The Turtle Speaks

[retailguy]

Am I stuck with this Dam Signature for the entire season ???

Yes. And next season too. enjoy!

Did TT say anything about Bretsky's sig?

Yes, it's payback for the crummy avatar. He misses the dancing blonde.

Oops. I found that photo for Bretsky's avatar. As for the dancing blonde, I've heard that a certain Packerrat was threatening to sue if he didn't take that down.

really? I get left out of all the good gossip.

[Bretsky]

Re: TE's

"We'll see how it goes"???????????????

Were you expecting the Gettysburg Address?

Nope, I expected to sign Eric Johnson at 2 mill for 1 year. Almost about the same cash spent on the Jones severence pay.

At least with Johnson we would'nt have the ole "we'll see how it goes". We'd have a TE who can move the sticks.........

......................until he gets hurt. With a guy that fragile, you have to "see how it goes."

If the over-under on games played by Johnson this year was 8, I'd probably take the under.

But even if Johnson stays healthy for most of the season, I definitely beleive that the Packers' leading TE (whoever that is) will have at least comparable yarda (within 50) and more touchdowns than Johnson in 2007.

If Johnson was signed by Green Bay and healthy for all of the year, I'd put a load of money on him having a better year than Bubba Franks, Donald Lee, or the other NFL Europe guys TT has brought in to compete. This position is somewhere between below average to abysmal.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I would have liked to take a chance on the guy, but there's probably a reason he signed a 1y/$2M contract. Dude had one phenomenal season, but he has 110 receptions, 5 TDs, and averaged under 9 yards/reception in his other 5 season combined. I've moved on. It's not like we passed on a sure bet improvement to our TE group. He's probably as likely to miss 9 games as play 9 games.

Can't say that I feel good about the TE position though. Then again, Mark Chmura went from a practice squad player to a Pro Bowler. I'll have to wait to judge the group until I see how the rookie looks and see if their young TEs have indeed improved. I have to hope that what the coaches see in these guys is real.

[Bretsky]

The coaches witnessed this miserable group last year. And they didn't give Donald Lee much of a chance even when the production was so low so they must not have seen a whole lot in him.

Shocking

[HarveyWallbangers]

The coaches witnessed this miserable group last year. And they didn't give Donald Lee much of a chance even when the production was so low so they must not have seen a whole lot in him.

Shocking

I can't argue it much, but couldn't the same be said for the likes of Cullen Jenkins before they started him late in the season. Sometimes it takes guys awhile to reach their potential. I'm not very confident in this group, but I think Lee has the physical abilities to be a starter.

[Bretsky]

The coaches witnessed this miserable group last year. And they didn't give Donald Lee much of a chance even when the production was so low so they must not have seen a whole lot in him.

Shocking

I can't argue it much, but couldn't the same be said for the likes of Cullen Jenkins before they started him late in the season. Sometimes it takes guys awhile to reach their potential. I'm not very confident in this group, but I think Lee has the physical abilities to be a starter.

I've always been very intrigued by Lee's speed. He seems fluent and he has the speed to stretch the field. I was baffled at last year.

I thought Lee would have received loads of opportunities last year. But since he didn't my assumption is the coaches are not that high on him.

Patler has pointed out a few times he drops a lot of balls; maybe that is it. Who knows.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Alcorn is somewhat intriguing with his measurables. I wonder if Lee didn't get a lot of playing time because he isn't near the blocker Bubba and even Martin is, and they kept their TEs in to block quite a bit. That doesn't explain all of his failures, but I'm not writing him off yet.

Alcorn hoping to catch on this season
By RICHARD PUFALL, JSO

Green Bay - Zac Alcorn is a fast, pass-catching tight end for the Green Bay Packers with one glaring omission on his résumé: Alcorn has yet to catch a pass in the National Football League.

Catching the ball is what Alcorn does best, but in a brief trial during his rookie season last year, he didn't have a chance to do so. Alcorn played in six games and was inactive once after being signed from the practice squad on Nov. 18. He saw most of his action on special teams and played just eight snaps with the offense.

But Green Bay head coach Mike McCarthy took notice, saying of Alcorn: "The guy has the best hands on our team."

Alcorn knows he can catch the ball in the NFL, but first he must grab a spot on the roster in the training camp competition, which begins Saturday. Five tight ends are in the mix for what could be three or four jobs. Last season, the Packers carried four tight ends on the roster, mostly for blocking help to protect a green and growing offensive line.

Right now, veteran tight ends Bubba Franks and Donald Lee are leading the competition, largely by default.

Green Bay lost its best tight end when David Martin signed as a free agent with the Miami Dolphins. Martin caught 21 passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns in 2006.

Franks matched his career-low with 25 catches for 232 yards and zero touchdowns.

Lee, who looms as the starter right now, caught just 10 passes for 150 yards without a TD.

