The Packer Pundit

Four keys to beating the Patriots
By Dylan B. Tomlinson
postcrescent.com

No turnovers
The biggest reason the Packers have returned to respectability has been Brett Favre's ability to protect the ball. In five of nine games, Favre has thrown no interceptions. In those games, the Packers are 4-1. Since the bye, Favre has thrown six touchdowns and just two interceptions, both of which came in a loss to the Buffalo Bills. Considering Favre led the NFL with 29 interceptions a year ago, he has been the biggest reason why the Packers have four wins. If Favre can hang on to the ball, the Packers will have a strong chance to win.

Protect the quarterback
The Packers will be playing without right tackle Mark Tauscher, who has been their most consistent offensive lineman. For the second time, the Packers will be starting three rookies on the offensive line with Tony Moll joining Daryn Colledge and Jason Spitz. The last time that happened, the Packers were able to beat the Miami Dolphins, but they had more than their share of struggles. Even after Tauscher went out on Sunday, the Packers were able to keep the Vikings' defense away from Favre. If that happens again, the Packers can win.

Shut down the running game
The Patriots have been effective running the ball, splitting time between a veteran and a rookie. Corey Dillon, in his 10th NFL season, has rushed for 479 yards and six touchdowns. Rookie Laurence Maroney has rushed for 495 yards and three touchdowns. By using both, neither running back has had to carry the ball more than 20 times in a game, and both players can be effective late in the game.

Sack the quarterback
The Packers' defense has been incredibly effective at getting to the quarterback. In the last two games, the Packers have nine sacks and are third in the NFL with 31 sacks overall. Packers defensive end Aaron Kampman is second in the NFL with 9½ sacks, and if the Packers can knock Tom Brady around, they have a legitimate chance to pull the upset.






PACKERS
Out
Mark Tauscher T (Groin)

Questionable
Will Blackmon CB (Rib)
Johnny Jolly DT (Ankle)
David Martin TE (Shoulder/Quad)
Brandon Miree FB (Elbow)
Michael Montgomery DE (Hamstring)
Vernand Morency RB (Back)
Cullen Jenkins DT/DE (Ankle)

Probable
Brett Favre QB (Ankle, Groin)
Ahman Green RB (Knee)
Al Harris CB (Illness)
William Henderson FB (Knee)
Greg Jennings WR (Ankle)
Charles Woodson CB (Knee)

PATRIOTS
Out
Rodney Harrison, S (Shoulder)

Questionable
Daniel Graham, TE (Ankle)
Ellis Hobbs, CB (Wrist)
Garrett Mills, TE (Thigh)
Stephen Neal, G (Shoulder)
Asante Samuel, CB (Knee)
Richard Seymour, DL (Elbow)
Ty Warren, DL (Shoulder)
Eugene Wilson, S (Hamstring)

Probable
Tom Brady, QB (Right Shoulder)

Green Bay Signs Alcorn
The Green Bay Packers Saturday signed tight end Zac Alcorn from their practice squad. Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations Ted Thompson made the announcement. Alcorn, a 6-foot-4, 260-pound rookie out of Black Hills State, had spent the season's first 11 weeks on the Packers' practice squad. Originally signed as a non-drafted free agent this past May, Alcorn was an NAIA All-American at BHSU, where he caught 85 passes for 1,220 yards and 12 TDs in 20 games for the Yellow Jackets. The Packers had one open spot on their 53-man roster after placing wide receiver Shaun Bodiford and tight end Tory Humphrey on injured reserve earlier in the week.

Gilbert Brown To Serve
As Sunday's Honorary Captain
Former Packers defensive lineman Gilbert Brown, a member of the Super Bowl XXXI Championship team, will serve as honorary captain for Sunday's game against the Patriots. As part of the organization's season-long celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Super Bowl win, General Manager Ted Thompson has invited members of the 1996 team to serve as honorary captains for each of the Packers' home games. Prior to Sunday's game, from 10:15 to 11 a.m., Brown will be visiting with fans on the Associated Bank Club Level, an area accessible to game attendees with private box or club seat tickets, as guest of the 'Alumni Meet and Greet.'

