2012 NFL Draft Day 2 Packers Preview

It took a ton of patience to wait until the end of the first round for the Packers to finally make a pick but it was well worth the wait since the Packers added USC outside linebacker Nick Perry.  As I said in my mock draft, Perry is one of my draft crushes from the 2012 NFL Draft.  Although I targeted Perry as one of the guys I wanted the Packers to draft, I thought he would have been off the board by 28. The only real knock on Perry is that he occasionally takes plays off but as all the draft pundits said, do you think Claymaker will let Perry take plays off?

With the first round in the books it's time to turn our sights to the second and third rounds.  There are some guys leftover from the first round that I had my eye on for the Packers so it goes without saying that I would fully support the Packers taking Courtney Upshaw (OLB, Alabama), Jerel Worthy (DL, Michigan State), Vinny Curry (DL, Marshall), Andre Branch (DL/LB, Clemson), Devon Still (DL, Penn State), and Kendall Reyes (DL, UConn) in the second round.  Besides the guys just mentioned, here are five other targets for the Packers in the second round: 

Peter Konz (C, Wisconsin, 6'5", 315 lbs): The only way the Packers get Konz is if they trade up in the second round.  Since the Packers have 11 picks left in the 2012 NFL Draft, they have plenty of ammunition.  A few picks later in the draft seems like a small price to pay to move up and get Konz as their versatile center/guard of the future. 

Linebacker that falls: Despite taking Perry in the first round, I would actually support the Packers taking a versatile linebacker at the end of the second round if another one falls to them.  So yes, I am fine with the Packers taking Zach Brown (OLB, UNC, 6'1", 244 lbs), Ronnell Lewis (OLB, Oklahoma, 6'1", 253 lbs), or Lavonte David (LB, Nebraska, 6'0, 233 lbs) in the second round despite the fact that they took outside linebacker Nick Perry in the first round.  All three guys just mentioned seem like situational pass rusher but as Mike Mayock and Michael Lombardi pointed out as they dissected the Bruce Irivin overdraft by the Seattle Seahawks, the NFL is a passing league so situational pass rushers will be on the field even more than in years past. 

Short cornerbacks: Janoris Jenkins (CB, Northern Alabama, 5'10", 193 lbs) has four kids with three moms so that is scaring teams but Green Bay would be the perfect small town to ground Jenkins.  Although Jenkins is more physically gifted (not talking about his tallywacker) than Josh Robinson (CB, Central Florida, 5'10", 199 lbs), I look at Robinson as Jenkins sans baggage. 

Tall cornerbacks: The Packers will face big wide receivers like Calvin Johnson and Brandon Marshall in the NFC North so all things being equal I would rather the Packers take Josh Norman (CB, Costal Carolina, 6'2", 190 lbs) or Trumaine Johnson (CB, Montana, 6'2", 204 lbs) than Jenkins or Robinson simply because you can't teach height. 

Defensive Tackle: With Mike Neal looking like Justin Harrell reincarnated, Derek Wolfe (DL, Cincinnati, 6'5", 300 lbs), Alameda Ta'Amu (DL, Washington, 6'2", 348 lbs), or Brandon Thompson (DL, Clemson, 6'2", 314 lbs) are perfect 3-4 defensive lineman but odds are that none will be available at the end of the second round unless the Packers trade up.


Much like I said about the guys that I targeted in the first round for the Packers, it goes without saying that any of the guys mentioned above would be great picks for the Packers in the third round.  Here are some other guys that I hope the Packers target in the third round: 

Cam Johnson (DE, UVA, 6'3", 268 lbs): Unfortunately you don't get Cam Jordan when you draft Cam Johnson but adding a guy like Johnson at the end of the 3rd round feels like a quality pick for the Packers. 

Jared Crick (DE/DT, Nebraska, 6'4", 279 lbs): At one point he was a first round prospect but lack of strength and injuries hurt Crick's draft stock.  Crick may be weak, damaged goods but he has a huge upside as well so it seems worth the risk in the 3rd round. 

Boise State Defensive Lineman: Boise State had a huge first day of the draft with Shea McClellin and Doug Martin getting drafted in the first round.  Whether it be Billy Winn (DL, Boise State, 6'3", 294 lbs) or Tyrone Crawford (DL, Boise State, 6'4", 275 lbs), the Packers should keep the Boise State training rolling.

