Green Bay’s perceived depth becomes Reality in 22-11 victory vs. Patriots

By CHRIS HAVEL

The Green Bay Packers appear to have true depth at running back and defensive back.
It routinely flashed during training camp practices and it showed again in Thursday night’s 22-11 victory at New England in the preseason opener.
A year ago, the Packers’ running game amounted to Eddie Lacy, James Starks and the occasional quick toss to Randall Cobb.
Today, DuJuan Harris’ vacated roster spot is seeing a trio of challengers featuring Rajon Neal, Alonzo Harris and John Crockett.
They combined to roll up 82 yards in 21 carries against the Patriots, including Harris’ nifty 25-yard touchdown run.
Neal appeared to be the leader going into the preseason opener. He is the quickest, most agile of the group. He should be assignment sure because it’s his second year in the system.
Exactly how Neal might help on special teams remains to be seen. The kick return duties appear to belong to Ty Montgomery, which leaves the coverage teams.
Harris is the most powerful of the three. He consistently has bowled over inside linebackers early in camp. He also showed a burst during his 25-yard gallop to the end zone.
Whether he is assignment sure in terms of catching the football in the flat and on blitz pick-up remains to be seen.
Crockett, who missed much of early training camp with an ankle injury, ran like a back who intended to make up for lost time. Crockett ran with a sense of urgency that was impressive. He also showed good ball security and awareness. His short touchdown catch was especially welcome in terms of fitting into the Packers’ offense, particularly in the red zone.
Any of the three represents a significant upgrade from last year.
If things continue to play out as they have so far, my best guess is that Harris will win the No. 3 running back job if he takes care of his business. By that, I mean if he picks up blitzes, handles his assignment, doesn’t fumble and catches it cleanly.
If not, I believe Crockett will prevail.
In fact, I’m not so sure he won’t anyway. Crockett showed a determination, toughness and awareness that I liked. He’s a football player. The greatest obstacle is Alonzo Harris, who’s been running like Franco Harris in camp.
“I thought the runners ran well, they ran smart,” Packers head coach Mike McCarthy said. “From a decision standpoint, there were definitely some reads you can coach off of and teach off of. They ran with body lean and did a good job of yards after contact. I thought the running back group had a good night.”
Meantime, the defensive backs carried over their strong practice showing into the Patriots’ preseason opener. Casey Hayward and Sam Shields looked like bookends. Both are rangy and supremely self-assured.
Furthermore, Shields and Hayward can cover slot receivers, which is a big bonus in terms of versatility.
Rookies Quinten Rollins and Ladarius Gunter also were strong.
Rollins is a player, pure and simple, who will have a role this season. He is going to contribute and has a chance to duplicate what Hayward did during his rookie season two years ago.
Gunter is a long, tough corner whose forte is bump-and-run but knows how to play the football in the air. His knock is a slow 40-yard dash time (4.6 or thereabouts) but he plays much faster.
Gunter has a real chance to make the roster, especially if he flashes on special teams.
Elsewhere, left tackle David Bakhtiari is dealing with what is described as a “minor” knee injury. Don Barclay replaced him with the first unit.
Also, on the defensive line, Mike Daniels, Letroy Guion and Josh Boyd all were sidelined for practice. That meant more work for Mike Pennel, and the 6-4, 332-pound tackle responded well. He worked next to B.J. Raji in Saturday’s practice at times with the first unit.
Pennel has a strong chance to make the 53-man roster.
Now, the Packers have a full week to prepare for Sunday’s noon kickoff at Pittsburgh. It should help them get in their travel routine, and also on a regular-season schedule with seven days to prepare.
Most promising, perhaps, was backup quarterback Scott Tolzien’s strong showing. He has improved consistently since he arrived two years ago, and is the Packers’ best backup going into a season in a decade.
Chris Havel is a national best-selling author and 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’s MVP Parties the evening before home games.

