NFL Nation: Jermichael Finley
Seriously, I got more than 1,200 offers for help on the 15 positions I left open. Most related to the Brett Favre-Aaron Rodgers choice at quarterback, and I took many of them into account in compiling the final list. I did so with a clear conscience, knowing (or at least, strongly assuming) that no NFC North player has a bonus written into his contract for making this team.
(There’s always next year, though!)
My final choices are in the chart to your right. Below, I’ve offered my reasoning for some of the more difficult decisions. We start with the toughest:
- In the big picture, Favre and Rodgers’ passing statistics are a wash. Rodgers led the NFL in rushing for a quarterback, but he was also sacked an NFL-high 50 times. (And yes, Rodgers shares in the responsibility for that.) Ultimately, I gave Favre the nod because he was the quarterback of the team that went to overtime in the NFC Championship Game. Wins and losses aren’t the only thing quarterbacks should be judged by, but they can certainly break a tie.
- Based on what I’ve written previously, you might be surprised to see Dominic Raiola as the NFC North’s top center. Here’s where I came from: Chicago’s Olin Kreutz had a tough year by everyone’s standards, and Thursday we learned it was because of a bone spur was causing irritation on one of his Achilles tendons. Green Bay used two centers this season, Jason Spitz and Scott Wells. Minnesota’s John Sullivan was in his first year as a starter and had the expected ups and downs. Start to finish, Raiola might have been the division’s steadiest, if not most talented, center. Here’s the way Lions offensive coordinator Scott Linehan put it: “He's always there and doesn't miss anything, and that's what you've got to have in your center.”
- Tight end was by far the most difficult choice, even after using my TE/WR option to add a second. I went with Greg Olsen and Visanthe Shiancoe, and bypassed Jermichael Finley, for several reasons. Olsen had 60 receptions and eight touchdowns in an offense that struggled for a good part of the season -- while facing coverage commensurate with a No. 1 receiver. Shiancoe led the NFL with 11 touchdowns by a tight end. Finley’s final statistics were close to both players, but he missed three games and had the fewest touchdowns among the three. You couldn’t go wrong with any of this trio.
- Some of you went bonkers when I left running back open to argument rather than immediately tap Adrian Peterson. I wanted to see if anyone could make a convincing argument for Ryan Grant. I didn’t see one.
- Green Bay’s Cullen Jenkins had 4.5 sacks as a defensive end, not a bad total in a 3-4 scheme. More important, I thought Jenkins adapted well to his new role in the second half of the season and was a big part of the Packers’ No. 1-ranked run defense. He also forced three fumbles and is well-suited for this scheme.
- The Packers’ Nick Barnett got the nod at “middle” linebacker because he was the steadiest throughout the season. The Vikings lost E.J. Henderson in early December. Chicago’s Brian Urlacher made only one start, and Detroit’s Larry Foote couldn’t finish the season.
- Chicago’s Charles Tillman got the second cornerback spot because he led all NFL defensive backs with six forced fumbles. He’s the best at stripping the ball in the league.
- At punter, Minnesota’s Chris Kluwe and Chicago’s Brad Maynard were close throughout the season. I gave the nod to Maynard because he had a bit more control over his kicks. He had two touchbacks versus Kluwe’s nine. He also kicked the ball out of bounds 17 times as opposed to Kluwe’s nine. Both statistics are good measures of field position gained.
- I realize that Minnesota’s Heath Farwell was named to the Pro Bowl as the NFC’s coverage man. He is top-notch, but he’s actually had better seasons. Chicago’s Tim Shaw might have had the best cover season of anyone in the NFL. Among other things, he led the league in special teams tackles and, according to the Bears’ unofficial statistics, was involved in a team-record 30 stops in 15 games.
Getty Images/US PresswireWhich quarterback -- Brett Favre or Aaron Rodgers -- should be named to the All-NFC North team?I’d like to follow the approach we used for last year’s team. Accompanying this post is a skeleton team that includes only the players I think there is little debate about. For the other positions, I’ve employed the creative claim of “HELP.” That’s your cue to send me your suggestions after you debate them among yourselves, of course.
(If you’re having trouble posting comments, you can send me your thoughts through the mailbag, Facebook or Twitter.)
