The Packer Pundit

Hamstring injury sidelines Green
The Green Bay Packers could be without perhaps their second-most indispensable player Sunday at Detroit. Halfback Ahman Green missed practice Friday with a hamstring injury and was added to the team's injury report as questionable for Sunday's game against the Lions at Ford Field. "Just the wear of the last two days, it flared up on him at the end of practice (Thursday)," coach Mike McCarthy said. Asked if he was concerned about Sunday, McCarthy replied, "I hope not. We're just being smart about it. We'll know more in the morning." If Green can't go, backup Noah Herron and recently acquired Vernand Morency would share the load, just as they did in practice Friday.

Numbers crunch
The Packers' defense enters Sunday having allowed 741 yards on 131 plays during its first two games. An astonishing 389 of those yards - 52.6 percent - and four touchdowns have come on 14 explosive plays allowed by Green Bay, an average of 27.8 yards per play. On the other 117 plays, the Packers have allowed only 352 yards, or an average of 3.0 yards per play. "That's the stuff we need to eliminate and take away," McCarthy said. "Our problem right now on defense is about giving up the big play. That's extremely high. We need to cut that by about 30 or 40 percent and I think we'll be playing very good defense." In each of the first two games, the Packers allowed seven explosive plays. Both Chicago and New Orleans had six explosive passes and one explosive run. The Packers define an explosive play as any run of 12 or more yards and any pass of 16 or more yards.

Old home week
Not only will state football fans have a double-dip of Wisconsin-Michigan football action - the Badgers face the Wolverines today at Michigan Stadium, and the Packers and Lions do battle 25 hours later at Ford Field - but there's plenty of familiar faces on the Lions' roster. Three former UW athletes - halfback Brian Calhoun, cornerback Jamar Fletcher and linebacker Alex Lewis - are on the team, although Calhoun, a rookie third-round pick, has played sparingly in the first two games and Lewis will miss the game with a knee injury. Fletcher is a reserve, although coach Rod Marinelli said he would start if Fernando Bryant, who has missed the last two days of practice because of a person matter, were to miss the game. Meanwhile, ex-Packers lineman Ross Verba, Green Bay's 1997 first-round pick, starts at left guard for the Lions after sitting out last season, and Barry Stokes, another ex-Packer, backs him up for offensive line coach Larry Beightol, who held that position from 1999 through 2005 in Green Bay. In addition, linebacker Paris Lenon, who left Green Bay via free agency this spring, will start at strong-side linebacker Sunday.

Packers Put In Best Week Thus Far
The proof will be in the play on Sunday, but Head Coach Mike McCarthy said on Friday his team has put in its best week of preparation thus far in 2006, and the team "can't wait to get going" to Detroit. "I think we've finally put together three good practices," McCarthy said. "I thought today was exceptionally sharp. We were off the field close to 16 minutes early. No penalties, it was a very sharp, brisk practice today. I think it really finalized a very solid week of work to this point." Two of the key areas emphasized in practice this week were the cut-blocking by the offensive linemen and the elimination of big plays allowed by the defense. One thing the Packers can't have as they attempt to turn around their slow start is seeing the same shortcomings crop up week after week. "We need to get better, we're always working to get better," McCarthy said. "But to this point it's been our best week, and we need to carry it over to the football game now."

Colledge to start again
With rookie Jason Spitz missing another full week of practice because of a bruised thigh, fellow rookie Daryn Colledge will get his second consecutive start at left guard. "Each time I get a chance to go out there and run around and play with these guys I'm going to be more and more comfortable and more confident in my own ability," Colledge said. "Hopefully I can play better than I did last week and just keep improving." After Colledge's first NFL start last week, McCarthy said he played "OK," an assessment Colledge agreed with but would like to change after this week. "They told me I made some good plays and did some good things, but there's also some stuff I did that needs to be corrected and can't happen every week," Colledge said. "They just want me to be a consistent guy, a guy that contributes to this team every down and not somebody t hey have to worry about."

Three in a row
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers says it's to the Packers' advantage to be facing a Cover 2 defense for the third week in a row. "I think so, I really do," Rodgers said. "The game plans have been pretty similar. I think we've got the protections down. We've got them scouted pretty good." At least the practice week went well, according to McCarthy. "As a football team, we can't wait to get going Sunday," he said. "We finally put together three good practices. We need to carry it over to the football game now."

Executive session
McCarthy meets once a week with what is called the leadership council of players. The group includes about 10 veterans and one rookie, receiver Greg Jennings. "They talk about team issues," Rodgers said. "We had it last year but it was smaller. It was Brett (Favre), Rob (Davis), (Ryan) Longwell and (Al Harris), I want to say."

Extra Points
**In a switch, defensive tackle Colin Cole might be inactive and Kenderick Allen might be active Sunday. "As far as what the coaches are saying, I don't know if I'm going to be playing," Cole said.

**Center Scott Wells shared one key tip for the rookie guards on how to pass-protect against Shaun Rogers: "I told them don't ever overset," he said. "Stay inside out. I gave up a sack last year (at guard) when I overset and he gave me a quick inside swim move. That's one of his favorite things."