Green Bay GM restored the “title” in Titletown with Super Bowl win

By CHRIS HAVEL

Ron Wolf’s Pro Football Hall of Fame induction speech was pointed, smart and brief. Simply put, it bore his likeness every bit as much as the bust in Canton, Ohio, that immortalizes Wolf’s place in NFL history.
It’s funny how NFL general managers loathe the term “bust.” One too many and it’s off to the unemployment line. In Wolf’s case, this final “bust” is richly deserved. That much became apparent as he modestly recapped his life in the NFL. He spoke reverently of Al Davis and the Oakland Raiders, and he praised Mike Ornstein and the New York Jets.
Mostly, he talked fondly of Titletown, USA. Wolf thanked everyone employed by the Packers during his career from 1992 to 2001.
When he rumbled the words, “Lambeau Field!” in that baritone voice of his, the 67,000 Packers fans who were celebrating Family Night responded with a thunderous ovation.
Clearly, Wolf’s love of and respect for the NFL was the theme. He gave his entire life to football, and it was a life well spent for him and the league.
Wolf’s no-nonsense, common sense approach to what seemed like incredibly complicated situations to others stands out.
He played the draft like a virtuoso might play the piano. Kevin Costner didn’t do the GM position justice in the movie “Draft Day.” They didn’t make him smart enough. What might’ve seemed like a great movie script was nothing compared with what Wolf faced in the hot seat.
All those trades, all those decisions and all those drafts – year in and year out – is what returned the Packers to glory. There were no clever shortcuts or dumb luck trades that fell in Wolf’s lap.
He demanded total football authority and he got it.
He wanted Mike Holmgren and he got him.
He traded for Brett Favre. He signed Reggie White in free agency. He used every avenue available to build a champion, including the World League from whence Marco Rivera came.
Wolf’s tireless efforts on behalf of the Packers were simply business as usual to him. He didn’t need a pat on the back, or feel the need to make sure people liked him.
He just focused on one thing: Just Win Baby! It’s the Raiders’ expression, but it was Wolf’s personality.  Everyone talks about the great players’ intensity and competitive spirit. Wolf was as competitive as anyone I’ve ever written about, and that includes the ultra-competitive Brett Favre.
In many ways, Wolf was ahead of his time. He trusted his scouts, but only after he taught them exactly what he expected. And then he allowed them to do their job. He trusted his coaches, beginning with Holmgren, and simply asked, “What do you need to build a world champion?”
Egos aside, Wolf and Holmgren worked as well together as any GM-head coach in league history. That isn’t to say there weren’t any differences because there were. What mattered though was what was best for the team. That singular goal was unchallenged.
Today, GM Ted Thompson and head coach Mike McCarthy are about as similar to Wolf-Holmgren as you’re ever going to see. Thompson, the football lifer, and McCarthy, the quarterback whisperer who became a great head coach, continue to keep the Packers on the path of sustained success.
Wolf charted the course at a time when many believed the Packers were a dying organization in the NFL’s world of free agency.
Today, it’s a laughable notion. The Packers have been all boon and no bust, save the bust of Wolf that sits nobly in its rightful place: Canton, Ohio.
Wolf capped his seven-minute speech Saturday night with this: “As my dad would say, “I love a good speaker, I really do. Not one who’s polished, but one who’s through.”
Then he graciously stepped aside to allow Will Shields, Charles Haley, Jerome Bettis and others to take the stage.
While observing the Packers’ practice today during training camp, one could see Wolf’s imprint throughout. The professionalism, the talent-laden roster and the first-rate facilities all are byproducts of Wolf’s time in Green Bay.
Chris Havel is a national best-selling author and 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’ MVP Parties the evening before home games.

By CHRIS HAVEL
The Packers look really good on paper. They look even better in person.
The Packers’ 2015 training camp kicked off Thursday and Friday with back-to-back non-padded practices. Then the pads came on and the gloves came off Saturday and Monday.
Here are several observations through four practices:

The roster is strong and deep.

The defensive secondary’s athleticism, speed and versatility is especially attention grabbing. First-round pick Damarious Randall flashed early and often with a mix of raw talent splashed with a hint of savvy. Quinten Rollins, the second-round pick, joined him on the field Monday after dealing with a hamstring issue. Rollins, like Randall, is smooth and rangy.
Whatever questions might be raised about the Packers’ standards for six-foot defensive backs being lowered is off target. Randall (5-11, 196) and Rollins (5-11, 195) are bookends.
Sam Shields continues to show why he was paid last season. He is expected to do some shadowing of the opponent’s top receiver, as opposed to staying put at left corner.

Aaron Rodgers offers the quarterback position brilliance.

Scott Tolzien offers it a chance to survive if disaster strikes. Tolzien’s self-assured approach and above-average right arm fit perfectly with what the Packers need in a backup quarterback. Tolzien is slowly developing into more than a caretaker. On Monday, for example, his throws were accurate. His reads were crisp and his technique was solid.
Tolzien wasn’t half bad when he took on the Giants and eventually lost in the Meadowlands a few years ago. Since then, he has grown into the position.

Clay Matthews needs to have a big season.

The Packers’ defense rose up in the season’s second half when Matthews moved inside on early downs. They also rely heavily upon him in passing downs.
It’s why his absence Monday due to “knee soreness” is bound to raise an eyebrow or two. It’s not because Matthews is viewed as soft. It’s because he’s viewed as integral.
To be its best, the defense needs Matthews in the worst way.

Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and Davante Adams lead a receiver group

And it’s even stronger with the addition of Ty Montgomery. Montgomery, the third-round pick out of Stanford, made two sweet plays Monday. On the first, he lined up in the backfield, took a quick pitch and scampered 12 yards into the end zone. On the second, he ran a strong post pattern and snatched the ball out of the air as he sprinted into the end zone. Montgomery appears to be the real deal.

Josh Boyd and B.J. Raji intend to own the right end and nose tackle positions, respectively.

Boyd has been very strong early and might make it pesky for Datone Jones to recapture his starting spot when he returns from a one-game suspension.
Raji also has looked good and pronounced himself it. Letroy Guion is working hard and the competition can only mean good things for the defense.

Nick Perry is healthy and ready to roll.

Perry, who is coming off shoulder surgery, is critical to the Packers’ defensive plans. When Matthews moves inside it is incumbent upon Perry to set an edge against the run and/or rush the passer. So far, Perry has been doing both.

McCarthy seems more comfortable with his redefined role every day.

The Packers’ head coach has been more involved in the big picture by moving here and there during practice. If he did it as much in the past, I can’t remember. Perhaps everyone is just more aware of it since he relinquished the play-calling duties during the offseason.
At any rate, McCarthy’s post-practice news conferences reflect his eyes-everywhere approach. He talks with more specifics in certain areas. He also genuinely appears to be embracing it.
Why not? It’s good for the head coach to be re-energized and challenged, and McCarthy is among the best.

The fans remain simply amazing.

It’s only practice, but Packers fans don’t seem to mind.
Whether it’s 67,000 showing up simply to cheer for and pay their respects to Brett Favre, or thousands of fans encircling Ray Nitschke Field to watch training camp practice, they do so with class, energy and enthusiasm.
So far, so good four practices into the 2015 training camp.
Chris Havel is a national best-selling author and 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’ MVP Parties the evening before home games.

By CHRIS HAVEL

Every offensive starter returns on NFL’s most explosive unit; ‘D’ under scrutiny as secondary works to replace T. Williams

The Packers enter training camp in an enviable position.
The NFL’s top offense returns every starter in addition to backup offensive linemen J.C. Tretter and Don Barclay, plus third-round draft pick Ty Montgomery and second-year receivers Jared Abrederis and Jeff Janis. With Aaron Rodgers pulling the trigger and Eddie Lacy ready to ramble there appears to be no letup in sight.
The situation is far less settled on defense.
Whatever advantage might be gained by Julius Peppers’ experience in the scheme and Clay Matthews’ inside-out versatility could be mitigated by the defensive line’s suspensions and Tramon Williams’ departure. Defensive end Datone Jones faces a one-game suspension for his off-season arrest on marijuana possession charges. Nose tackle Letroy Guion currently is looking at a three-game suspension for his arrest on weapons and marijuana charges.
To further complicate matters, veteran cornerback Tramon Williams’ departure via free agency means a new running mate for Sam Shields. Clearly, B.J. Raji, Josh Boyd and a handful of defensive backs are embracing the opportunity to play early and often. The options up front on the defensive line are limited.
Raji, who is coming off a torn biceps, appeared to be in decent shape this offseason. He has to regain his previous form if the Packers’ defense hopes to be competent against the run.
Boyd, who was green as grass two years ago, has matured and developed into a viable option at defensive end. His forte is playing the run. Whatever the defense might lose with Jones’ absence in terms of pass rush will be offset by improved run defense from Boyd.
My guess is that either Guion or Jones, or perhaps both, could lose their starting jobs because of the suspensions. The competition should be fierce up front, especially when Jones and Guion return.
Second-year pros Mike Pennel and Khyri Thornton also need to step up early in camp. Their progress will be seriously tested by the Packers’ veteran offensive line.
Meantime, let the battle begin at cornerback opposite Shields. Casey Hayward appears to be the starter going into camp, but that doesn’t mean he won’t be pushed or supplanted by Micah Hyde, Damarious Randall or Quinten Rollins. The Packers have played extensively with rookie defensive backs in the recent past, including Shields and Hayward.
Williams’ absence will be greatest early in the season. It’s impossible to replace his savvy, experience and athleticism in a matter of months. However, Packers GM Ted Thompson certainly didn’t leave the cupboard bare of defensive backs.
If Hayward stays healthy and recaptures his rookie form he should be the starter opposite Shields all season. But if he continues to miss practice time with nagging injuries, and then misses assignments in games because of it, the Packers should be quick to look elsewhere.
For my money, I’ll line up with Hyde over Hayward every time. That is until Hayward proves he is accountable and available. Hyde has been both and then some. He has a knack for finding the football, and he is a sure tackler near the line of scrimmage.
In coverage, Hyde has some limitations, but he also is a young player who continues to ascend. My best guess is that Hyde will be the starter opposite Shields at Soldier Field against the Bears in the regular-season opener.
Randall and Rollins will be interesting to watch throughout camp. Their talent is apparent. So is their enthusiasm. What remains to be seen is how they react to being beaten, which will happen, and whether they can be the ball-hawks their athletic prowess suggests.
Other defensive backs include former basketball player Demetri Goodson, who should have a key role on special teams, and Tay Glover-Wright, a practice-squad holdover.
The safety position has gone from being a defensive liability to perhaps its strongest unit. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix is a rising star and Morgan Burnett has settled in to become a reliable veteran. Sean Richardson and Chris Banjo also return to provide depth.
Interestingly, the inside linebacker position doesn’t seem to be as great a concern as it has been going into camp. Matthews’ ability to line up inside certainly helps, as does Sam Barrington’s growth last season.
Jake Ryan, the fourth-round pick out of Michigan, also gives the position a sense of stability. He could end up being one of the really good draft picks among many for Thompson.
Even with the question marks on defense, the Packers enter camp looking ready to make a serious Super Bowl run. Whether the Packers’ defense comes together and rises to championship caliber remains to be seen. But the Packers certainly have the players to get it done on that side of the ball.
Let training camp begin.
 
