Fit to Repeat

2011 Packers Football

Breaking down the Packers position by positionby Brian Carriveau

Perhaps even more impressive than winning the Super Bowl is the talent general manager Ted Thompson has assembled for 2011 and seasons to come. Going so far as to guarantee multiple Super Bowl victories would be foolish, but it is not a stretch to

say that the Packers are set up for sustained success.Quick: Name the best players on the Packers.Without a doubt, names like Aaron Rodgers, Clay Matthews, Charles

Woodson, Tramon Williams, Greg Jennings, and B.J. Raji all appeared near the top of the list. All six have at least two years remaining on their contract. With players like them under the team’s control, the Packers can afford to lose a few players to free agency or injury and still be highly competitive.

On offense, the Packers have an abundance of talent, and they spent their first three draft choices in 2011 on offense to boot. Bryan Bulaga and Derek Sherrod look to be the bookend tackles for the next decade and the receiving corps got even better with the addition of Randall Cobb.

As for the defense, Green Bay has arguably the best secondary in the NFL to go along with a pass rusher in the top five, maybe higher. The special teams were dismal last season, but even that couldn’t prevent the Packers from winning the Super Bowl.

Perhaps the only thing that can prevent from the Packers from a deep playoff run is an injury to Aaron Rodgers. Even then, some NFL observers believe Matt Flynn is worthy of being a starting quarterback on another team.

To get an insider’s view on the roster, we talked to some former Packers players, coaches, and broadcasters to see what they think of the 2011 version of the team.

Fit to Repeat

2011 Packers Football

6 | www.maplestreetpress.com

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With an accomplished starting quarterback in Aaron Rodgers and a capable backup in Matt Flynn, the Packers are about as set at the posi-tion as any team in the NFL.

When Rodgers won the Super Bowl MVP this past February, he cemented himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL. It’s almost hard to believe now that people weren’t sold on Rodgers as a starting QB back in the days when he backed up Brett Favre.

“I remember watching him in pre-season games a little bit,” said Rich Gannon, the Packers’ pre-season television color analyst. “I thought he was stiff; I thought he was a little bit erect; I thought he was more of a mechanical thrower. I think that [Mike McCarthy’s] done a lot with him in terms of really working on some of his mechanics. You look at the last couple years, the guy, it’s been incredible. I don’t want to say transformation, but the guy is a special player.”

After a rookie year in which he played spar-ingly, Rodgers spent the final six weeks of the 2006 season on injured reserve with a broken foot. There were even concerns that Rodgers was injury prone, but there were some bright spots. McCarthy’s first season as head coach of the Packers was 2006, and he took to working on Rodgers’ fundamentals. It took time, but Rodgers’ arm strength improved along with his throwing motion.

“He’s very sound mechanically, fundamentally, good decision maker, very accurate with his location on throws,” said Gannon. “I think Mike’s given him a lot of responsibility at the line of scrimmage in terms of getting in and out of plays and the running game responsibilities. The guy certainly can handle it.”

Perhaps one of the more underrated aspects of Rodgers’ game is his running ability.

“I think people don’t talk enough about his athleticism,” said Gannon, “his ability to make plays with his legs... And I think Aaron was the second-leading rusher behind Michael Vick among quarterbacks [in 2010], the ability to pick up some first downs and make some plays with his legs—I think it’s really, it’s a big part of who he is.”

When Rodgers was knocked out of the Week 14 game against the Lions with a concussion and missed the following game against the Patriots, Flynn stepped in and the offense didn’t miss a beat. Although the Packers lost both games, Flynn played admirably and suggested that he might be a starting quarterback in the NFL.

“Look at how he played against New England,” said Gannon. “And I’ve seen him develop a little bit throughout the preseason during the pre-season games. I just think they do an outstanding job, and it’s a good place to be if you’re a young quarterback.”

Providing depth is Graham Harrell, who was signed to the 53-man roster last season after Rodgers suffered a concus-sion. The college record-setter has talent, but remains largely an unknown.

“There’s this misconception about these kids that come out of Texas Tech, this certain system and scheme and stuff,” said Gannon. “I think that he’s going to get better as far as his footwork, in terms of timing and rhythm and understanding of the system.” MSP

QUARTERBACKS

passing efficiency Yards/attempt third Down Conversion Rate

Packers NFL Avg NFL Rank Packers NFL Avg NFL Rank Packers NFL Avg NFL Rank

2006 72.1 78.5 27 2006 6.3 6.89 25 2006 39.2% 38.7% 12

2007 95.9 80.9 6 2007 7.7 6.88 4 2007 42.6% 39.5% 8

2008 93.3 83.2 6 2008 7.5 6.98 8 2008 44.2% 39.5% 5

2009 101.8 83.0 4 2009 8.1 7.02 6 2009 47.0% 38.6% 3

2010 98.9 82.2 3 2010 8.0 7.00 3 2010 41.5% 38.2% 8

Despite not being a Pro Bowler in 2010, Aaron Rodgers won the NFL’s FedEx Air Player of Year Award.

