Players » Packer Update

Where Does Driver Rank?

Posted by Michael Rodney at 12:11 am 5 Responses »

Feb 012013

Wide receiver Donald Driver will announce his retirement from the NFL next Wednesday

Donald Driver isn’t going out on top, but he’s going out a lot closer to the top than most great athletes. Green Bay’s all-time leading receiver will officially announce his retirement from the National Football League next Wednesday morning at a public event in the Lambeau Field Atrium. He’ll take with him 743 receptions, 10,137 yards, 61 TDs and the admiration of millions of Packers fans from all over the world.

“I played my entire career in Green Bay and have always enjoyed a special bond with the fans,” said Driver on Thursday. “I can think of no better way to retire than to celebrate with them and the Packers organization.”

Now that Driver is a former Packer, it’s time to look back at his brilliant 14-year professional career. It’s also time to start thinking about where he ranks among all the wide receivers who have caught passes for the league’s most iconic franchise. Since I’ve only followed the NFL since the late 70s, I’ll limit my list to those receivers who’ve worn the Green and Gold in the past three and a half decades. Here it is:

1. JAMES LOFTON – From 1978 to 1986, the Hall of Famer caught 530 passes for 9,656 yards and 49 TDs. You know what’s even more impressive? His QBs during those seasons were David Whitehurst, Lynn Dickey, Jim Zorn and Randy Wright. This guy was as talented as any receiver who ever played the game.

2. STERLING SHARPE – From 1988 to 1994, the former first-round pick from South Carolina caught 595 passes for 8,134 yards and 65 TDs. He almost certainly would’ve been at the top of this list had he not suffered a career-ending neck injury after only seven seasons. He deserves to be in Canton with Lofton.

3. DONALD DRIVER – The former seventh-round pick from Alcorn State amassed huge numbers in his career, but he was never in the class of Lofton and Sharpe. In fact, I’m not sure he was better than the next two players on this list. But consistency and longevity should never be discounted when analyzing a career.

4. GREG JENNINGS – The soon-to-be former Packer caught 425 passes for 6,537 yards and 53 TDs from 2006 to 2012. The former second-round pick from Western Michigan was among the top handful of WRs in the league prior to this season. If I had to choose between Jennings and Driver at their best, I’d take Jennings.

5. ANTONIO FREEMAN – From 1995 to 2001, the former third-round pick from Virginia Tech caught 417 passes for 6,510 yards and 57 TDs. For some reason, people seem to forget just how good this guy was in his prime. Unfortunately, his prime didn’t last for very long. He was out of football by age 31.

6. ROBERT BROOKS – From 1992 to 1998, the former third-round pick from South Carolina caught 306 passes for 4,225 yards and 32 TDs. He was spectacular in 1995 (102/1497/13), but a torn ACL the following season all but ended his career. He only caught 117 passes for 1,825 yards after the age of 26.

7. JAMES JONES – From 2007 to 2012, the former third-round pick from San Jose State has caught 251 passes for 3,488 yatds and 34 TDs. Not bad for a player many fans wanted to run out of town after 2010. And he’s done all this as the No. 3 or 4 WR. He could climb a few spots on this list in the next few years.

8. BILL SCHROEDER – From 1997 to 2001, the undrafted free agent from Wisconsin-La Crosse caught 223 passes for 3.420 yards and 20 TDs. It’s only a matter of time before the players at 9 and 10 move ahead of him on the list, but as of right now, this native of Eau Claire deserves to be at No. 8 – warts and all.

9. JORDY NELSON – From 2008 to 2012, the former second-round pick from Kansas State has caught 217 passes for 3,276 yards and 28 TDs. He’s only had one really good season since joining Green Bay (68/1,263/15 in 2011), but what a season it was. A few more of those and he’ll be cracking the top 5 in no time.

10. RANDALL COBB – From 2011 to 2012, the former second-round pick from Kentucky has caught 105 passes for 1,329 yards and 9 TDs. Other receivers, including Phillip Epps, Walter Stanley and Aundra Thompson, have put up bigger numbers, but seriously, would you take any of them over this dynamo?

Packers Should Boot Crosby

Posted by Michael Rodney at 7:00 am 7 Responses »

Jan 312013

Veteran kicker Mason Crosby missed a career-high 12 field goals this season

I was among Mason Crosby’s biggest defenders during his first four solid but unspectacular seasons, but after watching him Tom Birney the ball all over the place in 2012, I’ve had enough. It’s time for a change.