Chris Havel is a national best-selling author and 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’ MVP Parties the evening before home games.

By CHRIS HAVEL

“Weekend of Favre” sets terrific stage as Packers’ fans await championship run

The five-minute ovation was deafening inside Lambeau Field. The final “click” of the security fence lock at Camp Randall’s Gate D was silencing. From Saturday night’s welcome home love-fest to Sunday afternoon’s flag football farewell at Madison, the “Weekend of Favre” was a smashing success.
It brought full circle Favre’s rise to NFL greatness, including the highs and lows in Green Bay, and yes, the rather inglorious exit. It focused on the highs. Why? The reason should be obvious: There were so many more good times than bad throughout the rollercoaster ride shared by Favre and his fans.
Life with Favre as the Packers’ quarterback was part amusement-park ride, part real-life adventure, and it was always a thrill-a-minute experience. Most of all, it was genuine.
Packers’ fans felt they could relate to the good-natured but ultra-competitive Favre, a down-home Southern boy whose drawl was endearing and right arm was amazing.
Best of all, Favre and his fans wanted the same thing: To win. Favre showed up for every game, despite whatever injuries, and he proceeded to do his best to get the W. It wasn’t always pretty, but it was pretty unbelievable, and the touchdown passes and victories invariably seemed to overshadow the interceptions and losses, painful as they were.
The Packers with Favre, like with Aaron Rodgers, always feel they have an excellent chance to win. That’s why it’s great being a Packers’ fan. However, that’s also why it’s disappointing, if not shocking, when the Packers lose. It’s especially so if the Packers lose and the quarterback only plays OK.
Favre was seldom just OK. He was too much the virtuoso. He was often great, routinely exceptional and rarely awful. Every once in a while he’d have the Packers rolling along only to make what seemed like an inexplicable mistake. It was as if he’d shake things up just to make it interesting. You know, always looking out for the fans. I’m joking, of course. It only felt that way at times.
Favre was a true leader and terrific teammate. Both stemmed from his ungodly consecutive games played streak. He was an ironman who gave even when it hurt, an attribute that teammates respect and admire most. He was easier to follow because he was strong-willed and because he was there every game. He could be trusted. The fans’ love affair with Favre is as genuine as the man.
As Favre admitted, he’s a good man who has made a lot of mistakes. But who among us is perfect? Favre’s exuberance on the field, and his mistakes off of it, endeared him to fans because they could relate. Leaving and playing for a rival, such as Minnesota, was something they couldn’t relate to. In fact, it was their worst nightmare come to light.
At any rate, all of that is in the past now. I didn’t hear any boos at Lambeau Field. If some boneheads did boo, they were summarily drowned out. The acrimony is ended. Favre’s toughness, skill and hard work helped his teammates achieve Super Bowl immortality. They still love him for it. His fans love him for it.
It was a tremendous weekend. All that was missing were Big Irv and Big Dog. Nobody would have enjoyed the weekend’s events more than Brett’s father, Irvin, and his teammate and friend, Reggie White. Both passed away far too soon.
It was great to see Bonita Favre on Saturday night, but also bittersweet to see her walk onto Lambeau Field without Big Irv at her side. I thought, “Rest in peace, Irvin and Reggie, and know that this was made possible by the two of you.”
So the final chapter on Brett Favre has been written. That is, until the Thanksgiving game against the Bears, and the ceremony to place Brett Favre’s name and No. 4 among the Packers’ all-time greats inside Lambeau Field.
Meantime, the Packers must busy themselves with capturing Super Bowl 50, and preparing to celebrate that AND Favre’s induction next summer into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Chris Havel is a national best-selling author and 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’ MVP Parties the evening before home games.