Casey Hayward » Packer Update

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.

New-Look Defense Bounces Back

Posted by Michael Rodney at 2:54 pm 10 Responses »

Sep 152012

Rookie Jerron McMillian was part of a revamped and improved secondary on Thursday

The Bears’ porous offensive line and bewildered quarterback made the Packers’ newly configured defense look like the Steel Curtain on Thursday night. Don’t expect to see that kind of performance every week, but with Jerron McMillian and Casey Hayward in and M.D. Jennings and Jarrett Bush out, you also shouldn’t expect to see too many repeats of what happened versus the 49ers. Look for the D to settle in somewhere in between – and that should be good enough to keep Green Bay atop the NFC North.

Here are 3 thoughts on the defense following the Packers’ 23-10 beat down of the Bears:

1) The pass rush was awesome, but don’t get too excited. After re-watching the first two games, I still see only one player (Clay Matthews) with the ability to consistently win one-on-one battles. And let’s be honest, very few teams are going to let CMIII dominate the way Chicago did. A second threat will have to emerge. It could be top picks Nick Perry or Jerel Worthy, but neither has shown that type of ability yet. Interestingly, the second and third most effective pass rushers against the Bears were probably Mike Daniels and Dezman Moses. Both unheralded rookies deserve more snaps against Seattle next Sunday.

2) I don’t know who was wearing No. 37 in August, but it wasn’t Sam Shields. Fortunately, the real Sam Shields showed up when the calendar flipped to September. The third-year pro from Miami was solid in a limited role versus the 49ers and very good as the starting right corner on Thursday night. Shields has regained the swagger he exhibited as a rookie in 2010. Just as importantly, he’s also showing a willingness to be physical. With Morgan Burnett giving Tramon Williams help over the top against Brandon Marshall, the coaches trusted Shields to handle Chicago’s impressive rookie Alshon Jeffery all by himself. He was up to the challenge. Jeffery caught only 1 pass for 7 yards. Give some credit to the pass rush that didn’t allow Cutler to get the ball down the field, but give most of the credit to Shields. He covered like white on rice and he never allowed his size disadvantage to become an issue.

3) Defending the middle of the field is still going to be a problem. Jay Cutler didn’t have the time, or in some cases, the vision to find open receivers, but they were there most of the night. D.J. Smith was much improved against the run and he showed explosiveness as a blitzer, but his cover skills leave a lot to be desired. The former Appalachian State star lacks the height to cover tight ends and the speed to stay with backs. You can be sure that he’ll be exploited by any QB who’s given the time to find that matchup. I begged coordinator Dom Capers to replace Bush and Jennings. That worked out pretty well. My next suggestion is to replace Smith. Give Robert Francois or Brad Jones a chance. They’re not speedy either, but they’re taller and more fluid. Both players can flip their hips and get good depth in their coverage drops.

Weaknesses Exposed In Loss To Niners

Posted by Michael Rodney at 11:05 am 7 Responses »

Sep 112012

Starting nickel safety M.D. Jennings struggled in the opener against the 49ers

Anyone surprised that the Packers couldn’t stop quarterback Alex Smith and the 49ers’ offense either doesn’t read this blog or didn’t pay enough attention during the month of August. No team has more holes in its nickel and dime packages than Green Bay, and every one of them was exposed on Sunday afternoon.

Starting right cornerback (I still can’t believe I’m writing that) Jarrett Bush deserves no blame for what happened. He actually performed as well as could be expected – and that’s the problem. The career special teamer has no business playing – let alone starting – on defense. I thought it was a joke when Bush opened training camp atop the depth chart. Six weeks later, the only peope laughing are opposing quarterbacks.

I’m no expert, but it took me all of three practices to see that M.D. Jennings wasn’t ready to start in the sub-packages. And yet, there he was, lining up opposite Morgan Burnett in the nickel and dime. To the surprise of nobody (except the coaches), he was a liability. Jennings lacks experience, and he doesn’t have the physical skills to compensate. Jerron McMillian eventually replaced him, and the rookie from Maine figures to keep the job. Whether that translates to improved play at the position remains to be seen.

