HarveyWallbangers
07-17-2007, 11:28 PM
From FOX Sports:
Team Report: Strategy and Personnel
UNIT-BY-UNIT ANALYSIS
QUARTERBACK: Starter - Brett Favre. Backups - Aaron Rodgers, Ingle Martin, Paul Thompson.
The eyes of most NFL observers will be on Favre early in the season as he takes aim on a handful of attainable league records, including seven touchdown passes to eclipse Dan Marino's 420, two wins to surpass John Elway's 148 and the dubious distinction of five interceptions to overtake George Blanda's 277. Coach Mike McCarthy, though, is determined to get Favre in position for a career-best season, if that's remotely possible at his age of 37. While progress was made in cutting Favre's interception total from a league-worst 29 in 2005 to 18, his completion percentage was at an all-time personal low (56.0) and he had only 18 TD throws, despite putting the ball up an unprecedented 613 times. McCarthy wants to get Favre on the move and operating outside the pocket, where he thrived earlier in his career, and he should have the mobility to do so after undergoing arthroscopic ankle surgery in February. Heir apparent Rodgers also is back to full strength after recovering from a broken foot that prematurely ended his 2006 season in November. The setback came during one of the few opportunities Rodgers has had to play in place of Favre the last two years, and the results in those haven't been encouraging. That makes it a pivotal preseason for the former first-round draft pick, who must engender confidence among his teammates and team officials, as well as the fans, that he'll be ready to take over for Favre once retirement beckons. Martin should remain the No. 3 QB, though accuracy was an issue when he ran the No. 1 offense in offseason workouts when Favre and Rodgers were on the mend.
RUNNING BACKS: Starters - HB Vernand Morency, FB Brandon Miree. Backups - HB Brandon Jackson, Noah Herron, DeShawn Wynn, P.J. Pope; FB Korey Hall, Ryan Powdrell, Corey White.
The free-agent loss of Ahman Green, the No. 2 rushing producer in team annals, wasn't addressed with a notable acquisition in the offseason. The young halfbacks on the roster have a combined three starts, 891 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns in the NFL. Top incumbent Morency and second-round draft pick Jackson are being given first crack at assuming the featured role, which they'll probably share as the season gets started. Both fit the zone-blocking scheme with initial burst and elusiveness but are sorely lacking experience of being a full-time guy for an extended period. Wynn, a seventh-round choice this year, is a sleeper candidate to be in the mix but has to shed the character and work-ethic issues that plagued him in college. Should Wynn falter in camp, Herron figures to return as a third-down back. Miree is an ideal fullback for the scheme but has to stay healthy. Hall, a sixth-round selection, has converted from linebacker but will be in good position to make the team because of his dirty work on special teams.
TIGHT END: Starter - Bubba Franks. Backups - Donald Lee, Tory Humphrey, Zac Alcorn, Clark Harris.
Franks, a three-time Pro Bowler once upon a time, is the de facto starter entering camp, but that could quickly change based on how the offseason workouts played out. Lee and Humphrey, who bring more athleticism and can stretch the field, frequently were in with the No. 1 unit ahead of Franks. The onus is on Franks in the preseason to make amends for his nearly invisible 2006 season of zero touchdown catches and a career-low-tying 25 receptions. Otherwise, management might be inclined to cut ties with the former standout, although he still brings value as a quality blocker. The coaches are high on Alcorn, signed as an undrafted free agent last year, because of his sure hands. Harris, a seventh-round draftee, has a lot of work ahead of him to snare a roster spot.
WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters - Donald Driver, Greg Jennings. Backups - Robert Ferguson, Ruvell Martin, Carlyle Holiday, James Jones, Shaun Bodiford, Carlton Brewster, David Clowney, Chris Francies, Calvin Russell, Koren Robinson (suspended).