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RUNNING BACKSIt’s tough to envision exactly how the running backs for the Green Bay Packers will be used in 2011. They have a stable full of talent, but uncertainty rules.

Will Ryan Grant be able to recover from a season-ending knee injury suffered last season? Is he the unques-tioned starter ahead of James Starks? Will the Packers be willing to pay his sizable salary when they have younger and cheaper options?

Working in his favor is Grant’s experience and body of work. In 2008 and 2009 he put up back-to-back 1,200-yard campaigns. His ball security has also been impressive having lost only five fumbles his entire career. And according to for-mer Packers running back and assistant coach Harry Sydney, Grant has another quality the Packers offense values.

“I think Ryan Grant is better than Starks because of his plant and go,” said Sydney. “You saw Starks, he runs with power, but he doesn’t have that plant and go as quick as Ryan Grant, his acceleration.”

And that’s not to demean Starks, the rookie phenom to whom the Packers tied their cart during last year’s playoff run.

“I see James Starks as another good fit because of his running style,” said Sydney, currently a host on Green Bay’s sports radio station, WDUZ.

Starks led all NFL running backs with 315 rushing yards in the 2010 postseason including 123-yard performance against the Eagles in the wild card round—a postseason franchise rookie record. While still largely unproven, Starks has a ton of potential, which will make the battle for playing time between him and Grant an intriguing one.

Further complicating matters is the status of free agent Brandon Jackson. Green Bay found out last year that Jackson probably isn’t cut out to be a featured back in their offense, though he really blossomed in the third-down role that values receiving and pass protection skills.

“Jackson was a third-down back that ran some nice screens and draws but could never move the pile,” Sydney told Maple Street Press. “And he didn’t play special teams really.”

Because of those reasons, a door may also be open for rookie running back Alex Green of the University of Hawaii. If Jackson happens to return to Green Bay, there will be a full house of halfbacks. And if he doesn’t, the rookie may assume

his role on third downs. Either way, the Packers may employ their halfbacks somewhat differently than in the past.

“At Hawaii, he catches the ball well, pass protection is decent, he runs screens well, and he’s a bigger guy,” said Sydney. “And so now... you have a scenario where you might have two halfbacks in there. And then teams can’t key.”

Like Jackson, John Kuhn is a free agent, though he seems to have carved himself a niche with the Packers.

“He’s your goal-line, short-yardage guy,” said Sydney. “Everybody loves how he blocks as a fullback. I think he does an adequate job. I think Kuhn has a niche. I think Kuhn’s a good guy, and he’s a folk hero.”

Kuhn was particularly effective on third downs, racking up 57 yards on 15 carries, 12 of which resulted in first downs—an 80% rate that ranked second in the NFL. Furthermore, Kuhn converted 9-of-10 attempts on third-and-1.

It’s possible that the Packers will use H-backs instead of fullbacks, with players like Tom Crabtree, D.J. Williams, and Ryan Taylor able to fill those roles. MSP

Ryan Grant appeared in just one regular season game in 2010.

Rushing Yards/game Carries per Game 20+ Yard Runs


2006 103.9 117.3 23 2006 26.9 28.2 22 2006 7 9.8 T-18

2007 99.8 110.9 21 2007 24.2 27.3 28 2007 15 10.0 7

2008 112.8 116.0 17 2008 27.3 27.6 14 2008 10 11.7 T-19

2009 117.8 116.7 14 2009 27.4 27.5 16 2009 11 11.3 T-15

2010 100.4 114.5 24 2010 26.3 27.2 20 2010 3 11.5 T-31


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One year ago, wide receiver was seen as one of the best and deepest positions on the roster, and in the entire NFL. While this year’s group can be just as good and effective as in 2010, there’s a couple more questions than there were 365 days ago.

However, there’s one player with few question marks: Greg Jennings. In 2010 Jennings proved to be one of the league’s elite wide receivers and earned his first Pro Bowl selection. Former Packers receiver Don Beebe, a member of the Super Bowl XXXI winning team, thinks Jennings ranks right up there with the NFL’s best at the position.

