Jersey Al's Packers Blog

Game 1 for the Green Bay Packers is just days away, and optimism is high for the PACK’s 2010 season hopes. But before we get that far, let’s take a look at the current roster. I have some real issues with the current composition of said roster and some of the players still around, as well as those gone. So let’s get right after it.

My biggest question for TEDDY & MIKE is why SPENCER HAVNER is no longer in town? I didn’t notice any drop-off in his overall performance this summer. I also think his biggest asset is his versatility, which is a subject we hear about in Coach-Speak all year. How many things can a player do for his team? So HAVNER is now in Detroit with his ability to play special teams, TE and LB.  Read more... (1059 words + 6 images, estimated 4:14 mins reading time)

If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be?

How many of us have heard that question?  In the NFL, especially as it relates to head coaches, it rings true more than most.  Every successful head coach now seems to come from some kind of coaching “tree,” as in he worked under another successful head coach as an assistant.

For example:

Sean Payton? Bill Parcells.

Bill Belichick? also Parcells.

Mike Shanahan? Bill Walsh.

Andy Reid? Mike Holmgren, who also came from Walsh.

It goes on and on.

Hold on, though. What about Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy?

Thought so.

Mike McCarthy is one of those rare birds in the NFL who became a successful head coach on his own.  Yes, he worked at Kansas City with Marty Schottenheimer, but Marty’s struggles in the playoffs are well documented.  Read more... (605 words + 6 images, estimated 2:25 mins reading time)

In this next installment of Film Study, I select a few plays from the Packers – Seahawks preseason game that show something interesting upon review that might have been missed on first watch.

Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers are committed to doing whatever possible to keep QB1 un-sacked and upright. In just his limited preseason action, Rodgers has already shown the ability to more quickly recognized his checkdowns and not hold onto the ball too long. McCarthy, for his part, seems committed to giving the offensive line more pass protection help when needed, something I felt was lacking last season.

On Aaron Rodgers’ first play, 56 yard completion to Greg Jennings, Donald Lee was used in pass protection, and seemingly left to Rodgers to decide how. As you watch the play, you’ll see Rodgers look at Lee, who is lined up on the left side. He then glances to the right and sees the Seahawks have overloaded that side. He looks back at Lee, and most likely calls a protection change. Lee goes into motion and lines up on the right side, where he can help in the protection.  Read more... (739 words + 6 images, estimated 2:57 mins reading time)

The following are my observations on the Packers – Browns game after re-watching the game with the benefit of rewind and slow-motion:

Bryan Bulaga is an NFL starting lineman. Right now. Bulaga won his one-on-one battles while at guard and at tackle. He also looked noticeably better than Daryn Colledge. Bulaga was a little unsure of himself at guard on a few plays, which is to be expected. But once he found his mark an locked on to someone, they did not get away. I also saw Bulaga do something I haven’t seen from a Packers guard in some time. This was one of my pet peeves last season. In pass coverage, with Wells on the tackle and Clifton taking a blitzing linebacker, as Cleveland sent a defensive back on the edge outside of Clifton, Bulaga quickly slid over behind Clifton to meet the blitzing DB and stop his rush. Simple, effective, and something I just never saw as I would watch the game films last season. I don’t know if we credit Bulaga or the coaches for that, but either way, it’s a very good thing.  Read more... (1284 words + 6 images, estimated 5:08 mins reading time)

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I’ve had this nagging feeling for years now that the Green Bay Packers of Mike McCarthy’s tenure do very well against weak opponents, but tend to fold when it comes to stronger opponents, or at least not do nearly as well. So I went back and looked at every game, regular and post-season, that the Packers have played since their 2006 season opener against the Bears, Mike McCarthy’s first game.

My Theory: that McCarthy’s Packers have serious trouble beating teams 10-6 and above.

My categories went like this:

Category 1: Teams that went 0-16 to 6-10
Category 2: Teams that went 7-9 to 9-7
Category 3: Teams that went 10-6 and above.

(My reasoning here is that there doesn’t tend to be huge differences between 8-8, 9-7, 7-9 teams. Also, I wanted to measure how the Packers did against the best teams in the league, which I defined as teams with a 10-6 record or better.)  Read more... (720 words + 6 images, estimated 2:53 mins reading time)

In 2009, the Green Bay Packers finished 29th in Red Zone Scoring Defense, allowing their opponents to score 76% of the time. To make matters worse, the Packers allowed a touchdown 61% of the time their opponent made it inside their 20 yard line. That landed them 28th in the league. All of this, of course, has Dom Capers seeing “red.”

As quoted in a recent article by Mike Spofford on Packers.com, Capers said, “…when people get down in the red zone — if they’re going to get there — you have to keep them kicking field goals rather than scoring touchdowns.”

Capers went on to vow that red zone defense would be a major emphasis for the team in the classroom and on the field during OTAs, mini-camp and most importantly, training camp. When the pads are on, Capers plans a lot of very spirited red zone drills against the Packers red zone offense, one of the best in the NFL last season.  Read more... (516 words + 6 images, estimated 2:04 mins reading time)