Mike Martin (DT, Michigan, 6'1" 306 lbs): The Packers love effort guys that max out their talent and Martin is the personification of that type of player. 

Brandon Boykin (CB, Georgia, 5'9", 182 lbs): Watch out Sam Shields because Boykin played in the SEC, which prepared him to step in and play meaningful snaps as a nickel cornerback right away for the Packers in 2012. 

Alfonzo Dennard (CB, Nebraska, 5'10" 204 lbs): Much like his teammate Crick, Dennard was a potential first round pick earlier in the season so getting him in the third round feels like a steal. 

Casey Hayward (CB, Vanderbilt, 5'11", 192 lbs): Odd are that Hayward will be long gone by now but a man can dream. 

George Iloka (S, Boise State, 6'3", 225 lbs): I talked about Boise State defensive lineman above but my favorite Boise State player not named Shea McClellin is George Iloka mostly because there are very few, if any, safeties so tall and agile.

Brandon Brooks (G, Miami of Ohio, 6'5", 343 lbs): Speaking of tall and agile, I would be shocked if the former Cheesehead resident was still on the board at the end of the third round.  If Brooks is still available at that point take him, especially with T.J. Lang set to become a free agent after 2012.  Mark my words, you can plug Brooks in at left guard in 2013 at worst and he might even push Lang to start there in 2012. 

Russell Wilson (QB, Wisconsin, 5'10", 204 lbs): Why not finish the list with my favorite one-year-wonder in Cheesehead sports history.  I included Wilson mostly because I am not ready for him to leave Cheesehead country.  This would obviosuly be a complete luxury pick.  Wilson feels like the new school Aaron Brooks at worst.

I am attending an event tonight with Cheesehead Chick so I will not preview Day 3 of the 2012 NFL Draft for the Green Bay Packers but I will try to give my thought on Twitter, follow me @CheeseheadSN.  Also check back Sunday for my annual review of each pick Ted Thompson made in the 2012 NFL Draft.


Related Posts:
- Quick Thoughts - 2012 NFL Draft Day 1 Packers Preview
- Cheesehead Sports Nut's 2012 First Round NFL Mock Draft

2012 NFL Draft Day 1 Packers Preview

Happy NFL Draft Day!  The first round of the NFL Draft is one of my ten favorite days of the year.  As a result, you can only imagine that I did a mock draft.  In case you missed it, my mock draft was what GM's should do in the first round if every team just kept their current pick (or picks).

As we all know by now, Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson needs to draft defensive players, defensive players, and more defensive players.  Before I preview the players that I am targeting for the Packers with the 28th pick, keep in mind these guys will most likely be off the board:

QB: Andrew Luck (Stanford), Robert Griffin III (Baylor), and Ryan Tannehill (Texas A&M)

RB: Trent Richardson (Alabama)

WR: Justin Blackmon (Oklahoma State) and Michael Floyd (Notre Dame)

OT: Matt Kalil (USC) and Riley Reiff (Iowa)

OG: David DeCastro (Stanford) and Cordy Glenn (Georgia)

DE: Quinton Coples (UNC) and Chandler Jones (Syracuse)

DT: Fletcher Cox (Mississippi), Michael Brockers (LSU), and Dontari Poe (Memphis)

MLB: Luke Kuechly (Boston College)

OLB: Melvin Ingram (South Carolina) and Courtney Upshaw (Alabama)

CB: Morris Claiborne (LSU), Stephon Gilmore (South Carolina), and Dre Kirkpatrick (Alabama)

S: Mark Barron (Alabama)

Of the group above, my biggest draft crushes for the Packers are: Kalil, Jones, Cox, and Barron.  Since there is basically no chance any of those guys will be available unless Thompson trades up, here are some guys that I would realistically like to see Thompson draft with the 28th pick in the 2012 NFL Draft:

Whitney Mercilus (DE/LB, Illinois, 6'3", 254 lbs): I am almost positive Mercilus will be off the board at 28.  If not, hand in the card TT because he might be the steal of the draft at 28.

Nick Perry (DE/LB, USC, 6'2", 271 lbs): Let's just call him Claymaker light.

Shea McClellin (LB, Boise State, 6'3", 260 lbs): If the Patriots keep the 27th pick, I fully expect them to take the Swiss Army Knife of the 2012 NFL Draft because he fits exactly what they need.  Hopefully the Patriots trade out of that spot so McClellin is still available.

