PFT and the Steve Mariucci Family Foundation

| 08/27/2012

Mariucci Family Foundation Logo
Event USA is pleased to partner with the Mariucci Family Foundation this season in bringing access to sports, recreational and therapeutic programs, nutrition, education, and healthcare to underserved families throughout the U.S.
Coach Mariucci will be a special guest for our Packers Player Reception on September 12, the evening before the Thursday night Bears game this fall, to talk football as well as his foundation, joining Packers players Bryan Bulaga (#75) and Morgan Burnett (#42). Join us for a very special evening in support of a great cause!

Reception Features:

  • 2 Packers Players/Celebrity guests
  • Autograph & Picture Session
  • Hors d’oeuvres & Cocktails
  • Q & A/Interview Session

Reception Details:

  • When: Night prior to the game @ 5:00 pm
  • Where:Tundra Lodge in Green Bay
  • Who: Current/former players

The Mariucci Family Foundation

Preseason 2012: Packers at Bengals Wrap Up

| 08/24/2012
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‘] Green Bay Packers 27, Cincinnati Bengals 13
Preseason record: 1-2
Of interest: Despite a successful debut by tailback Cedric Benson, quarterback Aaron Rodgers was once again the Packers’ leading rusher. Rodgers capped two drives with touchdown runs of 12 and 5 yards, ending the evening with 52 rushing yards. He completed 12 of 22 passes for 154 yards in a half of play. … Benson didn’t start but rushed for 38 yards on six carries. … Receiver Greg Jennings, in his preseason debut, caught passes of 19 and 18 yards on the Packers’ first scoring drive. … The first-team defense didn’t give up a touchdown and might have found some clarity in its lineup. Rookie cornerback Casey Hayward was beat on a 15-yard touchdown pass to Marvin Jones later in the game but otherwise played well, as did safety M.D. Jennings. … Linebacker Jamari Lattimore returned an interception 27 yards for a touchdown. … Cornerback Sam Shields also had an interception in his preseason debut. … Tight end Tom Crabtree’s shoulder injury left the Packers with two tight ends for the majority of the game, limiting the options of the second- and third-team offense. … And finally, the numbers were once again bad for backup quarterback Graham Harrell, who completed 5 of 12 passes for 26 yards. But he was sacked three times amid the continuing struggles of the Packers’ second-team offensive line.
Local coverage (in lieu of BBAO): Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: “It wouldn’t be surprising if when the Packers return to practice on Sunday, rookie Casey Hayward was at right cornerback in the base defense and second-year pro M.D. Jennings was at strong safety in the nickel package. Both had impressive games Thursday night.” … Benson’s strong between-the-tackles running might have earned him the Packers’ starting job, writes Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. … Cornerback Tramon Williams played well, according to Pete Dougherty of the Press-Gazette, especially when he twice prevented receiver A.J. Green from jumping over him for scoring plays. … Coach Mike McCarthy continued his defense of Harrell, saying he “improved” Thursday night and adding: “We had some protection adjustments that didn’t go right. We had free runners coming two or three times. He was able to make them miss and step out of a couple of them. He’s in command of the offense, whether you’re aware of that or not. It’s part of preseason football. We’re not putting a Band-Aid on it. He’s trying to play above it.” … Rodgers said he didn’t have a communication problem on an interception he threw in the direction of receiver James Jones, according to Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com. “I just threw a real bad ball,” Rodgers said. “… We kind of quick-snapped ’em and if I throw the ball I should have thrown, James is probably still running.”
Up next: Next Thursday versus Kansas City Chiefs
[Source] by Keven Seifert, ESPN

Cedric Benson on the Bengals "Those guys miss me."

| 08/24/2012
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‘] Packers running back Cedric Benson looked good in his return to Cincinnati on Thursday night, and he said afterward that he knows his old teammates wish he were still with them.
Benson gained 38 yards on six carries and caught one pass for 10 yards, and after the game many Bengals players hugged him on the field.
“It felt good,” Benson told the Cincinnati Enquirer. “Just lets me know those guys miss me over there. I guess the run game hasn’t gotten up to par in Cincinnati yet. Those guys know the type of player I am. They know how I work. Developed a pretty good relationship with those guys.”
Benson had three straight 1,000-yard seasons in Cincinnati, but the Bengals decided not to bring him back this year. Benson’s comments suggest that some of his former teammates have told him they think letting him leave was a mistake.
[source] by Michael David Smith