I’ll sift through your suggestions and post the final team later this week. I’m also planning on a separate post, probably next week, that hands out our NFC North season-ending awards. Hold on to your hats for that one.
A few notes and thoughts before you get to it:
- Since we waited until after the NFC North portion of the playoffs, feel free to consider postseason performance here. No reason to, say, ignore Green Bay tight end Jermichael Finley's 159-yard performance at Arizona just because it came after the regular season.
- You'll notice I didn't pick a quarterback. We had two Pro Bowlers from our division, Minnesota's Brett Favre and Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers. I've got some thoughts, but I'm guessing you do, too.
- On offense, I eliminated the fullback because I just don’t consider it important enough in any of the four NFC North offenses to merit recognition here. Instead, I added a WR/TE position. That should be self-explanatory. If you think there is a third receiver worthy of this team, let me know. Or, if you can’t choose between a deep group of tight ends, choose two.
- On defense, I’m not sure if there is a perfect way to account for the fact that Green Bay used a 3-4 scheme. So I’ll keep it flexible. If I get overwhelming support for four defensive linemen and three linebackers, we’ll keep the NFC North in a 4-3 alignment. But if it appears that four linebackers should make it, I’ll consider a hybrid DE/LB position.
- If you disagree with one of my so-called “locks,” feel free to offer alternatives.
More milestones from Packers-Cardinals
First, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers became the first player in NFL history to throw for more than 300 yards in the second half of a playoff game. Overall, Rodgers finished the game with 422 yards and four touchdowns. Below is a look at the six players in NFL history who have thrown for at least 400 yards and four touchdowns in a postseason game:
Second, tight-end Jermichael Finley produced the second-best playoff game by a tight end in league history in terms of receiving yards. Here is that heady list:
Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 15:
We’re about to find out if there is any merit to recent discussions about Brett Favre’s interest in and aptitude for playing in winter weather. Minnesota has the first of two consecutive outdoor night games scheduled for Sunday at Carolina, where the temperature is expected to be in the 30s at kickoff. Next week, the Vikings play on "Monday Night Football" in Chicago. The good news for Minnesota: Favre’s cold-weather performance should have minimal impact, one way or the other. Assuming they clinch the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoff picture, the Vikings wouldn’t have to play outdoors again until the Super Bowl if they were to extend their season that far.
If receiver Percy Harvin misses extended time because of continuing migraine issues, Favre will need to find a new favorite target on third downs. A likely solution is receiver Bernard Berrian, who has caught 15 passes in the Vikings’ past three games. And according to the Elias Sports Bureau, Berrian has demonstrated exceptional reliability all season. Everyone measures receivers differently, but according to Elias, Berrian hasn’t dropped an “on-target” pass all season. In fact, Berrian has the most receptions (47) of any NFL receiver without a drop by that definition.
I don’t like Chicago’s chances of limiting tailback Ray Rice in Baltimore on Sunday. Tackling has been an issue for the Bears all season, and Rice continues to lead the NFL in yards after contact. Rice also doesn’t fumble often (three in 402 career touches), so it will be interesting to see if cornerback Charles Tillman has any luck knocking the ball loose once Rice gets into the secondary. A typical Rice performance is going to make it hard for the Bears to win. If the Ravens put up some early scores, the Bears' offense isn’t going to keep up.
Quick. Name how many of Detroit’s Week 1 starters have made it to Week 15 (in the same position). I came up with 11, and that’s not taking into account whatever personnel moves coach Jim Schwartz might be planning for Sunday’s game against Arizona. That figure includes only four offensive players, and in essence means that injuries and performance have forced the Lions to turn over half their lineup during the course of the season. Every team makes changes, either by choice or necessity, but 50 percent is a huge number. It’s no wonder that many of the Lions’ games have looked like their first of the season.
Falling
1. Matthew “Macho Man” Stafford, Detroit quarterback: Has Stafford shown us how tough he is? Oh, yeah. Has he taken most of the Lions’ snaps since separating his left shoulder two weeks ago? Oh, yeah. Has he gotten enough experience this year? Oh, yeah. There doesn’t seem to be any logical reason for the Lions to continue playing their $41.7 million man through an injury that remains painful and seems to be impacting his play. Coach Jim Schwartz was non-committal about the situation Monday, but Schwartz doesn’t typically tip his hand on personnel issues. If Stafford won’t shut himself down, which most rookies wouldn’t do, then the Lions might have to do it for him.
