More 9/28/2007
Division Play Gets Underway
By Mike Spofford / Packers.com
Posted 09/27/2007
There's a little different atmosphere around Lambeau Field this week, and it's not just because the Packers are 3-0 for the first time in six years, or that quarterback Brett Favre is on the verge of breaking the NFL's all-time touchdown pass record. It's because Sunday is the first NFC North clash of 2007. A division game, one that in the standings essentially counts double, because with a win you're also tagging a close rival with a loss. "It's more intense, there's more urgency," linebacker Brady Poppinga said of the week of preparation for Sunday's showdown with the Minnesota Vikings. "You know they're going to come with their best game, so it's important and imperative that we come with our best game. "It's going to be a dogfight until the end, one of those games that will be decided in the last minute of the fourth quarter. So yeah, it's a little different feeling around here knowing the nature of this game." More >>
Racking up the YAC
By Jason Wilde / madison.com
GREEN BAY — While the West Coast offense generally is predicated upon receivers' ability to gain yards after the catch — the Green Bay Packers aren't the only ones who rely on it — the fact that the Packers have done it so well through the first three games has had another, more important effect: It's helped keep quarterback Brett Favre happy and willing to go along with the short-to-intermediate passing game approach, thus avoiding the chuck-it-up-for-grabs deep balls that have gotten him into trouble in recent years. So although YAC yards aren't that much more important to the Packers than they are to any other West Coast offenses, the fact that receivers Donald Driver, Greg Jennings and James Jones have managed to turn short passes into long gains has been a significant factor in the team's 3-0 start. "Our offense is built, obviously, that way," Favre said as he prepared for Sunday's game at Minnesota, where he needs one touchdown pass to break Dan Marino's career NFL record of 420. "I go back to my first year here (under Mike Holmgren). Our offense — now, I didn't know what our offense was — but as I look back, we were built for take-what-they-give-you, yards-after-the-catch." More >>Looking to take out the trash
By Jason Wilde / madison.com
GREEN BAY — What would Packers-Vikings week be without a little trash talk? Well, Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy could do without some of the comments that have come out of Minnesota so far this week, but in the Internet age, at least obtaining bulletin-board fodder is that much easier. "I know there are a number of things Jeff (Blumb, the Packers' public relations director) has told me about this morning in the paper," McCarthy said Thursday after practice. "That's not our style. To me I look at it as ..." McCarthy then paused, before adding, "Let's just leave it at that. I'm just going to stop right there." Some of what McCarthy was referring to came from ex-Packers safety Darren Sharper, who when asked about quarterback Brett Favre nearing an NFL record, Sharper ignored the obvious reference — to Favre being one touchdown pass from breaking Dan Marino's mark of 420 — and instead pointed out that Favre is two shy of George Blanda's interception record of 277. "He's three away (from breaking it)," Sharper said. "He has a great chance of making history. We're all planning to get that third pick." More >>Still searching for the perfect mix on special teams
By TOM SILVERSTEIN / journalsentinel.com
Posted: Sept. 27, 2007
Green Bay - Maybe Shaun Bodiford is the one who will put them over the top and end the string of 104 regular-season games by the Green Bay Packers without a kickoff return for a touchdown. Or maybe the growing pains will continue. Bodiford is the latest of a long line of players the Packers have brought in this year in hopes of greatly improving their previously ineffective special teams units. Two years of finishing last in the Dallas Morning News' composite special teams rankings have spawned the addition of Korey Hall, John Kuhn, Ryan Grant, Tramon Williams, Atari Bigby and now Bodiford to the roster and given the Packers a nucleus of young, willing combatants. Through three games, the Packers' coverage units have been solid, ranking 10th in the National Football League in average yards allowed on kickoff returns and fifth in total yards allowed on punt returns. But the one element that is keeping them from taking the next step is the return game. More >>Packers' Favre says win, not record, on his mind
Associated Press / Posted 9-27-2007
GREEN BAY -- Brett Favre took a congratulatory phone call from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Wednesday morning, but he wasn't briefed on how much pomp and circumstance -- if any -- the league has planned for when he breaks Dan Marino's career touchdown record. "They haven't said anything about a parade yet," Favre said. Favre threw three touchdown passes in the Green Bay Packers' victory over the San Diego Chargers on Sunday to tie Marino's career mark of 420, and will break the record with his next touchdown toss. The mark could fall in front of a hostile crowd at Minnesota on Sunday, and Favre's receivers are jumping at the chance to be the one who puts him over the top. "We haven't made any bets about who's going to get it," Donald Driver said. "But when that ball's thrown up, believe me, if a guy catches a route for five yards, he's going to try to break it after the catch." Vikings coach Brad Childress, meanwhile, would much rather help Favre reach a different milestone on Sunday. "I think maybe it would be more of a source for pride if we could help him tie the record for most career interceptions with George Blanda," Childress said. Favre needs two more interceptions to tie Blanda's career total of 277. Despite all the talk about records over the past three weeks -- Favre won his 149th game as a starting quarterback in Week 2, surpassing John Elway's record -- Favre said he's far more concerned about winning on Sunday. "I would love to throw a touchdown in this game, but I'd much rather win it," Favre said. More >>Backfield in motion a continuing theme
Now Jackson might be out
By TOM SILVERSTEIN /journalsentinel.com
Posted: Sept. 27, 2007
Green Bay - The wheel continues to spin in the Green Bay Packers' backfield and in whose hands the ball lands is anyone's guess. The uncertain status of starter Brandon Jackson and injured Vernand Morency could lead the Packers to start either DeShawn Wynn or Ryan Grant on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings. Jackson sat out practice Thursday with a strained shin suffered Sunday against San Diego and could be a scratch depending on how he feels today. Morency is still waiting to get on the field for the first time this season, although he appears closer than ever to returning after having a solid practice Wednesday and a limited workout Thursday. If he practices without pain today, there's a chance he'll play Sunday. "He looked better than he did last Thursday," coach Mike McCarthy said. "I'm hopeful Vernand can go. He's been frustrated the day after a hard practice, but I thought he put together two good practices." More >>
Published by PackerPundit On Friday, September 28, 2007 at 4:32 AM.
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