I’m not sure anything can be done to fix things at this late date, but coordinator Dom Capers needs to try something. I would start Sam Shields at right corner and insert McMillian and fellow rookie Casey Hayward in the dime. Will that help? I’m not sure, but it can’t hurt. Of course, what the defense really needs is a fierce pass rush. That means young players like defensive end Jerel Worthy and outside linebacker Nick Perry have to win more one on one battles than they did four days ago against San Francisco.

There’s A Slot To Like About Hayward

Posted by Michael Rodney at 12:14 pm 4 Responses »

Aug 062012

Rookie Casey Hayward could contribute as a slot corner this season

After reading Bob McGinn’s story on Casey Hayward in the Journal Sentinel a few weeks ago, I was expecting to see a cross between Mike Haynes and Mel Blount. Alas, what I saw at Thursday night’s practice and Friday’s scrimmage was a typical rookie cornerback – albeit one with some intriguing potential.

Hayward is not a physical specimen. He has a lean frame and he lacks elite top-end speed. Unlike Sam Shields and to a lesser extent Davon House, he’s not going to be able to outrun his mistakes. The second-round draft pick from Vanderbilt is going to have to rely on instinct and technique if he’s going to play at a high level in the National Football League. Fortunately, he appears to possess both traits.

Hayward showed good awareness during Thursday night’s practice. He was able to beat receivers to the break point and undercut routes on more than one occasion. He also appeared to have very good short-area burst and acceleration. That’s probably why he’s expected to line up more in the slot than outside this season. And when he got his hands on the ball, he kept his hands on the ball. It was pretty easy to see how he intercepted 15 passes – seven as a senior – in the toughest conference in college football.

Is Hayward capable of challenging Jarrett Bush, Shields and House for the starting job at right corner? Yes, but it’s unlikely. He showed some stiffness in transition, which means he could struggle to keep up with speedy receivers vertically. And while there have been many corners without blazing speed and extremely fluid hips who have enjoyed plenty of success on the outside, those players usually rely on strength and savvy to get the job done. A year in the weight room should give Hayward both of those things. Until then, his best chance to contribute this season is probably as the fourth corner in the dime.

Likes And Dislikes From Practice

Posted by Michael Rodney at 12:17 am 17 Responses »

Aug 032012

Third-year safety Morgan Burnett is having an outstanding training camp

GREEN BAY- Here are my 7 likes and dislikes from Thursday’s practice (the first I’ve seen in person this summer):

1) I liked watching a young quarterback who can really sling the ball. Seventh-round pick B.J. Coleman has a lot to learn and his accuracy is hit or miss, but his physical skills are obvious. Mike McCarthy has made decent quarterbacks out of players with a lot less ability.

2) I liked watching second-year running back Alex Green turn it loose. He doesn’t look like a player less than nine months removed from major knee surgery. He’s going to make an impact this season.

3) I liked watching the right side of the offensive line dominate. A completely healthy Josh Sitton looks as good as ever and Bryan Bulaga looks like he’s ready to go from being very good to being great.

4) I liked watching the energy defensive lineman Daniel Muir and cornerback Davon House bring to the defense. That side of the ball often looked like the walking dead last season. They often played that way too.

5) I liked watching three-time Pro Bowl outside linebacker Clay Matthews hustle all over the field like a free agent trying to make the team. That’s why he’s so special. Of course, the immense natural talent also helps a bit.

6) I liked watching Dezman Moses get physical with running backs. I’m still not sure if he has the physical skills to ever be a starter, but he’s a better prospect than Vic So’oto, last summer’s rookie sensation.

7) I liked watching safety Morgan Burnett mature before my very eyes. This isn’t the same timid player who often went unnoticed on the practice field a year ago. This player appears destined for big things.

1) I disliked watching new No. 2 quarterback Graham Harrell too often settle for check downs when wide receivers were open down the field. He’s definitely improved from a year ago, but he’s nowhere near as impressive as Matt Flynn was in his third training camp.