2. Minnesota’s defensive line: One of the best position groups in football was totally shut down by Arizona’s offensive line. It was clear the Cardinals were not going to let right end Jared Allen beat them, and he faced a battery of double-teams and chips throughout the game. On this occasion, Allen’s teammates didn’t pick up much of the slack. Defensive tackle Kevin Williams and left end Ray Edwards each finished with one tackle. Only nose tackle Pat Williams took advantage of the single blocking he faced, making two tackles behind the line of scrimmage.
3. The rumor mill in Chicago: It seems that every day there is a suggestion about who will replace Ron Turner next season as the Bears’ offensive coordinator. One day it’s Mike Martz. The next it’s Charlie Weis. Then Jeremy Bates. Some of the names are legitimate and some are being tossed into the ring for leverage in other jobs. But with more than a month left in the regular season, the speculation is mostly moot right now. It’s pretty unlikely coach Lovie Smith has formed a search committee. So everyone relax for a few more weeks -- until we really start grinding that mill.
1. Dom Capers, Green Bay defensive coordinator: Whether you buy the NFL’s method for ranking defenses (based on total yards), you have to admit the Packers have made dramatic strides on that side of the ball. Much of the credit goes to Capers, who has transformed a passive scheme into an attacking and opportunistic defense. The Packers rank first in the NFL with an average of 273.5 yards per game and second in with 31 takeaways. The defensive turnaround has the Packers in the driver’s seat for an NFC wild-card berth.
2. Matt Forte, Chicago tailback: Heard of small victories? Forte’s 91-yard performance Sunday against St. Louis was his second-highest single-game total of the season. In fact, it was only the third time he’s finished with more than 66 rushing yards in a game. A pessimist would note that those performances came against the St. Louis, Cleveland and Detroit (combined record: 4-32). But when you’re having a season as disappointing as Forte’s has been, you take your success in any form it comes your way. Remember: small victories.
3. Jermichael Finley, Green Bay tight end: If only every game was on Monday night. Finley caught seven passes for 79 yards on and two touchdowns in the Packers’ victory over Baltimore. And in two "Monday Night Football" games this season, Finley has 13 receptions for 207 yards and three touchdowns. His all-field potential was on display against the Ravens. Finley made a nice catch on a fade route over Ravens safety Tom Zbikowski for one touchdown, and then ran over Zbikowski for his second.
Green Bay’s tight end has put together the first multi-touchdown game of his career. The second score, a 19-yard catch here in the fourth quarter, re-established the Packers’ 10-point lead. Overall, Finley has seven receptions for 79 yards and two scores.
On Oct. 5 at Minnesota, also a Monday night game, Finley caught six passes for 128 yards and a score.
- You couldn’t ask for much more from the Packers' defense. On a national stage, they’ve shut down a pretty potent offense. The Ravens have 72 total yards and six first downs. They’ve committed two turnovers and haven’t threatened to score after linebacker Clay Matthews forced tailback Ray Rice to fumble in the red zone on their opening possession. This is how an elite defense plays in December.
- Keep in mind the Packers are using three defensive rookies extensively, and all of them have made significant contributions. Matthews has three tackles, along with a sack and the forced fumble. Defensive lineman B.J. Raji has two tackles, including one behind the line of scrimmage, while linebacker Brad Jones has three tackles.
- Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has completed 16 of 24 passes, including two for touchdowns. But if you ask me, he looks hampered by the rib injury he was reported to have last week. We noted he grimaced in obvious pain after throwing an inaccurate deep pass that was ultimately intercepted. He’s also taken a while to get up after several post-throw hits. I don’t think it’s a serious situation, but just something to monitor.
- Tight end Jermichael Finley is becoming a fan of "Monday Night Football." He has five receptions for 56 yards and a touchdown. In an Oct. 5 Monday night game at Minnesota, Finley had six receptions for 128 yards and a score.
