The 2014 NFL off-season is turning out to be one of the most active
of Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson's tenure. Thompson
followed up the Julius Peppers signing last week by adding another former NFC North foe when he signed former Minnesota defensive tackle Letroy Guion to a one-year, $1 million contract with $100,000 guaranteed. Slowly but surely Thompson is building the defensive portion of The 53 to be the most versatile of his tenure. Here is my second look at Thompson's performance so far this off-season.
The Good
Despite the fact that Thompson is spending money like a drunken sailor compared to previous off-season, the Packers will always be predominately built through the NFL Draft. The NFL recently awarded the compensatory picks for teams that lost free agents following the 2012 season for the 2014 NFL Draft. The Packers got an extra 3rd round pick (98th overall) for losing wide receiver Greg Jennings to the Minnesota Vikings (signed a five-year, $45 million deal with $17.8 million guaranteed) and a 5th round pick (176th overall) for losing outside linebacker Erik Walden to the the Indianapolis Colts (signed a four-year, $16 million deal with $8 million guaranteed). I would say the Packers won big-time by letting both guys leave because not only did they both sign what look like a above market deals relative to their skill sets but the Packers can use the salary cap space that would have been allocated to overpaying both guys to invest in better, younger players. Even better, Thompson gets two extra picks in one of the deepest drafts in the last decade for showing fiscal restraint.
I seem to be in the minority with this viewpoint but as the market for pass rushers continues to shake out, I continue to think the Peppers deal looks like a steal. The Packers only committed $7.5 million in guaranteed money to Peppers while the Bears signed former Viking Jared Allen to a four-year, $32 million deal with $15.5 million guaranteed. The Peppers contract is worth a maximum of $26 million over three years not $30 million as was originally reported. Given the versatility that Peppers gives the Packers to play defensive end or outside linebacker, I would much rather have Peppers than Allen despite the fact that Allen is a few years younger than Peppers. That is even before you compare the money and years committed to each player. Although the Packers are scheduled to pay Peppers slightly more on an annual basis ($8.67 million for three years) than the Bears are paying Allen ($8 million for four years), the Packers have much less guaranteed money invested in Peppers than the Bears do in Allen. Clearly Peppers is not the second coming of
Reggie White but he does give the Packers a defensive weapon they sorely lacked last season.
Currently the best front seven defensive players signed
for 2014 are: outside linebacker Clay Matthews, Peppers, defensive lineman B.J. Raji, defensive lineman Mike Daniels, middle linebacker A.J.
Hawk, defensive end/outside linebacker Mike Neal, and middle linebacker Brad Jones. The Packers also have some interesting backups in defensive lineman Josh Boyd, Guion, defensive lineman Datone Jones, outside linebacker Nick Perry, and defensive lineman Jerel Worthy. There is no question that the Packers have a number of versatile pass rushers, which hopefully will allow them to pressure the quarterback and create turnovers that were borderline non-existent last season.
Sometimes the deals you don't sign are the best deals of all. The Cincinnati Bengals signed underwhelming guard/tackle Marshall Newhouse to a one-year, $805,000 contract with $50,000 guaranteed. The Newhouse signing feels a little bit like when the Bengals signed former Packer tight end Donald Lee. Let's just say the Packers did not miss Lee one iota, which I already know will be the same feeling for Newhouse given how much he regressed last season.
Same goes for defensive lineman C.J. Wilson. I was very high on Wilson at the beginning of 2013 but as the season progressed, Wilson's playing time diminished. Ultimately former Packer front-office member and current Oakland Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie signed Wilson to a one-year, $795,000 contract with $65,000 guaranteed. It makes senses to let Wilson leave because he would have been one of the oldest defensive lineman on The 53, yet he would have been no higher than 7th or 8th on the depth chart.
Moving onto another underwhelming former Packer. Even though
safety M.D. Jennings started all 16 games for the Packers last season and was a
restricted free agent, the Packers decided not to tender him. Before the Packers signed Peppers,
the Chicago Bears signed the much maligned Jennings to a one-year, $745,000 contract. For most people Jennings will always be remembered as the guy that helped end the NFL ref lockout thanks to the Monday Night Football "Fail Mary" in Week 4 of the 2012 NFL season but I think of Jennings routinely missing tackles or getting beat deep. You can surmise that I am actually happy Jennings signed with a divisional rival because it will allow the Packers to exploit him if he actually play meaningful snaps for the Bears The one-year deal Jennings signed with the Bears is a pittance in NFL terms
but with how much Jennings struggled last season, I would rather see the Packers draft Ha-Ha Clinton Dix or Calvin Pryor if they are available in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft. If the Packers
fail to land a quality safety in the draft, they should give Micah Hyde a
look at safety but also make sure Chris Banjo and Sean Richarson are
ready as well.
The Bad
Besides Wilson, McKenzie recently signed two other players with ties to the Packers. McKenzie signed wide receiver James Jones to a three-year, $10 million contract with $3.7 guaranteed in 2014 but nothing in 2015 or 2016. After McKenzie signed Jones, he signed cornerback/safety Charles Woodson to a one-year, $3.5 million contract. Woodson is one of my favorite Packers of all-time and while my affinity for Jones is not as high, I do appreciate the toughness he gave the Packers despite his occasionally shaky hands.
The Packers look to have a fair amount of depth at wide receiver in Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, and Jarrett Boykin but all three are due new contracts sooner rather than later given that Boykin is a restricted free agent after 2014 while Nelson and Cobb are set to become unresticted free agents after 2014. Hopefully Thompson is going to allocate the money that could have gone to Jones to locking down that trip long-term.
Following last season cornerback Tramon Williams, the only member of the secondary over the age of 30, said the defense needed to add some veterans. That seemed very unlikely given Thompson's desire to choose younger guys ahead of older guys. Thompson veered from his usual strategy when he signed Peppers and could have continued to improve the defense by adding Woodson. Instead Woodson resigned with the Raiders for what could be his last season in the NFL. Ultimately the decision not to bring back Woodson is even more curious than letting Jones go, especially given that Woodson would be a perfect mentor for the young Packers secondary.
Thompson passed on Jones and Woodson but signed oft-injured running back James Starks to a two-year, $3.25 million contract with $750,000 guaranteed. I know that Starks was instrumental in the playoff run that resulted in the Packers winning Super Bowl XLV but the Packers did not have the running back quartet of Eddie Lacy, Jonathan Franklin, DuJuan Harris, and Michael Hill on The 53 in 2010. Sure Franklin and Harris are coming off serious injuries but everyone besides Hill are borderline locks for The 53 so I am shocked that Thompson invested that type of money in Starks. The Starks signing leaves the Packers with more NFL caliber running backs than wide receivers. Instead of signing Starks, I wish Thompson would have allocated that money to Jones or Woodson.
Thankfully the Starks signing did not dissuade Thompson from resigning fullback John Kuhn. Thompson signed Kuhn to a one-year, $1 million contract with $100,000 guaranteed. There is no question that Kuhn brings a ton of intangibles to The 53 given that he has a such a positive locker room presence. I've been critical of Kuhn in the past but more of that was due to the fact that the Packers overpaid Kuhn $7.6 million from 2011-13. In terms of on-field contributions, not only is Kuhn a quality special teams contributor, but he made the two biggest blocks of the 2013 season: Lacy's 60-yard run against the Cowboys and Rodgers-to-Cobb to beat the Bears. When you put it all together, Kuhn is finally cost-effective member of The 53 at $1 million in 2014.
The Packers did not make a strong strong push to resign 2013
starting center Evan Dietrich-Smith so it looks like they are going to
give JC Tretter the first chance to win the starting center job in 2014. Recently the Packers hosted veteran center/guard Mike McGlynn. Ultimately McGlynn signed a modest two-year, $2.7 million contract with just $200,000 guaranteed with the Washington Redskins. I am fine with giving Tretter a chance to winning the starting center job but given how cheap it was to sign McGlynn it seems foolish that Thompson did not sign McGynn as a cost-effective insurance policy as a backup guard/center.
The Ugly
Last week tight end Jermicahel Finley worked out for the Seattle
Seahawks and apparently failed his physical. Later reports surfaced
that Finley will not be ready for football action for "months", which is
after the 2014 NFL Draft. The Packers have a number of tight
ends under contract for 2014: Brandon Bostick,
Andrew Quarless, Jake Stoneburner, Ryan Taylor, and Raymond Webber. When healthy, Finley is the far and away the most dangerous receiver of the group just discussed.
The jury is still out on Stoneburner and Webber. Taylor is a special
teams standout but has not shown much on offense. That means the
Packers have high hopes for Bostick and Quarless. Thompson just
resigned Quarless to a two-year, $3 million contract with $350,000
guaranteed. Of all the tight ends just mentioned, Bostick has the most potential to be a Finley-esque tight end but needs to stay healthy long enough to validate the so far unfulfilled promise. Fortunately everyone besides Quarless is on essentially a
rookie minimum contract so the Packers do not have that much money invested in the position. The Packers hosted former Wisconsin Badgers tight end Owen Daniels for a
visit but allowed him to sign with the Baltimore Ravens for a one-year,
$1 million contract for 2014. Despite having so many tight ends under contract and Finley's status up in the air, I expect Thompson to use a fairly high pick on a tight end in the 2014 NFL Draft.
That leaves the Packers with six unrestricted free agents that were members of The 53 in 2013: Finley, quarterback Matt Flynn, linebacker Robert Francois, defensive lineman Johnny Jolly, defensive lineman Ryan Pickett, and quarterback Seneca Wallace. If Finley can prove that he is healthy, he is the only guy that will command an expensive long-term deal that I totally support the Packers offering. The rest of the guys are one-year, veteran minimum guys at this point so here are my rankings for most to least important: Flynn, Jolly, Pickett, Francois, and Wallace.
