For the first time in several years, Mason Crosby will have competition in training camp.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Yes, we all know about the running back battle that’s being hyped between rookies Eddie Lacy and Johnathan Frankly who fight it out with in-house backs DuJuan Harris, Alex Green and James Starks; and yes, we know about the offensive line battles that are going to shape up, especially at the right tackle position that will feature Don Barclay, Marshall Newhouse and rookies David Bakhtiari and J.C. Tretter.

But those position shakedowns don’t hold a candle to the biggest battle that’s bound to draw eyes, not only among teammates, but especially from the media and the Packers fan base.

Giorgio Tavhecchio

Mason Crosby, who was tentative and unsure of himself all of last season will go up against rookie Giorgio Tavecchio, the Italian transplant from Cal who was signed specifically during the offseason to bring in some competition for Crosby. The Packers veteran hasn’t had any competition in camp since he went up agains Dave Rayner way back when. He’s been the guy and the Packers rewarded him a couple of seasons ago with a lucrative contract to kick in Lambeau Field – not always the best place to try to make field goals.

The good news for Crosby is that he closed out the season last year strongly and seemed to have gotten some of his confidence back.

But the Packers’ brass isn’t so sure – thus their decision to bring in Tavecchio.

Born in Milan, Italy, Tavecchio has been living in this country since he was a young boy. The 22-year-old is not a huge guy – in fact he’s a little guy – 5-10, 178 pounds. There isn’t a whole lot of information about the guy, but here is what I found on packers.com:

Tavecchio entered the league as a non-drafted free agent with the San Francisco 49ers in May 2012. He played in three preseason games for the 49ers, converting his lone field goal attempt and two extra points. As a collegian, Tavecchio appeared in 46 games during his career for the Golden Bears and finished No. 5 on the school’s all-time scoring list (No. 4 among kickers) with 256 points.

So, forget the running backs and offensive lineman, if you happen to have the chance to attend one of the Packers open OTA practices, look to the end of the field where Crosby and Tavecchio will be working out. How it all turns out will be interesting to watch.

During the dark days of the year when the Green Bay Packers and Mason Crosby are not playing, I turn my attention to that “other” sport, you know the one that the Milwaukee Brewers and John Axford play with that funny round ball and a stick.

Granted it is not football but it helps to ease my withdrawal. So after watching the Brewers struggle to a 2-6 start with the biggest reason being the complete and utter failure of Axford, I found myself asking, who is worse – Crosby or Axford?

Since the NFL season is only 16 games long, and the Brewers have only played six, I decided the only fair thing to do would be to take the current statistics of Axford and project them over 16 games and then try to make a comparison to Crosby.

So using my math skills and and all my fingers and toes, over a 16 game stretch based on the current projections, John Axford will have not converted one save and will drop his record to 0-3.  His ERA will skyrocket to 38.88 and he will give up 14 earned runs and just over six home runs during that stretch.

This all equates to one simple statistic, his winning percentage is zero percent and he will cost the Brewers at least eight projected losses. Now take Mason Crosby, the much-maligned kicker for the Green and Gold.  This season he converted 63.6 percent of his field goals and 100 percent of his point-after attempts.  From 20-29 yards out he was perfect.  From 30-39 yards away he missed two shots and from 40-49 yards out he missed three times.  From 50-59 yards is where it got ugly as he converted just two of nine attempts.  The only redeeming factor in all of this is that Crosby did not cost the Packers any victories.

So in comparing apples to oranges and going with my gut check, I would say that of the two players, John Axford wins the contest for who bites the most.  At least with Crosby you know he will make his point-afters and the majority of his close range kicks.  With Axford you know that no lead is safe, at least one home run will be given up and that beard or no beard, he will cost the Brewers the opportunity to win a game.

I do however, give a small round of applause to Brewers Coach Ron Roenicke for realizing just how awful Axford is and pulling him now.  I would have given him a higher grade if he had not put Axford in against the Cubs the other night with the game tied because in the end, Axford blew it and the Brewers lost.

Maybe, just maybe if Crosby starts shanking kicks again next season, Mike McCarthy will follow in Roenicke’s footsteps and yank Crosby before he costs us a game, but then again we have that Italian kid who could take over from Crosby and that could make Axford look like a pretty good choice to be our next kicker.

All I need to know is how much longer before the season starts because either way, my heart can’t take this kind of futility and torment.

Go Pack Go!!!

Detroit Lions kicker Jason Hanson retired Thursday. He never experienced a win against the Green Bay Packers.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

The Green Bay Packers kicking game went south last season – so far south that Packers kicker Mason Crosby was a shell of himself – the opposite of what we saw year-in and year-out by the Detroit Lions’ Jason Hanson.

