Will A.J. Hawk win the starting inside linebacking position this season? Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Since the Packers moved to a 3-4 defensive philosophy, their defense has been about as consistent as the lineup for the Monday Night Football broadcasters.

In 2008, they were twentieth in yards given up per game. In 2009, they jumped to 2nd, in 2010, they were 5th and in 2011 all way down to last.

While some might point to the presence, or lack thereof of a player like Cullen Jenkins (he played in only four games in 2008 and, of course we know by the unsullied jersey of Eli Manning last January, zero games for the Pack in 2012), the play of their linebackers hasn’t been a stellar example of consistency.

In fact, no position on the Packers defense has had to endure as many rotating starters since 2008 as the linebacking corps. For long periods of time, the following have been completely out or at the very least severely encumbered by injury: Matthews (hamstring, shin), Hawk, Barnett, Walden, Zombo, Brad Jones, Brandon Chillar.

Will D.J. Smith get more playing time or even a starting role this season? Raymond T. Rivard photograph

So it should come as no surprise when we, Packers fans to the enth degree, search for spectacular stability. We’ve had it at almost every other position for years, Rodgers, Jennings, Bulaga, Woodson, and until last year, Collins and to some extent Raji. With a breakout performance by Desmond Bishop last year, we know that spectacular play from the inside linebacking position is possible. That could be what’s suddenly driving speculation that Hawk is in a training camp battle to save his starting position (and therein his roster spot).

Since they lost to the Cardinals back in the 2009-10 playoffs, when it became painfully clear that Hawk just did not possess the speed necessary to track down running backs on the sideline, I’ve never been a big fan of the Ohio State product. But Hawk had a productive year in 2010 and the Packers, on a Super Bowl high, invested a multi-year contract in the linebacker and let Nick Barnett go.

Last season, Hawk was consistently blamed for not making enough big plays. When he did have to sit because of injury, Packer fans were treated to some excellent playmaking by his understudy, a rookie, D.J. Smith. He’s 5-11, 239 pounds, and came out of a small school, Appalachian State.

During his unlimited action last year, he had 40-plus tackles and an interception. It will be very interesting to see if Smith gets more snaps than usual during the preseason, especially if it is with the first team. The Packers will likely say it is to give Hawk a rest, but many will view this as a clue that Hawk has a fight on his hands, which is as good a motivator as there is for someone who has already inked his post rookie payday contract.

Could Brandon Chillar be back with the Green Bay Packers this coming season? Jarrett Bush thinks so. Dennis Wierzbicki-US PRESSWIRE

What do you do when your best blitzing linebacker is also your best cover linebacker?

It’s a big problem, because it means that you are sacrificing pass rush for coverage, or vice versa. It’s a problem the Packers encountered all season last year. So what is your first move in free agency?

You’ve got to find a cover linebacker, fast.

That’s what the Green Bay Packers have done, according to a tweet from Jarrett Bush this morning. Of course, such a process is a lot easier when said cover linebacker is as familiar to you as Brandon Chillar – the guy who was cut before training camp last year seems likely to be back with the Packers this year after tight ends perpetually exploited the cover skills of the Packers’ A.J. Hawk and other linebackers.

This move allows the Packers to make some easier decisions in obvious passing downs. For instance, the coaches can let Desmond Bishop, who has shown a great knack for blitzing, run wild into the backfield, or at the very least be a rushing threat. Last year, opposing offensive coordinators knew that between A.J. Hawk and Bishop, the Packers were more likely to use Bishop in coverage, despite the fact that Bishop is a much better blitzer than coverage guy.

Why?

Because Bishop is much better in coverage than Hawk, who isn’t as fast or as agile as his fellow inside linebacker. Additionally, this move should take some of the coverage burden off Clay Matthews and Erik Walden, who are built to rush the passer and not cover. By signing Chillar, the Packers are acknowledging that their linebacking corps didn’t get the job done in rushing the passer last season.

