Chad Clifton has labored for more than a decade for the Green Bay Packers, protecting both Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers' backsides. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Looking at profootballtalk.com’s recent top 10 candidates who could be casualties of the NFL cap, we can all understand how this business changes so quickly.

Among the players listed in the top 10 are Packers longtime left tackle Chad Clifton and former defensive end Aaron Kampman.

Both are class acts; both were stars with the Green Bay Packers; both most likely will be out of a job very soon.

Remember how Clifton’s hip was smashed in that brutal hit from Warren Sapp so many years ago? Remember how he rehabilitated and came back from an injury many thought was career-ending? Remember how he played for several more years with the Packers, finally getting his Super Bowl ring as a valuable member of the 2010 World Campionship team?

That’s why it’s going to be tough to eventually say goodbye to the gentle giant who most likely is headed to the Packers Hall of Fame.

Kampman was also a valued member of the team and a leader of men while in Green Bay. For several years, he was the face of the Packers’ defense – the team’s most active and feared pass rusher. Though age, injuries and dollars finally caught up with Kampman who was injured in 2009 against the San Francisco 49ers, he exited Green Bay with his head held high and caught on with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Though his time there was limited, again he was the type of player any team would like to have in the locker room and on the field.

So, while perusing this list, it was difficult to imagine how these players come and go so quickly. Though the league is a “what have you done for me today?” organization, we won’t soon forget what these two players have done for the Green Bay Packers.

Class acts who no doubt will leave the game as the entered … humbled and happy for the opportunity.

Thanks, guys.

NFL fans only want to be able to watch the players they love, not imposters. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

The lockout and the possibility of a standoff between players and management well into this year’s training camps and maybe into the season raises some interesting questions: Number one being, what the hell do we do if there is no season? (more…)

Kampman leaving:  Florida Times-Union reported late Saturday night that the Jacksonville Jaguars had agreed to terms on a contract with the former Green Bay Packers linebacker.

Clifton returning: Espn. com reported Friday evening that Clifton, an unrestricted free agent, agreed to a three-year, $20 million contract that included $7.5 million of guaranteed money.

NFL’s salary caps end: The rules for free agency changed because the owners decided to opt out of the current collective bargaining agreement, setting up a final year in which no salary cap and the requirements for unrestricted free agency go up to six years.

Bears make big moves to compete in NFC:  Bears signed all-pro DE Peppers and RB Taylor and blocking TE Manumaleuna. By landing one of the league’s top pass rushers and a running back to challenge incumbent Forte, Chicago showed just how serious it is about contending in the NFC. 

Packers cut Montgomery and Giordano:  Packers cut DE Montgomery and safety Giordano.

Favre watch: Favre tells Leno, “I’m just not going to say anything anytime soon.” 

NFL Power Rankings: Packers

Aol Fanhouse: 10. The switch to a 3-4 defense may wind up saving their season. There have been some ups and downs during the transition, but if Kampman was lost for the season in the old 4-3 scheme the Packers would be cooked. It’s weird to give thanks about something regarding a devastating injury, but there you have it. 

USA Today: 11.

Walter Football: 11.

Fox: 12. Packers would be at No. 10 above Dallas if not for the gruesome postgame news that they will be without two major pieces on defense for the rest of the season: LB Kampman and CB Harris. They should be fine against Detroit, but after that the Packers face five quality QBs: Flacco, Cutler, Roethlisberger, Hasselbeck, and Warner.

Espn:  12. Rodgers is having a Pro Bowl year.

SI: 12. For all their troubles, the Packers are currently the NFC’s sixth seed and have a decent path to 10-6 and a wild-card berth. Their must wins are at Detroit this week, at Chicago in two weeks, and then home against Seattle in Week 16. Green Bay then must secure one of its other three games: home against Baltimore next week, at Pittsburgh in Week 15, or at Arizona in Week 17. And just like that, McCarthy and Thompson will have saved their skins.

Sports Network: 12. Loss of Kampman, Harris took steam out of 49ers win. 

Sporting News: 12. Losing LB Aaron Kampman and CB Al Harris will be a huge blow to their defense.

NBC/PFT: 13. The Packers could still end up getting a third crack at Favre in January.

CBS: 14. Losing Harris and Kampman for the season will impact that defense in a big way. It’s good that the offense is playing better now to help offset it.

Adjustment: Personnel Losses On Defense

Analysis: The loss of CB Harris pushes the rest of the Packers’ defensive backs up the depth chart. CB Williams is the likely starter with combination of CB Bush, CB Underwood, [CB Ford promoted from practice squad], and newly signed CB Bell in the mix for the nickel and dime. Navigating this issue will be the Packers’ biggest challenge in making the playoffs. It’s great if one of them steps up. If not, DC Capers will implement lineup creativity to get best 11 players including an extra LB in nickel situations, finding a bigger role for backup LB Bishop, or flooding the line of scrimmage with blitzers.

Headlines: Injuries pose creative challenges for coaches. Kampman, Harris, & Packers Face Uncertain Futures. Packers Defensive Line Gels As Injuries Fade. Jones Confident In NFL Future. Capers, defense face decisions. The Replacements: Fill-ins look to step up.

Favre Watch

1. Favre Might Win Record 4th MVP? Mike Sando’s MVP Watch.  History in the making.

2. NFL moves Favre To Prime Time In Week 13: Vikings vs. Arizona.

Summary: QB Rodgers threw two touchdowns and RB Grant ran for one touchdown helping the Packers beat the 49ers 30-24.   With a good first half and an awful second half, the 3-4 defense had a mixed game getting 1 interception and 3 sacks.

Game Highlights: NFL.  CBS.  ESPN.

Game Reviews: Packers defeat 49ers 30-24. Rants & Raves. Packers Earn Painful Victory. Quick Start Fuels Defense.  Two hard hits for the defense. Woodson Blankets TE Davis But Then. Reloaded With All Weapons. Painful Second Half Sours Packers Big Win. Packers Notes: Finley, Jennings Return To Fore. Ground control: Packers run over 49ers.  Breaking Down Tape.

It Was Over When: The Packers ran out the final 5:56 of the game thwarting a 49ers rally. The Packers held 23-3 halftime lead, but the 49ers scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns to close the gap to 30-24. The Packers took over and never relinquished the ball.

Game Ball: 1. QB Rodgers 2. RB Grant 3. WR Jennings 4. S Collins.

Game Stars:

1. RB Ryan Grant: He continues to run more patient and with better vision. He is no longer just running with a full head of steam into the line. He’s following and setting up his blocks and breaking tackles.

2. QB Rodgers: Overall, it was his best game. He managed it well and did a good job taking his check downs when giving the opportunity. Made some terrific throws, including a big one down the sideline to Jennings that was phenomenal.

3. Packers defensive line: Pickett (big early third-down stop), Jolly (two passes defended, quarterback hit), Jenkins (2 TFLs, sack) and Raji (first career sack) beat up a shaky offensive line and kept 49ers RB Gore to six carries and 17 yards after his big 42-yard romp.

Injury Report: 1. LB Kampman (torn ACL) 2. CB Harris (torn ACL) [both done for season].

Quotes:

1. CB Woodson: “Those are two staples of our defense. Not to have those guys is going to be tough going for this team. At this point, you celebrate the win. Tomorrow, we’ll see all of the ugly, especially the second half.”

2. Coach McCarthy: “I thought we played an extremely productive first half as a football team, in all three phases. The second half, they had some momentum swings, they had the big kickoff return, they hit a couple vertical routes on us. They were big plays in the game. I think it’s definitely something that we can build off of.”

3. T Tauscher: “I just think we did a nice job executing. When you’re lining up at the end of a game, and they know you’re going to run the football, and we know we’re going to run the football, that’s what football’s all about. And we were able to get it done today, and that’s a good feeling.”

Report Card Grades–Good, Bad, & Ugly: LA vs. SE.

Pass Offense—B+ vs. A-. Overall, QB Rodgers had a great day completing 32 of 45 passes for 344 yards, 2 passing touchdowns, no interceptions, and 108.0 passer rating. WR Jennings had 5 receptions for 126 yards and 1 touchdown. RB Jackson had 6 receptions for 65 yards. TE Finley had 7 big receptions for 54 yards. WR Driver had 5 receptions for 40.  WR Jones had 4 receptions for 22. WR Nelson had 3 receptions for 21 yards and 1 touchdown.  RB Grant had 2 receptions for 16 yards.