Patience gets greatest test during Packers’ problematic preseason – Packers News & Tickets @ PFT

| 08/24/2012
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‘] GREEN BAY – Nothing’s ever easy.
The Green Bay Packers are coming off a 15-1 season and returning starters at almost every position, yet their followers’ fretting and sweating only increases as the regular season draws near.
There are several reasons for concern. Some are old. Some are new.
None can be considered shocking. All are valid.
Inside linebacker Desmond Bishop’s season-ending hamstring injury is a major blow to a Packers’ defense that already was suspect. Cornerback Davon House’s shoulder injury also qualifies as a setback.
Yet both players were injured and unavailable at times last season.
Furthermore, every NFL team is forced to deal with injuries. The 2010 Packers were glorified for their ability to overcome injuries en route to victory over Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XLV.
Cedric Benson, Packers vs. Bengals, 2012
The Packers’ defense is also a concern.
It is too early to nickname defensive coordinator Dom Capers’ group “The Sieves” because everything goes through them. But it’s close.
Again, it also isn’t a shock. The Packers’ defense ranked at or near the bottom in every major category last season. The greatest deficiency was in the pass rush, although the run defense had its poor moments, too.
Then there is the running game, or lack thereof.
The more I watch other NFL teams this season, the more concerned I am about the Packers’ absolute lack of a running attack. The problem isn’t that Packers coach Mike McCarthy is ignoring that part of the offense. The problem is the running backs.
Green Bay has no one with the moves or explosiveness of the Indianapolis Colts’ Donald Brown, or the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Chris Rainey, or even the Cleveland Browns’ Brandon Jackson.
That’s right. Even former Packers back Brandon Jackson looked stronger, quicker and more confident than the Packers’ backs.
Suddenly, the 15-1 record and all the offensive fireworks seem like a long time ago.
So what are the Packers to do?
The first order of business is to get newly acquired running back Cedric Benson up to speed. Benson needs to be given every chance to breathe life into a lethargic running attack.
Imagine what life would be like if Aaron Rodgers could fake a handoff, drop back, survey the field and fire to the open receiver. The Packers won’t have to imagine that scenario if Benson provides a spark.
Before the Packers’ 35-10 preseason loss to Cleveland, I was willing to chalk up the poor running attack to a lot of factors, the greatest of which is that the Packers are a passing team. That doesn’t cut it anymore. What the Packers need to be is more balanced offensively.
That isn’t likely to happen if James Starks is the lead ball carrier and he is backed up by Brandon Saine, who has been injured this training camp, and Alex Green, who is still coming back from last year’s knee injury.
Benson isn’t going to be a cure-all to the running attack, but he should be able to give it a semblance of respectability.
Fixing the defense is more complicated.
So far, first-round pick Nick Perry has flashed at outside linebacker, but he’s far from a sure-fire hell raising pass rusher. The Packers recorded zero sacks against the Browns and rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden. What will they do against the 49ers and Alex Smith in the opener?
The easiest solution is also the simplest.
The Packers’ defense needs to play better. The returning defenders need to play better. Sure, rookie Jerel Worthy is going to have to contribute, but B.J. Raji, Ryan Pickett and C.J. Wilson need to be stout at the point of attack. They got blown off the line against the Browns.
A.J. Hawk needs to take more of a leading role. He has the pedigree and experience to shoulder the load. If Hawk and other veterans don’t step up and deliver in Bishop’s absence it won’t matter what the rookies do.
Frankly, the Packers have been disappointing thus far.
A lot of that disappointment can be washed away on Thursday at Cincinnati with a strong defensive effort. Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton and receiver A.J. Green will provide a strong test.
So will a rejuvenated Bengals defense under head coach Marvin Lewis.
With a strong performance the Packers could answer some questions instead of raising more.
It will require focus from the players, and patience from the fans.
Chris Havel is a Packers News expert and national best-selling author. His latest book is Lombardi: An Illustrated Life. Havel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4-6 p.m. CDT on WDUZ FM 107.5 The Fan, or on AM-1400, as well as Fan Internet Radio (www.thefan1075.com). Havel also hosts Event USA’ Player Autograph Parties the evening before home games.