“I think Greg obviously has all the tools that all the great ones do,” said Beebe. “He has the quickness, and speed, and great catching ability, and he’s a great route runner who’s just a great guy, a team player, and all those things. Greg is certainly one of those top five to eight guys in the league right now.”

The exclamation point on Jennings’ season came in Super Bowl XLV when he caught two touchdown passes. Those were two of 21 catches he had in the postsea-son, which tied for the team lead.

Donald Driver enters his 13th professional season in 2011, and observers are left to wonder whether age has finally caught up to him.

“There’s no question, Donald Driver is still productive,” said Beebe, who currently operates a franchise of athletic performance centers across the United States “And the older you get, the harder it is to try to stay in kind of that top-notch shape. You have to train just a little bit harder every year, and that’s where he is at. But he can play a couple more years, there’s no doubt.”

Indeed, there’s no doubt that Driver is one of the better conditioned players in the NFL. And he’s indicated that he wants to play until he’s 40 (he’s now 36).

Meanwhile, Jordy Nelson appears to be entering his prime. With a Super Bowl performance that included nine catches for 140 yards and could have been even better if not for a couple drops, Nelson had a career game on the sport’s biggest stage.

But where does he rank in the Packers’ pecking order at receiver? In 2010, Nelson was fourth on the team with 45 regular-season receptions. If Driver’s play slips, it will be interesting to see whether Nelson can develop into the #2 receiver on the roster. Beebe thinks there’s a number of roles Nelson could fill.

“Guys like Jordy––who could be your second, third, fourth guy on the roster––could really have a great season and catch 50, 60, 70 balls and maybe more just because that’s the way offenses have gone these days,” Beebe told Maple Street Press. “So yeah, Jordy had a breakout [Super Bowl] and breakout part of the year last year, and I think it could be a great stepping stone for him.”

The unknown is where James Jones fits into the Packers’ plans at wide receiver. He’s shown flashes of brilliance in his first four years in the NFL, but he’s free agent at the whims of the NFL’s labor struggles. In any case, the Packers have a contingency plan in second-round pick Randall Cobb out of the University of Kentucky. Cobb figures to heavily factor in the team’s return game, but should also see the field on offense. MSP

WIDE RECEIVERS

passing Yards/game Catches/game 20+ Yard Receptions


2006 237.2 204.8 8 2006 21.9 19.1 5 2006 49 43.0 T-10

2007 270.9 214.3 2 2007 23.9 20.4 3 2007 52 41.9 T-5

2008 238.3 211.3 8 2008 21.4 19.7 9 2008 48 42.3 T-8

2009 261.2 218.5 7 2009 22.3 20.3 8 2009 55 45.8 T-10

2010 257.8 221.6 5 2010 22.0 20.5 10 2010 57 47.6 T-6

Since Week 6 of the 2010 season, Greg Jennings ranks first in the NFL with 1,082 yards on 62 receptions.


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With the addition of two more tight ends in the 2011 NFL Draft, the Packers are about as deep at the position as any team in the NFL. Jermichael Finley, one of the best tight ends in professional football when he’s healthy, leads this unit. Finley had a breakout sophomore season in 2009 that saw him catch 55 passes for 676 yards and five touchdowns. Expectations were high entering last season and he re-sponded by catching 21 passes for 301 yards a touchdown in the first four games, before suffering a season-ending knee injury in Week 5.

If there’s one knock on Finley, it’s that he hasn’t been able to stay healthy. In addition to missing most of last season, he also missed three games in 2009 with another knee injury. Despite the praise heaped upon Finley, the fact is that he’s only put together one solid season so far. He enters 2011 in the fourth and final year of his rookie contract, which has stirred debate about his future in Green Bay—some team is sure to pay him big money, whether that team is the Packers remains to be seen.

Andrew Quarless emerged as another option late last season and started four games between the regular season and the playoffs. His performance was by no means dominant, but then again, few rookies have such an impact.

The key for Quarless going forward will be continuing development. With Finley slated to become a free agent after this season, the Packers may look to Quarless to take on a much larger role in the future. He has the body type to play a similar style as Finley, lining up outside, although he

appears to have the flexibility to line up on the line and in the backfield as well.

Tom Crabtree is the best blocking tight end on the Packers, bar none. While his receiving statistics are under-whelming, he’s not asked to be an integral part of the team’s aerial attack. However, in the few opportunities he’s gotten, he’s displayed reliable hands. Crabtree had six catches for 69 yards last season in the regular season and playoffs including a touchdown against the Eagles in the wild card round.

Crabtree was occasionally used in as an H-back, lining up in the offensive backfield last season, and it appears he may have some company this year.

