November 2008 - Posts

• Future Packer Patrick Chung?

  Posted Nov 29 2008, 08:35 AM by Brian Carriveau

  The Green Bay Packers game is still one day away, but on Saturdays here at Railbird Central we give you something to watch today while tying it into the Packers. Consider it a little NFL Draft preview.

  Given the Packers' recent injury concerns and sub par play at the safety position, there's reason to think that they'll go after a safety high in the NFL draft this upcoming year.

  The Packers have some good, young talent at safety in Nick Collins, Atari Bigby and Aaron Rouse, but none has given the team a level of consistency expected out of them.

  One of college's top safeties will be on display today in one of the day's top games. Oregon's Patrick Chung and the Ducks will head into Corvallis today to take on Oregon State. Both teams have a chance to represent the Pac-10 in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day.

  For Oregon State, it's easy. Win and they're in. For Oregon, the path is a little more muddled. It would take a win over the Beavers in the Civil War today and a USC loss next week to UCLA. It's not a likely scenario, but it's possible.

  As far as Chung goes, his job became exponentially easier as the potent Oregon State offense might be without its top quarterback and running back for today's game. The Beavers are possibly missing both Lyle Moevao and Jacquizz Rodgers due to injury.

  If Chung can help bottle up the Beaver offense on both the run and the pass, Oregon will have an easier time on the road today. Chung is known as one of the hardest hitters in all of college football.
   

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• Harris thinks he'll be gone next year

  Posted Nov 28 2008, 10:47 AM by Brian Carriveau

  

  Coming from the "Why in the world would you say that?" department, Green Bay Packers cornerback Al Harris doesn't think he'll be wearing a green and gold uniform next year.

  His comments to the Wisconsin State Journal couldn't have come at a more awkward time. First of all, the Packers are in the hunt for a spot in the playoffs. Right now they're on the outside looking in, but a good late season performance could certainly find them in a decent position in a weak NFC Central division.

  And his comments also come at a time when he was reflecting upon his good fortune to be able to come back from his lacerated spleen injury. Harris said he had a lot to be "extremely thankful" for during the Thanksgiving holiday.

  So why focus on the future? Why not focus on the here and now?

  In a conversation about being traded for a possible draft choice, Harris said, "I think that's going to happen. And not from my performance or anything, but we're going young. I haven't talked to Ted about it. I've just got a gut feeling that that's the direction our team is headed. That's what happens in the league. I just have to make sure that I'm on top of my game."

  This is obviously going to be a topic of conversation lingering for the rest of this season and going into the offseason. Maybe it won't be a huge distraction, but this isn't going to be the last time we hear about this little quote of Harris'.

  Harris even admits to not talk to general manager Ted Thompson about a trading possibility, which makes his comment even more peculiar.

  There's plenty of reason to think that a trade isn't going to happen. Harris is 34 years old. Who is going to want to give up a first day draft choice for a corner who's skills are on the decline?

  Harris also talks about the team going younger, and he's correct. The Packers have the youngest team in the NFL for three years running. But one has to think that trend is going to change sometime soon. Even Thompson knows that he has to let his youngsters mature if he's going to this this team grow into a contender.

  And since coming back from his spleen injury, Harris has played lock down defense. He hasn't come up with turnovers, but he never really has. Harris just consistently has shut down the opposing team's receivers.

  If the Packers truly have a chance to win a Super Bowl over the next two or three years, the Packers probably are in better shape to win with Harris than without him. 

  Photo credit: Jeffrey Phelps for the Journal Sentinel
  

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  Filed under: Al Harris

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• Sign a defensive back already

  Posted Nov 27 2008, 10:03 AM by Brian Carriveau

  

  Linebacker Nick Barnett is still on the Green Bay Packers 53-man roster, but why?

  The Packers have some pressing needs in the secondary, especially safety. It's time to put Barnett on injured reserve and get someone healthy on the roster.

  No matter who the Packers sign at this time of year, they're not going to help very much. But hopefully they won't be as hobbled as the current Packers' safeties are at this moment.

  "It's assumed that Nick Collins, who suffered a bruised knee against the Saints, will be one of the starters against the Panthers, but who the other one will be is up in the air. It might come down to which player is the least injured," reports Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

  All five safeties are on the injury report. Joining Collins among the wounded are Atari Bigby, Aaron Rouse and Jarrett Bush, all of whom are nursing ankle injuries. In addition, Charlie Peprah has a calf injury that kept him inactive against the Saints.

