Joemailman
08-02-2008, 06:36 PM
Normally, this forum would be filled with stories about training camp battles and predictions for upcoming season. Hopefully we'll get back to normal soon.
I'm really interested in the safety battle. Rouse recovered a couple fumbles today. I know that's not as impressive as INT's, but good safeties have a knack for coming up with the ball.
Sitton is turning heads, but I'm hopeful that Colledge or Barbre will show enough to keep him on the bench. Rather not have another rookie starting on the OL.
http://mvn.com/nfl-packers/2008/08/02/top-five-packers-stories-buried-by-the-favre-saga/
The Frozen Tundra
Top five Packers stories buried by the Favre saga
By Andy Erdman | August 2nd, 2008
With the onslaught of Brett Favre coverage on the Internet, television and radio, it’s easy to forget that coach Mike McCarthy is working hard to get his Green Bay Packers ready for the 2008 season. And there’s plenty of very important stories that we fans should be concerned about that don’t have anything to do with a wishy-washy aging quarterback and a tight-fisted, stubborn general manager. Here are my top five:
1. Ryan Grant’s holdout: If Aaron Rodgers is the starting quarterback this season, he will have a much tougher go at it without Grant in the backfield. Despite many reports that second-year back Brandon Jackson looks to have improved immensely, the Packers are worse off each day without Grant attending practice. The fans were assured ever since OTAs that Grant and the Packers were close to an agreement. We were told that a deal by training camp was a foregone conclusion. Well, it’s nearly a week since training camp started, and it now appears as if a deal is nowhere close. Grant called the Packers latest offer “insulting.” I feel insulted also. The Packers biggest non-Favre issue right now is definitely the contract negotiations with Grant.
2. Justin Harrell’s possible season-ending injury: As reported by Greg Bedard of JSOnline.com, last year’s number one draft pick for the Packers is again troubled by injury – as he was through much of collegiate career as well. Harrell “ruptured a lumbar disc while lifting weights and had back surgery in April.” However, he has had setbacks since and is not participating in practice. Worse case scenario is a season-ending surgery to fix his back. I really hope it doesn’t come to that, though. After trading Corey Williams this offseason, and with the possibility that Johnny Jolly could be suspended part of the season for possession of a large amount of prescription painkillers, the Packers defensive line looks suspect. Currently the only thing Harrell can do is “bike and work in the pool a little.”
3. Rookie development: Rodgers has been talking very highly of rookie wideout Jordy Nelson, who is battling for the fourth wide receiver position with Ruvell Martin. But one has to search to find out anything about the Packers’ first pick. What’s more, rookie guard/tackle Josh Sitton has really been turning heads and, according to McCarthy, has made probably the smoothest transition into pro ball of any of the rookies. Either Tony Moll or Junius Coston may find themselves out of a job due to the emergence of Sitton. Packers coaches have also been impressed with rookie tight end Jermichael Finley’s strength in getting free of defenders in one-on-one drills. The two rookie QBs – Brian Brohm and Matt Flynn – have both had rocky camps but are slowly feeling their way through McCarthy’s system. Brohm has especially looked good lately. Of course, with the Favre soap opera constantly developing, not much news about these rookies has been reported.
4. Defensive backfield competition: Right now there are two serious battles in the Packers defensive backfield. The first is for the two starting safety positions between ’07 starters Nick Collins and Atari Bigby and up-and-coming hard-hitter Aaron Rouse. One of these guys will be the odd man out, but my feeling is that it won’t be Rouse again this year. We must also keep an eye on Charlie Peprah, who has battled back from injury for a very strong camp thus far. The next position battle is for the nickel and dime spots. Rookie Pat Lee and the much improved Tramon Williams are early favorites for the nickel and dime slots. But which player will get which slots? Or will the unproven Jarrett Bush show that he deserves one of the spots? Also in consideration is Will Blackmon, but he is still having nagging issues from breaking his foot last season.
5. Packers Family Night Scrimmage: For the first time since last season, tomorrow evening Packers fans will get to tailgate and fill Lambeau Field to cheer on the Green and Gold. The game is normally close to a sell out, with $8 tickets allowing many fans who never have the opportunity to land the regular season seats a chance to enjoy the legendary stadium. The game will be televised in Wisconsin, and it’ll be the first time we get to see the progress of Rodgers while keeping an eye on which rookies look like legitimate NFLers. Plus, whenever it’s time for the Packers intrasquad scrimmage, that means that the preseason is only a week away!