Oh, and if the Packers did want Chillar to rush the passer from time to time to catch the opponent off guard, I’m sure his speed and agility would be helpful, just take a look at this play from 2009.

A 2004 fourth-round pick by St. Louis, Chillar’s most productive season was his first in Green Bay, during the 2008 campaign, when he had nine passes defended and 59 solo tackles in 14 games. He played reserve roles in each of the next few seasons and played in only eight games during the Packers’ Super Bowl run in 2010-11.

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Nick Barnett is headed to Buffalo to be a Bill. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Cripes, things are moving so fast in the NFL these days that the minute you write something about someone, it changes.

It’s almost like buying a PC and going back to the store 15 minutes later to find a newer “better” version of what you just bought.

Well, such is the case with Nick Barnett. I wrote 30 minutes ago the Buffalo Bills MAY be interested in his services. Not just a few minutes after posting that blog … it seems it was confirmed. (more…)

Not only will he be spilling information galore if he signs with the Lions, but that is the team the Packers will most likely battle for supremacy of the NFC North. Yeah, the Vikings and Bears will be competitive, but it’s the Lions that scares me the most.

Any type of advantage will be huge when the two teams meet this year.

Of course, the Packers will adjust to specific situations, but any information Barnett would be able to provide could hurt the Packers.

It was inevitable that there were teams out there interested in Barnett’s services. The longtime Packer certainly has a couple of years still left in the tank … if he can stay healthy. And given the situation with Brandon Chillar being cut because of the off-season injury he suffered, it places the Packers in a predicament, with a dearth of inside linebackers … and I don’t see the team jumping at any opportunity to shore up the position.

We’ll see what transpires in the next few weeks, but should the Packers suffer any injuries among linebackers, it will be a huge hit.

As for Barnett, as a person, we wish him best … as a Detroit Lion, we hope the Packers find a way to run him over.

Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers (left) will probably have a few new faces on his squad this fall. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

It’s no secret that Nick Barnett, Johnny Jolly, Brandon Chillar, and Justin Harrell are on the bubble with the Green Bay Packers, but it became even more evident that others, including Gregg Rosenthal of Pro Football Talk, are also seeing the writing on the wall.

In his post this morning, Rosenthal tabbed all four of those Packers as either already being on the chopping block or at least describing them as potentially being cut by the team.

We find it difficult to disagree with this assessment. It’s clear that Jolly has dug his own hole with his legal issues, something neither Mike McCarthy, nor Ted Thompson, will tolerate. We all know they want a locker room without character issues.

Harrell may get a chance to redeem himself by staying healthy, but it’s rather unlikely. Ted Thompson’s worst first round draft choice will probably be gone sooner than later.

That brings us to Chillar and Barnett. They have both been productive in the past, with Barnett being a mainstay in the Packers inside defense for a number of years. Chillar, a relative newcomer to the team, may have more of an upside than Barnett, so it’s probable that if the Packers decide to keep one of them, the nod will go to Chillar. We all know what Barnett did during the week leading up to the Super Bowl and his whining about not being in the team picture … that didn’t sit well with coaches and administration. That alone could be enough to tip the balance toward Chillar.

However, Chillar has had his own problems with staying on the field, but the Packers will most likely keep him if they are to keep any one of the four listed here.

And depending on how the rules read about the protection of veterans when the CBA is unveiled, this might all change.

Either way, the Packers defense is definitely going to have some new names listed on the roster this coming season and some old names scratched off of it.

• 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.

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.

The Packers most glaring need on draft day is their defensive line.  They are currently understaffed and undersized for new defensive coordinator Dom Capers‘ 3-4 alignment and will definitely try to alleviate this in the draft.