Rush Offense—A vs. A. The Packers had 32 rushes for 158 yards averaging 4.9 yards. RB Grant had 21 strong carries for 129 yards and 1 touchdown averaging an outstanding 6.1 yards. Although they allowed two big sacks, the offensive line had a very solid day in the trenches.

Pass Defense—B- vs. C-. Although they had a stellar first half holding the 49ers to 3 points, the second half saw a lackluster performance allowing the 49ers back into the game. QB Smith completed 16 of 33 passes for 227 yards, 3 touchdowns, 1 key interception, and a 88.0 passer rating. TE Davis had 6 receptions for 108 yards. Caper’s 3-4 blitz schemes got 3 sacks in the first half. Yet, they failed to provide any sustained pressure in the second half with no sacks suffering the loss of LB Kampman and CB Harris.  As a reviewer said:

In shotgun in catch-up mode, Smith exploited a combination of linebackers (specifically Hawk and Matthews) and DB Bush trying to cover TE Davis who had his way down the field with second-half catches of 32, 29 and 24 (touchdown) yards.  Rookie WR Crabtree got away with a push-off of CB Harris on third-and-20 for a 38-yard grab in the end zone and beating NB Williams for a 35-yard catch.

S Collins had a stellar performance getting a key interception in the 3^rd quarter leading to the game winning Packers touchdown.

Rush defense—A- vs B. The short-yardage defense had another stout game against the rush.  In the first half, if you take away RB Gore’s 42 yard run, the 49ers had only 15 total yards. The 49ers had 10 carries for only 69 averaging 6.9 yards.  RB Gore rushed 7 times for only 59 yards averaging 8.4 yards, but his first rush play totaled 42 of those yards.

Special teams—B vs B-. The coverage team had an up-and-down day. In a crucial kickoff, they allowed a big 76 yards return in the third quarter leading to a 49ers comeback touchdown. The return game had a decent game with 118 yards. KR Williams had a poor decision-making day fielding punts, but he had a 27 yards return. K Crosby boomed two touchbacks and 3 field goals. K Kapinos had 5 punts averaging 43.4 gross & 38.0 net with 2 punts inside 20.

Coaching—B vs. B.  For the good news, the Packers had 26 first downs and 484 total yards using a short passing game and an effective running game.  Yet, after a solid first half, the second half saw an awful regression in the offense and the defense.  Also, the play calling had its awful moments, especially in the red zone with only 2 for 5 conversions.  In 3^rd down efficiency, they were a decent 10 for 18.  Finally, they had 6 untimely penalties for 64 yards.

Overall Game—B.  In a game of two halves, the Packers hang on to win the game. The Pack won a big home game against a determined opponent.

CBS Overall Game–B.  Rodgers had a big game throwing it. Grant ran it well with 129 yards, but the defense folded in the second half and let the 49ers make a game of it. They have to put teams away in that situation.

CHTV Good, Bad, & Ugly: Good-Rodgers, Jennings, Jenkins, Nelson, Grant, Jackson, etc; Bad–Colledge, Williams, & Underwood; Ugly–Harris’ and Kampman’s Knees.

Rodgers vs Favre series: week 11. “Silver Fox” Vikings 9-1.  Packers 6-4.

Commentary: After a solid first half, the Packers got complacent scoring only one score due to a key S Collins interception. The Packers blew a big lead and had to hang on losing two starters on defense due to season-ending injuries.

Preview: The win puts the Packers to 6-4 tied with Giants and Eagles for fifth place for six NFC playoff spots. Next, a prime time Thanksgiving game against the lowly Lions.

OFFENSE:

QB: Rodgers: Rodgers has solid statistical numbers with some bad spotty performances. He must improve in critical game situations and learn pocket presence. GRADE: B. Flynn: He has had little playing time, but appears to be a future good backup. GRADE: Inc.   GBPG GRADE: B-.

RB: Grant: He is a decent back with up and down games. GRADE: C+. Jackson: He has done very little except be an adequate blocker. GRADE: D. Green: He passed Taylor to become Packers’ leading rusher.  GRADE: B-. GBPG GRADE: C-.

WR: Jennings: So far, he has had a disappointing year. GRADE: B-. Driver: He is a solid veteran gamer. GRADE: A. Jones: He has returned to his rookie greatness. GRADE: B. Nelson: Until now, a knee injury has limited his solid play. GRADE: C+.   GBPG GRADE: C+.

FB: Kuhn: He has had a solid year. GRADE: B+. Hall: He has had a limited decent year. GRADE: C+.  Johnson: The rookie bruiser is progressing and should be a good one. GRADE: C.  

OL: Clifton: He cannot stay healthy & looked pedestrian. GRADE: C-. Colledge: He has looked soft with up & down games. GRADE: C-. Wells: Replacing injured Spitz, he is good enough. GRADE: B.  Sitton: He a future good player. GRADE: B. Barbre: He started badly, improved, and regressed. GRADE: C-. Spitz: On IR, he is missed. GRADE: B. Tauscher: In his first return game, he looked rusty. GRADE: C. Lang: The rookie has struggled, but he is another future good player. GRADE: C.   GBPG GRADE: F.

SCOUT’S VIEW:  His assessment of the blocking, both in pass protection and the run game, was especially harsh:  “The guard play, not a shot in the butt, and the tackle play is horrendous. If you had big guards next to Wells who could help him push, he’s athletic enough to get to the second level and make blocks.  I don’t really like any of those guys. Ted’s going to have to do some work on his offensive line.  It’s [an old] mess.”

TE: Finley: Recovering from  a sprain, he has a bright solid future as a go-to-player. GRADE: B. Lee: He is a decent blocker and receiver, but fading. GRADE: B-. Havner: He has developed to be a good receiver and special teams player. GRADE: B.  GBPG GRADE: C.

DEFENSE:

DL: Jenkins: He started fast, but faded lately. GRADE: B-. Jolly: He is a solid player. GRADE: B+. Pickett: He is the best lineman. GRADE: A-. Wynn: The rookie has played decent looking to be a solid back up player. GRADE: C. Montgomery: He is simply an average player with no impact GRADE: D. Raji: With a slow start, the rookie is progressing and showing potential. GRADE: C-.   GBPG GRADE: C+.

SCOUT’S VIEW: The pass rush as an equally severe problem. Pickett is a run stopper and Jenkins is an all-around player.  Yet, the combination of Jenkins and Jolly as inside rushers in the nickel defense aren’t getting adequate push.

LB: Matthews III: The rookie looks like a future star. GRADE: B. Barnett: After a slow start, he is having a solid year coming back from knee injury. GRADE: C+ Hawk: After a slow start, he has come on strong. GRADE: C+. Kampman: His transition to the 3-4 defense has not gone as well as expected. GRADE: B. Chillar: Although injured, he is the best of the group. GRADE: B+. Bishop: He is solid backup, but he needs to avoid costly mistakes. GRADE: C+. Jones: The rookie is an unknown potential player and good special teams player. GRADE: Inc. Thompson: He is just an average backup player. GRADE: D. Poppinga: He has faded to proper backup status. GRADE: D.   GBPG GRADE: C.

DB: Woodson: The all-star great player on a shaky red zone defense. GRADE: A. Harris: The slowing veteran is having a decent year. GRADE: B. Williams: He is a good future starter. GRADE: B+. Underwood: The rookie is probably good enough to be a future dime back. GRADE: Inc. Bush: He is an awful backup player. GRADE: D-. Bigby: His hype is better than his inconsistent play. GRADE: C. Collins: The all-star has been solid this year.  GRADE: B. Martin: He has struggled to fit in. GRADE: D. Giordano: He is a backup and special teams player for now. GRADE: Inc.  GBPG GRADE: B-.

SPECIAL TEAMS–GRADE: D-.   GBPG GRADE: D-.

COACHING–D-.   GBPG GRADE: D.

PERSONNEL MOVE: D-.   GBPB GRADE: D+.

