.J. Raji (DT)	A	4.0	20.0	Excellent pick to anchor interior; will impact "D" immediately
1	C. Matthews (OLB)	B+	3.333	16.666	Great addition; ideal 3-4 OLB; could've held on to a 3rd though
4	E.J. Lang (OT/OG)	B+	3.333	8.333	Versatile lineman with good toughness but is he OT material?
5	Q. Johnson (FB)	C+	2.333	4.666	Excellent value but not much of a need at all
5	J. Meredith (OT/OG)	A+	4.333	8.666	"Issues" aside; 2nd round talent in the 5th= Steal of the Draft
6	J. Wynn (DE)	D	1.0	1.5	Not suited for 3-4; needs to add 15lbs; not enough upside
6	B. Underwood (CB/S)	B+	3.333	5.0	Athletic and versatile; gives some depth; character concerns
7	B. Jones (OLB)	B+	3.333	3.333	Fast; could be a good special teamer

The next step is to assess the team's overall performance by computing a total grade much like we would a cumulative GPA.Sounds kind of scary right? Don't worry, I have a rudimentary understanding of basic multiplication and division! Yay, Math!

First off, we add up the all the total scores of the players selected (69.166).

Next, we add up all the base values of each pick we used. (5+5+2.5+2+2+1.5+1.5+1=20.5)

And finally, we divide the total score by the base value...

(69.166/20.5)

... for a final GPA of 3.4.

Roughly, translates to a B+.

Which, in all honesty, is probably what I would've given them regardless of all this mumbo-jumbo.

I feel a B+ is a very appropriate grade. The Packers made some noise in the first round, taking two of the finest defenders in the draft. However, in the process, they deprived themselves of a pick until the fourth round. Simply put, we didn't have to give up both third-rounders to nab Matthews. We were still able to get some quality players later on, including the gem of the draft, Jamon Meredith, but this year's haul lacked the plethora of mid-range quality we've come to expect. All in all, I am one happy camper, and can't wait to get these guys on the field.

Poll

What did you think about my use of MATH!

You need remedial lessons in elementary arithmetic.

8 votes

I don't get it. You wasted an hour of my time coming to the same conclusion you would've reached without it.

28 votes

Math should be banned from sports blogs.

24 votes

Well, a 3.4 GPA sounds about right...I guess, maybe math isn't completely useless after all.

31 votes

91 votes | Poll has closed

And the Packers select...

Green and Bold — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 11:25:55 -0000

It's almost here...that magical time of the year, when 22 year-old's are likened to Messiah's and where the opinions of any dim-witted dweeb with the analytical capacities of a canary are treated like gold. That's right the NFL Draft, easily the most blown-out-of-proportion event in sports.

Don't get me wrong, after enduring almost three months without football, I'm on the edge of my seat. I've been reading and re-reading and re-reading the same ol' NFL news for weeks (probably due to the pathetic, paltry, and simply un-stomach-able excuse for "up-to-date" "expert insight" that ESPN, SI, and NFL.com provides at the rate of a snail missing a chromosome on its 21st pair) hoping to gleam some cryptic message of things to come from the never informative and always substance-less GM quotes.

Maybe that's the problem. The Draft seems like a verifiable oasis in the middle of a barren, insufferable desert that is the NFL off-season. But too often, it's just a mirage, unable to truly quench my thirst for non-stop Packers information and action. I mean, let's face it, the significance of this weekend's proceedings probably won't be discernible for a year or two.

Even with that said, it's still always fun to see who your team takes, and even more fun to try to guess who they'll end up with. So without further ado, I'll jump right into things.

After the jump of course...

Well...here's the deal...

I was going to make a pick, back it up with some amazing analysis, but then I decided that would be a colossal waste of friggin' time.

Why?

Here's why: Mock drafts are a joke, and if you get the pick right, it's pure luck.

Who the Packers pick is contingent upon who the Jaguars pick, which is contingent upon who the Raiders pick, which is contingent upon who the Bengals pick., etc., etc., etc.

And all of that is contingent upon draft-day trades which are always unpredictable and those are contingent upon what each team's GM had for breakfast that morning and that is contingent upon whether or not the local fire department bought the grocery store out of pancake mix for their annual pancake breakfast which is completely, utterly contingent upon the Chinese.

So in essence, it's a bunch of contingencies piled up on top of each other, ultimately culminating with the Chinese...and as we all know, the Chinese are wily and unpredictable.

Anyway, I guess all I'm really trying to say is that it's damn near impossible to predict the picks.

But never fear. Even if I can't tell you who the Packers will take, I can tell you who they may take. And I guess the rest is up to you.