What other Packers stories are being snuffed out because of all this Favre drama?
I'm really interested in the safety battle. Rouse recovered a couple fumbles today. I know that's not as impressive as INT's, but good safeties have a knack for coming up with the ball.
Sitton is turning heads, but I'm hopeful that Colledge or Barbre will show enough to keep him on the bench. Rather not have another rookie starting on the OL.
http://mvn.com/nfl-packers/2008/08/02/top-five-packers-stories-buried-by-the-favre-saga/
The Frozen Tundra
Top five Packers stories buried by the Favre saga
By Andy Erdman | August 2nd, 2008
With the onslaught of Brett Favre coverage on the Internet, television and radio, it’s easy to forget that coach Mike McCarthy is working hard to get his Green Bay Packers ready for the 2008 season. And there’s plenty of very important stories that we fans should be concerned about that don’t have anything to do with a wishy-washy aging quarterback and a tight-fisted, stubborn general manager. Here are my top five:
1. Ryan Grant’s holdout: If Aaron Rodgers is the starting quarterback this season, he will have a much tougher go at it without Grant in the backfield. Despite many reports that second-year back Brandon Jackson looks to have improved immensely, the Packers are worse off each day without Grant attending practice. The fans were assured ever since OTAs that Grant and the Packers were close to an agreement. We were told that a deal by training camp was a foregone conclusion. Well, it’s nearly a week since training camp started, and it now appears as if a deal is nowhere close. Grant called the Packers latest offer “insulting.” I feel insulted also. The Packers biggest non-Favre issue right now is definitely the contract negotiations with Grant.
2. Justin Harrell’s possible season-ending injury: As reported by Greg Bedard of JSOnline.com, last year’s number one draft pick for the Packers is again troubled by injury – as he was through much of collegiate career as well. Harrell “ruptured a lumbar disc while lifting weights and had back surgery in April.” However, he has had setbacks since and is not participating in practice. Worse case scenario is a season-ending surgery to fix his back. I really hope it doesn’t come to that, though. After trading Corey Williams this offseason, and with the possibility that Johnny Jolly could be suspended part of the season for possession of a large amount of prescription painkillers, the Packers defensive line looks suspect. Currently the only thing Harrell can do is “bike and work in the pool a little.”
3. Rookie development: Rodgers has been talking very highly of rookie wideout Jordy Nelson, who is battling for the fourth wide receiver position with Ruvell Martin. But one has to search to find out anything about the Packers’ first pick. What’s more, rookie guard/tackle Josh Sitton has really been turning heads and, according to McCarthy, has made probably the smoothest transition into pro ball of any of the rookies. Either Tony Moll or Junius Coston may find themselves out of a job due to the emergence of Sitton. Packers coaches have also been impressed with rookie tight end Jermichael Finley’s strength in getting free of defenders in one-on-one drills. The two rookie QBs – Brian Brohm and Matt Flynn – have both had rocky camps but are slowly feeling their way through McCarthy’s system. Brohm has especially looked good lately. Of course, with the Favre soap opera constantly developing, not much news about these rookies has been reported.
4. Defensive backfield competition: Right now there are two serious battles in the Packers defensive backfield. The first is for the two starting safety positions between ’07 starters Nick Collins and Atari Bigby and up-and-coming hard-hitter Aaron Rouse. One of these guys will be the odd man out, but my feeling is that it won’t be Rouse again this year. We must also keep an eye on Charlie Peprah, who has battled back from injury for a very strong camp thus far. The next position battle is for the nickel and dime spots. Rookie Pat Lee and the much improved Tramon Williams are early favorites for the nickel and dime slots. But which player will get which slots? Or will the unproven Jarrett Bush show that he deserves one of the spots? Also in consideration is Will Blackmon, but he is still having nagging issues from breaking his foot last season.
5. Packers Family Night Scrimmage: For the first time since last season, tomorrow evening Packers fans will get to tailgate and fill Lambeau Field to cheer on the Green and Gold. The game is normally close to a sell out, with $8 tickets allowing many fans who never have the opportunity to land the regular season seats a chance to enjoy the legendary stadium. The game will be televised in Wisconsin, and it’ll be the first time we get to see the progress of Rodgers while keeping an eye on which rookies look like legitimate NFLers. Plus, whenever it’s time for the Packers intrasquad scrimmage, that means that the preseason is only a week away!
What other Packers stories are being snuffed out because of all this Favre drama?