NFL Power Rankings: Packers

Espn:  16. Their loss to Minnesota made sense. The one at Tampa Bay was inexplicable.

NBC/PFT: 16.  At least the sudden hot seat will help keep Mike McCarthy warm during the November and December games at Lambeau Field.

Yahoo: 16. Rodgers’ three picks hurt, but special teams cost them.

Aol Fanhouse: 16. QB Rodgers has a lot of talent as a passer and the offensive line is bad. However, Rodgers needs to make an adjustment and get rid of the football much quicker; otherwise he’s only adding to the weakness. At 37, the Packers have allowed more sacks than any other team.

Covers: 17. Green Bay still can?t win in Tampa even when the Buccaneers are one of the worst teams in football. This is an almost must win against Dallas to remain in the playoff hunt.

USA Today: 17.

CBS: 18. Maybe they’re just not as good as we thought they were going to be. They have issues on their offensive line that show up every week.

Fox: 18. FIRST-HALF BLESSING: Aaron Rodgers is still able to walk after eight games behind this horrid offensive line. For that, Packers fans should be very grateful, or this deflating 4-4 start could be even worse. FIRST-HALF CURSE: The Curse of Brett Favre and his season sweep over his former team is beginning to permeate the Land of Cheeseheads.

SI.com: 18. While he’s playing behind a Green Bay offensive line that has had the worst half-season of any positional unit in the NFL (37 sacks allowed), Rodgers isn’t helping matters with his penchant for holding the ball too long. Then against the Bucs he got wild and tried to force some throws. With three of their next four games at home, the Packers still have time to make a wild-card push. But the turnaround had best start this week against Dallas, and it must include No. 12 playing better.

Sporting News: 19. Excuse QB Rodgers for cringing when he thinks about facing the Cowboys’ pass rush.

Midseason Report Cards:

1. ESPN: A. Video NFC North Report—Grade C.  Issues—offensive line; transition to 3-4 Capers defense. B. NFC North Report–Disappointments: Offensive line; LG Colledge; LB Kampman; LB Hawk; Surprises: LB Chillar; Outlook—2nd half of season could devolve into referendum on futures of GM Thompson and HC McCarthy.  

2. FOX—Grade C. A. Making the grade: This season has become more disastrous on some levels. The Packers lost the Favre Bowls against Minnesota and were embarrassed against previously winless Bucs. Green Bay’s four victories come against teams with combined record of 7-25. B. Most valuable player: QB Rodgers. Playing behind a leaky offensive and even though he has gotten sacked an NFL-high 37 times, Rodgers still has a quarterback rating over 100. C. Biggest disappointment: OLB Kampman. Packers’ management made a terrible talent evaluation when projecting that Kampman could make the successful shift to 3-4 outside linebacker. Overall, Green Bay is tied for 29th in sack production with 13. D. Health status: The offensive line is a mess with C Spitz on injured reserve and LT Clifton battling season-long ankle problems. E. Second-half forecast: The season is probably lost if Green Bay doesn’t defeat visiting Dallas on Sunday. The seat is getting uncomfortably warm for HC McCarthy and GM Ted Thompson, especially after Brett Favre extracted his revenge on the Packers.

3. SPORTING NEWS—Vindication for Favre. In 2008, the Packers opted for an unproven Rodgers over an unretired Favre.  In hindsight, what was the point in wanting an early answer? His current team was willing to welcome him even after training camp and their 7-1 record is proving that the Vikings got it right. And the Packers got it incredibly wrong. So wrong that, the Rosencrantz and Guildenstern who are running the Packers could end up suffering a similar fate.

4. YAHOO–Grade C.  Issues: Offensive line; RB Grant; & 3-4 transition defense.

5. NBCSPORTS: Grade B-. Best attribute: The Packers were under intense scrutiny prior to the start of the season when they traded Brett Favre to the Jets, but they have survived the storm and put a solid product on the field. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has won over his teammates, coaches and Packers fans. The receivers are an elite group, and the defensive backs, most notably Charles Woodson and Nick Collins, are outstanding ball hawks. Needs improvement: The running game that was so strong a year ago has fallen on hard times. The Packers rank in the bottom third of the league in yards per game and yards per rush. It’s easy to blame running back Ryan Grant, but the holes have not been there. On the other hand, the Packers have regularly struggled to stop their opponents from running the ball.

6. NBCWASHINGTON: Grade C. What they’ve done well: Forget Favre. Green Bay has a great asset in Rodgers. He is a quarterback who can win games because he finds big-play receivers like Jennings and Driver. If only the Packers could protect him a little bit, then this team would have a chance to contend for the playoffs. The Packers have shown significant improvement on defense as they are giving up 283.4 yards per game ranking 4th in the league. Needs improvement: The play of the offensive line has been disastrous. The Packers have given up a league-high 31 sacks and to his credit, Rodgers shows no signs of shying away or changing the game plan.  The poor offensive line play is having a significant impact on the running game.

7. FANIQ: Grade So-So. The Packers at least looked like they were losing to the good teams and beating the bad teams…but then they lost to the Bucs and ruined our hopes of a team going 0-16.  At .500, they’re a mediocre team and 8-8 looks like “at best” for this team.

8. DESERETNEWS: Grade C. They are poorly coached and can only beat below-average teams.

Jclombardi reviews & grades Packers loss to Bucs.

Summary: Rookie Bucs QB Freeman threw 3 touchdowns to lead the winless Bucs 38-28 over the fading Packers.  In the second half, the Packers faded away continuing to exhibit ongoing problems of poor execution, poor protection, poor special teams, poor defensive pressure, and untimely penalties. Fading at the midseason, the Packers are 4-4.

Video Highlights: NFL. ESPN.  CBS.  

Game Reviews: Packers lose to Bucs 38-28. Ugly from Any Angle. Painful History Lesson. Shameful: Packers Lose To Winless Buccaneers.  

Game Ball: 1. RB Grant 2. LB Hawk 3. CB Woodson.

Injury Report: 1. LB Kampman (concussion) 2. RT Tauscher (sprain).

Quotes: Players

1. “I think everyone’s stunned,” linebacker Nick Barnett said. “Nobody expected that.”

2. “It’s discouraging,” nose tackle Ryan Pickett said. “It’s tough. It’s going to be hard to watch the film. I hate even talking about it. It’s going to be a long flight home, going to be hard.”

Quote: Veteran Packers Hall of Famer

1. LeRoy Butler:  “McCarthy says, ‘We have to get this cleaned up, we have to take advantage of our opportunities.’ What he should say is, ‘I will fix this. If I have to play different combinations, different people, I will fix it.’”

Quotes—“Believe It Or Not”:

1. Packers CEO Confident Team can turn things around–After exiting Raymond James Stadium, President Murphy was not in step with the fervent, knee-jerk section of Packers fans who wanted everybody in the organization fired immediately. Have you given up hope that the Packers will make the playoffs?

2. Does McCarthy realize how infuriating it is for Packers fans to hear–or even Aaron Rodgers and the receivers? McCarthy is either delusional or not doing a good job fixing the correctable mistakes.  McCarthy will likely have to make adjustments this week without Tauscher’s help.

3. Sunday’s collapse against Tampa Bay epitomized the Packers at the season’s midway point. It left team president Mark Murphy feeling “disappointed” and saying it’s on coach McCarthy and GM Thompson make the changes necessary to salvage the season.

Report Card Grades–Good, Bad, & Ugly: LA vs SE:

Pass Offense—C vs C-. Facing intense pressure, QB Rodgers completed 17 of 35 passes for 266 yards, 2 touchdowns, 3 interceptions, and six sacks. In the second half, Rodgers led the team to a 28-17 lead, but they failed to score on the final two drives to win it. As one reviewer observed:

The Bucs’ press coverage took away the quick-hitters and three-step drops after Rodgers hit WR Greg Jennings for option slants of 11 and 6 on the first two drives. Receivers worked harder to get open at times. With the mounting protection issues up front, downfield routes sometimes didn’t clear fast enough for Rodgers to get the ball out. At other times, the Cover-2 shell created a bracket effect. 