Since Guion (Vikings) and Peppers (Bears) were cut by the team they
played for in 2013, they will not factor into what compensatory picks
the Packers receive for the 2015 NFL Draft. As it stands right now, it looks like the Packers are in line for a few late-round compensatory picks since so far this off-season they've lost EDS, Jones, Newhouse, and Wilson. If I had to guess right now, I see the Packers getting a fifth and seventh round compensatory pick in the 2015 NFL Draft.
No matter what happens between now and the 2014 NFL Draft, I plan to roll out a huge "preview" of how I would approach the draft if I was Thompson at the end of April and the beginning of May. I still see a few moves on the horizon for Thompson ahead of the draft, if Thompson does in fact make any moves, make sure to check
back for full coverage
Showing posts with label James Starks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label James Starks. Show all posts
Monday, April 7, 2014
Monday, December 30, 2013
The 53 - Packers beat Bears to win the NFC North
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The Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears met for the 188th time on Sunday, which is the most of any two teams in NFL history. That will continue to be a renewing NFL record unless the NFL makes radical changes to divisional alignment or scheduling. The official NFL game preview was cut before we knew whether Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was going to play. As it turns out, we knew by Thursday that the Packers were finally going have the services of Rodgers against the Bears for the first time since Week 9 when Rodgers was injured against the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football at Lambeau Field.The Packers were 5-2 before they lost Rodgers to a broken collarbone and went 2-5-1 using the services of three other quarterbacks (Seneca Wallace, Scot Tolzien, and Matt Flynn) in place of Rodgers. Somehow the Packers played just well enough to make their Week 17 game against the Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago meaningful. The winner of the game would win the NFC North, get the 4th seed in the NFC playoffs, and hosts a home playoff game next weekend. Here were the inactives for the Packers against the Bears: Chris Harper (WR, healthy scratch), Brad Jones (MLB, ankle), Clay Matthews (OLB, broken thumb), Jumal Rolle (CB, healthy scratch), Lane Taylor (G, healthy scratch), JC Tretter (G/C, healthy scratch), and C.J. Wilson (DE, healthy scratch).
As we we all know by now, the Packers beat the Bears in dramatic fashion. The person that likely suffered the most from the loss, besides the one Bears fan that plays for the Wisconsin Badgers football team, is Bears quarterback Jay Cutler. For his career, Cutler is now 1-9 (1-8 with the Bears & 0-1 with the Broncos) against the Packers. Both Cutler and their geriatric but possibly better backup quarterback Josh McCown are both set to become free agents this year. The sensible approach is the re-sign McCown to a short-term deal and draft a developmental quarterback in the 2014 NFL Draft. As a Packer fan that lives in Chicago, I hope the Bears resign Cutler so that even if he wins a couple games against the Packers over the next few years he will take up a ton of cap space while driving the entire city of Chicago nuts with his horrible body language that accompanies each of his interceptions.
The Packers and Bears played 186 times in the regular season, the Bears lead the series 92-88-6 but the Packers won nine of their last 11 games against Bears, including six in a row before losing to the Bears earlier this season at Lambeau. Soldier Field is turning into Lambeau Field South given that the Packers are now 23-19-0 all-time at Soldier Field winning their last four and five of the last six.
Despite playing 186 times in the regular season, the Packers and Bears only met twice in the playoff, both times in Chicago. The Bears won the first game 33–14 in 1941 at Wrigley Field. The Packers won the second game 21-14 at Soldier Field in the NFC Championship Game en route to winning Super Bowl XLV.
Their win over the Bears gave the Packers their 3rd consecutive NFC North title and fifth consecutive playoff appearance. The Packers are now 7-1 in regular season finales against Bears since 1934, wining their last five, with their most notable win in that streak being their 10-3 win at Lambeau in 2010 to start their run toward winning Super Bowl XLV. It is not just the Bears that have struggled against the Packers in regular season finales. The Packers won 18 of their last 20 regular season finales, including seven of their last eight against NFC North foes with their only lose coming in a meaningless game on the road against the Minnesota Vikings in 2012 that was quickly remedied by a playoff win the following week over the Vikings at Lambeau Field.
I am often critical of in-game decisions my Packers head coach McCarthy but give him, check that Rodgers credit, for being very impressive at the end of the regular season. The Packers are now 18-6 in regular season in December/January since 2009, which only trails the Patriots (21-4) and the Chargers (19-6). Taking a slightly longer timeline, McCarthy has a winning divisional record in all eight seasons in charge of the Packers. The Bill Belichick coached New England Patriots are the only other team in the NFL to match the Packers.
Without further adu, here are my updated player rankings following the Packers/Bears game:
| The 53 |
| 1. Aaron Rodgers (QB, LR 1) 2. Clay Matthews (OLB, LR 2) 3. Randall Cobb (WR, LR N/A) 4. Jordy Nelson (WR, LR 3) 5. Eddie Lacy (RB, LR 4) 6. Sam Shields (CB, LR 5) 7. Josh Sitton (G, LR 7) 8. T.J. Lang (G, LR 6) 9. James Jones (WR, LR 8) 10. Tramon Williams (CB, LR 12) 11. David Bakhtiari (T, LR 16) 12. Evan Dietrich-Smith (C, LR 10) 13. Morgan Burnett (S, LR 9) 14. Mike Daniels (DL, LR 11) 15. Micah Hyde (CB, LR 13) 16. B.J. Raji (DL, LR 14) 17. Jarrett Boykin (WR, LR 18) 18. Don Barclay (T, LR 15) 19. A.J. Hawk (MLB, LR 17) 20. James Starks (RB, LR 24) 21. Brad Jones (MLB, LR 19) 22. Datone Jones (DL, LR 21) 23. Nick Perry (OLB, LR 22) 24. Davon House (CB, LR 20) 25. Tim Masthay (P, LR 25) 26. Ryan Pickett (DL, LR 31) 27. Andrew Quarless (TE, LR 27) 28. John Kuhn (FB, LR 30) 29. Josh Boyd (DL, LR 26) 30. Mason Crosby (K, LR 34) 31. Mike Neal (DL/OLB, LR 28) 32. Jamari Lattimore (LB, LR 29) 33. Jarrett Bush (CB, LR 32) 34. Derek Sherrod (T, LR 33) 35. Jerel Worthy (DE, LR 37) 36. Sean Richardson (S, LR 36) 37. Brett Goode (LS, LR 35) 38. Andy Mulamba (LB, LR 38) 39. Matt Flynn (QB, LR 23) 40. M.D. Jennings (S, LR 39) 41. Ryan Taylor (TE, LR 40) 42. J.C. Tretter (C, LR 42) 43. C.J. Wilson (DL, LR 43) 44. Chris Banjo (S, LR 44) 45. Scott Tolzien (QB, LR 41) 46. Victor Aiyewa (LB, LR 45) 47. Jake Stoneburner (TE, LR 46) 48. Nate Palmer (LB, LR 50) 49. Lane Taylor (G, LR 47) 50. Chris Harper (WR, LR 48) 51. Marshall Newhouse (T, LR 49) 52. Kahlil Bell (RB, LR 51) 53. Jumal Rolle (CB, LR N/A) |
| Injured Reserve |
| 1. Jermichael Finley (TE) 2. Bryan Bulaga (T) 3. Casey Hayward (CB) 4. Johnny Jolly (DL) 5. DuJuan Harris (RB) 6. Jonathan Franklin (RB) 7. Brandon Bostick (TE) 8. Robert Francois (MLB) 9. Greg Van Roten (C/G) 10. Sam Barrington (LB) 11. Myles White (WR) 12. Seneca Wallace (QB) 13. James Nixon (CB) 14. Kevin Dorsey (WR) 15. Sederrik Cunningham (WR) |
| Cut |
| 1. Jeremy Ross (WR, Lions) 2. Jerron McMillian (S, free agent) 3. Michael Hill (RB, Buccaneers) |
3) Randall Cobb (WR, LR N/A): After breaking his leg on the road against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 6, the Packers placed Cobb on IR designated for return so he could have been added to The 53 for the Packers/Cowboys game. Unfortunately Cobb was still not healthy enough to play against the Cowboys or in the Packers/Steelers game. That meant that Cobb ultimately missed 10 games before the Packers activated him from the IR designated for return to The 53 yesterday. The Packers clearly benefited from having Cobb back in the lineup considering he caught two balls that both resulted in touchdowns. Although the second touchdown is the one that Packers fans will be talking about for many years to come, Cobb's first touchdown catch on 3rd and 4 at the Bears 7-yard line with 7 and half minutes left in the 3rd quarter down 14-13 is something the Packers been missing with Cobb out. Wide receivers James Jones and Nelson do a great job working outside while Cobb thrives in the slot. Often people say take this with a grain of salt but in this instance don't take this with a grain of salt, I think if Cobb was out this week the Packers would not have beaten the Bears.
5) Eddie Lacy (RB, LR 4): Another week, another gutty (no pun intended) performance by Lacy playing with a heavily taped sprained ankle: 21 carries for 66 yards and 1 touchdown to go along with 2 catches for 15 yards. Although that stat line does not seem that impressive given the fact that the Bears have the worst rush defense in the NFL, it is Lacy's mere presence on the field alone that gives the Packers a legitimate running threat, which opens up a number of options in the passing game. I've said many times that I am not a fan of running draws out of the shotgun but runs like Lacy's touchdown run against the Bears show that sometimes it is in fact an effective play call since it allows a patient running back like Lacy time to bounce a run outside instead of getting tackled for no gain. Lacy's touchdown run pulled the Packers within two points with just under 12 minutes to play in the game. At the time I was fine with McCarthy kicking the extra point to make it 28-27 but upon further reflection today, I think McCarthy should have gone for two in that situation to try to tie the game. Assuming McCarthy went for two, I would have run Lacy up the middle on that attempt instead of calling a passing play like McCarthy did when he actually went for two in the dying moments of the game. There is no question that Lacy had the best rookie season for a Packer that I can remember, which is why I thought he got snubbed not getting invited to the Pro Bowl.
