June 2009 - Posts

• Wynn has a long way to go

  Posted Jun 30 2009, 07:11 AM by Brian Carriveau

  Don't be confused by an article you may have read over at Packers Gab saying that DeShawn Wynn has "locked down" the job as the third string running back.

  "According to the Green Bay Press-Gazette, DeShawn Wynn appears to have locked down the job as the Packers’ third running back," writes Matt Loede.

  Locked down the job? In June? Doubtful.

  That's what training camp is for, locking down jobs. It's unlikely that anybody down as low as third on the depth chart has locked down anything yet. Let's wait until August before making leaps like that.

  Attributing such information to the Green Bay Press-Gazette was a mistake as well. The Press-Gazette and reporter Pete Dougherty made no such claim.

  In the article Packers Gab is assumed to have gotten their information from, Dougherty writes, "If DeShawn Wynn continues to show the professionalism he has this offseason, he’ll be the front-runner over Kregg Lumpkin for the No. 3 halfback job because he’s the more gifted ball carrier."

  Considering the way Wynn ended the 2008 season with a 100-yard rushing performance compared to the way Lumpkin ended  his on injured reserve, it's not a stretch to say Wynn will be the "front-runner" for the job.

  As any smart coach would do, give everyone a chance to win a roster spot during training camp when the pads go on. A common refrain during OTAs and mini-camp was that it was hard to learn anything about the players without pads.

  Al Bracco of Packers Lounge did a nice job dissecting why Lumpkin might have a say in winning a roster berth this season.

  And don't forget undrafted rookie running back Tyrell Sutton either. It's possible that the rookie might be more suited to the third down-type of role than any other running back on the team.
  

   

   

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  Filed under: DeShawn Wynn, Kregg Lumpkin, Tyrell Sutton

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• Concerned about running backs? Don't worry, be happy

  Posted Jun 29 2009, 08:24 AM by Brian Carriveau

  Fueled in part by our Cheesehead Nation broadcast with former Packers vice president Andrew Brandt and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel beat writer Greg Bedard, Packer fans seem to be getting restless concerning the stable of running backs.

  Bedard came out and said, "Certain people in the organization wanted Ryan Grant to play."

  Alex Tallitsch of Packers Lounge isn't happy and is questioning whether Grant is the best man for the job.
  

  "It’s a serious accusation, and one I am not too happy about if it is true," writes Tallitsch. "If you are so insecure in the front office up in Green Bay that you are playing Grant to feed your need to prove something, y’all need to have a meeting and get that crap figured out."

  Tallitsch isn't wrong in his assessment, but perhaps his questioning of Grant's deserving to play is misplaced. Like many in Packer Land, fans are upset that Grant got a contract maybe he hasn't yet deserved amid all the Brett Favre hoopla a year ago.

  On the same website, "Jersey" Al Bracco is hyping up Kregg Lumpkin as the best running back on the Packers' roster.

  "As Packer fans continue arguing Grant vs Jackson, I am here to throw a monkey wrench into the debate," writes Bracco. "Neither one of them is the best running back on the Packers. Lurking in the wings and waiting for his chance could very well be the best running back on the Green Bay Packers roster—Kregg Lumpkin."

  Here we, as fans, are critiquing the Packers for playing a guy that earned over 1200 yards last season. Sure his 3.9 yard per carry average in 2008 pales in comparision to the 5.1 he averaged in 2007, but it's not as if Grant played poorly.

  A comment from username PackersRS on Packers Lounge points out:

  1. He played almost every 3rd and short and goal line situations.
  
  2. He was hurt early on and didn’t attend minicamps and preseason.
  
  3. Teams gameplanned against him, unlike 2007. And Rodgers wasn’t feared as Favre was, so teams played the run more.

  I agree, I think the Packers certainly could have played Brandon Jackson more considering his 5.5 yard average on a meager 45 carries. The Packers may benefit from employing more of a two back system, and Jackson seems to impress when he gets the chance.

  However, Grant brings a dimension that no other back on the Packers' roster brings with his hard nosed running. When Grant really flops and averages 3.3 yards per carry, then call for his head.

