motife
11-14-2007, 06:32 PM
Packers' Next Opponent: Empty in the pocket
Dearth of options at QB has Panthers foundering
Posted: Nov. 13, 2007
Green Bay - The Green Bay Packers under Mike McCarthy have proved their mettle as an underdog. Now they get a chance to show as a prohibitive favorite.
On Sunday, the Packers (8-1) and Carolina Panthers (4-5) meet at Lambeau Field. For just the ninth time in McCarthy's 26-game tenure, his team is favored.
The spread is 10 points, the largest for Green Bay since it also was favored by 10 against Denver in the 2003 finale. The Packers haven't been favored by more than 6 points under McCarthy and not by more than 10 since Week 15 of 2001 against Minnesota (13½).
"The only way the Panthers beat Green Bay is by the fluke of turnovers-for-touchdowns type stuff," an executive in personnel for a recent Carolina opponent said. "Or special-teams TDs, like blocked punts. I don't know how that defense gets beat by Vinny (Testaverde)."
Testaverde, who turned 44 on Tuesday, essentially is the team's fourth-string quarterback. Jake Delhomme and Brett Basanez are on injured reserve, and top backup David Carr remains iffy after two concussions.
"Once they lost Delhomme, they were in trouble," a defensive coach for a recent Carolina foe said. "David Carr can't get it done. From those early years in Houston, when he had his (expletive) knocked off so many times, he is scared. . . . He just stares at the rush. Vinny came off the couch in three days' time and beat the Cardinals. Vinny probably gives them the best chance."
Testaverde, who is nursing a right Achilles' tendon problem, was blitzed into 46.4% marksmanship Sunday by Atlanta and the Falcons prevailed in Charlotte, 20-13.
"I think the Falcons took the life out of them," another executive said. "They felt they had to win. I don't see them going to (Green Bay) as a wounded dog. I think they're at the vet."
Meanwhile, a defense with solid personnel continues to underachieve, whereas superstar receiver Steve Smith gets more antsy by the week because of inferior quarterbacking.
"It's kind of a head-scratcher why they're not playing well," one scout said. "There's not a lot of teams that wouldn't love to have that kind of talent. They have the talent to be a very good defense. I just see Green Bay beating them by at least a touchdown."
OFFENSE
SCHEME
Coach John Fox fired coordinator Dan Henning in January and hired Jeff Davidson, a Bill Belichick-Charlie Weis disciple. Davidson implemented a new zone-run game that ranks 12th in both yards per game (119.0) and yards per carry (4.2). It's an I-formation attack with little frills. The Panthers are tied for 13th in turnovers (15), 26th in points (16.7) and 28th in yards (291.4).
RECEIVERS
Everything revolves around Steve Smith (5 feet 9 inches, 185 pounds), a touchdown threat whether it's a go route, bubble screen or reverse. He has abnormally long arms, blazing speed, tremendous strength and the ability to make leaping, acrobatic catches. Plus, he'll run right through arm tackles. There's a huge drop-off on the other side to Keary Colbert (6-1, 200) or Drew Carter (6-4, 200). Colbert, who is iffy with a foot injury, is a second-round pick in '04 with marginal speed, hands, elusiveness and courage. Carter, a fifth-round pick the same year, is probably the fastest man on the roster and runs an excellent deep route. However, he's timid inside, drops too many balls and routinely gets redirected by press coverage. Rookie Dwayne Jarrett (6-4, 219), a second-round pick, has been a non-factor. He's lazy, slow to learn and not very fast. TE Jeff King (6-5, 253) has been surprisingly productive (32 catches) as a first-year starter, but has just 4.83-second speed in the 40-yard dash and isn't a strong blocker.
OFFENSIVE LINE
RT Jordan Gross (6-4½, 300), the eighth pick in '03, is smart (40 on the Wonderlic test), athletic, light on his feet and a top-notch starter. RG Jeremy Bridges (6-4, 326), the RT in '06, is inconsistent with his hands and footwork in protection, but plays nasty and generates movement at the point. C Justin Hartwig (6-4, 312), who is playing with a broken right thumb, fares better against quickness than bulk. Hartwig, LG Mike Wahle (6-5½, 304) and LT Travelle Wharton (6-3½, 312) have had their share of bad plays. Wahle, who has started 38 of 41 games since leaving Green Bay in 2005, is a great competitor and a top-notch athlete. At times, however, he will get overpowered. The weak link is Wharton, a third-round pick in '04. He isn't gifted enough to handle speed and isn't real good against power, either.