The sure thing among the group is Driver. He's established himself as a No. 1 receiver, with at least 80 receptions and 1,200 yards each of the last three years. Since Favre didn't get his wish of landing Randy Moss, he'll have to continue to make do with a fleet of young receivers until Robinson is possibly reinstated to the team after Week 2 after serving a league-imposed, one-year suspension. Jennings must bounce back from a rookie season that sizzled early but fizzled late because of an ankle injury. A hip injury curtailed his involvement in practices this offseason. Ferguson's injury history won't do him any favors of hanging on with the club for another season. Martin and Holiday proved at times last season to be capable situational receivers. If the offense is to reverse its self-inflicted woes of last season, when it ranked last in the NFC for red-zone efficiency (32.7 percent), Jones stands to be a difference maker as a rookie. The third-round pick caught Favre's eye in offseason work for being physical with his big body (6-1, 207) and grabbing just about every ball thrown to him.
OFFENSIVE LINE: Starters - LT Chad Clifton, LG Daryn Colledge, C Scott Wells, RG Jason Spitz, RT Mark Tauscher. Backups - T Tony Moll, T Junius Coston, T Orrin Thompson, G Allen Barbre, G Tony Palmer, G Tyson Walter, G Travis Leffew, G Adam Stenavich, G Pat Murray.
Whereas experimentation was on display early and often in the preseason last year, the starting five is essentially settled as camp opens this year. Colledge and Spitz started coming into their own by the end of their rookie year, which started inauspiciously for both because of mental and/or physical issues. The heady Wells graded out as the top lineman in 2006, giving up only a half sack. Mainstay bookends Clifton and Tauscher remain skillfully sound, but injuries dogged them last season. Moll, who started 10 games as a rookie on the right side, will back up Tauscher. The athletic Barbre, a fourth-round pick, is being trained at left guard in case Colledge would have to move outside to replace Clifton.
DEFENSIVE LINE: Starters - LDE Aaron Kampman, RDE Cullen Jenkins, NT Ryan Pickett, DT Corey Williams. Backups - E Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, E Michael Montgomery, E Jason Hunter, E Larry Birdine, E DeVon Hicks, T Justin Harrell, T Colin Cole, T Johnny Jolly, T Daniel Muir.
A unit that was on the upswing at the end of last season, after the high-motor Jenkins was inserted as a starter at end in the base over Gbaja-Biamila, conceivably became better because of the somewhat surprising selection of Harrell in the first round. With that status, Harrell should be a starter, but there's no assurances that he'll be ready to assume the role by the start of the season. No one has yet to see him function in team drills on the practice field. The club didn't rush him back from the ruptured biceps tendon that he sustained early last season at Tennessee, thus training camp will be Harrell's big introduction. Whether or not Harrell can hold down the early-down duties beside Pickett, Williams remains a pass-rushing cog on the inside. The combination of Kampman (career-high 15 1/2 sacks in 2006), Jenkins and Gbaja-Biamila, now in a situational role, is formidable on the outside.
LINEBACKERS: Starters - WLB A.J. Hawk, MLB Nick Barnett, SLB Brady Poppinga. Backups - Tracy White, Abdul Hodge, Rory Johnson, Desmond Bishop, Juwan Simpson, Tim Goodwell, Spencer Havner.
The centerpieces of the defense are Hawk and Barnett, who combined for nearly 300 tackles last season. However, neither player can be considered a supreme playmaker - they had only 5 1/2 sacks, four interceptions and a forced fumble between them. Throw in Poppinga, who cracked the starting lineup last year, and the common weakness that has to be fixed in short order is letdowns in pass coverage. The depth at the position is no great shakes. Hodge, who has starting potential, was out the entire offseason because of the knee injury that riddled him most of his rookie season. White is more useful as a special-teams ace. Rookies Bishop (sixth round) and Johnson (undrafted) will vie for possibly one spot. Johnson, who flourished in his own right next to Patrick Willis at Mississippi last year, has to clean up his off-field act after testing twice in college for marijuana use.
DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters - LCB Charles Woodson, RCB Al Harris, FS Nick Collins, SS Marquand Manuel. Backups - CB Frank Walker, CB Will Blackmon, CB Patrick Dendy, CB Jarrett Bush, CB Antonio Malone, CB Tramon Williams, S Marviel Underwood, S Aaron Rouse, S Atari Bigby, S Tyrone Culver, S Charlie Peprah, S Alvin Nnabuife.
