TRAINING CAMP PREVIEWS, BATTLES & UPDATES

[TopHat]

SLEEPERS

http://packers.scout.com/2/656246.html

Sleeper or longshot? Larry Birdine

When the Packers enter training camp later this month, a few undrafted free agents, usually longshots to land a roster spot, will have a good chance of making the team. PackerReport.com's Todd Korth takes a look at one of those longshots - defensive end Larry Birdine - who has a decent chance of earning a job. Larry Birdine is not exactly a household name for football fans outside of Oklahoma. But the defensive end, signed as an undrafted free agent by the Green Bay Packers in May, has a good chance to make a name for himself in the National Football League when training camp begins in late July. At 6-foot-4, 265 pounds, Birdine has ideal size to play either strong- or weak-side defensive end in the NFL. After missing most of the 2005 season with a torn left biceps, Birdine started 13 games for the Sooners at strong-side defensive end where he earned All-Big 12 Conference first-team honors. Birdine had 39 tackles (17 solos), three sacks and 7.5 stops for losses. He also picked off a pass, deflected seven others and recovered two fumbles.

The Packers often inserted Birdine at the strong-side position during the team’s off-season mini-camps and Organized Team Activities practices. Aaron Kampman is the starter at the strong-side position and is backed up by Michael Montgomery, who finished last season on the team’s injured reserve list with hamstring and knee injuries. Green Bay’s top pass-rushing ends include Cullen Jenkins and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila. Kampman, Jenkins and Gbaja-Biamila are locks to make the team, but Montgomery, an inch taller and the same weight as Birdine, will have to continue to show flashes of his play-making ability in order to serve at the fourth defensive end. He also has to show that he has overcome his injuries from last season. If he doesn’t, and Birdine shows flashes of his play-making potential, he’ll have a good chance to make the 53-man roster.

It will be close call between Montgomery and Birdine, and an interesting battle to watch in camp. The knock on Birdine is his work ethic, according to some draft analysts. If he can shed that label by working hard in the weight room and practices with the Packers, he will increase his chances of making the team. For a guy whose half-brother is linebacker Jason Gildon, chances are he knows what it takes to earn a job in the NFL. Birdine’s biceps injury in ’05 likely affected his draft status as well. Birdine is a longshot to make the team, but a sleeper who could eventually surface as a future starter in the same fashion as Jenkins.

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http://www.acmepackingcompany.com/story/2007/7/3/012/48260

Larry Birdine is Making Friends

Last week, PackersNews.com reported that in a poll asking which undrafted free agent was most likely to make the team, a majority picked DE Larry Birdine. Birdine got some press last week when he questioned DT Justin Harrell's recovery time from a torn labrum. Otherwise he is a defensive end who had trouble staying healthy during his last two seasons at Oklahoma, which would not recommend him to making the team. However, Birdine is a pretty good choice, along with DE DeVon Hicks because the Packers should keep four defensive ends and incumbent backup DE Mike Montgomery hasn't shown much on the field the last two seasons.

[TopHat]

SLEEPER 2 & HARRELL ET AL STARTING BETS?

http://story.scout.com/a.z?s=61&p=2&c=656472

Scout NFL Roundtable: Sleeper Picks

Who is the "sleeper" on your roster who will surprise fans in 2007? That's the question we asked our NFL team experts here at Scout.com. Find out who they picked that you should keep an eye on this year. Then go talk about it in your favorite team's fan forum!

Todd Korth, PackerReport.com Green Bay Packers

Running back Brandon Jackson was selected in the second round of the NFL draft out of Nebraska by the Packers. While Jackson is expected to begin the season behind third-year pro Vernand Morency, look for him to be starting near the end of the season. Jackson has better speed and burst than Morency in Green Bay's zone-blocking scheme
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Justin Harrell or Bust

Rob Demovsky took a look at the rookies who have a chance to start in 2007. This is probably the biggest difference entering 2007 versus the 2006. Last season, it was obvious that the Packers were going to start rookies at key positions. The 2005 veteran free agents on the offensive line bombed, and two starters, G Will Whitticker and Grey Ruegamer, were not going to be with the team anymore. The Packers had spent two high draft choices on Gs Daryn Colledge and Jason Spitz, and the jobs were theirs to lose. Also, veteran LBs Na'il Diggs and Paris Lenon were allowed to leave in free agency, and there was never an indication that LB A.J. Hawk wouldn't start.
In 2007, only rookie DT Justin Harrell has a legitimate shot at starting. Actually for him, it shouldn't be whether he starts, but whether he plays more snaps than DT Corey Williams. Harrell has some passing rushing skills, but it might be enough for him to stay on the field on 3rd downs when the pass rush would be better with Kampman, Williams, Jenkins, and Gbaja-Biamila on at the same time. The next best bet is RB Brandon Jackson, but he never started a full season in college and the Packers have to be reluctant to start him from week 1 and expect him to make through until the end of the season. He probably will be the starter at the end of the season, but not at the beginning. It would be a shock if WR James Jones managed to build off his only solid college season last year to overtake WR Greg Jennings, and he probably has little chance to overtake WR Ruvell Martin either. There might be a rookie starting at fullback, but which one of the four rookies has the best shot over the other ones is pure speculation for us at this point. Arguably K Mason Crosby has the best shot at starting as a rookie, but that's not the same as a rookie who has to learn the offense or defense.