2) I disliked watching undersized right defensive ends C.J. Wilson and Jerel Worthy get pushed around at times. Offenses are going to run a lot to the left against the Packers, and there’s a good chance they’ll find success. It would be nice to see Lawrence Guy step up. He has ideal size for the position.

3) I disliked watching backup right guard Ray Dominguez leave practice with an ankle injury. The offensive line was extremely thin even before arguably the group’s seventh-best player got carted off the field.

4) I disliked watching inside linebacker A.J. Hawk continue to hold down a starting position. He gives 100%, but he’s exactly the type of marginal veteran player that coaches are almost always looking to replace.

5) I disliked watching cornerback Sam Shields struggle to defend some of the same receivers he blanketed two summers ago. He wasn’t bad, but he’s definitely a young player who needs a boost in confidence.

6) I disliked watching the coaches waste precious snaps on Jarrett Bush at right corner. He’s not the answer, and based on what I saw, Shields, House and rookie Casey Hayward need all the reps they can get.

7) I didn’t like watching practice come to an end. There’s few better things to do on a beautiful summer night than watch the Packers play – even when it’s against themselves. Family Night should be a real blast!

It’s Too Soon To Get Excited

Posted by Michael Rodney at 11:20 am 8 Responses »

Jul 292012

One of the things I know about the National Football League is that it’s a mistake to get too excited over any young player after one week of training camp. So while it’s certainly encouraging, for example, to see rookie cornerback Casey Hayward blanketing receivers and intercepting passes, it’s simply way too soon to draw any conclusions. I learned this lesson over 20 years ago. The following is my annual cautionary tale:

In 1988, I covered the Philadelphia Eagles’ training camp for a local TV station. That team featured a head coach named Buddy Ryan and high-profile players like quarterback Randall Cunningham, tight end Keith Jackson, wide receiver Cris Carter, defensive end Reggie White, linebacker Seth Joyner and cornerback Eric Allen. So guess who I was sent to interview about a week into camp? Martin Booker, a little-known wide receiver from Villanova who had spent the entire previous season on injured reserve. Why him? Because the incredibly fast world-class hurdler had been lighting up Lehigh University for days.

I went into the cafeteria and found Booker (who, by the way, turned out to be one of the nicest athletes I’ve ever met). As we walked the few hundred yards to where the cameras were set up, hundreds of fans cheered wildly. They adored the hometown hero who proved to be the one receiver the strong-armed Cunningham could never overthrow. After the interview, I shook hands with Booker and wished him luck. He smiled and started on his long walk back to the dorms. He would be gone three weeks later.

Life at Lehigh became a lot more difficult for Booker once he started running routes against the No. 1 corners. He was no longer able to get away from the line of scrimmage as easily as he did against backups Izel Jenkins and Eric Everett, and even with his blazing speed, he wasn’t able to separate himself from Allen and fellow Pro Bowler Roynell Young. Booker soon started to slide his way back down the depth chart. By the end of the following week, nobody was cheering for him anymore. Nobody wanted to interview him anymore. In fact, even his own position coach seemed to have forgotten about him.

That’s the thing to remember about young players in training camp – the better they do early, the more difficult the challenges become later. For example, a lot of Hayward’s success in 11-on-11 team drills has come against backups. He’ll likely see a lot more of the starters next week. That’s when we’ll really begin to find out what kind of impact, if any, the former Vanderbilt star will have on the defense this season. Or to put it more simply, a lot can change between July 29 and Aug. 29. Just ask Martin Booker.

Tramon Could Be Playing For His Future

Posted by Michael Rodney at 1:38 pm 14 Responses »

Jun 262012

The Green Bay Packers will have to spend at least $200 million in the next six to 18 months to re-sign receiver Greg Jennings and extend quarterback Aaron Rodgers and linebacker Clay Matthews. In order to keep those three stars, general manager Ted Thompson will almost certainly have to let other good players go. For example, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see ascending left guard T.J. Lang sign elsewhere as an unrestricted free agent in 2013. It also wouldn’t be a surprise if cornerback Charles Woodson and linebacker A.J. Hawk were released or forced to take massive pay cuts following this season. But there’s another player whose shaky future in Green Bay will definitely surprise you. Two years after agreeing to a five-year extension worth just over $38 million, cornerback Tramon Williams could very well be on his way out.