  In addition, cornerback Pat Lee is going to be out a couple of weeks with a knee injury further adding to the concerns in the secondary.

  It's possible that all of the safeties could play on Sunday against the Panthers, but none of them is likely to be at 100 percent.

  The Packers currently have two defensive backs on their practice squad in Joe Porter and Kennard Cox, but it's possible they are not enamored with either of them seeing as they've had over two weeks to replace Barnett on the active roster.
  

  The Packers didn't have to rush to sign another player given their depth, but there's no reason to continue dragging their feet either. Even if they don't sign a player in the secondary, it's not like Barnett is going to help the team out anymore this season. 

  Photo credit: Benny Sieu for the Journal Sentinel
  

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  Filed under: Aaron Rouse, Jarrett Bush, Atari Bigby, Charlie Peprah, Nick Collins, Nick Barnett

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• Packer tickets available for Panthers game

  Posted Nov 27 2008, 09:48 AM by Brian Carriveau

  A friend of mine just had two tickets in the fifth row become available to Sunday's Green Bay Packers versus Carolina Panthers game. Get the Railbird Central discount (face price) by calling (715) 854-2156, ask for Doug.
  

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• Blue, red & cow chips for Packers loss to the Saints

  Posted Nov 26 2008, 07:17 AM by Brian Carriveau

  After every Green Bay Packers game, Railbird Central will provide you with a look back while we hand out our blue chip, red chips and cow chips for yesterday's performance.

  The blue chip, amazing performances:

  • Greg Jennings -- It's hard to give many blue chips away when you give up 51 points. But it wasn't Greg Jennings' fault the Packers lost the game. Jennings led the team in receiving with eight catches for 101 yards and a touchdown. In fact, Jennings is fourth in the entire NFL in receiving yards and is only 44 yards away from the 1,000 yard milestone on the season. Jennings (along with Charles Woodson) has been a consistent blue chip performer most of the season. Vote here to send Jennings to the Pro Bowl.

  The red chip, solid performances:

  • A limited run game -- When you're down by double digits in the second half, you don't have much of a chance to run. And that's a shame because the ground game was doing just fine. The Packers had over 100 yards on the ground, and while they averaged only 3.5 yards per carry, they did have two rushing touchdowns. Ryan Grant looked good, Brandon Jackson spelled him just fine, and it's exciting to see the coaches give John Kuhn the ball once in a while.

  • Third and short conversions -- Speaking of John Kuhn, the Packers have improved dramatically in one area from a season ago. "Fullback John Kuhn and quarterback Aaron Rodgers have helped the Packers turn around what had been the league’s worst offense in third- and fourth-and-1 conversion rate last season," writes Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. On the season, the Packers have converted 14 of 21 third-and-1 or fourth-and-1 chances. It helps that Rodgers is a little more agile than Brett Favre a year ago in that department.

  • Tony Moll -- There's very few statistics to back it up, but Tony Moll did very well in relief of an injured Mark Tauscher with the offense. Even head coach Mike McCarthy said so in yesterday's press conference: "I thought Tony played well. Tony is a tough guy, went in there and competed. (He) had the one mistake there, I think on the first or second series. Other than that, I thought he did well." Moll looked excited to be playing in the game. At the very least, he was active and showed enthusiasm.

  The cow chip, crappy performances:

  • The secondary -- Who didn't get exposed? Even the great Charles Woodson got burned for a 70-yard touchdown. Atari Bigby got benched after getting beat for a long touchdown as well after looking as slow as molasses in January. His replacement didn't fare much better. Everyone is making a big deal out of the poor angles Aaron Rouse was taking. And while Nick Collins is tied for the league lead in interceptions, he's below average in tackling ability.

  • Linebackers in pass coverage -- The one linebacker we thought we could depend on in pass coverage didn't hold up his end of the bargain. Brandon Chillar was the primary culprit for tight end Jeremy Shockey having five catches and 57 yards. And A.J. Hawk didn't do much better. Even when he wasn't covering receivers, he supposedly confused the defense on a play call that led to Billy Miller's touchdown.
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  Filed under: Aaron Rouse, A.J. Hawk, Atari Bigby, Charles Woodson, Aaron Rodgers, Brandon Chillar, Greg Jennings, John Kuhn

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