AllGreenBayPackers.Com

Surviving Sunday with no Packers Football

It’s shorts season in Green Bay once again. That time of year when we read about some unlikely, unknown or underdog player that suddenly flashes a “ton of talent” and is the surprise of OTA or mini-camp practices. Media members, bloggers and fans get themselves all in a tizzy over the possibilities.

I first fell victim to this unrealistic euphoria in the summer of 2009, when this website was not even six months old. The object of my affection that summer was Jeremy Thompson, who while running around in shorts, had supposedly risen to the top of the depth chart at one of the OLB spots in the newly-instituted Dom Capers 3-4 defense. Thompson took the first snaps at the position, even before new first-round draft pick Clay Matthews. If you’d like a humorous stroll down OTA memory lane, you can read the article I wrote about Thompson at the time.

Once the pads came on in training camp, it became obvious the NFL-caliber skills were just not there. Thompson plummeted down the depth chart and saw very limited playing time in six games, recording one tackle. Then in December of 2009, he suffered an unfortunate career-ending neck injury.

The injury notwithstanding, Jeremy Thompson taught me a lesson that year: pay little attention to the unexpected “stars” of OTAs until a few weeks into training camp.  Read more... (531 words + 3 images, estimated 2:07 mins reading time)

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Jersey Al Bracco is the founder and editor of AllGreenBayPackers.com, and the co-founder of Packers Talk Radio Network. He can be heard as one of the Co-Hosts on Cheesehead Radio and is the Green Bay Packers Draft Analyst for Drafttek.com.

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Here’s my way-too-early Packers 53-man roster prediction and depth chart. It’s presented without comment because I’d rather see what all of you have to say about it in the comments section.

(And spare the “it’s way too early to be talking about this” comments). I know it’s way too early. Hence the title. In my opinion, this topic is much better than rehashing the same old stories that come out of OTAs every year.)

QB
Rodgers
Harrell
Coleman

RB
Starks
Saine
Green

FB
Kuhn

TE
Finley
Taylor
Crabtree
Williams

WR
Jennings
Nelson
Jones
Cobb
Driver
Gurley

LT
Newhouse
Sherrod

LG
Lang
Dietrich-Smith

C
Saturday
Genus

RG
Sitton

RT
Bulaga
Datko

D-line
Raji
Pickett
Worthy
Wilson
Daniels
Guy

OLB
Matthews
Perry
Walden
So’oto

ILB
Bishop
Hawk
Smith
Jones

CB
Williams
Woodson
Shields
Hayward
House

S
Burnett
McMillian
Peprah
Bush
Jennings

P
Masthay

K
Crosby

LS
Goode

Does not count against 53-man roster:

Physically Unable to Perform
Quarless

Suspended
Neal
Hargrove

Adam Czech is a freelance reporter and a Packers fan living in the Twin Cities. Follow Adam on Twitter. Read more of Adam's writing on the Packers here.

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So are OTAs (Organized Team Activities) really necessary? As we all know, Green Bay Packers bloggers have been known to argue just about any point. I was reminded of this fact today as I briefly checked into my twitter account. (I am trying to avoid twitter during the day so I can make it home and watch my “Tivoed” World Cup games without knowing the scores).

But I decided to take a chance today (no games I was THAT interested in today), and see what’s going on. Well, right off the bat, I run into, say, “a difference of opinion” between Packer blogger extraordinaires Brian Carriveau and Aaron Nagler.

Seems that Aaron is outright questioning the value of OTAs, and Brian felt the need to respond with reasons why he thinks they’re important. Here’s how the discussion went:  Read more... (1082 words + 3 images, estimated 4:20 mins reading time)

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As the Packers OTAs have progressed, one of the most surprising stories has been the rapid ascension up the depth chart of Jeremy Thompson. A fourth-round draft pick out of Wake Forest (102nd overall) in 2008, Thompson saw limited action in his rookie season.

Thompson was inactive for the Packers first four games, but when Cullen Jenkins’ season came to an early end, Thompson stepped into defensive end rotation. He eventually started three games, but was hampered for much of the last seven games with an assortment of injuries.

Thompson didn’t get a chance to show very much in 2008, but the Packers coaches thought he could be a contributor at DE in 2009 if he bulked up and added another 15 pounds to his 270lbs frame.

Then of course, the defensive coaching purge hit Green Bay on Jan 5, 2009. Soon after, new coaches and a new 3-4 defensive system were introduced.

In retrospect, it was the best thing that could have happened for Jeremy Thompson. He is now being asked to play a position the new Packer coaches feel he is a natural for.

Thompson changed his training regimen over the offseason, emphasizing speed and hip-flexibility drills. He also abandoned the need to put on more weight, instead focusing on becoming leaner and stronger at the same time. The end result was he actually dropped 10 pounds, while gaining speed, flexibility and strength.  Read more... (782 words + 3 images, estimated 3:08 mins reading time)

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To start with, Justin Harrell made it onto the field. While we don’t know to what extent he participated, his presence indicates he has at least passed his physical. Harrell said he has been “pain- free for about four weeks.” My first reaction was “what the hell took so long”, but now I’m going with “well, that’s a start.”

Cullen Jenkins, Chad Clifton, Atari Bigby, Scott Wells and Nick Barnett were all kept out of activities as they continue to rehab injuries.

2009 draft picks Clay Matthews III (hamstring) and Brad Jones (groin) both missed the second day. Neither injury was serious and both are listed as day-to-day.

The first team defense had several early surprises. BJ Raji was at left end, Ryan Pickett at NT and Harrell at right end. Jeremy Thompson was the first team right outside linebacker, ahead of Brady Poppinga and the injured Clay matthews III. Kevin Greene seemed very enthusiastic with Thompson’s play during the practice. Could Poppinga be in trouble?

The Packers announced that they had signed exclusive rights free agent Tramon Williams to a one-year contract. This came not long after Packer Coach Mike McCarthy lauded Williams for his work ethic, “how he goes about his business”, and participating in OTAs without a contract. McCarthy thinks Williams has a “big future in front of him”. Al Harris, get your seat cushion ready…  Read more... (468 words + 3 images, estimated 1:52 mins reading time)

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