Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson talks with head coach Mike McCarthy prior to the Family Night scrimmage at Lambeau Field. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Fellow writer Travis Pipes has sparked an interesting discussion here at LombardiAve with a recent article about Ted Thompson and his success, or lack thereof, in the late rounds of the NFL Draft.

Just in case you missed it, I encourage you to check out Travis’s article here.

Travis takes a look at Thompson’s late round picks since Thompson took over as the Packers’ general manager in 2005, and makes the point that maybe his success in finding impact players in the later rounds of the draft isn’t as frequent as we typically perceive.

Desmond Bishop lines up against the Carolina Panthers. Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Outside of Josh Sitton (fourth round) and Desmond Bishop (sixth round), this seems to be the case. Both have proven to be excellent players for Green Bay and great finds late in the draft, but why hasn’t Thompson hit any other home runs in rounds 4-7 in his time as the Packers’ GM?

Just to get a frame of reference, I thought it would be interesting to take a look at how other general managers around the league fared in the late rounds of the draft during Thompson’s time with the Packers. I wanted to get a sense for how common it is for other teams to find impact players late in the draft, then this would give us a better understanding on how to judge Thompson’s efforts.

I compiled a list of all the GMs that drafted from 2005-12, and looked at each GM’s draft from 2005 to 2012. I focused on the players they selected in rounds 4-7 and noted any players that have played significant time for an NFL team. I also put an asterisk by any players that have proven to be either impact players or top players at their position.

So let’s see how the other GMs during Thompsons’ time with Green Bay did in finding impact players late in the draft.

(Both Rick Smith from Texans and Mike Tannenbaum from the Jets became GMs in 2006, but I included them on this list anyway becaue they were only one year removed from Thompson’s reign as GM.)

List of GMs and Late Round Success from 2005-2012

A.J. Smith – San Diego Chargers

2005 - Darren Sproles, RB, 4^th Round

Mike Brown – Cincinnati Bengals

2006 - Domata Peko, DL, 4^th Round

2010 - *Geno Atkins, DL, 4^th Round

Jerry Jones – Dallas Cowboys

2005 - *Marion Barber, RB, 4^th Round

- Chris Canty, DL, 4^th Round

- Jay Ratliff, DL, 7^th Round

2008 - Erik Walden, LB, 6^th Round

Rod Graves – Arizona Cardinals

2007 – Steve Breaston, WR, 5^th Round

2008 – Tim Hightower, RB, 5^th Round

Bruce Allen – Tampa Buccaneers/ Washington Redskins

2012 – *Alfred Morris, RB, 6^th Round

Mickey Loomis – New Orleans Saints

2006 – *Jahri Evans, OL, 4^th Round

- Rob Ninkovich, LB, 5^th Round

- *Marques Colston, WR, 7^th Round

2008 – *Carl Nicks, OL, 5^th Round

Bill Belichick  - New England Patriots

2005 – Matt Cassel, QB, 7^th Round

2010 – *Aaron Hernandez, WR, 4^th Round

Ozzie Newsome – Baltimore Ravens

2006 – Dawan Landry, S, 5^th Round

Kevin Colbert – Pittsburg Steelers

2007 – William Gay, CB, 5^th Round

2010 – Antonio Brown, WR, 6^th Round

Rick Smith – Houston Texans

2006 – *Owen Daniels, TE, 4^th Round

2009 – Glover Quin, S, 4^th Round

Mike Tannenbaum – New York Jets

2006 – Leon Washington, RB, 4^th Round

Ted Thompson – Green Bay Packers

2007 – *Desmond Bishop, LB, 6^th Round

- Mason Crosby, K,  6^th  Round

2008 – *Josh Sitton, OL, 4^th Round

- Matt Flynn?, QB, 7^th Round

2009 – T.J. Lang, OL, 4^th Round

- Brad Jones, LB, 7^th Round

2010 – Marshall Newhouse, OL, 5^th Round

- C.J. Wilson, DL, 7^th Round

2011 – Davon House?, CB, 4^th Round

2012 – Jerron McMillian?, SS, 4^th Round

As you can see, many GMs around the league have struggled to find impact players late in the draft. They seem to be lucky if they found one impact player in the late rounds in the past eight drafts. Many of the players on this list fall short of the definition of a true impact player, but either started or played a significant amount of snaps for their team.

