NFC North: Jake Allen
Black and Blue all over: Brohm departs
Brohm, the 56th overall pick of the 2008 draft, signed Wednesday night with Buffalo, according to multiple media reports, including this one by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Brohm has spent the season on the Packers’ practice squad and was eligible to sign onto any team’s 53-man roster. The Packers tried to match Buffalo’s offer, according to the Journal Sentinel, but Brohm declined and instead chose a fresh start with the Bills.
The Packers drafted Brohm before Aaron Rodgers developed into their long-term starter. It’s a good thing: Brohm struggled in both of his training camps with the Packers and was far behind Matt Flynn, a seventh-round pick in 2008, on the depth chart.
The Brohm situation might be the reason the Packers released receiver Jake Allen; they didn’t immediately fill his roster spot Wednesday. Allen was claimed on waivers by Cleveland.
Continuing around the NFC North:
- New defensive coordinator Dom Capers has elevated the Packers to the NFL’s No. 4 ranking against the run, notes Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
- Jason Wilde of ESPN Milwaukee offers his spin on the Rodgers-Alex Smith story.
- Following up on Wednesday’s stadium hiccup in Minnesota: The Vikings angrily rejected a lease extension offer from the commission that runs the Metrodome. Owner Zygi Wilf said in a letter that the offer, coming at a time when he is seeking a new stadium, makes him question the future of the Vikings in Minnesota.
- A contract extension for coach Brad Childress isn’t finalized, writes Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune.
- Chicago has turned down all on-camera interview requests with NBC in advance of Sunday night’s game against Philadelphia, writes Brad Biggs of the Chicago Sun-Times.
- Bears center Olin Kreutz (back) should play Sunday night, writes Jeff Dickerson of ESPN Chicago.
- Bears quarterback Jay Cutler is 4-9 in his 13 career night games, notes Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune.
- Detroit signed cornerback DeAngelo Smith off the Bears’ practice squad, the eighth defensive back they have added since the start of the season, writes Nicholas J. Cotsonika of the Detroit Free Press.
- Lions safety Louis Delmas says his infected tooth has healed, reports John Niyo of the Detroit News.
Catching up on a newsy Tuesday:
Detroit Lions: Two previously-injured players participated in a post-bye practice -- quarterback Matthew Stafford (knee) and defensive tackle Sammie Lee Hill -- and the Lions unveiled a slightly reconfigured offensive line. According to John Niyo of the Detroit News, veteran Jon Jansen has replaced the rotation of Manny Ramirez and Daniel Loper at left guard. When asked what he learned about Stafford’s bye-week progress during Tuesday’s practice, coach Jim Schwartz said: “Nothing.” Receiver Calvin Johnson (knee) did not participate Tuesday.
Green Bay Packers: Receiver Jake Allen was promoted from the practice squad to take the roster spot of receiver Brett Swain, who was placed on injured reserve (knee). Allen made some intriguing plays during the time I spent at Green Bay’ training camp.
Minnesota Vikings: There will be a Congressional hearing on the Williams Wall case, according to Brian Murphy of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. The inquiry will come before the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection on Nov. 3, the Tuesday of the Vikings’ bye week. This stuff is way out of my lane. But according to Murphy, the NFL is asking Congress to pass a federal law that would invalidate the Minnesota state laws that thus far has allowed both players to avoid a four-game suspension.
Black and Blue all over: Lions favored
The headline in Tuesday’s Detroit Free Press says it all: “Lions don’t want to overlook Rams.”
It’s true: The Lions will emerge from their bye to face an opponent even more undermanned and injury-ravaged than they are. St. Louis is 0-7 and is coming off a 42-6 blowout at home last weekend to Indianapolis.
I’ve seen the Rams twice this year and can tell you they have some competitive elements on their team. But I agree: Sunday’s game at Ford Field is an excellent opportunity for the Lions to pick up their second victory of the season.
The Las Vegas crowd seems to agree. Last time I checked, the Lions were 4-point favorites.