**Koren Robinson might debut at wide receiver but isn't a big part of the plan. "We don't have anything for him specifically," McCarthy said. "But he's part of the rotation."

**Former Packers linebacker Paris Lenon will start for the Lions. "He looks about the same as he looked here," Rodgers said. "He's a tough, physical guy. He fits into that whole Tampa 2 linebacker mold really well."

**During cornerback Charles Woodson's eight seasons in Oakland, the Raiders faced Jon Kitna as a starter six times. "I really don't remember much," Woodson said. When pressed, he said, "He has a pretty decent arm. He's pretty efficient."






Seeking a better deal
Wells, Jenkins
prove their worth
on the field
By BOB McGINN
journalsentinel.com
Several times each week various NFL teams reward deserving players with lucrative new contracts or contract extensions. If and when the Green Bay Packers get around to extending a player, center Scott Wells and defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins each would like it to be him. Wells and Jenkins, both of whom will turn 26 in January, share many common bonds. They entered the NFL as undersized, unheralded long shots. They have been released once by the Packers but have battled their way into the starting lineup. And they're set to become the Packers' only restricted free agents after the season. Neither Wells nor Jenkins had anything to do with the idea for this story. They answered questions only when asked. So far, neither player has heard a word from the team about a new contract. "I try not to think about it," Jenkins said. "I let my agents worry about that stuff right now." The Packers are $7.5 million beneath their adjusted salary cap of $103.7 million and are deeply enmeshed in the early stages of rebuilding. General manager Ted Thompson would like some players to have break-out seasons so he can feel confident giving them big new deals and use up some of the cap room. -- More


Defensive stats deceiving
Packers are 2nd against the run,
but big plays are the problem
By Rob Demovsky
greenbaypressgazette.com
When are NFL stats meaningless? Probably after only two weeks, when you consider the 0-2 Green Bay Packers rank second in the league in rushing average, allowing opponents only 2.7 yards per carry. Only the 2-0 Baltimore Ravens have been better in that category, allowing their two opponents only 1.7 yards per attempt. "Our problem right now on defense is strictly about giving up the big play," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. In Sunday's loss to the Saints, the Packers held New Orleans to just 48 yards rushing on 22 attempts, a 2.2-yard average, but gave up 353 yards passing, including six "explosive plays" through the air. -- More



Defensive Line Off To Strong Start
By Mike Spofford / Packers.com
They've held two opponents to a collective 2.7 yards per carry, racked up five sacks and forced three turnovers so far in 2006. It's a strong start for the Packers' defensive line, but that's all this unit hopes it is. A start.

"I think we've shown some good things, but I think there's still some room obviously for improvement to a place where we can try to take over games," defensive end Aaron Kampman said. "That's what we want to continue to keep working towards."

The work the defensive front four has done so far has been admirable. Kampman has made the biggest plays, notching four of the unit's five sacks. He also contributed to an interception by Chicago's Rex Grossman with heavy pressure, and forced and recovered a fumble by New Orleans' Drew Brees. His linemates are making an impact as well. Fellow end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila has the other sack as well as a forced fumble. Defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins flushed Brees into Gbaja-Biamila for that sack and then recovered the loose ball. -- More


Sitting out is 'kind of hard'
By Rob Demovsky
greenbaypressgazette.com
Defensive tackle Kenderick Allen thought he played well in Week 1 against the Chicago Bears, getting positive feedback from the Green Bay Packers' coaches about his two-tackle performance. So imagine Allen's surprise when he showed up at Lambeau Field for Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints and was told he was on the inactive list. "It was a real big apple to swallow," Allen said. "That was kind of hard to chew on." Allen, a four-year veteran, is one of 10 defensive linemen, including six defensive tackles, on the roster. The Packers dressed seven defensive linemen against the Saints after suiting up eight against the Bears. Rookies Johnny Jolly and Jason Hunter were inactive for both games. -- More


Mike McCarthy column:
For us, life on road is routine
This week is our first road trip of the regular season, and when you go on the road, you always want to limit the distractions. Come game time, you know you're going to have to deal with the crowd noise and playing in a hostile environment. That makes it all the more important for everything else on the road to go smoothly. It's not something I worry about with the Packers. Travel is a first-class operation, with the charter plane, quality hotels and plenty of food for the players. You really appreciate traveling like we do when you remember the times things didn't go so well. I'll never forget one of our University of Pittsburgh road trips when I was on the staff there. In 1991, we were going to East Carolina, where Jeff Jagodzinski was an assistant and Jeff Blake was the quarterback.
-- More






Hawk looks like he belongs
It's hard for him to believe it all
By Chris Havel / gbpressgazette.com

"It's a process. Once we get some wins, it will be a lot easier knowing how we're coming along. There's times when we're playing great and there's times when we're not consistent. It's tough losing. It's something I'm not used to, and I'll never get used to. We're dedicated to getting it right." -- A. J. Hawk