6) Sam Shields (CB, LR 5): A little over a month ago I broke down how Packers general manager Ted Thompson should approach their impending restricted and unrestricted free agents this off-season. At that time I thought Sheilds was a long-shot to return to the Packers but my opinion has dramatically changed. Part of the reason why I thought Sheilds would not be on The 53 for the Packers in 2014 is the fact that the Packers have a number of young, talented cornerbacks on The 53 for the next few years on cheap, combined with the fact that Shields is going to demand a very large contract. At the risk of pricing Shields out Green Bay, let's not forget that he holds the distinction of coming up with a game ending interception in two of the most dramatic Packers/Bears games of all-time: 2010 NFC Champion Game & last night. I know this sounds like me being more of a fan than thinking like a general manager but at some point you need to pay players that make big plays, especially when those guys are just entering their prime like Shields is given that he just turned 26-years old. There is no question Shields is the best cornerback on The 53 right now. The real question is whether Thompson can fit a five-year, $50 million contract with at least half of that deal guaranteed into the salary cap for 2014 and beyond to keep Shields on The 53 for the Packers long-term.
8) T.J. Lang (G, LR 6): Apparently McCarthy had to be talked into going for it by his offensive line on the first of three 4th down conversions by the Packers on their final drive Just to set the stage, the Packers trailed the Bears 28-27 where they faced a 4th and 1 from their own 22-yard line with 4:41 to play and only one timeout left. Had the Packers not picked up the first down, the game would have essentially been over. I've said many times that one prism that I look through when dissecting coaching decisions is what an educated fan of the other team would not want a head coach to do. In that instance, I am sure that Bears fans would rather that the Packers punt instead of going for it. The Packers ultimately picked up the first down on a one-yard run by fullback John Kuhn but I guarantee you that a smart Bears fan, I know that seems like a non sequitur, would rather the Packers punted in that situation.
10) Tramon Williams (CB, LR 12): A gang tackle of Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffrey by Williams and Business HJ results in a fumble that was recovered by safety Morgan Burnett. As Burnett scampered tried to return the fumble for a touchdown, he pitched the ball to cornerback Sam Shields. Ultimately Shields was tackled after running a few more yards. That is the kind of group defensive play that we came to expect the last few years from the Packers but have not seen so far this season. The lack of big plays partially falls at the feet of the safties since they went the entire season without an interception for the first time since the 1950's. Fortunately against the Bears, the defense picked a good time to harken back to their play the last few years. Taking into account the fact that the Packers need to keep Shields long-term, I see the Packers doing everything possible to get Williams to take a pay cut next season. If Williams will not take a pay cut, as crazy as it sounds, I could see the Packers actually keeping Williams instead of cutting him like Thompson cut cornerback/safety Charles Woodson last off-season.
17) Jarrett Boykin (WR, LR 18): How many times is a ball clearly not a fumble or a pass clearly dropped but a player still picks up the ball and runs with it acting as if they have a live ball? Luckily Boykin with a little help from Rodgers and the sideline realized it was actually a live ball so he scooper it up and ran in for a touchdown. There is a lot that happened on that play so let's break it down piece-by-piece. The Packers faced a 1st and 10 on the Bears' 17-yard line down 7-3 with just over three and a half minutes left in the first half. Bears defensive end Julius Peppers knocked the ball out of Rodgers' hand. In real time it looked like Rodgers' arm might be going forward, which I presume is why Bears linebacker James Anderson didn't scoop up the ball and run. If Anderson did, the Bears would have been up 14-3. Instead Boykin recovered the fumble and ran it in for a touchdown to give the Packers a 10-7 lead. Boykin's post-game comments gave some interesting insight into what is actually happening on the field during an NFL game. Even though the fans in the stadium were screaming and the entire Packers' sideline was telling Boykin to pick up the ball, he said that the only thing he could hear was Rodgers telling him to pickup the ball and run. The emergence of Boykin as a legitimate NFL wide receiver is simultaneously a good and bad thing. It is a good thing because I could see him starting for a handful of teams in the NFL so that is a nice, cheap commodity to have on The 53 as a 3rd or 4th wide receiver. It is a bad thing because I could see the Packers letting wide receiver James Jones leave via free agency because they have to extend wide receivers Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson in the next year so having a cost-effective third wide receiver makes more sense than having three expensive wide receivers.
20) James Starks (RB, LR 24): Besides the injury to Rodgers, I will remember 2013 as the season that the Packers started being able to run for first downs on 3rd and 1 again for the first time in what felt like a decade. Whether it be fullback John Kuhn, Lacy, or Starks; it seems like the Packers finally have the physically backs on The 53 to pick up their every tricky one yard. Case and point, Starks' 41-yard run against the Bears. I would prefer the Packers use Lacy as opposed to Kuhn or Starks but the fact that we are even discussing the Packers picking up first downs on the ground is amazing. Starks is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent following this season. When healthy, Lacy is clearly the bell cow at running back. The Packers have two running backs currently on injured reserve in Jonathan Franklin and DuJuan Harris that are under contract for at least next season so they will most likely be on The 53 in 2014. I would be shocked if the Packers drafted a running back after drafting Lacy and Franklin in the 2013 NFL Draft. Since Kuhn and Starks are both set to be free agents after the season, it will be interesting to see if both return in 2014. Usually the Packers keep four or five backs on The 53. Given Kuhn's versatility in being able to play special teams and serve as a great blocking back, I see the Packers keeping Kuhn and then deciding whether they want Starks as a 4th running back on The 53 in 2014.
Speaking of the Super Bowl, the 8-7-1 Packers need to re-group because they host the 12-4 San Francisco 49ers in the playoffs next week. The 49ers are 0-2 at Lambeau Field in the playoffs and the Packers are 8-4 in NFL Wild Card games. In terms of more recent head-to-head comparisons, after the Packers dominated the 49ers for a very long-time winning eight straight, the series shifted in favor of the 49ers the last few years with the 49ers winning three consecutive games including the regular season openers the last two years (2012 & 2013) and the playoffs last year.
I do not expect a ton of turnover to The 53 this week but if there are any changes, check back for full coverage. Otherwise make sure to check back early next week for my extended thoughts on the Packers/49ers playoff game.
Monday, October 28, 2013
The 53 - Packers beat Vikings in last visit to The Humpty
The Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings met for the 31st and last time at The Humpty because for at least the next two years the Vikings are going to play at TCF Bank Stadium, the home of the Minnesota Golden Gophers, while they build a new stadium on the footprint of The Humpty. Despite the fact that the Vikings sputtered to start the season, I still think the NFL made the right call to make the last Packers/Vikings game at The Humpty a Sunday Night Football game. Given the late kickoff, it allowed plenty of time for fans to get ready for the game.
After going out for a bunch of drinks to celebrate Halloween following the Gophers' victory over the Cornhuskers, Nick and I watched Man City play Chelsea at Brit's Pub & Eating Establishment, a great futbol pub in Minneapolis. Brit's Pub has the most impressive lawn bowling set-up on their rooftop I've ever seen at a bar, unfortunately it was closed for the year. Also unfortunate was City's 2-1 loss to Chelsea due to a defensive gaffe that lead to a Fernando Torres goal in the 90th minute.
Following the match, Nick and I met up with Sug at the Aloft Minneapolis right by The Humpty. After grabbing some drinks around the stadium and dominating Sug on the official Sunday Night Football bag set, we met up with Gaber. Finally the Nordys met us to give us equal Packers and Vikings fan representation at our tailgate. Despite not having a grill we had a million options for grilling our brats because of all the tailgating going on around the stadium. Thanks to the Old Fashions provided by Gaber, we made the best of our time in the parking lot before heading into the game.
A rowdy crowd of 64,134 peopled turned out for the last installment of Packers/Vikings at The Humpty. The inactives for the Packers against the Vikings were: Jermichael Finley (TE, spinal injury), Brad Jones (OLB, hamstring), James Jones (WR, knee), Clay Matthews (OLB, thumb), James Nixon (CB, healthy scratch), Nick Perry (OLB, foot), and Ryan Taylor (TE, knee). Vikings rookie wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson returned the opening kickoff for an NFL record typing 109 yards to put the Vikings up 7-0. Unfortunately for the Vikings that was really the high point of the game for them as the Packers won their 15th game against an NFC North team in their last 16 tries. Their only loss came at The Humpty last year to close the 2012 regular season, which meant the teams met in the playoffs the following week. Cheesehead Chick, Dre, Gaber, Nick, Sug, Tessa, and I saw the Packers beat the Vikings handily in that playoff game last season.
Back to the game at hand. Despite giving up 31 points, the final scoreline of 44-31 was very misleading. The Packers scored every time they touched the ball besides their last possession when they ran out the clock. Plus the Vikings scored 14 of their points when the game was out of reach after the Packers lead 41-17 midway through the fourth quarter. With a victory, the Packers finish with a record of 15-16 at The Humpty. Here are my updated rankings along with my thoughts on certain players following the last installment of Packers/Vikings at The Humpty:
#1) Aaron Rodgers (QB, LR 1): The Humpty has been a house of horrors for former Packer quarterback Brett Favre besides the two years he (gulp) actually played for the Vikings. I know Favre broke quarterback Dan Marino's all-time touchdown record in The Humpty but the fake noise pumped in crowd noise always seemed to get to Favre. The same cannot be said for Rodgers. Although Rodgers is only 3-3 all-time in The Humpty, he usually puts up great stats. Case and point, in Rodgers's last visit to The Humpty, he went 28 for 40
throwing for 365 yards and 4 touchdowns but the Packers still lost 37-34. Besides putting up greats stats in The Humpty, another reason why Rodgers doesn't mind playing in there is that he gets to wear his favorite shoes, The Destroyers. Former Packer wide receiver Greg Jennings had a number of disparaging comments about Rodgers (12 as he called him) and the Packers (apparently the organization brain washes people in Green Bay) after he signed a five-year, $45 million contract with the Vikings in the off-season. Apparently Jennings was trying to make good with Rodgers because Rodgers said nothing as Jennings whispered a number of things into his ear as a part of one of the longest post-game embraces I've seen by opposing players in a long time.