I thought Crosby finally jumped from above-average to elite in 2011. The former Colorado star hit 24 of 28 kicks – by far the highest percentage (85.7) of his career. And then this season happened. Crosby missed a whopping 12 field goals. To best put into words just how awful that is, the other three kickers in the NFC North (Robbie Gould, Jason Hanson and rookie Blair Walsh) missed a combined 11 field goals.

I could also mention Crosby’s salary for 2013 ($3.15 million against the cap). Right now, he’s the 13th highest-paid player on the team. But this isn’t about money; it’s about production. After 6 seasons in the league, the 28-year-old’s career numbers just aren’t good enough. He’s hitting only 76.8% of his field goals. That number would’ve been acceptable 20 years ago, but today it’s about six percentage points below the NFL average. So I ask you, why would a team not only keep such a player, but pay him big money?

Could Crosby find greatness with another team? It wouldn’t surprise me. Nine of the NFL’s 10 most accurate kickers of all time were cut by at least one team prior to finding their niche (Nate Kaeding is the exception). Heck, Mike Vanderjagt was dumped by three CFL teams. But so what? He’s had six seasons to find greatness in Green Bay, and he hasn’t come close. Kind of like many of his kicks this season.

Coach Mike McCarthy and general manager Ted Thompson really like Crosby, so I expect him to still be the team’s kicker in 2013. He might face some competition for the first time in a while, but that shouldn’t be much of a problem. The guy kicks like Adam Viniateri in August. The problems usually arise a few months later. In the late 14th century, William Langland said that patience is a virtue. I completely agree, but then again, old Mr. Langland never watched a kicker misfire 12 times in one season.

Ranking The Rookies: Jarrett Boykin

Posted by Michael Rodney at 12:11 pm 11 Responses »

Jan 302013

Undrafted rookie beat the odds and stuck on the 53-man roster all season

The Green Bay Packers began the season with 10 rookies on the 53-man roster. That’s a pretty high number – especially for a team than won 15 games the previous year. But GM Ted Thompson didn’t hang on to all those rookies to save money or to make himself look good. He kept them because they could play. In fact, seven have played significant roles in the team’s march to its second straight NFC North title.

I’ll be ranking the rookies – from least productive to most productive – over the next couple of weeks. Here’s #8:

Story of 2012: While second-year players Diondre Borel and Tori Gurley entered training camp fighting for the final roster spot at wide receiver, it was Jarrett Boykin who came out of nowhere to grab it. The undrafted free agent from Virginia Tech, who was released by the woeful Jaguars in May, doesn’t run well (4.69 at Combine), but he plays a bit faster. That said, it’s fair to wonder whether he’ll ever be able to separate from corners at this level. The Packers like Boykin’s size, hands and toughness on special teams.

What to expect in 2013: With Greg Jennings expected to depart in free agency and Donald Driver likely to retire, Boykin should have an easier time making the final 53 next summer. As of now, the only other receiver under contract is Jeremy Ross, who is viewed more as a returner. And even if Ted Thompson drafts a prospect or two in April, it’s safe to assume the coaching staff would prefer a more experienced player in the No. 4 spot. That could be Boykin, provided he makes the requisite jump from year 1 to year 2.

Defense Would Miss Worthy

Posted by Michael Rodney at 8:13 am 4 Responses »

Jan 292013

Rookie defensive end Jerel Worthy underwent major knee surgery last week

Fans don’t seem overly concerned about the news that Jerel Worthy could miss the 2013 season after undergoing ACL surgery a few weeks ago. There are two reasons why. One is that the Packers don’t play meaningful games for another seven and a half months, and it’s human nature not to worry about events so far in the future. The other, quite frankly, is that the rookie defensive end wasn’t very good in 2012.

But I’m a worrier. Heck, I’m already worried about how the weather will be when I go to the Bahamas in late June. I can’t help but think the defense will miss Worthy if he’s forced to sit out part or all of next season. Despite unimpressive stats (14 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble), I saw flashes from the former Michigan State star. He wasn’t big enough or explosive enough to blow by centers and guards and he wasn’t experienced enough to beat them with technique, but he did show a quick first step and surprising tenacity. That’s often enough to make a defensive lineman reasonably successful at this level.