In the fifth round, the Packers selected D.J. Williams of Arkansas. Williams had a prolific career at Arkansas, and was the John Mackey Award winner his senior season as the nation’s best tight end. He was one of quarterback Ryan Mallet’s favorite targets and led the pass-happy Razorbacks in receiving in 2010 with 54 receptions for 627 yards. At 6’2” and 245 pounds, he’s smaller than the typical NFL tight end, but he has the talent to play H-back and be a receiving threat out of the backfield.

The Packers also selected Ryan Taylor of North Carolina in the seventh round. He doesn’t have a ton of experience at tight end and his biggest contributions might come on special teams. In any case, the Packers have said they will utilize him as a tight end, and H-back may be his most likely role. MSP

TIGhT ENDS

Jermichael Finley had back-to-back 100-yard receiving games in Weeks 2 and 3 of 2010 before landing on injured reserve.


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The Packers are entering a transition phase along the offensive line. They’re trying to milk as much as they can from veteran tackles Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher, while also developing relative youngsters Bryan Bulaga and Derek Sherrod to be the bookend tackles of the future.

As long as Clifton can continue to play at a high level, he figures to be the starting left tackle. And given his play in the second half of 2010, there’s little reason to think that he can’t still be successful. Clifton’s performance during the playoff run was an underrated reason the Packers were able to win the Super Bowl.

As for Tauscher, his time in Green Bay could be coming to a close. Tauscher’s season ended with a shoulder injury, and it’s debatable whether he’d be a better option than Bulaga at right tackle if and when he returns.

“I think Chad Clifton definitely fits in,” said former Packers offensive lineman Larry McCarren. “He finished the season very strong, and I think he fits in prominently for another year. Mark Tauscher I’m not so sure about, having injury problems coming back last year and spending the season on IR.”

Bulaga had an up and down rookie season, though like Clifton, his play down the stretch was simply superb. If he can continue to build off his playoff performance, Bulaga figures to be a key factor in 2011.

The same can’t necessarily be said of 2011 first-round draft choice Sherrod, at least not right away. He is a big part of the Packers’ plans going forward, but unless Clifton’s play declines or he gets hurt, Sherrod looks to be a backup this season.

“If Chad Clifton remains healthy and plays well and Bryan Bulaga does his thing on the other side, there may not be an opportunity for Sherrod to play tackle,” said McCarren, the color analyst for the Packers Radio Network. “So even though he might be ready athletically and production-wise, that door may not be open to him.”

Another veteran is center Scott Wells. While not a Pro Bowler, Wells is perhaps coming off the best two years of his career. He’s strong, smart, and does a good job keeping pass rushers off Aaron Rodgers up the middle.

“I know there’s a thing out there in the NFL that the ‘un-dersized guys’ get hurt more often and have shorter careers,” McCarren said. “But Scott Wells played really well last year, and I thought he was a big plus for the Green Bay Packers.”

Lining up next to Wells is arguably the best player on the entire offensive line. Right guard Josh Sitton has put together two dominant seasons about as quietly as possible. It’s only a matter of time before he is considered All-Pro caliber.

The biggest question mark is left guard where incumbent starter Daryn Colledge is a free agent. If Colledge isn’t in the team’s plans, there’s no shortage of candidates to take his place. The front-runner may be T.J. Lang, who’s gotten spurts of playing time the past couple seasons, but there’s a host of others.

“They’ve got Lang coming back, who’s an interesting prospect,” said McCarren. “We mentioned Sherrod earlier. They think he can play guard as well as tackle, maybe not as well but as another position. They also have Jason Spitz, who’s also kind of in Never Never Land as far as what his future is. They’ve got Nick McDonald coming back who made the team as an undrafted free agent last year, and they like him.” MSP

OFFENSIVE LINE

Rushing Yards/attempt pass attempts per Sack points/Game


2006 3.9 4.2 21 2006 26.3 14.1 3 2006 18.8 20.7 22

2007 4.1 4.1 12 2007 30.4 15.5 3 2007 27.2 21.7 4

2008 4.1 4.2 18 2008 15.9 16.0 18 2008 26.2 22.0 5

2009 4.3 4.2 13 2009 10.8 15.5 29 2009 28.8 21.5 3

2010 3.8 4.2 25 2010 14.2 15.3 20 2010 24.3 22.0 10

Whether Scott Wells and Daryn Colledge will continue to line up next to each other remains to be seen.


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Though there are signs of trouble along the defensive line, the Packers are more prepared than meets the eye. It may appear they’re in a dilemma with Cullen Jenkins eligible for free agency and Johnny Jolly’s continuing legal woes, but the team had the foresight to add depth a season ago.

