8/25/2006
Woodson Getting Back Into Return Mode
Charles Woodson hasn't been a regular punt returner since his Heisman Trophy days at Michigan. But he remains Head Coach Mike McCarthy's No. 1 choice to return punts for the Packers this season, and Woodson expects to get the feel for the role again very quickly. "I'm looking forward to it," Woodson said. "It's been a while since I've been able to do it. Hopefully we'll get a chance."
Woodson has looked natural and comfortable returning punts in practice, as has rookie Greg Jennings. Fellow rookie Cory Rodgers has struggled with drops but continues to work on a new technique he didn't use in college at Texas Christian. Newcomer Carlton Brewster also has been worked into the mix this week.
Playing multiple spots
The Packers have been working their backup offensive linemen in various spots this week, presumably to find out which players have the versatility to back up multiple positions to fill out the depth chart. Guard Siitupe Peko has also taken snaps at center and right tackle, center Chris White has seen time at left guard, and Pete Traynor has been at center and both guard spots. Earlier in the week, Daryn Colledge added left tackle to his responsibilities as well as left guard, while McCarthy said Junius Coston would work at right guard as well as right tackle.
Where you at 85 where you at?
Receivers Brewster and Calvin Russell wore yellow No. 85 jerseys for part of practice on Thursday to represent Cincinnati's top wideout, Chad Johnson, on the scout team. As the preseason continues, the Packers have been spending more time game-planning for opponents and having practices resemble those of the regular season.
2-minute TD
Brett Favre led a touchdown drive in the lone two-minute drill on Thursday, which pitted the No. 1 offense against the No. 1 defense. With the offense on its own 24-yard line and trailing 10-9 with 2 minutes, 25 seconds left, Favre got things started by hitting Jennings on a short crossing route that the rookie wideout turned into a 30-yard gain. Two plays later, the defense almost ended the drive when Aaron Kampman nearly intercepted a quick slant, leaping from his defensive end position and batting the ball with both hands but failing to corral it for the turnover. Favre then converted third-and-10 with an 11-yard screen pass to Samkon Gado. Moments later as Favre scrambled to his right, Donald Driver found an opening in the secondary, caught the pass and waltzed into the end zone untouched for a 32-yard TD.
Crosswinds steer Rayner off course
Green Bay Packers kicker Dave Rayner got a taste of what it might be like kicking in Lambeau Field and the results weren't pretty. Rayner, who last week was given the chance to win the job without competition, battled a crosswind that blew over Ray Nitschke Field Thursday afternoon. It was similar to the winds that blow through Lambeau in the winter months, which former kicker Ryan Longwell said many times were among the most unpredictable in the National Football League. Rayner connected on field-goal attempts of 24, 30 and 30 yards but then pushed two attempts from 39 yards to the left. Then in a hurry-up drill in which the field goal unit was rushed out onto the field, he missed again to the left from 39 yards. In all, Rayner hit six of nine during practice, the longest from 44 yards.
Favre agrees to pitch for Rayovac Batteries
Brett Favre has agreed to a two-year deal to appear in television, print and other ads, according to Spectrum Brands Inc. He will take part in the company's Power Challenge campaign, which starts in October, the company said. It will be aimed at mothers, a group that makes the majority of battery purchasing decisions, Spectrum Brands said. "This message of endurance and value is a perfect fit with my style of play on the field and my dedication to my family off the field," Favre said in the company's news release. Financial details were not provided. Previously the company had basketball star Michael Jordan touting renewable alkaline batteries and power station chargers.
Extra points
McCarthy said offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski likely will continue to coach from the sidelines in the regular season, as he has in preseason. McCarthy calls the plays, while Jagodzinski is making "the game adjustments" and "managing the offense on the sideline," McCarthy said. The Packers spent two days preparing for the Bears and are now prepping for the Cincinnati Bengals, their exhibition opponent Monday night. "It's a challenge," McCarthy said. "But you need to learn how to shift gears. It's not a normal week."
I thought this article deserved 'Featured Story of the Day' because... as a displaced Packer Backer... I could relate to her point of view... secondly... it is an extremely well written piece by an up and coming journalist... and lastly... she's a hottie! Yeah she's about my daughter's age but bite me... when I girl's cute and pretty I'm gunna tell ya so cause... that's how I roll!
It's all good... it's all good!
An outsider's perspective on Packer Nation
By BETH WILBERDING / Packer Plus writer
Editor's note: Beth Wilberding, a native of Louisville, Ky., is working as the Dow Jones summer intern for the Journal Sentinel sports department and Packer Plus. Wilberding is a senior majoring in journalism at Western Kentucky University where she also serves as the sports editor for the school's student newspaper, the College Heights Herald.