QUARTERBACKS
Vinny Testaverde (6-4, 235), sixth all time in passing yards, has a 70.0 rating and 1-2 record as the starter. Unlike David Carr (6-3½, 216), he isn't hesitant about throwing downfield, even if Smith is double-covered. Testaverde doesn't have much zip on his ball anymore, but is more than a sitting duck, due to a strict workout regimen. At least he conducts business like a pro. Carr, 28, was given a $3 million signing bonus April 6 after Houston cut him March 23. He's gun-shy. Staring at the rush limits him, basically, to check-downs. His low release results in numerous batted balls. All he can do is run.
RUNNING BACKS
DeShaun Foster (6-0½, 222) is a fluid, high-cut strider with good change of direction and natural receiving skills. But he has fumbled too much ever since his days at UCLA. DeAngelo Williams (5-9, 217), the 27th pick in '06, is a compact, quick player with more home-run potential than Foster. Williams gets only one carry to every three for Foster, but probably creates more worries for defenses. He catches well, makes sharp cuts and runs with good vision. Although neither man would be described as a hard runner, Foster breaks more tackles than Williams. FB Brad Hoover (5-11, 245) will be remembered for his career-best 117-yard outburst against Green Bay as a rookie halfback in 2000. He runs tight routes and can burn linebackers. His blocking is more finesse than punishing.
DEFENSE
SCHEME
Fox, a defensive specialist, is heavily involved in game planning but allows fifth-year coordinator Mike Trgovac to make the calls. The Panthers are more multiple in their fronts and coverages than just about any 4-3 team in the league. After not blitzing much for three weeks, they blitzed Atlanta extensively. They're tied for seventh in takeaways (19), and are 13th in yards allowed (321.7) and points allowed (20.1).
DEFENSIVE LINE
LE Julius Peppers (6-6, 278) looks like Tarzan, but has played like Jane this year. It's inexplicable, really, but Peppers doesn't apply any pressure and he doesn't stack the run. The Falcons ran right at Peppers and his resistance was minimal. With a cap salary of $14.088 million, he's stealing. RE Mike Rucker (6-4½, 275) is just 10½ months removed from reconstructive knee surgery, but has started every game and shows improvement weekly. Rucker, 32, isn't a dynamic rusher anymore but is consistently effective. RDT Kris Jenkins (6-5, 345) has lost some of his Pro Bowl explosiveness because of major injuries. Jenkins is a far better pass rusher than LDT Maake Kemoeatu (6-4½, 350) but isn't what he once was. Kemoeatu, given $8 million in bonuses to leave Baltimore in March 2006, is a short-area run defender only. Their sheer bulk discourages inside running, but neither one is all that stout. Former Ram Damione Lewis (6-2½, 301), the 12th pick in '01, plays on pass downs and might be the team's best rusher. He charges hard and with quickness.
LINEBACKERS
After losing MLB Dan Morgan (Achilles' tendon) in Week 3, rookie WLB Jon Beason (6-0, 237) moved to the middle and Na'il Diggs (6-3½, 240) got his job back. Beason, the 25th pick, has been compared to Nick Barnett and is having a terrific season. Beason is playing faster than he was timed (4.72 seconds over 40 yards). He stays square, attacks the line, slips blocks and hits hard. Diggs, 29, was cut by Green Bay in March 2006. Diggs, who will play with a broken hand for the second straight week, is a serviceable stop-gap. He's a smart finesse player. SLB Thomas Davis (6-1, 231), the 14th pick in '05, uses his 4.51-second speed to outrun his mental shortcomings and mistakes. Davis goes 100%, doesn't shy from the rough stuff and can run with any RB or TE.
SECONDARY
Cornerback is a strength with RC Ken Lucas (6-0, 205), LC Chris Gamble (6-1, 200) and nickel back Richard Marshall (5-11, 189). Lucas, a seven-year starter in Seattle and Carolina with 22 interceptions, has played well recently after some rough games. His confidence is up. Lucas has more speed than Gamble, the 28th pick in '04, but is only marginally better. Gamble isn't fast (4.58) but plays smart and has fine ball skills. Marshall, a second-round pick in '06, is playing the slot for the first time and coming on. He has 4.42-second speed, can cover and will hit. There are issues at safety, where neither SS Chris Harris (6-0½, 205) nor FS Deke Cooper (6-2, 210) have much speed or coverage skill. Harris, obtained Aug. 2 from Chicago for a fifth-round pick, does have a knack for stripping the ball. Cooper, 30, left Sunday with a shoulder injury and is iffy. Without Cooper, the Panthers inserted rookie free agent Quinton Teal (6-1, 187) from Coastal Carolina rather than former Packer Marquand Manuel (6-0, 209). Manuel can't run or tackle. Teal has 4.71-second speed, but will hit.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Left-footed John Kasay, 38, isn't much on kickoffs anymore (ranked 23rd at 62.4 yards) but is accurate and long on field goals. P Jason Baker is middle-of-the-pack. Rookie WR Ryne Robinson, the dual returner, finally showed some promise against Atlanta. After losing three stellar veterans, the revamped cover teams have been subpar.