NOTE: APC IS A LITTLE OFF. WFFL.COM REPORTS JJ WILL GET SERIOUS LOOK AT 3RD RECEIVER & PACKERSNEWS SAYS JH WILL GET ROTATION ROLE WITH DTS. ACTUALLY, ALL FAS ROOKIES WILL GET SERIOUS CHANCES IN TRAINING CAMP, ESPECIALLY FOR SPECIAL TEAMS, INCLUDING SLEEPERS. HALL WILL PROBABLY RETURN TO LB.

[GBRulz]

Re: JW

Unless your name is Javon Walker

But that's because "he's a soldier"! [/quote]

HAHAHAHA !

[Harlan Huckleby]

I can't remember EVER the Packers starting a season with such an untested crew of offensive backs. Thompson will look like a genius if they have a decent running game.

[The Leaper]

Re: COMPLETE COVERAGE: PROJECTED DEPTH CHART/ROSTER BATTLES

David Clowney-Although David Clowney is a project I think he will make the team. He will be the kick and punt returner and I think he will be a very good one since he is so fast. After 2 or 3 years I think Clowney could be a good number 2 or number 3 receiver.

I don't really see any way that this kid makes the final roster in 2007. I think anyone who claims he will simply does not recognize how raw he is as a receiver. Sure, he fast as blazes...but so was Driver, who took awhile to come into his own despite having more experience coming out of college.

Clowney is 2-3 years away from making any real impact on this team. He's not going to make the roster merely as a returner considering the lack of experienced depth we have ar WR behind Driver and Jennings.

[TopHat]

SECONDARY ROSTER BATTLES

http://www.packerchatters.com/op-ed/view.php?id=2448

Great Training Camp Battles Loom in the Packers’ Defensive Secondary

Three of the four starting positions in the Green Bay Packers’ secondary are locked down by veterans Harris, Woodson and Collins. And yes, short of injury all three will hold onto their jobs as starters. However, after those three locks to start, the competition should be wild and intense for the 4th starting spot and the two to three positions open in the nickel and dime packages that have become essential mainstay in today’s NFL defensive arsenals. For the moment Marquand Manuel is still penciled in as the starting strong safety, but after his dismal play last season, the young guys Atari Bigby, Tyrone Culver, Marviel Underwood, Aaron Rouse, and Charlie Peprah, all of whom have more physical talent than Manuel, are gunning for his spot. I am sure most of you will be surprised to learn that at the moment they are lined up just as I listed them above.

Atari Bigby has worked like a mad man throughout the off-season and turned coach’s heads in the mini-camps and OTA’s. This tough 5-11 and 210 lb Jamaican born safety has the speed to run side line to side line and is physically toughness to battle TE’s, blowup receivers and provide solid support for the run defense. This work has Atari running slightly ahead of last year’s rookie surprise Tyrone Culver Like last season, the 6-1 and 200 lb Culver used his head and instincts to get the every bit out of his athletic ability. Tyrone is a solid tackler, contains well in the open field and secures the ball carrier with solid wrap-up and tackling technique. Tyrone continues to be a film room freak and will not be caught under prepared in this sure to be intense playing time and roster spot battle.

Marviel Underwood was positioned to make his move last season in training camp when he shredded his knee in the first preseason game. When healthy this 5-10 200 lb youngster packs a wallop and has above average speed and quickness for a safety. I know some of you want to pencil him in as the starter; however Underwood’s freak injury will test his ability to overcome adversity and result in him entering the competition stiff and full of rust. Add to that this young man does not have years of experience to fall back on and you begin to see the substantial hurdles Marviel will have to overcome to emerge victorious in this cage match competition. Of course any discussion on the Safety position needs to factor in 3rd round draft pick Aaron Rouse, a 6-4 220 lb intriguing prospect from Virginia Tech. Aaron had a monster junior season, but struggled greatly in his senior season. Part of this could be attributable to the fact that he never settled into a single position at Virginia Tech (Rouse began as an outside linebacker at Virginia Tech but eventually shifted to safety) and partly because he played with a broken hand. His physical tools make him an exceptionally prospect with some pretty impressive raw measurable's - like being 6-4 220 and running a 4.37 40.