- It might be too late, but if I were the Ravens, I’d work harder to get the ball to Rice. The NFL’s leading open-field runner, based on yards after the catch, Rice has only two receptions.
Berrian and Clifton active, will start (presumably)
GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Minnesota receiver Bernard Berrian will play, Green Bay tight end Jermichael Finley will not, and if the Packers are planning a change at left tackle, they haven’t let on yet.
That’s the upshot of the inactive lists just distributed here in the press box. Berrian (hamstring) must have passed his tests during warmups. There was little doubt that Finley (knee) would play. And left tackle Chad Clifton is active, and the only lineup change the Packers announced was that center Scott Wells would start in place of Jason Spitz, who is inactive because of a back injury.
Clifton is the Packers’ default starter, so I’m assuming he will get the nod over rookie T.J. Lang. That’s a mild surprise, but we’ll see how it plays out.
For Minnesota, the only surprise deactivation is fullback Naufahu Tahi. Receiver Percy Harvin (shoulder, illness) is active.
» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South
Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert
Rising
|
|
|
Falling
|
|
3. Detroit’s special teams: The Lions gave up four returns of 24 or more yards, including a 102-yard kickoff return to the Bears’ Johnny Knox. Some of that can be credited to the typically superior Bears blocking schemes. But over the course of the game, the Bears’ average drive started at the Lions’ 46-yard line. That’s right: Six of their 13 possessions started on the Lions’ side of the 50-yard line. Detroit’s defense isn’t nearly good enough to handle that type of short field on a consistent basis. Things were just as bad in the flip scenario: The Lions’ average drive started at their own 18-yard line.Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert
MINNEAPOLIS -- To me, the best play of Minnesota’s goal line stand was linebacker Ben Leber’s open-field tackle of Green Bay tight end Jermichael Finley.
Finley is one of the better athletes on the field tonight. He caught the ball in the open field and was a yard away from the end zone, but Leber brought him down before he advanced another yard.
Sure, the Packers had a great opportunity on Aaron Rodgers’ fourth-down pass to tight end Donald Lee, who dropped the pass. But that play never would have happened if Leber hadn’t brought down a bigger and more athletic receiver.
Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert
MINNEAPOLIS – Jermichael Finley, meet world. World, meet Jermichael Finley.
The Green Bay tight end, who many of us have touted as the second coming of Kellen Winslow, has finally emerged to make a huge impact in the first quarter of this game.
On his 62-yard touchdown reception, Finley ran past Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield. Then he juked safety Tyrell Johnson. Finally, he lunged into the end zone with cornerback Cedric Griffin hanging onto his legs. That play was the modern-day definition of what a big-time tight end can bring.
Overall, Finley has three receptions for 82 yards here in the first quarter.
As we review preseason action this summer, I won't pretend to bring you brilliant insight from games I don't cover live. We'll save that kind of thorough analysis for the games that I actually see and conduct interviews at afterwards. (Yes, there was some sarcasm there. Lighten up. It's Sunday morning!)
With that said, it's important to get a feel for every NFC North preseason game in a timely fashion. So while I covered Friday night's Minnesota-Kansas City game, below are some thoughts on the three games that took place Saturday night. I've also included links to the local coverage of reporters who were in attendance as well as some NFL.com video so you can see for yourself.
Chicago 17, New York Giants 3
- Everyone can agree that quarterback Jay Cutler was sharp (8-of-13) and productive (17 points in his first three drives) during his second start of the preseason. He threw well on the run, scrambled once on his own for 12 yards and threw a beautiful touch pass to receiver Devin Aromashodu for 38 yards. Working at times from the no-huddle, the Bears gave their future opponents plenty to think about with their passing performance. Cutler and backup Caleb Hanie combined to complete 18 of 31 passes for 241 yards.
- If you were worried about tailback Matt Forte's hamstring, it didn't look bad Saturday night on a 32-yard touchdown dash up the middle. Overall, Forte finished with 58 yards on nine carries. On the downside, backups Kevin Jones and Garrett Wolfe each lost a fumble.
- Defensive tackle Tommie Harris started but didn't show up in the box score. Fellow defensive linemen Alex Brown, Adewale Ogunleye, Dusty Dvoracek and Marcus Harrison all finished the game with a sack.