Even if Worthy is able to return at some point next season, the odds of him being effective are slim. That’s because the 22-year-old was going to use the next six months to rebuild his body. He weighed over 300 pounds at his Pro Day, but played in the 280s. The goal was to get Worthy back closer to his former weight, but to do it in a way that wouldn’t sacrifice athletic ability. Now that rebuilding project will have to be put on hold. And in all likelihood, so will any chance of his making a significant contribution in 2013.

Ranking The Rookies: Sean Richardson

Posted by Michael Rodney at 3:33 pm 8 Responses »

Jan 272013

Undrafted free agent made his mark on special teams this season

Undrafted free agent from Vanderbilt made his mark on special teams this season

I’ll be ranking the rookies – from least productive to most productive – over the next couple of weeks. Here’s #9:

Story of 2012 - Safeties that weigh 215 pounds and run 4.5 don’t usually go undrafted, but that’s what happened to Sean Richardson last April. Scouts didn’t think he had the skills necessary to cover in the National Football League. They might’ve been right. The former Vanderbilt standout looked stiff in the hips during camp and had trouble breaking down in the open field. He did, however, show plenty of toughness. That served him very well on special teams and could keep him employed for a number of seasons.

What to expect in 2013 - Richardson underwent neck surgery recently and his future is uncertain. If healthy in time for camp, he’ll stand a pretty good chance of making the 53-man roster due to his stellar work covering kicks. He might also be useful against the new breed of quarterbacks currently taking the league by storm. With Colin Kaepernick (49ers) and Robert Griffin III (Redskins) on Green Bay’s 2013 schedule, it might be nice to have someone as big and as fast as Richardson to use as a spy. We all saw what happened when Brad Jones and Erik Walden were used in that role a few weeks ago.

Don’t Look For Revis In Green Bay

Posted by Michael Rodney at 5:26 pm 5 Responses »

Jan 252013

The Jets are reportedly looking to trade star cornerback Darrelle Revis

The Jets have reportedly placed All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis on the trading block

The possibility of Darrelle Revis joining the Packers makes for interesting reading in a slow news week, but the odds of the perennial Pro Bowl cornerback playing his home games in the state of Wisconsin next season are about the same as the odds of Jean-Claude Van Damme winning an Oscar for The Expendables 2.

Here’s part of what CBS Sports’ NFL Insider Mike Freeman wrote on Friday: “Sources say one of the teams highly interested is the New England Patriots, but not even the Jets, who have made some screwy decisions over the years, would trade Revis to the division-rival Patriots and, in the process, hand them a Super Bowl. Other teams highly interested, I’m told, are Denver, San Francisco, Buffalo (not happening — division rival), and even Seattle, which already has some of the best defensive backs in the game. One team also constantly mentioned by league sources is Green Bay, though the Packers, possessors of one of the best front offices in all of sports, usually don’t give up high-round picks.”

First of all, I don’t expect Revis to be traded. Because the 27-year-old is coming off ACL surgery and is going into the last season of his contract (2014 is a voidable year), the Jets wouldn’t get full value for their best player. And even if new general manager John Idzik does decide to make a deal (he won’t), the Packers under the leadership of Ted Thompson would appear to be the one team that wouldn’t be interested.

Thompson would rather chew off one of his own limbs than give up a high draft pick for another team’s player and then have to fork over $60 million just to keep him around past 2013. Plus, cornerback is the one position on defense where the Packers are actually better off than most teams. Sam Shields, Casey Hayward and Tramon Williams aren’t in Revis’ class, but they’re as good a trio as you’ll find in the NFL.

The Packers didn’t give up 45 points and over 500 yards to the 49ers in the divisional round of the playoffs because they couldn’t cover in the secondary. The defense gave up 45 points and over 500 yards because the linemen and linebackers were soft at the point of attack and/or undisciplined in their assignments. As great as Revis is, he wouldn’t have made much of a difference two weeks ago in San Francisco.

Ranking The Rookies: Terrell Manning

Posted by Michael Rodney at 5:26 pm 5 Responses »

Jan 232013

A summer illness kept Green Bay’s fifth-round pick from contributing on defense

I’ll be ranking the rookies – from least productive to most productive – over the next couple of weeks. Here’s #10:

Story of 2012 – Had it not been for a summer illness that dropped his weight to under 220 pounds, there’s a chance Terrell Manning could’ve been one of the most productive rookies on this year’s team. That’s because the defensive coaches were desperate at inside linebacker after Desmond Bishop and D.J. Smith went down with season-ending injuries, and it’s safe to assume Manning would’ve gotten the call ahead of Brad Jones had he been healthy in camp. Instead, the former NC State standout was relegated to special teams, where he began to make a major impact down the stretch.