Williams parlayed a breakthrough season in 2010 into that lucrative deal, but he struggled in 2011 after injuring his right shoulder on opening night. Normally you wouldn’t be worried about a shoulder injury suffered in September lingering into the next season, but after reading a recent article on FoxSportsWisconsin.com, it’s hard not to be concerned. “We did strength tests on my shoulder (in early June) and it was at about 50 percent when they tested,” Williams told Paul Imig. “It probably was worse during the season. It was bad. I hadn’t done anything on it for a while, trying to heal it up a little bit. I started my rehab process, did that for a couple weeks, then we did the strength test to see where we were. They tested my strong arm, which is my left arm, and then the right arm, and my right arm was significantly weaker than my left arm. And this is my dominant arm, my right arm, so it was weak.”

A weak right shoulder greatly limits Williams’ ability to be physical with wide receivers at the line of scrimmage. And being physical with wide receivers is one of the things that made the former Louisiana Tech star so successful in 2010. The Packers are obviously hoping that the shoulder will continue to get stronger in the coming months. Increased strength, along with a (hopefully) more effective pass rush, should allow Williams to perform better than he did a year ago. But he’ll probably have to return to his Pro Bowl form of 2010 in order to justify the huge raise he’s scheduled to get in 2013. And based on the information in Imig’s story, it’s fair to question whether that’s possible.

Williams is scheduled to make a base salary of $2.3 million this season. That number jumps to $5.9 million ($7.4 million against the cap) in 2013. That’s the type of money a team pays for a star player. Releasing Williams next offseason would save the team $5.9 million in real money and $5 million against the cap. That might not seem like a lot, but every dollar will count when it comes to getting contracts done with Jennings, Rodgers and Matthews. It’s also important to remember that Thompson will have to deal with Jermichael Finley and B.J. Raji in the not too distant future.

Besides his contract, there are other things working against Williams. One is his age. He’ll turn 30 next March, and while Woodson has been defying Father Time for years, the majority of corners – even 100% healthy ones – begin to show signs of decline around that birthday. Another thing working against Williams is the potential depth at the position. Sam Shields looked like a budding star in 2010. Thompson traded up in the second round to draft Casey Hayward in April. And the coaches have been heaping praise on Davon House throughout the offseason. All three of those players are under 26. If at least two of the them prove to be legitimate, it’s difficult to imagine Williams returning in 2013 unless he regains the form that made him arguably the second-best cornerback in the league in 2010.

Post-Draft Pack Should Be Better On D

Posted by Michael Rodney at 2:43 pm 10 Responses »

Apr 302012

Second-round pick Hayward could be the No. 3 cornerback

Ted Thompson watched his defense go from good to historically bad in 12 months and he wasn’t going to sit back and do nothing. Green Bay’s normally conservative GM signed twice-suspended Anthony Hargrove as a free agent in March and then traded up two times in the draft to procure help for his team’s feeble pass rush and leaky secondary. It remains to be seen how these springtime moves play out in the fall, but at least on paper, the defense sure looks a lot better today than it did two months ago.

Here’s my position-by-position look at the post-draft Green Bay Packers:

QUARTERBACK- The Packers needed to draft a rookie to challenge Graham Harrell for the backup job. Seventh-round draft choice B.J. Coleman could be that player if he’s able to make a quick transition from Tennessee-Chattanooga to the National Football League. He has all the physical traits a team looks for in a young quarterback, but his numbers in college were surprisingly pedestrian. I have no idea whether that’s more a reflection on Coleman or on his supporting cast. Either way, his development under coach Mike McCarthy, offensive coordinator Tom Clements and quarterbacks coach Ben McAdoo will be fascinating to watch.

RUNNING BACK- Thompson didn’t draft at this position for the fourth time since taking over as GM in 2005. That leaves James Starks, Alex Green and Brandon Saine as the top three entering the first minicamp. It also leaves the door open for Ryan Grant’s return, but only if the former 1,200 yard rusher is willing to accept a deal for around the league minimum. If he’s not, the Packers should be fine without him. Remember, this team won a Super Bowl with John Kuhn and Brandon Jackson combining for nearly 300 carries. Speaking of Kuhn, he’ll return as the starting fullback.