However, he will be competing in the big leagues and cannot afford to stumble like he did as a senior at VT. For many reasons I don't think Aaron has will be in the competition for serious playing time, but he should cash in on some very good physical tools and upside potential to make the team. If he is a quick learner he may have an opportunity to be a monster contributor on special teams as he uses his rookie season to learn the craft of playing safety in the NFL. Two long shots hoping for injury opportunities opening roster spots for them include Charlie Peprah and Alvin NNabuife. Charlie played in a big time program and Alvin is a sleeper who played in NFLE.

I would be remiss if I did not point out, while I have been down on Manuel from the moment the rumors of Thompson’s interest began, he is a veteran player who has survived to craft a NFL career and will not lie down without a fight. He will have to really turn up his game to hold off the young hungry pack gnawing at his heals and ready to pounce at even the slightest stumble. While the competition at Safety will draw a great deal of ink and much of the attention, the competition does not stop there. While there are only 4 starting positions, modern NFL defensive backfields frequently man the field with 2 to 3 more DB’s in their nickel and dime packages

Frank Walker is an aggressive, 25 year old, hard-hitting cornerback whose playing ability and experience should make him an ideal candidate for the nickel and dime job. Walker is a pretty straight-laced, "breath-sleep-and-eat" football guy who should thrive in a town like Green Bay. He is blessed with a true CB mentality, a short memory on the field (when plays don't go as planned) and loads of confidence, both are essential ingredients for success at CB in the NFL. Remember, Walker has started in this league, and as a 25 year old with 4 years experience, Frank still has plenty of upside to build on to that experience. Walker's got good speed (running in the low 4.4’s for the Packer workout) and he is fluid, with good burst and the flexible hips that are so essential for playing CB in the NFL. He is a strong tackler, which is always nice for nickel and dime packages, as is his superior ball awareness - especially playing zone defense. Areas of growth include: getting better at jamming receivers in press coverage and staying away from taking penalties of over-aggression. He has been relatively healthy, but did have some hamstring issues last season.

Of course Walker will have to compete with Will Blackmon, Jarrett Bush and Patrick Dendy for playing time at the CB position. Dendy is the one who grabbed the job of nickel back after Ahmad Carroll was released in week 5 or the '06 season and hopes to parlay that experience with hard work over the off season to hold the nickel job and first CB off the bench. Patrick Dendy, at 6' 190 lbs has the right mental makeup to play the corner and his 3 interceptions were impressive and timely, After suffering through watching Carroll’s flagatitus, even the casual observer had to be impressed by the fact that Dendy handled the top nickel job while only drawing one penalty all season long. Equally important to the defense was the fact that his teammates could count on him to be where he was supposed to be - Dendy studies hard and plays assignment sure for a young undrafted free agent corner.

Jarrett Bush 6 foot 200 lbs, on the other hand, is loaded with athletic ability, with a great size to speed ratio, who rarely got on the field as a defender last season as a free-agent rookie pickup. Last season Jarrett did provide the team with the Kamikaze special team player that most teams covet, and where he delivered big hits and impressive hustle as a gunner on the punt team. He also was a fixture on the kick-off coverage team. If the coaching staff can work with this kid on developing his ability as a corner, he might surprise some folks and leap-frog into the nickel position in 2007. He certainly has the size and strength and athletic ability to do the job, if he can just get it down between the ears, he should make a great press CB. He stood out at mini-camp and OTA’s with his marked improvement

Of course the biggest hopes at this position lie with the 6 foot 202 pound, Will Blackmon. Will watched his rookie season implode due to injuries right out of the gate - he broke his foot in mini-camp and as soon as he healed he fractured his ribs and ended up on the IR for the season. While there is no questioning Will Blackmon's athletic ability, there certainly are questions about his development. Blackmon was outstanding as a DB, but never settled into the position long enough to gather significant experience or learn the more subtle aspects of playing CB due to shifting to wide receiver to benefit his team in college. IF he can stay healthy, he has the athletic ability to not only grab the top spot off the bench, but to eventually be a talented starter in this league. Ah, but there is that BIG IF again. Like I said in the title of this piece “Great Training Camp Battles Loom in the Packers’ Defensive Secondary…” So pull up a chair, fasten your seatbelts and let the games begin – this should be fun to watch.