As long as advanced age doesn't catch up to them, Woodson (co-NFC-high eight interceptions in 2006) and Harris return for a second season together as among the best cover tandems in the league. Harris was rewarded with a contract extension in the offseason, so the threat of a distraction with previous money demands won't be there in camp. The unit, though, will be worth watching because of heated competition for the starting job at strong safety and for the nickel-back spot. Walker, the former Giant who was Green Bay's only offseason addition of note, has the bead on being the nickel back but will be challenged by Blackmon and Dendy. Holding the speedy, intuitive Blackmon back, however, has been a spate of injuries since he was a rookie last year. Meanwhile, Manuel is on shaky ground as the incumbent starter after having a disastrous debut with the team as a free-agent signee. The defense needs an enforcer in that role, which could be provided by Underwood, who missed all of last season with a knee injury, rookie Rouse or upstart Bigby. Collins is entrenched for the third year at free safety but has to shore up his coverage abilities.
SPECIAL TEAMS: PK Dave Rayner, PK Mason Crosby, P Jon Ryan, P David Lonie, LS - Rob Davis.
For all the attention that will be given to the competition for starting jobs at halfback and strong safety, the best battle might involve incumbent Rayner and newcomer Crosby. Rayner, who misfired on nine field-goal tries last season, was anything but thrilled to find out the team drafted a kicker, taking Crosby in the sixth round. Crosby is Rayner's equal and even a little more with leg strength. Crosby also displayed better field-goal accuracy in limited kicking chances the two had in offseason practices. The preseason games will be telling. The strong-legged Ryan appeared to be benefiting from having his steps shortened in the spring work. The hang time must improve, after having a woeful net average of 35.7 yards, to retain the punting job for a second season. Davis, the oldest player on the team at 38, is one of the best long snappers in the game. Still to be sorted out are the return duties. Woodson, though, might continue on punt returns. Depending on what's decided at running back, Morency is a top candidate on kickoff returns.
Team Report: Strategy and Personnel
UNIT-BY-UNIT ANALYSIS
QUARTERBACK: Starter - Brett Favre. Backups - Aaron Rodgers, Ingle Martin, Paul Thompson.
The eyes of most NFL observers will be on Favre early in the season as he takes aim on a handful of attainable league records, including seven touchdown passes to eclipse Dan Marino's 420, two wins to surpass John Elway's 148 and the dubious distinction of five interceptions to overtake George Blanda's 277. Coach Mike McCarthy, though, is determined to get Favre in position for a career-best season, if that's remotely possible at his age of 37. While progress was made in cutting Favre's interception total from a league-worst 29 in 2005 to 18, his completion percentage was at an all-time personal low (56.0) and he had only 18 TD throws, despite putting the ball up an unprecedented 613 times. McCarthy wants to get Favre on the move and operating outside the pocket, where he thrived earlier in his career, and he should have the mobility to do so after undergoing arthroscopic ankle surgery in February. Heir apparent Rodgers also is back to full strength after recovering from a broken foot that prematurely ended his 2006 season in November. The setback came during one of the few opportunities Rodgers has had to play in place of Favre the last two years, and the results in those haven't been encouraging. That makes it a pivotal preseason for the former first-round draft pick, who must engender confidence among his teammates and team officials, as well as the fans, that he'll be ready to take over for Favre once retirement beckons. Martin should remain the No. 3 QB, though accuracy was an issue when he ran the No. 1 offense in offseason workouts when Favre and Rodgers were on the mend.
RUNNING BACKS: Starters - HB Vernand Morency, FB Brandon Miree. Backups - HB Brandon Jackson, Noah Herron, DeShawn Wynn, P.J. Pope; FB Korey Hall, Ryan Powdrell, Corey White.