What to expect in 2013 – If A.J. Hawk and his bloated salary is finally released, there figures to be an open competition to fill his spot. Manning, Smith (if healthy), Jones (if re-signed) and perhaps a rookie will likely battle it out in camp for the chance to start next to Bishop. Of the three returnees, Manning has the least experience but the most talent. He runs fairly well (4.62) and shows pop on contact. He’s a little stiff in coverage, but he moves better in space than either Hawk or Smith. He also showed the ability to blitz in college – something the Packers value but haven’t really had at the “buck” linebacker spot in years.

Packers Come Up Short At End

Posted by Michael Rodney at 8:10 am 11 Responses »

Jan 222013

At 6’4 and 325 pounds, Johnny Jolly looked and played like a 3-4 defensive end

Johnny Jolly hasn’t played a game for the Packers since January 2010, but his absence on the D-line is still being felt. That’s because GM Ted Thompson hasn’t drafted or signed a legitimate 3-4 end in the past three offseasons. To be fair, he did draft Lawrence Guy in 2011 and he did sign Phillip Merling as a free agent last spring, but both players were long shots to stick on the 53-man roster, and ultimately neither did.

The average starting 3-4 defensive end in 2011 stood 6’3 1/4 and weighed 319 pounds. I’m familiar with the numbers because I wrote about this very subject back then (for some reason, it took most of the local media another two years to even address the issue). The current ends on the Packers average 6’2 and 304.

An end in a 3-4 defense has two main responsibilities – stuff the run and disrupt passing lanes. That’s what Aaron Smith did for a dozen years in Pittsburgh; it’s what Haloti Ngata has done for seven years in Baltimore; it’s what Jolly did in Green Bay in ’09; and it’s what none of the current ends are capable of doing.

B.J. Raji and Ryan Pickett have the bulk to stop the run, but neither has the length nor the leaping ability to disrupt passing lanes. Mike Neal has the length and the athleticism needed to bat down the occasional pass, but he can’t hold up versus the run. Jerel Worthy and Mike Daniels are ill-equipped to do either.

The closest thing the current defense has to a legitimate 3-4 end is C.J. Wilson, who stands 6’3 and weighs about 300 pounds. But even he’s a bit undersized, and to be perfectly honest, he’s not very talented.

The current roster is filled with defensive linemen built to play in a 4-3, but forced to line up in a 3-4. It isn’t working. It’s time for Thompson to finally address the problem. Jolly isn’t walking through the door. And you want to know what’s really sad? If he did, he’d immediately be the best defensive end on the team.

Packers Overachieved In 2012

Posted by Michael Rodney at 12:50 pm 18 Responses »

Jan 192013

Linebacker Erik Walden was one of many mediocre starters for the Packers this season

Linebacker Erik Walden was one of many mediocre starters for Green Bay

There’s no excuse for how poorly the team performed against the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round of the playoffs, but looking back, it’s hard to be disappointed in the 2012 Green Bay Packers.

If you look objectively at the 24 players (including kickers) who took the majority of snaps at their respective positions, a third of them would be classified as no better than average NFL players. The mediocre eight include: running back Alex Green, left tackle Marshall Newhouse, center Jeff Saturday, defensive end C.J. Wilson, linebackers Erik Walden and Brad Jones, safety M.D. Jennings and kicker Mason Crosby (I was being generous by not including fullback John Kuhn and linebacker A.J. Hawk on this list).

The Packers simply didn’t have the talent to win the Super Bowl this season. People like to compare this year’s team to the one that won it all in 2010, but that team only had five mediocre players (Frank Zombo, Charlie Peprah, Morgan Burnett, Brandon Jackson and Andrew Quarless) taking the majority of snaps at their respective positions. Plus, that group was unique. Aaron Rodgers played the quarterback position about as well as it’s ever been played, and the competition in the NFC was a bit weaker than usual.

OK, so the 2012 Packers weren’t good enough to win another Super Bowl. Can they be good enough next season? The answer is yes, but only if the talent level at numerous positions improves. Green Bay desperately needs left tackle Derek Sherrod and outside linebacker Nick Perry to develop. They also need veterans like Crosby and corner Tramon Williams to be a lot better. And most importantly, they need GM Ted Thompson to add a few new impact pieces to the puzzle. It won’t be easy, but it’s doable.