Dearth of options at QB has Panthers foundering
Posted: Nov. 13, 2007
Green Bay - The Green Bay Packers under Mike McCarthy have proved their mettle as an underdog. Now they get a chance to show as a prohibitive favorite.
On Sunday, the Packers (8-1) and Carolina Panthers (4-5) meet at Lambeau Field. For just the ninth time in McCarthy's 26-game tenure, his team is favored.
The spread is 10 points, the largest for Green Bay since it also was favored by 10 against Denver in the 2003 finale. The Packers haven't been favored by more than 6 points under McCarthy and not by more than 10 since Week 15 of 2001 against Minnesota (13½).
"The only way the Panthers beat Green Bay is by the fluke of turnovers-for-touchdowns type stuff," an executive in personnel for a recent Carolina opponent said. "Or special-teams TDs, like blocked punts. I don't know how that defense gets beat by Vinny (Testaverde)."
Testaverde, who turned 44 on Tuesday, essentially is the team's fourth-string quarterback. Jake Delhomme and Brett Basanez are on injured reserve, and top backup David Carr remains iffy after two concussions.
"Once they lost Delhomme, they were in trouble," a defensive coach for a recent Carolina foe said. "David Carr can't get it done. From those early years in Houston, when he had his (expletive) knocked off so many times, he is scared. . . . He just stares at the rush. Vinny came off the couch in three days' time and beat the Cardinals. Vinny probably gives them the best chance."
Testaverde, who is nursing a right Achilles' tendon problem, was blitzed into 46.4% marksmanship Sunday by Atlanta and the Falcons prevailed in Charlotte, 20-13.
"I think the Falcons took the life out of them," another executive said. "They felt they had to win. I don't see them going to (Green Bay) as a wounded dog. I think they're at the vet."
Meanwhile, a defense with solid personnel continues to underachieve, whereas superstar receiver Steve Smith gets more antsy by the week because of inferior quarterbacking.
"It's kind of a head-scratcher why they're not playing well," one scout said. "There's not a lot of teams that wouldn't love to have that kind of talent. They have the talent to be a very good defense. I just see Green Bay beating them by at least a touchdown."
OFFENSE
SCHEME
Coach John Fox fired coordinator Dan Henning in January and hired Jeff Davidson, a Bill Belichick-Charlie Weis disciple. Davidson implemented a new zone-run game that ranks 12th in both yards per game (119.0) and yards per carry (4.2). It's an I-formation attack with little frills. The Panthers are tied for 13th in turnovers (15), 26th in points (16.7) and 28th in yards (291.4).
RECEIVERS
Everything revolves around Steve Smith (5 feet 9 inches, 185 pounds), a touchdown threat whether it's a go route, bubble screen or reverse. He has abnormally long arms, blazing speed, tremendous strength and the ability to make leaping, acrobatic catches. Plus, he'll run right through arm tackles. There's a huge drop-off on the other side to Keary Colbert (6-1, 200) or Drew Carter (6-4, 200). Colbert, who is iffy with a foot injury, is a second-round pick in '04 with marginal speed, hands, elusiveness and courage. Carter, a fifth-round pick the same year, is probably the fastest man on the roster and runs an excellent deep route. However, he's timid inside, drops too many balls and routinely gets redirected by press coverage. Rookie Dwayne Jarrett (6-4, 219), a second-round pick, has been a non-factor. He's lazy, slow to learn and not very fast. TE Jeff King (6-5, 253) has been surprisingly productive (32 catches) as a first-year starter, but has just 4.83-second speed in the 40-yard dash and isn't a strong blocker.
OFFENSIVE LINE
RT Jordan Gross (6-4½, 300), the eighth pick in '03, is smart (40 on the Wonderlic test), athletic, light on his feet and a top-notch starter. RG Jeremy Bridges (6-4, 326), the RT in '06, is inconsistent with his hands and footwork in protection, but plays nasty and generates movement at the point. C Justin Hartwig (6-4, 312), who is playing with a broken right thumb, fares better against quickness than bulk. Hartwig, LG Mike Wahle (6-5½, 304) and LT Travelle Wharton (6-3½, 312) have had their share of bad plays. Wahle, who has started 38 of 41 games since leaving Green Bay in 2005, is a great competitor and a top-notch athlete. At times, however, he will get overpowered. The weak link is Wharton, a third-round pick in '04. He isn't gifted enough to handle speed and isn't real good against power, either.
QUARTERBACKS
Vinny Testaverde (6-4, 235), sixth all time in passing yards, has a 70.0 rating and 1-2 record as the starter. Unlike David Carr (6-3½, 216), he isn't hesitant about throwing downfield, even if Smith is double-covered. Testaverde doesn't have much zip on his ball anymore, but is more than a sitting duck, due to a strict workout regimen. At least he conducts business like a pro. Carr, 28, was given a $3 million signing bonus April 6 after Houston cut him March 23. He's gun-shy. Staring at the rush limits him, basically, to check-downs. His low release results in numerous batted balls. All he can do is run.
