The Packer Pundit: 10/1/2006

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10/1/2006

Green downgraded
Running back Ahman Green was downgraded from probable to questionable for this week after he tweaked his hamstring in practice on Friday. Green played with a tender hamstring last week, but McCarthy said this injury is his other hamstring. "I'm hopeful he's going to play, just based on the information we have," McCarthy said. "But it's just part of our game. We have to get Mo and Noah ready to go." 'Mo' is backup Vernand Morency, whom McCarthy plans to work into the early downs, with Noah Herron on third downs. Both will play regardless of Green's health, but their overall workload will depend on Green. "You're a professional, this is your job, and you have to prepare as if you're the starter," Morency said. "You never know at any particular moment something might happen." Morency has been getting more comfortable with the offense and could be primed to up his contributions. Acquired in Week 2 in a trade, Morency was named the Packers' special teams player of the week against Detroit.

Status quo, with Spitz perhaps ready to go
McCarthy said the starting offensive guards Monday would be Daryn Colledge on the left side and Tony Moll on the right, as has been the case the past two games. Jason Spitz, out since the season opener with a bruised thigh, could be healthy enough to suit up. Depending on Spitz's availability, McCarthy said he would either be a primary backup, or he could get a few snaps at guard as part of a rotation. If so, Monday night's game would be a key part of the competition among all three rookies for the starting guard positions. Spitz has taken snaps at both right and left guard in practice this week. "You have another football game to evaluate your players, and that's always the best information," McCarthy said.

Pickett iffy
Upgraded on Friday from doubtful to questionable with his sore ankle, starting defensive tackle Ryan Pickett fully participated in practice on Saturday. But he said the ankle, though feeling better than on Friday, was still quite sore. "I'm not moving as well as I can or I'm used to moving," he said. "It's coming along, I just wish it would speed up so I can get ready for Monday." It appears as though his availability will be a game-time decision, and a key one for the defense, as Pickett has been the most consistent interior defensive lineman this season and the Packers are facing the league's top-ranked offense in Philadephia. "Coach said they're going to try me out Monday before the game and see how it feels," he said. "If it feels good, he's going to let me go. If not, he's going to sit me out."

More on fullback
McCarthy said the decision to demote Henderson was one of the toughest he's had to make in his short tenure as head coach of the Packers. Henderson has been one of the most reliable players, lauded for being a complete professional, and is one of just a few players left from the Super Bowl era. McCarthy added, "William and I have met during the course of the week. On a personal level, that's not something that's easy because we have a prior relationship. But as you move forward, you have to do what's in the best interest of the Green Bay Packers. He understands that and that's the direction we're going."

Guard check
The Packers had been rotating all three candidates between the two guard positions and at first had installed Spitz with the first team. The Packers have instead settled on Colledge. Last week in the Packers' victory against Detroit, the Packers had Chad Clifton, Colledge, Scott Wells, Moll and Mark Tauscher as the starting line. That group didn't give up a sack for the first time in the last 13 games for Green Bay. "It's a step, but its one game," Wells said. "As a unit we did do a good job of pass protecting. For that game, yeah, but this is a completely different challenge."

Williams ready
Defensive tackle Ryan Pickett practiced for a second consecutive day after returning to practice Friday. He has an injured ankle and is listed as questionable. "He was sore (Friday)," McCarthy said. "It wasn't as good as we thought it would be." Pickett said the ankle was a little better Saturday. "But that's not saying much," he said. "I'm not moving as well as I am used to moving. It's coming along, but I wish it would speed up."

Miree To Start At FB;
Morency Ready If Needed For Green
By Mike Spofford / Packers.com
henderson_football In less than a week, Brandon Miree has risen from the practice squad to starting at fullback for the Green Bay Packers. Miree, promoted to the 53-man roster from the practice squad this past Tuesday, continued his rapid ascension by being named the starting fullback for Monday night's game by Head Coach Mike McCarthy on Saturday. Miree will replace veteran William Henderson, who hasn't fully recovered from having arthroscopic knee surgery in late August and has admitted his play hasn't been up to the high standard he has set during his 12 years in Green Bay. The Packers picked up Miree from the Denver Broncos after the final roster reduction at the end of training camp. Originally a seventh-round draft choice by the Broncos in 2004, Miree spent two seasons (one on injured reserve, the other on the practice squad) in Denver's zone-blocking system, and the Packers feel his experience as a lead blocker in that system could help jump-start their sluggish ground game. -- More

Miree in; Henderson out
Veteran fullback calls demotion 'a humbling experience'
By Pete Dougherty / greenbaypressgazette.com