Bishop injury a major loss for Packers’ ‘D’; Benson signing a must – Packers News @ PFT

| 08/13/2012
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‘] Packers Running Back Cedric Benson
GREEN BAY – The significance of Desmond Bishop’s season-ending hamstring injury cannot be overstated.
Certainly it exceeds any hit the Packers’ defense has delivered in recent memory. Surely it qualifies as a significant setback in coordinator Dom Capers’ efforts to restore respectability to the defense.
Bishop either led or tied for the team lead in tackles during Green Bay’s first nine games last season. That was before a calf injury sidelined him for three games until he returned in time for the playoffs.
This year, Bishop looked great until the calf injury flared. After a few days off, he seemed fine going into the preseason opener at San Diego. That’s when Bishop, caught in an awkward position beneath an otherwise routine pileup, suffered the gruesome season-ending injury.
While Bishop looks ahead to a long, diligent rehabilitation, the Packers face the sobering consequences that coincide with his absence.
First, D.J. Smith is the closest thing to a viable option as a replacement. However, his lack of size and ability to strike a blow like Bishop means offenses will try to take advantage of a mismatch in the run game.
Second, Bishop is a much better player than he often gets credit for. Look at his bio in the Packers’ media guide, and the game entries read like this: Led team in tackles … Paced the defense in tackles … Finished with a team-high 11 tackles, etc. It goes on and on.
This isn’t a matter of finding a competent replacement. It’s a matter of hoping to replace a top-level player with someone that approaches competence. To think a play-maker will emerge is wishful thinking.
Third – and this is a bit of good news – if Bishop had to be lost, the sooner the better. That isn’t meant to be callous. The Packers can’t realistically replace Bishop with a comparative talent. Bishop was that good. However, Capers may be able to compensate for the loss – and mitigate the impact – through clever use of the scheme.
While Capers begins to move on without Bishop, the Packers’ offense begins to move on with Cedric Benson at running back.
The move comes with minimal risk and potential for a huge upside. The greatest upside, however, may be Benson’s ability to motivate the current stable of backs.
While James Starks is listed week-to-week with turf toe, and Brandon Saine works his way back after a hamstring injury, Benson gets his shot.
The veteran’s credentials dwarf anything that Starks, Saine or Alex Green bring to the huddle. Whether Benson’s past problems (four arrests during his NFL career) follow him to Green Bay remain to be seen. Sometimes, the reality of a situation demands that the Packers’ front office welcomes in a player with something less than a sterling reputation as being “Packer People.”
Benson isn’t “Packer People.” At least, his past suggests that.
What matters most to a team without a running attack, and a 29-year-old running back just recently without a team, is making this a win-win.
Benson comes in with three straight 1,000-yard plus rushing seasons. He is an accomplished veteran who runs hard, finishes off carries and has quick feet for a big man. The downside is that he’s not the one-cut-and-go back that fits best in Packers’ head coach Mike McCarthy’s offense. Also, Benson’s ability to pick up blitzes will be tested.
Benson isn’t guaranteed a roster spot, but my guess is that this will be an obvious call – one way or another – when GM Ted Thompson executes his final roster cuts.
Either Benson will stand out as being that much better than anything the Packers have had here recently, or he will prove to be too great a risk, either in pass protection and/or the passing game, or simply not explosive enough to make a difference.
My gut tells me that Benson’s presence will do wonders for the recuperative powers of Starks and Saine, and that Alex Green will continue to make strides in his recovery from knee surgery.
What Benson’s running ability will do for the offense isn’t as clear. Benson is a 20-plus carry back in a 10-carry system. He could be a factor in short yardage and goal-line, which shouldn’t be discounted, but is that a reason to keep him?
Ultimately, Benson’s signing serves as a wakeup call to Starks and Co., but nothing more. However, if Benson proves to be a significant upgrade over Starks, Saine and Green, it would be revealing on two fronts:
** Maybe Packers’ fans (and media) don’t know what a quality NFL running back looks like because it’s been so long, and …
** The best teams have at least some semblance of a running game, and the Packers – as mighty as their passing game is – are no exception.
My best guess: Benson makes the 53-man roster and helps the running attack. Why? What was thought to be “great competition” at running back will be revealed as being a mediocre group.
One more thing: The onus will be on Benson to adjust to the Packers’ offense, and not the other way around.
Chris Havel is a Packers News expert and national best-selling author. His latest book is Lombardi: An Illustrated Life. Havel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4-6 p.m. CDT on WDUZ FM 107.5 The Fan, or on AM-1400, as well as Fan Internet Radio (www.thefan1075.com). Havel also hosts Event USA’ Player Autograph Parties the evening before home games.

PFT's 2013 Packers Player Vacation!

| 08/10/2012
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Another season brings another fun filled adventure with some of your favorite Packers Players! This February we’re heading to the beautiful all-inclusive Iberostar Rose Hall Suites in Montego Bay, Jamaica for up to a week of fun in the Sun!