  Be mad at the Packers' organization for giving Grant a contract he maybe didn't deserve, but don't be mad at Grant for his play on the field. He's done very little of criticism yet.
  

   

   

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  Filed under: Ryan Grant, Brandon Jackson, Kregg Lumpkin

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• Down the depth chart thoughts

  Posted Jun 26 2009, 07:55 AM by Brian Carriveau

  Some thoughts surfaced during last night's blogcast extravaganza.

  It's possible that undrafted rookie tight end Carson Butler is seriously injured.

  This thinking is based upon two moves the Packers have made since Butler's injury roughly two weeks ago. First of all, the Packers have signed fellow undrafted rookie free agent tight end Devin Fieschknecht from Washington State.

  And second, the Packers have moved linebacker Spencer Havner to tight end to become a hybrid type of player.

  Butler sat out of the entire week of the recently completed mini-camp practices. It's possible the Packers are just being cautious with the young Michigan product seeing as training camp over a month away, but he could be more seriously injured.

  Again, this is just speculation. The Packers have been mum on his injury, but in their defense, the media hasn't asked them about it to my knowledge.

  Seeing as the Packers seemingly have an opening for the no. 3 tight end job, it was thought that Butler might be the undrafted rookie with the best chance of making the 53-man roster. He also had good reviews coming out of the team's post-draft rookie orientation camp.
  

  And while Spencer Havner is in the discussion, it appears the Packers have put a lot of stock into Havner and fellow special teams maven Jarrett Bush.

  Havner has been working with several no. 1 special teams units throughout the off-season program showing how much the Packers value his kamikaze like play.

  They also are trying to prepare him to become a backup at both linebacker and tight end positions making him as versatile as possible. It seems like the Packers are doing everything in their power to create a job for Havner.

  Same thing with Jarrett Bush. He's at his best in special teams play as he still has a tendency to give up big plays on the defensive side of the ball.

  But Bush offers some of the most versatility in the defensive backfield as he can play both cornerback and safety.

  So the question is, can the Packers afford to keep two players like Havner and Bush on the 53-man roster who offer key special teams play but can't offer as much in the core offensive and defensive schemes?
  

  With no comments

  Filed under: Jarrett Bush, Spencer Havner, Carson Butler

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• Join us for our final off-season blogcast...

  Posted Jun 25 2009, 07:27 PM by Brian Carriveau
  Here's the link to check out our final Cheesehead Nation LIVE blogcast until training camp begins, which airs from 8 to 9:30 p.m. CST on Thursday evening.
  
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  Filed under: Cheesehead Nation

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• Harrell makes big strides during off-season

  Posted Jun 25 2009, 07:57 AM by Brian Carriveau

  Oft-criticized Justin Harrell just made it through an off-season devoid of injuries, setbacks or rehabilitation.

  Yes, he dropped out of Tuesday's practice due to an illness. But other than that minor bug, the defensive lineman is setting himself up for what could be his most productive season yet.

  "It's been huge, just going through all this," Harrell told the Packers' official website. "It's added reps, especially putting in a new defense and things like that. It's one of those things where you want to be out there until you can get comfortable with the techniques and all those things.
  
  "It's kind of like a dress rehearsal for when training camp starts, so you have some kind of knowledge of what you're supposed to be doing when you get out there."

  After both teasing and disappointing Packers fans for his first two NFL seasons, Harrell is making strides in his third season as a pro.

  Harrell doesn't need to be a starter to be effective this season. But he does need to be healthy, and he does need to be a contributing member of the defense.

  If he can spell some of the first string ends once in a while, that will be an improvement. If he can be stout at the point of attack and swallow up offensive blockers, that will be huge. If he can add a couple sacks or bat down a few passes with his long levers, that will be a bonus.
  

  In the 3-4, Harrell doesn't need to put up big tackle numbers to be effective. And that's why I'm personally optimistic about him being a valuable, contributing member of the Packer defense this season.

  There aren't many measurables that will define his success in the 3-4 as there were in the 4-3. In fact, the biggest indicator of success for Harrell (and the entire defensive line for that matter) could be the number of tackles the linebackers make and maybe the number of tackles for a loss.
  

  With 2 comment(s)

  Filed under: Justin Harrell

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