The Packer Pundit: 9/21/2006

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9/21/2006

Dolphins sign Whitticker
In order to fill a much-needed vacancy at right guard, the Dolphins signed second-year lineman Will Whitticker on Wednesday after moving Bennie Anderson to injured reserve, his agent, Reggie Smith, said. Whitticker practiced with the Dolphins, wearing No. 76, one week after he had an individual workout for the team. He was cut by the Green Bay Packers, where he started 14 games last season, after training camp. Whitticker, a seventh-round pick from Michigan State, is expected to have an immediate impact. However, it will take some time to get him acclimated to the Dolphins offense, meaning guard Kendyl Jacox is still the likely starter for Sunday's game against the Titans.

Getting the new guys in
McCarthy said receiver Koren Robinson's primary role will continue to be as a kick returner, but he is in the receiver rotation and continues to learn the offense. How much he would be called upon to contribute on offense isn't clear at this point. Running back Vernand Morency may be more ready to contribute on offense in addition to special teams. The Packers see Morency as a third-down, change-of-pace back, and McCarthy noted he's been particularly adept at picking up blitzes, a requirement in that type of role.

Working on crowd noise
Practicing on Clarke Hinkle Field on Wednesday, the Packers had some crowd noise blaring through the speaker system to try to prepare them for playing indoors at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday. McCarthy said practice would be moved inside the Don Hutson Center at least once this week to get a workout in on the field turf, but for the most part he prefers to practice on grass for the benefit of the players' health.

Other TEs to play FB if needed
With tight end David Martin questionable with a knee injury, the Packers continue to work fellow tight ends Tory Humphrey and Donald Lee as backup fullbacks to fill that role if needed. Among the tight ends, Martin had received the most extensive work at fullback and took several snaps there last Sunday. "We're fortunate having four tight ends," McCarthy said. "We feel very comfortable with the depth we have at that position."

Injury update
Other than Martin, cornerback Will Blackmon (foot), guard Jason Spitz (thigh) and cornerback Al Harris (shoulder) also are listed as questionable on the injury report. Offensive lineman Junius Coston (knee) is doubtful. Of those players, only Harris practiced on Wednesday, and he was wearing a red no-contact jersey to protect his shoulder.

Welcome wagon
On his first night in Green Bay, Robinson - who arrived with well-documented troubles with alcohol abuse - was welcomed to the fold by none other than Brett Favre. "I don't think anyone comes with no baggage. And I'd be the first to say that," Favre said. "I had my share of troubles and addictions and I never thought I was a bad guy. I still don't... "But I said, 'If you ever need to talk to someone, our situations are probably different but yet the same, (so) feel free to talk to me.' I'm all for second chances, third chances, and I don't know how much he'll help this team this year. "If he helps us, great."

Poppinga to start
McCarthy indicated today during his press conference that second-year pro Brady Poppinga will start on Sunday against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Poppinga has struggled in pass coverage, but not enough to be benched in favor of fifth-year pro Ben Taylor, says McCarthy. The coach said that he and his staff have discussed using Taylor more, but decided to continue to start Poppinga. “We talked about Ben Taylor and his role there,” McCarthy said. “We may play him more, we may not. Ben has done a very good job since he’s been here. He’s played very well on special teams. He’s ready to play. On the flip side, Brady Poppinga is a young player. No different than a number of players on our team. I know people are being critical of his pass coverage, but he started his third football game. There are a lot more positive things that he’s doing, and that’s why he’s in there. We’ll continue to grow and improve with Brady Poppinga.”

Waiting on Blackmon
Rookie cornerback Will Blackmon, who missed all of training camp while his broken foot healed, didn't practice Wednesday and figures to miss his third straight game. Given his absence has left the Packers shorthanded at the position - recent addition Jarrett Bush was pressed into action Sunday when starter Al Harris suffered cramps - McCarthy was asked if the team would have been better off putting Blackmon on the physically unable to perform list.