Harrison Smith (S, Notre Dame, 6'2, 213 lbs): Might be a slight overdraft for the Packers but since the Packers recently cut Nick Collins, safety shot up to the top of their list of needs.

Jerel Worthy (DT/DE, Michigan State, 6'2", 308 lbs): Did not put up the greatest numbers in college but let's not forget that Worthy faces some of the best offesnive lineman in the country since he played in the Big Ten.  Hopefully Worthy will be able to build on the experience to become a real pass rushing threat in the NFL.

Vinny Curry (DE/LB, Marshall, 6'3", 266 lbs): For a while it looked like the Packers could get Curry in the second round but his stock continues to rise so if the Packers want Curry, they will need to snap him up in the first round because I would be shocked if he was still there at the end of the second round.

Dont'a Hightower (LB, Alabama, 6'2", 265 lbs): I can already hear Jon Gruden say "when you talk about Hightower, you are talking about one heck of a football player".  What Gruden should really say is that Hightower, much like McClellin, provides great scheme versatility because he projects as a three-down linebacker.

Andre Branch (DE/LB, Clemson, 6'4", 259 lbs): See a trend in who I am targeting. The Packers clearly need a rush outside linebacker opposite Claymaker.  With the influx of NFL teams switching to the 3-4 defense there are a ton of guys that project as 3-4 rush linebackers but it's hard to sort out which one can truly make the transition in the NFL.  Some other names that feel like a reach at 28 but I still support are Zach Brown, Ronnell Lewis, Bruce Irvin, and Lavonte David.

Devon Still (DT/DE, PSU, 6'5", 303 lbs): Early on in the draft process Still looked like a lock for the Top-15.  As the process went on, Still's stock started to fall.  The one thing that remained the same between the start of the process and draft day is Still's imposing body.  For that reason alone, Still is worthy of being picked at the end of the first round.

Kendall Reyes (DT/DE, UConn, 6'4", 299 lbs): Since Reyes played at UConn it is hard to compare him to the rest of the group already mentioned merely because UConn plays inferior competition.  Although it might be a slight overdraft, the Packers desperately need offensive lineman so if that means they overdraft to get them, so be it.

If the Thompson actually makes a pick in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft, check back for my quick thoughts on the pick as well as some guys that I hope Thompson targets in the second and third round of the 2012 NFL Draft.


Related Posts:
- Cheesehead Sports Nut's 2012 First Round NFL Mock Draft

Cheesehead Sports Nut's 2012 First Round NFL Mock Draft

Just like I said last year, there are a million mock drafts now so instead of trying to predict what teams are going to do since I have no real inside information, I am going to serve as every team's general manager for their pick in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft.

I am sure there will be a number of trades in the first round but I am not going to make any trades because it just complicates things. Here is what I would do if I was in charge of each team when they pick in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft, along with some Twitter length thoughts about each pick:

#1) Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck (QB, Stanford) - You can't lose your job taking Luck with the 1st pick in the draft because if he turns out to be a bust, you will have a hard time finding even one talent evaluator that disagrees with the decision.

#2) Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin III (QB, Baylor) - The same can't be said for RGIII.  In fact if Cam Netwon was a bust last year, there is no way RGIII goes 2nd overall.

#3) Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil (OT, USC) - Unfortunately for Vikings fans I see them taking someone sexier like Morris Claiborne or Justin Blackmon instead of doing the right thing and taking the best offensive lineman in the draft.  By the way Vikings management, picking sexy prospects instead of quality, non-sexier prospects is why you are picking 3rd overall this year.

#4) Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson (RB, Alabama) - Despite the NFL becoming almost a completely passing league, game changing running backs like Richardson are a once in a decade prospect so the Browns should choose talent over positional value.

#5) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Morris Claiborne (CB, LSU) - Scoring just 4 out of 50 on the Wonderlic is much to do about nothing when you have the physical skills that Claiborne possesses.

#6) St. Louis Rams: Justin Blackmon (WR, Oklahoma State) - Not often can you trade down from 2nd to 6th while adding a couple more first round picks and still get the guy you wanted to draft with the 2nd pick.  Blackmon doesn't possess near the physical talent of his former college teammate Dez Bryant but he still has enough talent to be a stud #2 receiver or a low-end #1 receiver.

#7) Jacksonville Jaguars: Fletcher Cox (DT, Mississippi State) - Going into the combine it looked like Cox was a borderline first round pick so may be I am rating him a little high but I can't look past all the physical tools and different positions Cox can play along the defensive line.