Continuing around the NFC North:
- The Lions will return to practice Tuesday and give us a better idea if quarterback Matthew Stafford (knee) will be ready to play, writes John Niyo of the Detroit News. Here’s what Stafford said Monday night on WJR radio about his status: “I don't know. I think I'll have a better thought about that maybe tomorrow.”
- Chicago coach Lovie Smith said he made the decision to rest defensive tackle Tommie Harris on Sunday at Cincinnati, writes Brad Biggs of the Chicago Sun-Times.
- Save your breath, writes David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune. The Bears won’t be firing Smith this season. He has two years and about $11 million remaining on his contract.
- Garry D. Howard of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel encourages fans who plan to attend Sunday’s game at Lambeau Field to applaud quarterback Brett Favre and “[e]mpower yourselves by showing off your obvious class with this rousing ovation.”
- The Packers have lost receiver Brett Swain (knee) for the season. One possible replacement is practice squad receiver Jake Allen, writes Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
- The Packers’ confidence is high, writes Jason Wilde of ESPN Milwaukee.
- More is at stake Sunday than just Favre’s return, writes Sean Jensen of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. We’ll have more on this topic later Tuesday.
- The Star Tribune provides updates on cornerback Antoine Winfield (foot) and receiver Bernard Berrian (leg). Both could miss Sunday’s game.
Practice squad extravaganza: Packers / Updated
Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert
Green Bay’s eight-man practice squad includes quarterback Brian Brohm, who will get more time to develop after his unexpected release Saturday. Suffice it to say, none of the other 31 NFL teams thought enough of Brohm to claim him on waivers. So for the immediate future, it appears the Packers will go with only two quarterbacks -- Aaron Rodgers and Matt Flynn -- on their active roster.
Speaking to reporters in Green Bay, general manager Ted Thompson said "nobody has given up on anybody" and said he is not in the market to acquire another quarterback.
Meanwhile, Green Bay lost rookie tailback Tyrell Sutton to Carolina but did get second-year tailback Kregg Lumpkin onto their practice squad. Sutton was released in part because the Packers decided to keep three fullbacks on their roster.
Thompson: "It's a little bit unusual but we felt like there was value in all of those guys. Korey [Hall] and John [Kuhn], who have been with us, are excellent special-teams players, good fullbacks, and we think Quinn Johnson has the ability to be a special player. Again, that cost roster spots in other areas that wouldn't normally happen but we felt like it was worth it."
Along with Brohm and Lumpkin, here is the remainder of the Packers’ practice squad:
- Receiver Jake Allen
- Cornerback Trevor Ford
- Linebacker Cyril Obiozor
- Tackle Jamon Meredith
- Defensive end Ronald Talley
- Nose tackle Anthony Toribio
Camp Confidential: A read on GB's defense
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| Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images | |
| Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers is experiencing the changes on the Packers' defense first hand. |
Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert
GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Someone is bearing down every time Aaron Rodgers throws a training camp pass. One play it's cornerback Charles Woodson. Then it's safety Nick Collins. Sometimes outside linebackers Jeremy Thompson and Aaron Kampman crash the pocket together. Then it's Thompson and inside linebacker Brandon Chillar.
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"It's tougher to go against," Rodgers said. "It really is tougher. Going against our old scheme, there was just a lot of man coverage. You kind of knew you were going to get 'one-high' man or 'two-high' man or a very rare Cover 2. But what you saw in practice, they were bringing guys off both edges. Corner blitz. Safety blitz. Then they play Cover 2, Cover 3 or Cover 0. They mix up the coverages and the blitzes so often... It makes it a lot more difficult to try to get a read on it. They force you to make a quick decision."
There is little doubt Green Bay's new defense will be different and take more chances in 2009. But no one believes the scheme alone will turn around a team that finished 6-10 last season. The Packers are still testing their players' aptitude for the 3-4 and adjusting it accordingly. They've also initiated a significant overhaul of their offensive line, are transitioning the tight end position with a greater emphasis on second-year player Jermichael Finley and are holding a wide-open competition for a new punter.