Extra points
Al Harris (questionable - shoulder) wore a red no-contact jersey in practice and wasn't happy about it. "Don't get too caught up in the red jersey," Harris said, adding he will play against the Lions. ... Harris was the only player on the injury report to practice, although offensive lineman Junius Coston (knee) did take part in some drills. ... McCarthy didn't move the team inside the Don Hutson Center for practice but will do so at some point to simulate Ford Field, which is a dome. However, he did bring portable speakers out to Clarke Hinkle Field to play crowd noise - or the sound of airplane engines. "It's classified as crowd noise," McCarthy said of the jet sound. ... Cornerback Charles Woodson, on a conference call with Detroit reporters, on moving from the Oakland Raiders (0-2) to the Packers (0-2): "I'm kind of disappointed so far."

Mike McCarthy Press Conference Transcript - Sept. 20
Link Here

'Explosive Plays' Are Defense's Achilles Heel
By Mike Spofford / Packers.com

"That's the stuff we need to eliminate and take away. We need to cut that by about 30 or 40 percent and I think we'll be playing very good defense." -- Mike McCarthy

Head Coach Mike McCarthy refers to them as "explosive plays," and he defines them as runs of 12 yards or more, or pass completions of 16 yards or more. Quite simply, the Packers have given up too many of them in the season's first two games, and McCarthy and his players feel that's the key element holding them back from being a productive defense. An analysis of the statistics bears that out. The Packers have given up 14 explosive plays (seven in each game) in a total of 131 defensive snaps, meaning 11 percent of the plays have accounted for 55 percent of the opposing team's total yards (406 of 741). -- More

Favre: Trade to contender not likely
Associated Press

"Well, first of all, I don't ever foresee that happening. And would I go? I don't think so. I really don't." -- Brett Favre

After losing two home games to start the season, Brett Favre can understand why people might think he would welcome a trade to a contender.But Favre, who turns 37 next month, doesn't necessarily think that would be any better than sticking it out for the rest of the year - and perhaps beyond - in Green Bay. "You know, it all, it sounds great," Favre said Wednesday. "But to learn a new system - to basically start over - the expectations would be so great. And people may say, 'Well, say your season's not going the way you would like it here, at least you could go somewhere else and take a chance at winning.' Well, I'm taking that chance now." Favre figures a sudden trade to a contender would subject him to unrealistic pressure. -- More

Trade doesn't appeal to Favre
By Jason Wilde / madison.com
First off, save your angry emails and frustrated phone calls. No one here is suggesting the Green Bay Packers should trade Brett Favre. That's not our department. But it is our job to tell you the subject did come up during the quarterback's biweekly news conference Wednesday, just as it has been buzzing on the sports talk-radio airwaves, in Internet forums and in a number of national media outlets in recent weeks. And with his team off to a not-so-surprising 0-2 start and going nowhere while a few would-be contenders - Tampa Bay and Washington most notably - are off to much more surprising 0-2 starts and suffering through poor quarterback play, one cannot help but wonder, with less than a month until the Oct. 17 trading deadline, if the unthinkable could actually happen.
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Favre Needs One More TD Pass For 400
By Mike Spofford / Packers.com

"I always dreamed of playing, always dreamed of throwing touchdown passes in the National Football League, but I never dreamed of throwing 400, never dreamed of playing 200 straight games. It's still a privilege and an honor to be able to play at this level. Every time I get to throw a pass is something a lot of people would love to do. Being able to throw touchdown passes in Lambeau Field is a great honor. To be able to throw 400 is icing on the cake." -- Brett Favre

Some professional sports milestones have a certain ring to them, like 500 home runs for a baseball player or 10,000 points for a basketball player. Four hundred career touchdown passes doesn't resonate in quite the same way, but that doesn't take away from the significance of it. With three TD passes last week against New Orleans, Brett Favre reached 399 in his career. His next one, which hopefully will come this Sunday in Detroit, will make Favre only the second player in NFL history to reach the mark. The other is Dan Marino, who retired as the NFL's all-time leader with 420. Favre moved ahead of Fran Tarkenton (342) and into second place way back in 2003 and has been closing in on 400, and Marino, ever since.
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Curing Favre of the heaves
QB has mellowed gunslinger ways
By Tom Silverstein / journalsentinel.com

