Thursday, August 23, 2007

Heh...

Funny


“This is not helping the kid’s career,” Carroll proclaimed. “It’s unfortunate for the kid and the Raiders have come up with a tremendous quarterback situation without (Russell) by getting Daunte (Culpepper).”

Carroll has a couple of dogs in this fight. Kiffin is his guy. So too is Mark Jackson, the Raiders' director of football development who worked with Carroll both at USC and when Carroll was head coach of the Patriots from 1997-99.


Interesting choice of words...

Packer Roster Breakdown

These type of roster articles are great: Here


Quarterbacks (2 or 3)

# Locks: Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers.

# On the bubble: Ingle Martin, Paul Thompson.

Running backs (5 or 6)

# Locks: RB Brandon Jackson, RB Vernand Morency, FB Korey Hall.

# On the bubble: RB Noah Herron, RB-FB Corey White, FB Brandon Miree, RB DeShawn Wynn.

# Long shots: RB P.J. Pope, FB Erryn Cobb, FB Ryan Powdrell.

Receivers (5 or 6)

# Locks: Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, James Jones, Ruvell Martin.

# Good bet: Carlyle Holiday.

# On the bubble: David Clowney.

# Long shots: Chris Francies, Shaun Bodiford, Calvin Russell, Carlton Brewster.

Tight end (3 or 4)

# Lock: Donald Lee, Bubba Franks.

# On the bubble: Zac Alcorn, Clark Harris.

# Long shot: Joe Werner.

Offensive line (9 or 10)

# Locks: T Chad Clifton, G Daryn Colledge, C Scott Wells, G Jason Spitz, T Mark Tauscher, G Allen Barbre.

# Good bets: G-T Junius Coston, T Tony Moll.

# On the bubble: C-T Tyson Walter, C-G Tony Palmer.

# Long shots: G-T Adam Stenavich, C C.J. Blomvall, G Pat Murray, G-T Travis Leffew, T Orrin Thompson.

Defensive line (9 or 10)

# Locks: DE Aaron Kampman, DT Ryan Pickett, DT Justin Harrell, DE Cullen Jenkins, DT Corey Williams, DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila.

# Good bets: DT Colin Cole, DT Johnny Jolly.

# On the bubble: DE Michael Montgomery, DE Jason Hunter, DE Larry Birdine.

# Long shots: DT Daniel Muir, DE DeVon Hicks.


Linebackers (5 or 6)

# Locks: WLB A.J. Hawk, MLB Nick Barnett, SLB Brady Poppinga.

# On the bubble: SLB Spencer Havner, WLB Tracy White, MLB Abdul Hodge, MLB Desmond Bishop, WLB Rory Johnson.

# Long shots: WLB Tim Goodwell, SLB Juwan Simpson.


Defensive backs (9 or 10)

# Locks: CB Charles Woodson, CB Al Harris, S Nick Collins, S Atari Bigby, CB Jarrett Bush, S Aaron Rouse, CB Will Blackmon.

# On the bubble: S Marquand Manuel, S Charlie Peprah, S Tyrone Culver, CB Patrick Dendy, CB Frank Walker, CB Tramon Williams.

# Long shots: S Alvin Nnabuife, CB Antonio Malone.

Specialists (3)

# Locks: P Jon Ryan, LS Rob Davis.

# On the bubble: K Dave Rayner, K Mason Crosby.

# Long shot: P Ryan Dougherty.

Saturday, August 18, 2007

JOHN CLAY!!!!

from jsonline:

The Journal Sentinel reported in July that Clay had failed to meet the NCAA's initial eligibility requirements to play as a freshman.

However, in order to become eligible Clay attended summer school in Racine and then had to be cleared by the NCAA Clearinghouse.

"It actually happened a lot faster than I thought," Bielema said. "For the first time I'll give kudos to the Clearinghouse."

In order for Clay to join the team before the first day of classes at UW (Sept. 4), it was necessary for a player to voluntarily leave the program.

That player, according to Bielema, was freshman defensive back Tony Megna, a walk-on from Oak Creek High School.