Hanson, the 21-year veteran who was the model of consistency each and every year he was in the National Football League, was injured for part of last season and still managed to convert 88.9 percent of his kicks (32-of-36), while Crosby 63.6 percent (21-of-33).

Hanson announced his retirement yesterday, saying it was time. He did everything right over the past two-plus decades, making 82.4 percent of his kicks (495-of-601). He also tagged on 665 extra points. He missed only eight point-afters over the course of 21 seasons – pretty incredible statistics.

Mason Crosby’s team wins, but he hasn’t come close to duplicating the consistency that was produced by Detroit Lions kicker Jason Hanson.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Those are statistics that Crosby must be dreaming about. If he sticks around for 21 years, one would only hope he could recreate Hanson’s stats.

The only thing that must be sticking in Hanson’s craw is the fact that during those 21 seasons, not once did he ever – and I mean EVER- beat the Green Bay Packers in the state of Wisconsin. He tried his best. Every time he came on the field against the Packers, one knew it was an automatic make. But it wasn’t enough because – well, because he played for the Lions. He was the kicker for some pretty bad teams over the course of his career – but not all of them. He had his chances … it’s just that the Packers have had the Lions number for a very long time.

As reported on CheeseheadTv.com, Associated Press writer Noah Trister, said: “The Lions losing streak on the road against the Packers began in 1992, Hanson’s rookie season. Detroit has not won a road game against Green Bay since 1991. That includes games played in Milwaukee in 1992, 1993 and 1994.”

That’s not to say he wasn’t the best kicker in the league during that stretch of time. He was always a classy player, never boasted about his accomplishments and gave place-kickers a good name.

In making his decision to retire, Hanson said: “It was time to make a decision. It was the right time to step away. Ultimately, it’s my heel – the problem I developed last year. Now that we’re starting a new year, it’s still an issue. I have the desire. I have the determination, as I said earlier, to come back. Each time I’d start to push it, I’d kind of short-circuit. I realized that at this point of my career, I don’t want to perform in a compromised way. It’s not good for the team. I lost a little of my desire to play injured.”

Jason Hanson
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

As a Packers fan, I won’t miss watching Hanson convert kick after kick and then trying to compare the Packers’ kicking game with that of Hanson’s over the years – there is no comparison.

Hanson scored a total of 2,150 points in 327 games. To date, Mason Crosby has kicked in 96 games in six seasons. We hope his goal is to recreate what Hanson has accomplished – except for the winning part.

When thinking about it, if Crosby can convert even 70 percent of his kicks and still continue to win games, that would be OK, too.

Mason Crosby may be looking over his shoulder during training camp this summer.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Will the real Mason Crosby please stand up? Because the Green Bay Packers really need to know who you are – like, soon.

With the confirmation from CBSSports.com that the Packers have signed University of California kicker Giorgio Tavecchio as camp competition for the 2013 season, all Packers fans have to wonder if Crosby will be kicking in gold pants when the regular season rolls around.

Green Bay Packers kicker Mason Crosby (2) reacts after kicking a field goal during the game against the Minnesota Vikings in the 4th quarter at Lambeau Field. Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Why?

Because last season, Crosby hit just 63.6 percent of his field goal attempts. Yuck. That was the worst in the NFL last year and by far the worst season-long mark of his career (though, to be fair, 7 of his 12 misses in 2012 were from 50 yards or more.)

I’ve never been completely sold on Crosby, mostly because he was prone to missing kicks in critical situations early in his career. It makes me nervous to watch him attempt field goals – kind of like watching Shaquille O’Neal shoot free throws.

Particularly in 2008 Crosby struggled in tight situations, missing important kicks against Atlanta and Minnesota which led directly to losses. And I recall throwing a shoe at the TV in 2010 when he missed two kicks in a loss to the Redskins, which included clanking a 53-yard, would-be game-winner off the left upright seconds before the final gun.

But Packers Nation (myself included) began really warming up to Crosby after his stellar 2011 in which he connected on 85.7 percent of his field goal attempts. He’s also at 76.8 percent for his career, even including last season’s head-scratcher of a performance, which is below standard (only five kickers in the NFL were under 80 percent last season) but isn’t terrible.

And as for extra points, well, the guy is a machine. That should not be overlooked, either; the Green Bay Packers offense supplies no shortage of point-after attempts, and he’s 118 for 119 in the last two seasons alone. (For comparison’s sake, Tavecchio made 48 of 64 field goals for 75 percent, and 112 of 120 extra points, or 93.3 percent, in four years at Cal).

But 2012 was not kind to Crosby, which is why Ted Thompson decided to bring in competition. Crosby was – pardon the pun – very hit or miss, and streaks were the norm.