Poll

What do you think? If all of these prospects are on the board at pick No. 9, who would you take?

B.J. Raji- Character issues, accusations of smokin' some ganja, and academic deficiencies aside, Raji is a fantastic NT prospect.

70 votes

Brian Orakpo- As a QB, which player would you be more scared of blind-siding you? A guy name Orakpo or Poppinga?

36 votes

Tyson Jackson- Not much to say. Jackson is a solid prospy at 3-4 DE AND he's got dreadlocks

14 votes

Malcolm Jenkins- 40 times are overrated...Jenkins is a playmaker...whether that will be at S or CB is still TBD.

6 votes

Michael Oher- super-duper athletic OT who may be a little unpolished and raw, but hey, they're making a movie about him.

6 votes

132 votes | Poll has closed

Packers match Bush's offer from Titans

Green and Bold — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 23:28:31 -0000

Packers match Bush's offer from Titans

The Green Bay Packers have informed Jarrett Bush they have retained him by matching the offer sheet he signed with Tennessee last week as a restricted free agent.

New Coach, New Scheme

Green and Bold — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 21:53:57 -0000

If anyone had any doubts that Dom Capers would bring the 3-4 scheme a long with him into Green Bay, throw them into the same bin where you tossed your "The NFL is mediocre at best this year" ones (honestly...the Cardinals?). According to McCarthy, the Packers days of bump and run 4-3 are behind them. 3-4 it is.

The 3-4 is about as local to Wisconsin as calamari. The very utterance of those two numbers in quick succession brings up words like "foreign, exotic, and goofy." For whatever reason, the 3-4 certainly doesn't seem like something very Wisconian. Maybe it's the fact that the Badgers and Packers have never adapted the scheme as their base defense. Unless I'm missing something, it's been a healthy serving of 4-3 followed by a heaping of 4-3 since I started watching football.

This move is interesting for a number of reasons and we have to look at it with a nuanced approach.

With that being said, my initial reaction is that this is bad. The switch to 3-4 represents an enormous change in philosophy, preferred personnel, and player assignments. I don't know about you, but I've had enough "change" to last me for a while.

Additionally, I'd taken a look at our players and how they fit into a 3-4 scheme, and the results didn't appear too great. We lack a mamoth DT to anchor the middle, ala Jamaal Williams of San Diego or Vince Wilfork of the Patriots. Furthermore, arguably our best defender, Aaron Kampman, doesn't appear to be athletically suited to play either a defensive end nor an outside linebacker in the 3-4 set. Also, we really seem to lack the "hybrid" (over-used term, I know) rush-backer that makes the 3-4 thrive (think Shawne Merriman).

But, after the knee-jerk reaction I've had some chances to ponder this development. While I believe it's true that certain players wouldn't fair to well in a 3-4, I think some would. For starters, Cullen Jenkin appears to be an outstanding 3-4 D-end prospect, given by the fact that he has the athleticism to play a 4-3 DE and the size and strength to switch over to a 4-3 DT. Additionally, we could approach our lack of depth on the D-line by simply doing away with the number of linemen we play. Although our LB corp isn't stellar, I think their play is definitely a relative strength when compared to the front 4 (soon to be front 3).

Additionally, this move is especially intriguing in light of some possible free agent scenarios. Most notably, Julius Peppers, the super-freak DE will probably be avaliable, and get this: he states he's actively seeking out a 3-4 defense. The timing seems almost too perfect. Albert Haynesworth, the best DT in the league, will also hit the market. His strength and penetration abilities are the perfect ingredients in a 3-4 DT. Even with the addition of just one of these players, a 3-4 defense could be quite effective.

Without the Williams Wall

Green and Bold — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 19:25:14 -0000

Anyway, I haven't written a decent post on here in a while. I'm back at school now and I've been hella busy.

But even this won't be an eloquent and entertaining fan post, per say, I'd still like to take the opportunity to inform you all of an opportune development for the Pack.

In case you haven't heard, Williams and Williams, The Williams Wall, Williams sqaured, whatever you want to call this Purple two-headed Monster, will probably receive a suspension from the NFL for violating the substance abuse policy. Even though both Williams will probably claim they didn't know they were taking a banned substance, as Deuce, Will Smith, and others involved in this recent sting have done, that won't fly. According to league policy, players are responsible for what's in their body. Period.

So the issue isn't if Williams and Williams will be suspended, but when? Well, if not this weekends game, then next Sunday seems likely. And who do the lovely Viqueens play next week? You guessed it. The Green and Gold.