[deake]

It would be interesting to look at last years comments on the rookies and compare them to this set. Does anyone have them or a way to access?

[HarveyWallbangers]

Re: COMPLETE COVERAGE: PROJECTED DEPTH CHART/ROSTER BATTLES

I don't really see any way that this kid makes the final roster in 2007. I think anyone who claims he will simply does not recognize how raw he is as a receiver. Sure, he fast as blazes...but so was Driver, who took awhile to come into his own despite having more experience coming out of college.

Clowney is 2-3 years away from making any real impact on this team. He's not going to make the roster merely as a returner considering the lack of experienced depth we have ar WR behind Driver and Jennings.

I wouldn't say that he has little chance of making the final roster, but I agree with your sentiment. I don't expect much from him this year. Clowney played 3 years at Virginia Tech--while Driver played at Alcorn State, so I wouldn't say that Driver had more experience. One more year, but against low level competition.

[TopHat]

ROSTER PREVIEW: OL

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=630927

Line hopes to stay on the right path. Unit's youngsters think growing pains in past

Back in 2000, the Green Bay Packers threw rookie tackles Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher on the field. The following year, center Mike Flanagan and guard Mike Wahle became full-time starters for the first time, as well. And by 2003, that youthful group along with guard Marco Rivera rivaled Kansas City as the NFL's best offensive line. Green Bay's line of today has light years to travel before coming close to the group assembled earlier this decade. But the blueprint for success is definitely the same. A year ago, rookies Daryn Colledge, Jason Spitz and Tony Moll all started at least 10 games. Scott Wells also became the starter at center for the first time. While the group - which includes holdovers Clifton and Tauscher - had its share of growing pains last season, it also showed great promise. Now, with everyone back in 2007, the Packers expect their line to continue growing into a strength. "They should because they're more experienced," Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin said. "Everybody's been here, they know the system better. They didn't know squat about the NFL a year ago. They should take some strides, absolutely." If Green Bay's offense is going to improve, the line has to step up. A year ago, Packers head coach Mike McCarthy tried protecting the group by keeping seven blockers in on several passing downs. While that helped the Packers rank No. 3 in percentage of sacks allowed, it also meant they were often sending out just two receivers which limited the passing attack.

Things figure to be different this time around. McCarthy would like to employ far more three- and four-receiver sets, meaning the line won't be getting nearly as much help. "That seems to kind of be the plan," Spitz said. "And that's just fine. As we get more comfortable and experienced, we shouldn't need the same amount of help we had last year." The Packers' offense was a far cry from those that dominated through much of the 1990s and earlier this decade. But considering the line was cutting its teeth, things could have been worse. Green Bay ranked 23rd in rushing yards per game. But that was due largely to the fact the Packers ran the ball just 39.7% of the time. Green Bay was eighth in passing yards per game, but a far less impressive 17th in average gain per pass play. The Packers did virtually nothing to improve their skill positions this off-season, so if improvement is going to come on the offense, the line will be a major reason why. "I'm very encouraged," McCarthy said. "I spend a lot of time with those line coaches. They're the guys that are always there at night when you're leaving. When we first got together in February (of 2006), there were a lot of holes on that depth chart. "In just a short time, it's a credit to (general manager) Ted Thompson, the personnel staff and the coaches and their evaluation on the number of young guys we've taken and the quality of young players we have there. I think we have a very, very bright future starting this year with the offensive line." The greatest reason for optimism remains Clifton and Tauscher. Although both are entering their eighth seasons and are each on the wrong side of 30, they continue to form one of the top tackle tandems in football. Clifton has battled creaky knees the past few seasons, yet continues to be one of the best pass-blocking left tackles in football. Clifton gave up two sacks in 2006, just below his seven-year average of 2.14. Clifton isn't a natural in Green Bay's cut-blocking run game. But he improved as the 2006 season went on as he became more comfortable with the scheme.

