The Packer Pundit

Turnovers Will Be At Premium vs. Rams
By Mike Spofford / Packers.com
Despite the Packers' struggles giving up the big play, the defense has made a few big plays, too, and there's no denying that the turnovers the defense has produced have had a significant impact on the team's chances to win thus far in 2006. Three straight turnovers on the Saints' first three possessions helped produce a 13-0 lead in Week 2. An interception returned for a touchdown proved to be the difference in a seven-point win over the Lions in Week 3. And two fumble recoveries near the goal-line helped Green Bay hold the halftime lead at Philadelphia last Monday. But those turnovers may be harder to come by this week. The St. Louis Rams have committed just three turnovers through four games, one of the lower totals in the league. Quarterback Marc Bulger has not thrown an interception in 141 pass attempts, and the offense has lost only three of five fumbles. It's the surest sign of any that the 2006 Rams under first-year head coach Scott Linehan aren't the same Rams of years past. With a wide-open offense in previous years, the Rams in essence accepted turnovers as part of their high-risk, high-reward style. -- More






Packers' pass defense coming up short
Which means big plays for opponents
By RICK BRAUN / Packer Plus writer

"Like anything, if you've seen it done right you have something to hold on to. I've seen this secondary and I've seen every phase of our football team do it correctly. The problem is that we're not doing it correctly for 60 minutes. That's what I want. If I didn't think they could do it correctly there would be a chance. I've seen it with my own eyes, I've seen it in training camp and I've seen it in pieces of the game. We didn't do it for 60 minutes, and we're just not there right now." -- Mike McCarthy

Maybe the No. 1 ranking of the Green Bay Packers' pass defense in 2005 was simply a mirage. In terms of yardage allowed, the Packers ranked as the best pass defense in 2005. Then they signed safety Marquand Manuel. And then they signed cornerback Charles Woodson. So they should be even better, right? Not so far, and not by a very, very long shot. The 2006 Packers have become porous in the back end, and opposing quarterbacks have taken notice.

Philadelphia's Donovan McNabb had eight completions of 20 yards or more Monday night in the Eagles' 31-9 victory.

In a span of 1 minute and 17 seconds in the third quarter, McNabb hit Greg Lewis for touchdowns of 45 and 30 yards to turn a 10-9 lead into a 24-9 edge. -- More




Big plays are big problem
By JASON WILDE / madison.com
When the running backs are fumbling, the coaches have them do extra ball-security drills. When the offensive linemen aren't executing their cut blocks, the coaches have them diving at pads on the ground. When the receivers are dropping balls, the coaches fire up the JUGS machine and feed pass after pass into the spinning wheels. But what on earth can the Green Bay Packers do to stop allowing so many explosive plays on defense? Other than talk about it? "Um," Packers defensive end Aaron Kampman said, "I don't know. I really don't know. "We emphasize, emphasize, emphasize. Obviously, at some point in time, you try to think of new and creative ways to do that. We're trying, we're focusing, we're doing what we can to make sure the whole defense is on the same page. But it's not just one thing. It's not just one particular way that we've given up these explosions." -- More




Offensive weapons hurting
By Rob Demovsky
greenbaypressgazette.com
Three key members of the Green Bay Packers' offense were limited in practice on Thursday for the second straight day. One day after doing only individual drills, quarterback Brett Favre and his top receiver, Donald Driver, did some team (11-on-11) activities, according to the coaching staff. However, neither was full-go. Favre, still bothered by a sore neck and shoulder, split time with backup quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who received more snaps than he usually would during a typical Thursday practice for a Sunday game.

Driver, who sustained rib and hip injuries in Monday night's loss at Philadelphia, wore a red jersey like the quarterbacks wear, signifying that he was not allowed to have any contact. Running back Ahman Green, who did not play against the Eagles due to a hamstring injury, missed almost the entire practice. The only thing he took part in was stretching and a few pre-practice individual drills. Offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski said after the practice Favre would play Sunday against the Rams and that he expected Driver to be ready, also. Jagodzinski said limiting Favre had as much to do with playing on Monday night as it did with his injury. "We just wanted to give him a little extra time," Jagodzinski said. -- More