RUNNING BACKS
DeShaun Foster (6-0½, 222) is a fluid, high-cut strider with good change of direction and natural receiving skills. But he has fumbled too much ever since his days at UCLA. DeAngelo Williams (5-9, 217), the 27th pick in '06, is a compact, quick player with more home-run potential than Foster. Williams gets only one carry to every three for Foster, but probably creates more worries for defenses. He catches well, makes sharp cuts and runs with good vision. Although neither man would be described as a hard runner, Foster breaks more tackles than Williams. FB Brad Hoover (5-11, 245) will be remembered for his career-best 117-yard outburst against Green Bay as a rookie halfback in 2000. He runs tight routes and can burn linebackers. His blocking is more finesse than punishing.
DEFENSE
SCHEME
Fox, a defensive specialist, is heavily involved in game planning but allows fifth-year coordinator Mike Trgovac to make the calls. The Panthers are more multiple in their fronts and coverages than just about any 4-3 team in the league. After not blitzing much for three weeks, they blitzed Atlanta extensively. They're tied for seventh in takeaways (19), and are 13th in yards allowed (321.7) and points allowed (20.1).
DEFENSIVE LINE
LE Julius Peppers (6-6, 278) looks like Tarzan, but has played like Jane this year. It's inexplicable, really, but Peppers doesn't apply any pressure and he doesn't stack the run. The Falcons ran right at Peppers and his resistance was minimal. With a cap salary of $14.088 million, he's stealing. RE Mike Rucker (6-4½, 275) is just 10½ months removed from reconstructive knee surgery, but has started every game and shows improvement weekly. Rucker, 32, isn't a dynamic rusher anymore but is consistently effective. RDT Kris Jenkins (6-5, 345) has lost some of his Pro Bowl explosiveness because of major injuries. Jenkins is a far better pass rusher than LDT Maake Kemoeatu (6-4½, 350) but isn't what he once was. Kemoeatu, given $8 million in bonuses to leave Baltimore in March 2006, is a short-area run defender only. Their sheer bulk discourages inside running, but neither one is all that stout. Former Ram Damione Lewis (6-2½, 301), the 12th pick in '01, plays on pass downs and might be the team's best rusher. He charges hard and with quickness.
LINEBACKERS
After losing MLB Dan Morgan (Achilles' tendon) in Week 3, rookie WLB Jon Beason (6-0, 237) moved to the middle and Na'il Diggs (6-3½, 240) got his job back. Beason, the 25th pick, has been compared to Nick Barnett and is having a terrific season. Beason is playing faster than he was timed (4.72 seconds over 40 yards). He stays square, attacks the line, slips blocks and hits hard. Diggs, 29, was cut by Green Bay in March 2006. Diggs, who will play with a broken hand for the second straight week, is a serviceable stop-gap. He's a smart finesse player. SLB Thomas Davis (6-1, 231), the 14th pick in '05, uses his 4.51-second speed to outrun his mental shortcomings and mistakes. Davis goes 100%, doesn't shy from the rough stuff and can run with any RB or TE.
SECONDARY
Cornerback is a strength with RC Ken Lucas (6-0, 205), LC Chris Gamble (6-1, 200) and nickel back Richard Marshall (5-11, 189). Lucas, a seven-year starter in Seattle and Carolina with 22 interceptions, has played well recently after some rough games. His confidence is up. Lucas has more speed than Gamble, the 28th pick in '04, but is only marginally better. Gamble isn't fast (4.58) but plays smart and has fine ball skills. Marshall, a second-round pick in '06, is playing the slot for the first time and coming on. He has 4.42-second speed, can cover and will hit. There are issues at safety, where neither SS Chris Harris (6-0½, 205) nor FS Deke Cooper (6-2, 210) have much speed or coverage skill. Harris, obtained Aug. 2 from Chicago for a fifth-round pick, does have a knack for stripping the ball. Cooper, 30, left Sunday with a shoulder injury and is iffy. Without Cooper, the Panthers inserted rookie free agent Quinton Teal (6-1, 187) from Coastal Carolina rather than former Packer Marquand Manuel (6-0, 209). Manuel can't run or tackle. Teal has 4.71-second speed, but will hit.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Left-footed John Kasay, 38, isn't much on kickoffs anymore (ranked 23rd at 62.4 yards) but is accurate and long on field goals. P Jason Baker is middle-of-the-pack. Rookie WR Ryne Robinson, the dual returner, finally showed some promise against Atlanta. After losing three stellar veterans, the revamped cover teams have been subpar.