TIGHT END- Even with Andrew Quarless likely to being the regular season on the PUP list, Thompson didn’t draft at this position. Perhaps that’s because he believes D.J. Williams and Ryan Taylor are ready to contribute on offense after spending the majority of their rookie seasons on special teams. Williams is the more natural receiver of the two, but Taylor showed better instincts and more toughness last summer. Another young player to keep an eye on is undrafted free agent Eric Flair. The athletic and versatile former Gopher figures to get a look at both tight end and fullback.

WIDE RECEIVER- Based on past history, it was a little surprising that Thompson didn’t draft a wide receiver. Then again, Tori Gurley and Diondre Borel probably have as much potential as any of the wide receivers picked on day 3. The Packers also added a pair of undrafted free agents. Marcus Rivers (Buffalo) and former basketball player turned football star Dale Moss (South Dakota St.) are intriguing prospects. Both measure in at 6’3 and run in the low 4.5s.

OFFENSIVE LINE- Thompson finally drafted an offensive lineman in the seventh round, but Andrew Datko isn’t going to add much-needed depth at guard and center. The former Florida State star is strictly a tackle. Right now, Evan Dietrich-Smith is the No. 1 backup at all three interior positions. He did OK in two starts at right guard last season, but this is the same player that was released by the Packers in September 2010. Second-year men Ray Dominguez and Sampson Genus will also be in the mix. The former is a college tackle who’s still learning to play inside. The latter has plenty of experience inside, but is barely six-feet tall. With such dubious depth, undrafted free agents Jaymes Brooks (Virginia Tech) and Don Barclay (West Virginia) figure to get long looks in the months to come.

DEFENSIVE LINE- If you think you were frustrated watching Jarius Wynn, C.J. Wilson and Mike Neal attempt to rush the quarterback last season, imagine how Thompson felt. Well, you don’t have to imagine. He told you exactly how frustrated he was by drafting two defensive linemen in the first four rounds. Second-round pick Jerel Worthy doesn’t have prototypical size to play end in a 3-4, but he has prototypical power and quickness to rush the QB. Fourth-round pick Mike Daniels doesn’t have prototypical size to play any position in a 3-4, but he also can rush the quarterback. See the pattern? Along with free agent Anthony Hargrove, the inside pass rush should be markedly better in 2012.

LINEBACKER- I may not be the biggest Nick Perry fan in the world, but after complaining for two years about Thompson’s refusal to draft a partner for Clay Matthews, I can’t complain too much. There’s no question the former USC star will make the Packers better at right outside linebacker; just how much better remains to be seen. Perry is a terrific athlete, but he ran hot and cold in college. It’ll be up to assistant coach Kevin Green to keep the heat turned up. Thompson traded up to get Terrell Manning in the fifth round. The former North Carolina State star projects inside. He probably won’t play much in the base defense, but he could be used as a rusher in certain packages. Along with returnees D.J. Smith, Jamari Lattimore and Vic So’oto, the competition at this position should be intense.

DEFENSIVE BACK- Thompson traded up to get Casey Hayward in the second round, and the former Vanderbilt star will be expected to challenge Sam Shields for the No. 3 cornerback job. Hayward doesn’t run nearly as well as Shields, but he’s a better tackler and a more cerebral player. That means an awful lot to coaches who had to watch corners miss tackles and blow assignments week after week in 2011. Last year’s fourth-round pick, Davon House, will also be in the picture. You wouldn’t normally give a rookie from Maine much of a chance to win a starting job, but that’s not the case with Jerron McMillian. The speedy fourth-round pick will be given every opportunity to unseat journeyman Charlie Peprah at safety. Young veterans M.D. Jennings and Anthony Levine will also be in the mix.

SPECIALISTS- The Packers are in very good shape with kicker Mason Crosby, punter Tim Masthay and long snapper Bret Goode. There was no need to draft a specialist, and any undrafted free agents signed will be camp bodies only.