Our guests this year include John Kuhn (#30), Jermichael Finley (#88), Bryan Bulaga (#75), Desmond Bishop (#55), and William Henderson (#33, Alum).

Join PFT in 2013 for a fun filled week in Montego Bay, Jamaica with some of your favorite Green Bay Packers Players!

Click here for this years details!

Packers Punter Masthay gets Extension

| 08/07/2012
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‘] Tim Masthay has a pretty good gig and he stands to hold onto it for a while longer.
Masthay only had to punt 55 times last season, there were 27 punters with more attempts, but the Packers obviously liked what they saw in his limited appearances on the football field. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports that the the team has come to terms on a four-year extension with Masthay that kicks in after the 2012 season.
Per Rapoport, the deal will pay Masthay $5.465 million with $1.2 million guaranteed. Masthay will make $540,000 this season so he stands to make just over $6 million in the next five years. That’s not as much as guys like Shane Lechler, Thomas Morstead and Andy Lee will make, but it’s a nice chunk of job security for a player who had to win a training camp competition two years ago. It should also make running backs feel good to learn that there’s still one kicking job that doesn’t pay better than their chosen profession.
Masthay averaged 45.6 yards per punt last season and dropped 23 punts inside the 20-yard-line against four touchbacks. His gross and net averages were both improved from his first season with the team and the Packers obviously think that trend will continue or at least plateau at a high enough level to keep punting from being a problem in Green Bay for the next few years.
[Source]

Scrimmage reveals Packers’ team ready to play hard, fast – Packers News @ PFT

| 08/07/2012
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‘] GREEN BAY – They played hard and they played fast.
They looked like a defense ready to at least tackle the ball carrier, if not the world, during Friday night’s annual intra-squad scrimmage.
The Green Bay Packers’ defense isn’t as good as it hopes to be by regular season’s end, but it already seems more promising than the dispirited group that limped to the finish a year ago.
Rookies such as defensive end Jerel Worthy, outside linebacker Nick Perry and cornerback Casey Hayward proved to be active and athletic. Second-year pros such as linebacker Jamari Lattimore and cornerback Davon House also flashed the skills necessary to give some aid and comfort to the NFL’s worst defense.
Naturally, Packers coach Mike McCarthy’s offense looked to be ready for prime time. Aaron Rodgers was sharp as a razor, and the quarterback wasted no time hooking up with Jordy Nelson on a big play.
Running backs Alex Green and Brandon Saine, plus receiver Diondre Borel and tight end Ryan Taylor also showed sparks.
Even backup quarterback Graham Harrell displayed a measure of poise and precision that suggests there might be something here to build on.
In short, the Packers played hard and fast on both sides of the football, a testament to the acumen of McCarthy’s coaching staff and the want-to of the players. The holdovers want nothing more than redemption for last year’s 15-1 season that went poof! The newcomers desperately want a place on a team that is regarded among the NFL’s best.
The combination is promising. It’s too early to say 15-1 promising, but not too early to suggest GM Ted Thompson and his scouts added a very compelling group of rookies to the mix.
Linebacker Dezman Moses and defensive backs Jerron McMillian, Micah Pellerin and Sean Richardson look capable of pressing for a spot on the 53-man roster.
It sets up for an interesting preseason opener at San Diego.
The Packers are fortunate to open on the road, which allows the coaches an early opportunity to assimilate the young players into what can be a nasty environment. I can’t imagine the Chargers’ fans will be wild-eyed on Thursday night, but it will be helpful for the Packers’ young players to learn road trip protocol in a fairly tame setting.
I am especially curious to see how House, Hayward and Sam Shields perform in the secondary. Shields has been less than stellar, while House has turned heads and Hayward looks like a solid second-round talent.
The other area I am interested in is left tackle.
Two weeks ago, I said the offensive line – especially at tackle – was among the thinnest position groups on the team. Now, with left tackle Marshall Newhouse out with a mild concussion, the task of protecting Rodgers’ backside falls to Herb Taylor, with raw seventh-round pick Andrew Datko waiting in the wings.
For all of the Packers’ concern about the defense and the running game, the one area that could cause everything to fall apart is offensive tackle. Bryan Bulaga is well above-average at right tackle, but beyond that it gets really dicey.
Whether Taylor or Datko can play at an NFL level is a mystery. How long Newhouse will be sidelined with the concussion remains to be seen. Hopefully, this isn’t the beginning of a recurring issue for Newhouse.
James Campen, the offensive line coach, is considered among the best. It appears he will get the opportunity to remind everyone why.
Overall, the scrimmage was a success.
The defense rallied to the football, and the offense ran with considerable precision for this early in training camp.
The San Diego preseason game will be another step in the process. If Taylor and/or Datko show they can hang in against NFL-caliber pass rushers, it will mean one less headache for McCarthy, and more important, for Rodgers.
Chris Havel is a Packers News expert and national best-selling author. His latest book is Lombardi: An Illustrated Life. Havel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4-6 p.m. CDT on WDUZ FM 107.5 The Fan, or on AM-1400, as well as Fan Internet Radio (www.thefan1075.com). Havel also hosts Event USA’ Player Autograph Parties the evening before home games.