It’s possible that Jenkins will return to the Packers, though perhaps not likely. He’s going to be an unrestricted free agent and he’ll be looking for a big payday. All things being equal, the Packers would welcome him back, but probably not at the price he can command on the open market. Jolly remains a long shot to return to Green Bay after another drug-related arrest in his native Houston following his suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.

Anchoring the current defensive line is nose tackle B.J. Raji. After a breakout sophomore season, Raji appears to be entering his prime. Not only is he stout against the run, his 6.5 sacks last year suggest he’s one of the best pass rushing 3-4 nose tackles in the NFL.

“I think his potential is really unlimited in the fact that he’s got a great NFL body type,” said former Packers defensive lineman Lester Archambeau. “Especially for the defense the Packers are running, he’s a great player against the run. And as guys get older, they get more experienced, their techniques get better, so I think his best football’s ahead of him.”

Ryan Pickett remains a stalwart at defensive end. Since coming to Green Bay as a free agent in 2006, he’s been a consistent and reliable defender, and an underrated reason the Packers were Super Bowl champions. The question is, how much longer can be an effective player?

“With defensive linemen, as long as they work on their craft, they can play until their bodies don’t let them,” said Archambeau, who’s still involved in the NFL as an agent.

Pickett seems to work on his craft, but he’s on the wrong side of 30 and is closer to the end than the beginning.

He isn’t asked to be a playmaker, however, and the Packers will be happy if he can put together another reliable year as a run stuffer.

Last year’s second-round draft choice, Mike Neal, figures to receive the first chance to start opposite Pickett if Jenkins does not come back. Neal had an impressive training camp and beginning of the 2010 season before he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. If he can stay healthy, he appears to have a bright future.

Another young player that will be part of the defensive line rotation is C.J. Wilson. He received more playing time as last season went along, culminating with a spot in the starting lineup in the Super Bowl. Whether he can be a full-time starter remains to be seen.

Howard Green, who the Packers acquired at mid-season last year, should be in the team’s plans as part of the base 3-4 defense. Like Pickett, he’ll be asked to be a run stuffer.

The newest part of the defensive line is seventh-round draft choice Lawrence Guy. The word is that he has the talent, but like any first-year player, he’ll face an uphill battle to become a contributor in his first-year. MSP

DEFENSIVE LINE

Rushing Yards allowed/carry Sacks Scoring Defense (points allowed/game)


2006 4.1 4.2 17 2006 46 36.3 4 2006 22.9 20.7 T-25

2007 3.9 4.1 11 2007 36 34.4 T-13 2007 18.2 21.7 T-6

2008 4.6 4.2 26 2008 27 32.4 25 2008 23.8 22.0 22

2009 3.6 4.2 2 2009 37 34.4 T-11 2009 18.6 21.5 7

2010 4.7 4.2 28 2010 47 35.3 T-20 2010 15.0 22.0 2

In addition to 6.5 sacks in the regular season, B.J. Raji added one against the Atlanta Falcons in the divisional round of the playoffs.


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The Packers have plenty of depth at inside linebacker, almost to a fault. They’ve accumulated so many quality players that speculation is that they will cut or trade one of them.

Two players that appear safe are A.J. Hawk and Desmond Bishop. After Nick Barnett was lost for the season with a wrist injury, Hawk and Bishop held down the starting spots and each had the best season of his respective career.

They performed so well that each received new contracts. Hawk was cut and subsequently re-signed in the span of two days back in March. And Bishop inked a contract extension in mid-season last year after filling in so admirably for Barnett. Head coach Mike McCarthy told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in the offseason that Hawk and Bishop would be the two starters at inside linebacker in spite of Barnett only losing his job due to injury.

Coming into 2010, Hawk’s future in Green Bay was uncertain. He had a positive rookie season back in 2006 but had been just adequate from 2007–09. Finally in 2010 he put it all together and would have been an injury replacement in the Pro Bowl had the Packers not reached the Super Bowl. Though he only had half a sack, Hawk led the team in tack-les and had a career-high three interceptions. Furthermore, his five interceptions since Week 13 of 2009 are first among NFL linebackers.

Bishop started the final 12 games of the regular season and all four playoff games. He was second on the team in tackles, which also was a career high. In addition, he tallied three sacks and had 10 passes defended, the most by a Green Bay linebacker since John Anderson had 15 in 1981. Bishop’s 49 tackles on special teams from 2007–09 led the team, though he figures to have his workload lessened in that phase of the game.