#4) Jordy Nelson (WR, LW 4): With Cobb, Finley, and Jones missing time due to various injuries, Nelson has been the only constant pass catcher for the Packers this season. Sunday against the Vikings was no different, Nelson had seven catches for 123 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Packers got a nice performance from backup wide receivers Jarrett Boykin last week against the Browns but let's be honest, Nelson is really their only healthy stud pass catcher right now.
#6) B.J. Raji (DL, LR 7): Let me be the 10 millionth person to write a blurb about Raji being a good citizen for not complaining about his reduced playing time despite the fact that he is in a contract year. In 2011 and 2012 the Packers kept Raji on the field for most downs, which wore him down each game and made him a lot less effective. Thankfully this season the Packers have more depth along the defensive line than they've had in the past so they can rotate their defensive lineman to keep everyone fresh. The Packers defense limited running back Adrian Peterson to 13 carries for 60 yards and former Packer wide receiver Greg Jennings to 1 catch for 9 yards thanks in large part to their fresh defensive line wreaking havoc.
#16) Mike Daniels (DL, LR 22): The Packers used the first of their two compensatory fourth round draft picks in 2012 NFL Draft to select Daniels. At the time I said Daniels was going to have to battle defensive lineman C.J. Wilson and Jarius Wynn for a roster spot. Even if you combine Wynn's and Wilson's talent, they still would not provide the inside pass rush that Daniels gives the Packers in their sub-packages. The two sacks by Daniels against the Vikings is evidence of how far he has come as a player in less than a year and a half to leapfrogged almost everyone in the defensive line rotation.
#18) Micah Hyde (CB, LR 21): The Packers finally got their first look in 2013 at cornerback Casey Hayward. Going into the season you could make an argument that Hayward was the best cornerback on the roster or at least the cornerback with the highest upside on The 53. Less than halfway into the season Hayward is nominally the 4th cornerback on the roster due to a lingering hamstring injury. With Hayward out, Hyde has taken over the nickel cornerback role. More importantly, Hyde has excelled as a punt returner. Apparently the reason why Hyde fell to the 5th round of the 2013 NFL Draft was his lack of speed. On Hyde's 93-yard punt return for a touchdown against the Vikings he looked like the fastest guy on the field so looks like the scouts were about Hyde's speed. I know this is supposed to gauge "trade value" but given how much a nagging hamstring has limited Hayward so far this season, when you combine Hyde defensive and return capabilities, I honestly think Hyde has more value to the Packers in 2013 (and possibly beyond) than Hayward.
#32) James Starks RB, LR 34): The Packers put together their best performance on the ground of the season amassing 182 yards. Running back Eddie Lacy gained 94 yards, quarterback Aaron Rodgers gained 31 yards, and last but certainly not least Starks gained 57 yards. Sure Lacy was more impressive against the Vikings than Starks but I highlight Starks because if he can stay healthy the Packers will have a rich man's version of a two-headed running attack for the first time since Edgar Bennett and Dorsey Levens.
In what is now becoming an annual post-game tradition whenever we stay at an Aloft thanks to Sug, we hit the pool for a soak to kibitz about the win. There really is nothing better than taking in an impressive Packer win followed by drinking beers and reminiscing about the game in the hot tub. The only bummer of the post-game soak was my 6:50 am flight the following morning that necessitated a 5 am wake up call. Luckily I was able to ride the train to the airport and make it through security just in time to make my flight. Unfortunately because I cut it so close, I got a middle seat next to a guy with a Larry Craig-esque wide stance. Thanks to Sug for locking down a hotel room and Gaber for bringing the drinks (Old Fashions and beers) and brats, which really made the day. Despite a rough Monday, thanks to Minneapolis for a truly great sports weekend. I hope we are all able to make it back next year for the first ever Packers/Vikings game at TCF Bank Stadium.
After going out for a bunch of drinks to celebrate Halloween following the Gophers' victory over the Cornhuskers, Nick and I watched Man City play Chelsea at Brit's Pub & Eating Establishment, a great futbol pub in Minneapolis. Brit's Pub has the most impressive lawn bowling set-up on their rooftop I've ever seen at a bar, unfortunately it was closed for the year. Also unfortunate was City's 2-1 loss to Chelsea due to a defensive gaffe that lead to a Fernando Torres goal in the 90th minute.Following the match, Nick and I met up with Sug at the Aloft Minneapolis right by The Humpty. After grabbing some drinks around the stadium and dominating Sug on the official Sunday Night Football bag set, we met up with Gaber. Finally the Nordys met us to give us equal Packers and Vikings fan representation at our tailgate. Despite not having a grill we had a million options for grilling our brats because of all the tailgating going on around the stadium. Thanks to the Old Fashions provided by Gaber, we made the best of our time in the parking lot before heading into the game.
A rowdy crowd of 64,134 peopled turned out for the last installment of Packers/Vikings at The Humpty. The inactives for the Packers against the Vikings were: Jermichael Finley (TE, spinal injury), Brad Jones (OLB, hamstring), James Jones (WR, knee), Clay Matthews (OLB, thumb), James Nixon (CB, healthy scratch), Nick Perry (OLB, foot), and Ryan Taylor (TE, knee). Vikings rookie wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson returned the opening kickoff for an NFL record typing 109 yards to put the Vikings up 7-0. Unfortunately for the Vikings that was really the high point of the game for them as the Packers won their 15th game against an NFC North team in their last 16 tries. Their only loss came at The Humpty last year to close the 2012 regular season, which meant the teams met in the playoffs the following week. Cheesehead Chick, Dre, Gaber, Nick, Sug, Tessa, and I saw the Packers beat the Vikings handily in that playoff game last season.
Back to the game at hand. Despite giving up 31 points, the final scoreline of 44-31 was very misleading. The Packers scored every time they touched the ball besides their last possession when they ran out the clock. Plus the Vikings scored 14 of their points when the game was out of reach after the Packers lead 41-17 midway through the fourth quarter. With a victory, the Packers finish with a record of 15-16 at The Humpty. Here are my updated rankings along with my thoughts on certain players following the last installment of Packers/Vikings at The Humpty:
| The 53 |
| 1. Aaron Rodgers (QB, LR 1) 2. Clay Matthews (OLB, LR 2) 3. Morgan Burnett (S, LR 3) 4. Jordy Nelson (WR, LR 4) 5. Josh Sitton (G, LR 6) 6. B.J. Raji (DL, LR 7) 7. Sam Shields (CB, LR 5) 8. T.J. Lang (G, LR 8) 9. James Jones (WR, LR 9) 10. Tramon Williams (CB, LR 10) 11. David Bakhtiari (T, LR 11) 12. Eddie Lacy (RB, LR 15) 13. Evan Dietrich-Smith (C, LR 12) 14. Jermichael Finley (TE, LR 13) 15. Brad Jones (MLB, LR 14) 16. Mike Daniels (DL, LR 22) 17. A.J. Hawk (MLB, LR 17) 18. Micah Hyde (CB, LR 21) 19. Casey Hayward (CB, LR 18) 20. Nick Perry (OLB, LR 16) 21. Don Barclay (T, LR 20) 22. Tim Masthay (P, LR 23) 23. Datone Jones (DL, LR 19) 24. Davon House (CB, LR 24) 25. Ryan Pickett (DL, LR 26) 26. Jamari Lattimore (LB, LR 27) 27. Johnny Jolly (DL, LR 25) 28. Jarrett Boykin (WR, LR 31) 29. Mason Crosby (K, LR 28) 30. Mike Neal (DL/OLB, LR 29) 31. Jarrett Bush (CB, LR 30) 32. James Starks (RB, LR 34) 33. M.D. Jennings (S, LR 32) 34. Brett Goode (LS, LR 33) 35. Andrew Quarless (TE, LR 38) 36. Chris Banjo (S, LR 35) 37. C.J. Wilson (DL, LR 36) 38. Jonathan Franklin (RB, LR 37) 39. Marshall Newhouse (T, LR 39) 40. Andy Mulamba (LB, LR 40) 41. John Kuhn (FB, LR 41) 42. Jerron McMillian (S, LR 42) 43. Ryan Taylor (TE, LR 43) 44. Sam Barrington (LB, LR 44) 45. Seneca Wallace (QB, LR 45) 46. Nate Palmer (LB, LR 46) 47. Brandon Bostick (TE, LR 47) 48. Myles White (WR, LR 50) 49. Lane Taylor (G, LR 51) 50. Chris Harper (WR, LR 48) 51. Jake Stoneburner (TE, LR 52) 52. Josh Boyd (DL, LR 49) 53. James Nixon (CB, LR 53) |
| Physically Unable to Perform |
| 1. Jerel Worthy (DE) 2. Derek Sherrod (T) 3. JC Tretter (T) 4. Sean Richardson (S) |
| IR, Designated for Return |
| 1. Randall Cobb (WR) |
| Injured Reserve |
| 1. Bryan Bulaga (T) 2. DuJuan Harris (RB) 3. Robert Francois (MLB) 4. Greg Van Roten (C/G) 5. Kevin Dorsey (WR) 6. Sederrik Cunningham (WR) |
| Cut |
| 1. Jeremy Ross (WR, Lions) 2. Michael Hill (RB, FA) |
#4) Jordy Nelson (WR, LW 4): With Cobb, Finley, and Jones missing time due to various injuries, Nelson has been the only constant pass catcher for the Packers this season. Sunday against the Vikings was no different, Nelson had seven catches for 123 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Packers got a nice performance from backup wide receivers Jarrett Boykin last week against the Browns but let's be honest, Nelson is really their only healthy stud pass catcher right now.
#6) B.J. Raji (DL, LR 7): Let me be the 10 millionth person to write a blurb about Raji being a good citizen for not complaining about his reduced playing time despite the fact that he is in a contract year. In 2011 and 2012 the Packers kept Raji on the field for most downs, which wore him down each game and made him a lot less effective. Thankfully this season the Packers have more depth along the defensive line than they've had in the past so they can rotate their defensive lineman to keep everyone fresh. The Packers defense limited running back Adrian Peterson to 13 carries for 60 yards and former Packer wide receiver Greg Jennings to 1 catch for 9 yards thanks in large part to their fresh defensive line wreaking havoc.