How Will O-Line Look Next Season?

Posted by Michael Rodney at 1:00 am 12 Responses »

Jan 152013

Right guard Josh Sitton is the only sure thing on the offensive line

Right guard Josh Sitton is one of the few sure things on the offensive line

There are a lot of questions that need to be answered between now and the start of training camp. One of them deals with the offensive line. There could be a number of changes in the group that is charged with protecting Aaron Rodgers and opening holes for whichever pedestrian back wins the starting job.

Here’s a look at how things stand with the offensive line as of now and how things could play out in the months ahead:

LEFT TACKLE: Marshall Newhouse showed improvement this season, but he’s still a middle of the pack left tackle. Can he get significantly better? That’s a question only the coaching staff can answer. If the answer is no, then Derrick Sherrod will be given every chance to win the job – provided that his broken leg is finally healed. After all, GM Ted Thompson didn’t draft Sherrod in the first round to sit on the bench. And don’t completely discount Andrew Datko, who spent the entire season on the practice squad. The former Florida State star was a more productive college player than Sherrod, and he has a chance to be a solid NFL offensive lineman if he gets stronger and his chronically injured shoulder can hold up.

LEFT GUARD: T.J. Lang began the season very well, but he was never the same after injuring his elbow in October. An ill-fated move to right tackle didn’t help either. He’ll be the starter at left guard unless the coaching staff decides to move him to center – something that was contemplated last offseason. As I wrote in March, I think Lang has the physical skills and smarts to be effective at the position. If he does slide a few feet to his right, Don Barclay could be his logical replacement. The undrafted rookie from West Virginia played surprisingly well at right tackle down the stretch. If he can hold up at that spot, it’s safe to assume he’d do just fine at guard. Barclay is big and surprisingly light on his feet. He needs to get stronger, and he should do just that after spending the next six months in the weight room.

CENTER: This is the position that hurt the O-line the most this season. Jeff Saturday had nothing left and Evan Dietrich-Smith proved in the playoffs that he’s a great backup but just an OK starter. The Packers need to add a bigger body in the middle of the line. That would make a significant difference in the running game. Assuming Lang stays at left guard, Thompson will probably have to use the draft or free agency to fill this spot. Another alternative would be Greg Van Roten, who was promoted from the practice squad in November and finished the season as the No. 7 lineman. A graduate of Penn, GVR has the intelligence needed to play the position. He also has the athleticism. But at 304 pounds, does he have the size and strength to compete with NFL defensive tackles? He doesn’t now, but August is still six months away.

RIGHT GUARD: This is the only position that is 100% set going into next season. Josh Sitton stayed healthy and played more like the stud who earned a big contract in 2010 than like the game but gimpy journeyman who got beat way too often in 2011. At 318 pounds, the former Central Florida star isn’t the biggest or the most athletic guard, but he’s as strong as an ox and as tough as nails. That, along with solid technique, usually allows him to get the best of his opponents. Sitton is only 26, so he should still be ascending. That’s great news for the Packers, but not such great news for the defensive tackles in the NFC North.

RIGHT TACKLE: Bryan Bulaga is expected back after injuring his hip in week 8 and spending the last two months of the season on IR. The former Iowa star struggled early, but he was playing much better prior to getting hurt. There’s always a chance he could move to left tackle and Barclay could remain at this spot, but I don’t see that happening. Bulaga needs to be more aggressive as a run blocker, but gives max effort on every snap and he usually provides steady pass protection. If this group is to be significantly better next season, Bulaga has to be as good as he was in 2011, when he played like a Pro Bowler.

Expert: Rodgers Not Playing Particularly Great

Posted by Michael Rodney at 5:46 pm 11 Responses »

Jan 082013

Over 4,000 yards passing, 39 touchdowns and 12 wins (and counting) isn't good enough for everybody

4,569 yards passing, 40 TDs and 12 wins (and counting) isn’t good enough for everybody

Well, not everybody is enamored with Aaron Rodgers. Here’s what Greg Cosell, a senior producer at NFL for over three decades, had to say about Green Bay’s Pro Bowl quarterback: ”I’m not saying this to be bold or controversial, but I don’t think Aaron Rodgers is playing particularly great football,” stated Howard’s more soft-spoken but equally opinionated nephew. “I think he’s so physically gifted – he can throw it on the run better than anyone in this league – but he’s leaving an awful lot of plays on the field.”