The free-agent loss of Ahman Green, the No. 2 rushing producer in team annals, wasn't addressed with a notable acquisition in the offseason. The young halfbacks on the roster have a combined three starts, 891 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns in the NFL. Top incumbent Morency and second-round draft pick Jackson are being given first crack at assuming the featured role, which they'll probably share as the season gets started. Both fit the zone-blocking scheme with initial burst and elusiveness but are sorely lacking experience of being a full-time guy for an extended period. Wynn, a seventh-round choice this year, is a sleeper candidate to be in the mix but has to shed the character and work-ethic issues that plagued him in college. Should Wynn falter in camp, Herron figures to return as a third-down back. Miree is an ideal fullback for the scheme but has to stay healthy. Hall, a sixth-round selection, has converted from linebacker but will be in good position to make the team because of his dirty work on special teams.
TIGHT END: Starter - Bubba Franks. Backups - Donald Lee, Tory Humphrey, Zac Alcorn, Clark Harris.
Franks, a three-time Pro Bowler once upon a time, is the de facto starter entering camp, but that could quickly change based on how the offseason workouts played out. Lee and Humphrey, who bring more athleticism and can stretch the field, frequently were in with the No. 1 unit ahead of Franks. The onus is on Franks in the preseason to make amends for his nearly invisible 2006 season of zero touchdown catches and a career-low-tying 25 receptions. Otherwise, management might be inclined to cut ties with the former standout, although he still brings value as a quality blocker. The coaches are high on Alcorn, signed as an undrafted free agent last year, because of his sure hands. Harris, a seventh-round draftee, has a lot of work ahead of him to snare a roster spot.
WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters - Donald Driver, Greg Jennings. Backups - Robert Ferguson, Ruvell Martin, Carlyle Holiday, James Jones, Shaun Bodiford, Carlton Brewster, David Clowney, Chris Francies, Calvin Russell, Koren Robinson (suspended).
The sure thing among the group is Driver. He's established himself as a No. 1 receiver, with at least 80 receptions and 1,200 yards each of the last three years. Since Favre didn't get his wish of landing Randy Moss, he'll have to continue to make do with a fleet of young receivers until Robinson is possibly reinstated to the team after Week 2 after serving a league-imposed, one-year suspension. Jennings must bounce back from a rookie season that sizzled early but fizzled late because of an ankle injury. A hip injury curtailed his involvement in practices this offseason. Ferguson's injury history won't do him any favors of hanging on with the club for another season. Martin and Holiday proved at times last season to be capable situational receivers. If the offense is to reverse its self-inflicted woes of last season, when it ranked last in the NFC for red-zone efficiency (32.7 percent), Jones stands to be a difference maker as a rookie. The third-round pick caught Favre's eye in offseason work for being physical with his big body (6-1, 207) and grabbing just about every ball thrown to him.
OFFENSIVE LINE: Starters - LT Chad Clifton, LG Daryn Colledge, C Scott Wells, RG Jason Spitz, RT Mark Tauscher. Backups - T Tony Moll, T Junius Coston, T Orrin Thompson, G Allen Barbre, G Tony Palmer, G Tyson Walter, G Travis Leffew, G Adam Stenavich, G Pat Murray.
Whereas experimentation was on display early and often in the preseason last year, the starting five is essentially settled as camp opens this year. Colledge and Spitz started coming into their own by the end of their rookie year, which started inauspiciously for both because of mental and/or physical issues. The heady Wells graded out as the top lineman in 2006, giving up only a half sack. Mainstay bookends Clifton and Tauscher remain skillfully sound, but injuries dogged them last season. Moll, who started 10 games as a rookie on the right side, will back up Tauscher. The athletic Barbre, a fourth-round pick, is being trained at left guard in case Colledge would have to move outside to replace Clifton.
DEFENSIVE LINE: Starters - LDE Aaron Kampman, RDE Cullen Jenkins, NT Ryan Pickett, DT Corey Williams. Backups - E Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, E Michael Montgomery, E Jason Hunter, E Larry Birdine, E DeVon Hicks, T Justin Harrell, T Colin Cole, T Johnny Jolly, T Daniel Muir.