#8) Miami Dolphins: Mark Barron (S, Alabama) - If Ryan Tannehill is still available in real life, I have a hard time seeing the Sherminator allowing his new team to pass on his former pupil.  Unfortunately for the Browns though, taking Tannehill this early would be a classic overdraft because Tannehill is a quarterback.  The Dolphins need to add talent, no matter the position, which means Barron should be the pick.

#9) Carolina Panthers: Michael Brockers (DT, LSU) - Has some boom-or-bust potential but much like Cox his physical talents are just too impressive to pass up.

#10) Buffalo Bills: Stephon Gilmore (CB, South Carolina) - The NFL is such a pass happy league that his physical talents (6'0" and 4.4 forty yard dash) are undeniable thus making Gilmore worth the risk.

#11) Kansas City Chiefs: Luke Kuechly (LB, Boston College) - NFL teams almost undervalue middle linebackers so the Chiefs have a chance to get the steal of the draft that is an absolute tackling machine outside the Top 10.

#12) Seattle Seahawks: Melvin Ingram (DE/LB, South Carolina) - A combo rusher is exactly what a team like the Seahawks need.  It really comes down to whether the want a more known commodity like Ingram or a boom-or-bust guy like Chandler Jones.

#13) Arizona Cardinals: Michael Floyd (WR, Notre Dame) - Cheesehead Chick is an ND fan but even she jumped off the Floyd bandwagon after his latest DUI.  Fortunately for Floyd, franchise wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald openly lobbied for management to draft a wide receiver.  Well whatever Larry wants, Larry gets.

#14) Dallas Cowboys: David DeCastro (OG, Stanford) - I am sure it will absolutely pain Jerry Jones to take offensive lineman two years in a row but the right way to built a team is by adding as many quality offensive and defensive lineman as possible.  Plug your nose and do the right thing Jerry.

#15) Philadelphia Eagles: Riley Reiff (OT, Iowa) - While most teams are trying to trade down, the Eagles are one of the few teams that are actually trying to trade up.  No matter what the Eagles say, Jason Peters is on the wrong side of 30 and recently ruptured his Achilles tendon.  The Eagles need a left tackle of the future and that is exactly what they are getting in Reiff.

#16) New York Jets: Chandler Jones (DE/LB, Syracuse) - Every year I get a huge draft crush on a few guys, Jones is one of those guys this year.  I thought the Packers had a chance to get Jones at 28 a few weeks ago but unfortunately Jones is shooting up draft boards and potentially flirting with being a Top-10 pick.

#17) Cincinnati Bengals: Dontari Poe (DT, Memphis) - The workout warrior of the 2012 NFL Combine made himself a potential Top-10 pick following the combine.  Unfortunately the more tape that people watched on Poe, the more they realized he still takes plays off.  Fortunately for the Poe Family, this is where the slide finally stops because you can't teach people to be as big and explosive as Poe is when he actually applies himself.

#18) San Diego Chargers: Courtney Upshaw (DE/LB, Alabama) - So far Larry English has failed to developed into Shawne Merriman 2.0.  Don't get me wrong, the odds of Upshaw being a better rusher than Merriman are slim but he is a huge upgrade over English.

#19) Chicago Bears: Quinton Coples (DE, North Carolina) - With Jerry Angelo no longer running the front office for the Bears teams, better watch out, because the Bears will be a shrewder team than in years past.  Plus picking a guy that could be the next Julius Pepper never hurts.

#20) Tennessee Titans: Dre Kirkpatrick (CB, Alabama) - After losing Cortland Finnegan to free agency the Titans are able to improve their secondary greatly at a much cheaper price.

#21) Cincinnati Bengals: Whitney Mercilus (DE/LB, Illinois) - Everyone is looking for the next Jason Pierre-Paul and Mercilus is a prime candidate.

#22) Cleveland Browns: Ryan Tannehill (QB, Texas A&M) - There is no way that Tannehill lasts till the 22nd pick and I even thought about passing (no pun intended) on Tannehill here because I am not convinced he will be a franchise quarterback.

#23) Detroit Lions: Jonathan Martin (OT, Stanford) - This feels like a slight overdraft but the Lions desperately need younger offensive tackles.  They could go with Mike Adams (OT, Ohio State) instead but Adams has some maturity issues and that's the last thing the Lions need so the smart pick is to take a talented, high-character guy like Martin.