That was pretty obvious, but I can’t give everything from the post away here…

…the Packers do have talented linebackers.  Nick Barnett, tweeting his way back from a severe knee injury, will be in the middle, but the question is who will start with him.  A.J. Hawk, Brandon Chillar, and Brady Poppinga are all solid linebackers, but are all more suited for the 4-3 defense.  I expect Capers and Mike McCarthy to rotate the linebackers in and out and really mix up the looks they will give the offense.

Linebackers…what’s next?

The Packers drafted Josh Sitton in 2008 to hopefully compete for a starting job and they also signed Duke Preston in one of their free agent moves this offseason.  It seems as if McCarthy and Ted Thompson are trying to breed competition to get the best starting lineup they can get.

Hopefully that breeding has some offspring.

Thompson is a notorious mover on draft day, making unexpected trades (ie trading out of the first round in 2008) and making unexpected picks (Aaron Rodgers in 2005).  That being said, there is no sure pick for the Packers at #9.  I have said in some posts on Lombardi Ave that I want the Packers to get either Brian Orakpo or B.J. Raji at #9, or Malcolm Jenkins, the one everyone has the Packers picking, if Raji or Orakpo are gone.  It seems logical that the Packers will go defense, given their personnel is ill-suited for a 3-4 defense currently.

Check out NFL Mocks for the rest of the preview and for other teams’ needs as well.

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.

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.

It is reported that he should be ready for training camp next year following six to eight months of rehabilitation and provided there are no complications from his surgery.

Despite having Barnett in the lineup, the Packers have struggled mightily against the runnnig game this year, rankings 28th in yards allowed per game and 30th in yards allowed per carry.  In losing their best linebacker, the struggles have just compounded on each other.

Someone has to step up.  According to head coach Mike McCarthy, second-year linebacker Desmond Bishop could be inserted directly into the middle of the defense, as he was on Sunday.  Bishop came up with a key strip of Adrian Peterson on a fourth-down play late in the game, but also missed a tackle on Chester Taylor‘s 47-yard touchdown catch and blitzed the wrong gap on Peterson’s game-winning 29-yard touchdown run.  A special teams player in his rookie year, Bishop made the roster based on improvement this year and is attempting to make the most of his playing time.  McCarthy said the decision could be made soon.

Also in play are linebackers A.J. Hawk, Brady Poppinga, and Brandon Chillar.  Hawk could be moved to the middle linebacker where he played in college and insert Chillar into the weakside position.  Chillar was scratched from Sunday’s game with a shoulder injury, however.  Hawk, the No. 5 pick in the 2006 NFL Draft, has played solidly, but not up to the high expectations that come with being a top-five overall pick.  He has had Barnett’s shadow to hide in, but now in Barnett’s absence he will have to shine.

I am not sold on Bishop completely, so I would advocate the second scenario of moving Hawk to the middle and putting Chillar on the weakside for the coming game against the Chicago Bears.  Based on how this linebacking corps works on Sunday, I would recommend McCarthy inserting Bishop into the game in certain scenarios to give him some time and figure out which linebacking corps to use use in the stretch run.

Barnett will be missed.  Is it time to start looking towards next year?

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.

Ever think we’d be saying that?

Well it happened Sunday, as Rodgers went 21-of-28 for 186 yards and one touchdown, while Manning went 21-of-42 for 229 yards and two interceptions, both of which were returned for touchdowns by the Packers.  The Packers jumped out to a 17-7 on the Indianapolis Colts halftime lead and never looked back.

The real story of Sunday’s game is the re-emergence of Ryan Grant, who had been basically useless for the first part of the season.  Grant carried the ball 31 times, unheard of for this season, gained 105 yards and scored his first touchdown of the season.  Grant seems to be hitting his stride at the right time of the season, similar to the same time he hit it last year.  The Packers would doubly appreciate last year’s Ryan Grant to make an appearance.

Rodgers did a good job of managing the offense, completing passes to eight receivers.  Brandon Jackson was the leading receiver, catching six passes for 37 yards.  Jackson has emerged as a solid backup option after being useless like the rest of the Packers running game for the first few weeks of the season.  Donald Lee caught the touchdown pass from Rodgers early in the second quarter.