Tauscher showed just how tough he is last season when he suffered a torn groin in Game 9 that would have ended the year of most players. Tauscher missed the next five games, but refused to shut it down and returned for the final two games of the season. Tauscher is bright, has tremendous feet and is an underrated athlete who took well to the new blocking scheme. Tauscher's contract expires after the 2008 season, so this year could go a long way in deciding his future in Green Bay. "Just having those two bookends is such a fantastic starting point," said Philbin, who was Green Bay's offensive line coach in 2006. "There aren't many guys that pass block any better than Chad does. And Mark does everything pretty well. Those two are just as steady as they come." The key for Green Bay is to have the interior of its line rise to a similar level. Wells looks like the runt of a litter when lumped with the rest of the linemen. But he plays with the bite of a Doberman. Wells, a former wrestling standout, overcomes his lack of size with great strength and tremendous leverage. He earned himself a five-year, $15 million contract last November and figures to anchor Green Bay's line for years to come. The Packers also seem set at guard with Colledge on the left side and Spitz on the right. Both showed great promise during rookie seasons that were filled with as many ups as downs. Colledge lost his starting job after the first exhibition game when San Diego terrorized him. But he came back strong, reclaimed his job and was named to the all-NFL rookie team after starting 15 games. Colledge is as athletically gifted as any lineman you'll find, has Pro Bowl ability and is the ideal fit for Green Bay's zone-blocking system. Colledge's feet are so good that he would slide over to left tackle if Clifton went down, something he did at Miami a year ago. Philbin said Colledge met his off-season goal of improving his upper-body strength. Now, he'll embark on playing with greater consistency and beefing up his efforts in the run game. Strength isn't an issue for Spitz, who plays with tremendous toughness and doesn't back down from anyone. Spitz struggles in space and needs to improve his flexibility, though. Spitz's best long-term position could wind up being center. But for now, he's just what the Packers need at guard. "They look a little bit thicker and they're still moving as well if not a little better," Philbin said of Colledge and Spitz. "Maybe they're increasing their mass a little bit, they're not that much different looking guys than they were a year ago. But I think they're making solid progress."

The wild card in the whole picture is Moll, who was Green Bay's version of a Super Sub in 2006. Moll started five games at both right guard and right tackle when injuries hit, and surprisingly held his own. Moll's technique was shaky last season and he needed to get much stronger. But he's a fighter who doesn't carry bad plays with him. Moll dropped his body fat from 30% to 20% this off-season and has hopes of making a run at a starting spot. That could be tough, though, as the Packers say they'll leave him at primarily right tackle for now. "The coaches have stressed to me that things definitely aren't set," Moll said about the prospect of starting. "To me it's not really a big deal and I'm not really worried about that right now. I'm getting reps in with first-team, second team and third team, and it's not something I'm really focused on right now." After Moll, the depth is largely unproven.

Third-year man Junius Coston is likely facing a make-or-break training camp. Coston has seen the field in just three of 32 games, and all of those appearances have been extremely brief. Coston is one of the team's most athletic linemen, but seems to lack passion. He has alternated between guard and tackle his first two years, and will likely need to shine at one of those spots in training camp to stick around. "He's a very young man. He's younger than the rookie class last year," McCarthy said of Coston. "When I look at 'Juice' I just see a guy that's getting better. He's once again done a great job in the weight room. Just the techniques, it's a different run game than what they were asked to do here two years ago. So I think he's really improving." Rookie fourth-rounder Allen Barbre played mostly left tackle at Division II Missouri Southern, but will begin at guard in Green Bay. Barbre starred at the NFL combine in February, but still has to show he can consistently hold his own against top-flight competition. Second year wide body Tony Palmer played in six games a year ago, primarily on special teams. The Packers love Palmer's competitiveness, and unless he falls on his face in camp, he stands a decent chance of making the team as a reserve guard. Massive tackle Orrin Thompson was signed to Green Bay's practice squad last November. He had some impressive moments this spring, and has a chance to stick around depending on the number of linemen the Packers keep.

Sixth-year man Tyson Walter was signed last November after Tauscher went down. He offers flexibility by playing both tackle and guard, but has limited upside and could lose out to a younger player. Guards Travis Leffew, Pat Murray and Adam Stenavich are all extreme long shots, although Philbin said Leffew has shown as much improvement as anyone on the roster this off-season. "I think we're all pretty optimistic," Moll said. "Last year was a learning year in a lot of ways. This year, hopefully we can take a big step and the line can become a real strength here."

[TopHat]

ROSTER QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

http://www.packers.com/news/stories/2007/07/11/1/

Think You Know The Packers' Roster?

Between now and Sept. 1, the Green Bay Packers' 2007 roster will take shape, and when it's finalized with 53 names, it will certainly look different than it does now with 87 players. But one of the interesting aspects of the large, training camp roster is seeing how many different schools, conferences and levels of college football the players come from.

For the record, of the 87 players on the current active roster (not including newcomer Carl-Johan Bjork, who has been designated for the practice squad), 69 come from Division I-A college football programs, seven from Division I-AA schools, eight from Division II teams, and three from other programs, according to all current NCAA alignments. How well do you know the makeup of the Green Bay roster as it relates to the current college football landscape? Here are 10 trivia questions, some more difficult than others, to test your knowledge. Remember, this encompasses all 87 players coming to training camp, including those who returned from NFL Europa and did not participate in the spring mini-camps or OTAs. The answers are posted below the list of questions.