#24) Pittsburgh Steelers: Cordy Glenn (G/T, Georgia) - The Steelers are in desperate need of quality offensive lineman so they would be ecstatic if the best combo offensive lineman fell to them.  In fact the Steelers should be so excited about Glenn that even if another team wants to trade back into the first round to draft a quarterback they should turn down the offer and hand in the draft card with Glenn's name on it.

#25) Denver Broncos: Jerel Worthy (DT, Michigan State) - I hate to say it but I would be slightly surprised if Peyton Manning wins a playoff game for the Broncos.  Although Manning probably wants some new toys, adding a defensive lineman is priority #1 after locking up their "franchise" quarterback.

#26) Houston Texans: Kendall Wright (WR, Baylor) - Feels like a reach but the Texans sorely need a legitimate pass catching option at wide receiver besides Andre Johnson.

#27) New England Patriots: Nick Perry (DE/OLB, USC) - Much like Chandler Jones, Perry is another one of my draft crushes.  Perry doesn't have as high of a ceiling as Claymaker but Perry still brings a unique combination of size and speed at the outside linebacker position.

#28) Green Bay Packers: Shea McClellin (OLB, Boise State) - This is probably wishful thinking, especially with the Patriots picking one spot ahead of the Packers.  Ted Thompson better hope that the Patriots trade their 27th pick to a quarterback needy team so that McClellin, aka the Swiss Army Knife of the 2012 NFL Draft, can fall to the Packers.

#29) Baltimore Ravens: Coby Fleener (TE, Stanford) - Without Rob Gronkowski and Jermichael Finley there is no chance Fleener even makes it into the first round but the necessity to have an athletic hybrid tight end/wide receiver means that Fleener could actually go higher than 29th overall.

#30) San Francisco 49ers: - Peter Konz (C, Wisconsin) - The rest of the centers in the draft have fairly large holes in their game so luckily the 49ers can get the best center in the draft to add a signal caller to the young, impressive offensive line.

#31) New England Patriots: Dont'a Hightower (LB, Alabama) - I was tempted to pick Lavonte David (LB, Nebraska) but Hightower seems like more of a sure thing than David so I resisted the urge.

#32) New York Giants: Harrison Smith (S, Notre Dame) - The safety position is becoming more and more important in the NFL because linebackers are having a hard time covering the influx of athletic tight ends.  Thus a guy like Smith sneaks into the first round in 2012 while he probably would have been a second or third round pick just a few years ago.

Thanks for sticking with me all the way through my first round mock GM draft.  Check back tomorrow for a list of guys that you can realistically expect to be on the board at #28 where absent a trade, the Green Bay Packers are slotted to make their first selection of the 2012 NFL Draft.

Related Posts:
- Cheesehead Sports Nut's 2011 First Round NFL Mock Draft
- Cheesehead Sports Nut's 2010 First Round NFL Mock Draft

First Look at 2012 Green Bay Packers Schedule

It would be easy for me to say that the 2012 Green Bay Packers should go 16-0, which they realistically could, but that would negate any reason to actually go through their schedule game-by-game. So let's assume just for a few minutes that the Packers actually lose a regulars season game or two, as you will see, there aren't many stumbling blocks on their schedule:

Sunday, September 9th (3:15 pm on FOX) v. 49ers: Midway through 2011 this looked like a possible NFC Championship preview, unfortunately the Packers couldn't hold up their end of the bargain. The Packers get a chance to take care of some unfinished business from 2011 to start 2012. After the 49ers unsuccessfully chased Peyton Manning they settled for re-signing Alex Smith, which has a chance to divide the locker room. I may be in the minority but I see the Packers winning this one comfortably.

Thursday, September 13th (7:20 pm on NFL Network) v. Bears: How ridiculous is it that the Packers and Bears open the season on Sunday but have to turn around and play a divisional game just four days later? The Bears play the Colts at home at noon while the Packers host the 49ers at 3:15. Despite playing later on Sunday, I like the Packers chances merely because they get to play at home following the short week.

Monday, September 24th (7:30 pm on ESPN) at Seattle: Mentor meets mentee times two in the Mentor/Mentee Bowl. Assuming both Rodgers and Flynn are healthy heading into this game, ESPN will run the Rodgers v. Flynn story line into the ground. I actually think the bigger mentor/mentee match-up is going on in the front office between the general mangers. Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson's former protege John Schneider is now the Seattle Seahawks general manager. Schneider likes to tinker with his roster ala Ron Wolf more than Thompson so he has already put his stamp on the Seahawks roster in just two short years. Despite the tinkering, Schneider doesn't have as much talent on his roster as Thompson does so I see Thompson and Rodgers beating Schneider and Flynn to win the Mentor/Mentee Bowl.