"Certainly the whole idea behind this defensive scheme is to be more unpredictable and to hand more question marks to the offense," general manager Ted Thompson said. "But like everything else, it still gets down to football players making plays and defeating the guy across the line of scrimmage."
Key questions
1. Do the Packers have the right players for a traditional 3-4 defense?
Initially posed in January, that question remains relevant 10 days into camp. I saw Kampman and Jeremy Thompson, both defensive ends last season, valiantly chasing receivers downfield during team drills. No matter how quickly those players make the schematic adjustment, that seems to be a mismatch.
But defensive coordinator Dom Capers insisted he has no coverage that gives an outside linebacker sole coverage responsibility on a receiver. In those instances, Thompson and Kampman are responsible for underneath routes and have safety help downfield. That's an example of the short-term adjustments Capers will have to make for the scheme to work in 2009.
We're also still waiting to see how many of the Packers' 4-3 defensive tackles and ends can hold up as a 3-4 end in this scheme. Cullen Jenkins appears to be a natural, but Johnny Jolly has missed significant time with an ankle injury and former first-round pick Justin Harrell has been on a snap count. Which brings us to ...
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| Mike Roemer/AP Photo | |
| Packers defensive lineman B.J. Raji's contract situation is costing him valuable conditioning time. |
2. How much immediate help will the Packers get from their pair of first-round draft choices?
Defensive lineman B.J. Raji remains unsigned as of Sunday morning, meaning he has missed nine practices and at least temporarily delayed the Packers' plans to transition him into the starting left end. Linebacker Clay Matthews, meanwhile, was beginning to challenge Thompson for a starting job on the outside when he tweaked a hamstring injury that slowed him for much of the spring.
Thompson has displayed superior athletic skills, but when healthy it appears Matthews is the more polished player. Matthews seems destined to start when the regular season opens -- if he can stay on the field.
You want to say the same about Raji, but he remains in a market logjam that is keeping five other players out of NFL camps. Raji was probably the best overall defensive lineman in the draft and he'll make quick progress once he arrives. But his ab
sence has been long enough to affect his conditioning. And no one should underestimate the challenge and significance of Raji's move to defensive end. Every snap he has missed is one less opportunity to grow comfortable before the season starts.
3. Can the Packers achieve stability on the offensive line?
One of coach Mike McCarthy's primary goals is to end the revolving door of line play caused by changing the positions of multiple players. Daryn Colledge is now locked down at left guard, and it appears the Packers are giving Jason Spitz (center) and Josh Sitton (right guard) every opportunity to be the long-term answers at their respective positions.
That still leaves both tackle positions as mild question marks. But left tackle Chad Clifton appears healthy enough after having four offseason surgeries: arthroscopic procedures on both shoulders and both knees. The Packers are still limiting his snaps in hopes of squeezing one more year out of his 33-year-old body. Nothing I saw suggested Clifton is done, but it's very early.
On the right side, Allen Barbre has worked exclusively with the first team while youngsters T.J. Lang and Breno Giacomini rotated behind him. I don't get the feeling the Packers consider Barbre a long-term solution but to this point, his hold on the starting job does not appear threatened.
Market watch
Ted Thompson said that linebacker Nick Barnett is "on pace" to be activated soon from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. It could happen sometime this week, but Barnett will find several new challenges when he returns to the field for the first time since tearing his anterior cruciate ligament last November.
The most obvious is pushing through the usual soreness and uncertainty that goes with ACL injuries. Players are rarely at full speed when they first return to the field. As well, Barnett will have to get an on-field crash course in the new scheme. No matter how many meetings he has attended or practices he has watched, there is no substitute for practice reps.
And finally, Barnett's replacement has actually proved adept in the new scheme. Linebacker Brandon Chillar played in a similar blitz scheme earlier in his career in St. Louis and will have a significant role this season no matter what happens with Barnett. "This really fits Brandon's talents as far as all the sub packages we have," McCarthy said. "And he's a good blitzer. He gets good pressure."
This is not to suggest the Packers will move on without Barnett. But his football world has changed significantly since we last saw him on the field.
