By Totals 4 U
Green Bay (2-3) mounted a fine second half comeback last Sunday led but came up short in a 24-27 home loss to the Falcons, hamstrung by 9 penalties and a short-handed defense that has allowed 175+ yards rushing in each game of their current 3-game losing streak. Right defensive end in particular has been a nightmare where Cullen Jenkins (IR), Michael Montgomery (battling ankle injury), Kabeer Baja-Biamila (knee), and Jason Hunter have all fallen to injury. This week it could be 6’4” 270 rookie Jeremy Thompson that gets the call with the others chipping in a play at a time. The 161.4 yards per game and 46 first downs the Packers have surrendered on the ground have mostly come from lack of gap discipline that has left players reaching rather than DT’s 6’2” 330 Ryan Pickett, 6’3” 320 Johnny Jolley, and 6’1” 330 Colin Cole getting blown off the ball. WLB Brady Popinga (23 T), MLB Nick Barnett (27 T), and SLB AJ Hawk (31 T, 2 S) have all fallen into this trap of trying to do too much and must stay home for better results. The Green Bay secondary has also been shredded by injuries but the openings have given the opportunity to a couple of your players that have responded. The loss of Al Harris to a torn spleen elevated 2nd-year 5’11” 191 RCB Tramond Williams (21 T, 2 INT) to the starting job where he has snatched a pick in each of the last 2 games. That moves 3rd-year 6’0” 206 CB Will Blackmon (16 T, FF, FR) up to the nickel in addition to his job as return man where he has averaged 12.8 yards per punt with a score. 4th-year FS Nick Collins (26 T) has returned two of his three interceptions for touchdowns but his mate SS Atari Bigby missed last week with a hamstring injury. Bigby is an absolute hammer over the middle and without him 2nd-year 6’4” 223 Aaron Rouse (23 T) has stepped up but is himself now batting a knee injury. Both are currently being tested for weekend availability. These kids have talent for the big play with 9 sacks, 9 picks, and 3 fumble recoveries but youth has also incurred a NFL worst 12 first downs by penalty.
2008 NFL Sneak Peek – NFC South
By TD at Totals 4 You
Welcome to the seventh edition of our 8-week series taking an off-season look at the National Football League’s divisions. This week we drop in on the NFC West where the member crews tied with their regional mates for the league’s worst combined record at 26-38. However, fortunes can seemingly change overnight in this league so let’s check out who’s ready to make a move.