I would agree that Rodgers is leaving plays on the field. In fact, there’s no denying that the league’s reigning MVP has missed more open receivers than usual this season. But I’m not as willing to go along with these sentiments: ”I think he’s indecisive and tentative in the pocket,” opined Cosell. “He’s not pulling the trigger on throws that are there. I think this has been an ongoing thing all throughout the season.”

The idea that Rodgers is indecisive and tentative in the pocket is a bit hyperbolic. Are there instances when he’s been indecisive and tentative in the pocket? Of course, but all quarterbacks get that way at times – especially quarterbacks who are protected by Evan Dietrich-Smith, Marshall Newhouse and Don Barclay and who face defenses that drop as many as seven or eight players into coverage on a consistent basis.

To be perfectly fair, Cosell also said some nice things. For example: “No defense is built to cover, whether it’s zone or man, for four, five or six seconds. No defense it built to do that. And Rodgers, with his ability to extend plays – not only extend them, but then make throws at the intermediate and deeper levels, which is something not a whole lot of quarterbacks can do – that’s the burden he puts on your defense.”

All in all, I think Cosell made some valid points, but I also believe he’s nitpicking. When I watch the coaches’ tape (thanks again NFL Rewind), I honestly don’t see that many receivers running wide open in the secondary. And I sure as heck don’t see a quarterback who looks perpetually indecisive and tentative.

What I do see is a quarterback who refuses to force balls into coverage and who is willing to take a sack when the alternative is a possible turnover. And while that might not be good enough for Cosell, it’s been good enough to get Green Bay to within two wins of its second Super Bowl in three years. Something tells me 31 other coaches wish their quarterbacks were as tentative and indecisive in the pocket.

Too Soon To Judge EDS

Posted by Michael Rodney at 12:04 am 6 Responses »

Dec 282012

Veteran Evan Dietrich-Smith wasn’t really challenged in his first start at center

The Packers benched center Jeff Saturday in favor of Evan Dietrich-Smith prior to last Sunday’s game. After re-watching every play, I still have no idea whether the move will make the offensive line better heading into the playoffs. That’s because the Titans were so awful on defense that Green Bay could’ve scored 40 points with assistant coach James Campen hiking the ball. And trust me, that’s only a slight exaggeration.

In pass protection, guards T.J. Lang and Josh Sitton were so dominant that Dietrich-Smith oftentimes had nobody to block. He would occasionally offer some assistance, but it was seldom needed against overmatched defensive tackles Jurrell Casey and Se’Derrick Marks. In the run game, EDS provided better push on double teams and was slightly more effective making blocks on the second level. There were times, however, when the three-year veteran from Idaho State looked a bit confused as to which defender to engage. In those instances, he pretty much just flailed about aimlessly until the play was over.

All in all, I thought Dietrich-Smith did OK in his first start at center. But I’ll reserve further judgment until I see him line up against better competition. That should come this week against the Vikings. While defensive tackles Kevin Williams, Letroy Guion, Christian Ballard and Fred Evans are hardly a fearsome foursome, they are an athletic group of veterans who play fast indoors. If EDS holds up as well as he did last Sunday, I’ll feel a lot better about the state of the O-line heading into the second season.

No Secondary For Old Corners

Posted by Michael Rodney at 10:33 am 6 Responses »

Dec 272012

The Packers have played very well on defense without injured safety Charles Woodson

Packers have played very well on defense without injured star Charles Woodson

Charles Woodson keeps wanting to return, and the Packers keep telling him to wait. If possible, they’d probably like him to wait until about the middle of February. That’s because the pass defense has been markedly better since the future Hall of Famer left Lambeau Field on Oct. 21 with his right arm in a sling.

Granted, the Packers have faced some pretty crappy quarterbacks since then. Blaine Gabbert, John Skelton, Christian Ponder and Jake Locker made some decisions and threw some passes that would make a junior in high school cringe. But it’s not about the opposition. It’s about the young defensive backs on the Packers who have gotten a chance to play while Woodson and his broken collarbone healed.

Rookie Casey Hayward replaced him in the nickel and has played well enough to be ranked as the second-best corner in the league by Pro Football Focus. After a shaky start, fellow freshman Jerron McMillian has continued to improve as a slot corner in the dime. And M.D. Jennings has done a solid job at safety. He doesn’t support the run as well as Woody, but he has a bit more range and a lot less inclination to freelance.