Sunday, September 30th (3:15 pm on FOX) v. Saints: Unfortunately the bounty talk will get drummed up again when the Saints travel to Green Bay for the second year in a row because the Packers wanted to hire two of the principles involved in the bounty scandal: suspended head coach Sean Payton and suspended former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. Both Payton and Williams choose New Orleans instead of Green Bay. The Packers ended up with Mike McCarthy and Dom Capers instead. Since both teams have one Super Bowl ring under the current/suspended regimes, I would say the Packers lucked out getting McCarthy/Capers instead of Payton/Williams. I see the Packers keeping their record perfect against the Saints to improve to 4-0 hopefully in front of Cheesehead Chick, Mama Cheese, Papa Cheese, my in-laws, and me.

Sunday, October 7th (Noon on FOX) at Colts: As crazy as it was to see someone other than Brett Favre quarterbacking the Packers, the franchise was able to move from one hall of fame quarterback to another. Thanks to playing horrible sans Peyton Manning last year, Colts fans got used to seeing someone other than Manning play quarterback for the Colts. In fact the 2011 Indianapolis Colts played so bad that they "earned" the first pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. Scouts claim that former Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck is about as sure of a things as Manning or Elway. If all the hype is true, much like the Packers, the Colts have a chance to move from one hall-of-fame quarterback to another. Luck may be good down the road but he does not bring enough to the table in 2012 to lead the Colts over the Packers so I see the Packers continuing their perfect start to the 2012 season.

Sunday, October 14th (7:20 om on NBC) at Texans: Despite losing all-world pass rusher Mario Williams, a player I vociferously advocated for the Packers to sign, the Texans still look like a legitimate playoff threat heading into 2012 so I see this as the first stumbling block for Packers.

Sunday, October 21st (Noon on FOX) at Rams: Last season I thought Rams quarterback Sam Bradford was poised for a breakout year but that never came to fruition. Unless Bradford makes the jump a year later than I expected, the Rams look like a perfect antidote for the Packers after suffering a loss the previous week to the Texans. Just on quarterback talent alone I see the Packers improving to 6-1.

Sunday, October 28th (Noon on CBS) v. Jaguars: New Jaguars owner Shad Khan actually seems committed to keeping the Jaguars in Jacksonville, in part, because this self-made billionaire made a good chunk of his money selling auto parts in Jacksonville. That's where to good news ends for the Jaguars. The Packers should win this one going away in their first home game in a little less than a month.

Sunday, November 4th (Noon on FOX) v. Cardinals: Cheesehead retirees are salty that the Packers are playing the Cardinals at home instead of on the road. Although the Cardinals finished 2011 strong, they look like a pretender as opposed to a contender in 2012. Hopefully the Packers stay focused and do not look ahead to their bye week because the Packers are a much better team on paper than the Cardinals. I see the Packers taking care of business so that means they will be 8-1 heading into their bye week.

Sunday, November 11th - Bye week: Worst weekend of the fall.

Sunday, November 18th (Noon on FOX) at Lions: After a ton of non-divisional games the Packers finally get back on the NFC North train. The Lions were a guaranteed win for most of my adult life but after finally dumping Matt Millen the Lions are suddenly a threat to win the NFC North. Despite coming off a bye, I actually see the Packers losing to the Lions.

Sunday, November 25th (7:20 pm on NBC) at Giants: I hate the Giants. The last two home Packer playoff games I attended (2007 NFC Championship Game with Fernando and the 2011 Divisional Round Game with Papa Cheese) ended in losses to the Giants so I want to see the Packers avenge those losses any way possible. Although winning a regular season road game in no way makes up for multiple post-season home losses, a win over the Giants would give the Packers a much better chance of hosting a playoff game against the Giants. Call this wishful thinking but I see the Packers beating the Giants to improve to 9-2 and possibly setting up a "3rd times a charm" home playoff game against the Giants.