Training camp brings expectations, urgency – Packers News @ PFT

| 07/30/2012
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‘] GREEN BAY – At this time, the Green Bay Packers are well into their second padded practice of training camp. It is difficult at times to know who can play and who cannot after four weeks, let alone four hours.
That said, here a few observations – from a distance, and only an hour’s worth at Saturday’s first padded practice:
** Packers coach Mike McCarthy is going to be demanding throughout training camp. He isn’t going to err in thinking the players’ sense of urgency is where it should be, only to find out it isn’t, which is most likely to occur, if at all, during the regular-season opener.
That isn’t going to be tolerated.
** The Packers may have had good reason not to add a running back. The new addition was already on the roster: Alex Green. At six feet, 220 pounds, Green looks explosive in the hole and elusive in the open field. He clocked a 4.52 40-yard dash at the 2011 combine (identical to Packers WR Randall Cobb’s time) but was derailed by injuries.
Now, Green appears healthy and ready to assume a significant role in McCarthy’s offensive backfield. Despite his recent history, Green’s statured and ability to make tacklers miss should equate to durability. That remains to be seen.
Green could be the Packers’ third-down back – working a lot out of the single-back sets – and seeing responsibility for picking up blitzes for and catching check-downs from Aaron Rodgers.
James Starks also looks strong – a bit leaner and quicker – and should be good to go as the starter in the base offense. Starks’ ability to hang onto the football, finish runs strong and catch it OK out of the backfield makes him an asset.
Starks could benefit from Green’s presence by being asked to do less, but to do it better. When Starks can relax and concentrate on the job at hand, he has been better than average (the 2010 Super Bowl run wasn’t a fluke, and it shouldn’t be the lone highlight of Starks’ career).
** The defensive backs certainly look the part. From a leaner, more seasoned Jarrett Bush to youngsters such as Casey Hayward, Davon House and Sam Shields, the Packers’ secondary appears to be more athletic and rangy than any group in recent memory.
This doesn’t mean it will equate to a stable of tight cover guys and willing tacklers, but it does mean they shouldn’t be routinely overmatched by the NFC North’s strong group of wide receivers. The Lions’ Calvin Johnson, the Bears’ Brandon Marshall and the Vikings’ Percy Harvin all have game-breaking ability. That is six games’ worth of potential grief if the Packers’ secondary isn’t up to the challenge.
If looks and first impressions matter in the least, and early judgments likely are either erroneous or lucky like winning a coin flip, consider this: The Packers AT LEAST APPEAR to have bona fide defenders.
It isn’t just Tramon Williams, Charles Woodson and a bunch of guys.
Or so it seems.
** Jerel Worthy and Nick Perry are saying and doing all the right things. Whether the defensive tackle and outside linebacker can contribute to any great degree as rookies remains to be seen. However, they at least meet the eye test, unlike the Jamal “Too Small” Reynolds’s of years past. Worthy and Perry will get plenty of chances to make noise in the one-on-one pass rush drills and 11-on-11 live action, but make no mistake, the preseason games are going to be critical.
Consider this: Where would the Packers’ Dom Capers and staff be in trying to develop Worthy, Perry, etc., during a two-game preseason? It would be awful difficult, if not impossible, to expect anything more than performances that reflect the lack of repetitions.
It would lead to more personnel mistakes, I believe, and sloppier season openers. The last week of the regular season already has the potential to present games featuring teams’ backups and reserves. At least the season openers, in part thanks to the four-game preseason schedules, tend to bring exciting, high-scoring games to kick off the NFL season.
That is why four preseason games is still a good idea, and why the Packers’ offense needs to be sharp, and Worthy and Perry need to develop quickly.
When the San Francisco 49ers show up Sept. 9 it will be for real. The team with the greatest preparation, and the greatest sense of urgency, typically prevails.
Chris Havel is a Packers News expert and national best-selling author. His latest book is Lombardi: An Illustrated Life. Havel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4-6 p.m. CDT on WDUZ FM 107.5 The Fan, or on AM-1400, as well as Fan Internet Radio (www.thefan1075.com). Havel also hosts Event USA’ Player Autograph Parties the evening before home games.