A unit that was on the upswing at the end of last season, after the high-motor Jenkins was inserted as a starter at end in the base over Gbaja-Biamila, conceivably became better because of the somewhat surprising selection of Harrell in the first round. With that status, Harrell should be a starter, but there's no assurances that he'll be ready to assume the role by the start of the season. No one has yet to see him function in team drills on the practice field. The club didn't rush him back from the ruptured biceps tendon that he sustained early last season at Tennessee, thus training camp will be Harrell's big introduction. Whether or not Harrell can hold down the early-down duties beside Pickett, Williams remains a pass-rushing cog on the inside. The combination of Kampman (career-high 15 1/2 sacks in 2006), Jenkins and Gbaja-Biamila, now in a situational role, is formidable on the outside.
LINEBACKERS: Starters - WLB A.J. Hawk, MLB Nick Barnett, SLB Brady Poppinga. Backups - Tracy White, Abdul Hodge, Rory Johnson, Desmond Bishop, Juwan Simpson, Tim Goodwell, Spencer Havner.
The centerpieces of the defense are Hawk and Barnett, who combined for nearly 300 tackles last season. However, neither player can be considered a supreme playmaker - they had only 5 1/2 sacks, four interceptions and a forced fumble between them. Throw in Poppinga, who cracked the starting lineup last year, and the common weakness that has to be fixed in short order is letdowns in pass coverage. The depth at the position is no great shakes. Hodge, who has starting potential, was out the entire offseason because of the knee injury that riddled him most of his rookie season. White is more useful as a special-teams ace. Rookies Bishop (sixth round) and Johnson (undrafted) will vie for possibly one spot. Johnson, who flourished in his own right next to Patrick Willis at Mississippi last year, has to clean up his off-field act after testing twice in college for marijuana use.
DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters - LCB Charles Woodson, RCB Al Harris, FS Nick Collins, SS Marquand Manuel. Backups - CB Frank Walker, CB Will Blackmon, CB Patrick Dendy, CB Jarrett Bush, CB Antonio Malone, CB Tramon Williams, S Marviel Underwood, S Aaron Rouse, S Atari Bigby, S Tyrone Culver, S Charlie Peprah, S Alvin Nnabuife.
As long as advanced age doesn't catch up to them, Woodson (co-NFC-high eight interceptions in 2006) and Harris return for a second season together as among the best cover tandems in the league. Harris was rewarded with a contract extension in the offseason, so the threat of a distraction with previous money demands won't be there in camp. The unit, though, will be worth watching because of heated competition for the starting job at strong safety and for the nickel-back spot. Walker, the former Giant who was Green Bay's only offseason addition of note, has the bead on being the nickel back but will be challenged by Blackmon and Dendy. Holding the speedy, intuitive Blackmon back, however, has been a spate of injuries since he was a rookie last year. Meanwhile, Manuel is on shaky ground as the incumbent starter after having a disastrous debut with the team as a free-agent signee. The defense needs an enforcer in that role, which could be provided by Underwood, who missed all of last season with a knee injury, rookie Rouse or upstart Bigby. Collins is entrenched for the third year at free safety but has to shore up his coverage abilities.
SPECIAL TEAMS: PK Dave Rayner, PK Mason Crosby, P Jon Ryan, P David Lonie, LS - Rob Davis.
For all the attention that will be given to the competition for starting jobs at halfback and strong safety, the best battle might involve incumbent Rayner and newcomer Crosby. Rayner, who misfired on nine field-goal tries last season, was anything but thrilled to find out the team drafted a kicker, taking Crosby in the sixth round. Crosby is Rayner's equal and even a little more with leg strength. Crosby also displayed better field-goal accuracy in limited kicking chances the two had in offseason practices. The preseason games will be telling. The strong-legged Ryan appeared to be benefiting from having his steps shortened in the spring work. The hang time must improve, after having a woeful net average of 35.7 yards, to retain the punting job for a second season. Davis, the oldest player on the team at 38, is one of the best long snappers in the game. Still to be sorted out are the return duties. Woodson, though, might continue on punt returns. Depending on what's decided at running back, Morency is a top candidate on kickoff returns.