The defense is what shined for Green Bay on Sunday though.  The highlights were two interception returns for touchdowns, a 62-yarder by Nick Collins in the third quarter and a 99-yarder by Aaron Rouse in the fourth, that helped put the game out of reach.  Brandon Chillar led the defense with nine total tackles (seven solo) while cornerback Tramon Williams, subbing for the injured Al Harris, had seven solo and a forced fumble.

For the Colts, Dominic Rhodes had 70 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 20 carries, while Dallas Clark led the receivers with eight receptions for 81 yards.  Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne combined for only four catches and 35 yards, showing a defensive prowess in a depleted secondary.

This is a solid win for the Packers going into a bye week, with the Tennessee Titans awaiting them after the bye.

“We just stunk,” offensive tackle Mark Tauscher said. “You can’t color it and put it in any other light. We flat-out stunk, and from an offensive standpoint, there’s nothing you can say. We flat-out were no good.”

I think that summarizes the overall performance. Since this is not a regular season game, I’m not going to go through and give all the individual stats and such. I’ll just cover the topics that I said I was not concerned about above.

Porous Offensive Line Play
The offensive line has long been a strong point of Green Bay Packers football. It wasn’t last night. Granted, they were playing a talented 3-4 defense, but people, it’s the San Fran-freaking-cisco 49ers. That’s not supposed to happen, even in preseason. The offensive line gave up six sacks last night, four of which were on the first team offensive line. Rodgers’ play was shaky from there on out.  I think the poor quarterback play could be a direct correlation from the offensive line play, but still, it was bad.

Despicable Backup Quarterback Play
So everyone thinks Brian Brohm is the backup quarterback.  Hell, some people wanted the Packers to ditch Rodgers for Brohm.  He had the job locked up from the time he was drafted, right?  Not so fast, my friend.  Brohm has been struggling.  Last night he was 4-9 for 33 yards and a fumble.  Not good.  Matt Flynn has quietly worked his way up into contention and could possibly beat out Brohm.  I’m starting to wonder if Ted Thompson is starting to regret his decision not to bring in a veteran quarterback, but something tells me he isn’t.  If he is doubting himself, he’s screwed as most of the decent backups are off the market.  A trade could possibly be in the works.  Possibly.

Lack of a Rushing Attack
Kregg Lumpkin rushed for 51 yards on 10 carries.  That boy is supposed to be cut by now.  Noah Herron rushed for 35 yards on six carries.  I didn’t think he’d be able to stay on the team either.  His main competition for the number three running back, Vernand Morency, rushed for a single yard on his single carry.  He was the leading receiver for the team, however, with one reception for 20 yards.  Brandon Jackson had 10 yards rushing.  The rushing attack is not looking good.  Ryan Grant needs to get healthy and get his ass back out on the field.  It’s great and all that he came to the voluntary workouts while holding out, but come on man, I’d rather have you skip the voluntary workouts and come into training camp on time.  Grant has set himself, Rodgers, the offensive line, and the offense back by not coming into camp on time.  I am absolutely furious right now about this.  Of course, as I said about the despicable backup quarterback play, the running game’s lackluster performance (except for Lumpkin) can be based off of the offensive line’s horrible play.

Inability to Stop the 49ers Offense
The defense was disgusting this game.  It’s J.T. O’-freaking-Sullivan torching the Packers for 154 yards.  What the hell?  Bring this up to par.  Brandon Chillar may have moved ahead of Brady Poppinga in the race for the final linebacker spot.  Yeah.  I actually had already had this part written but it got deleted and I forget most of it.  The Packers D needs to shape up.  I know it’s only preseason, and preseason does not matter overall, but I am rather concerned.

We do have hope however.  I remember an epic year where the Minnesota Vikings went 4-0 in the preseason, only to sputter, and finish in last place.  So hope remains for the Packers.