The Packer Pundit

RBs Finding Their Niche
By Mike Spofford / Packers.com
Posted 09/17/2007
The Packers' running-back-by-committee approach has had mixed results thus far, to be sure, but Head Coach Mike McCarthy said he's getting more comfortable with calling plays to the strengths of Brandon Jackson, DeShawn Wynn and Ryan Grant when they're in the game. Thus far, McCarthy's approach has been to prepare each running back during the week for a package of plays he likely will be called upon to run in the game. For the most part, Jackson has served as the primary back on first and second downs, Wynn has handled third downs, and on Sunday Grant got into a game for a screen pass and with pass-protection responsibility. But that's not to say each back will be pigeonholed into certain role. McCarthy has to caution against that because that would make it easier for defenses to pick up on the potential play calls based on the personnel in the game. That's not as much of a concern early in the season, when opponents don't have much film to go on, but it's something that must be monitored as the season wears on. It's a matter of finding a balance between playing to each back's strengths without being too predictable. "It's just really trying to build the continuity between that runner and that specific scheme that he's trying to do," McCarthy said. "Every single one of them is prepared to do everything. It's not a matter of you can only do this, you can only do that. I think it just helps them focus in on their package, and we're not maxing those guys out. It's a long year, they're young, their experience level is growing, and we're just keeping in tune with that as we move forward." More >>


Runners stuck in neutral
Inconsistency, mistakes dog a struggling ground game
By TOM SILVERSTEIN
journalsentinel.com
Posted: Sept. 17, 2007
Green Bay - This is why it's so hard for Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin to sleep at night: Against the New York Giants Sunday, the Packers opened the game running the ball six out of nine plays, totaling a respectable 29 yards while moving from their 25 to the Giants' 25. Facing third and 1, they called a timeout and then watched as the Giants brought linebacker Kawika Mitchell up to the line of scrimmage in a slightly different look from the one they expected. At the snap of the ball, everything went wrong. Right guard Tony Palmer allowed nose tackle Fred Robbins to penetrate the middle, left guard Daryn Colledge was pushed back by defensive tackle Barry Cofield and running back DeShawn Wynn hit the pile too high and was dropped for no gain. That is the current state of the Packers' running game. More >>



Running back Wynn seizes chance
By Pete Dougherty / greenbaypressgazette.com
Posted 9-18-2007
DeShawn Wynn will get more carries at halfback this week and could displace Brandon Jackson as the Green Bay Packers' primary halfback. The Packers on Monday were vague about making such a move because they want to keep a competitive advantage over San Diego early this week, but it's a given they'll make Wynn a more prominent part of the offense in an effort to boost their flagging run game. Wynn has outperformed Jackson in the first two games and is winning the trust of the coaching staff for being assignment-sure and taking a professional approach after getting off to a shaky start with the organization in the offseason and training camp. He gained 50 yards on 10 carries Sunday in the Packers' win over the New York Giants, including a 38-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. "We'll have to see how to attack San Diego, the best things those guys do well," offensive coordinator Joe Philbin said when asked if Wynn would become the primary back this week. "But certainly DeShawn didn't hurt himself with the way he played." More >>





Favre's milestone win a masterpiece
By Mike Lucas / madison.com
Posted 9-17-2007
On the same day that 45-year-old Roger Clemens and 40-year-old Curt Schilling hooked up in an old-fashioned, low-scoring pitching duel -- for six innings, at least, or until the Yankees pulled Clemens and Derek Jeter pulled a Schilling pitch out of the yard -- there was 37-year-old Brett Favre, soon to be 38, showing the world (the New York City tabloids) that he still has plenty left on his fastball. Mind you, on this very same day, another "youngster'' Jim Thome, 37, also achieved a milestone with his 500th career home run.

Favre's milestone?

Beyond overcoming Ted Thompson's uninspiring rebuilding blue print, precluding the offense, and the lack of skill position options, especially at running back, Favre's milestone, like Thome's 500th, was measurable: 149. Sunday's convincing 35-13 victory over the New York Giants (an oxymoron) was career win No. 149 for Favre. That broke a tie with John Elway and christened Favre as the winningest quarterback in the history of the National Football League. More >>





149 wins later, Favre's fire still burns
By Mike Vandermause / postgazette
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Brett Favre walked slowly out of the locker room at Giants Stadium on Sunday with a laptop case in one hand and a backpack in the other. Favre had finished off the New York Giants with a 286-yard, three-touchdown masterpiece in the Packers' 35-13 triumph. He had silenced the Giants' home-opening crowd of nearly 79,000, with most somber fans heading for the New Jersey turnpike by early in the fourth quarter. Afterward, Favre had accepted a game ball for the 149th victory of his career, an NFL record for quarterbacks. Now, it was time to talk about yet another milestone, so Favre gingerly shuffled into the interview room, put down his bags and was engulfed by a swarm of reporters. Favre, who will turn 38 in three weeks, said he doesn't feel young after games anymore. Yet on the field, he did a great imitation of a 25-year-old in the prime of his career. "During games, it doesn't really bother me," Favre said of his advancing age. "After the games is when I feel it." More >>