Former Giants GM George Young once said that “football is a young man’s game.” He was 100% right. There’s a reason why there are so few players over 35 in the NFL. Mike McCarthy benched one geezer (Jeff Saturday) last week, but I can’t imagine him or Dom Capers doing the same thing to Woodson. So the best we can hope for is that the coaches use some common sense and limit his role if and when he returns.

Cobb Closing In On History

Posted by Michael Rodney at 12:02 am 5 Responses »

Dec 262012

Wide receiver Randall Cobb has put up spectacular numbers in his second season

Randall Cobb injured his ankle returning a punt last Sunday, and if the dynamic second-year player can’t go in the regular season finale at Minnesota, he’ll fall just short of making NFL history. With 46 receiving yards and 36 kick return yards, Cobb would become the first player to gain 1,000 yards in each.

That Cobb is on the verge of starting his own “1,000/1,000 club” tells you two things. It tells you that the 22-year-old is having one heck of a season. It also tells you that very few Pro Bowl-caliber wide receivers have ever doubled as their team’s primary kick returner. And that brings me to the real point of this post.

Cobb should’ve been taken off special teams weeks ago. Returning kicks is not something a No. 1 receiver needs to be doing – especially when that No. 1 receiver weighs 192 pounds. It makes even less sense when you look at the numbers. Green Bay is ranked 12th in kick returns and 11th in punt returns. Not bad, but not good enough to justify exposing a player as valuable to the offense as Cobb. And I’m not the only one who thinks this way. Star quarterback Aaron Rodgers ended Sunday’s post-game press conference by saying, “He’s a big-time player. Hope we can get him off special teams soon.”

Despite the wishes of his best player, Mike McCarthy has no intention of making such a move at this time. ”Now, if we’re sitting here next year, we might be having a different conversation, but the way our team is built for 2012, Randall Cobb is a huge part of our success on special teams,” stated the head coach.

Look, I completely understand not wanting to make a switch now. Even though wide receiver Jeremy Ross was an accomplished returner in college, the postseason is no time to ask a rookie to get his feet wet. But next September is a different story. By then, the Packers will have had an entire offseason to break in a new return man. Whether it’s Ross or DuJuan Harris or somebody else, a player not named Cobb should be the one getting blown up 80 times in 2013. And while that might keep the “1,000/1,000 club” empty for yet another year, it might just help keep one of the game’s best young players on the field.

Packers Could Cut Pricey Veterans

Posted by Michael Rodney at 2:33 pm 3 Responses »

Dec 222012

Charles Woodson's great career in Green Bay could be coming to an end

Defensive back Charles Woodson’s great career in Green Bay might be coming to an end

The Green Bay Packers will be spending a lot of money in the next 15 months. A lot. That’s because the organization will need to extend the contracts of two of the best players in the National Football League (Aaron Rodgers and Clay Matthews) – not to mention re-sign a bunch of other key contributors (i.e. B.J. Raji, Ryan Pickett, C.J. Wilson, Brad Jones, James “TD” Jones, Sam Shields and Morgan Burnett).

Considering that the salary cap isn’t expected to go up very much in the next couple of years, it’s fair to question where the Packers will find the money to keep all of these good players. Fortunately, there is an answer. By cutting the cord to a group of talented but very replaceable veterans, general manager Ted Thompson should be able to extend or re-sign the vast majority of the nine players mentioned above.

Here are the veteran players I’d be willing to sacrifice in the coming offseason. The first number in the parentheses is their scheduled base salary for 2013 and the second number is their projected cap hit for 2013):

JEFF SATURDAY ($1.35M/$3.75M): Even before the veteran center was benched on Friday, he had no chance of returning for a second season in Green Bay. Thompson probably expected the former All-Pro to play better, but he wasn’t a disaster. His shotgun snaps were flawless and he held up OK in pass protection. Unfortunately, his lack of size and athletic ability made him a major liability in the run game.

CHARLES WOODSON ($6.5M/$10M): I opined in March that the Packers should release the veteran defensive back, so I obviously feel the same way today. At 36, the future Hall of Famer is no longer able to cover quick receivers without holding them and he’s lost the explosiveness that once made him a feared blitzer. Now what the defense is getting for $6.5 million is a great leader who can bait a young QB into a mistake from time to time. To be honest, I’m not overly thrilled about Woodson returning this season.