It’s Barnett’s future in Green Bay that’s precarious. While he’s been a productive player when he’s been healthy, the problem is that he hasn’t been healthy enough. He’s landed on injured reserve in two of the past three seasons, and he’s entering his ninth year in the league. Whether he’ll be content to be a backup is up for debate, and he’d be a highly priced reserve. Those factors have some thinking that he’s a candidate to be traded, and his experience in both a 3-4 and a 4-3 defense should make him a valuable commodity.

Brandon Chillar finds himself in a similar situation. He’s been a reliable player when healthy, but he might be too expensive to sit on the bench. One thing working in Chillar’s favor is that you can never have enough depth, as the Packers found out last season. Despite his back-up status, he’s possibly only an injury away from being a starter. And the Packers like him, as evidenced by the contract extension they offered him in 2009.

Rookie D.J. Smith stands to benefit from a situation where either Barnett or Chillar is traded or cut. The sixth-round pick out of Appalachian State is currently third string, but could move up to the second string with one transaction. Smith was an active force in college racking up more than 500 career tackles, but he must overcome the odds that say his 5’11” frame is too small for the NFL. MSP

INSIDE LINEBACKERS

takeaways Yards allowed per Defensive play opponent's third Down Conversion


2006 33 28.0 T-5 2006 5.1 5.2 13 2006 32.6% 38.7% 4

2007 28 28.5 17 2007 5.0 5.2 12 2007 33.0% 39.5% 3

2008 28 24.8 12 2008 5.3 5.3 16 2008 38.1% 39.5% 14

2009 40 27.1 1 2009 4.8 5.3 2 2009 36.0% 38.6% 9

2010 32 26.9 6 2010 5.1 5.3 9 2010 36.2% 38.2% 9

A.J. Hawk has posted 25 career double-digit tackle games.


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In Clay Matthews, the Packers have one of the best outside linebackers, if not one of the best defensive players, in the NFL. But apart from Matthews, it’s unclear whether the team has a clear-cut starter or just a bunch of players vying for a roster spot.

Matthews has been a breath of fresh air for the Packers. After trading up into the first round to select him in 2009, all the two-time Pro Bowler has done is post back-to-back double-digit sack seasons and become a force to be reckoned with.

“The thing that makes him great to me, physically I think he’s a specimen, and he has tremendous athletic ability,” said former Packers linebacker and linebackers coach Paul Rudzinski. “I think what really sets him apart is that he plays with so much passion. Every down he’s going 110%.”

After finishing 2010 with 13.5 sacks and another 3.5 in the postseason, Matthews won the Sporting News Defensive Player of the Year Award. Entering only his third year as a professional, there’s no reason to think he’s going to slow down anytime soon.

Beyond Matthews, however, there are questions. Considering that outside linebacker can be such an impact position in a 3-4 defense, it’s a wonder the Packers haven’t addressed the situation more than they have. But with a Super Bowl victory, the team proved it could win without a big-time playmaker opposite Matthews.

Maybe Frank Zombo can develop into one. After making the team as an undrafted rookie last season, he defied the odds and had an overachieving season, at least from an outsider’s expectations. With four regular-season sacks and

another in the Super Bowl, Zombo quickly became a fan favorite, and looks to have a bright future.

“I was really impressed with him, especially early on in the preseason and stuff,” said Rudzinski, currently an assistant coach for the Green Bay Packers Youth Football Camps. “I don’t know how tall he is, but he has so much ability. He doesn’t have quite the ability that Clay Matthews has, but the same thing, he’s got that motor. He’s going, and he’s a great athlete.”

The competition for Zombo should be fierce. One of the more intriguing options is Erik Walden. He flashed late last season, when he was named the NFC’s Week 17 Defensive Player of the Week for a three-sack, 16-tackle performance in Green Bay’s game against the Bears. Also in the mix is Brad Jones. In 20 games for the Packers over the past two years Jones has racked up 60 tackles and four sacks. His biggest problem has been staying on the field, as he’s been dogged by several injuries that forced him to be put on injured reserve last season. Another injured Packer trying to make a comeback is Brady Poppinga whose 2010 season was ended by a torn meniscus. Before exiting, Poppinga played in six games and had one sack, but he may have to improve on those totals if he’s going to make the team.

“I think he can [make the team],” Rudzinski said. “It’s going to be difficult because there’s so much depth at the linebacker position.”

If none of the veterans pan out, the Packers could turn to sixth-round draft choice Ricky Elmore. Coming out of the University of Arizona, Elmore was the Pac-10 leader in sacks in his junior and senior seasons. MSP

OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS

Frank Zombo’s sack of Ben Roethlisberger in the third quarter of the Super Bowl helped lead to a missed field goal.


