10/5/2007
Favre expects cornerbacks
to challenge Packers' receivers
By Chris Jenkins / Associated Press
GREEN BAY -- Brett Favre knows there's a pretty simple countermove that defensive coordinators can make to slow down the Green Bay Packers' short passing game. In fact, Favre said the Packers already are beginning to see it: Cornerbacks playing closer to the line of scrimmage to bump and run with Green Bay's wide receivers, making it harder for them to run their routes. But Favre also knows the more he sees press coverage from cornerbacks at the line, the better chance he has of making a big play. If a cornerback tries to bump a receiver off his route and makes a mistake, the receiver could be wide open. "That's a good way to attack this offense that we're running right now," Favre said. "The downside, if you're a defensive coordinator, is one guy gets beat off the jam or whatever, then it could be a big play." Favre has lived off the longball for much of his career and seems to look down his nose at what he calls "dinking and dunking" with short passes. Earlier this year, he said he didn't want to be known as "Checkdown Charlie," always passing on the chance to throw downfield in favor of low-risk short passes. Nonetheless, running a low-risk passing game has its rewards: Favre cut his interception total from a career-worst 29 in 2005 to 18 last year, and he has thrown only two in the first four games of this season. More >>Green Bay will gamble, kick to Hester
By Jason Wilde / madison.com
GREEN BAY — There are those who think kicking the ball anywhere near Chicago Bears return man extraordinaire Devin Hester is sheer lunacy. But the Green Bay Packers are not among them. "I would never kick it to him," said NBC's John Madden, who along with play-by-play man Al Michaels will do Sunday night's nationally televised game between the teams. But the Packers are going to take their chances against Hester. Calculated, smart chances, but chances nonetheless. "The impact that he's made is incredible," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "We have to be very smart with the opportunities that he will have in the game because he can change a football game. (But) you don't just line up and say, 'I'm not going to kick the ball to the guy,' and it's that easy. I think everyone would have done it already." More >>
Blackmon Has Broken Foot, Again
By Mike Spofford / Packers.com
Posted 10/04/2007
It's hard to imagine anyone on the Packers with worse luck than cornerback and return man Will Blackmon. Head Coach Mike McCarthy told reporters on Thursday that Blackmon broke his right foot in the final team drill during Wednesday's practice. It's the same foot Blackmon, a fourth-round draft choice out of Boston College in 2006, broke last year in May during the final mini-camp practice. McCarthy didn't say how long Blackmon would be out. Team physician Dr. Pat McKenzie is conducting some tests on the foot to gauge the severity of the injury. "It was very unfortunate," McCarthy said. "I feel terrible for Will. Will was coming on strong." Blackmon had essentially won the job this season as the team's No. 1 kickoff and punt returner in the second preseason game against Seattle, running back a kickoff 83 yards to set up a touchdown and taking a punt back 16 yards. He was also competing in a crowded defensive backfield for the nickel cornerback, or No. 3, spot. But Blackmon sustained a Bennett's fracture of his thumb, and the cast he's been required to wear since then has prevented him from assuming any return duties in the regular season. More >>Clowney signs deal with Jets
By Rob Demovsky
greenbaypressgazette.com
The Green Bay Packers could have tried to keep rookie receiver David Clowney but ultimately didn't think he was better than Shaun Bodiford, the No. 5 receiver on their roster. Clowney, a fifth-round draft pick in April who has been on the Packers' practice squad since being cut at the end of training camp, accepted an offer from the New York Jets to join their 53-man roster and signed a one-year, minimum contract Wednesday. "The Packers like David a lot, but circumstances were the best for David to go elsewhere," said Brian Mackler, Clowney's agent. Mackler wouldn't say whether the Packers tried to entice Clowney to stay with the Packers, but indications were they didn't think Clowney was ready to contribute in the foreseeable future. More >>
After Further Review, 'KGB' Gets Team Record
By Mike Spofford / Packers.com
Posted 10/04/2007
It turns out another record was set last Sunday at the Metrodome against the Minnesota Vikings. After a film review by Elias Sports Bureau, the NFL's official statistician, Green Bay defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila was credited with three sacks against the Vikings, which moved him past Hall of Famer Reggie White for the Packers' franchise record. 'KGB' now has 69 career sacks. White had 68 1/2 of his 198 career sacks during the six seasons he played for the Packers (1993-98). "I'd be lying if I didn't say I was excited, because the guy whose record I broke is Reggie White," said Gbaja-Biamila, who was informed during Thursday morning's team meeting about getting the record. "We have a lot of similarities. He was very open about his faith and I'm very open about my faith. It's truly an honor to be able to pass his record." At game's end on Sunday, Gbaja-Biamila had been credited with two sacks of Minnesota quarterback Kelly Holcomb. He got to him once in the third quarter for a 7-yard loss, stripping the ball, though it was recovered by the Vikings. He sacked him again in the fourth quarter for a 10-yard loss, giving him 68 career sacks. More >>Sacked expectations
Jenkins struggling as pass rusher
By TOM SILVERSTEIN / journalsentinel.com
Posted: Oct. 4, 2007
Green Bay - The way Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins was getting to quarterbacks during training camp and the exhibition season, one would have thought he'd be leading the league in sacks by now. But four games into the season, he has none, one fewer than 340-pound nose tackle Ryan Pickett and six fewer than New York Giants end Osi Umenyiora had Sunday against Philadelphia. In the off-season, the Packers gave Jenkins a four-year, $16 million contract that included $5.3 million in bonuses because of his strong finish in 2006. Proving to be an effective pass rusher from both the tackle and end spots and a solid run defender at end, Jenkins took end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila's starting spot the final three games and responded with 15 tackles and three sacks. More >>
Published by PackerPundit On Friday, October 05, 2007 at 5:02 AM.
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