Brett Favre Voted FedEx Air Player Of The Week
Quarterback BRETT FAVRE of the Green Bay Packers and running back LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON of the San Diego Chargers are the FedEx Air & Ground NFL Players of the Week for games played on November 12-13, the NFL announced Thursday. Favre completed 24 of 42 passes for 347 yards, two touchdowns and a passer rating of 100.0 in the Packers' 23-17 victory over the Minnesota Vikings. He threw a five-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter and followed that up with an 82-yard touchdown strike just before halftime. Tomlinson carried 22 times for 104 yards and four touchdowns in the Chargers' 49-41 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. He scored on runs of two, four, nine and nine yards.

A.J. Hawk Voted Week 10 NFL Rookie Of The Week
Voters on NFL.com and via Sprint wireless service have made their choice. Linebacker A.J. HAWK of the Green Bay Packers is the NFL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK for games played on November 12-13, the NFL announced Thursday. Hawk recorded 13 total tackles and 1.5 sacks, and forced one fumble in the Packers' 23-17 victory over the Minnesota Vikings. Early in the third quarter, Hawk sacked the Vikings quarterback for a 10-yard loss. He later combined with teammate Nick Barnett for another 10-yard sack, giving him four this season. This is Hawk's second Rookie of the week honor.






Mike McCarthy column:
Jagodzinski is a pal,
and he's a fine coach
By Mike McCarthy
As a head coach, you must have time for all of your assistant coaches on a regular basis to maintain healthy communication and continuity within the team. But the way we've structured the Green Bay Packers, with offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski and I running the offense, we probably spend more time together than anyone else on my staff. We've developed maybe as good a working relationship as I've ever had with another coach, and I think a lot of it has to do with our backgrounds. When Jeff and I worked on the same offensive staff here in 1999 (I coached the quarterbacks, Jeff the tight ends), I discovered how much we had in common. We both went to small colleges and had to work our way up through the coaching profession, starting as graduate assistants, working for no money. Back in 1999, Jeff made a favorable impression as a coach with his first NFL job. He was always eager to do whatever was needed, and he asked a lot of questions. We spent a lot of time just talking football and about everything else under the sun. During individual position meetings, he asked whether he could bring the tight ends in with the quarterbacks. Receivers coach Charlie Baggett did the same thing, and we all started watching film together, which helped everybody get on the same page. This is a meeting structure we use today with the Green Bay Packers. When I got the opportunity to come back here to be the head coach, there were a lot of positives about Jeff that made him my first choice as offensive coordinator. I've always liked Jeff's creative mind, and I think that came from coaching at smaller schools like UW-Whitewater (his alma mater), Northern Illinois and East Carolina, where you have to do more with less. -- More






Holding three aces
Packers linebackers becoming a force
By GARY D'AMATO / journalsentinel.com
Posted: Nov. 18, 2006
They have a long way to go before they can be compared with the great linebacker units in Green Bay Packers history. They're young and prone to making mistakes. They're unproven in terms of durability. Whether the team can keep them together in this era of free agency is a huge question mark. There's no question, however, that fourth-year veteran Nick Barnett and first-year starters Brady Poppinga and rookie A.J. Hawk bring eye-opening levels of speed, intensity and playmaking ability to the Packers' defense. And they're only going to get better. "I think we're trying to develop our identity," Barnett said. "It's the beginning stages and, you know, we're making plays out there. There's still some things we've got to clean up, but we're starting to establish our identity." Today marks another big test for the linebackers and the defense as a whole, which faces the 6-3 New England Patriots at Lambeau Field. If there's a weakness, coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady will find a way to exploit it. -- More




Rookie roulette
By Jason Wilde / madison.com
It doesn't take a genius to figure out where the New England Patriots will attack the Green Bay Packers today: Right tackle Tony Moll, right guard Jason Spitz and left guard Daryn Colledge - the three rookie starters on the offensive line. The only question is which of the three Patriots coach Bill Belichick - widely considered a football genius - will pick on most. "I'm sure he's licking his lips to get after some rookies," Spitz said. So, too, must the Patriots' veteran defenders. New England's expected front-seven starters - Jarvis Green, Richard Seymour and Vince Wilfork on the line and Junior Seau, Mike Vrabel, Rosevelt Colvin and Tedy Bruschi at linebacker - average 8 years of NFL experience. Moll, Spitz and Colledge? They average eight games of NFL experience. "I don't know what coach Belichick is thinking. I don't think anyone does," Packers quarterback Brett Favre said. "I don't know if he looks at our depth chart, and (if he does), I don't think he looks at it and is worried." He might not be worried, but Belichick definitely knows the Packers' depth chart. In meeting with Boston-area reporters during the week, he spoke authoritatively on just about every position on Green Bay's roster, including the offensive line. -- More