Sunday, December 2nd (Noon on FOX) v. Vikings: It seems crazy to me that the Packers don't play their divisional "foe" at least once until December. My simple solution for the NFL is to make three divisional weeks at the beginning and end of the season. I am guessing this will never happen though because it makes too much sense. Leaving the schedule issues aside, I see the Packers steam rolling the Vikings at Lambeau Field to improve to 10-2.

Sunday, December 9th (7:20 pm on NBC) v. Lions: After losing to the Lions earlier in the season I see the Packers enacting revenge and winning their 22nd consecutive game over the Lions in Cheesehead country.

Sunday, December 16th (Noon on FOX) at Bears: Usually this game is played in the first few weeks of the season but the NFL flipped the script so now the Packers have to travel Chicago late in the season. Normally my uncles are nice enough to give me their tickets to this game. In fact I am almost positive that I've attended every Packers/Bears game in Chicago since the space ship landed at Soldier Field. I have a feeling the Bears and Packers will be fighting each other for the NFC North crown so unless I pick up tickets on Stubhub, I see my streak coming to an end. Unfortunately I also see the Packers losing this one to the Bears to fall to 11-3.

Sunday, December 23rd (Noon on CBS) v. Titans: This game sets up to be a potentially tough game at the end of the season. Much like not playing the Vikings until the beginning of December, it seems silly to me that the Packers play a non-conference team the second last week of the season. Fortunately if the Packers trip up, a non-conference loss is the best possible loss but losing at home this late in the season is never a good thing. As such, I see the Packers dismantling the Matt "We'll take the ball and score" Hasselbeck to improve to 12-3.

Sunday, December 30th (Noon on FOX) at Vikings: If the Packers have to close the season on the road against a divisional foe, I would much rather the Packers travel to the Humpty Dumpty Dome instead of Ford Field or Soldier Field. Plus we might have to relish these Packers/Vikings divisional games because if the state of Minnesota can't get a stadium deal sorted out the Minnesota Vikings might become the Los Angeles Vikings. Either way the Vikings will be in full tank mode at this point, the question is whether the Packers will be jockeying for playoff position or already have home field advantage locked up. If 2011 is our guide, hopefully the Packers play this game like it matters so they enter the playoffs on a roll like 2010 instead of a whimper like 2011.

Obviosuly I can't predict injuries but if Aaron Rodgers and Company stay healthy I see the 2012 Green Bay Packers going at least 13-3 and winning the NFC North for the second year in a row.

Check back over the next few weeks for my wall-to-wall coverage of the 2012 NFL Draft.


Related Posts:
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Brewers beat Cubs for their first road win of 2012

Luckily tonight I got to watch the first Brewers road game of 2012 with Cheesehead Chick, UP, and Sam.

I know it's a Monday night early in the season but attendance was sparse at Wrigley Field compared to years past. As I noted in a tweet, the Cubs fans that actually showed up to the game booed Ryan Braun and cheered former Cub third baseman Aramis Ramirez. I respect Cubs fans for giving Ramirez a warm reception and I actually don't blame fans for booing Braun after he pulled the Reverse Al Capone. Sadly I expect Braun to get booed on the road throughout 2012.

The new Cubs owners (Ricketts Family) were smart to hire wonder boy Theo Epstein. Worst case scenario the owners have their fall guy if the Cubs don't preform well in the next five years. Best case scenario Epstein makes the right moves and the Cubs win a World Series. If that happens that means in the last decade Epstein will have given both Red Soxs and Cubs fans something they couldn't have for almost 200 years combined.

Switching gears back to the Brewers since this is a Cheesehead sports blog not a Second City sports blog. A few quick Brewers observations from the game. As Weeks hair continues to grow he looks more and more like Manny Ramirez. Vargas was expected to be the 7th inning guy heading into the season but after a few games I am not sold. Finally not having Fielder batting clean-up left a huge hole in the middle of the order but I actually like their regular 2012 line-up (Weeks, Morgan/Gomez, Braun, Ramirez, Hart, Gamel, Gonzalez, and Lucroy) more than their regular 2011 line-up (Weeks, Morgan/Gomez, Braun, Fielder, McGehee, Hart, Betancourt, and Lucroy).

One game does not make a season but the 2012 Milwaukee Brewers look like an infinitely more complete team than the 2012 Chicago Cubs.

Please check back through the upcoming weeks as the 2012 NFL Draft approaches and the 2012 NBA regular season comes to a close for a ton of Cheesehead sports coverage.


Related Posts:
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- Quick Thoughts - 2012 Milwaukee Brewers Opening Day Roster
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