Questions

1. About those "three from other programs," the Packers have one player from a non-U.S. college, one from an NAIA program, and one from a two-year school. Who are they?

2. Of the 11 Division I-A conferences, the Packers have just one player from the Sun Belt Conference. Who is it?

3. The Packers have a team-high three players from five different schools. Which ones?

4. From which conference do the Packers have the most players?

5. Which conference has the most schools represented on the Packers' roster?

6. Of the NCAA's six BCS conferences, which is the least represented?

7. The Packers have just three players from the Mountain West Conference, but two are from the same school. Who are they?

8. Of the team's seven Division I-AA players, five come from just two of the 14 I-AA leagues. Which two?

9. Of the eight Division II players, two are from the same school. Where?

10. Also in Division II, strangely enough, the two players from the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) play the same position, and the two players from the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) also play the same position. Which positions?

************************************************** **********************

Answers
1. Punter Jon Ryan is from the University of Regina in Saskatchewan, Canada; TE Zac Alcorn is from the NAIA's Black Hills State in South Dakota; and DE DeVon Hicks is from Northwest Mississippi Community College.

2. DT Corey Williams, from Arkansas State.

3. Ohio State (DT Ryan Pickett, LB A.J. Hawk and G Tyson Walter), Iowa (DE Aaron Kampman, DT Colin Cole and LB Abdul Hodge), Texas A&M (WR Robert Ferguson, DT Johnny Jolly and DE Michael Montgomery), California (QB Aaron Rodgers, P David Lonie and LB Desmond Bishop), and Tennessee (C Scott Wells, T Chad Clifton and DT Justin Harrell).

4. The Big Ten, with 11. Six are from Ohio State and Iowa (see answer No. 3), two are from Michigan (CB Charles Woodson and G Adam Stenavich), and there's one each from Michigan State (K Dave Rayner), Northwestern (RB Noah Herron) and Wisconsin (T Mark Tauscher).

5. Surprisingly perhaps, it's Conference USA, with seven schools - Southern Mississippi (QB Brett Favre), Central Florida (S Atari Bigby), Rice (CB Patrick Dendy), Alabama-Birmingham (FB Corey White), Southern Methodist (S Alvin Nnabuife), Memphis (LB Tim Goodwell), and Texas-El Paso (WR Chris Francies). There are six schools represented from the Big 10, Big 12 and Western Athletic conferences.

6. The Big East, with three schools and four players - Pittsburgh (FB Brandon Miree), Rutgers (TE Clark Harris) and Louisville (G Jason Spitz and G Travis Leffew).

7. DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila and S Marviel Underwood are both from San Diego State. The team's other Mountain West player is LB Brady Poppinga from BYU.

8. The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference or MEAC (S Nick Collins of Bethune-Cookman, T Junius Coston of North Carolina A&T, and LB Tracy White of Howard) and the Southern Conference (QB Ingle Martin of Furman and DE Jason Hunter of Appalachian State).

9. Tuskegee (CB Frank Walker and WR Calvin Russell).

10. Offensive linemen Allen Barbre of Missouri Southern State and Pat Murray of Truman State are from the MIAA; Wide receivers Ruvell Martin of Saginaw Valley State and Carlton Brewster of Ferris State are from the GLIAC.

[TopHat]

GOOD PLACE TO START

It would be interesting to look at last years comments on the rookies and compare them to this set. Does anyone have them or a way to access?

http://www.jsonline.com/index/index.aspx?id=84

GENERALLY, AS AVERAGES GO, THE 2006 DRAFT IS GRADED B+ WITH 4+ STARTERS. THE 2007 DRAFT, ALTHOUGH WAY TOO EARLY, IS GRADED B- TO C. PACKERS' FANS HAVE STRONG DIVERSE OPINIONS ABOUT IT ACROSS THE SPECTRUM, BUT THERE IT IS.

[TopHat]

traing camp preview

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2007-07-15-nfc-north-preview_N.htm?csp=34

GREEN BAY PACKERS

1. Who's going to fill Ahman Green's cleats?


The Packers ranked 23rd in rushing last season, and they don't have an experienced candidate on the roster to make up for the free-agent departure of workhorse featured back Green to Houston. Indications in the offseason were that a back-by-committee approach will be in the offing, at least at the start of the season. Vernand Morency, in his third pro season, is the top incumbent and averaged 4.6 yards per carry when he occasionally spelled Green last season. Questions abound, however, on whether Morency, who isn't in Green's league as a punishing back, can carry a full load. As such, rookie Brandon Jackson stands a good chance of platooning with Morency. The second-round draftee, not unlike Morency, is quick and shifty but also lacks the credentials of being a full-time guy when he was at Nebraska.