Mason Crosby
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

The good: Mason Crosby finished the 2013 regular season on a 8-for-8 streak, including the playoffs.

The bad: Crosby had been a pathetic 7-for-15 prior to that streak, after starting the season hitting 9 of his first 13 kicks.

What to do, what to do?

Honestly, the Packers’ brass has been supportive of Crosby, and in 2011 rewarded him with a five-year, $14.75 million contract extension that included a $3 million signing bonus. My guess is Crosby wins the camp battle and has another serviceable year, probably hitting around the 75 percent mark on his field goals. Let’s all cross our fingers he doesn’t miss any potential game-winners – because  I’m running out of shoes.

Do you think Tavecchio will beat out Crosby in training camp? Leave your comments below.

Or, as always, Like Lombardiave.com on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Giorgio Tavecchio converted 75 percent of his kicks while at the University of California.

We all know the rocky season that Mason Crosby had last year – it was so bad, apparently that the Packers are serious about bringing in competition – all the way from Italy – via California.

Reports today have indicated that the Packers have signed Giorgio Tavecchio, a left-footed kicker from the University of California.

Tavecchio is not the only kicker the Packers have considered this spring. They were also interested in free agent Michael Barnard and were said to have had him in for an audition, but didn’t offer him a contract.

At Cal, Tavecchio converted 48-of-64 field goals (75 percent).

The Italian kicker was in training camp with the San Francisco 49ers last season, but was cut in favor of David Akers – you know that guy who started the season by bouncing a 64-yarder off and over the crossbar against the Packers in the season-opener.

Akers had as bad of a season as Crosby in the end last year and was cut after the Super Bowl by the 49ers.

Packers kicker Mason Crosby will have competition – at least for now – as the Packers have signed Italian kicker Giorgio Tavecchio.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

The Packers haven’t brought competition in to go up against Crosby since his rookie season – that’s when he won a fierce competition with Dave Rayner, who was the Packers incumbent kicker at the time. Crosby was a sixth-round pick in that 2007 draft.

Last year, Crosby struggled mightily – converting just 63.6 percent of his field goal attempts (21-of-33). Up until last year, the Packers’ kicker was never worse than 75 percent on his field goals.

Barnard had a tryout with the Eagles two years ago.

Had Green Bay Packers kicker Mason Crosby not had such a terrible season in 2012 we wouldn’t be hearing the name Michael Barnard.

But that’s water under the proverbial bridge … and because Crosby converted just 63.3 percent of his field goals last year (21 of 33 attempts), today the Packers will be holding an audition for the free agent kicker who has been working the past couple of years with former pro kickers.

Whether the Packers consider Barnard a legitimate NFL kicker will determine whether they invite him to camp next summer as competition for Crosby. In the six years Crosby has been the Packers place kicker, he hasn’t had any competition in camp for at least the past five years – he’s been the guy.

In a story that our own Tom Marquardt wrote here on lombardiave.com back in December, the Packers were considering bringing Barnard in for a tryout at that time. If you remember, that was at the time when Crosby was struggling through a rough stretch of the season. The Packers kept the faith in Crosby and he connected on his final four kicks of the season, including a couple of conversions in the playoffs.

However, now that it’s the offseason, this seems like as good a time as any to audition potential competition for Crosby.

Barnard, 6 feet 1½ inches and 216 pounds, is not a prototypical candidate … he hasn’t kicked in competition since 2008 when he was at Division III Fairleigh Dickinson. While kicking there he made 59.3 percent (16 of 27) and missed five of 54 extra points. Not glowing statistics.

But the Packers must see something in him to give him today’s tryout.

Stay tuned and should we hear any news about the tryout, we will post it here as soon as possible.

Jan 5, 2013; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers kicker Mason Crosby (2) kicks a field goal in the second quarter of the NFC Wild Card playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field. Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Green Bay Packers’ place kicker Mason Crosby had a rough time with his accuracy last season, converting 21 of 33 percent of his field goal attempts.

However, McCoy Elementary School, his alma mater elementary school, was right on in its tribute to their NFL alumnus. The school recently outfitted its lunch area to honor Crosby and he was so proud of the school’s efforts that he tweeted a picture of the room.

Click here to see the lunch room.

Crosby, who converted four straight field goal attempts at the end of the 2012 season, seemed to have regained his mojo after a season when his accuracy and abilities were severely questioned by all who follow the team.

Though his overall percentage suffered, in his defense it was the nine attempts from 50-plus yards of just 2-of-9 was the reason why. That’s a lot of attempts from that distance. He was 5-of-5 from 20-29 yards; 5-of-7 from 30-39 yards; and 9-of-12 from 40-49 yards. Those are certainly respectable numbers.

