OK, so I'm participating in the ROTB's (Cards) mock draft...  The Steelers are on the clock and tomorrow nite I have to submit my pick for the Packers.  THis is what we are looking at.

Continue reading this post »

Continuing my series on the Packers most likely picks w/ the 32nd overall selection in the NFL draft...   He enters the NFL draft after a highly productive college career in the Big 10.  He is a player who fits a team and scheme need and is generally considered among the top  30-45 prospects.

Continue reading this post »

Continuing my series on the Packers most likely picks w/ the 32nd overall selection in the NFL draft...   This player enters the NFL draft after a highly productive 4 yr career in the very competitive SEC.  He is a player who fits a team and scheme need and is generally considered among the top  20-35 prospects.

Continue reading this post »

Just read this article at Packers.com.  Thompson's top 10 draft picks as GM.  Overall kinda interesting, but one sentence that struck me, since it was a topic of debate in January or February.

Continue reading this post »

Continuing my series on the Packers most likely picks w/ the 32nd overall selection in the draft...  This is a player who comes into the draft as a Sr, fits a team need and is generally considered in the top 25-40 players in the draft.

Continue reading this post »

Continuing my series on the Packers most likely draft picks w/ the 32nd pick in the draft...  This is a player who has been on the radar since he declared for the draft as a true Jr.  He fits a need of the team and is generally rated in the Top 20-35 players.  Sound familiar?  LOL

Continue reading this post »

Continuing my series on the Packers most likely draft picks w/ the 32nd pick in the draft...  This is a player who has been on the radar since he declared for the draft as a true Jr.  He fits a need of the team and is generally rated in the Top 20-35 players.

Continue reading this post »

As we lead up to the draft in about a month, I decided it was time to start focusing in on some possible Packer choices.  As such I decided to start a series of inside looks at possibilties for the choice at #32 and possibly into the next few rounds.  The series starts with who I believe is the most likely choice as the Packers pick, as you guessed, thats Muhammad Wilkerson DE, Temple and will continue with 8-10 other choices over the next month.

More after the jump...

Continue reading this post »

As many of you may have realized I've been gone from APC for a couple weeks w/ the exception of a couple posts when I was able to get some time on my parents computer.   I was in GB visiting family/friends for the past 2 weeks.  Was great being in GB for the SB win.   I lived there when they won in 97, but moved and lived in AZ when they lost in 98.  Just returned yesterday and while boarding the plain from Mil to Phx, I saw J-Mike sitting in 1st class, of course.  While boarding, I recognize Finley and mentioned I was a fan of his and that I bought his jersey last week!  Did the fist bump thing and told him that I was expecting an All Pro season from him this year.  To which he said...  That make both of us. 

Continue reading this post »

If I were Edgar Bennett, I would sit down w/ James Starks and say "That is the guy we didn't trade for cuz we like YOU!!!"  Put the onus on Starks to make a run like that, or at least give that effort on a run!  I wasn't entirely sold on a trade for Lynch, but make me RB coach for a day, and I sell that to Starks like a Mother F*cker!!!  We wanted YOU instead of THAT!!  Is there a better way of motivating a player?!! No Way!!

As most of you know, I'm a big Starks supporter, but  I wouldn't miss an opportunity like this to send a message!  Whether its this year (hopefully) or next year or the year after, I don't care...  I make a copy of that run and make sure that James Starks knows that we didn't make a trade for that guy cuz "the GB Packers wanted YOU instead!"

Starks already has his hands full just trying to make the coaches happy w/ his practice performance, but why stop there...  Let him know thats what we want from YOU, cuz we could easily have had him instead of you!

Somebody tell me how good that kid looked?!  I've been an unapologetic Starks fan for a long time (since training camp) and have been waiting for the kid to get a chance.  Well today Packer fans, James Starks got his chance...  And what did he do w/ that chance?  Nothing really special, but something pretty impressive nonetheless!  18 carries for 78 yds doesn't sound like much, but when you consider almost half came on a long, game ending FG drive to ice the game you suddenly need to take notice! 

Starks is a 6'2 218 pd RB from Buffalo.  You would think being that tall as a RB is a disadvantage, but if you look at him, he is mostly upper body height, not long legged.  That is something that make a Huge difference...  Compare Starks to Grant, they are very similar ht and wt, but Starks has much shorter legs, which allows him to be much more elusive and maneuverable!  Whereas Grant, looking at him is really long legged, which makes it much more difficulty for him to make sudden cuts and change of direction.  So while Grant looks like an upright RB when he hits the Line of Scrimmage, Starks looks more like a 6'0 RB, who when he hits the hole can still make a sudden cut in the hole andon the second level!  Can you say Greenesque?!!

Look for James Starks to take over the majority of carries on 1st and 2nd downs, leaving Jackson in the role he was more destined for as a 3rd down RB!  Not saying Starks is definitely the answer, but IMO, he will be...  James Starks the GB Packers new Stud RB of the future, and quite possibly the present!  Give it up to the Kid!!!