As a group, the tight ends caught just 56 passes for 580 yards and two touchdowns, so that means there is also opportunity at the position for Tory Humphrey and rookie Clark Harris who, like Alcorn, have not caught a pass in the NFL.

Alcorn knows what he must do to win a job.

"Basically, what they told me is that I really need to improve on my blocking," Alcorn said. "I think I'm taking steps toward that. I know I really improved from last year. That's my main focus, to be a good functional blocker."

Alcorn caught the ball with frequency and effectiveness at Black Hills State University in Spearfish, S.D. He grabbed 85 passes for 1,220 yards (14.4 average) and 12 touchdowns in 20 games for the Yellow Jackets. Alcorn was an NAIA All-American, and believes some of that success can translate to the NFL.

"That's my strength, catching passes," Alcorn said. "Catching passes is where I fit in best on the football field. That's why I said I need to work on my blocking. I feel I've got a lot of natural instincts, I guess, as a receiver. And that helps me a lot."

His athletic ability complements those instincts. Alcorn was a three-sport athlete at Chadron High School in Nebraska where he was an all-state football and basketball player and threw the discus for the track team. He is 6-foot-4, 255 pounds, runs 40 yards in 4.6 seconds and has a 34-inch vertical jump.

"He's a guy that really catches the ball extremely well," said offensive coordinator Joe Philbin. "He's athletic, he's got good size. He has a good knack of finding the open seams in coverage. And he has a very good feel in the passing game. So he's a guy who kind of jumps at you the way he catches the football. It never gets to his body, he's got real nice hands. We're excited to see what he can do when he puts the pads on."

Alcorn will put the pads on Saturday with Brett Favre and the rest of Green Bay's offense. And Philbin, like Alcorn, sees the young tight end's blocking game needing to catch up to his receiving.

"I'd say that's fair right now," Philbin said of Alcorn, 26. "There are probably some different techniques and fundamentals that he probably wasn't used to from his background coming here. I think it's taken him a little while to get adjusted to that. I expect him to make strides. He's worked awfully hard in the running game as well, and at that position you can't just do one of those things. You've got to do 'em both."

Last season, Green Bay's tight ends were asked to do more blocking than receiving, protecting a young offensive line in which three rookies played key roles. Often the tight ends were lined up in the backfield or the slot with a block-first focus. That line has vastly improved, which should open up the offense for the tight ends.

"My main focus this off-season was to work on my blocking and my technique," Alcorn said. "But you can't just throw your strengths to the side and just work on your weaknesses. It's a real big focus of mine and I pride myself in being a good receiver and trying to be the best I can. I always work on my receiving abilities, too, but I guess my main emphasis was my blocking."

After Green Bay's last practice of organized team activities in June, Alcorn headed back to his home in Spearfish with a plan that would get him ready for training camp.

"I'm going to do a lot of what I call active recovery," Alcorn said. "I'm going to do a lot of stretching and running to try to keep in shape. I'm not going to overdo it. You can't over-train and you can't under-train.

"I've got a few bumps and bruises that I'm nursing. I'm going to nurse those and get those rehabbed. Hopefully, I'll be feeling good coming into training camp and my energy levels are really high."

Alcorn's goals for 2007 are set high, too.

"My goal for this season? Oh man, I want to get in at tight end and play and make an impact, help Brett out," Alcorn said. "I know the tight ends didn't get a whole lot of balls last year . . . but we had a young O-line and our main job was basically to help in pass protection.

"I know this year we've come a long way on the offensive line, they've taken huge steps. I know the tight ends are going to get in on the passing game quite a bit more. My goal is to get in there and make an impact."

Of course, the first big catch for Alcorn will be grabbing a spot on the roster.

[Packnut]

Re: TE's

"We'll see how it goes"???????????????

Were you expecting the Gettysburg Address?

Nope, I expected to sign Eric Johnson at 2 mill for 1 year. Almost about the same cash spent on the Jones severence pay.

At least with Johnson we would'nt have the ole "we'll see how it goes". We'd have a TE who can move the sticks.........

......................until he gets hurt. With a guy that fragile, you have to "see how it goes."

If the over-under on games played by Johnson this year was 8, I'd probably take the under.

But even if Johnson stays healthy for most of the season, I definitely beleive that the Packers' leading TE (whoever that is) will have at least comparable yarda (within 50) and more touchdowns than Johnson in 2007.

How can you use the injury excuse when our FIRST ROUND PICK has a much more EXTENSIVE injury history than Johnson? Sorry, that does'nt work. As far as production goes, your dreaming if you think Lee and Alcorn will come anywhere close to matching Johnson. My guy has PROVEN himself in the NFL, yours is nothing but may-be and hope.

[Packnut]

Harrell

I would have liked to take a chance on the guy, but there's probably a reason he signed a 1y/$2M contract. Dude had one phenomenal season, but he has 110 receptions, 5 TDs, and averaged under 9 yards/reception in his other 5 season combined. I've moved on. It's not like we passed on a sure bet improvement to our TE group. He's probably as likely to miss 9 games as play 9 games.