A running start
Morency, Miree make their mark
By LORI NICKEL
journalsentinel.com
The Green Bay Packers were encouraged by what they saw Monday night from newcomers Vernand Morency and Brandon Miree to continue with the running back and fullback as major role players in the offense. Not that they have much choice at running back at the moment, anyway. After looking stable in individual drills, Ahman Green did not participate in a complete practice again Thursday for the second consecutive day. He missed the Philadelphia game Monday with two injured hamstrings. This is the third consecutive week Green has missed some practice time because of injury. "He did a little bit," offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski said. "He'll be fine." Green's absence left the bulk of the practice workload to Morency. In his second National Football League start, Morency impressed the Packers with 26 carries for 99 yards against the Eagles. "He hit (the hole) hard, and he left some yards out there, too," Jagodzinski said. "He didn't know he was starting until right before pregame. He went in there and did a nice job. . . . Morency does what we want to do in the running game. He gets it downhill fast. With the exception of the fumble, he played a pretty darn good game." The Packers felt the same about Miree, who started in place of longtime veteran William Henderson. "(Miree) did better," Jagodzinski said. "He sees things. But he's been in this thing for two years out in Denver, so he sees things, trying to find the seam and all that. He's getting it." -- More






Driven by drops, Driver vows rebound
By Jason Wilde / madison.com
After Monday night's loss in Philadelphia, Donald Driver was in rough shape. He winced as he gingerly pulled his designer duffel bag down from atop his locker, and he struggled to pull on his snazzy sportcoat. But the real pain the Green Bay Packers' No. 1 receiver was feeling wasn't from Sean Considine's wicked hit on a pass across the middle. It was inside, after dropping what he believed would have been two touchdowns. "I put this one on myself," Driver said that night. "I'm the type of guy that if I perform well, everybody rallies behind me. And tonight, I didn't play well at all. "All these games hurt. But this one hurts because I didn't play my best football. I'm the guy who always makes the plays. And I didn't tonight. I dropped the ball - twice. That's what hurts, when you don't make plays you know you should've made." By Thursday, Driver was back in his usual joking-around mood, but he still clearly was bothered by the drops - a 6-yard quick pass in the end zone on the Packers' second possession, and an open slant in the third quarter that might have gone for a 41-yard score if Driver had gotten past safety Michael Lewis. -- More



Packers' Robinson
trying to catch up
Associated Press
One day after receiving a 90-day jail sentence for a probation violation in Washington, Koren Robinson was practicing with the Green Bay Packers. Robinson missed practice Wednesday to attend a court hearing in Kirkland, Wash., where he was sentenced to 90 days in jail after a judge determined he violated a probation established when he pleaded guilty to a DUI there last year. Robinson will not have to serve his sentence until after the season and will be allowed to serve part of it under a work-release program. "I'm just glad to get it over with," Robinson said Thursday. Robinson will likely play a bigger role in the offense Sunday because No. 3 receiver Robert Ferguson is doubtful with a foot injury. But after missing Wednesday's practice, Robinson has to make up for lost time.
-- More




Back among friends
Robinson returns
ready to contribute
By LORI NICKEL
journalsentinel.com

"I still have the whole thing going on in Minnesota, and we'll cross that path when we get (to) it. Now I'm back here and just trying to work hard. 'Fergie' is out this week so that's going to move me up to where I'm going to get more reps, more playing time. So I'm just ready to play football and help the team out." -- Koren Robinson

Back in town after his court appearance in Kirkland, Wash., Koren Robinson was sleep-deprived and drained emotionally Thursday but appreciative to have somewhere he needed to be. Idle time is the last thing he needs right now. The troubled wide receiver still has another date in court and jail time to face later, but Robinson could deal with his personal mistakes by doing something healthy and productive, which was throw himself into practice with his Packers teammates and get ready for St. Louis. "Exactly," he said after practice Thursday. "This keeps me motivated. This will keep me focused and happy, in a sense, and away from distractions and all that. That's a good thing." Of all weeks, too. The Packers really need Robinson now. When they picked him up in Week 2, they were just window shopping, and not counting on him for much of anything. But now third wide receiver Robert Ferguson has an injured foot and is probably not going to play Sunday against the Rams. The receiving corps is down to Donald Driver, who was banged up against Philadelphia, rookie Greg Jennings, inexperienced Ruvell Martin and Robinson. -- More