#16) Mike Daniels (DL, LR 22): The Packers used the first of their two compensatory fourth round draft picks in 2012 NFL Draft to select Daniels. At the time I said Daniels was going to have to battle defensive lineman C.J. Wilson and Jarius Wynn for a roster spot. Even if you combine Wynn's and Wilson's talent, they still would not provide the inside pass rush that Daniels gives the Packers in their sub-packages. The two sacks by Daniels against the Vikings is evidence of how far he has come as a player in less than a year and a half to leapfrogged almost everyone in the defensive line rotation.
#18) Micah Hyde (CB, LR 21): The Packers finally got their first look in 2013 at cornerback Casey Hayward. Going into the season you could make an argument that Hayward was the best cornerback on the roster or at least the cornerback with the highest upside on The 53. Less than halfway into the season Hayward is nominally the 4th cornerback on the roster due to a lingering hamstring injury. With Hayward out, Hyde has taken over the nickel cornerback role. More importantly, Hyde has excelled as a punt returner. Apparently the reason why Hyde fell to the 5th round of the 2013 NFL Draft was his lack of speed. On Hyde's 93-yard punt return for a touchdown against the Vikings he looked like the fastest guy on the field so looks like the scouts were about Hyde's speed. I know this is supposed to gauge "trade value" but given how much a nagging hamstring has limited Hayward so far this season, when you combine Hyde defensive and return capabilities, I honestly think Hyde has more value to the Packers in 2013 (and possibly beyond) than Hayward.
#32) James Starks RB, LR 34): The Packers put together their best performance on the ground of the season amassing 182 yards. Running back Eddie Lacy gained 94 yards, quarterback Aaron Rodgers gained 31 yards, and last but certainly not least Starks gained 57 yards. Sure Lacy was more impressive against the Vikings than Starks but I highlight Starks because if he can stay healthy the Packers will have a rich man's version of a two-headed running attack for the first time since Edgar Bennett and Dorsey Levens.
In what is now becoming an annual post-game tradition whenever we stay at an Aloft thanks to Sug, we hit the pool for a soak to kibitz about the win. There really is nothing better than taking in an impressive Packer win followed by drinking beers and reminiscing about the game in the hot tub. The only bummer of the post-game soak was my 6:50 am flight the following morning that necessitated a 5 am wake up call. Luckily I was able to ride the train to the airport and make it through security just in time to make my flight. Unfortunately because I cut it so close, I got a middle seat next to a guy with a Larry Craig-esque wide stance. Thanks to Sug for locking down a hotel room and Gaber for bringing the drinks (Old Fashions and beers) and brats, which really made the day. Despite a rough Monday, thanks to Minneapolis for a truly great sports weekend. I hope we are all able to make it back next year for the first ever Packers/Vikings game at TCF Bank Stadium.
Monday, September 16, 2013
The 53 - Packers pound Redskins in 2013 home opener
The Green Bay Packers put on a very impressive performance against the Washington Redskins with Aaron Rodgers throwing for a career high 480 yards (tied his buddy Matt Flynn's team record) and running back James Starks running for 132 yards. According to various reports that is the first time in NFL history that two teammates have thrown for 450 yards and run for 125 yards in the same game. Here are my thoughts along with updated rankings to The 53 following the Packers/Redskins game:
7. James Jones (WR): After going without a catch against the 49ers in the season opener, Jones caught 11 passes for 178 yards. When you factor in that Jones is older and currently set to be a free agent this off-season, while wide receivers Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson are under contract through at least next season, Cobb and Nelson are slightly more valuable to the Packers than Jones. This is obviously splitting hairs because any team in the NFL would love to have any of the wide receiver trio just discussed. I favor allocating certain dollars to certain positions. If you treat pass catchers as tight ends and wide receivers, it will be interesting to see what the Packers do this off-season because I am not sure the Packers have enough salary cap room to keep both Jones and tight end Jermichael Finley.
26. James Starks (RB): Not only did Starks gain 132 yards on the ground but he also had 36 receiving yards to gain 168 total yards from scrimmage. The last time the Packers had a 100-yard rusher was Starks in the first round of the playoffs on the road against the Philadelphia Eagles on their run to wining Super Bowl XLV. The Packers lost rookie running back Eddy Lacy to a concussion early in the game from a vicious hit by head-hunting safety Brandon Meriweather. I am not sure whether Lacy could have been as effective on the ground as Starks. Karma hit Meriweather upside the head later in the game when he lowered his head on Starks similar to how he knocked Lacy out of the game. That play resulted in Meriweather suffering a concussion and hopefully a suspension because Meriweather's tackling form of leading with the head to create helmet-to-helmet contact is exactly what the NFL is trying to eradicate from the game. Back to Starks, there is no denying that he put together one of the best rushing performance in a long time in Green Bay but let's also not forget that Rodgers almost threw for 500 yards so the pass helped set-up the run for Starks so I am not willing to make Starks the starter if Lacy is healthy. Since the Packers have an early bye week this season following their game against the Cincinnati Bengals next week, I would rather the Packers proceed very carefully with Lacy while giving Starks a chance to prove that his performance against the Redskins was not a one game aberration.
32. Mike Neal (DL/OLB): Anyone that regularly reads this blog knows that I am not a huge fan of Mike Neal because I thought the Packers were too wowed by his weight room strength despite the lack of on-field performance. We should all know by now that weight room strength does not always translate to performance on the field, think middle linebacker A.J. Hawk aka Business H.J. Since Neal is in a contract year, he is doing everything in his power to earn a contract extension. The Packers asked Neal to slim down this off-season to ease his transition to outside linebacker and Neal dutifully complied despite being a workout freak that prides himself on being the biggest guy in the weight room. Last season I advocated that the Packers should occasionally lineup in the 4-3. That was even before the Packers had as much depth as they currently have along the defensive line. I thought playing some 4-3 would help Nick Perry transition from playing defensive end in college to outside linebacker in the pros. It looks like that same logic could apply to Neal as well because he has shown some flashes of being able to rush the passer so far this season. Add in that Neal has been able to drop into coverage occasionally and I am starting to soften my disdain for Neal. The second quarter interception by Neal off a tipped pass is the first big play I can remember Neal making in a long time, may be ever for the Packers. If Neal keeps playing this well, I think it makes even more sense to mix in some 4-3 and possibly even limit some of Perry's snaps in favor of Neal.
37. Davon House (CB): A sack off a corner blitz for House from the slot was nice to see given how much he struggled with injuries the last few seasons. I highlight House's sack because Hayward excelled in that spot last season but has not played yet this season due to one of the 10,000 pulled hamstrings that have plagued the 2013 Green Bay Packers. Before today, rookie cornerback Micah Hyde picked up where Hayward left off last season. Now with House doing well in the slot, it looks like the Packers have five legitimate NFL cornerbacks (Williams, Shields, Hayward, Hyde, and House) on the roster once Hayward is healthy.
41. Andrew Quarless (TE): Usually one catch for seven yards is not going to garner an extended discussion in my posts but its how the Packers used Quarless against the Redskins that deserves a mention. The Packers used Quarless as a fullback, tight end, and even split out as a wide receiver occasionally. If Quarless can show some blocking prowess as a fullback he might limit fullback John Kuhn's snaps and go a long way towards determining whether this is Kuhn's last season as a cult hero in Green Bay.
Make sure to check back for my full breakdown if Thompson makes any significant roster moves this week, otherwise check back next Monday for my thoughts on the Packers/Bengals game.
| The 53 |
| 1. Aaron Rodgers (QB, LW 1) 2. Clay Matthews (OLB, LW 2) 3. Randall Cobb (WR, LW 3) 4. Morgan Burnett (S, LW 4) 5. Jordy Nelson (WR, LW 6) 6. B.J. Raji (DL, LW 5) 7. James Jones (WR, LW 10) 8. T.J. Lang (G, LW 7) 9. Jermichael Finley (TE, LW 8) 10. Josh Sitton (G, LW 9) 11. Sam Shields (CB, LW 11) 12. David Bakhtiari (T, LW 14) 13. Evan Dietrich-Smith (C, LW 13) 14. Tramon Williams (CB, LW 12) 15. Nick Perry (OLB, LW 15) 16. Casey Hayward (CB, LW 16) 17. Datone Jones (DL, LW 17) 18. Tim Masthay (P, LW 18) 19. Eddie Lacy (RB, LW 19) 20. Ryan Pickett (DL, LW 20) 21. Don Barclay (T, LW 21) 22. Micah Hyde (CB, LW 29) 23. Johnny Jolly (DL, LW 22) 24. A.J. Hawk (MLB, LW 23) 25. Mike Daniels (DL, LW 26) 26. James Starks (RB, LW 30) 27. Brad Jones (MLB, LW 25) 28. C.J. Wilson (DL, LW 24) 29. M.D. Jennings (S, LW 27) 30. Jerron McMillian (S, LW 28) 31. Mason Crosby (K, LW 31) 32. Mike Neal (DL/OLB, LW 47) 33. Brett Goode (LS, LW 32) 34. Jarrett Bush (CB, LW 33) 35. Ryan Taylor (TE, LW 34) 36. Jarrett Boykin (WR, LW 35) 37. Davon House (CB, LW 41) 38. Robert Francois (MLB, LW 36) 39. Chris Banjo (S, LW 42) 40. Jeremy Ross (WR, LW LW 37) 41. Andrew Quarless (TE, LW 44) 42. John Kuhn (FB, LW 38) 43. Marshall Newhouse (T, LW 39) 44. Greg Van Roten (G, LW 40) 45. Jonathan Franklin (RB, LW 43) 46. Seneca Wallace (QB, LW 45) 47. Jamari Lattimore (LB, LW 46) 48. Andy Mulamba (LB, LW 48) 49. Sam Barrington (LB, LW 49) 50. Brandon Bostick (TE, LW 52) 51. Nate Palmer (LB, LW 50) 52. Lane Taylor (G, LW 51) 53. Josh Boyd (DL, LW 53) |
26. James Starks (RB): Not only did Starks gain 132 yards on the ground but he also had 36 receiving yards to gain 168 total yards from scrimmage. The last time the Packers had a 100-yard rusher was Starks in the first round of the playoffs on the road against the Philadelphia Eagles on their run to wining Super Bowl XLV. The Packers lost rookie running back Eddy Lacy to a concussion early in the game from a vicious hit by head-hunting safety Brandon Meriweather. I am not sure whether Lacy could have been as effective on the ground as Starks. Karma hit Meriweather upside the head later in the game when he lowered his head on Starks similar to how he knocked Lacy out of the game. That play resulted in Meriweather suffering a concussion and hopefully a suspension because Meriweather's tackling form of leading with the head to create helmet-to-helmet contact is exactly what the NFL is trying to eradicate from the game. Back to Starks, there is no denying that he put together one of the best rushing performance in a long time in Green Bay but let's also not forget that Rodgers almost threw for 500 yards so the pass helped set-up the run for Starks so I am not willing to make Starks the starter if Lacy is healthy. Since the Packers have an early bye week this season following their game against the Cincinnati Bengals next week, I would rather the Packers proceed very carefully with Lacy while giving Starks a chance to prove that his performance against the Redskins was not a one game aberration.