T.J. Lang (70) during the NFC Wild Card playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Compared to the other GMs, Thompson has done well finding players late in the draft that have come in and contributed significantly to the team. Players like T.J. Lang and Brad Jones may not be considered elite players at their respected positions, but they have found their role on the team and contribute significantly.

Newhouse and Wilson have started for the Packers the past few years, but have struggled at times. Due to the number of snaps they’ve played the past few seasons, I still consider these players decent selections late in the rounds of the draft.

The jury is still out on House, McMillian, and Flynn, but I included them on this list because of their potential. Even if you take away House, McMillian, Flynn, Newhouse, and Wilson, it seems Thompson has done well late in the draft when compared to his peers.

Only Mickey Loomis from the Saints has found more impact players in rounds 4-7 since 2005 (Evans, Colston, Nicks).

It seems it’s challenging for any GM to find true impact players late in the draft, especially when you look beyond the fourth round. Maybe it’s not as common as we think. It’s even a tall task to ask a GM to find a solid starter or role player in the bottom half of the draft.

But what do you think?

Do you think Thompson holds up well against his peers in finding talent late in the draft? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Green Bay Packers linebacker A.J. Hawk (50) gestures before the snap against the San Diego Chargers during the first quarter at Qualcomm Stadium. Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

The Green Bay Packers received a moderate surprise when Brad Jones re-signed on Thursday.

Jones, who had spent the better part of 2012 starting alongside A.J. Hawk at inside linebacker, had interest from as many as eight teams. With Green Bay negotiating a pay cut from Hawk and bringing back Robert Francois, it was generally believed Jones would leave for greener pastures. But Packers GM Ted Thompson was patient, and after the “stupid money” dried up, there was no better opportunity for Jones than a return to Green Bay.

Suddenly, the Packers find themselves with a logjam at inside linebacker. Desmond Bishop (hamstring) and D.J. Smith (ACL) return from injured reserve to challenge youngsters Jamari Lattimore and Terrell Manning along with the aforementioned Hawk, Jones, and Francois. Of that group of seven linebackers, five have started for Green Bay before.

As one might expect, there’s considerable uncertainty over which players will end up in the first unit.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman (5) looks for a receiver as Green Bay Packers linebacker Desmond Bishop (55) closes in at Lambeau Field. Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports

Desmond Bishop has been Green Bay’s best inside linebacker when healthy. However, despite tearing his hamstring in the first week of the preseason, Bishop’s injury was severe enough to dissuade the Packers from using their IR return designation on him. Predictably, Bishop’s agent, Blake Baratz, has said Bishop is ahead of schedule in his recovery and should be ready for training camp. That remains to be seen, but Bishop is the team’s best option if he’s available.

Green Bay Packers linebacker A.J. Hawk (50) puts pressure on Tennessee Titans quarterback Jake Locker. Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

A.J. Hawk has been the whipping boy for fans, yet a coaches’ favorite for years now. While his play has never been spectacular, Hawk had one of his best seasons in 2012. It was largely for that reason that the Packers negotiated a cheaper deal rather than giving Hawk his outright release. At the time Hawk’s pay cut hit the newswire, it was assumed that he’d return to his spot on the first unit with the other inside linebackers competing for Bishop’s spot. Now with the speculation that Brad Jones returned for more money, one has to think Hawk’s spot is up for grabs as well.

Green Bay Packers inside linebacker Brad Jones (59) breaks up a pass to Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte. Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

The play of Brad Jones was one of the many pleasant developments of the 2012 season. After shifting between positions several times over his first few years, Jones finally found a home at inside linebacker. There, Jones’s superior coverage ability and athleticism allowed him to excel. After taking over for D.J. Smith following the Houston game, Jones played the most snaps of any linebacker. Most significantly, Jones became the inside linebacker in the nickel defense and was given the radio helmet for play call relay. While Bishop and Hawk are officially ahead on the depth chart, it would surprise me if Jones wasn’t starting come week 1.