Talk about great timing. If both Williamses are slapped with a suspension that leaves a big vacancy in the heart of this defense. These two players are the foundation of the Vikings stingy run-stopping scheme. Between the two of them, they draw the attention of up to 4 players on any given run, opening up EJ Henderson fly in and make tackles. With them out, not only will the Vikings front 4 lack their penetration up the gut, but there LB's will have to deal with guards and centers and fullbacks coming out to get a piece of them. In the passing game, Kevin Williams great athleticism is something that must be accounted for. And the more attention you give to K-Will, the less you give to DE Jared Allen, a proven sack-master. With the Williamses out, the Packers can focus their attention on neutralizing Allen.

Of course, this is all speculation. There's no guarantee the Williams Wall will be suspended for next week, if at all...but the probability is sure high.

And hey, I'll take a win however I can get it.

BIG NEWS!!! RODGERS EXTENDED

Green and Bold — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 19:17:04 -0000

I'm sure someone will do a nice juicy write-up about this later, but I just wanted to put this on here in case anyone hasn't heard the big news: Rodgers has been signed until 2014...nice move TT!

here's the story: http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/33650499.html

This is fantastic news. Better now then at the end of the year. Now TT needs to get Jennings extended, preferably 'till 2038.

Grading TT and Looking Ahead, Pt 2

Green and Bold — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 17:14:33 -0000

Yesterday, I took a shot at evaluating Dear Leader Ted Thompson's off-season roster moves, focusing on transactions involving quarterbacks, running backs, and receivers, and how they're playing out on the field.

Based on the comments and poll results, I've come to a few conclusions:

Most of you are scared stiff...

...over the prospect of enduring a season with Flynn or Brohm at the helm. Brining in a veteran signal caller would have made sense.

Brandon made a good point, though, pointing out how brining in another quarterback would take away from the developmental opportunities for our rookies.

I think I have an interesting contingency plan: This guy. Craig Nall has been with the Packers for a combined 4 years through two separate stints, after being drafted by Green Bay back in 2002. He's familiar with the system and has performed decently when he's had chances. As you may recall, he was the fella the Packers signed last year after Rodgers was injured for the season. To me, this speaks to the Packers' confidence in the guy and his ability to step into the system and be ready to go. Mark my words, if Aaron Rodgers goes down for an extended period of time, we'll bring in Nall.

No one really gives a damn...

...about cutting Vernard Morency, except packerbacker and myself. However, I'm not a whimsical back-seat GM, and I'm sticking to my guns: Morency shouldn't have been cut. He was the best back on our team this preseason, and played with an aggressive, explosive style. He looked like Willis McGahee in training camp. He earned his spot. Considering that Grant had just pulled his hammy and wouldn't be 100% by week one, it would've made sense to keep Morency, and maybe stick Kregg Lumpkin on the practice squad.

Everybody loves...

...Jordy. JasonM made a great comparison, drawing a parallel between Mr. Nelson and the ultimate blue collar wide-receiver, jaw-breaker Hines Ward. While I don't foresee Nelson shattering anyones mandible anytime soon, his presence as a down field and perimeter blocker cannot be denied. This less-than-glamorous duty, which many veteran wide-outs struggle with, will get young Jordy on the field, and will continue to give him opportunities to perform in the receiving game, where he's been moderately successful. James Jones, who was worried about Nelson unseating him back in April, may see his fears become reality if he continues to miss extensive time. Jones may have better receiving ability, but Nelson's steady production is setting up for an interesting positional confrontation, if not this year, then next. (UPDATE: We have a Jordy Nelson-hater! Someone voted that TT's biggest mistake of the '08 off-season was "taking Jordy Nelson in the early 2nd.")

Alright, that's that. Now, I critique TT's 2008 personnel moves and how they're playing out on Sunday, focusing on the O-line, D-line, linebackers, secondary, and special teams.

O-line: A-

TT's has had some success drafting big uglies, and he found another solid lineman in the '08 iteration. Josh Sitton, the 4th round UCF product, was poised to start before an injury set him back. All preseason long, Packers coaches were singing his praises, raving about his seamless transition into the NFL. His versatility (G/T/C) is a coveted trait and will allow him to get the most playing time possible in the upcoming seasons.

Breno Giacomini in an interesting prospect, given his size, athleticism, and tenacity, but can you really imagine this guy starting in the NFL? He's as rough as they come, and is definitely a work-in-progress. Time will tell if he merited a 5th round draft pick.

In terms of personnel moves, Thompson made all the necessary moves, releasing Orrin Thompson and Injured Reserving underachiever Junius Coston (who is the default starting LG on Madden 09...what a joke...wake me up when franchise mode doesn't BLOW) and kept all the right guys. The Packers have two solid bookends (but for how much longer?) and the numbers and flexibility on the interior to put together a decent line-up week in and week out.