Mason Crosby was signed to a new contract a year ago and seem entrenched into the Packers’ kicking position.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Head coach Mike McCarthy never lost confidence (at least publicly) in Crosby, but there were several instances during the season when the coach decided to leave the offense on the field for fourth down tries instead of attempting long-distance field goals.

But whenever he was asked about Crosby, McCarthy was adamant in his support of his kicker. He also never brought in any kickers for tryouts or to provide mid-season competition.

Whether the Packers go out and sign a kicker or two during the offseason remains to be seen, but I wouldn’t expect that to occur.

In the meantime, there are many who also have confidence and appreciate Crosby’s skills and efforts – including his elementary school alma mater.

Mason Crosby has had better days.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

We’ve all closed our eyes this entire season every time Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy looks down the bench and gives the nod to place kicker Mason Crosby. When Crosby touches the playing surface, it seems everything goes awry.

It hasn’t seemed to matter whether he’s been playing indoors in September or outdoors in December – he has been nothing short of awful. Every time he puts his foot to the ball it seems he’s pitching a knuckleball that floats, flutters, drifts and never finds the strike zone.

It’s disheartening. Personally, I’ve always really like Mason Crosby. He’s a straight shooter, a community-minded guy who has been a valuable and important member of the Green Bay Packers Football Club. But something has gone very wrong this season. It started, for me, when the Packers held that field goal kicking contest during Family Night Back in August. On that night, Crosby was put on display and attempted several 50-yard and beyond field goals that showed the same kind of misdirection we’ve been seeing from him all year. I think he connected on a couple out of at least a half dozen – it didn’t look good.

When the season started, the flags began to rise to full staff when he badly missed a couple of important kicks indoors at Indianapolis – the second being a potential game-typing field goal that didn’t even come close. That’s when his confidence took a nosedive.

Since then, he has been very, very inconsistent. In Chicago Sunday he again missed two very makeable kicks which would have easily put the game way out of reach for the Bears. Instead, the Bears were in the game right down to near the end of the game.

So, what’s happened? I wish I knew … and I’m sure Mike McCarthy and special teams coach Shawn Slocum wished they knew. In public, McCarthy continues to stand by Crosby. He says he’s the kicker for the remainder of the season. I question how a coach can have as much patience in this situation. If McCarthy continues to call on Crosby, there is going to come a time – probably in the playoffs – when Crosby misses a game-winning kick. Should that occur, McCarthy will be pilloried and Crosby will be gone.

Do the Packers stiffen up and pull the plug on Crosby before that happens? We’ll see … if they don’t, it could end up being a very long off-season for both the team and its fans.

But if Crosby is the man for the remainder of the season, here’s something you might remember … it was a time when Crosby’s accuracy was spot-on.

Watch and enjoy.

Any Green Bay Packers fan knows that Mason Crosby has struggled mightily this season. Since coming on the scene for the Packers in 2007, he has been a pretty good kicker. He made nearly 80 percent of his kicks and even did pretty well from over 50 yards. He was a key part of the Packers last Super Bowl run as he tacked on points even when Rodgers and company couldn’t manage to find the end zone, he made the team better. In 2012, that hasn’t been the case. He has struggled to find confidence even though he still shows that he has a great leg. That was further evidenced in Sunday’s game vs. the Bears where he missed badly on 2 FGs and the Packers opted to go for it on fourth down rather than bring Crosby on for a chance, even from inside 50 yard. How long can that last in the NFL playoffs?

Mike McCarthy wants to just ignore the fact that Crosby has the ‘yips’ and he hopes they will go away, but time is short as the postseason approaches. The question is: Should the Packers stick with Crosby, who has been fairly solid in years past but currently can’t hit it reliably between the uprights from over 40 yds or dive into the unknown with someone (anyone) else? There are kickers out there just waiting for a shot and I’d like to see the Packers bring someone in for a workout, but whom should it be?

The Packers might find the answer in a kid who many teams have as their top-rated Free Agent kicker. His name is Michael Barnard. Barnard played his college ball at a private university, Fairleigh-Dickinson. He has been on the short list for numerous NFL teams over the past few years. He isn’t some fly-by-night, wannabe either; in fact, he might have made the Eagles squad this year if Alex Henery hadn’t had such an amazing rookie season in 2011.

The Philadelphia Eagles invited Barnard to their Rookie Mini Camp last spring. Barnard showed his poise and leg strength while making 30/32 kicks, including 4/4 from 50+, but the Eagles declined to mount a challenge to Henery and opted not to sign Barnard for a training camp competition. Henery had made 89% of his kicks for the Eagles as a rookie in 2011. The Eagles personnel department even shopped Barnard’s credentials around to other teams because they believed so much in his ability. He showed them that he has the leg and the moxie to be an NFL kicker.