32. Mike Neal (DL/OLB): Anyone that regularly reads this blog knows that I am not a huge fan of Mike Neal because I thought the Packers were too wowed by his weight room strength despite the lack of on-field performance. We should all know by now that weight room strength does not always translate to performance on the field, think middle linebacker A.J. Hawk aka Business H.J. Since Neal is in a contract year, he is doing everything in his power to earn a contract extension. The Packers asked Neal to slim down this off-season to ease his transition to outside linebacker and Neal dutifully complied despite being a workout freak that prides himself on being the biggest guy in the weight room. Last season I advocated that the Packers should occasionally lineup in the 4-3. That was even before the Packers had as much depth as they currently have along the defensive line. I thought playing some 4-3 would help Nick Perry transition from playing defensive end in college to outside linebacker in the pros. It looks like that same logic could apply to Neal as well because he has shown some flashes of being able to rush the passer so far this season. Add in that Neal has been able to drop into coverage occasionally and I am starting to soften my disdain for Neal. The second quarter interception by Neal off a tipped pass is the first big play I can remember Neal making in a long time, may be ever for the Packers. If Neal keeps playing this well, I think it makes even more sense to mix in some 4-3 and possibly even limit some of Perry's snaps in favor of Neal.
37. Davon House (CB): A sack off a corner blitz for House from the slot was nice to see given how much he struggled with injuries the last few seasons. I highlight House's sack because Hayward excelled in that spot last season but has not played yet this season due to one of the 10,000 pulled hamstrings that have plagued the 2013 Green Bay Packers. Before today, rookie cornerback Micah Hyde picked up where Hayward left off last season. Now with House doing well in the slot, it looks like the Packers have five legitimate NFL cornerbacks (Williams, Shields, Hayward, Hyde, and House) on the roster once Hayward is healthy.
41. Andrew Quarless (TE): Usually one catch for seven yards is not going to garner an extended discussion in my posts but its how the Packers used Quarless against the Redskins that deserves a mention. The Packers used Quarless as a fullback, tight end, and even split out as a wide receiver occasionally. If Quarless can show some blocking prowess as a fullback he might limit fullback John Kuhn's snaps and go a long way towards determining whether this is Kuhn's last season as a cult hero in Green Bay.
Make sure to check back for my full breakdown if Thompson makes any significant roster moves this week, otherwise check back next Monday for my thoughts on the Packers/Bengals game.
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Building The 53 - 2013 Preseason Week 3 - Packers/Seahawks Review
Every preseason fans look forward to the third preseason game
because that is when all the healthy starters usually play into the
third quarter. Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy bucked that
trend at the quarterback playing franchise quarterback Aaron Rodgers for only one series against the Seattle Seahawks at home. Injuries are inevitable in football and the Packers suffered some injuries to important players against the Seahawks that have fuzzy
timelines for recovery. Three important defensive players suffered or
re-aggravated hamstring injuries: Morgan Burnett (S), Casey Hayward
(CB), and Brad Jones (MLB). Despite drafting two running backs, the
Packers still view DuJuan Harris as their starter but Harris re-injured
his right knee that has limited his participation so far this preseason. Here are my roster related thoughts on the Packers/Seahawks game:
Player that hurt his stock most - James Starks (RB): There were certain players that struggled like cornerback Loyce Means (gave up a number of big receptions) or tight end Jake Stoneburner (fumbled) but those guys are long-shots to make the team. After looking good last week on the ground, the Packers struggled to run the ball with their running backs against the Seahawks: Eddie Lacy (8 carries for minus-5 yards), Jonathan Franklin (4 carries for 1 yard), DuJuan Harris (3 carries for 2 yards), Alex Green (2 carries for 31 yards and one of two rushes was for 31 yards), and John Kuhn (1 carry for 3 yards). Juxtapose that with Seahawks rookie running back Christine Michael's 122 yards of offense from scrimmage (11 rushes for 97 yards and 1 catch for 25 yards) and the Packers looked inept at running back compared to the Seahawks. Don't forget the fact that the Packers could have had Michael instead of Lacy since Michael was drafted one spot after Lacy in the 2013 NFL Draft. Leaving the Lacy/Michael comparison aside because I still think Lacy is a better fit for the Packers than Michael despite their performances last night; it looks like Green, Kuhn, and Starks are vying for two roster spots. Both Green and Kuhn saw action against the Seahawks while Starks did not register a single carry despite being healthy so yesterday might be the beginning of the end for the supremely talented but often injured Starks.
Player that helped his stock most - Vince Young: As discussed earlier, teams often use week 4 as opposed to week 3 to give their backups a long look. This year the Packers gave their backup quarterbacks a long look a week early against the Seahawks. Going into the game it was backup quarterback Graham Harrell's job to lose but Harrell did little to impress the coaches. Alternatively, newly signed quarterback Vince Young, not a graduate of McCarthy's "vaunted" off-season quarterback school like Harrell and B.J. Coleman, was efficient through the air (6 of 7 throwing for 47 yards and 1 touchdown) and on the ground (3 carries for 39 yards) to pull ahead of Harrell and Coleman for the backup quarterback job behind Rodgers.
Position to watch - Defensive Line: The Packers typically keep six defensive lineman but this year they have eight or nine players worth keeping for the first time in a long time. My current depth chart is: B.J. Raji, Ryan Pickett, C.J. Wilson, Datone Jones, Mike Daniels, Johnny Jolly, Josh Boyd, Jordan Miller, Mike Neal, and Jerel Worthy. I know the Packers are trying to covert Neal to outside linebacker but I don't see him being much more than a situational pass rusher in sub-packages. I put Worthy last because he is recovering from a torn ACL so he will start the season on the physically unable to perform list, otherwise Worthy would be pushing Wilson and Jones for playing time. It will be interesting to see whether the Packers keep a seventh lineman. If I were in charge I would keep Raji, Pickett, Wilson, Jones, Daniels, Boyd, and Jolly but I would be shocked if Miller made it through waiver so it really comes down to whether Jolly's past baggage will keep him from making The 53.
Final Note: The Packers need to make 15 roster cuts by 3 pm CDT on Tuesday, August 27th. There are a ton of guys that might end up on injured reserve, which would mean they could not play for the Packers in 2013 but at the very least will most likely start the season on the PUP list. Being placed on the PUP list precludes a player from joining the roster until week 8 for the Packers this year since NFL rules mandate that any player on the PUP list must miss the team's first six games and Packers have a ridiculously early bye this year (week 4). Here are the likely PUP list candidates: Jerel Worthy (DT), Sean Richardson (S), Bryan Bulaga (OT), Derek Sherrod (OT), and JC Tretter (OG/C). If I were in charge, I would cut the following 15 non-PUP list worthy guys: Angelo Pease (RB), Johnathan Amosa (FB), Omarius Hines (WR), Myles White (WR), Justin Wilson (WR), Lane Taylor (G), Garth Gerhard (C), Patrick Lewis (C), Gilbert Pena (DT), Jarvis Reed (OLB), Donte Savage (OLB), James Nixon (CB), Loyce Means (CB), David Fulton (S), and Chaz Powell (S).
Check back after the actual initial roster cuts this Tuesday for my updated thoughts on Building The 53.
Player that hurt his stock most - James Starks (RB): There were certain players that struggled like cornerback Loyce Means (gave up a number of big receptions) or tight end Jake Stoneburner (fumbled) but those guys are long-shots to make the team. After looking good last week on the ground, the Packers struggled to run the ball with their running backs against the Seahawks: Eddie Lacy (8 carries for minus-5 yards), Jonathan Franklin (4 carries for 1 yard), DuJuan Harris (3 carries for 2 yards), Alex Green (2 carries for 31 yards and one of two rushes was for 31 yards), and John Kuhn (1 carry for 3 yards). Juxtapose that with Seahawks rookie running back Christine Michael's 122 yards of offense from scrimmage (11 rushes for 97 yards and 1 catch for 25 yards) and the Packers looked inept at running back compared to the Seahawks. Don't forget the fact that the Packers could have had Michael instead of Lacy since Michael was drafted one spot after Lacy in the 2013 NFL Draft. Leaving the Lacy/Michael comparison aside because I still think Lacy is a better fit for the Packers than Michael despite their performances last night; it looks like Green, Kuhn, and Starks are vying for two roster spots. Both Green and Kuhn saw action against the Seahawks while Starks did not register a single carry despite being healthy so yesterday might be the beginning of the end for the supremely talented but often injured Starks.
