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Packers Team Report
4/21/2006
By Tom Silverstein
Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
Though his role for next season remains totally up in the air, quarterback Aaron Rodgers is preparing to be the starter in offseason workouts. Rodgers is the main focus in coach Mike McCarthy's quarterbacks school and is receiving complete attention from McCarthy and quarterbacks coach Tom Clements. The goal is to clean up Rodgers' fundamentals and get him in tune with the different style offense McCarthy plans on installing. During the workout sessions and in minicamps, McCarthy wants to get a feel for what Rodgers can do outside of the pocket; Rogers will be tested on rollouts and scrambles. He was mostly a pocket passer in college. . . .
The decision to part ways with wide receiver Terrence Murphy was a tough one. The 2005 second-round pick was one of the most promising players from that draft class and was probably going to be among the top three receivers on the team this year. But doctors discovered he had a narrow spinal column and the club decided it was too risky to put him on the field. Murphy still wants to play and might seek a job with another team. The club signed free agents Rod Gardner and Marc Boerigter, but neither has the long-term potential of Murphy. Considering the lack of depth at the receiver position in the draft, the club's only hope is to grab a sleeper in the later rounds and hope that NFL Europe receiver Chad Lucas can take a big step. . .
Linebacker remains a position in flux. The club is trying to sign free agent LaVar Arrington but knows it's not a sure thing and continues to consider more modest options such as Saleem Rasheed and Barrett Green. All of the linebackers the club is considering are fast, weakside types who can chase sideline-to-sideline. The club doesn't necessarily need a physical giant such as Arrington to succeed in that scheme, but it does need speed. The linebackers have to be able to string running plays out as well as explode through gaps. . .
Rumors continue to swirl about the possibility of the club trading disgruntled wide receiver Javon Walker, but unless G.M. Ted Thompson gets close to a first-round pick it's unlikely he'll deal him. The club doesn't want to set the precedent of letting unhappy players force their way out, but should a team make an offer he can't refuse, Thompson might pull the trigger. The problem is that Walker is coming off a torn ACL and only has one year left on his deal. An interested team would have to give up compensation and reward him with a hefty contract, all without knowing for sure about his playing status. Still, most personnel officials think Walker will recover and be a Pro Bowl-type player again.
SCOUTING REPORT: Free-agent safety Marquand Manuel was signed to be the quarterback of the secondary. Manuel is more of an in-the-box player than he is a center fielder, and the club will have to make concessions for his lack of speed. But what Manuel lacks in cover ability he'll try to make up for in brains and leadership, which is something the club desperately needs in its secondary. Manuel will be able to position players where they need to be and make quick decisions on coverage changes. He should add to the team's run defense because of his ability to play near the line of scrimmage.
STOCK RISING: The club feels good enough about nose tackle Colin Cole that it doesn't feel a need to re-sign Grady Jackson. Cole slowly has moved up the ladder and will share time with free agent Ryan Pickett in the middle of the defense. Cole is a fireplug who can hold the point on a fairly consistent basis. He won't blow up double-teams or consistently put pressure on the quarterback, but he knows how to use leverage to his advantage and won't make a lot of mental errors. He needs to shed blockers and find the ball more consistently.
4/21/2006
By Tom Silverstein
Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
Though his role for next season remains totally up in the air, quarterback Aaron Rodgers is preparing to be the starter in offseason workouts. Rodgers is the main focus in coach Mike McCarthy's quarterbacks school and is receiving complete attention from McCarthy and quarterbacks coach Tom Clements. The goal is to clean up Rodgers' fundamentals and get him in tune with the different style offense McCarthy plans on installing. During the workout sessions and in minicamps, McCarthy wants to get a feel for what Rodgers can do outside of the pocket; Rogers will be tested on rollouts and scrambles. He was mostly a pocket passer in college. . . .
The decision to part ways with wide receiver Terrence Murphy was a tough one. The 2005 second-round pick was one of the most promising players from that draft class and was probably going to be among the top three receivers on the team this year. But doctors discovered he had a narrow spinal column and the club decided it was too risky to put him on the field. Murphy still wants to play and might seek a job with another team. The club signed free agents Rod Gardner and Marc Boerigter, but neither has the long-term potential of Murphy. Considering the lack of depth at the receiver position in the draft, the club's only hope is to grab a sleeper in the later rounds and hope that NFL Europe receiver Chad Lucas can take a big step. . .
Linebacker remains a position in flux. The club is trying to sign free agent LaVar Arrington but knows it's not a sure thing and continues to consider more modest options such as Saleem Rasheed and Barrett Green. All of the linebackers the club is considering are fast, weakside types who can chase sideline-to-sideline. The club doesn't necessarily need a physical giant such as Arrington to succeed in that scheme, but it does need speed. The linebackers have to be able to string running plays out as well as explode through gaps. . .
Rumors continue to swirl about the possibility of the club trading disgruntled wide receiver Javon Walker, but unless G.M. Ted Thompson gets close to a first-round pick it's unlikely he'll deal him. The club doesn't want to set the precedent of letting unhappy players force their way out, but should a team make an offer he can't refuse, Thompson might pull the trigger. The problem is that Walker is coming off a torn ACL and only has one year left on his deal. An interested team would have to give up compensation and reward him with a hefty contract, all without knowing for sure about his playing status. Still, most personnel officials think Walker will recover and be a Pro Bowl-type player again.
SCOUTING REPORT: Free-agent safety Marquand Manuel was signed to be the quarterback of the secondary. Manuel is more of an in-the-box player than he is a center fielder, and the club will have to make concessions for his lack of speed. But what Manuel lacks in cover ability he'll try to make up for in brains and leadership, which is something the club desperately needs in its secondary. Manuel will be able to position players where they need to be and make quick decisions on coverage changes. He should add to the team's run defense because of his ability to play near the line of scrimmage.
STOCK RISING: The club feels good enough about nose tackle Colin Cole that it doesn't feel a need to re-sign Grady Jackson. Cole slowly has moved up the ladder and will share time with free agent Ryan Pickett in the middle of the defense. Cole is a fireplug who can hold the point on a fairly consistent basis. He won't blow up double-teams or consistently put pressure on the quarterback, but he knows how to use leverage to his advantage and won't make a lot of mental errors. He needs to shed blockers and find the ball more consistently.
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