woodbuck27
08-20-2006, 01:57 AM
Posted August 19, 2006
Packers leaning on rookies
By Dylan B. Tomlinson
Gannett Wisconsin Newspapers
In the last five years, having a rookie as a regular in the starting lineup has been a rarity for the Green Bay Packers.
In 2001, the Packers had no rookies in their starting lineup. From 2002 to 2004, when the Packers were winning three straight NFC North Division titles, they had one rookie each year as a regular starter.
There was safety Marques Anderson in 2002, linebacker Nick Barnett in 2003 and Ahmad Carroll in 2004.
Last season, the Packers had two regular rookie starters  safety Nick Collins and guard Will Whitticker.
That makes five rookie starters in the past five years.
When the Packers host the Atlanta Falcons at 7 tonight at Lambeau Field, the Packers may have five rookies in the starting lineup. There's a slight chance there even could be six.
"Obviously, experience means a lot, and in a perfect world, you'd like to have everyone have two years of experience with preseason games and training camp to see how the NFL works, and then you put them in," Packers General Manager Ted Thompson said. "But it doesn't always work that way."
Finding players who are capable of being effective starters as rookies is rare. Of the 89 players on the Packers' roster, only nine were regular starters as rookies. Most of the Packers' best players, like quarterback Brett Favre, running back Ahman Green, receiver Donald Driver and defensive ends Aaron Kampman and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila spent a season or two as reserves before winning starting jobs.
That was when the Packers' roster was filled with veterans. Now, there's inexperience at almost every position.
"When I was a rookie, it was a big deal that I was starting. That's not the case anymore," Barnett said. "Things are different now. This is a different team. This is a young team."
In tonight's game, the Packers likely will start Jason Spitz and Tony Moll at the guard positions, A.J. Hawk at linebacker, Greg Jennings at receiver and Tyrone Culver at safety.
Only Culver, who is starting in place of Marquand Manuel, is an injury replacement. While linebacker Abdul Hodge hasn't cracked the starting lineup yet, it hardly would be a surprise if he's there when the Packers open the regular season.
"They're young, but they're good players," Barnett said. "They wouldn't be starting if they weren't."
The influx of rookies into the starting lineup likely is more a sign of how little veteran depth the Packers have. Earlier this week, when the Packers decided to demote guard Daryn Colledge, they had to look to Moll, another rookie, to take his place in the starting lineup.
"Watching Daryn Colledge and Jason Spitz and Tony Moll, and not just the line but some of these younger guys, there is a lot of talent there," Favre said. "How long it will take these guys to get it and mesh together remains to be seen."
During Favre's 14 seasons with the Packers he's never seen this much inexperience in the starting lineup. During the 2000 season, tackles Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher, tight end Bubba Franks and linebacker Na'il Diggs were all regular starters. In most other seasons, it was rare for the Packers to have more than one or two rookies in the starting lineup.
Thompson has spent 25 years in the NFL as either a player or in the front office. He admitted he has no recollection of any NFL team starting five rookies.
"Not off hand," Thompson said. "I think that's just the way it is in this day and age. You have guys who are the best at their position. If they're the best players, there's no reason to save them."
Most of the Packers rookies are doing their best to embrace the roles they're in, and while they understand the growing pains that are ahead, they think all of the youth in the starting lineup is a sign of good things to come for the Packers.
"It's not a reason to be worried," Moll said. "It's a reason to be excited."
Dylan B. Tomlinson writes for for The Post-Crescent of Appleton. E-mail him at dtomlins@postcrescent.com
GO PACKERS ! HOLD FAITH IN 2006 !!
Packers leaning on rookies
By Dylan B. Tomlinson
Gannett Wisconsin Newspapers
In the last five years, having a rookie as a regular in the starting lineup has been a rarity for the Green Bay Packers.
In 2001, the Packers had no rookies in their starting lineup. From 2002 to 2004, when the Packers were winning three straight NFC North Division titles, they had one rookie each year as a regular starter.
There was safety Marques Anderson in 2002, linebacker Nick Barnett in 2003 and Ahmad Carroll in 2004.
Last season, the Packers had two regular rookie starters  safety Nick Collins and guard Will Whitticker.
That makes five rookie starters in the past five years.
When the Packers host the Atlanta Falcons at 7 tonight at Lambeau Field, the Packers may have five rookies in the starting lineup. There's a slight chance there even could be six.
"Obviously, experience means a lot, and in a perfect world, you'd like to have everyone have two years of experience with preseason games and training camp to see how the NFL works, and then you put them in," Packers General Manager Ted Thompson said. "But it doesn't always work that way."
Finding players who are capable of being effective starters as rookies is rare. Of the 89 players on the Packers' roster, only nine were regular starters as rookies. Most of the Packers' best players, like quarterback Brett Favre, running back Ahman Green, receiver Donald Driver and defensive ends Aaron Kampman and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila spent a season or two as reserves before winning starting jobs.
That was when the Packers' roster was filled with veterans. Now, there's inexperience at almost every position.
"When I was a rookie, it was a big deal that I was starting. That's not the case anymore," Barnett said. "Things are different now. This is a different team. This is a young team."
In tonight's game, the Packers likely will start Jason Spitz and Tony Moll at the guard positions, A.J. Hawk at linebacker, Greg Jennings at receiver and Tyrone Culver at safety.
Only Culver, who is starting in place of Marquand Manuel, is an injury replacement. While linebacker Abdul Hodge hasn't cracked the starting lineup yet, it hardly would be a surprise if he's there when the Packers open the regular season.
"They're young, but they're good players," Barnett said. "They wouldn't be starting if they weren't."
The influx of rookies into the starting lineup likely is more a sign of how little veteran depth the Packers have. Earlier this week, when the Packers decided to demote guard Daryn Colledge, they had to look to Moll, another rookie, to take his place in the starting lineup.
"Watching Daryn Colledge and Jason Spitz and Tony Moll, and not just the line but some of these younger guys, there is a lot of talent there," Favre said. "How long it will take these guys to get it and mesh together remains to be seen."
During Favre's 14 seasons with the Packers he's never seen this much inexperience in the starting lineup. During the 2000 season, tackles Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher, tight end Bubba Franks and linebacker Na'il Diggs were all regular starters. In most other seasons, it was rare for the Packers to have more than one or two rookies in the starting lineup.
Thompson has spent 25 years in the NFL as either a player or in the front office. He admitted he has no recollection of any NFL team starting five rookies.
"Not off hand," Thompson said. "I think that's just the way it is in this day and age. You have guys who are the best at their position. If they're the best players, there's no reason to save them."
Most of the Packers rookies are doing their best to embrace the roles they're in, and while they understand the growing pains that are ahead, they think all of the youth in the starting lineup is a sign of good things to come for the Packers.
"It's not a reason to be worried," Moll said. "It's a reason to be excited."
Dylan B. Tomlinson writes for for The Post-Crescent of Appleton. E-mail him at dtomlins@postcrescent.com
GO PACKERS ! HOLD FAITH IN 2006 !!