Five areas to focus on when the Packers open training camp this week – Packers News @ PFT

| 07/23/2012
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‘] GREEN BAY – The Milwaukee Brewers did their part.
No, they didn’t put themselves in position to win the National League Central, not after being swept at Cincinnati last weekend, but they did fill the void between the NFL draft and the start of training camp.
Now, it’s all eyes on the Packers as head coach Mike McCarthy opens his seventh training camp in Green Bay. Here are five key areas to focus on Thursday when the Packers take the field:
** B.J. Raji and the defensive line
As Fritz Shurmur, the Packers’ former defensive coordinator, used to say, “If you don’t have a defensive line, you don’t have a defense.”
Indeed, Packers’ fans understand what Shurmur meant more than ever after watching last season’s debacle unfold.
The Packers’ 3-4 defense was ineffective because the big guys up front played small against the run and invisible against the pass.
Raji, the lynchpin, was neutralized through overuse. He played way too many downs (80 percent of the defensive snaps) to be a playmaker. He was too busy trying to survive to think about dominating.
Now, he and the rest of the defensive front need to mesh into a strong, reliable unit if the Packers expect to make a deep run in the postseason.
Raji’s stamina is critical. He had better arrive in top shape Thursday. The rest of unit needs to show up hungry, and with a sense of urgency. Those traits will be easy to spy, or conspicuous by their absence.
I suspect fans’ patience with a sloppy, underperforming line is short. My guess is defensive coordinator Dom Capers’ patience is even shorter.
** The one-on-one pass rush drills
The drill itself is designed to give the pass rusher an edge.
If the Packers’ defenders can’t win when they are single-blocked (trying to create single blocks – and subsequent mismatches – is at the core of most NFL defensive schemes) what chance do they have?
The Packers need linebackers Desmond Bishop, Nick Perry and at least one other would-be pass rusher to be consistently dominant in the drills.
** Jermichael Finley’s time is at hand
So much of what McCarthy and his offense love to do involves the tight ends. Naturally, much of the offense’s success – and the tight ends’ role – revolves around the position’s best player.
Finley needs to relax, focus and lead by example.
Potential is a wonderful thing. Unrealized potential gets old real fast. Barring unforeseen misfortune, Finley is too talented and smart not to have the production match the hype.
** Rookie Casey Hayward and the defensive backs
The passing drills are always revealing, especially when college safeties such as Hayward line up in the slot against veteran receivers. It doesn’t take long to see Hayward’s (or any other young player’s) skill set.
Back when passing offenses weren’t so evolved, safeties weren’t asked to cover receivers in the slot. Now it is routine. Of all the reasons to miss Nick Collins – and there are many – one of the greatest is his ability to cover slot receivers. It allowed Capers and Co. a great deal of latitude to disguise coverage.
If Hayward proves to be more than adequate in pass coverage, and third-year pro Morgan Burnett improves in this area, Capers’ job gets easier and the Packers’ defense gets better.
** The team’s overall level of efficiency, urgency
Training camp’s great intrigue is talent evaluation. Which of the young players can actually play? That is always of primary consideration, and it is true with the Packers’ “all-defense” rookie class.
That said, the Packers are a veteran team with high expectations, and reaching the goal is largely incumbent upon, well, the incumbents.
To that end, the Packers’ overall sense of efficiency and urgency is going to be a terrific barometer of this season’s potential.
Do the players get in and out of drills smoothly? Do the position coaches spend an inordinate amount of time repeating information? Does McCarthy blow a gasket more often than usual?
Are the units – and not just individuals – making strides each day?
All of this will be interesting to watch as it unfolds.
The Brewers did their part. They got us to the Packers’ training camp. Now it’s time for McCarthy and Co. to begin the quest for greatness.
Chris Havel is a Packers News expert and national best-selling author. His latest book is Lombardi: An Illustrated Life. Havel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4-6 p.m. CDT on WDUZ FM 107.5 The Fan, or on AM-1400, as well as Fan Internet Radio (www.thefan1075.com). Havel also hosts Event USA’ Player Autograph Parties the evening before home games.