Long time Packer fan here...  Curious about the moniker "Revis Island".  Myself and a fellow Packer fan are having a disagreement over the moniker "Revis Island".  I contend that he gets that nickname cuz the Jets play almost strictly press man coverage.  The other Packer fan insists that it due to the fact that Revis covers his area/zone so effectively.   He also contends that Rex Ryan is all about zone coverage...    I can't say that I ever recall Revis being in zone coverage last year and that the moniker "island" refers to his being on an Island in man coverage.  Which coverage does Revis and Ryan play?  Seems to me that Cromartie and Wilson are also both press man cover CB. 
So which is it?

Have a great season.  Look forward to our meeting this year and hopefullly in the Super Bowl in February!!!

I am going out on a limb to try to predict the 53 man roster.   Its something I have usually avoided, but thought I would give it a shot to see if I can stand up to the alleged media experts!  Mine has a few small surprises that I have not seen elsewhere, so you're forwarned.

QB (3)  Rodgers, Flynn, Brohm

Not much to say here, its pretty well cut and dried.  Any thought of releasing Brohm was dispelled by his decent play vs. Tennessee.  Not that I ever thought he would get released.

RB (7)  Grant, Jackson, Wynn, Sutton, Hall, Kuhn, Johnson

Don't think many thought of keeping 7 RB, but Sutton is too good to get thru waivers and Johnson has WAY too much potential.  The surprise is keeping both Hall and Kuhn.  Both are HUGE ST performers though and have too much value to just release them.  A trade here is a stong possibility after the cutdown.  Packers will then be able to make a deal from a position of strength, not necessity.

WR (5)  Driver, Jennings, Jones, Nelson, Martin

Easily the most obvious position to handicap!  Don't think there was ever much chance someone would unseat Martin.  Though Martin may have trade value as someone else's 3rd or 4th WR.  Swain is close enough to being ready and with Finley playing almost like a WR instead of a TE, Martin could be dealt.  Again it would happen after the cutdown to give the Packers more leverage, and thats assuming Swain clears waivers and makes the practice squad.

TE (2)  Lee, Finley

Some thought of keeping Havner as a ST, LB and TE hybrid.  If a trade occurs Havner would be among the first players they would consider bringing back to the 53 man roster.

OL (9)  Clifton, Colledge, Spitz, Sitton, Barbre, Giacomini, Wells, Lang, Meredith

Packers go with Merediths potential rather than the more versatile, though dubious backup, Moll.  Trade attempt for Moll and Wells may yield a draft pick.  I doubt anyone would give up a pick for Moll, but Wells has some legitimate value.  If Wells is traded, the Pack would have to decide between bringing in Dietrich-Smith or another waiver-wire Center.  There is no way the Packers only keep Spitz at center.

DL (6)  Pickett, Raji, Jenkins, Jolly, Montgomery, Wynn

Montgomery, while being on the light side for a 34 DE, has proven to be stout enough vs. the run to keep, at least for this year.  Wynn played himself onto the roster with his pass rush abiltiy.  He too, is a little light, but given a year could put on another 10 lbs to make him a better fit.  He has the long arms that really help him control the OL he faces.  Harrell as usual is injured, so he goes on the IR.  The Packer might like to keep him on the 53 to find out what he could do in the 34, but just can't justify it...   He is likely gone next year, I believe he has a roster bonus due next spring.

LB (9)  Kampman, Hawk, Barnett, Poppinga, Matthews, Thompson, Bishop, Chillar, Jones

This was a relatively easy position as well.  Jones played himself onto the 53 man roster.  Thompson disappointed a little in training camp once the pads went on, but Ted Thompson won't quite be ready to give up on him.  He has some really good skills, but needs to put them to better use by playing much more physically.  He surprised the Packers with his abiltiy to drop into coverage and has the frame to excel as a pass rusher, given time.  Obiozor is definitely going to the practice squad.  He has been a pet project of Kevin Greene's this training camp.

DB (9)  Harris, Woodson, Collins, Bigby, Williams, Smith, Blackmon, Bush, Lee

Lee is the final player to make my 53 man roster.  It was very close between him and Underwood.  The Packers are dearly hoping they can get him on the practice squad.  His stinger might force a move to IR, but that wouldn't allow him to practice until next offseason, so the PS is the best place for him.  Lee's injury may force the Packers to put him on IR as well, but that seems unlikely.  The Packers need Bush for his ability on ST and to backup multiple positions.  He has played better in the new 34 Defense than he did in the old press coverage in the 43.  He still has value as a DB, not just ST.

ST (3)  Crosby, Kapinos, Goode

Kapinos improved dramatically as training camp progressed that he made the roster, not just by default.  He is always going to be in danger of losing his job.  Whether by poor performance or in the offseason because he doesn't have a big leg.  If he improves this season in his hangtime and continues to put the ball inside the 20 he will make himself a good career.  I just don't think he'll be in GB for long though, due to his very average leg and the Packers being a cold weather team that generally makes them more likely to keep a big leg, over a technical punter with an average leg.

So there you have it...  An ametuers view of the Packer 53 man roster, before a post cutdown trade or two.  Anyone willing to make any better calls on the roster are free to make their suggestions, but I'll stand by my 53 man team, barring a trade.