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Coming into 2010, the Packers knew what they had in Charles Woodson at corner, but that was about it. Al Harris was coming off a severe knee injury, and everyone else was still unproven. But after a breakout performance from Tramon Williams and a stellar rookie season from Sam Shields, the position quickly went from uncertainty to strength.

After a 2009 season in which he was named the AP Defensive Player of the Year, there was no doubt Woodson was an elite player. He did regress a bit in 2010, but not nearly enough to suggest he isn’t valuable.

For one, he’s the unquestioned leader of the defense—and probably only behind Aaron Rodgers in the influence he has over the entire team. As a postseason captain, he had the attention of the entire locker room as he encouraged the team to make a trip to the White House their ultimate goal.

As a player, Woodson still defends the slot as well as any player in the game and is one of best corner-backs in the NFL in run support. He’s also dangerous on the blitz. Where he seemed to struggle last season is when he had to turn and run with opposing receivers, maybe losing a step due to his advancing age. Woodson broke his collarbone during the Super Bowl, though his injury doesn’t project as a problem going forward.

Joining Woodson in the elite category last season was Williams, who proved himself as one of the league’s up-and-coming cornerbacks. That he was not named to the Pro Bowl on its initial vote was more a result of his unknown status than a reflection on his play. Williams had an amazing season, and it probably wouldn’t be a stretch to say he was the team MVP when considering his play from Week 1 all the way through the Super Bowl.

Williams led the team with six interceptions and 23 passes defended, both career highs. He also led the NFL with three interceptions in postseason play. The icing on the cake was probably his break-up of a Ben Roethlisberger pass intended for Mike Wallace on fourth-and-5 on the Steelers’ final drive in the Super Bowl.

Shields exceeded everyone’s expectations by becoming a major contributor as the team’s nickel cornerback, a formation

that the Packers use more often than their base defense. In retrospect, he probably would have gone from undrafted to a first-round selection had the NFL Draft been conducted again after the season.

The young corner had two interceptions and nine passes defended in the regular season, though his biggest perfor-mance of the year came in the playoffs. Shields recorded two interceptions and a sack in the NFC championship victory over the Bears, including a fourth-down interception with Chicago driving deep into Green Bay territory only down by seven points.

Pat Lee has been underwhelming as a second-round draft choice out of Auburn in 2008, although there is reason for optimism. After injuries forced both Woodson and Shields out of the Super Bowl, Lee was pressed into action and performed admirably with little preparation. It will tough for him to break into the cornerback rotation with at least three players ahead of him, however.

Rookie Davon House will begin his career deep down the Packers depth chart, although he has some intriguing talent that will make him a tough cut. MSP

CORNERBACKS

passing yards allowed/game passing efficiency against interceptions


2006 206.8 204.8 17 2006 75.40 78.51 8 2006 23 16.3 3

2007 210.4 214.3 12 2007 75.60 80.90 6 2007 19 16.7 T-6

2008 202.8 211.3 12 2008 71.90 83.16 4 2008 22 14.5 5

2009 201.1 218.5 5 2009 68.80 82.97 4 2009 30 16.4 1

2010 194.2 221.6 5 2010 67.20 82.20 1 2010 24 16.0 2

Tramon Williams is the only undrafted player in the NFL to grab four or more interceptions in each of the past three seasons.


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A sign of how comfortable the Packers are with their safety personnel? Among the team’s 10 draft choices in 2011, not one of them was a safety.

Leading the way is Nick Collins, who has made three straight Pro Bowls, the first Packers safety to accomplish that feat since LeRoy Butler. Collins’s 2010 season was another success, and the icing on the cake was his interception return for a touchdown in the Super Bowl.

“He’s a big-time playmaker,” said former Packers safety Matt Bowen. “I think he’s just going to get better and better, I really do. I still think you put the top two guys, you flip a coin with Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu. But Ed Reed’s getting up there in age, and pretty soon I think you’re talking about Nick Collins up there with Troy Polamalu as one of the best overall.”

A battle is brewing for the starting safety spot next to Collins. Morgan Burnett was the starter at the beginning of last year before a knee injury ended his season. He was even-tually replaced by Charlie Peprah, who had a surprisingly solid 2010 campaign.

“With Burnett coming back, I think they would open up the competition a little bit,” said Bowen, who currently writes for NationalFootballPost.com. “I think that’s what every good football team does. Even with the contract for a new guy, the good teams that I’ve been around, they want a little competi-tion in August, because you want to see the guy that got the contract extension still prove it every day.”