2. The end zone isn't that far out of reach

Until the cloudy situation at running back is resolved, it will be incumbent on the offense to reverse its immunization of punching the football in the end zone from within 20 yards. The Packers ranked last in the NFC and 31st in the league last season with a red-zone touchdown efficiency of 32.7%. Brett Favre was done no favors by a mostly inexperienced receiving group and a bevy of dropped passes. The upgrades Favre wanted in the offseason (namely Randy Moss) didn't materialize. So, the "X" factors in any improvement being made from 2006 are a healthy Greg Jennings, Bubba Franks' remembering how to catch before breaking the goal line and possibly regaining the services of Koren Robinson early in the season after he finishes serving a one-year suspension.

3. Finding a safety valve that won't spring a leak

All 11 starters from the end of last season potentially could form the opening-day lineup this season, but the weakest link — strong safety Marquand Manuel— is in jeopardy of being replaced. Manuel was an unequivocal bust as a free-agent addition, getting turned around in zone coverage and proving lax with his tackling. Three possible replacements are lurking in the secondary — young returnees Marviel Underwood and Atari Bigby and rookie Aaron Rouse. The hard-hitting Underwood was pushing Manuel for the job last year before he suffered a season-ending knee injury early in the preseason. Bigby, a practice-squad guy most of last season, impressed coaches in the offseason. The 6-foot-4, 223-pound Rouse, a third-round draft pick, is imposing for the position.

[TopHat]

OUSTANDING REVIEW OF REVIEWS

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=634232

Publications showing Packers little respect. National pundits see Packers as average

They closed the year with four consecutive victories, their longest streak in more than two years.They played inspired defense. They showed signs of life on offense. And they left the 2006 season feeling pretty good about themselves. It's safe to say that feeling wasn't contagious. Despite closing the year strong, the Green Bay Packers aren't getting a whole lot of respect from the national pundits heading into 2007. Packer Plus surveyed the most credible pre-season publications to see what the so-called "experts" think of these Packers.

Here's a look at what others are saying about the Packers and their chances for success this fall.

Pro Football Weekly: This remains the grand-daddy of all national publications, although The Sporting News ranks a close second. PFW picks the Packers to go 7-9, finish second in the NFC North and miss the playoffs. The magazine picks New England to beat New Orleans in the Super Bowl. Wide receiver Donald Driver is projected as Green Bay's offensive MVP and linebacker A.J. Hawk is the defensive MVP. Wide receiver Greg Jennings is PFW's pick as a Breakthrough Player. Their position battle to watch is between Marquand Manuel and Marviel Underwood at safety. The publication has scouts, executives and coaches help form a list of the top players in football. On PFW's Top 50, there isn't a Packer to be found for the second consecutive year. Left tackle Chad Clifton is Green Bay's highest-rated offensive player, ranking No. 10 among all of the tackles in football. Driver is the No. 12 wide receiver and Brett Favre is No. 14 among quarterbacks. Defensively, middle linebacker Nick Barnett and cornerback Charles Woodson were both ranked 15th. That was the highest rating among any Green Bay defenders. PFW's summary of Green Bay is: "The front office did little to improve an offense lacking game breakers and a team that had to rally furiously to finish 8-8."

Sporting News: The magazine predicts Green Bay will go 8-8, finish second in the division and miss the playoffs. Their predicted Super Bowl has New England defeating Dallas. One of the finest things this magazine does is put numerical values on all of Green Bay's starters and break down their strengths and weaknesses. Clifton is the Packers' highest-rated starter on offense. Running back Vernand Morency is the lowest. Hawk has the highest grade on the entire team. Manuel is the lowest rated defensive starter. Left guard Daryn Colledge is named Green Bay's "Secret Weapon." Green Bay's 2007 draft is also given a B-. The magazine's bottom line says: "There will be considerable improvement in individual play, but as a team, there aren't enough pieces in place to win 10 games."

Street & Smith: This magazine picks Green Bay to finish second to Chicago in the NFC North. It doesn't predict the playoff teams, but gives 10 teams in the NFC a higher overall grade than the Packers. It also picks New England over New Orleans in the Super Bowl. The publication gives Green Bay's 2007 draft a "C" and picks Hawk as the Packers' breakout candidate. It also lists offensive line, quarterback and linebackers as the Packers' strongest positions, with special teams and running backs its weakest. The magazine also has an opponent breakdown the Packers and he says: "Ted Thompson is taking some heat for building his team slowly but surely. I know (Brett) Favre wanted (Randy) Moss, but Thompson loves draft picks more than anybody and has a philosophy of quantity creating competition, resulting in quality."