"A year ago, Tony suffered a knee injury," Bielema said. "He is going to take some time away from the program, start school and hopefully at some point come back."

With a scrimmage set for today, the players worked out in shoulder pads, helmets and shorts Friday night.

Clay participated in individual work with the other running backs at the beginning of practice, worked on his footwork with staring tailback P.J. Hill and got in briefly against the scout-team defense.


Awesome. Bringing a guy like Clay off the bench as a 3rd option and as depth is only going to help the team.

Friday, August 17, 2007

WR Picture Clearing Up

From jsonline:
Around 5 p.m., about 90 minutes before the team took the field for its final night practice of the summer, Ferguson was informed by coach Mike McCarthy that an attempt was being made to trade him to another team. If a trade can't be made, then he will in all likelihood be released.

"Robert will no longer be a Packer," McCarthy said after the night practice. "We're going to go in another direction. We're just moving on with the other guys and that's where it stands right now. I'll have more definitive information for you tomorrow."


So the WR picture is clearing up. First, that means that they are going to keep Carlyle Holiday because he would replace Ferg on special teams. We know they are keeping Jones, Driver and Jennings. The final spot is likely a battle between Ruvell Martin, Shaun Bodiford and the rookie 5th round pick David Clowney. Look for Martin to win that battle. Clowney or Bodiford probably have to become the KR to make the team based on how others performed or the team has to decide they want to keep 6 WRs. I wonder if a guy like Clowney would be able to be stashed on the pratcie squad or if he would get scooped up. My guess is that Packers are wondering the same thing.

Driver, Jennings, Jones, Martin and Holiday is not exactly making other teams shiver, but it seems like there is some upside with the young guys there, which I can handle.

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

"a lot of 13-10 games"

Mike Vandermause has taken the lead on straight, unhyped analysis of the Packers. Witness this comment from his latest chat:
I think the defense will be solid, especially with the depth on the line. That will take pressure off the secondary, which probably has the weakest link at safety. Marquand Manuel needs to improve over his performance in 2006. A nickel cornerback also must emerge to solidify the unit. I fully expect to watch a lot of 13-10 games this season. The offense's job will be to simply not make any killer mistakes, and get within Mason Crosby's field goal range (55 yards and in). If Brett Favre can hold up his end of the bargain, maybe the defense can carry the Packers to the playoffs this season.

I think that pretty much sums up their chances. Can the defense be great? Will the running game come around? I don't think anyone can answer those questions at this point. (And obviously he's very high on Crosby).

Saturday, August 11, 2007

John Clay

A big part of the depth and explosiveness of the pine that the Badgers need for this year in the running game is John Clay. It looks like he may get cleared to play for the Badgers this year after all! This story doesn't mention it, but the Badgers are currently at their camp maximum so even when approved, Clay can't join up until camp breaks.



BY GERY WOELFEL

BadgerNation can only wait.

Johnny Clay, the University of Wisconsin’s blue-chip football recruit from Racine, has completed his summer school work and will find out fairly soon whether he’ll be eligible to play for the Badgers this fall.

Clay, a 6-foot-2, 222-pound running back from Park High School, took two English classes this summer at Horlick High School with the hopes of gaining his eligibility.

While neither Wisconsin nor Park officials would discuss Clay’s situation, it was believed Clay needed an "A’’ and a "B’’ in those courses to be eligible at Wisconsin.

I’ve been told Clay attained those aforementioned grades and that Park officials have since forwarded his grades to the NCAA’s Clearinghouse.

It’s unknown how long it’ll take Clearinghouse officials to make a final determination on Clay’s status, although there is speculation it’ll be within two weeks.

Even if Clay is cleared to play, it’s still highly unlikely he’d be ready to play in the Badgers’ season opener Sept. 1 against Washington State.

Clay would, however, likely be ready to play in the Badgers’ Big Ten opener Sept. 22 against Iowa at Camp Randall in Madison.

While Clay hasn’t been able to work out with the Badgers and hasn’t been assigned a playbook, he has been working out religiously.