Green Bay Packers linebacker D.J. Smith (51). Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

The rest of the inside linebackers are muddled together. D.J. Smith, a late round pick due only to his 5-11 stature, was a reliable run defender and solid tackler in his first stint as starter. Smith struggled in coverage, however, and the team greatly improved when Jones took over for him following his ACL tear. Robert Francois has developed into an important special teams member, but hasn’t shown to be exceptional in any one area of defense. He’s a solid backup, but nothing more. Jamari Lattimore’s first two training camps invited several comparisons to a young Desmond Bishop, but like Bishop he won’t become a contributor until he becomes more consistent. Terrell Manning is the wildcard of the group. Ted Thompson traded up in the fifth round to acquire Manning. Had a stomach virus not knocked out his rookie year, Manning might have displaced Jones (who was still adjusting to the position at the time) for the slot behind Smith on the depth chart).

Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

With no clear frontrunners, and at least six players in contention, inside linebacker will host the most interesting position battle of training camp. While two may grab hold of the starting slots and never relinquish them, the specialized talents of the players may result in more situational use of the linebackers. Because of this, Brad Jones (best in coverage, experienced with play call duty) will probably find his way into the starting lineup. If he’s healthy, Bishop is not only the best overall player in the group but also the strongest complement to Jones. That would leave seven-year starter Hawk on the sidelines and perhaps place him on the market, but it’s too early to dig into that scenario.

Given the depth at inside linebacker, it’s not out of the realm of possibility defensive coordinator Dom Capers dusts off the old “Psycho” package to get more of these players on the field. Having the right linebackers on the field could help curtail the read-option which puzzled Green Bay last season.

Jason Hirschhorn covers the Green Bay Packers for Lombardi Ave. He has previously written for Hail to the Orange, College Hoops Net, Mocking the Draft, LiveBall Sports, and the List Universe. He is currently a senior writer for Beats Per Minute, an indie-music webzine. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/JBHirschhorn.

Canty, 30, was cut by the New York Giants last week in a cap space saving move. Canty has gotten a lot of early interest from not only the Packers, but the Kansas City Chiefs, Jacksonville Jaguares, Tennessee Titans (who have reportedly offered him a contract already) and the Seattle Seahawks. According to NBC Sports, Canty has also given the Carolina Panthers the impression that he would give them a “home town discount” in order to sign there. Canty, of course, was a high school football star in Charlotte, N.C.,  he’s been on record saying he would like to return home and play in Carolina.

There’s no secret that the Packers have struggled on defense the last few seasons, particularly on the defensive line.

The 6-foot-7, 317 pound Canty would give the Packers tremendous size up front and would naturally be able to clog up holes, making Desmond Bishop, A.J. Hawk and the other linebackers’ jobs much easier.

Canty, of course, has experience playing in the 3-4 defense, as he played with the Dallas Cowboys for four seasons where he had 102 tackles and 10 sacks while not missing a single game.

If you remember, the Packers were interested in signing Canty back in 2008. However, Canty was searching for more money than the stingy Packers were willing to give up, thus he signed in New York.

It’s early in the offseason process, however, according to Pro Football Central the Packers are the favorite amongst the interested teams to land the services of Canty.

If all goes well on Wednesday and Thursday, you could see the Packers offer Canty a contract.

Yes, we are all wound a bit too tightly, folks. It is just preseason. Whether the Packers fix their pitiful running attack, whether Graham Harrell can find his rhythm, whether the defense can find its mojo and just how long Desmond Bishop will be out – yes, those are important questions to consider.

But not today.

Today I thought i might be fun just to relax and take a look at something fun, something not related to football, something that will put a smile on my face and give me time to think about something less stressful … kinda like when Packers coach Mike McCarthy took his team skeet shooting.

Yes, there will be those of you out there who will scream and whine like Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz. You will say, “this is football season. We work hard here and we make every minute count. When I come to this website, I want to read about football, I want to have every ounce of football information crammed down my throat because that’s what we do!”

Relax.

We’ll get back to football. There’s plenty of football season ahead and yes, we’ll give you what you want.

But for today, here’s something a bit different.

Being a journalist, a man of words and fonts, I provide you this brief, humorous look at what fonts might sound like if they had a voice. You know you’ve done it with your pets. Well, today we do it with fonts.

Check it out. Then stop back later today and the rest of the football season for some Packers news …

With the loss of Desmond Bishop, it's time for D.J. Smith to make an impact. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

It looks like the Green Bay Packers have lost inside linebacker Desmond Bishop for most of the season, if not the entire 2012 campaign.