Hawk feels right at home
He shows it on field, off field
By Chris Havel
A.J. Hawk isn't a typical first-round NFL draft pick. He didn't hold out for more money. He didn't show up in Green Bay acting like he was the greatest thing since the Friday night fish fry. He didn't make promises he couldn't keep or predictions he couldn't possibly live up to. Best of all, he hasn't met expectations. He has exceeded them, and his teammates have taken note. They respect his ability and they appreciate his attitude. "He's just a regular old dude," fellow Packers linebacker Ben Taylor said. "He's an all-American kid. He does things the right way." William Henderson has seen every manner of first-round pick in his 12 seasons. What he has seen of Hawk he admires, a major compliment coming from a player as accomplished as Henderson. "He is that blue-collar guy," Henderson said. "I haven't seen any flash or any flair. This is a blue-collar town. If you dress well in Green Bay, it means you've got on a nice pair of jeans and a shirt without a hole in it. He just fits right in. He knows how to come in and sweat and work hard, and he's all about business. He's focused on football. He's not walking around the locker room like his stuff doesn't stink." Hawk, 22, has the passion to go with the talent. He leads the team with 90 tackles. He also has four sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. The statistics are impressive, but not as impressive as his potential. For a young pup, he is on the right path to long and prosperous career. -- More



Packers are in hunt for playoffs — for now
By Mike Woods
Because we've been told time and again you have to take advantage of opportunities when they present themselves, now would be a good time to explore the Packers' playoff possibilities. This is a conversation no one thought would be possible three months ago, so that this topic is in play with more than half the season in the books is somewhat amazing. That the Packers are card-carrying members of the NFC, a conference lacking in five-star outfits, also helps make this possible. But you can't always control the company you keep. Despite being a game shy of the break-even point, the Packers are just a single game short of qualifying for the NFC wild-card chase. Say what you will, but at this moment, that makes them playoff contenders. That leads directly to this question: Can they get it done? At first blush, you'd probably say nyet. Of the Packers' final seven opponents, four have winning records. Combined, the group is 35-28. That alone says the challenge is great, though every one of these teams is flawed, it's just a matter of to what degree.








Click on Picture to Play

This is an Excellent video by AT&T starring A.J. and Laura Hawk, and interviewed by Dion Sanders. I've already posted it (2 weeks ago) but I wanted to post it again in case you missed it... and besides... Laura is a Total babe! (Note that Dion hugs her 3 times) and A.J. (or Agggge as Laura calls him) is very funny in the role they have him play... so I wanted to post it again in .

Video is approximately 4 minutes long.







Meet Lindsey
New Orleans Saints Cheerleader

AGE: 22
BIRTHDAY: March 18
HOMETOWN: Chalmette, LA
OCCUPATION: Dance Instructor / Choreographer
DANCE/CHEER EXPERIENCE: I have 16 years of studio experience, danced on both my middle and high school dance teams, and have been cheering for the Saints for 5 years.

WHY DID YOU BECOME A CHEERLEADER? Dancing and football…two things I absolutely love! Where better to bring these together than the New Orleans Superdome?!
WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT BEING A CHEERLEADER? I LOVE performing for large crowds of people and getting the Saints fans on their feet. The feeling you get when running onto the field cannot be matched. I love the city of New Orleans and being able to interact with the fans.
WHAT WAS YOUR MOST EXCITING MOMENT AS A CHEERLEADER? Being selected as the 2006 Pro Bowl Cheerleader. It was an honor to represent the New Orleans Saints and the Saintsations, perform at Aloha Stadium, and make long-lasting friendships. Spending a week in Hawaii wasn’t so bad either!
EDUCATION: Bachelor of Science Degree in Kinesiology from LSU
HOBBIES: Dancing, choreographing, shopping and singing!
FUTURE GOALS: To further my career in the entertainment industry, get married, and have a beautiful family!

FAVORITES:
FOOD: Seafood
MUSIC: Pop, Rock, R&B, Rap, Hip-Hop, Country…anything I can dance to!
BAND/SINGER: Christina Aguilera
BOOK: And Then There Were None
SAINTS PLAYER: Deuce McAlister
MOVIE: Wedding Crashers
TV SHOW: The O.C.
SAYING / QUOTE: Everything happenes for a reason.
WHO IS YOUR ROLE MODEL AND WHY? My mother. She has been there for me every step of the way, constantly showing love and support. She is my biggest fan, and I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for her.