WR Jones had 3 catches for 103 and 1 touchdown. WR Driver had 4 receptions for 71 yards and 1 touchdown. WR Jennings had 5 receptions for 61 yards.  However, they dropped key passes in the stretch leading to the loss.

Rush Offense—A vs A. The Packers had 32 rushes for 170 yards averaging a solid 5.3 yards. RB Grant had only 21 carries for 91 yards with a solid 4.6 average. RB Green looked like his old hard running self with 6 carries for 45 yards averaging 7.5 yards overtaking the great Jim Taylor for the Packers’ all-time rushing record. Except for rushing performance, excluding C Wells, the entire offensive line had a down day fading away especially when RT Tauscher left the game. 

Pass Defense—C vs C-. The pedestrian Packers defense made a hero of a rookie QB starting his first game for a lowly NFL team. Rookie QB Freeman rallied the Bucs in the 4^th quarter to victory.  With the game on-the-line, DB Bush and SS Bigby gave up crucial coverage touchdowns.  Again, Caper’s 3-4 blitz schemes were ineffective getting only a coverage sack.  A reviewer summed-it-up: 

The Packers have a serious pass-rush problem on defense.  Every time they had Freeman in trouble, they let him escape from the pocket. Not being able to rattle a rookie quarterback with a consistent pass rush speaks volumes about where the Packers are with their conversion to a 3-4 defense. Nowhere. 

Rush defense—B vs B+. The Bucs had 25 carries for 81 averaging a lowly 3.2 yards. RB Williams rushed 16 times for 56 yards averaging a lowly 3.5 yards. The front seven had a stout game, but they cannot produce a pass rush central to any defense. 

Special teams—D- vs D-. The coverage had another disastrous day giving away 13 points on a blocked punt for a touchdown and on an 83 yards return for another quick Bucs touchdown. Bucs return man Smith had 161 return yards. Packers Williams averaged only 4.5 yards in four punt returns, but Underwood’s penalty nullified a William’s 27 yard punt return. Green had 2 returns for 55 yards. K Crosby’s booming kickoffs resulted in three touchbacks. K Kapinos is simply not good enough with his 6 punts averaging 41.2 (gross), 27.6 (net) and 3.96 (hang time), and 2 were inside the 20. 

Coaching—F vs F. The continued lack of execution, discipline, and winning results point to both Coach McCarthy and GM Thompson. In the red zone, they were 2 for 2. In 3^rd down efficiency, they were 5 for 14. In 4^th down efficiency, they were 0 for 2.

Overall Game—F. The team choked and faded away in the stretch giving away a 28-17 lead losing this game in the last 13 minutes.  At 4-4, the Packers are just an inconsistent average good team. As a reviewer added:

They suffered the ignominy of losing to the previously winless Bucs. They exhibited no sense of urgency coming off its disappointing loss to the Vikings. The Packers played almost lifeless in throwing away a 28-17 lead in the fourth quarter. Special teams continued to give up momentum-changing long returns and killed their own big runbacks with silly penalties. HC McCarthy’s insistence on going with time-consuming pass plays out of 5 and 7 step drops by Rodgers is ludicrous.

CBS Overall Game—F. This one really stings. They made way too many mistakes. You can’t win on the road like that — even against a team you should beat. The special teams were a disaster. The offensive line was bad again.

CTV Good, Bad & Ugly: Good–Green, Grant, & Jones; Bad–Bush, Rodgers, & Slocum; Ugly–McCarthy.

Rodgers vs Favre series: week 9. “Silver Fox” Vikings 7-1. Packers 4-4.

Commentary: No surprise. The game was predictable. The fans were reminded of the horrible Packers teams from the 70s and 80s. The Packers failed to win an easy road game against a winless bad team. This Packers team chokes in crucial game situations. Again, the team lacks critical playmakers, has inexperienced players in important positions, and serious talent gaps raising management issues. The “beginning-of-the-end” wanna bes sports news bloggers will provide ludicrous amusement previewed in “believe it or not” quotes.

Preview: A prime time home game against the Cowboys.

• Linebacker Nick Barnett is opening camp on the physically-unable-to-perform (PUP) list after he did not pass his physical.  Barnett flunking his physical has nothing to do with him being out of shape, as he is recovering from a torn ACL suffered last year in a game against the Minnesota Vikings.  There is no time table yet for his return to the practice field.  Brandon Chillar has replaced him on the No. 1 unit.
• Approximately 2,100 people attended the first practice, filling the stands that have a capacity of 1,500 people.
• The battle for the center and right guard spots is interesting, with Scott Wells, Jason Spitz, and Josh Sitton all rotating around the positions as Mike McCarthy looks to find the best fit for the team.
• In the aforementioned 3-4 defense, Jeremy Thompson was working with the No. 1 unit on the right side, opposite Aaron Kampman.
• Top draft choice B.J. Raji was not in camp yesterday, as the stalemate for contracts for draft picks above him and below him affects the ability for the Packers to get a contract done with him.
• Rookie linebacker Brad Jones, a seventh-round pick, also failed his physical and was put on the PUP list.
• After suffering a torn pectoral muscle that ended his season in Week 4 last year, lineman Cullen Jenkins is back in top shape, according to McCarthy.
• Tackle Chad Clifton told reporters he also had work done on his shoulders as well as his knees during the offseason.  Greg A. Bedard said he looked “nimble and strong” in practice.

With two-a-days starting today, the Packers look to get back into shape for the season as September 13 looms in the distance.

The signing of Matthews means that ninth-overall pick B.J. Raji is the only Packers not signed as of today, July 30.

Matthews joins a crowded battle for the outside linebacker spots in Dom Capers‘ new 3-4 defense.  Aaron Kampman appears to have the left side under wraps, leaving right side wide open for Matthews, Jeremy Thompson, who impressed during mini-camps after revamping his body, and veteran Brady Poppinga, a strong run stopper.  Matthews appeared to have the inside track after being drafted, but after tweaking his hamstring during OTAs, it opened the door for Thompson to make a splash and an impression, which he most certainly did, making the battle for outside linebacker in the 3-4 defense one of the most important of camp.

Matthews will wear No. 52 for the Pack.

Remember, get your daily updates from Lombardi Ave through its RSS Feed here and follow @LombardiAve on Twitter here!

Yesterday, I covered the punting battle between Jeremy Kapinos and Durant Brooks and how it affects the team in 2009.  Today, we’re going to be looking at something that you’d expect me to talk about: the defense.

When Cullen Jenkins went down with a torn pectoral muscle in an emotional Week 4 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2008, it dealt a huge blow to the Packers defensive line.  Jenkins is a rare player with the size, strength, quickness, and speed to play both inside and outside on the defensive line.  Throughout his career, he has played both defensive tackle and defensive end.

In 2009, Jenkins will have to both adjust and rebound.  His presence was sorely missed down the stretch in 2008 as opposing offenses just rolled over the Packers.  His biggest adjustment will be the switch to a 3-4 defense, where as a 3-4 end, he will have to stop the run and rush the passer.  The team feels that he has the versatility to make a huge impact rushing from the inside, as the team loved playing him at defensive tackle on passing downs when he was healthy.

Another reason that Jenkins is so important is what is behind him on the defensive line.  Aaron Kampman is now a linebacker.  Johnny Jolly is facing possible jail time.  Outside of Jenkins, Kampman, and Jolly, none of the other defensive ends on the roster have seen substantial playing time on an NFL field.  Possible uber-bust Justin Harrell has been working at defensive end, but based on his injury history and inability to get on the field, I doubt he will see that much time.  That being said, I’d love to see him work hard and reach that potential he had when Ted Thompson drafted him with a first round pick.  Another defensive end possibility is rookie B.J. Raji, who the Packers were working at some defensive end during mini-camps so they theoretically could put Raji and fellow nose tackle Ryan Pickett on the field at the same time in a definite running situation.  But that remains to be seen.

Jenkins is an important cog to the wheel that is the Packers.  He is the most versatile lineman on the roster with his rare physical package.  He just needs to stay on the field.  If he has a great season, it would be to the benefit of the entire defense and the team total.

Jenkins is No. 9 on my list of Top 10 Important Players for 2009.

Follow @LombardiAve on Twitter or subscribe and get daily updates from Lombardi Ave here.