The little known, big hitting Bishop was vastly underrated, but a huge value to the Packers’ defense. No doubt, the players, coaches and fans will miss him.

But it’s time to face reality and look ahead, folks. We’ve been down this road before – when your best player at a position goes down and the next guy has to be plugged in and ready to go. So, where is it we go from here?

D.J. Smith.

He’s the next guy up.

If there’s a player poised to make some noise and take full advantage of the opportunity, it’s Smith.

Remember last year when both Hawk and Bishop sat with injuries and it was Smith and Robert Francois who came in and lit the place with inspired play? Well, it’s time again for Smith.

I feel he will shine. Whenever he enters a game, something happens. The guy is constantly around the ball and is constantly making big plays. Some say his height is a huge disadvantage. Maybe so. It might hinder his coverage skills, but he brings more than that to the table. He finds the creases, sheds blocks and seems to always get to the ball. I like that and I think Packers fans will quickly take to his brand of play.

That’s why I think he’s going to step in and become the next Packers’ unsung hero.

The opportunity is there. I feel Smith is the one to seize it.

In the meantime, we wish Bishop a speedy recovery because despite all that Smith will bring, the Packers need Bishop on the field.

As a side note, the injury to Bishop also makes it a lock that his inside partner, A.J. Hawk, will stay with the team. There are many who felt Hawk might be traded or even cut by the end of Training Camp. With Bishop out of the picture and the depth depleted, it’s almost certain that Hawk will be around when the Packers kick off against the San Francisco 49ers in the season opener.

Aug 9, 2012; San Diego, CA, USA; Green Bay Packers linebacker Desmond Bishop (55) is tended to by members of the Packers

Packers head coach Mike McCarthy wasn’t too encouraging about the injury suffered last night by inside linebacker Desmond Bishop.

According to Tom Silverstein for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Bishop left Thursday night’s game against the Chargers with a knee sprain.

But McCarthy didn’t sound so hopeful.

“You don’t want to see any of your players hurt,” McCarthy said after the Packers’ 21-13 loss at Qualcomm Stadium. “Desmond’s injury didn’t look very good. Hopefully, we’ll get some good news as testing goes on.

“But talking to doctor (Patrick) McKenzie, it’s up in the air.”

Admitting that the initial diagnosis is a knee sprain, he said it’s potentially a knee and hamstring injury.

Bishop, who missed the first week of practice because of a calf strain, had shown this past week why he is considered one of the best linebackers on the squad. He practiced well this past week and had also made a couple of strong plays at the start of Thursday’s game. He stayed on the ground for several minutes after the injury and couldn’t place any weight on his leg while being helped off the field by Packers’ medical staff.

We can only hope for the best.

August 9, 2012, San Diego, CA: Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rogers (12) calls an audible in the first quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jody Gomez-US PRESSWIRE

Turnovers, Injuries, dropped passes, a poor running game and just general inconsistency plagued the Packers in their preseason opener against the San Diego Chargers Thursday night on national television.

It’s not an uncommon scene and certainly not something that should concern Packers fans too much. There is never much one can take away from that first game of the year – other than the fact that, thankfully, it doesn’t count.

But there are some things for certain – the Packers have to get healthy and they have to show vast improvement in consistency next time out.

When Nick Perry opened the game with a sack on Philip Rivers, Packers fans cheered. But when the flag came out for unsportsmanlike conduct because of his post-sack enthusiasm, Packers Nation could only grow. I guess it was the harbinger of the the night.

The Packers gave up a 23-yard touchdown to Antonio Gates after fumbling the ball away on their first drive of the night. Another fumble on the ensuing kickoff only spelled out what type of night it would be. Though the defense held its own throughout the game and Graham Harrell finally led the Packers to a score just before halftime and another touchdown at the beginning of the fourth quarter, it wasn’t enough.

Aug 9, 2012; San Diego, CA, USA; Green Bay Packers linebacker Desmond Bishop (55) is tended to by members of the Packers

But Donald Driver said patience is required, especially at this time of year. “That was the whole thing,” Driver said. “You have to get the rust off, and then you start playing ball. You see exactly what he can do. Right before half, he drives the ball right down there and scores. That was big for us. He has the confidence that he can play on this level, and he’s proven it.”