Clay, who intends on majoring in business at Wisconsin, was one of the most sought-after recruits in the country. He rushed for 5,005 yards and scored 58 touchdowns during his decorated high school career, which included being a three-time all-state first-team selection.

Clay was recruited by a "Who’s Who’’ of the country’s top football programs and opted for Wisconsin over Iowa.

Wednesday, August 8, 2007

Justin Harrell

From jsonline.com:
First-round pick Justin Harrell has been unimpressive during his first week and a half of camp, especially in one-on-one pass-rushing drills. Harrell doesn't seem to have many moves and he's regularly stopped by the likes of Adam Stenavich, Travis Leffew and Tony Palmer. During the night practice he managed to bull rush Swedish import C.J. Blomvall, but that was about it. It's gotten to a point where the coaches don't even put him up against Daryn Colledge, Jason Spitz or Scott Wells. They're probably worried about crushing his confidence. But it's hard to imagine he'll get a lot better not working against comparable athletes. If Harrell's going to play this year, he's going to have to face starting talent at some point.


That's not cool. He didn't play much his senior season and maybe is regarded as more of a project. He was an interesting draft pick if only because he plays the one position the Packers actually have good depth at.

But if that is their philosophy, then I guess you gotta go with it:

"When we talk about the blueprint of the Green Bay Packers we talk about the offensive and defensive lines," McCarthy said. "That's where we put our emphasis. The transactions we've made for our football team reflect that. It all starts up front."

Said Thompson: "We've talked from the get-go that the lines are the engines that run the thing. You can have as good a secondary as you can possibly have but if you don't have a defensive line that can control the run and pressure the passer, in this day and age it makes it unbelievably difficult to be successful."

Friday, August 3, 2007

When I said it, you didn't believe me

But what if The Man made the same comparison?

From Rotoworld:
Brett Favre was the latest player to lavish praise on Rotoworld's favorite keeper league rookie sleeper James Jones, who he compared to Sterling Sharpe

Packer's Practice Tidbits

LOL, from Packersnews.com:
Newly signed tight end Joe Werner, who hasn't played football since high school, had a rough time in the night practice. The former UW-La Crosse basketball star was stripped in a routine ball-security drill, dropped three consecutive balls from a Jugs machine and couldn't handle an Aaron Rodgers pass during a rare appearance in a team drill. …

Night practice ended with a spirited place-kicking session. McCarthy cut it short because players were dumping too much water on Dave Rayner and Mason Crosby.


First off, you are not finding the next Antonio Gates by bringing in a guy who was a basketball star at UW-LAX, that's for sure.

Second, "players were dumping too much water on the Kickers" ??? That needs to be explained because that is one of the strangest things I have read in a training camp report.

Thursday, August 2, 2007

The Celtics

I have read some ESPN.com experts who have suggested that the triumverate of KG, Ray-Ray and Paul Pierce is not enough to get it done with a questionable supporting cast. I completely disagree.

First, the move that Ainge made to get Ray-Ray makes a lot more sense now that they kept Theo Ratliff who was integral for the KG trade.

Second, you can't win in this league without superstars and you do not play to make the playoffs, you play to win it all. You don't play to win it all in 5 years, you play to win it all now. The Celts morgaged their future for now. This move is correct because their future's ceiling is at best the team Ainge just crafted. Regardless of how Gerald Green and Al Jefferson turn out, I seriously doubt that they give the Celts a better chance to win the title in any year in the future than the chance they have with their newly assembled power trio.

That being said, I would argue that Chicago is a better bet to win the East next year than the Celtics. However, to go from a terrible team last year and the horrible defeat that Ainge suffered in Boston's Great Ping Pong Ball Fiasco of 2007, to now have a team that is, at worst, top 4 in the East and a team you could legitimately suggest has a shot to win the NBA title if things go their way - that's a HUGE win.

If I were Ainge, I would see what I could do to get my hands on ROLE PLAYERS. Definitely look at Brevin Knight and offer up any remaining offerable future draft picks for depth (which they currently have none of). I would also pray that Tony Allen comes back with some skills.

Good Luck, Mr. Ainge. You have made things more interesting this year and as an NBA fan, we can thank you for that.