Athlon's: This publication also predicts the Packers to finish second in the NFC North, but doesn't list the six playoff representatives from the conference. In its two-minute drill, though, Athlon's writes: "If all goes according to plan, a final playoff run could be Favre's going-away present." The magazine has New England over Dallas in Super Bowl XLII. The magazine offers rather vanilla overviews of each positional group in which little fresh information is presented. It also had this to say in a segment titled "Outside the Huddle": "When Bob Harlan retired as Packers Chairman & CEO in May, it marked the end of an historic era in this storied franchise's history." For the record, Harlan didn't retire.

Lindy's: This magazine picks Green Bay third in the NFC North, behind Chicago and Detroit. It also puts numerical grades on every team, and under that format, the Packers are tied for 12th in the NFC. It picks Baltimore over New Orleans in Super Bowl XLII. The magazine lists Favre as the Packers' player "On The Hot Seat" and gives Green Bay's 2007 draft a "C". The magazine lists Mark Tauscher as the NFL's third best right tackle, Aaron Kampman as the No. 4 defensive end, Hawk as the No. 4 weak-side linebacker, Barnett at No. 9 among middle linebackers and Ryan Pickett as the No. 10 defensive tackle. It also lists Al Harris at No. 10 among No. 1 cornerbacks and makes Woodson the top-ranked No. 2 corner.

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LEROY'S PREVIEW

LeRoy Butler still talks a good game

Former Packers safety LeRoy Butler will be inducted into the Packer Hall of Fame Saturday. Besides being a Pro Bowl-caliber player on the field, Butler was equally adept in the locker room dealing with the media. Butler never turned away from a tape recorder or microphone, and wasn't shy about sharing his opinions. Some things never change. In a telephone interview on Wednesday, Butler talked about a variety of topics:

On Brett Favre's longevity: "I was the first one to say I think he’ll play 20 years. That’s what I’m expecting. I think he can do it."

On his assessment of the 2007 Packers team: "I really feel like it’s a young team. It’s all built through the draft, with a few free agents here and there. History tells you if you build through the draft, you’ll have a pretty good team 3 or 4 years from now. The problem is, I don’t know if the fans will wait that long."

On why the Packers should have traded for receiver Randy Moss: "I agree with Brett (Favre). With (Greg) Jennings and (Donald) Driver, with Randy it would have been a 3-receiver set that could have been second to none. We could have ran the ball out of that set too. All 3 of those guys are capable of catching passes and taking it the distance."

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OUTSTANDING DEFENSIVE COACHING PREVIEW

http://pu2006.typepad.com/packer_update/2007/07/questions-still.html

QUESTIONS STILL SURROUND SANDERS

Nobody is going to confuse the Green Bay Packers of 2007 with the St. Louis Rams of 1999. Unlike Dick Vermeil’s high-powered offensive juggernaut that outscored opponents on a weekly basis, Mike McCarthy’s bunch will have to win games by playing consistently good defense. In order for that to happen, one member of the unit will have to improve his performance dramatically from a year ago. And ironically, this person won’t make a single tackle all season. “They certainly could use better play from the Sam linebacker and the safeties, but none of that will matter if Bob Sanders doesn’t do a better job in his second year as coordinator,” said a former scout. “I never saw a pass defense look so ill-prepared. I know they finished strong against some weak offenses, but I still can’t forget what happened in November and early December against New England, Seattle and the Jets. The defense wasn't outtalented in those games; it was outcoached.”

With all 11 starters returning - plus the addition of top draft pick Justin Harrell - it’s hard to imagine too many offenses "outtalenting" this defense. The line is deep and athletic, the backers are young and fast and the starting cornerbacks are about as good as any duo in the league. If the safeties step up, even a little bit, this unit should reside in the top-10 from the first week in September until the last week in December. “I really like what Ted Thompson has done on that side of the ball,” said the scout. “This defense has a chance to be really good - as long as Sanders doesn't screw things up like he did last season.”

Sanders will be under intense scrutiny from the moment training camp begins, and it won’t take long to find out whether he's improved in his second season on the job. The opener against Philadelphia will provide the perfect litmus test. “Andy Reid, with very mediocre talent, has made Green Bay’s defense look really bad in two of the past three meetings,” said the scout. “He’s a lot like [Seattle coach] Mike Holmgren in his ability to create mismatches for his offensive playmakers - especially when going up against the league’s weaker defensive coordinators. Sanders will have a chance to show right away that he doesn’t belong in that group, but if he comes up small, it could be an ominous sign of what's ahead.”