To his credit, Harrell didn’t get down. He kept working and the coaching staff showed their confidence and stuck with him.

“That’s kind of the attitude and mentality I try to bring in every day,” Harrell said. He who finished 15 of 27 passing for 135 yards and a TD. His passer rating was 81.6. “Whatever just happened, whether it was great or whether it was really bad, let’s play the next one and see what happens.”

The game ended after the Chargers had scored a late touchdown to give them a 21-13 lead. Rookie B.J. Coleman was then thrust into the lineup to lead the Packers on a last ditch attempt to try to score. On the last play of the game, Coleman completed a pass to rookie RB Marc Tyler who was stripped of the ball by former Packer Ricky Elmore.

It was a fitting end to a game where inconsistence ruled the day.

Aug 9, 2012; San Diego, CA, USA; Green Bay Packers linebacker A.J. Hawk (50) yells out defensive calls before the snap against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-US PRESSWIRE

Positives that came out of the game? Randall Cobb, Tim Masthay, D.J. Smith, Davon House, Tramon Williams, and even Harrell once he got his legs under him. One could also include the play of Tyler, but his fumble to end the game put a damper on that.

Negatives: Injuries to House and Desmond Bishop. Bishop’s could be serious and would be an extreme blow to the Packers middle defense. House is to have X-rays to see the extent of the damage.

The Packers have a week of practice ahead of them where one hopes the coaching staff stresses ball security. They are in action again Thursday, Aug. 16, when they host the Cleveland Browns at Lambeau Field.

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.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to sit down with Keith Myers over at The 12th Man Rising, the Seattle Seahawks’ Fansided.com site to answer a few questions about the Green Bay Packers’ offseason and the outlook heading into the 2012 season.

I’ve posted the exchange below, but if you want to see a great site, take a trip over to the 12th Man Rising and see, among other things, what they’re saying about their upcoming season, as well as what they think about former Packers’ quarterback Matt Flynn.

Enjoy.

Home » Seahawks » 2012 NFL Preview: Green Bay Pack

Aaron Rodgers winds up for the Packers. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Another day, and another team previewed. (I’m not sure I can keep this up for 32 straight days, but I will certainly try.) This time we venture to Wisconsin to take a look at the Green Bay Packers. The Seahawks and Packers have a fun history, first with the Holmgren era, and now with John Schneider coming to Seattle from Green Bay. And who can forget the “We want the ball and we’re gonna score” playoff game.

Helping me out with the preview is Ray Rivard from Lombardi Ave.

Biggest Team Need Heading Into Offseason: Defense, defense, and more defense

Key Free Agents Retained: Donald Driver, Jared Bush

Key Player Additions: Jeff Saturday, Anthony Hargrove (despite suspension)

Key Players Leaving: Chad Clifton, Nick Collins

Quick Thoughts on Draft: It was an awesome draft for the Packers. Picking up Nick Perry to complement Clay Matthews was brilliant, but the fact that GM Ted Thompson traded up so much to get defensive players from front to back was a stroke of genius and is going to help the team immensely.

Quick Thoughts on 2012 schedule: The start of the season is brutal with tough competition and a quirky schedule for the first month. Starting on national television with a 3 p.m. game opening weekend at home against the 49ers will be tough. But then the team has to turn around and play the Bears on Thursday night. That’s simply brutal. Overall, however, the Packers’ schedule does settle down later in the year when the games really start to count. While the division schedule is always tough, playing teams from the AFC South should play to their advantage.

Most Interesting Roster Battle: The defensive line, wide receiver and inside linebacker. Thompson went out and picked up some tough players to help improve the defensive line. The competition at those positions will be heated and the cuts that come from there will be interesting. As for inside linebacker, most would say that A.J. Hawk and Desmond Bishop are locks. I don’t thing so – especially for Hawk who had a so-so 2011. He will really have to battle D.J. Smith for that position, as well as others to be deemed the starter. Though most will see the first four positions at wide receiver as locks for Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, James Jones and Randall Cobb, the fifth position will be up for grabs between Donald Driver and second-year players Diondre Borel and Tori Gurley. The young guys are up and coming and could result in an interesting cut or even the possibility of a trade. Many feel that Jones is potential trade bait.