Local coverage: ESPN Chicago, Chicago Sun-Times, Daily Herald. For video click here.
Cleveland 27, Detroit 10
- Incredibly, the Lions fought among themselves before the game. Defensive end Dewayne White and tight end Carson Butler were the culprits, fighting long enough that they both ended up on the ground. It's always good to be in a "fighting mood" during pregame warm-ups. But actually fighting? Unheard of. I'm guessing Butler, at least, will have his ticket punched out of Detroit soon.
- Quarterback Matthew Stafford had a tough night. Getting a start as he competes with Daunte Culpepper, Stafford threw an interception on his first pass and later overthrew two wide-open receivers (John Standeford and Adam Jennings) on passes downfield. Overall, Stafford completed 5 of 13 passes. Neither he nor Culpepper led the Lions to a score. We go to Week 3 of the preseason with no better idea of who will win the starting job.
- Let's just say it: Saturday night was terrible all around for the Lions. The special teams gave up two touchdown returns to Cleveland's Josh Cribbs, although one was called back by penalty. And Browns quarterback Derek Anderson picked apart the Lions' defense for 130 passing yards.
Local coverage: Detroit Free Press, Detroit News, Mlive.com. For video click here.
Green Bay 31, Buffalo 21
- The Packers' top defense held Buffalo scoreless in the first half and continued to swarm the ball. Safety Nick Collins forced an early interception, and Green Bay got some good pass rush out of its 4-3 nickel alignment. Defensive lineman Johnny Jolly finished with two sacks. The Packers led 21-0 when starters left the game. The only downside: Collins left with a rib injury.
- Quarterback Aaron Rodgers was locked in, completing 8 of 9 passes for 98 yards and two scores. His 5-yard touchdown pass to Donald Driver was an athletic play, and fantasy players everywhere are going to like that he connected multiple times with second-year tight end Jermichael Finley.
- Backup quarterback Brian Brohm got extended playing time because of a shoulder injury to Matt Flynn that isn't deemed serious. But Brohm didn't give anyone reason to believe he can overtake Flynn on the depth chart if everyone is healthy.
Local coverage: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Green Bay Press-Gazette. For video, click here.
Camp Confidential: A read on GB's defense
 | |
| 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.
| |||||||
"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 ...
 | |
| 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 absence 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.
 | |
| 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.
 | |
| AP Photo/Morry Gash | |
| Tight end Jermichael Finley seems poised to have a breakout season. |
GREEN BAY, Wis. -- All I could see from my vantage point was the No. 58 on the back of reserve linebacker Danny Lansanah's jersey. I knew there was someone standing behind him in the back of the end zone, and I saw that person's hands reach over Lansahah's head to snatch an Aaron Rodgers pass.
I couldn't see the number, but I had no doubt who it was. Over two days of Green Bay's training camp, after all, I had already seen tight end Jermichael Finley make two similar catches and a host of other "wow" plays. I'd already had a number of people insist that Finley is poised to be one of the Packers' breakout stars this season, someone who is as comfortable on the line of scrimmage as he is split out wide and who could force significant changes in the way defenses approach their offense.
Everything I've seen so far leads me to agree. Finley has rebounded from a shaky rookie season, one the Packers have attributed to immaturity. Built like an NBA small forward, Finley's speed and athletic ability have made him "unguardable" in the passing game, Rodgers said Friday. And coach Mike McCarthy said Finley's blocking skills have improved to the point where he can be deployed in any formation and for any role.
"I'm just excited and confident with what I'm about to get into," said Finley, a third-round draft choice out of Texas last season. "When I was at Texas, I used to look at Texas Tech's [passing scheme] and say, 'Man, I would love to have that offense.' And now, basically, it's come true. I'm just going to love it this year when the real games come."
Said Packers general manager Ted Thompson: "Historically the tight end has been huge in the classic West Coast offenses and I think sometimes we've gotten away from that a little bit. The idea is to get back to using those guys. It's difficult for defensive backs. Your skill guys outside are busy trying to handle [Donald] Driver and [Greg] Jennings."