Where I grew up, No. 4 is, well, just a number. Green and Gold clashes too much with our Cardinal red and Wildcat blue personalities. And, unless a local athlete is on either team's roster, February's Super Bowl game in Miami will be just another excuse to party. Unless the Packers achieve the shock of the season and get to head to South Florida, because guard Jason Spitz played for the University of Louisville, after all.
Kentucky is rich in college sports history. While most sports fans probably have a professional team they follow, their college team preference is probably where there strongest sports allegiance lies. I, for one, have always preferred the college football arena to the professional one. So when I got my first visit to the hallowed Lambeau Field for the exhibition game when the Packers trounced Atlanta, I had many preconceived notions - some might say stereotypes - about what my visit would be like and how the Green Bay fans would act.
I assumed that from the time I wandered from the parking lot tailgaters to the stadium itself, it would be an orgy of beer, cheese and rock and roll music. I was expecting Bears bashing and more than a little Falcon roasting. Right now in Louisville and Lexington, there is a lot of trash talking going on as the annual Cards/Cats football rivalry is less than two weeks away.
Game day of the first home exhibition game for the Packers? Just good-natured tailgating featuring people with the ubiquitous cheeseheads and Brett Favre jerseys. But I did feel at home when I walked by some tailgaters blasting Johnny Cash. I didn't expect to hear country music at a tailgate this far north of the Mason-Dixon line.
It just amazes me that Green Bay, a city of about 101,203 according to census.gov is able to support a professional sports team, while Louisville with its 556,429 (closer to a million when some other counties populations are counted in) remains focused solely on college sports. MORE>>
I thought this was the Runner Up for 'Feature Story of the Day'... and besides... it's by Lori Nickel (I'm such a Tool) --
Rodgers getting caught up
Unorthodox style has evolved
By Lori Nickel / journalsentinel.com
"It's a shorter arc angle to the release point. The key to playing quarterback, and throwing the ball, is if you're quick to the release point. Some guys have (a release) real drawn out, some guys hold the ball real low so it takes a little bit longer to the release point. You want to get it as quick as possible to the release point, so the defense has less chance to react on the throw." -- Aaron Rodgers
One look at Aaron Rodgers last summer and it was obvious he had a very different delivery.
Taking the snap and dropping back, Rodgers propped the football on an invisible shelf next to his right ear lobe before he drew back and threw a pass. He was taught that technique in college because it leads to a swift release, but critics called his style mechanical. The shelf turned off some National Football League scouts. Then training camp ended, Brett Favre took over for the 15th straight season for the Packers and Rodgers' big issue was all but forgotten. A year later, in his second training camp, Rodgers lined up next to Favre on Thursday in a passing drill. As they dropped back in unison and threw downfield to receivers, Rodgers appeared to hold the ball somewhat higher than Favre but the shelf wasn't obvious. In fact, it appeared to be gone. MORE>>
Hawk takes 'a step forward'
By Pete Dougherty
greenbaypressgazette.com
"Different people are really different, some people need their full 8 hours (of sleep); I don't feel like I need that. If I get 5 hours sleep, I feel fine. I'd like to get a little more, but to get 8 hours, I'd have to go to bed really early. And once you get in that groove, you want that (morning workout)." -- A. J. Hawk
Leading up to this year's NFL draft, several respected NFL scouts described A.J. Hawk as the prospect other than playmaking halfback Reggie Bush who had the fewest holes and was most ready to play well as a rookie. Hawk's quiet performance as the starting weak-side linebacker through the first two weeks of training camp left that lofty evaluation open to question, but the Green Bay Packers saw good signs in Hawk's play against Atlanta last week and in two days of practice since. Against the Falcons, Hawk was in on four tackles, including dropping halfback Justin Griffith for a 2-yard loss, and broke up two passes. As he has this week in practice, he looked more sure of his assignments and more like a player who's projected to catch on quickly after being selected No. 5 overall in this year's draft. MORE>>
Beach finally earning respect
By Dylan B. Tomlinson
Gannett Wisconsin Newspapers
"I'm not here because of anything I did at Kentucky. I had a good pro day, and that's the only reason I'm here right now." -- Arliss Beach
With every bit of success that Arliss Beach has during Green Bay Packers training camp, he thinks about his four years at the University of Kentucky and just shakes his head. After Beach's sophomore season at Kentucky, he seemed well on his way to becoming a star. During his first start, he rushed for three touchdowns as the Wildcats nearly upset the University of Florida. Beach finished the season as Kentucky's leading rusher and also led the team with eight touchdowns. As well as Beach played, however, he seldom found himself in the starting lineup. MORE>>
Aiming to graduate from 'the dungeon'
Rayner excels against Falcons
By ROB REISCHEL / Special to Packer Plus
Dave Rayner calls it "the dungeon." And for the time being, it's where Rayner - the only kicker currently on Green Bay's roster - spends a large part of his day. The dungeon is Rayner's pet name for the Packers' overflow locker room, a spot typically reserved for players with little chance of making the final roster. Rayner's locker is tucked in a corner, making his existence even more cramped. But Rayner's place in the locker room - and on the Packers - might soon be looking a lot better.