Biggest Strength Heading Into 2012: Clearly, the offense should again be the team’s biggest strength. Aaron Rodgers should lead the well-oiled machine to an even higher level in 2012. Is there any defense out there that can slow them down or even stop them? Maybe on a good day. The only way the offense was slowed last year was when the Packers shot themselves in the foot (versus Kansas City and in the playoffs against the Giants).

Biggest Weakness Heading Into 2012: The defense. Finishing dead last in defense last year was an embarrassment.

Biggest Question Still To Be Answered: See above … the defense will have the infusion of many new and young players. How they perform will be crucial to an improved defense. Defensive coordinator Dom Capers has got to come up with more creative schemes to allow the Packers the flexibility to surprise offenses. Will the defense show enough improvement to put this team back into contention for another title? That’s the question.

2012 Prediction: Packers record: 13-3; NFC North Division Title; Super Bowl championship.

The Packers defense was exposed last season. The needed players at all 3 levels of the defense, and I’m not sure they did enough in the offseason to make drastic improvement on the stat sheets this year. They’ll be young in some key areas, but should improve as the year goes on. Luckily for the Pack, it wont matter that much. Aaron Rogers and the offense are good enough win their division even without much of a defense.

Expect the Packers to be pre-season favorites to win the Super Bowl.

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.

Like Lombardiave.com on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

One of the major needs the Packers need to address this offseason is finding a complement to Clay Matthews on the defensive side of the football. Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE

The Super Bowl on Sunday was a tremendous game that will definitely take its place as one of the more memorable games – ever. Watching the game as a Packers fan, however, got me to thinking about what we should expect for the Packers future and how we will get back to the big game next year.

Unlike last year, where we really did not need to make any immediate changes to the starting line-up, we will need to make changes on all sides of the ball. Of course, the main focus will be on the defensive side, but there will be some changes on the offensive side as well.

Let’s start on the easier side – the offense.

The Packers offensively last year was one of the most efficient offenses in NFL history. Aaron Rodgers won MVP and the Packers receiving corps was on top of its game. The running game was subpar but it could have been worse. Then finally, the o-line, despite the many injuries, was fairly consistent throughout the season giving Rodgers enough time to find the open receivers.

So what changes do we need?

The running game could be improved so adding another running back in the draft would never be a bad thing. Ryan Grant’s contract is expired and will most likely be gone, so adding depth could be a benefit to the Pack when considering James Starks’ injury history.

More after the jump and don’t forget to Like Lombardiave.com on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

The receiving group is deeper than ever but this could result in a departure of Packer’s all-time leading receiver in Donald Driver. Randall Cobb showed his potential this year in many different games and now it seems more likely than ever that Driver could be heading out.

Matt Flynn showed tremendous potential in his one game vs. the Detroit Lions where he broke single-game records in yards and touchdowns. With his contract up this year, it guarantees his departure to a team like Miami or Washington – teams in desperate need of a franchise quarterback. This could mean the Packers going after another late round quarterback or even an undrafted one like they did with Graham Harrell. If the Packers do add another quarterback, it will probably just be a practice squad addition until the Packers groom him to where they feel comfortable to add him to the active roster.

The tight end situation is a little iffy as to what the Packers may do with Jermichael Finley. Finley was expected to be thrown the franchise tag during this offseason because of how big of an asset he is to the Packers organization. The thing is though, this year was quite disappointing. This was supposed to be the year Finley broke out and had a season over a thousand yards and became one of the NFL’s elite player at the position. Finley could have done this but he had a major case of the drops this season and put the Packers into a much tougher situation than they were in before. Should they pay a player that has the potential to be great the money of a great? Or should they just do the unthinkable and let him walk?

Then finally, the o-line for the Pack. Scott Wells is a free agent and needs to be a primary target for the Packer organization to get this guy back on the roster as he probably outperformed everyone else on the Packer o-line this season. Chad Clifton seems to be nearing the end of his career and could be another axe by the Packers this off-season. This would put T.J.Lang and Derek Sherrod in a position to battle for the left tackle position this training camp. Adding o-linemen in the draft is never a bad pick-up but I would not expect the Pack to use an early pick on one as they have much bigger issues to worry about…

Like the defense.

