The Packer Pundit

Hawk, Colledge, Jennings Make All-Rookie Team
By Mike Spofford / Packers.com
Posted 01/17/2007
The Green Bay Packers certainly had their share of rookies in 2006, with 15 on the active roster during the final month of the season. It turned out to be a pretty darn good crop. Three rookies - linebacker A.J. Hawk, offensive lineman Daryn Colledge and receiver Greg Jennings - were selected to Pro Football Weekly/Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie Team for this past season, tying the Packers with the Saints for the most rookies on the squad. The trio comprised the Packers' first three draft picks last April, with Hawk going in the first round (fifth overall) and College (47th) and Jennings (52nd) being taken in the second round. Hawk was penciled into the starting weak-side linebacker position from the moment he arrived in Green Bay, and he didn't disappoint. He led the team with 155 total tackles, including a team-best 112 solo tackles, and had 3 1/2 sacks. He also had nine passes defensed, which tied for a team-high for a non-defensive back, plus two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble. "The longer he plays and the more comfortable he feels, he's going to have a chance to anticipate and start to steal plays here and there," linebackers coach and new assistant head coach Winston Moss said. "This scheme has a lot of ways that he can make plays within it." That's what Hawk started doing more toward the end of the season, as his two interceptions both came during the Packers' four-game winning streak in December and were critical plays. At San Francisco on Dec. 10, Hawk dropped deep over the middle to snare an Alex Smith pass at the goal line intended for rookie tight end Vernon Davis, who was taken one pick after Hawk in the first round of the draft. The turnover, which came midway through the fourth quarter, prevented a touchdown and kept the Packers in control of the game. His second interception came in the season finale at Chicago and also came in the red zone, when Hawk stepped in front of tight end Desmond Clark to pick off Brian Griese's pass in the third quarter, keeping the Bears scoreless at the time. Colledge was expected to start right away, too, and even though things didn't turn out that way, he rebounded to have a commendable rookie year. Working toward the starting job at left guard, Colledge was demoted after a rough game in the preseason opener at San Diego. But he was determined to improve, and when an injury to fellow rookie Jason Spitz put Colledge back in the starting lineup in Week 2, he never lost his job again. "I think the biggest thing you have to be pleased about is he came in here with high expectations and had that bump in the road early in the preseason, and he never wavered in his attitude or his effort," said new offensive coordinator Joe Philbin, who was Colledge's line coach last season. "He kept plugging away, kept working, and he turned things around." -- More


Related Story --


Youth is served
Trio named to all-rookie team
By BOB McGINN / journalsentinel.com
Posted: Jan. 16, 2007
For the first time in more than 20 years, three players from the Green Bay Packers have been named to the National Football League's all-rookie team. Wide receiver Greg Jennings, guard Daryn Colledge and linebacker A.J. Hawk made the league's only recognized all-rookie team, which was selected by writers and editors from Pro Football Weekly and members of the Pro Football Writers of America. "It's a tribute to those kids and to our team and to the coaching staff, quite frankly," general manager Ted Thompson said. "They were willing to take some young guys and put them in there, and those young men did all right. I think we had some other rookies that did OK." Based on an analysis of rosters conducted by the Dallas Morning News, the Packers led the NFL in games started by rookie draft choices with 66. Houston was second with 62, followed by Buffalo (58), Oakland (51) and the New York Jets (47). The Packers also led in number of rookie draft choices who became primary starters (eight games or more) with five, one more than Houston and Buffalo. Hawk started all 16 games, followed by Colledge (15), guard Jason Spitz (13), Jennings (11) and tackle-guard Tony Moll (10). Linebacker Abdul Hodge made the other start. In all, 50 of the 256 drafted rookies in the NFL started eight or more games for a combined total of 821 starts. A total of 193 of the 256, or 75.4%, made rosters. -- More