Green Bay released journeyman Billy Cundiff last week, leaving Rayner as the only kicker in camp. Rayner took full advantage in Saturday's 38-10 exhibition victory over Atlanta, connecting on a 30-yard field goal, all five extra points and kicking off pretty well. Another couple games like that and Rayner might escape the dungeon. "I felt great, man. I hit the ball real well," Rayner said afterward. "I hit the ball well. I was in a rhythm tonight. When we score, when I'm constantly kicking, it's so much easier to get in a rhythm and I was in a rhythm. I felt good." MORE>>
Davenport warned
By Jason Wilde / madison.com
"I can't really comment. It's his team. He wants on his team who he wants on his team. As far as a roster spot, from my understanding, everybody's fighting for a roster spot, with the exception of Brett Favre." -- Najah Davenport
It won't make ESPN's SportsCenter the way Dallas coach Bill Parcells' dealings with perpetual distraction Terrell Owens have in recent days, but Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy sent a not-so-subtle message to oft-injured No. 2 running back Najeh Davenport Thursday.
The gist: Start spending more time on the field and less in the training room, or you won't be here. Davenport had just missed his second straight day of practice after dropping out of Tuesday night's workout because of a strained hip flexor. The fifth-year running back also missed six practices earlier in camp with a calf injury.
When asked the rather innocuous question of whether Davenport will play in Monday night's exhibition game at Cincinnati, McCarthy replied, "Player injuries I really can't control. Obviously, you want to see him out there. He's competing for a roster spot. "Am I concerned? I'm concerned about what's best for our football team. We like the things Najeh has done, but he needs to get out there and play and make our football team just like everybody else." MORE>>
Pass rush plan
Pressure is on defensive line
By BOB McGINN / journalsentinel.com
Coach Mike McCarthy doesn't want his defenses in Green Bay doing a ton of blitzing and is optimistic he won't be forced to do that this year. The Packers ranked an impressive eighth among National Football League teams in sack percentage last season. They had 35 sacks, including eight by Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila as he led the club for the fifth straight season.
In reality, the Packers' pass rush was nothing more than average. They totaled just 38 knockdowns and 40 hurries, a significant downturn from 51 knockdowns and 72 hurries in 2004. With the personnel essentially the same, the overriding question is whether the Packers can generate sufficient pressure from their front four so new defensive coordinator Bob Sanders won't be forced into wholesale blitzing.
"I would say every indication would be 'yes' right now," McCarthy said. "That's the one group that has a lot of depth. Now will you get enough pass rush from them? It's 'yes' because we're going to be rolling guys. It isn't like one guy is going to play 70 plays in a game." MORE>>
Fullback Takes On Different Role
In Packers' Offense
By Mike Spofford / Packers.com
"You have to be an athletic guy, you have to be able to read and adjust like a halfback would, you have to be a good receiver, you have to be smart so you can pick up your protections. You have to be an overall football player. I think that's the bottom line." -- Edger Bennett (Running Backs Coach)
In the traditional sense of the ground game, there's a clear distinction between the types of players who play tailback and fullback. But in the Packers' new zone-blocking run scheme, the distinction is blurred in that the fullback isn't necessarily the prototype battering ram fairly customary at the position.
In this scheme, the fullback is more of a backup tailback with the athleticism to carry out the responsibilities of both positions, except he'll rarely carry the ball. It may be easier to find players who fit that description than the straight-ahead blaster of a fullback, but it's not easy to find someone who can excel in the role.
The reason the fullback doesn't need to be a big, bruising blocker is the way the zone scheme works. As the offensive line flows in one direction, with each lineman responsible for an area rather than an individual defender, it's harder for a linebacker to simply pick a hole and attack. So when the fullback is making the read on the defender he needs to block, that player isn't likely to have a full head of steam. MORE>>
Published by PackerPundit On Friday, August 25, 2006 at 6:06 AM.
Not sure where to post this but I wanted to ask if anyone has heard of National Clicks?
Can someone help me find it?
Overheard some co-workers talking about it all week but didn't have time to ask so I thought I would post it here to see if someone could help me out.
Seems to be getting alot of buzz right now.
Thanks