When the NFL Draft comes around in April, the Packers will surely be looking at prospects to help fill needs on the defense. I expect the Pack to use their first round pick on a linebacker to play opposite of Clay Matthews. With the end of Erik Walden’s time in Green Bay nearing, this issue becomes an even more of a priority. This will solve some problems but surely not all of them.

When we look at AJ Hawk and Desmond Bishop commanding the middle, we think we are pretty set at that position. Some would think so, but others would argue that one of the big reasons why the Packer’s defense took a turn for the worse this year was because of the lack of a true leader like we once had in Nick Barnett. Desmond Bishop had a great year but AJ Hawk seemed, almost at times, non-existent. What I mean by that is how it seemed he just did not make enough plays this year. I give him credit for being a sure tackler but it just seemed he was not around the ball-carrier to make the tackles. I don’t expect the Packers to make any significant changes at this position but I think something has to be at least considered involving this position. Maybe give the next guy up some more playing time in DJ Smith who actually played very well when he filled in at times this year.

Besides the Packers #1 priority in the linebacker unit, the Packers will surely be focused on the defensive line as well. It became well known early in the season, that the Packers were greatly missing Cullen Jenkins and his ability to not only stop the run but get some needed pressure on the quarterback. Many players tried to fill this role but none were truly successful in doing so and, therefore, should be a position the Packers will look to upgrade on in the coming off-season.

When the draft and free agency rolls around this year, if there was one position the Packers should try and stock up on it would be the defensive back unit. There is no immediate need for an upgrade in this unit except for the issue with Nick Collins and the possibility of his career actually being over. Hopefully the Packers will be able to know the status of Collins before the beginning of the off-season so they can plan accordingly.

Regardless, we still have Morgan Burnett and Charlie Peprah that can help preserve the depth at safety. Woodson is getting up in age so adding depth at cornerback is always a smart pick for the Packers. The future seems to be Tramon Williams and Sam Shields but there really is no third guy that can be counted on. Although it may not be the first round or two, the Packers will surely be looking to adding depth at the defensive back position to prepare for the future.

Many changes are expected this off-season but Ted Thompson can surely be counted on to help bring the Packers back to where they should have been on Sunday.

Like Lombardiave.com on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Greg Jennings, though injured, has been selected as a Pro Bowler this season.

Winning always brings post-season awards – a fact that led to seven Packers being named today to the 2011 Pro Bowl.

That’s the most Pro Bowlers from one Packers team selected to the Pro Bowl since 1967 … another not-too-shabby team from Green Bay.

In recognizing the seven players’ accomplishments, the Packers PR department released the following press release outlining each of the selections’ accomplishments in this season where the team now stands at 14-1 with one game left in the regular season.

With their win Sunday night against the Bears, the Packers secured home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

After the jump is the information released earlier today by the Packers … and don’t forget to Like Lombardiave.com on Facebook and follow us on Twitter …

(more…)

Ted Thompson has made some tough decisions in the past, including the call to release Nick Barnett.

The third of a three-part series

With inside linebacker suddenly an area of concern for the Green Bay Packers, let’s look back at one of the main reasons: Their releasing of Nick Barnett prior to the 2011 season.

As a first round draft pick in 2003, it did not take long for Nick Barnett to crack the starting lineup. He played in 15 games in 2003 and quickly established himself as the leader of Green Bay’s linebacking corps.

But his departure is a classic illustration of Ted Thompson’s draft and develop method. Barnett had an excellent 2010 campaign and came into 2011 with high expectations. He lasted just 4 games before a season-ending injury put him on the shelf and gave backup linebacker Desmond Bishop an opportunity.

And that’s all it takes with the Packers.

Bishop, a sixth round pick in 2007, had been waiting for a chance and he and the Packers never looked back. A solid performance in 2010 led to a long-term contract with the Packers.

Barnett, after his seventh season, was released and ultimately signed by the Buffalo Bills. He has, by all accounts, become the Bills’ defacto leader on defense. Let’s take a look at a side by side stat comparison between Bishop and Barnett:

As we have discussed before, Ted Thompson and Packers have shown that they are willing to sacrifice one or two years of great performance from a player in exchange for not being on the hook for unproductive later years (see Cullen Jenkins). Barnett is still productive, but Bishop has been a beast for the Pack and another example as to why the Packers’ strategy works.