JERMICHAEL FINLEY ($4.45M/$8.75M): There isn’t a suitable replacement on the current roster, but there are a number of good tight ends available in the upcoming draft. And besides, the Packers won a Super Bowl with Andrew Quarless starting at the position. While Finley is playing better as of late, the comparisons to Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates ended a long time ago. Nowadays, a more suitable comparison would be to Martellus Bennett of the Giants – a nice player who’s being paid $2.5M this season.

A.J. HAWK ($4.9M/$7.05M): The former Ohio State star has bounced back from arguably the worst season of his career, but that doesn’t mean he’s worth over $5 million. For that type of money, you would expect a starting inside linebacker to make some impact plays. Unfortunately, Hawk doesn’t do impact plays – never has and never will. He is, however, extremely durable and fairly consistent. And while those are two admirable traits, they simply aren’t worth the type of money he’s set to make in 2013.

MASON CROSBY ($2.4M/$3.15M): Based on how the Packers have stood behind the slumping kicker, I’m almost expecting them to give him a raise for 2013. After all, he must have pictures of coach Mike McCarthy, right? Seriously, Crosby needs to get the boot. Even before this nightmarish campaign, his career field goal percentage of 79.3 was 3 points below the league average for the past five years. And be honest, when was the last time you felt confident watching Crosby line up to attempt a kick in a big spot?

JOHN KUHN ($1.8M/$2.6M): In this case, the money’s probably not the biggest issue. I just think it’s time for the Packers to upgrade at the fullback position. Kuhn, who will turn 31 next summer, is clearly wearing down. That’s obvious both on offense and on special teams. By finding the right replacement, Green Bay can get better, younger and cheaper all at the same time. It’s the trifecta every GM dreams about.

DESMOND BISHOP ($3.5M/$5M): While I don’t expect the hard-hitting linebacker to be released, I’m including him on this list for four reasons – his age, his salary, his health and his backups. Bishop is pushing 30, he’s set to earn over $4 million (including bonuses), he’s coming off a serious hamstring injury and he was adequately replaced by D.J. Smith and then by Brad Jones. Again, I fully expect the former Cal star to be back next season. I’m just saying that he could be sacrificed if money got really tight.

Packers Need Young Players To Grow Up

Posted by Michael Rodney at 12:50 pm 3 Responses »

Dec 082012

Rookie linebacker Dezman Moses has started the past three games for the Packers

With Cedric Benson, Bryan Bulaga, Nick Perry, Desmond Bishop and D.J. Smith out for the season, to win the Super Bowl, the Green Bay Packers will have to overcome even more than they did two years ago. In order for that to happen, a number of rookies will have to step up late in the season. Bulaga, James Starks and Frank Zombo did just that in 2010. Here’s hoping the following players can follow suit:

DON BARCLAY: The undrafted rookie saw his first action of the season last week against the Vikings, and while he didn’t play particularly well at right tackle, he didn’t embarrass himself either. That in itself is encouraging. I’ve been saying for weeks that the Packers can’t win a Super Bowl with T.J. Lang at right tackle and Evan Dietrich-Smith at left guard, and I’m pretty sure the front office and the coaching staff agrees. That means Barclay has to play competently enough to allow Lang to move back to his natural position.

JEREL WORTHY: While fellow second-round pick Casey Hayward has been a stud at corner, Worthy has been a relative non-factor on the defensive line. The former Michigan State star was supposed to add juice to the pass rush, but he’s been less effective in that regard than both Mike Neal and Mike Daniels – neither of whom have exactly set the world on fire. Without a bona fide pass rusher opposite Clay Matthews, the defense desperately needs Worthy to morph into a poor man’s Cullen Jenkins ASAP.

DEZMAN MOSES: The undrafted rookie will probably lose his starting job when Matthews returns, but he won’t fade into oblivion. Not with Erik Walden beginning his annual post-Thanksgiving slide. Moses needs to do a better job at the point of attack, but he hustles and he has enough edge speed to give certain tackles a difficult time. Like I said before, the defense desperately needs a second rusher to emerge. If it’s not Worthy, it has to be Moses. Otherwise, this journey isn’t ending in the Promised Land.

JERRON McMILLIAN: I don’t want to see Charles Woodson in the slot when he returns, but I have a feeling that’s where the future Hall of Famer will line up in the dime. If that’s the case, either McMillian or M.D. Jennings will have to play opposite Morgan Burnett. Both youngsters have taken a lot of snaps this season, and both have done a decent job. But decent won’t be good enough come January. One of the two will have to elevate his game a notch, and I think McMillian has the better chance of doing just that.

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