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| AP Photo/Morry Gash | |
| Green Bay's Quinn Johnson is an intimidating presence at fullback. |
Newcomer to watch
We've already discussed the absence of Raji and Matthews. On the other hand, one rookie who has opened some eyes is fullback Quinn Johnson. The Packers list him at 250 pounds, but Johnson would pass for a defensive tackle if he didn't have a number on his jersey.
Needless to say, Johnson is a load as a lead blocker. He also displayed some intriguing quickness on the rare occasions I saw him carry the ball. The Packers don't give the ball to their fullbacks much -- they combined for eight rushes and 10 receptions in 2008 -- but I doubt too many defenders would be eager to tackle him.
Johnson is competing for a roster spot with incumbents John Kuhn and Korey Hall, but it's hard to imagine him not making the team after the Packers spent a fourth-round pick on him.
Observation deck
At the urging of veterans Donald Driver and Greg Jennings, Rodgers is openly expanding his leadership role within the locker room. "I think it's the opportunity that presents itself," Rodgers said, "and the vibe that I'm getting from the guys [is that they] are looking to me for leadership. In certain situations, they are expecting me to speak up." Rodgers also said he is getting "more freedom" from McCarthy to influence scheme and game plans. ... During individual drills one night last week, Rodgers drilled three passes into a small square from more than 40 yards away. ... The intense vibe of this camp is like night and day from last year's distraction-filled affair. I have no idea why the Packers would consider risking that relative tranquility by signing Michael Vick. Multiple reports suggest they have been doing their due diligence on the former Atlanta quarterback. ... You wonder whether this is the end of the line for veteran center Scott Wells, who is battling Spitz for the starting job. If Spitz wins, as expected, it's not clear if the Packers would keep Wells as a backup. ... With Spitz and Sitton in the starting lineup, the Packers should have a bigger offensive line this season. "Were some teams stronger up front than us last year? Yeah, probably so," McCarthy said. "We'll see what happens this year." ... The Packers are pitting Jeremy Kapinos and Durant Brooks in a punting duel, but neither has been impressive and it's possible the Packers will have to look elsewhere once teams starting making roster cuts. ... Linebacker Brady Poppinga is behind Thompson, Matthews and Kampman on the depth chart but believes this scheme was made for his skills. "I feel like I'm in a defense that really fits who I am," Poppinga said. ... No idea where he fits in, but first-year receiver Jake Allen caught my eyes during the early portion of practice. Allen is 6-foot-4, has long arms and made a number of acrobatic catches during red zone work. Allen spent last season on the Packers' practice squad.
Practice squad extravaganza: Packers and Lions
We'll use the blog today as a clearinghouse for all NFC North practice squad news. (Wow. There's a sentence you might not have read before.)
We expect teams to announce their lists throughout the day Sunday, so check back this afternoon and evening.
GREEN BAY PACKERS
- WR Jake Allen
- C Brennen Carvalho
- TE Joey Haynos
- LB Danny Lansanah
- DT Alfred Malone
- CB Joe Porter
- WR Brett Swain
- RB DeShawn Wynn
Of note: The Packers released Wynn during the first round of roster cuts, but he did start four games last season and gives them an excellent internal insurance policy should an injury occur elsewhere. Haynos is an interesting physical prospect at 6-foot-8 and should at least give the Packers' defense a good look on the scout team.
DETROIT LIONS
- LB Darnell Bing
- OL Matt Butler
- RB Allen Ervin
- WR Eric Fowler
- QB Drew Henson
- S LaMarcus Hicks
- WR Kenneth Moore
Of note: The Lions made two other roster moves, signing linebacker Ryan Nece and claiming runing back Marcus Thomas off waivers. Thomas, a fifth-round pick of San Diego this year, gives the Lions a third tailback behind Kevin Smith and Tatum Bell. To make room for Nece and Thomas, the Lions released linebacker Anthony Cannon and fullback/tight end Sean McHugh.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Kevin Seifert
Seifert joined ESPN.com in 2008 after covering the Minnesota Vikings for the Minneapolis Star Tribune for eight years. He lives in the Twin Cities with his wife and children.