Can't say that I feel good about the TE position though. Then again, Mark Chmura went from a practice squad player to a Pro Bowler. I'll have to wait to judge the group until I see how the rookie looks and see if their young TEs have indeed improved. I have to hope that what the coaches see in these guys is real.

Again, same point. Harrell has a more extensive history with injuries than Johnson and will cost a whole lot more, but yet picking him was a good move injury wise? As for his production, he did have a huge year when healthy and remember where he played and who the QB's were.

[retailguy]

Alcorn hoping to catch on this season
By RICHARD PUFALL, JSO

"My goal for this season? Oh man, I want to get in at tight end and play and make an impact, help Brett out," Alcorn said. "I know the tight ends didn't get a whole lot of balls last year . . . but we had a young O-line and our main job was basically to help in pass protection.

Very telling line... Straight from the mouth of one of the TE's. Our MAIN job was to block. MAIN.

He also said the line has improved (Thank God), I sure hope he is correct on that. If he is not ready to step it up a bit, and the OL hasn't improved we are in deep trouble here. If BOTH play out in our favor, perhaps we have an improved season. If only the OL plays out, then we have to hope for Franks and Lee. If he pans out, but the OL doesn't, then I guess we need to be grateful he can block....

I just can't get past the fact that betting on this team, is like taking the riskiest bet you can find in Las Vegas and wagering your entire pension plan...

The odds just are not good. At all.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Re: Harrell

Again, same point. Harrell has a more extensive history with injuries than Johnson

More extensive? How do you figure? Harrell had one major injury in college. His senior year. The rest of his college career, he played in 32 of 36 games. Overall, even with the one major injury, he played in 35 of 48 games. I don't see one major injury as making a guy injury prone. The type of injury is a big factor. From what I've heard, once you recover from a torn biceps injury, you aren't any more likely to have that injury again.

Johnson has had two major injuries that have put him out for entire seasons. Johnson broke his foot one year and his collarbone another year. He's also had a broken thumb, a sprained MCL, and cracked ribs. Johnson has played in 57 of 96 games.

Johnson was never a speedster to begin (see his 9 yards/catch), so I don't necessarily see him being a guy that gives the Packers what they need at the position. Wouldn't have hurt to try to sign him, but I'm not losing a lot of sleep over his loss. Johnson was rated the 70th best TE in the league by Sporting News going into last season. I'll have to see where he's ranked this year.

BTW, who was it that you wanted the Packers to draft?

[PackerBlues]

A guy could argue that its not just the TE's that were mainly just blocking, but also the fullbacks.

So why have the TE's and Fullbacks mainly block? Obviously, using rookies to fill our guard and center positions was a move that was going to have a period of "growing pains".

If Veteran help had been signed to help ease these rookie OL into the starting positions, would we have needed our TE's and Fullbacks to do so much blocking, rather than what their duties would normally entail?

Who would they have signed, and at what cost, as opposed to the players they went with and the method they ended up using.


Again, my main gripe about Thompsons methods, is the fact that we Have Favre, Clifton, Tauscher, Harris, and Woodson.......these guys are playing at our skilled positions, and are arguably some of the best to play at their positions in the game today. You do not find players of this quality at their positions easily or cheaply. None of these guys has much time left in their careers. Why is Thompson not using free agency to get more experienced players on the field? To fill gaping holes? To help tutor or mentor the rookies?

[MJZiggy]

A guy could argue that its not just the TE's that were mainly just blocking, but also the fullbacks.

So why have the TE's and Fullbacks mainly block? Obviously, using rookies to fill our guard and center positions was a move that was going to have a period of "growing pains".

If Veteran help had been signed to help ease these rookie OL into the starting positions, would we have needed our TE's and Fullbacks to do so much blocking, rather than what their duties would normally entail?

Who would they have signed, and at what cost, as opposed to the players they went with and the method they ended up using.


Again, my main gripe about Thompsons methods, is the fact that we Have Favre, Clifton, Tauscher, Harris, and Woodson.......these guys are playing at our skilled positions, and are arguably some of the best to play at their positions in the game today. You do not find players of this quality at their positions easily or cheaply. None of these guys has much time left in their careers. Why is Thompson not using free agency to get more experienced players on the field? To fill gaping holes? To help tutor or mentor the rookies?

He did do that. Remember 2005? (or had you blacked it out of you memory as poeple so often do with traumatic events?)

[wist43]

It's strange that TT is working so hard trying to sell his Kool-Aid.

The transcript of this press conference reads more like a sell job, than an update on the state of the team. He seems to be feeling the pressure... I'm somewhat surprised by that.

[MJZiggy]

Either that or maybe he really just wants you to see what he sees and senses that you don't...