Peprah set career highs in 2010 with 11 games started, 64 tackles, and two interceptions. Perhaps his most memorable interception was in the regular-season finale against the Bears, when Peprah picked off a second-half Jay Cutler pass in the end zone. Peprah also became a reliable in-the-box tackler for the Packers and rarely got beat deep.

When all was said and done, the Packers decided they didn’t want to allow Peprah to hit the free agent market and signed him to a contract extension before the league’s Collective Bargaining Agreement expired.

Burnett will provide Peprah with competition. The rookie impressed coaches and fans last season by winning the starting job during training camp. He had some struggles early, especially against the run, though he appears to have potential. The most important part will be recovering from his torn ACL.

“It takes a while to get back up to top speed, where you’re comfortable coming in and going out of your breaks,” Bowen said. “And even just the simple things, dropping to the deep half in Cover-2, being able to trust your body, trust your abilities when a wide receiver gets up on your cushion. I’m not saying it can’t be done, but there is a transition where you might not see the same player right away.”

Also in the mix at safety are Jarrett Bush and Anthony Smith, both of whom are better known for their efforts on special teams than on defense. MSP

SAFETIES

It’s not a stretch to say that Nick Collins is one of the elite safeties in the NFL.


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The Packers proved in 2010 that they could win a Super Bowl with subpar special teams. But as a team that lost six regular season games and only qualified for the playoffs as the final seed in the NFC, there’s cause for concern. If the offense or defense happens to regress, shoddy special teams play could be a burden the Packers don’t want to bear.

The good news about is that the Packers took a step forward in last season. The bad news is that it was a baby step. After ranking 31st in the Dallas Morning News’ annual special teams ranking in 2009, the Packers finished 29th in 2010.

The biggest reason for the improvement was a stellar performance from first-year punter Tim Masthay. It can be argued that the Packers may not have won two games last season without Masthay: Week 8 at the Jets and Week 17 vs. the Bears. Against New York, Masthay punted eight times for a 41.5 net average while placing five punts inside the 20 in a 9–0 Packers victory; against Chicago, he placed four of eight punts inside the 20 while allowing Devin Hester to return just two punts for 35 yards.

“I thought he did a very good job of pinning guys inside the 20,” said former Packers kicker Al Del Greco, currently a co-host of The Opening Drive, a sports radio show on WJOX in Birmingham, AL. “But you continue to work, don’t rest on your laurels. Certainly with the year that he had, I think there’s a very bright future for him.”

Unfortunately, Masthay was one of the few bright spots. Kicker Mason Crosby was below average in field goal ac-curacy and did little to help the kickoff unit.

With Crosby scheduled to be a free agent this past offseason, the Packers had to make a choice: Either re-sign their veteran kicker or decide to go in another direction. While Crosby hasn’t been a Pro Bowler, there is risk in signing a new kicker.

“I actually think he’s done a pretty good job, because I think you need to consider where he kicks,” said Del Greco.

“I can remember my days there. Once the end of October rolled around, it was, ‘Hunker down and get ready to experience some tough kicking conditions and playing conditions for everybody.’”

One place the Packers kicker would seem to benefit in 2011 is from the new NFL rule moving kickoffs up to the 35-yard line as opposed to the 30. Del Greco thinks there’s going to be fewer returns this season.

“I think you’re going to see a lot less of that now, because there are so many guys in the league that are so strong that there’s no question that the number of touchbacks will improve,” said Del Greco speaking from a kicker’s standpoint.

Special teams coordinator Shawn Slocum needed help for his units, and he may have found it with newly drafted return man Randall Cobb from the University of Kentucky. The Packers ranked 26th in the NFL in kickoff return average and 22nd in punt return average, so even a modest improvement would be welcomed. Cobb averaged 24.6 yards per kick return in college and 9.8 yards per punt return, so there’s optimism in that department. MSP

SPECIAL TEAMS

Net punting average punt Coverage (Yards allowed per Return) punt Returns (Yards per Return)


2006 35.7 37.1 25 2006 9.1 8.7 18 2006 7.8 8.7 24

2007 37.6 37.3 11 2007 5.9 9.1 4 2007 10.3 9.1 7

2008 35.7 37.5 24 2008 7.5 9.3 10 2008 10.8 9.3 6

2009 34.1 38.3 T-31 2009 10.1 8.5 24 2009 6.9 8.5 23

2010 37.6 37.5 16 2010 11.0 9.6 T-24 2010 7.9 9.6 22

Tim Masthay finished the regular season with a 37.6-yard net average, which matched the best by a Packers punter since 1976.

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