Barnard’s strong leg and confidence have attracted attention around the NFL. The kid is GOOD! He works hard and has dedicated himself to making the grade in the NFL, working out 6 days a week kicking and conditioning while he waits for his shot in the NFL.

Arizona has recently brought him in for a workout and they, along with Philadelphia head a growing list of NFL teams that have targeted Barnard as their next potential kicker, so why shouldn’t the Packers?

If anyone out there can explain to me how the Packers are better off heading to the postseason with Crosby than with an up and coming (potential stud) kicker, I’m listening. It’s hard enough to win close games, but in the playoffs the Packers need a better kicker than the one they have.

Check out Barnard on one of his YouTube videos below by going to MoneyKicker34.

December 2, 2012; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers kicker Mason Crosby (2) reacts after kicking a field goal during the game against the Minnesota Vikings in the 4th quarterat Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Mason Crosby had an interesting game Sunday that has to make Green Bay Packers fans wonder if Crosby is out of his rut that he has had. Crosby’s game Sunday was a tale of two halves and his second half performance has taken a lot of pressure off of him.

Mason Crosby attempts a 53-yard field goal at the end of the first half of Sunday’s game against the Vikings. The kick was wide right. Raymond T. Rivard

Crosby did not have the best first half as his first field goal was from only 30 yards yet Crosby still nary missed as it creased the left upright and in. Then Crosby had a huge miss at the end of the first half from 53 yards. It was wide right,  understating how awful of a kick it was. The camera zoomed in on Crosby and you saw the face of a kicker who had no confidence whatsoever, which was a scary thing for the Packers going into halftime.

Packers fans were nervous to see what Crosby would do in the second half.

Sometimes a kicker can get out of a rut when you least expect it and the second half of the Vikings game may have been just that for Crosby.  He came out for a 47-yard field goal attempt in the third quarter with the chance to get the Packers within one point of the Vikings. Most fans, including myself, were nervous but Crosby put the ball right down the middle and all of a sudden, it seemed he had regained his confidence.

Crosby then made a 31-yard field goal in the fourth quarter and when the camera zoomed in on him, you could see that Crosby had a big smile on his face. Crosby has his confidence back and I think everybody will now see the he is one of the NFL’s most consistent kickers, which will make Packer fans really happy.

Nov 19, 2012; Detroit, MI, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb (18) catches a pass to score a touchdown as Detroit Lions free safety Ricardo Silva (39) and cornerback Jacob Lacey (21) defend in the fourth quarter at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-US PRESSWIRE

The Green Bay Packers win over the Detroit Lions last week earned the team the GMC “Never Say Never Moment” Award.

In a game when all seemed lost, the Packers’ touchdown pass reception by Randall Cobb, followed by kicker Mason Crosby’s field goal secured the Packers 24020 win over NFC North rival Detroit Lions.

The win gave the Packers their second division win in as many tries. They defeated the Chicago Bears in September. The Packers, like the rest of the teams in the division, have the bulk of their NFC North games between now and the end of the season.

In addition, with the Bears’ loss to the San Francisco 49ers put the Packers and Bears atop the division with 7-3 records. However, the Packers hold the tie-breaker with their win over the Bears.

The following is the official press release about the Packers’ award was distributed by the Packers’ public relations department:

GREEN BAY PACKERS FIND WAY TO WIN VOTED WEEK 11

GMC NEVER SAY NEVER MOMENT OF THE WEEK

Winner Selected By Fan Vote on NFL.com

Green Bay Packers QB AARON RODGERS found WR RANDALL COBB for a late game score to put the Packers ahead for good against the Detroit Lions. Their effort earned them the GMC NEVER SAY NEVER MOMENT OF THE WEEK for games played on November 15-19, the NFL announced today. The GMC NEVER SAY NEVER MOMENT OF THE WEEK is the best moment or play of the week that represents determination and perseverance.

With a number of key players sidelined due to injuries, the GREEN BAY PACKERS faced a DETROIT LIONS team desperate to keep playoff hopes alive.  For much of Sunday’s game, the Packers struggled offensively, yet, down 20-14 with 4:25 remaining, they mounted their best drive of the afternoon, going 82 yards in six plays on a drive capped by a WR Randall Cobb score from QB Aaron Rodgers. The win helps the Packers remain in the NFC North title chase.

Packers find a way to win was selected from among three moments by voters on NFL.com/gmc.  The other two moments were COWBOYS win thriller vs. Browns and TEXANS survive OT scare vs. Jaguars.

After the regular season, fans will have a chance to determine the GMC Never Say Never Moment of the Year, from among the 17 weekly winners.  Fans can vote for the winner and enter for a chance to win a trip to Super Bowl XLVII on NFL.com/gmc throughout the month of January.