The Packers have reportedly signed star wide receiver Greg Jennings to a three-year contract extension through the 2012 season.  Jennings’ current rookie contract was set to expire after the 2009 season, making his re-signing a priority to the offense.  Although the details aren’t out there in the clear, Greg A. Bedard reported that it will pay Jennings upwards of $8 million per year, making him the second-highest paid player on the team behind quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

“I’m grateful and I understand that I’m blessed,” Jennings said today. “Just to know I’m going to have that financial stability for not only myself but for my family, my children, it’s an exciting feeling. It really hasn’t hit me yet — probably (not) until I get that first check. I’m sure it will sink in sometime soon.

“Talking to (Packers contract negotiator Russ Ball) yesterday, I was very appreciative that they signed me to this extension not only because of what I did on the field but it just says a lot about the way they feel about myself, not only as a player but my character, my personlity, who I am as a man.”

The contract means that the Packers will be in the same situation they were this season again after the 2012 season with an expiring contract for Rodgers’ favorite target.  But this means that the Packers have Rodgers and Jennings together for another four years, which I feel is great for the offense.

I’m glad Thompson actually took care of this without having it deteriorate into some situation with an 11th-hour extension right before the start of free agency.  It leaves more time to get to the other people that need extensions which is a rather large number: Nick Collins, Aaron Kampman, Atari Bigby, Ryan Pickett, Daryn Colledge, Jason Spitz, Chad Clifton, Johnny Jolly, Tony Moll, and Will Blackmon.

With most of the defensive players (Collins, Kampman, Bigby, Pickett, Jolly, Blackmon), it has to be seen whether or not they can adjust to the 3-4 scheme.  If they can  and they do it well (and happily), they can be re-signed rather easily, I’d say.  But if they don’t, then they could be gone.  Collins has threatened to holdout of training camp without a new deal, as he missed most of the OTAs with personal issues.  Collins was absolutely stellar last season in the secondary and it would be lovely to see him back in green and gold, but his adjustment to the 3-4 remains to be seen.

Also, the Packers still have five un-signed draft picks, including first rounders B.J. Raji and Clay Matthews.

Thompson, Mike McCarthy, and Ball have some work to do.

Thompson is a big man at 6-4, 270, good size for the outside linebacker position.  The only problem for him was that his speed wasn’t up to par with what the position requires.  So he changed his workout pattern:

This offseason, Thompson changed his workout regimen to make himself into a pseudo linebacker for the new 3-4 defense. That included changing the pace at which he lifted weights and adding hip work between lifts.

He lifted the same amount of weight for the same repetitions but instead of resting between lifts, he did more situps and abdominal work or active stretching.

“A lot of the stretches I was doing worked on my hip flexibility, swiveling my hips back and forth for flexibility just so I’m a more fluid athlete,” Thompson said.

With that, Thompson has moved into the starting lineup of the defense this offseason.  He has seen most or all of the reps opposite Aaron Kampman and the two have developed a rapport that will be vital for the defense to succeed.  The combination of size and speed is important for an outside linebacker in the 3-4, as they have to rush, cover, and take on blockers.  It seems Thompson can do all three.

If I were a coach, I’d want 11 Jeremy Thompsons on my defense.  The Wake Forest product has impressed nearly everyone he has worked with.

“It definitely wasn’t easy, the whole defense being new, plus a new position. It definitely wasn’t easy,” Thompson said. “Whatever we went through during the day I studied that night. So I would study an hour every night.”

Thompson has done so well he has drawn rare praise from coaches on the field for dropping back into coverage. Coach Mike McCarthy also sees potential for Thompson in disrupting the quarterback.

“He’s a natural pass rusher,” McCarthy said. “His experience playing defensive end really will help him this year as it carries over to the outside linebacker position. He’s as natural of an athlete that you’ll see out there at that position as far as dropping and doing all the different things. I know our defensive staff, particularly Kevin Greene and Dom Capers, are very excited.”

One of the best things this does for the Packers defense is create competition and flexibility on the defense.  Thompson’s improvement will push Matthews to get better, giving the Packers two outstanding possibilities for the defense.  It also gives the Packers choices on which athlete they want in the game in different scenarios, giving the opposing offenses more things to gameplan for and more things to think about in the line.  It’ll be a blessing for the defense.

Still, Thompson comes off as a guy you can’t hate, someone that you just want to root for:

“Anytime you work with the ones, it’s an opportunity,” Thompson said. “I’m just trying to be the best I can be. If he comes back and he’s better than me and he can help the team, I mean, I’m not going to be content. But I’m going to have to know my role. But I’m going to do the best I can. If it is being starter, I’m going to try to take off and be the best starter in the league.”

Maybe we’ll see him rolling off of a battered Brett Favre at some point this year.

This means there is so much more turnover that has to be expected with the depth chart, but at least all of the players with the exception of Thompson were expected to work with the first team defense at some point.  Thompson rarely saw the field in his rookie season and now appears to be making a case to be taken seriously on defense and not just a special-teamer.

Linebackers coach Kevin Greene on Thompson:

“Jeremy Thompson brings a lot to the table. He’s very athletic, very athletic. He’s very fluid. His fluidity at outside backer is going to obviously be a plus.”

Greene was one of the best, so you know he has to like what he sees.  I like Thompson.  Wake guys are usually pretty intelligent, and Thompson really seems like he could be a plus to the defense in 2009 if he keeps his improved performance up.

On the arrival of rookie B.J. Raji affecting Ryan Pickett:

“It’s definitely an opportunity for him, number one, to be the nose guard of this football team. When you look at our defensive line and some of our veteran players on defense, we’re making the scheme change but there are individuals we feel strongly about and I’ve said it since the day we made the change to the 3-4: Ryan Pickett will be an excellent anchor for us at the nose guard position. We want flexibility in the rotation with those defensive linemen. That’s why B.J. will work the nose guard and the left end position.”

Cullen Jenkins:

“Cullen Jenkins, we’ll probably move him around more in the sub groups.”

Everyone’s favorite possible bust, Justin Harrell:

“Justin Harrell is looking better and better each week.”

Johnny Jolly, still awaiting trial:

“Johnny Jolly has been productive for us in spots.”

The Packers defense will under extreme changes this offseason and into next season.  The additions of Raji and Clay Matthews are great for the Packers future, but right now most of the focus has to be on the change in the current personnel.  2009 becomes a make or break year for Harrell.  This season also signals a shift in future personnel decisions, such as ones regarding Aaron Kampman, as if he does not fit in the scheme, he could possibly be dealt.  Also, the Packers need their defense to be strong, because the offense will score points.  If the defense had held in a few games last year, the Packers could have been a playoff team.  This year could also be make or break for Ted Thompson, as he has been under some intense scrutiny recently by Packers shareholders.

The Packers find themselves back in the top ten for the first time since 2006 when they selected linebacker A.J. Hawk.  It appears with the switch to the 3-4 defense, the Packers will go defense again in the top 10.  With Ted Thompson calling the shots, I wouldn’t rule anything out.  If I’m calling the shots, I go for Brian Orakpo and pick him if he’s available.    It’s no secret (or it would be if I posted more…I apologize) that I love Orakpo.  Even if he is a workout warrior, I feel his skill set could transition very well into Dom Capers‘ 3-4 scheme.  He gives the Packers a body opposite Aaron Kampman that can do serious damage to the quarterback.  He wants the sacks, and he’ll get them.  It will obviously take him time to develop, but the defense will need time to develop too, creating a great match.

After Orakpo, having B.J. Raji drop into the Packers’ lap would be nearly as good.  Picking up Raji would be great for a currently-overmatched defensive line.  Throwing his big body down in the trenches would clog space and free up Nick Barnett and whoever else plays in the middle for the Packers next year (Desmond Bishop? Brandon Chillar? A.J. Hawk?).  There is question about Raji’s character and reported failed drug test at the combine which could deter Thompson who loves his high character guys.  Also, many mocks have Raji going #8 to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The sexy mock draft pick for the Packers is Ohio State cornerback Malcolm Jenkins.  It seems like nearly every mock has the Packers picking up the Buckeye with the “Al Harris and Charles Woodson are old; they need fresh blood” reasoning, ignoring the fact Tramon Williams had a great season in 2008 filling in for an injured Harris and Thompson drafted Pat Lee last year.  We all remember how everyone had the Packers picking one of a plethora of cornerbacks last year.  And what did they do?  Traded out of the first round and picked wide receiver Jordy Nelson.  I didn’t see that one coming.  At all.  I don’t really see that big of a reason for the Packers to pick Jenkins.  If Orakpo and Raji are gone, then sure, Ted, go for it.  But please don’t take Jenkins over one of those two.