D-line: C

TT's wheeling and dealing of DT Corey Williams drew a lot of hesitation back in the Spring and now that the Pack are relatively weak in the middle, it's easy to say that was the wrong move. However, given the circumstances (namely that Williams didn't give a damn about Green Bay), getting a 2nd round pick out of it was probably the best option we had. Williams wanted out and having a disgruntled, franchise-tagged distraction in the locker room is not a good thing.

What TT did biff on was providing some quality depth at DT after Williams's departure. Even with Johnny Jolly facing federal charges, TT never made a serious effort to bring in some proven players at that position, unless of course you're counting AFL superstars. Cutting the promising Daniel Muir seemed like a bad move once Cullen Jenkins went down and health became an issue for Ryan Pickett. As it stands today, we still only have 3 experienced defensive tackles on our active roster. Justin Harrell continues to be a disappointment, and with each game he sits out, he gets closer and closer to acquiring the "bust" label, despite his best intentions.

Rookie Jeremy Thompson is developing into a decent pass rusher after a shaky start, and, given Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila's decline in production, it looks like TT nabbed an athletic RE at just the right time. Thompson has seen the field increasingly as of late, and if he continues to improve, we could see him begin to phase out the veteran KGB.

Linebackers: B

I was initially shocked that TT cut Abdul Hodge, but it made a little more sense in the following days. Hodge wasn't going to see much of the field with 4 quality LB's in front of him, had failed to overcome a chronic knee condition, and wasn't a solid contributor on special teams. Thus, Tracy White and Desmond Bishop were retained, and Hodge was shown to the door. I think maybe Thompson could've shopper Hodge around a bit before he axed him, because the kid could play and had some upside.

Brandon Chillar has been a nice addition, and is emerging into a solid situational cover LB. He gave up one big play to Dallas Clark last week, but other than that, he stuck to him like his shadow. In fact, in games that feature a marquee tight end, Chillar has more or less assumed the role of starter, and has been largely responsible for shutting down the opposing TE. Chillar has also been a valuable asset on special teams. While I wouldn't say he's been as big a free-agent success as Woodson or Pickett has been, he's yet another solid addition by TT.

So why the off-season extension to Brady Poppinga, especially after signing the likes of Chillar? That move made little sense at the time, and given the fact that Poppinga has played a more limited role this year, it seems like a foolish decision. Last I checked, contract extensions are given to players who win position battles, not those just about to enter one. Thompson probably would've been better off seeing how things played out this year before he ponied up the bucks for Poppinga.

Secondary: A

There really wasn't a whole lot of room for improvement, as the Packers returned basically everyone from last year's dominating secondary. The guys we've kept have all contributed, right down to you, Charlie Peprah. Although I have to admit, the less Jarret Bush I see, the easier I sleep at night.

Patrick Lee probably won't be much of a factor this year, but we knew that when we drafted. He's got the size and the speed to develop into a great man-coverage press corner, but it will be a journey getting there.

Special Teams: D

TT overcomplicated things here. Yes, John Ryan was occasionally erratic. Yes, John Ryan had trouble fielding punts in a Chicago tornado (Brett Favre couldn't even throw 10 feet that day, so give the guy a break). And yes, he's Canadian. But despite those three strikes, the Packers should've kept this guy. He had an absolute boot, and could positively pulverize the football. Getting more hang time and proper form are all things you can improve. A leg like his is a rarity, and no amount of training can make someone into a powerful punter. I didn't like this decision back then, and I feel vindicated by the fact that Derrick Frost absolutely sucks. Serious, he is horrible. A rash move by TT, which I hope he regrets.

Well, those are my musings on the matter. I'll be back tomorrow to give you an encapsulated version of my thoughts on the upcoming off-season.

In the meantime, here's another poll. Have at it.

Poll

Which of the following was TT's biggest blunder this off-season?

Faling to get quality depth at DT after trading away Williams

10 votes

Prematurely extending Poppinga's contract

1 votes

Cutting Abdul Hodge

1 votes

Releasing John Ryan

13 votes

25 votes | Poll has closed

"Yes, I realize that everyone will say that Favre didn't break any rules and didn't do anything...

Green and Bold — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 02:07:28 -0000

"Yes, I realize that everyone will say that Favre didn't break any rules and didn't do anything illegal. Well, you know, screwing your best friend's girl isn't illegal, either. . .but it sure as hell isn't right."

http://www.dailynorseman.com/2008/10/22/640218/the-obligatory-brett-favre