"I think going into this season, regardless of who's coaching, I probably have to play a little different than maybe in years past, a little bit more conservative maybe early on, but knowing that we have to score points. Especially if you're young up front and you're struggling with protection, you may have to take some chances. I mean, I can throw for 70%, 80% week-in and week-out. But we may not score a point. So there’s a fine line, and knowing the situation is the critical part about it." -- Brett Favre

Brett Favre is nearing his 400th career touchdown pass, yet it's some of the throws he's not completing that seem to be encouraging to the Green Bay Packers. With one more touchdown strike, Favre will join Dan Marino as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to reach the 400 milestone. But there hasn't been any Barry Bonds-like watch as he creeps toward Marino's all-time mark of 420 and at best there will be a brief announcement of his achievement if he throws for a touchdown Sunday at Ford Field in Detroit. -- More

Out to make most of tight-end situation
Martin gets expanded role in game plan
By Tom Silverstein / journalsentinel.com

"We're almost a quarterback back there. We're learning fullback, tight end, wideout; we have to learn protections, and run blocking and routes. It's a lot, but that's what you want. You want to have that kind of load; that way you're on the field more." -- David Martin

The more you can do in coach Mike McCarthy's offense, the more you stand to gain, and if there's anyone on the Green Bay Packers who's moving up the charts quickly because of it, it's tight end David Martin. Provided Martin's sore left knee rebounds this week - he's listed as questionable but is expected to play Sunday against Detroit - he will continue to get a chance to be as involved as starter Bubba Franks, the seventh-year pro with three Pro Bowl honors under his belt. Franks didn't help his cause Sunday against New Orleans with two dropped passes, two foolish penalties and a missed block inside the red zone that contributed to a third-quarter interception by quarterback Brett Favre, but part of the reason Martin's stock has risen is because of his versatility. -- More

Martin hurt,
But depth at tight end helps ease pain
By Jason Wilde / madison.com
Having four tight ends on the roster, or one more than your typical NFL team, may pay off for the Green Bay Packers against the Detroit Lions. David Martin, who caught six passes for 44 yards in Sunday's loss to New Orleans and whose blocking flexibility is allowing the team to carry just one fullback, missed practice Wednesday with a right knee injury and is listed as questionable for this Sunday's game at Ford Field. But because the Packers still have Donald Lee and Tory Humphrey as backups behind starter Bubba Franks, coach Mike McCarthy didn't sound too concerned about Martin's potential unavailability. -- More

Sore knee
bothering TE Martin
By Rob Demovsky
greenbaypressgazette.com
David Martin is back in a familiar place — on the injury report. The Green Bay Packers' backup tight end's injury history is a longer list than his on-the-field accomplishments. This year, however, missing Martin could be more costly than ever. The veteran tight end, whose inability to stay healthy has stunted what some believed would be a productive career, has become more involved in the offense than at any time during his pro career. The converted wide receiver has gotten a large workload as the No. 2 tight end in the litany of multiple tight-end sets first-year coach Mike McCarthy has used. On top of that, Martin has served as the primary backup behind William Henderson, the only true fullback on the roster after Vonta Leach was cut last week. In his expanded role, Martin had a career-high six catches in Sunday's loss to the New Orleans Saints but when he woke up the next morning, a knee was sore and swollen. He didn't practice on Wednesday and was listed as questionable on the injury report. -- More

Jenkins takes step forward
Defensive lineman making impression
By Todd Rosiak / journalsentinel.com

"I don't know if (Sunday was enough) to get more snaps because I think everybody's been doing some productive stuff. But it shows the coaches they can count on me when they do put me in there and that's just what I'm shooting for, to let them know that when I am out there I'm going to get the job done." -- Cullen Jenkins