If all three of the aforementioned players are gone, I see the Packers taking Florida State defensive end Everette Brown.  He’s shooting up draft boards.  In the later rounds on defense, Georgia Tech defensive end Michael Johnson is an athletic freak and could definitely be a second round pick if his stock keeps dropping like I hear it is.  At defensive tackle, Evander Hood, Ron Brace, and Sen’Derrick Marks are the top picks for the Packers, based on where they are projected to go, as late-first round or second-round picks.  Tyson Jackson from LSU has had his name floated around the Packers due to his versatility on the defensive line, while Robert Ayers has been named as a possibility.  Although with Ayers, we all remember what happened last time Thompson took a defensive lineman from Tennessee with a high pick…yeah, let’s not go there.

After Orakpo, none of the other highly touted linebackers (USC’s threesome, James Laurenaitis) really seem to fit the MO the Packers want to have their defense to have.  Also, the secondary is ridiculously crowded, so I see Jenkins as the only legitimate pickup for that group.  All of this being said, if the Packers go defense at #9, they better get a #98 jersey ready for Orakpo.

1. B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College – Raji is a big space-filling defensive tackle that the Packers need to anchor their 3-4 defense for years to come.  Raji can move (5.13 40) for a big man and showed talent while in college.  The 6-1, 337-pound defensive lineman also said he hoped he was on the Packers radar for the draft.

2. Brian Orakpo, DE/OLB, Texas –  With the Packers looking for a hybrid DE/OLB, Orakpo could join a great linebacking corps.  He is a menace to opposing tackles and his only goal is to get to the quarterback and take him down.  This is the type of aggression the Packers need on their defense, a gamer that can team with Nick Barnett, A.J. Hawk, and Aaron Kampman.

3. Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State – I’m not too fond of the Packers drafting Jenkins at No. 9 as I feel there is enough depth in the defensive backfield and the Packers can probably pick up an additional corner later in the draft, much like what they did with Pat Lee last year.  Also, Jenkins’ combine performance was disappointing, which raises some questions about him.

4. Everette Brown, DE/OLB, Florida State – Some say that Brown is a little too small for a 3-4 scheme, but he has shown he is smart enough to play in it.  He is raw athletically and can make plays wherever he is lined up on the field and has been forecasted by some as a Top 5 talent.

5. Michael Johnson, DE/OLB, Georgia Tech – The first word that comes to mind when Johnson is mentioned is freak.  At 6-7, 266, he has intimidating size that could definitely come in to play when playing in the 3-4.  He is freakishly athletic, as I saw him make some amazing plays in college at Tech.  He was the juggernaut of that defense, rushing the quarterback, stopping the run, and even dropping into coverage.  His versatility could make him very desirable for the Packers at No. 9, even though I have seen some mock drafts without him in the first round.

Tune in next week for the revised top five, based on happenings, as free agency starts tomorrow!

With the news today about Lewis calling DeMarcus Ware for Jerry Jones‘ phone number, Lewis looks primed to end up with the Dallas Cowboys (or as I like to call it, “The Land of Tools,” where Lewis definitely belongs).

However, that doesn’t mean we can’t look at the possibility of Lewis coming to Green Bay. The Packers need a leader. It had always been Brett Favre‘s locker room, but that ship has sailed. Aaron Rodgers leads more by example than vocally, along with Donald Driver and most of the offense. Nick Barnett and Al Harris are the closest thing the Packers have to a Lewis-esque player, but the same passion and fire equated with Lewis is not the first thing you think of when you think of them.

Lewis also knows the ins and outs of a 3-4 defense from Rex Ryan‘s scheme in Baltimore. Lewis’ knowledge of that scheme also makes the New York Jets a possible destination for him and Ravens teammate Jim Leonhard. Lewis can help the younger players of the Packers defense, Barnett, Aaron Kampman, and A.J. Hawk, among others, learn the defense in its most legitimate form. Lewis would be able to guide the locker room and work well with the team and give an edge to the team. He would be a little pricey, but Ted Thompson has plenty of cap space. Adding Ray Lewis to the Packers could only help the team on the field.

Now, why Ray Lewis on the Packers would not a good fit. The first thing that comes to my mind is an adjective another football fan used when describing Lewis: delusional. In terms of appearing as a me-first player (note I said “appearing,” not “being”), Lewis ranks up there with Terrell Owens in terms of pointless showmanship. “The Squirrel?” Gag me. Please. Seriously Ray, that got old seven years ago. I’d a put a stipulation in his contract saying he buries “The Squirrel” next to Edgar Allan Poe in Baltimore. And this showmanship goes from pre-game to in-game. Yes Ray, I’m glad your enthusiastic the running back was held to a routine three yard gain, but the thing is, you didn’t make the tackle. I don’t see why that dance is necessary when Haloti Ngata made the stop.

Lewis’ off-the-field antics (no, I’m not talking about being implicated in stabbings during Super Bowl XXXIV) also rub me the wrong way. Saying his contract situation was “between me and God” shows that he’s not willing to show Baltimore what he’s thinking. Also, the fact that all the information about him is coming out through other players like Ware, instead of out of his mouth really makes you wonder what he’s thinking. When the offseason started, I could definitely see him staying in Baltimore, but the way he has acted since then makes me really wonder what his motives and wants are. The Packers don’t need someone who isn’t going to be upfront with the organization about what they want to do. We just went through six years of the offseason soap opera that was Brett Favre. We don’t Ray Lewis discussing his contract situation with God instead of Ozzie Newsome. Last time I checked, Newsome writes the checks to the players, unless owner Steve Bisciotti pulled off one of the biggest coups in NFL history in getting God to be his GM.

Lewis’ age also plays against him in signing with Green Bay. The middle linebacker turns 34 in May, and, despite having one of his greatest seasons, should not be counted on to duplicate his performance in Green Bay. The Packers just do not have the same defensive talent available in Baltimore. Lewis played behind space-eaters Ngata, Trevor Pryce, and Justin Bannan on the Ravens, players specifically built for the 3-4. In Green Bay, the defensive tackles and defensive ends are severely undersized and help is expected to come through the draft. Due to his age and personnel, Lewis would not be able to produce in Green Bay the same way he does in Baltimore. This is enough to not pursue him in free agency.

Just because the Packers can’t have one Baltimore linebacker doesn’t mean they can’t have another. Bart Scott is set to hit the free agent market next Thursday and looks to have numerous suitors. The Ravens again placed the franchise tag on Terrell Suggs, keeping him in Baltimore for another year, and they desperately want Lewis, the face of their franchise and “The Original Raven,” back. This flurry of activity leaves Scott out in the cold, despite the fact he said he would take a discount to return to Baltimore.

I don’t think the Ravens would lose too, too much sleep over losing Scott. They have Tarvares Gooden and Antwan Barnes behind him on the depth chart, and it seems like anyone who goes into that scheme comes out a star. At 28, Scott is in his prime and is experienced. I was impressed by his behavior during the 2008 season. There were no outbursts like the infamous penalty flag-throw to cost the Ravens the game against the New England Patriots in 2007. Instead, Scott played his inside linebacker position how he was supposed to and reaped the benefits. Scott’s numbers have decreased since his career-high 103 tackles in 2006, but the Ravens have had numerous other members of their defense emerge during that time.

I think Scott would be a great signing for the Packers. He would team with Barnett to give the Packers two intense inside linebackers. With Barnett coming off of major knee surgery, Scott would also give them security if Barnett can’t go at full strength from Day One. Scott seems to be at a great place in his career and could bring some swagger to a Green Bay locker room that could use it.

Ted, open up the checkbook.