Finley left Texas as an underclassman and didn't turn 22 until 3 1/2 months ago. His adjustment to NFL life was steep. He hit one particularly egregious bump after criticizing Rodgers and the Packers' offensive coaches after a close loss at Tennessee. Suffice it to say that all has been forgiven.
"It's nice when they grow up," McCarthy said. "He was just so young last year. ... When you think about it, that's just a part of developing young players. He's a talented player and loves football. I love the way he plays, with great passion and energy."
Indeed, Finley is like an energetic kid on the practice field, bounding from drill to drill. I've seen him line up as the solo tight end and as part of a double-tight package. He's been a so-called "H-back," has been positioned in the slot and even split out on the far sideline. Everything looks natural and his soft hands rarely betray him. Even the Packers defenders who can stay with him have no chance to touch the ball before he does.
It's harder to judge Finley's blocking without knowing specific assignments, but McCarthy said he "absolutely" feels comfortable using him in any blocking situation.
"When I first got in here," Finley said. "The big thing that everybody was talking about me was that I was just a pass-catching tight end. I think even as last year went on, I progressed in that area. It's a good thing I came out the way I did, because it made me work for that. Now, I grade my blocking as an A+ right now. I just told myself to bunker down and make it my priority. I know that if I go out for a catch, I know I can do that. The challenge was my blocking."
Donald Lee remains the Packers' No. 1 tight end, but from what I saw Finley is essentially 1a. I imagine that starting lineups will be a function of gameplans as much as anything else, but there is little doubt Finley will have ample opportunity to impact the offense this season.
We've already noted on several occasions the exciting NFC North possibilities presented by the arrival of Rodgers, Chicago's Jay Cutler and Detroit's Matthew Stafford at the quarterback position. Well, the young tight ends in this division are equally intriguing. Between Finley, Greg Olsen of the Bears, Brandon Pettigrew of the Lions and Visanthe Shiancoe of the Vikings, I think we'll have quite a competition for the first-team all-Black and Blue team in January.
For those of you are foaming for more Packers coverage, chill out and be patient. I'll be at the Family Night scrimmage on Saturday and will post my official Camp Confidential report Sunday morning. Early next week, I'll have some thoughts on Rodgers as well as the Packers' defensive transition.
GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The NFC North Winnebago is pulling out of the Bay late Tuesday evening after two fun-filled days at the Packers' minicamp. I'll continue sharing thoughts and observations throughout the next few weeks, but here is what's at the top of my mind now:
- You won't have too many days here that are hotter than it was Tuesday. By the time coach Mike McCarthy ended the afternoon session -- about 30 minutes early, by the way -- the heat index was 105. At least one player, rookie offensive lineman James Meredith, needed some help leaving the field.
- Who says Aaron Kampman is having a hard time adjusting to linebacker? I watched him run stride-for-stride with receiver Greg Jennings on a crossing pattern. Kampman was close enough to Jennings that quarterback Aaron Rodgers had to adjust his throw and safety Jarrett Bush broke up the play. (I particularly liked the way Kampman subtly grabbed Jennings' jersey as the ball arrived.) "It was perfect coverage," outside linebacker coach Kevin Greene said. "I couldn't have done it better myself. He was right where he needed to be. ... That's the best you can hype for from the most talented outside linebacker playing the position."
- One player who is getting plenty of buzz is second-year tight end Jermichael Finley. Granted, minicamp is the perfect environment to be wowed by an athletic player who runs well. Things often change when the pads come on. But if Finley continues his progress, it's hard to imagine him not unseating veteran starter Donald Lee.
- Allen Barbre took all of the first-team snaps at right tackle while I was watching, but it wouldn't be out of the question for rookie T.J. Lang to eventually win that position -- possibly in time for opening day. Lang fits the profile of the type of offensive lineman the Packers are looking for -- big and mean -- and might just need some experience before he's ready to take over. I could see this eventual starting line for the Packers:
Left tackle: Chad Clifton
Left guard: Daryn Colledge
Center: Jason Spitz
Right guard: Josh Sitton
Right tackle: Lang
Yes, you have to wonder whether veteran Scott Wells, who is sitting out minicamp for health reasons, will be able to beat out Spitz at center.
That's it for now. We'll bring you more as the week progresses.