Like Lombardiave on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Desmond Bishop and AJ Hawk both missed the second half of Thursday's game ... but their absence was covered by DJ Smith and Robert Francois.

The Packers have their detractors … i.e., Skip Bayless among them. But screw them – the Green Bay Packers are, despite their glaring foibles,  undefeated for many reasons, one of which is depth.

On Thursday, the Packers and the Lions were hit with injuries … injuries to important players at key positions.

But because of Mike McCarthy’s luxury to plug in players that simply step in and continue to carry out the game plan, the Packers don’t seem to miss a beat.

Consider Evan Dietrich-Smith, who took over at right guard when Josh Sitton went down in the first half with a knee injury. Not only did he have the unenviable task of matching up with Ndamukong Suh, but he had to hold his own in a complex offense in which he has had no snaps with the first team at that position in game situations. Sitton didn’t miss a snap in 2009 or 2010.

Not only did he frustrate Suh enough to cause the all-pro to lose his head and get thrown out of the game, but he played well enough to help the Packers move on to 11-0.

As did D.J. Smith and Robert Francois as the Packers lost both inside linebackers, A.J. Hawk an Desmond Bishop. Both Smith and Francois made contributions on defense – Smith for his bone-jarring hits and Francois for his efforts against the pass and his huge interception of Matthew Stafford where he reached as high as he could to pull down a pass over the middle.

(more…)

Charlie Peprah had two huge interceptions today against the Chargers. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Whew!

That’s what all Packers fans are saying after watching Green Bay hold off a major fourth quarter charge by the San Diego Chargers … holding on to a 45-38 win after leading by 21 points at the start of the fourth quarter.

A four-touchdown, 21-26, 247 yard performance by Aaron Rodgers was nearly overshadowed by the Chargers’ fourth quarter comeback led by Philip Rivers who threw for 385 yards and four touchdowns, while completing 24-46. However, it was Rivers’ three picks, two that were returned for touchdowns, that was the difference.

(more…)

Mike McCarthy likes the way his team is playing, but admits there's much more work to do. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Mike McCarthy just finished his Monday afternoon presser.

Here are some of the highlights from the session with the press:

On the injury front, Sam Shields suffered a concussion when he took a hit while trying to run an interception out of the end zone; outside linebacker Frank Zombo, who played in his first game back after a broken scapula, hyper-extended his knee … McCarthy didn’t know the severity of his injury. He did say that Shields will go through the series of tests that go along with concussion recovery. It is unclear whether Shields will play this week vs. the Vikings.

When asked about the wind and the role it played in Sunday’s game, McCarthy said, “the wind factored in the game … you could see ball moving … It’s something talk about in the pre-game … you have to focus on ball … it was a challenge.”

When asked about the possibility that the Vikings may play rookie Christian Ponder, McCarthy said that the team will prepare for both quarterbacks … they may have to go back to preseason tape to watch Ponder, but that didn’t seem to bother the head coach. “That’s all part of the preparation. We’ll be prepared either way.”

(more…)

Could Ryan Grant actually be on the bubble?’

and the no huddle seems to be the added dimension to the offense that could make the Packers really good this season.

But that’s not the only news coming out of Green Bay this morning – Desmond Bishop continues to show improvement.

Take a look around at these stories posted across the Internet this morning, and don’t forget to enjoy your coffee:

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…)

Does the Packers defense need Nick Barnett? Raymond T. Rivard photograph

By Jimmy Riley, for lombardiave.com

The Green Packers have a number of things to address when the lockout ends, as it is supposed to in the near future.  There are several players whose futures with the Packers may not be so bright.

Among them Nick Barnett and Mark Tauscher (more…)

The Green Bay Packers take on the Atlanta Falcons in our second playoff game of the season.  The last meeting ended in a disappointing loss by a Falcons’ field goal with nine seconds left on the clock.

This time, things are going to be different.

Aaron Rodgers is playing at the top of his game.  The offense is in-sync, on defense, we have the “Beast Tsunami” of Matthews, Raji, Hawk and Bishop. PLUS an newly added threat of a running game.  Last time, the Packers had only 77 yards total rushing, with Rodgers getting the bulk of that.   (more…)