Side Note: The Julius Peppers plan is terminated. No sense getting him from the Carolina Panthers right now. Way too expensive. Also, Kampman is moving to the outside linebacker spot Peppers would occupy, and that would be too much of a good thing right there.

Step 1: Hire Dom Capers.

The vacancy Bob Sanders left at defensive coordinator is particularly glaring for the Packers.  The defense, although ravaged by injuries, always seemed to be a step behind the offense in certain games, most notably the Packers 51-29 defeat against the New Orleans Saints.  After a 2007 season where the defense was fantastic, the Packers defense looked old and out of sync in 2008.  The schemes were stale and bringing in Capers would add a breath of fresh air.

But if the Packers want Capers, they will have to move quickly.  The New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys also have interest in Capers as the Giants lost Steve Spagnoulo to the St. Louis Rams and Dallas fired Brian Stewart.  The Cowboys could be an enticing option for Capers, as owner Jerry Jones has deep pockets and the Cowboys already run a 3-4, Capers’ preferred scheme.  Capers also has ties with Giants head coach Tom Coughlin, making the Giants look like a good option to him.  However, Dallas is currently a cesspool of unrest and the personnel in New York is more suited towards a 4-3 defense.

The Packers have been a 4-3 team for as long as I can remember, but head coach Mike McCarthy has said that he is open to changing the scheme to a 3-4.  A 3-4 defense could work pretty successfully in Green Bay with the right personnel.  Which brings us to…

Step 2: Sign Julius Peppers.

The Carolina Panthers freak athlete/defensive end wants out of Carolina.  From a Toronto Star report:

Four-time Pro Bowl defensive end Julius Peppers has decided he won’t sign a long-term deal with the Carolina Panthers when he becomes an unrestricted free agent Feb.26.

Peppers, who grew up in tiny Bailey, N.C., starred in college at North Carolina and was the Panthers’ first-round pick in 2002, believes Carolina’s defensive system is not for him – even after recording a career-high 14 1/2 sacks this season.

Agent Carl Carey said Peppers wants to play in a 3-4 defence. The Panthers use a 4-3 alignment.

The key to this is that last line.  “Peppers wants to play in a 3-4 defence.”  Bringing Capers up to Green Bay and inserting the 3-4 would make an inviting situation for Peppers.  The Packers had difficulty getting pressure on the quarterback this season.  Aaron Kampman was steady as always, but Cullen Jenkins was ill-suited to be a defensive end before his season-ending shoulder injury, leaving the Packers with Jason Hunter, Michael Montgomery, and rookie Jeremy Thompson to get pressure on the quarterback, which was not too successful.

Signing Peppers would allow the team to move Jenkins back to defensive tackle, allowing him to team with Johnny Jolly, Ryan Pickett, and Colin Cole, and push injury-riddled super-bust Justin Harrell out of the lineup until the Packers can finally figure out what’s wrong with him.  Teaming Peppers with Kampman would give opposing offensive lines and offensive coordinators headaches for weeks.  Peppers, being the freak athlete he is, could be used as the fourth linebacker as well, adding more versatility to the defense.  The Packers would be able to have their top four linebackers, Nick Barnett, A.J. Hawk, Brady Poppinga, and Brandon Chillar, on the field at the same time.  Young Desmond Bishop would also get more time to see the field.

The catch to this is that I don’t see Peppers signing with the Packers unless Capers and the 3-4 is in place.  This would mean that the Packers have to move fast on signing Capers, giving Peppers time to see that Green Bay would be a welcoming scenario for him.

Peppers will command a lot of money, but he would be a big splash for a team that has been quiet on the free agency market for the past few years.  Even the signing of Charles Woodson was low-key, but has turned into a great move for the team.  Ted Thompson can’t be afraid to make a move right now.  It’s not the end of the world if the Packers miss out on Capers and Peppers, but it would most definitely turn the Packers into a contending defense.

Some of you will argue that the Packers need to shore up the secondary before they can focus on the front seven.  Sure, Woodson and Al Harris are aging, and Tramon Williams, Jarrett Bush, and Pat Lee aren’t the best options out there, but teams in the past, most likely the Super Bowl XLII Champion New York Giants showed that a great pass rush can help cancel out shoddy defensive backs.  Did you really think that Corey Webster and Sam Madison would be Super Bowl Champion corners against an the explosive New England Patriots offense?  Not really.  But the relentless pass rush of Michael Strahan, Osi Umenyiora, and Justin Tuck turned a decent defensive backfield into a Super Bowl Champion defensive backfield.

Don’t underestimate what the addition of Capers and Peppers could have on the Packers in 2009.

QUARTERBACKS

Going into this season, the Green Bay Packers had a huge question mark at quarterback. Brett Favre was dealt to the New York Jets and all the team had to fill in for him at starting quarterback was two rookie quarterbacks and one unproven, rarely played quarterback. Well, that unproven, rarely played quarterback is now starting every game and has proven himself. Aaron Rodgers showed everyone what he is capable of, and silenced most of his critics. He has passed for 1,668 yards so far, at 145-221 (65.6%), which is solid for somebody that people were doubting from the beginning. Throw in 12 touchdowns, 4 interceptions, and a rating of 98.8 and you have a quarterback that is probably Top 10 in the NFL so far. Yes, Top 10. He ranks 10th in the NFL in completion percentage, 13th in yards, 7th in touchdowns, 10th in fewest interceptions, 16th in first downs (he has 74), and 7th in passer rating. This is all through 7 games; some quarterbacks ahead of him didn’t have a bye week yet. It is hard to believe he had doubters in Week 1 after looking at those stats.

Rodgers also seems to be able to stay healthy and play hurt. The only thing that happened to him so far was a sprained shoulder at the end of a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Even with the injury, he still passed efficiently in the next games he played in (including a 300-yard game the week after spraining the shoulder). The hit gave 7th-round pick Matt Flynn some playing time, but his line of 2-5 for 6 yards doesn’t really say too much.

Grade: It doesn’t seem like this position has the biggest question mark anymore. Rodgers seems to be a great fit at quarterback, and though it doesn’t seem like he (or anyone) could possibly top what Favre has done for Green Bay, his play puts him in the top quarterbacks in the NFL today. Given everything that he has done so far, the Packers’ quarterback slot gets an A.
 
RUNNING BACKS

Last year the biggest hole on the Packers early on was at running back, but that hole was quickly sealed with the emergence Ryan Grant. He had a breakout second-half of the season, which is when he played the most. With big expectations for Grant going into this season, he has been a bit of a dissapointment. Grant has put up 464 yards (17th in the NFL) on 137 carries (7th), good for only a mediocre average of 3.4 yards a carry. He has only scored one touchdown and has lost three fumbles.

Even though he isn’t running like LaDainian Tomlinson or Adrian Peterson, he isn’t a huge problem. The Packers are still winning because of their passing games. But opposing defenses know that if that drop the secondary back, they could give up big yardage on the ground because Grant can break out a big run at any moment. So the other team is still watching him, which could be a reason of his underachieving stats; last year defenses weren’t too used to him and didn’t look at him as a threat at first and almost let him run at will. Brandon Jackson has been a good 2nd-string back, though, getting 104 yards and one touchdown from 20 carries. If Grant gets hurt or isn’t putting up at all, he should be an apt replacement in the backfield.

Grade: With all of that being said, Grant has to pick it up. Right now the Packers are above .500, but they are in a close division race. If Rodgers has a bad game, the team could suffer without Grant picking up the slack. As of right now, I give the team’s running unit a B minus.
 
RECEIVERS

The receiving corps has never been much of a problem for the Packers in the last 15 years. It didn’t matter if it was Bill Schroeder, Antonio Freeman, Terry Glenn, Javon Walker, or Donald Driver catching the ball–if Favre was throwing, big things would usually happen. So does that mean with Favre’s departure, the receiving game for Green Bay would be sub-par? Absolutely not. Rodgers has been throwing right on target and the wide outs are boosting the offense every game.