A.J. Hawk wasn't interested in the fine print. The 33-page document in front of him guaranteed millions of dollars, and it essentially assured him the starting weak-side linebacker job with the Green Bay Packers. Hawk hastily read his first NFL contract as if it were a race to the dotted line. It wasn't that he couldn't wait to get paid. It was because he couldn't wait to go to work. The Packers' first-round draft pick was dressed for success — his first NFL practice — and executing legal documents wasn't a priority. "That stuff, that's why you hire an agent you trust," Hawk said Thursday. "I trust him. I didn't even care. I said, 'Get me into camp and we're fine.' He got me into camp. That's part of the game now. It's weird you're getting paid to play. That's different." So is Hawk. -- More


Is No. 80 a No. 1?
'Explosive' Driver rarely gets his due
By Rob Demovsky / greenbaypressgazette.com

"My thing is, I love criticism. Criticism makes me play harder. No one thought I'd be a top receiver in this league. I think I've proven that four years in a row." -- Donald Driver

Even on bad football teams, players produce and put up gaudy statistics. No one has done that better for the 0-2 Green Bay Packers than receiver Donald Driver, who has 15 catches for 249 yards, a 16.6-yard average.

**Only two players — Amani Toomer of the New York Giants and Marvin Harrison of the Indianapolis Colts — have more receptions than Driver. But just barely. Toomer has two more and Harrison one more.

**Only one player — Laveranues Coles of the New York Jets — has more receiving yards than Driver. Again, just barely. Coles has 4 more yards than Driver. What that makes Driver is open for debate. He's either a good player because he's on a bad team with few other weapons, or he's just a good player, period. -- More


Favre still does it all, but find way to win
Green Bay fails to hold 13-0 lead
By RICK BRAUN / Packer Plus writer

"When we were up, 13-0, I knew that as good as that was that the guys kind of had a false sense of security and we may be in that situation, and I'm standing on the sidelines before those drives at the end and guys would come up (and say), 'Hey, pull us out old man' and those kind of jokes." -- Brett Favre

The 2006 version of the Green Bay Packers already has enough problems and is certain to see even more as a season of growing pains goes on. But for fleeting moments on Sunday in a 34-27 loss at the hands of the New Orleans Saints, there were reminders that Brett Favre still has a lot of football left in him. Favre completed 31 of 55 passes for 340 yards and three touchdowns. He rolled to the right and left as the Packers moved the pocket. He avoided the rush on numerous occasions. He hardly looked like a man less than 30 days away from his 37th birthday. On Sunday he looked much different from the player who a week earlier threw just five passes in the first half and tossed a pair of fourth-quarter interceptions. -- More






Plight of the Packers:
Blame the GM
By Stephen Nover / covers.com
Forget it Green Bay. It`s one thing to be an underdog to New Orleans at Lambeau Field, but to follow that insult by blowing a 13-0 lead to the Saints means something more serious.

The oddsmakers were right. The Packers are indeed terrible.

Linesmakers realized it and now the betting public does as well. The Packers always have been a popular team with recreational gamblers, but nobody is going to touch the Packers for a while. Several online books, including BetCRIS, BoDog and 5Dimes, have the Packers as 7-point road underdogs to Detroit. You’d have to go back 14 years to find the last time the Packers were that big of an underdog against the Lions. The villain is the Green Bay brain trust, primarily general manager Ted Thompson. He did inherit a personnel mess from former general manager and head coach Mike Sherman, the only man in NFL history to trade up in the third round to take a stiff punter no one else wanted. However, it was Thompson who cut Favre’s legs out from under him by callously disregarding the guard position. The Packers had two good guards, Mike Wahle and Marco Rivera, when Thompson took over two years ago. Thompson made the right call letting Rivera, who was slowing down because of assorted injuries, go to Dallas. But Thompson blew it by also letting Wahle walk. -- More







T.O. says he's 'definitely' playing vs. Eagles
Smith looks good, but not definite for Sunday
Sore Alexander will start against Giants
Dungy hints Colts to sign kicker Gramatica
Garcia eager to return to San Francisco


Meet Chasity
Tennessee Titans
Cheerleader

Hometown: Nashville, TN

Birthdate: April 9

Relationship status: Single (Yessssssssss)

Children: 0

Pets: Toy Yorkie - Johnny “Drama”

Years as a Titans Cheerleader: 3

Occupation: Sales Representative

Hobbies/Interests: Dancing, running, traveling, spending time with friends and family.

Favorite Movie: Serendipity, The Notebook (What? 'No Sleepless in Seattle'?)

Favorite Musician: Faith Hill, Dave Matthews

Favorite Food: Mexican

Place you would most like to travel: Bora Bora

Biggest fear: Failure

Biggest personal goal: Being successful! Having a family one day, and being the best mother and wife that I can be.

Unique Fact about yourself: The support and respect I have for our soldiers. Also, I am thankful that I have a good sense of humor! I love to see people smile! (Did I mention I'm a Vet who loves to smile? Of course... I'm Old enough to be her father... *sigh*)