Packers Daily Links 10.7.09

 

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Looks like Mark Tauscher could be back in the fold as early as today. When asked if signing Tauscher was imminent, head coach Mike McCarthy told the press including the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "I would think so, if it works out. You know how those things go. It would be great to have Mark back here. I have spoken to (right tackle) Allen Barbre about it. He knows he is coming in. This is something that has been planned." The timing seems to have worked out almost perfectly. The Packers knew he wouldn't be ready to play at the beginning of the season. But they also knew that a football season takes its toll and will have room for him by October.

We won't be seeing Will Blackmon anytime for the remainder of the season. "Will Blackmon, who returned punts for touchdowns in both games against Minnesota last season, had his season end on Monday when he injured the ACL in his left knee during a kickoff return at Minnesota," writes Bill Huber of Packer Report. It's an unfortunate situation, but this could signal the end of Blackmon's career in Green Bay. He was a solid return man but not spectacular. It would be hard to believe the Packers would want to go with him next season coming off an injury.

As for who will replace Blackmon: "Receiver Jordy Nelson will remain the Packers’ kickoff returner, but the team hasn’t determined a new punt returner now that Will Blackmon has been lost for the season because of a knee injury," reports the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Likely candidates to return punts are either Nelson, Tramon Williams or perhaps even Brett Swain. Given Williams' return for a touchdown in the past, I think he has the inside edge if he can get in a little practice during the bye week.

Monday night's game was the highest rated show in the history of cable television. "The game was seen in 15.1 million cable TV households," reports the Press-Gazette. "An estimated 21.8 million viewers watched the Brett Favre-led Vikings beat the Packers, 30-23." This is not surprising. The previous record was also held by a Monday Night Football game between the Ravens and the Patriots in 2007.

Woodson was critical of both the coaching staff and management after Monday's game, but McCarthy didn't seem perturbed. "McCarthy said he didn't have a problem with Woodson's comments about the game plan, or when Woodson said that Anthony Smith, who was released before the season, could have helped with some of the breakdowns the team was having at safety," according to the Journal Sentinel. The release of Smith was probably the biggest personnel mistake the Packers could have made. With Nick Collins set to become a free agent, the Packers could have some gaping holes at safety by next season.

The stats show the Packers are among the worst in the entire NFL at dropping passes. "Rodgers' receivers keep dropping balls," writes Tom Silverstein of the Journal Sentinel. "Tight end Donald Lee dropped what would have been a touchdown pass; wide receiver Donald Driver dropped a pass inside Minnesota territory; and running back DeShawn Wynn dropped a pass in the flat. According to STATS, the Packers rank tied for third in the NFL in dropped passes with 10."

Tony Wilson of Mike McCarthy's Feedbag is especially ticked off at Lee.

Howie Magner of Milwaukee Magazine thinks Monday's loss was especially painful.

Aaron Nagler of Cheeshead TV thinks Dom Capers was exposed.

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Comments

 

Mads said:

I'm not sure if Tauscher is the solution for the O-line. Don't get me wrong - I'd love to see him back in the green and gold and I think it's good the staff is doing something to better the line, but we still need to go tackle early in the draft next year. Looking forward to seeing Jordy as a return man. Been wanting him to do it ever since Blackmon got back. Tough loss. Goes to show how the smallest mistakes can have a major effect on a ballgame. I.e. the game might have looked different if the Pack had scored on the first drive and not fumbled it in the redzone. If Lee had pulled in that pass... guess that's why we/I love the game. =)
October 7, 2009 7:23 AM
 

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October 7, 2009 7:38 AM
 

Brian Carriveau said:

Hard to say how Tauscher fits into things. Allen Barbre has certainly gotten better since the first game.

October 7, 2009 10:43 AM
 

madman said:

The reference to STATS by Silverstein got me thinking. Setting aside whether the refs put their collective thumb on the scale a bit in the first B.F. match-up, the Packers generate way too many penalties to win with this batch of talent. Currently, they rank 3rd from the bottom of the league in penalties with 30, putting them on pace for an awful 120 for the year. The pitiful Rams are the worst team in this category with 32. The Bills have 31. This is not a new problem. Last year the Pack were 2nd to last with 110. The Cowboys were the worst with 119. The Cowboys were also viewed by most as a surprising disappointment last year. The first year of the McCarthy era the Pack was not much better. They were fourth from the bottom with 113. By contrast, in 2006, Shreman's last year, the Packers had only 90 penalties. This tied them with four teams for 10th best in the league. I'm not saying that Sherman was better than McCarthy, but under McCarthy the Packers have been running up hill.
October 7, 2009 11:46 AM

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This is the place for those of you who can't get enough Green Bay Packers news! Updates will be provided frequently from the view of a "railbird." We go to the practices and scan the local media so you don't have to.

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