AllGreenBayPackers.Com

Versatility could be Casey Hayward's greatest strength.

Remember when the NFL was about taking your best 11 guys and putting them against the other team’s best 11 guys? Those days are over.

Well, kind of. You still want your best 11 against their best 11, but those 11 change throughout the game much more often than they used to.

Today’s NFL is all about matchups and sub packages. Of course, certain players are so good that they will never leave the field, but just because a guy doesn’t play all three downs doesn’t mean he’s an inferior player. It means his skills might be a better fit in specialized situations, perhaps as a pass rusher on obvious passing downs, a slot corner on third down or a run stuffer in short-yardage.

Sub packages also depend on a coordinator’s scheme and gameplan. On defense, most coordinators these days want to try and create as much confusion for the offense as possible. Causing chaos is always good, too. The coordinator is likely asking himself how he can maximize the skills of each of his players to achieve the general goal of creating confusion and causing chaos, and he knows that this goal is easier to achieve with players that have diversified skill sets in line with the coordinator’s overall defensive vision.  Read more... (769 words + 1 image, estimated 3:05 mins reading time)

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Sam Shields sends the Packers to the Super Bowl.

Think back to the beginning of the 2010 season for a minute. The Packers defense was coming off an embarrassing playoff loss to the Arizona Cardinals and the secondary faced many of the same questions that the pass rush faces today.

But instead of answering those questions in the draft, Ted Thompson’s solution was to plug in an undrafted rookie free agent that few people had heard of and actually had more experience as a wide receiver than a defensive back. Sam Shields came into camp with the reputation as a speedster, and that’s about it. Besides his ability to run really fast, nobody knew much else about him.

“This is how you’re going to fix the secondary, Ted?” Packers fans asked.

“Yup,” Thompson replied before taking another sip from his bottled water and turning away.

“Improving from within” was a talking point that Thompson and Mike McCarthy hammered home through training camp and the preseason. By 2010, most reasonable Packers fans understood that Thompson was rarely going to sign a free agent or make a trade that grabbed headlines.  Read more... (685 words + 1 image, estimated 2:44 mins reading time)

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2012 NFL Draft

So now that the NFL draft is officially over, tons of fans will converge on Packers web sites to air their grievances about not drafting a particular player or reaching for another.  They will hand out grades to teams and players alike; argue with other fans about what should have happened, and how the analysts have no idea what they are talking about.

I frankly am uninterested in such things; you’re typically not going to find out how good a draft class or a player is for 3-5 years and a player’s success has a lot to do with the team and the environment they get drafted in.

Nevertheless, every team drafts a player with a role in mind, and in this article I hope to analyze what role I think each player was drafted for; I am not concerning myself with what I think will likely happen, I have not placed a grade or an analysis of each player’s potential for a reason.  I’ve also included who I think the rookies will be replacing, keep in mind I don’t necessarily think that a rookie will take a veteran’s spot (for instance I have Casey Hayward replacing Charles Woodson) only what type of role that rookie is like to take.  Read more... (1641 words + 1 image, estimated 6:34 mins reading time)

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New Packers D-lineman Jerel Worthy should help the team's feeble pass rush.

So all those holes on the Packers defense are patched now, right?

Someone to get after the quarterback opposite Clay Matthews? We got Nick Perry for that.

A defensive lineman to fill the void left by Cullen Jenkins? Say hello to Jerel Worthy.

Defensive backs that can cover and won’t shy away from making a tackle every now and then? Welcome to Green Bay, Casey Hayward and Jerron McMillian.

If only it was that simple. Unfortunately, none of the Packers shiny new toys acquired in the draft have played a snap in the NFL. As excited as Packers fans are to have so many new faces — especially on defense — there’s no guarantee that they’ll make the team any better.

Right now the only tangible asset these draft choices provide is hope. What else does a football team have to sell in April?

But let’s be extra positive and assume that the Packers aced this draft and everyone they selected in rounds 1-4 does what they’re supposed to do and makes the Packers better.  Read more... (639 words + 1 image, estimated 2:33 mins reading time)

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North Alabama CB Janoris Jenkins

I highly doubt CB Janoris Jenkins will still be avaliable when the Packers pick late in the first round of the NFL draft, but if he is, Ted Thompson has an interesting decision to make.

On paper, Jenkins vs. Harrison Smith is a complete mismatch. Jenkins is by far the more talented and superior player. But when you factor in concerns about Jenkins off the field and the Packers need for a safety after releasing Nick Collins, the matchup becomes closer.

Jenkins is a cocky, in-your-face, man-to-man, physical cover corner. You can put him on an island against any WR and he’s not going to back down. He’ll take on whomever he’s asked to cover, not ask for any help, and have a good chance of winning the battle.

Smith is one of the better safeties in a weak safety class and almost plays like an extra linebacker. I don’t see him as a guy who can cover the field against deep passing attacks, but I do think he’ll be good in the box against the run and as a blitzer. Think of him sort of as a lite version of Charles Woodson.  Read more... (360 words + 1 image, estimated 1:26 mins reading time)

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Shields just one of many who had down years...

It is no secret that Sam Shields struggled at cornerback for the Packers last season. After a surprisingly successful rookie year following being undrafted out of Miami, Shields took a step back in year two.

The future looked brighter than ever when Shields capped his sensational rookie campaign with a marvelous game against the Chicago Bears in the NFC Championship. He finished with two interceptions, a forced fumble and a sack. His last minute interception sealed the game and sent the Packers to the Super Bowl.

This excitement was dulled in 2011 as Shields not only failed to improve, but regressed.

Shields had a better season statistically in 2011 when it comes to tackles, interceptions and passes defended, mostly based on increased playing time. Despite the jump is basic numbers, Shields’ year was filled with missed tackles and blown assignments. On the season, Shields was responsible for 10 missed tackles and gave up 9 passes of 20-plus yards.

It has been said over and over that Shields was probably the player most hurt by the lockout. It will be interesting to see how Shields reacts to having a full off-season in Green Bay.  Read more... (431 words + 1 image, estimated 1:43 mins reading time)

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FS/CB Trent Robinson, Michigan State

Green Bay Packers draft prospect profile: FS/CB Trent Robinson

Player Information:

Trenton Robinson, FS/CB Michigan State
5-10, 195 pounds
Hometown: Bay City, MI

NFL Combine:

40-yard dash: 4.46
Vertical Jump: 35”
Broad Jump: 10’5”
20-yard shuttle: 4.16
3-cone drill: 7.12

News and Notes:

Short for a safety, but a big hitter. … Started career at Michigan State as a CB, but moved to S after freshman year. … Once moved to safety, he played both SS and FS, eventually sticking at FS. … First team All-Big Ten in 2011. … The Spartans went from 112th among all 120 major colleges in pass defense in 2009 to 11th in 2011 after Robinson moved to safety. … Recorded 229 tackles, 12 pass breakups and nine interceptions at Michigan St. … Played eight games as a true freshman. … Started 32 of 46 games. … Team captain in 2011. … Not afraid to stick his nose in there despite lack of size. Packs a punch. … Reputation as a very hard worker in college. … A top CB recruit coming out of high school at Bay City Central High. … No major injury history.  Read more... (454 words + 1 image, estimated 1:49 mins reading time)

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