2012 GMC NEVER SAY NEVER MOMENT OF THE WEEK

Neither Clay Matthews nor Desmond Bishop will play a role in the Packers defense this Sunday as Green Bay throws a much different defense onto the field against the Giants. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Each week the tendency for Green Bay Packers fans is put Aaron Rodgers front and center – easy to do, considering the television producers and directors make that easy for Packers Nation.

But there are other Packers players who have a huge impact on the outcome of every game.

We’ll concede that we will again be watching Rodgers with great interest, but let’s consider some of the other Packers players who could make a big splash Sunday night when the Packers play the New York Giants.

Here are the players I feel will be of importance Sunday:

James Starks. Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE

• James Starks: The Packers running back who made it back on the field in a big way in last weekend’s win at Detroit, Starks will be given the ball in an attempt to soften the Giants’ defensive line and slow the pass rush that has caused Rodgers problems in the past. Whether Starks is the guy Sunday or whether the Packers also try to platoon him with Alex Green, it will be Starks who must be watched. If he can hit the 4-yard-per-carry mark, his job will be done. Not only will that give Rodgers time to throw, but it will also open things up for Green in the open field with quick pitches, screens and checkdowns over the middle.

Packers guard Evan Dietrich-Smith. Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE

• Evan Dietrich-Smith and T.J. Lang: Last week these two offensive linemen played for the first full game without right tackle Bryan Bulaga. Going against a Giants’ defensive line that has historically caused Aaron Rodgers problems, these two players have to hold their own. If they don’t and Rodgers takes a beating, it will be difficult for the Packers to win. They struggled at times last week and will have to play at a higher level this week to be effective.

Randall Cobb.
Andrew Weber-US PRESSWIRE

• Randall Cobb: The Packers’s second year rising star has continually caused defenses difficulties and how McCarthy has designed plays specifically for this special talent is impressive. I’m still waiting for the surprise reverse play to Cobb for big yards. That’s just about the only way the Packers haven’t utilized him. Rodgers is relying more on Cobb for the big play and I don’t expect that to change this week.

Davon House.
Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE

• Packers defensive backfield versus Giants wide receivers: The youngsters filling the Packers defensive backfield (Hayward, McMillian, House) have been aggressive, intimidating and consistent as they continue to fill in for the likes of Charles Woodson and Sam Shields. Throw in Morgan Burnett and Tramon Williams to that mix and you’ve got a group of defenders who should compete well with the Giants receivers. The Giants will be facing a different defense than they saw back in January, but it’s different to Packers players and coaches, too. How they respond in this big conference game will tell us a lot about their potential to be playing come Playoffs time.

Dezman Moses.
Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE

• Dezman Moses and Frank Zombo: Filling in for the injured Clay Matthews isn’t an easy task, but Moses did quite well last week. The undrafted rookie brings outside speed and strength to the field. The coaching staff says they are going to try to work Zombo back into the rotation, too.

How he responds will be important to his future as well as that of the team. Whichever is on the field at any given time has to show a presence for the Packers to have a chance.

Mason Crosby.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

• Mason Crosby: Need I say more? Maybe it’s time to turn the beer labels out for this guy. There’s got to be some kind of invisible force that’s working against him. He’s always been far from perfect, but he’s got the leg strength to hit those 45-yarders in December. It’s a wonder why he’s missing all those kicks indoors and under perfect conditions. December will be very important to his future with the team and the watching will be intense continuing this Sunday night.

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

How the Packers adjust to the changes they have endured this year will make a difference in Sunday’s game.

The Green Bay Packers are riding a five-game win streak into New York where they will take on the Giants Sunday night. But you know what? Though the Packers sit at 7-3, it feels to me like this team could very easily be sitting at 3-7.

Maybe I’m spoiled, having seen this team run through its schedule last year like a hot knife through butter. Maybe I’m spoiled having watched Aaron Rodgers toss perfectly placed back shoulder throws; watching receivers make catches in traffic that were beyond belief.

Last year was clearly unbelievable.

Then this year comes along. The Packers lose their opener with a lackluster performance after so much buildup and anticipation; they dispatch the Bears and then fall apart at Indianapolis, giving up an 18-point lead to fall below .500. Somebody then turns on a switch in Texas and it seems the Pack is Back.

Jordy Nelson and the Packers had a tough time against the 49ers. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

But are they really? Ok, so they’ve beaten the Jags, the Cardinals and the Lions most recently, but could we really consider them the cream of the crop, the elite of the league?

Hardly.

Now comes the most interesting portion of the team’s schedule, with the bulk of their games over the next six weeks against NFC North Division foes. It’s time to put up or shut up.