McCarthy plans on no new faces
He expects to keep current staff
By TOM SILVERSTEIN / journalsentinel.com
Posted: Jan. 16, 2007
Unless a newly named head coach entices one of his assistants to leave, Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy plans to go into the 2007 season with the staff he has on board right now. After a series of moves made both to account for the loss of offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski and to create the position of assistant head coach, McCarthy said he had no other coaching changes in mind. He met with all 18 assistants Monday to discuss their roles and then put them to work evaluating the season past. "Obviously there are still a couple of changes (in play) in the NFL, but I hope it doesn't affect our staff," McCarthy said. "But I had a chance to meet with everybody yesterday and talk through their contracts and so forth." Two of his assistants were named in media reports as possible candidates for college coaching positions, but nothing materialized with either. Running backs coach Edgar Bennett told McCarthy that he was contacted by Florida State coach Bobby Bowden about the possibility of serving as running backs coach at his alma mater. The Seminoles named a different former running back, Dexter Carter, to fill the opening Tuesday. In addition, quarterbacks coach Tom Clements told McCarthy that he had no idea how his name came up as a candidate for offensive coordinator at the University of Alabama and wasn't looking to leave. Both Bennett and Clements are on board for next season, McCarthy said. Another assistant, secondary coach Kurt Schottenheimer, has been the subject of media criticism, but McCarthy is not making any changes on defense. -- More



A look at the top guys

Andrew Brandt has had chaotic free-agency experiences in recent years. Brandt, the Green Bay Packers vice president of player finance, got safety Darren Sharper and kicker Ryan Longwell signed back in 2001 - even while a new deal was being worked out for quarterback Brett Favre. Brandt and the camp for left tackle Chad Clifton got a deal done at the 11th hour in 2004. In 2005, the Packers decided to cut guard Mike Wahle and Sharper, lost guard Marco Rivera and eventually signed tight end Bubba Franks. Then last season, defensive end Aaron Kampman was Brandt's primary concern among a group of 14 unrestricted free agents. Things should be a lot more peaceful for Brandt and the Packers in 2007. Green Bay has nine unrestricted free agents. Of that group, though, only running back Ahman Green was a starter in 2006. The Packers would like Green back, but might not be willing to sign the 30-year old back to more than a two-year deal. The Packers figure to let the rest of the group test the market before making their pitch. Starting defensive end Cullen Jenkins is Green Bay's lone restricted free agent. The Packers would like to sign Jenkins to a long-term deal. But even if that doesn't happen by the start of free agency on March 2, Green Bay can place a tender offer on Jenkins that allows it to match any offer he gets or else receive compensation.



Lombardi and Lambeau:
Frigid winds blew between legends
By Mike Vandermause
The statues of Curly Lambeau and Vince Lombardi outside Lambeau Field are telling. Like the men they represent, the bronze figures are larger than life and impossible to ignore. In the dead of winter, the cold wind that blows between them is a symbol of the frosty relationship shared by the Green Bay Packers' coaching icons. Any mention of the team's storied past must include both men, who accounted for 11 championships between them. Lambeau was a co-founder of the team, and guided the Packers to six league titles. Lombardi became a coaching legend in Green Bay when he won five NFL crowns in a span of seven years in the 1960s. Both men had sizable egos. Both were talented leaders. Both put Green Bay on the football map during their eras. Despite their similarities, Lambeau and Lombardi never were on friendly terms. The death of former Press-Gazette photographer Orvell Peterson on Saturday brought that fact to life. Peterson's most famous photograph, which appeared on the cover of the 1965 Packers Yearbook, shows Lambeau and Lombardi grudgingly shaking hands. Lombardi initially refused to pose for the picture. When he relented and the photo wound up on the magazine cover, Lombardi was incensed with co-publisher Art Daley, who served as the Press-Gazette sports editor. Lombardi wouldn't speak to Daley for months. "He just didn't want to have anything to do with him," Daley said of Lombardi's attitude toward Lambeau. Apparently, Lambeau's flamboyant manner didn't sit well with Lombardi. "Lombardi was a man who at one time considered the priesthood," said Packers historian Lee Remmel, who helped cover the Packers during the Lombardi era for the Press-Gazette. "He was a highly moral, highly religious person. The impression I had was that Vince didn't approve of Curly's lifestyle." Lambeau had a reputation as a ladies man. He was married three times. Lambeau ended a 30-year coaching stint in Green Bay in 1949 but continued in the profession until 1957. He had a home in Door County, which Remmel describes as "a little six-bedroom, five-bathroom shack." Lambeau also had a winter home in California. -- More