Player that helped his stock most - Vince Young: As discussed earlier, teams often use week 4 as opposed to week 3 to give their backups a long look. This year the Packers gave their backup quarterbacks a long look a week early against the Seahawks. Going into the game it was backup quarterback Graham Harrell's job to lose but Harrell did little to impress the coaches. Alternatively, newly signed quarterback Vince Young, not a graduate of McCarthy's "vaunted" off-season quarterback school like Harrell and B.J. Coleman, was efficient through the air (6 of 7 throwing for 47 yards and 1 touchdown) and on the ground (3 carries for 39 yards) to pull ahead of Harrell and Coleman for the backup quarterback job behind Rodgers.
Position to watch - Defensive Line: The Packers typically keep six defensive lineman but this year they have eight or nine players worth keeping for the first time in a long time. My current depth chart is: B.J. Raji, Ryan Pickett, C.J. Wilson, Datone Jones, Mike Daniels, Johnny Jolly, Josh Boyd, Jordan Miller, Mike Neal, and Jerel Worthy. I know the Packers are trying to covert Neal to outside linebacker but I don't see him being much more than a situational pass rusher in sub-packages. I put Worthy last because he is recovering from a torn ACL so he will start the season on the physically unable to perform list, otherwise Worthy would be pushing Wilson and Jones for playing time. It will be interesting to see whether the Packers keep a seventh lineman. If I were in charge I would keep Raji, Pickett, Wilson, Jones, Daniels, Boyd, and Jolly but I would be shocked if Miller made it through waiver so it really comes down to whether Jolly's past baggage will keep him from making The 53.
Final Note: The Packers need to make 15 roster cuts by 3 pm CDT on Tuesday, August 27th. There are a ton of guys that might end up on injured reserve, which would mean they could not play for the Packers in 2013 but at the very least will most likely start the season on the PUP list. Being placed on the PUP list precludes a player from joining the roster until week 8 for the Packers this year since NFL rules mandate that any player on the PUP list must miss the team's first six games and Packers have a ridiculously early bye this year (week 4). Here are the likely PUP list candidates: Jerel Worthy (DT), Sean Richardson (S), Bryan Bulaga (OT), Derek Sherrod (OT), and JC Tretter (OG/C). If I were in charge, I would cut the following 15 non-PUP list worthy guys: Angelo Pease (RB), Johnathan Amosa (FB), Omarius Hines (WR), Myles White (WR), Justin Wilson (WR), Lane Taylor (G), Garth Gerhard (C), Patrick Lewis (C), Gilbert Pena (DT), Jarvis Reed (OLB), Donte Savage (OLB), James Nixon (CB), Loyce Means (CB), David Fulton (S), and Chaz Powell (S).
Check back after the actual initial roster cuts this Tuesday for my updated thoughts on Building The 53.
Friday, August 26, 2011
2011 Preseason Week 3 - Packers/Colts Review
Hopefully you didn't turn off the Packers/Colts game with only a few minutes left. If you did, the 3rd stringers for the Packers lead by quarterback Graham Harrell erased an eight point deficit with less than four minutes remaining, thanks in large part to personal fouls by Colts defensive back Chip Vaughn on consecutive plays. Speaking of consecutive play, Graham Harrell and tight end Ryan Taylor hooked up on 4th and goal as well as the ensuing two-point conversion to tie the game with 35 seconds remaining.
Instead of kicking it deep, Packers head coach Mike McCarty dialed up an onside kick that the Packers recovered. Harrell quickly moved the Packers into field goal range and Mason Crosby made a 50-yard kick as time expired to give the Packers a 24-21 win over the Colts. It is only a preseason game so the Packers winning doesn't really matter, but it was nice to see the resolve shown by the 3rd stringers. What matters more are some of the big picture takeaways from the Packers/Colts game:
#1) Players that hurt his stock most: Some veterans really struggled (i.e. left tackle Chad Clifton and right guard Josh Sitton) but their starting spots are virtually guaranteed as long as they are healthy. At this point most of the roster spots are already set but guys on the bubble like Pat Lee (CB), Ricky Elmore (OLB), and Brandon Underwood (S) didn't do enough to secure a spot on the opening day 53-man roster.
#2) Players that helped his stock most: The backup outside linebacker spots are completely up for grabs. Undrafted rookie free agents Jamari Lattimore and Vic So'oto continued to out perform Ricky Elmore a 6th round draft pick from the 2011 NFL Draft. All three players are college defensive ends that the Packers converted to rush outside linebackers in their base 3-4 defensive set. Despite Elmore being an absolute sack machine in college, it was Lattimore and So'oto who both came up with sacks against the Colts.
#3) Position to watch: Coming into the game the starters at left guard (T.J. Lang over Derek Sherrod) and right outside linebacker (Erik Walden over Frank Zombo and Brad Jones) were already decided so there were not really any starting position battles to watch besides running back. When the Packers opened their 2011 campaign it looked like Ryan Grant was going to be the starting running back with James Starks getting a ton of touches as well. Starks continued to play well throughout the preseason and all of a sudden there is a fierce competition for the starting running back spot. Grant renegotiated the last year of his contract (took $1 million less but it is fully guaranteed if he is on the opening day roster) so he is virtually guaranteed a roster spot but will have to perform well throughout the rest of the preseason to open the season as the starting running back. Usually starters do not play very much in Week 4 of the preseason but look for the Packers to give Grant and Starks some touches to help determine the opening day starter.
#4) Injuries: Jermichael Finley sprained his ankle and Jordy Nelson bruised his knee, the severity of the injuries is unknown. Despite the quality depth the Packers have at wide receiver and tight end, they cannot afford to lose either for an extended period of time.
Final Note: The success of the no-huddle offense for the Packers continues to be a hot topic. Coaches calling offensive plays from the sideline is a relatively new thing in the NFL. Some people point to the fact that offenses are becoming "sophisticated" but it really means that there are more plays in the playbook now than even a decade ago. When you break down NFL offenses they are really not that complicated. On running plays there is a blocking scheme that usually gives a running back a few options of where to run. On passing plays there are nine basic routes a receiver can run. Obviously when you mix and match personnel you get a ton of permutations in the offensive playbook but sometimes sticking to the 10 plays that work best, like they do in a no-huddle offense, allows the offense to move the ball really well.
For my previous "Quick Thoughts" on the 2011 preseason for the Packers, check out:
- Preseason Week 1 Packers/Browns Review
- Preseason Week 2 Packers/Cardinals Review
- Lambeau Field Expansion
Instead of kicking it deep, Packers head coach Mike McCarty dialed up an onside kick that the Packers recovered. Harrell quickly moved the Packers into field goal range and Mason Crosby made a 50-yard kick as time expired to give the Packers a 24-21 win over the Colts. It is only a preseason game so the Packers winning doesn't really matter, but it was nice to see the resolve shown by the 3rd stringers. What matters more are some of the big picture takeaways from the Packers/Colts game:
#1) Players that hurt his stock most: Some veterans really struggled (i.e. left tackle Chad Clifton and right guard Josh Sitton) but their starting spots are virtually guaranteed as long as they are healthy. At this point most of the roster spots are already set but guys on the bubble like Pat Lee (CB), Ricky Elmore (OLB), and Brandon Underwood (S) didn't do enough to secure a spot on the opening day 53-man roster.
#2) Players that helped his stock most: The backup outside linebacker spots are completely up for grabs. Undrafted rookie free agents Jamari Lattimore and Vic So'oto continued to out perform Ricky Elmore a 6th round draft pick from the 2011 NFL Draft. All three players are college defensive ends that the Packers converted to rush outside linebackers in their base 3-4 defensive set. Despite Elmore being an absolute sack machine in college, it was Lattimore and So'oto who both came up with sacks against the Colts.
#3) Position to watch: Coming into the game the starters at left guard (T.J. Lang over Derek Sherrod) and right outside linebacker (Erik Walden over Frank Zombo and Brad Jones) were already decided so there were not really any starting position battles to watch besides running back. When the Packers opened their 2011 campaign it looked like Ryan Grant was going to be the starting running back with James Starks getting a ton of touches as well. Starks continued to play well throughout the preseason and all of a sudden there is a fierce competition for the starting running back spot. Grant renegotiated the last year of his contract (took $1 million less but it is fully guaranteed if he is on the opening day roster) so he is virtually guaranteed a roster spot but will have to perform well throughout the rest of the preseason to open the season as the starting running back. Usually starters do not play very much in Week 4 of the preseason but look for the Packers to give Grant and Starks some touches to help determine the opening day starter.
#4) Injuries: Jermichael Finley sprained his ankle and Jordy Nelson bruised his knee, the severity of the injuries is unknown. Despite the quality depth the Packers have at wide receiver and tight end, they cannot afford to lose either for an extended period of time.
Final Note: The success of the no-huddle offense for the Packers continues to be a hot topic. Coaches calling offensive plays from the sideline is a relatively new thing in the NFL. Some people point to the fact that offenses are becoming "sophisticated" but it really means that there are more plays in the playbook now than even a decade ago. When you break down NFL offenses they are really not that complicated. On running plays there is a blocking scheme that usually gives a running back a few options of where to run. On passing plays there are nine basic routes a receiver can run. Obviously when you mix and match personnel you get a ton of permutations in the offensive playbook but sometimes sticking to the 10 plays that work best, like they do in a no-huddle offense, allows the offense to move the ball really well.