But back to the Giants. Here is a game that may come down to whichever team has final possession of the football. My guess is it will be close, it will be hard fought, it will be heart-wrenching.

So, with that in mind we take a look at a few things that could turn the game for various reasons. I’ve broken it down here:

Three reasons the Packers will win …

Randall Cobb is a rising star for the Packers. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

• Aaron Rodgers to Randall Cobb. This combination has been heating up of late and should no doubt continue to blossom. With the loss of Greg Jennings and Jordy Nelson, Rodgers turned to Cobb and the connection has brought some memorable moments for the Packers over the past five weeks.

• Casey Hayward and Davon House. The two young cornerbacks are not only living up to their expectations, they are exceeding them. They are aggressive, they intimidate and they make plays.

They are just the types of players who the team needs on the defensive side of the ball at this point in the season. They have been a godsend given the loss of Woodson and Matthews and have proven they are more than just adequate fill-ins. They are potential stars.

• Tim Masthay. The consistent punter has thrown a touchdown pass, missed on one and continuously uses his foot to tilt the field in favor of the Packers. His value to the team has flown well under the radar, but it’s clear that his is one of the most impactful players on this year’s team

Three reasons why the Packers will lose …

• Receiver drops. Like the Playoff game where the Packers receivers seemed to have greased their hands with Crisco, this unit, as good as they are, still have plenty of drops this season. Put together another handful of those against the Giants and it could add up to a loss. The Packers need to take care of the ball in this one in order to have a chance.

• Offensive line. Protection of quarterback Aaron Rodgers will be key in this game. We all know the Giants’ defensive line is made up of studs. Keeping them off Rodgers’ back is important, as is opening holes for the Packers run game. The makeshift offensive line will have its plate full come Sunday. How the line performs will be an indication of how the Packers will fare in this one.

Our hope is that Mason Crosby starts a new string of made field goals. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

• Mason Crosby. We all know what this is about. The veteran kicker must make his kicks.

Yes, the 50-plus-yarders might be excused, but Crosby has got to start nailing the 40-yarders on a consistent basis.

If he misses another couple in this one and it could be the difference. He simply can’t miss or he may find himself watching not from the Packers sidelines, but from his family room. Make ‘em, Mason.

Mason Crosby’s kicking woes have been a hot topic recently and I have been as concerned as anyone. The FG is supposed to be the LEAST exciting, most predictable part of the game… kicker runs on, kicker kicks ball through uprights, kicker runs off. It seems almost automatic that a kicker makes every kick less than 50 yds! But let’s be real:

The Packers haven’t needed Crosby to “make” many kicks in the past 3 years. In fact his missed kicks never changed the outcome of any game until this season, and barely so.

Crosby’s mistakes this year are not new, but his lack of confidence is new. He has a great leg for distance. When it doesn’t matter he can nail it, but right now he has the ‘yips’. You can’t cure the yips by going for it on 4^th and 4 from the 35 and you can’t cure it by faking field goals. Crosby needs to kick it out… in a game, when it matters.

Mason Crosby needs to work through his case of the “yips.” Raymond T. Rivard photograph

In Crosby’s defense he has never been particularly accurate from 40+ yards, so his failure to convert this year is merely a symptom of the Packers offense stalling a bit further from the goalpost than they have in past 2 years. Crosby has a career kicking percentage of 60.5% for kicks over 40 yards (46/76). This year he is just 50%, but he already has 10 attempts from over 40 yards this year compared to just 8 attempts all of last season and 14 in all of 2010.

What it all boils down to is that the Packers need to do a better job moving the ball from the 40 to the 30 and beyond. Granted, Crosby needs to do better, but relying on a kicker to be the difference by making 40+ yard field goals at Lambeau in December and January is a recipe for failure.

When the offense is “whole” again with Jennings back, Jordy 100%, Starks and Benson as a 1-2 punch, and all of the receivers avoid dropping catchable passes, I think this problem will be an afterthought. In the meantime, I hope MM will let Crosby kick away to get through his ‘yips’.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Sep 13, 2012; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers center Brett Goode (61) during the game against the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field. The Packers defeated the Bears 23-10. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE

He’s been with the Green Bay Packers since 2008 and hasn’t missed a single game in his 4.5 years with the team – though he hasn’t started a single game. He hasn’t scored a single touchdown; he hasn’t scored a single point; you mention his name and only the die-hard Packers fan will recognize it.

Today the Packers announced that they signed Brett Goode to a three-year, $2.715 million contract extension. That’s nearly $1 million per season for a guy who sees only a handful of snaps per game.

The key to that statement is “snaps.”

You see, Goode is the long snapper for the Packers, a key member of the placekicking and punting teams – the guy who makes sure the ball ends up accurately in the placekick holder’s hands and in the right spot for punter Tim Masthay.