Rodgers’ favorite target this season is last year’s surprise player, Greg Jennings. Jennings leads the team in every catching category. Throughout the whole NFL, he is 2nd in receiving yards (685), 16th in receptions (37), 4th in yards per catch out of receivers with 20 catches or more (18.5), 4th in yards per game (97.9), and 12th in touchdowns (4th). Though those are some impressive stats, he isn’t the only guy out there putting up big numbers in green and gold. Driver has caught 29 passes for 330 yards (a 11.4 average), and 2 touchdowns. Donald Lee has 19 grabs for 141 yards (7.4 avg) and two touchdowns, The running back Jackson caught 18 for 106 yards (5.9 avg), and Jordy Nelson had 16 catches for 177 yards (11.1 avg) and a score. These guys are the bulk of the passing game, and they have been getting points on the scoreboard week in and week out. With an on-and-off running game, it’s nice to know that the receivers are always ready to play ball.

Grade: Like I already said, the running game for Green Bay has yet to establish itself as a major threat for every game. That puts a lot of the weight on Rodgers and his targets when it comes to offensive production. So far, that hasn’t been a problem. Jennings, Driver, and Lee have been doing great, and Jackson and Nelson come in and get yards when they need to. I like how this group of guys look right now, and that’s why I’m giving them an A.
 
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN

The offensive line isn’t as verteran-led as it has been. Players have left, and younger guys are the ones doing the dirty work in the trenches. Their average age is 28, and the oldest lineman is Chad Clifton, at age 32. The lack of long-time NFL experience is showing a bit, too. In some games the defense looks like it’s having an easy time penetrating and getting around ends, pressuring the quarterback or stuffing runs. Penalties like false starts and ineligible man downfield that are easily avoided have been committed by some of these young guys, too. Yes, the front line has been making big plays and blocks, too, but they seem on-and-off when it comes to creating holes and giving Rodgers time in the pocket.

For a team that is pass-oriented, the offensive line should step up a bit. They have given up 13 sacks, which isn’t bad, but could be better seeing it ranks 13th-worst in the league. Once the sacks start to disappear and Rodgers gets more time in the pocket before letting the ball go, the offense will start moving even better, getting more yards and possibly even more points on the board.

Grade: There will be some growing pains with these guys that are under or just over the age of 30. Penalities are inevitable and blocks will be missed, but that doesn’t mean nothing can be improved. The Packers offensive line just needs to focus on getting both hands on a guy and keeping him away from the passer or ball carrier. The more that happens, the better the offense will look. I think a B minus seems like a good grade for the O-Line.
 
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN

This very young group lead by the dominant Aaron Kampman hasn’t been dissapointing so far this season. Out of all defensive linemen, Kampman and Johnny Jolly were in the Top 50 in tackles before Week 8 with 25 and 22, respectively. Ryan Pickett has chipped in with 18 tackles, while Michael Montgomery and Cullen Jenkins rounds out the linemen in double-figure tackles with 15 and 10. Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila is seeing less playing time then he used to get, but he still has been able to help out with 9 tackles.

Kampman just isn’t good at tackling a ball carrier, though–he can bring down the quarterback a lot, too. He has tallied 6 sacks, 7th in the NFL. Jenkins, on injured reserve with a pectoral injury, had 2.5 sacks, making him a half of a sack short of cracking the Top 50. I like how these guys are playing. They can get through the line and bring down the quarterback. In Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings, Peterson was held in check a lot, mostly because of penetration.

Grade: Like the O-Line the defensive linemen are young and can still improve. Kampman just has to keep doing what he’s doing while Jolly and Pickett can put up a bit more numbers to make this front line really scary. Defense wins championships, and it all starts on the line, so everyone in this group needs to show up for every game. Right now they’re at a B with me.
 
LINEBACKERS

The linebacker position seems to get better and better every year in Green Bay. Nick Barnett has been and still is a solid player. A.J. Hawk is still improving, and that’s scary seeing where he is already. Brady Poppinga has been doing well, too. Barnett is just outside of the NFL’s Top 50 in tackles for linebackers with 38, while Hawk (33) and Poppinga (25) trail him with nice numbers. Hawk has also racked up two sacks, good for the Top 25 for linebackers.

To me, the linebacking corps just needs to keep trucking along, just keep doing what they’re doing. A few more sacks, tackles, fumbles, or picks here or there would help (it always does), but they are fine where they’re at. Barnett is a great run-stopper, and Hawk can play it both ways. Poppinga is the weak-link of the group, as Ted Thompson brought in Brandon Chillar from the St. Louis Rams in the offseason, but if he steps it up, these linebackers should be golden.

Grade: Everything’s going great here. Poppinga can pick it up and there still is room for improvement. But there’s always room for improvement at every position on every team, and with that being said I give the linebackers an B plus.
 
DEFENSIVE BACKS

It is very hard to find the best part of the Packers defense. When you read about the line, you think they’re the biggest part. When you read about the linebackers, you think that they have to bring the biggest punch to the opposing offenses. But the most important part of Green Bay’s great defense probably is the secondary. They can do everything. Nick Collins is in the Top 50 for tackles out of all defensive backs with 33. Charles Woodson‘s sack is one behind the league leaders’ for d-backs. Collins and Woodson both lead the NFL with interceptions (they have four each), and Tramon Williams (3) and Atari Bigby (1) are in the Top 50 in picks for all defensive backs.

Injuries have been depleting the secondary week in and week out (Al Harris, one of the league’s most physical corners was out with a spleen injury and Bigby missed time early on), but no matter who has been out, the subs have stepped up and played well. Every opponent’s quarterback has to watch out for this group; interceptions seem to be inevitable, and they can swat balls down and plug up running lanes quickly, too.

Grade: I would hate to be a team heading into a game against the Packers, especially if they have an inconsistent passing game. This secondary unit is physical, smart, fast, and can get takeaways to turn the momentum of a game around in the blink of an eye. For all of that, I’m going to give them an A.
 
KICKERS

Ever since Ryan Longwell left for the comfort of the Metrodome, a solid, consistent kicker has been hard to find for Green Bay. Last year, though, they may have found that guy. Mason Crosby tore the league apart with his foot as a rookie last year, going 31-39 with a game-winner in his career debut and a long of 53 yards. This year his kicking is decent, going 11-14 (his field goal percentage is 27th), with a long of 51 yards (12th best in the NFL). This early on a few misses will make your league-ranking drop, so it seems worse than what it actually is, but Crosby can still improve. If he misses 3 or less attempts for the rest of the season, he’ll be set. Right now he’s fine, but as always, there’s room for improvement.

As for punters, this position has been shaky for a while. This year 27-year-old Derrick Frost is taking the long snaps, and he’s been so-so. Frost is only in the Top 20 for total punts (20th, with 28) and longest punt (10th, 65 yards). Only four of his punts were pinned down inside the 20 yard line, giving opponents good field position more than a lot of the other guys. This position can use a lot of improvement.

Grade: The kicking game is almost set; Crosby is still developing. But once he is locked in, he should be good to go. The punting game needs a lot of improvement, though. Unless Frost surprises everyone, I think Green Bay should look for a new punter pretty soon. He could eventually give a team great field position at the worst time possible. I give the kicking a C plus.
 
THE TEAM’S OVERALL GRADE

Right now the Pack is tied for first in the NFC North with the Chicago Bears at 4-3. Though they aren’t going to put a spectactular year up like last year’s 13-3 team, the first Green Bay team without Favre in 16 years has a great shot at making the playoffs again. The Chicago Bears will be a big task. Last year they dropped both games to them. Though it didn’t affect their place in the division, it did help the Dallas Cowboys get home field advantage in the playoffs. This year, though, the two Chicago games could end up deciding the NFC North champion. A wild card spot isn’t a promise, either, so this team has to show up for every game.

There are some tough matchups left on the schedule, too. The Tennessee Titans are up next, and there are still the Bears, Vikings, Carolina Panthers, and Jacksonville Jaguars waiting, too. If everything goes right, I’m predicting a 9-win season in the least. A 9-7 record wouldn’t guarentee a division title or wildcard spot, though, so the Packers have to be at their best in those tough games. A win over the Titans, giving them their first loss of the year, would be a huge boost for the team, possibly giving them momentum that they’ll need. All in all, it depends on how well the team plays every week (as always). As of right now, I’m giving the Green Bay Packers a B plus.

Hopefully it will be an A plus at the end of the year.