For my previous "Quick Thoughts" on the 2011 preseason for the Packers, check out:
- Preseason Week 1 Packers/Browns Review
- Preseason Week 2 Packers/Cardinals Review
- Lambeau Field Expansion
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
2010 Wildcard Round Playoff Review of Packers/Eagles
The Green Bay Packers went on the road to beat the Philadelphia Eagles for the second time this season. Here are the biggest things that stood out to me from the Packers' 21-16 playoff victory over the Eagles:
Bottled up Michael Vick:
Let’s not forget that outside linebacker Clay Matthews is a big reason why Michael Vick is quarterbacking the Philadelphia Eagles. The Packers played the Eagles in Week 1 in Philadelphia. It was supposed to be Kevin Kolb’s coming out party after the Eagles traded quarterback Donovan McNabb to their division rival the Washington Redskins. Unfortunately for Kolb, Matthews knocked him out of the game with a concussion on a clean hit. Michael Vick came in to throw for 175 yards and run for 103 yards. Vick almost lead the Eagles to a come from behind victory over the Packers. In their second meeting of the season on the same field Vick threw for 292 yards and ran for 33 yards but it was not enough to beat the Packers. Vick threw an ill-advised pass up for grabs in the end zone that was intercepted by Tramon Williams to seal a victory for the Packers.
Miscues hurt both teams:
Usually in a playoff game if either team makes a critical mistake it leads to a loss. Both the Packers and Eagles made miscues that canceled their respective errors out. The Packers defense made a nice stand on the first drive but on the ensuing punt much maligned (mostly for off the field reasons) backup cornerback Brandon Underwood touched the ball with his foot despite the fact that the rest of the Packers special teams was trying to get away from the ball.
The touch was recovered by the Eagles giving them great field position. The Eagles were unable to punch the ball into the end zone and were forced to settle for a 41-yard field goal attempt by David Akers. Very uncharacteristically, Akers missed the field goal. Most Packer fans would consider that miss a make-up for the fumble since the Eagles did not “deserve” to get the ball anyway. Akers later missed from even closer on a 34-yard attempt.
Those missed field goals were covered up by the Packers own miscues. Right before halftime Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers found wide receiver James Jones in stride for what should have been a 63-yard touchdown. Unfortunately Jones dropped the ball so the Packers only lead 14-3 as opposed to 21-3 at halftime.
Not only did the half end in a whimper for the Packers but they started the second half with another big gaffe. Rodgers was stripped by Eagles defensive lineman Darryl Tapp on the first possession of the second half. Eagle defensive lineman Juqua Parker recovered the fumble at the Packers’ 24-yard line.
As you can see, the Packers and Eagles both had some major miscues that essentially canceled each other out.
James Starks:
After rushing for only 101 yards in three regular season games, rookie running back James Starks rushed for a rookie playoff franchise record 123 yards. Greg Gabriel, the former Director of College Scouting for the Chicago Bears and current contributor to National Football Post, recently pointed out that James Starks was almost a Chicago Bear. Although Starks contributed very little in the regular season due to injury, his performance against the Eagles justified Packers general manager Ted Thompson’s decision to use a 6th round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft on the often injured Starks. Keep in mind that if Starks had a clean bill of healthy he was a potential first round pick in the making after his junior year in college.
Aaron Rodgers:
Coming into the game Rodgers had a 0-1 playoff record but Rodgers really only made two mistakes in his first playoff performance against the Arizona Cardinals. Unfortunately one of them directly lead to the Packers losing. Fast forward to this year, Rodgers completed 18 of 27 passes. Rodgers had a pretty good game against the Eagles in a win but played much better last year in the Packers' playoff loss to the Cardinals. Aaron Rodgers' two playoff starts show that quarterbacks get too much credit when they win (i.e. Eagles playoff victory) and too much blame when they lose (i.e. Cardinals playoff loss).
What should the Eagles do with Michael Vick:
With the Eagles’ 2010 campaign coming to a disappointing end, the Eagles need to decide what to do at the quarterback position. After trading away a franchise quarterback (Donovan McNabb) in the off-season, they still have two potential franchise quarterbacks on the roster. The Eagles have Kevin Kolb under contract for the 2011 season for a little more than a million dollars. Michael Vick is set to become a free agent, which means the Eagles might be forced to put the franchise tag on Michael. It is amazing to think what happened between Vick’s last playoff start, the 2005 NFC Championship Game in Philadelphia playing for the Atlanta Falcons and today. Vick spent 18 months in federal prison for participating in a dog fighting operation. Vick’s jail time cost him two NFL seasons and millions of dollars. The Eagles put their faith in Michael Vick when no other team trusted Vick, how will that trust impact their negotiations?
Packers finally win a playoff game in Philadelphia:
Third times a charm. The Vince Lombardi lead Packers lost to the Eagles in the 1960 NFL Championship, which turned out to be Lombardi’s only playoff defeat. Even better the Packers officially put to bed “4th and 26” from a playoff game in Philadelphia that took place on Sunday, January 11, 2004. The Eagles were facing a 4th and 26 from their own 25 yard line, trailing the Packers by three points with 1:12 remaining in the game. Thanks to questionable coverage by Nick Barnett and Darren Sharper, former Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb hit wide receiver Freddie Mitchell for a 28-yard gain to keep the Eagles alive. The Eagles kicked a field goal to send the game into overtime. Following an overtime interception by Favre, the Packers lost to the Eagles on a David Akers field goal.
With their playoff victory over the Eagles, the Packers now head to Atlanta to face the #1 seeded Atlanta Falcons. Check back for more Packers playoff coverage.
Bottled up Michael Vick:
Let’s not forget that outside linebacker Clay Matthews is a big reason why Michael Vick is quarterbacking the Philadelphia Eagles. The Packers played the Eagles in Week 1 in Philadelphia. It was supposed to be Kevin Kolb’s coming out party after the Eagles traded quarterback Donovan McNabb to their division rival the Washington Redskins. Unfortunately for Kolb, Matthews knocked him out of the game with a concussion on a clean hit. Michael Vick came in to throw for 175 yards and run for 103 yards. Vick almost lead the Eagles to a come from behind victory over the Packers. In their second meeting of the season on the same field Vick threw for 292 yards and ran for 33 yards but it was not enough to beat the Packers. Vick threw an ill-advised pass up for grabs in the end zone that was intercepted by Tramon Williams to seal a victory for the Packers.
Miscues hurt both teams:
Usually in a playoff game if either team makes a critical mistake it leads to a loss. Both the Packers and Eagles made miscues that canceled their respective errors out. The Packers defense made a nice stand on the first drive but on the ensuing punt much maligned (mostly for off the field reasons) backup cornerback Brandon Underwood touched the ball with his foot despite the fact that the rest of the Packers special teams was trying to get away from the ball.
The touch was recovered by the Eagles giving them great field position. The Eagles were unable to punch the ball into the end zone and were forced to settle for a 41-yard field goal attempt by David Akers. Very uncharacteristically, Akers missed the field goal. Most Packer fans would consider that miss a make-up for the fumble since the Eagles did not “deserve” to get the ball anyway. Akers later missed from even closer on a 34-yard attempt.
Those missed field goals were covered up by the Packers own miscues. Right before halftime Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers found wide receiver James Jones in stride for what should have been a 63-yard touchdown. Unfortunately Jones dropped the ball so the Packers only lead 14-3 as opposed to 21-3 at halftime.
Not only did the half end in a whimper for the Packers but they started the second half with another big gaffe. Rodgers was stripped by Eagles defensive lineman Darryl Tapp on the first possession of the second half. Eagle defensive lineman Juqua Parker recovered the fumble at the Packers’ 24-yard line.
As you can see, the Packers and Eagles both had some major miscues that essentially canceled each other out.
James Starks:
After rushing for only 101 yards in three regular season games, rookie running back James Starks rushed for a rookie playoff franchise record 123 yards. Greg Gabriel, the former Director of College Scouting for the Chicago Bears and current contributor to National Football Post, recently pointed out that James Starks was almost a Chicago Bear. Although Starks contributed very little in the regular season due to injury, his performance against the Eagles justified Packers general manager Ted Thompson’s decision to use a 6th round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft on the often injured Starks. Keep in mind that if Starks had a clean bill of healthy he was a potential first round pick in the making after his junior year in college.
Aaron Rodgers:
Coming into the game Rodgers had a 0-1 playoff record but Rodgers really only made two mistakes in his first playoff performance against the Arizona Cardinals. Unfortunately one of them directly lead to the Packers losing. Fast forward to this year, Rodgers completed 18 of 27 passes. Rodgers had a pretty good game against the Eagles in a win but played much better last year in the Packers' playoff loss to the Cardinals. Aaron Rodgers' two playoff starts show that quarterbacks get too much credit when they win (i.e. Eagles playoff victory) and too much blame when they lose (i.e. Cardinals playoff loss).
What should the Eagles do with Michael Vick:
With the Eagles’ 2010 campaign coming to a disappointing end, the Eagles need to decide what to do at the quarterback position. After trading away a franchise quarterback (Donovan McNabb) in the off-season, they still have two potential franchise quarterbacks on the roster. The Eagles have Kevin Kolb under contract for the 2011 season for a little more than a million dollars. Michael Vick is set to become a free agent, which means the Eagles might be forced to put the franchise tag on Michael. It is amazing to think what happened between Vick’s last playoff start, the 2005 NFC Championship Game in Philadelphia playing for the Atlanta Falcons and today. Vick spent 18 months in federal prison for participating in a dog fighting operation. Vick’s jail time cost him two NFL seasons and millions of dollars. The Eagles put their faith in Michael Vick when no other team trusted Vick, how will that trust impact their negotiations?
Packers finally win a playoff game in Philadelphia:
Third times a charm. The Vince Lombardi lead Packers lost to the Eagles in the 1960 NFL Championship, which turned out to be Lombardi’s only playoff defeat. Even better the Packers officially put to bed “4th and 26” from a playoff game in Philadelphia that took place on Sunday, January 11, 2004. The Eagles were facing a 4th and 26 from their own 25 yard line, trailing the Packers by three points with 1:12 remaining in the game. Thanks to questionable coverage by Nick Barnett and Darren Sharper, former Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb hit wide receiver Freddie Mitchell for a 28-yard gain to keep the Eagles alive. The Eagles kicked a field goal to send the game into overtime. Following an overtime interception by Favre, the Packers lost to the Eagles on a David Akers field goal.
With their playoff victory over the Eagles, the Packers now head to Atlanta to face the #1 seeded Atlanta Falcons. Check back for more Packers playoff coverage.
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