"It's a humbling experience, and hopefully, it keeps me hungry. I have to take it as a challenge in some way shape or form to get myself prepared to compete for whatever the situation may be." -- William Henderson

William Henderson won't start at fullback for the Green Bay Packers at Philadelphia on Monday night, and he might be a healthy scratch from the 45-man game-day roster for the first time in his 12-year NFL career. Brandon Miree, who was promoted from the practice squad on Tuesday, will start against the Eagles in place of the 36-year-old Henderson, coach Mike McCarthy said Saturday. Henderson's blocking skills have declined in recent years and he's struggled since having arthroscopic knee surgery late in training camp. McCarthy wouldn't say whether Henderson will suit up Monday night, but the Packers have dressed only one fullback for each of the first three games and used tight ends as the backup fullbacks. That likely will be the case again, especially because the Packers also have reduced Henderson's role on special teams. -- More

Green is questionable
Back now has two injured hamstrings
By LORI NICKEL
journalsentinel.com
The status of Green Bay running back Ahman Green for the game Monday night against Philadelphia has been downgraded now that he has two injured hamstrings. Last week heading into the Detroit game, Green injured one of his hamstrings in the Thursday practice and missed the Friday practice. He still played at Detroit. This week, Green hurt the other hamstring in practice Friday. That second hamstring injury was bad enough to keep Green out of practice Saturday and get him downgraded from probable to questionable for the game. -- More

Hawk starts to take flight
By Jason Wilde / madison.com
hawk3303 Like any proud papa, Keith Hawk reads every word. From Sports Illustrated to the Shawano Leader, if they've written something about his son A.J., well, chances are he's read it. "You know dads," A.J. Hawk said after practice Saturday, as the Green Bay Packers rookie linebacker prepared for Monday night's game at Philadelphia. "They read everything." Yes, Keith has made the Wisconsin media Web sites and packers.com part of his daily morning ritual, but, he said in his own defense, "I imagine most dads are doing that." So remember all that talk early in training camp about Hawk not living up to his status as the fifth overall pick in the draft? Well, because this is a case of like father, not like son, Hawk wasn't really fazed by it because he didn't really know about it. And if he does, when he does, he won't read a word about it. Saturday, he was much more concerned about the top-ranked Buckeyes' game at Iowa than public perception of his play. "It's just not something I'm worried about," Hawk said. -- More

Murphy is out, but no longer down
'I definitely believe' there's life after the NFL,
he says a year after career-ending injury
By Dylan B. Tomlinson
Gannett Wisconsin Newspapers

murphy
Terrence Murphy will have to be forgiven if he's not one of the millions of viewers who tune into ESPN on Monday night to watch the Green Bay Packers play the Philadelphia Eagles. It's still too soon. "I can watch college football no problem," said Murphy, 23. "But watching the NFL, that stuff still bothers me." It's hard to blame him. After all, it was less than a year ago, on "Monday Night Football," when Murphy's promising NFL career came to an abrupt and sudden halt. It was a week much like this one. It was Week 4 of the season. The Packers were on the road, facing the Carolina Panthers. The 6-foot-1, 196-pound Murphy was a speedy Texas A&M receiver whom the Packers took in the second round of the 2005 NFL draft. After an injury-plagued training camp, Murphy was beginning to carve out his niche in Green Bay. -- More

What's the deal with the defense?
By Chris Havel
When contemplating the Green Bay Packers' 1-2 start as they prepare for Monday night's game at Philadelphia, these are the things that make me go "Hmm?" Al Harris, the Packers' top cornerback, spoke out to a Milwaukee newspaper this week, but what he didn't say stood out. Harris singled out Carl Hairston, Winston Moss and Lionel Washington for praise. He complimented them on being "great coaches" and noted each was a former NFL player. If he mentioned other defensive coaches, specifically coordinator Bob Sanders and defensive backs coach Kurt Schottenheimer, I missed it. A head coach, coordinator or position coach doesn't have to be a former NFL player to be great. However, the coach must be able to relate to his players, which means establishing common ground in order to communicate effectively. That hasn't happened on defense. Do Harris' comments reflect his frustration, or do they indicate a deeper rift on the staff? If the Eagles' offense torches Green Bay, it suggests one of two things: Either the Packers' defense lacks the talent to compete with the NFC's best, or the coaches and players can't get on the same page despite being painfully aware of the problem. Neither is good. -- More

Young to get first NFL start
Seahawks forced into cutting Kacyvenski
Chiefs defensive end charged with DUI
Browns' Baxter likely out with chest strain
Plummer formally agrees to plea deal

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