While we may consider $1 million a lot for this specialized player, it may be one of the best signings of the year. It guarantees that the Packers keep intact a trio of players who are crucial in the team’s special teams proficiency.

The Packers signed punter Tim Masthay to a long-term contract earlier this season and locked up kicker Mason Crosby last year.

The importance of these central players might be compared to the importance of the middle of a baseball team – the catcher, pitcher, shortstop, second baseman and centerfielder. These positions are always occupied by the team’s best athletes and are crucial in the success of a team.

So, today’s announcement of the signing of Goode will provide the Packers with consistency where consistency and athleticism matter.

The signing of Goode was definitely a good thing … maybe the best thing the Packers have done yet this season.

August 3, 2012; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson (left) talks with head coach Mike McCarthy prior to the family night scrimmage at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, WI. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE

In addition to closing out the Packers’ Family Night with a field goal kicking contest between offensive and defensive lineman, there were some other items of interest that came out of one of the more successful family nights in recent history.

Here’s a look:

• It didn’t rain! After several Family Nights had been either rained out completely or shortened because of rain, there wasn’t a drop in the air.

• The 11-member Lambeau Leap – According to Donald Driver, the effort to have all 11 members of the Packers climb the wall after the first team’s touchdowns was orchestrated by Greg Jennings.

• Donald Driver continuing to make plays.

July 26, 2012; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) lines up under center during training camp practice at Ray Nitschke Field in Green Bay, WI. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE

• The sourpuss referee who called an unsportsmanlike penalty after the 11-man Lambeau Leap was pretty lame. IT’S FAMILY NIGHT, DUDE! Apparently he didn’t get the memo until the first team’s second touchdown – he didn’t throw the flag after that.

• Linebacker Dezman Moses seems to be the real deal. Getting some snaps with the number one defense must have given him an emotional boost, but he’s quickly rising the depth charts and continues to make plays. He clearly outplayed Erik Walden and could be considered the third best outside linebacker on the roster.

• It was unusual for Mike McCarthy not to tell the press about why left tackle Marshall Newhouse left the field. He’s usually pretty good at disclosing immediately injuries that occur both in practice and after games.

• Seeing Mason Crosby miss so many field goal attempts. Though most that he missed were from long distance, he showed he is human. It was nice to see him nail a 60-yarder. Newly-re-signed punter Tim Masthay also had a solid night. Getting kicks down within the 10 and 20-yard line consistently and even having one pinned down on the one yard line.

So now that the scrimmage is past, it’s now time for the team to look ahead to the first preseason game at San Diego. The Packers will have the opportunity to practice making long road trips and figuring out the logistics right away. It will be an interesting week of practice as they get ready for the Thursday night game.

June 12, 2012; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers linebacker Dezman Moses (54) during the team

Don’t expect the starting units to play more than one or two possessions. It will be interesting to see what players step up and get noticed in this first preseason game.

Look for Davon House, Dez Moses, and Casey Hayward on the defense to make plays. Many are also looking to first round pick Nick Perry to start making plays opposite Clay Matthews. He’s been relatively quiet in Training Camp, many attributing it to his learning curve. Let’s hope so.

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…)

Aaron Rodgers looks to repeat his performance from last year’s game but the Giants hope to put pressure on him.

I always like taking a peek at what the media is saying gameday about the Packers and what the opponent has to do to beat the Packers.

The theme has gotten old, but what they say has a modicum of truth – get to Aaron Rodgers and you can defeat the Green Bay Packers.

Read on … This is from the Daily-Ledger and Jersey.com …

Giants Gameday

By Jorge Castillo

Giants (6-5) vs. Green Bay Packers(11-0)
Week 14
Today, 4:15 p.m.
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
TV: FOX
Radio: WFAN 660-AM

THIS WEEK’S GAME REVOLVES AROUND …
The Giants’ pass rush

See much more after the jump … And don’t forget to Like Lombardiave on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

(more…)

There are those who are brutally honest about the happenings in the game. Some are witty and some just plain deadpan.

I thought it might be fun to give just a taste of what was posted last night during the Vikings vs. Packers game.

Enjoy.

Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky)
11/14/11 6:00 PM
The scene from Lambeau Field before tonight’s #Packers-#Vikings game. pic.twitter.com/LIcqUYmA
Green Bay Packers (@packers)
11/14/11 7:46 PM
Cobb first rookie in GB history to have a 100-yard KR, 80-yard PR in same season.

Green Bay Packers (@packers)
11/14/11 8:01 PM
Packers up 14-0, 5:02 remain in 1Q. Drive: 11 plays, 70 yards, 4:53 time of possession. 24-yard TD pass to Jennings

See more after the jump …

(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…)