Cullen Jenkins says he has better things to worry about than whether he deserves to start full time opposite Ryan Pickett at defensive tackle. The body of work he put forth in the Green Bay Packers' 34-27 loss to the New Orleans Saints might give the coaching staff reason to consider the notion, though. Starting in place of Colin Cole, Jenkins responded with a productive 37-play stint that included two tackles, a flush of quarterback Drew Brees that set up teammate Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila for a sack and a recovery of Brees' ensuing fumble that led to Green Bay's second score. -- More

Thrown to the Lions? Robinson hopes so
By Jason Wilde / madison.com
Koren Robinson will play on offense Sunday against the Detroit Lions. How much the Green Bay Packers' new wide receiver does, well, not even Robinson knows for sure. "A couple? Five? I don't know," said Robinson, who signed with the club Sept. 12 but played solely on special teams during Sunday's 34-27 loss to New Orleans. "We got the game-plan today, and the plays that were put in, I'm pretty comfortable with them. Hopefully I can get a couple. Just to get my feet wet and show 'em what I'm able to do. I know that's going to come in due time. Hopefully that time is this weekend."
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Colledge to get another start if Spitz can't play
By Rob Demovsky / greenbaypressgazette.com
If Jason Spitz's thigh bruise keeps him sidelined for another week, the Green Bay Packers will use the same starting offensive line Sunday in Detroit they did in last week's loss to the New Orleans Saints. That means fellow rookie Daryn Colledge, who lost the starting job in training camp, would make his second straight start at left guard. Spitz didn't practice again on Wednesday and hasn't done anything on the field since he was injured in Week 1 against the Chicago Bears. Last week, McCarthy said Spitz would need to practice on Friday in order to play. When Spitz couldn't practice, it ensured Colledge would get the call. The same will be true this week. "He's got to practice before he plays," McCarthy said after Wednesday's practice. If Spitz can play, McCarthy said he will return to his left guard position, which means Colledge would return to a backup role and rookie right guard Tony Moll would remain at his spot. -- More

Sharper takes jab at Packers GM
By JUDD ZULGAD / Minneapolis Star Tribune
Minnesota Vikings safety Darren Sharper admits he feels bad for his former teammates with 0-2 Green Bay, but that sympathy does not extend to a front office led by general manager Ted Thompson.
The Packers are 4-14 with Thompson in charge over the past two seasons.

"I have friends over there playing and I don't like to see them struggling like this, and it really bothers me to see Brett (Favre) struggling at the end of a legendary career," Sharper said this week. "But it's one of those things, if you dig your grave, and the decisions you make. . . You're going to have to deal with the consequences."

Sharper spent his first eight seasons with Green Bay but left after the 2004 season following his refusal to take a pay cut. Also among those to leave Green Bay after that season were veteran guards Mike Wahle and Marco Rivera. Kicker Ryan Longwell joined the exodus last March, following Sharper in signing with the Vikings. -- More

A little continuity could go a long way for Packers
By Tom Oates / madison.com
The game-week practice field is a place for making tackles, not acquaintances, but the Green Bay Packers uttered more than a few how-do-you-do's during the first two weeks of the regular season. Indeed, the NFL's final cutdown day was more a beginning than an end in Green Bay. The revolving door kept right on spinning, needlessly so in some cases. Just days before the opener against Chicago, the Packers claimed three undrafted rookies on waivers and cut Jason Horton. Horton's release was curious since it left Green Bay short on veteran cornerbacks. Prior to the New Orleans game, the Packers signed controversial wide receiver Koren Robinson and cut fullback Vonta Leach even though Leach was one of the few Packers who played well against the Bears and was likely to be picked up by the Saints (he was). Then they swapped halfbacks with Houston, getting Vernand Morency for Samkon Gado. The official spin is the Packers are doing everything they can to improve their roster. The truth is their roster is so weak they can afford some stabs in the dark. Whatever the reason, the changes kept the Packers unsettled in the days leading up to their first two games. -- More