by Joe Tailgate on June 24, 2009
in NFL News
The Packers and Greg Jennings have agreed to a deal that will keep the wide receiver with the team through the 2012 season. Jennings will be paid nearly $9 million per season under the deal, which would make him one of the highest paid receivers in the league.
The Pack look like they’re planning to get Ryan Pickett and B.J. Raji on the field together as much as they can. When the Packers drafted Raji with the No. 9 overall pick in April, they talked of moving one of the two behemoth defensive tackles to play some end in their new 3-4 defensive scheme, and in offseason practices they’ve done it. When both players have been present, they’ve lined up with the No. 1 base defense: Pickett exclusively at nose tackle and Raji at defensive end.
Aaron Kampman said he believes the team can be successful in their new 3-4 defensive alignment if they can execute in the alignment.
“Historically it’s been a great defense. I think it has an opportunity to be a good defense. If we execute it, it’ll be good,” Kampman said. There have been rumors this offseason that Kampman was not happy with the switch to a 3-4 defense that makes him play at linebacker instead of defensive end.
Clay Matthews said he was 100% recovered from a pulled hamstring that limited him in off-season practices. He originally hurt his hamstring in late May.
Quarterbacks coach Tom Clements had a list of roughly 10 things for Aaron Rodgers to work on this offseason. ‘The first day we met, I said ‘here’s a list of about 10 things,’ Clements said. ‘Some more important than others, some just very technical things, and then we continued to work on those as the offseason progressed.’ Perhaps most important was footwork. Head coach Mike McCarthy believes footwork is critical in the West Coast passing game because so much of the system is predicated on timing.
by Joe Tailgate on June 22, 2009
in NFL News
- Packers QB Aaron Rodgers had limitations on his audibles last season, but it appears he is going to have more options at his disposal this season. Rodgers believes he is going to be given more responsibility at the line of scrimmage this season because the coaching staff trusts him more. There were times he played like a system quarterback last year, but his teammates told him to let loose a bit.
- In his first season as starting quarterback of the Green Bay Packers, Rodgers was merely asked to replace a legend. For an encore this year, Rodgers likely will have to stare down the resuscitated gunslinger, Brett Favre, in the flesh and in the house he helped build. Oh, and Jay Cutler, who bears a striking resemblance to a young Favre in talent and mentality, has taken up residence in the NFC North with the Chicago Bears. “You know what, I really don’t get into that whole thing, I really don’t,” Rodgers said. “I’m so focused on what I’m doing, what our team is doing. I know we play the Bears twice a year, the Vikings twice a year and the Lions twice a year, but all that other stuff to me is stuff that sells papers, but I don’t really get a rise out of it.”
- After watching their defense fritter away too many leads last season, the Green Bay Packers now are knee-deep in a major transition. With new defensive coordinator Dom Capers come new coaches — and, most significantly, a new 3-4 scheme. Packers coach Mike McCarthy is pleased with the progress Capers and his coaches are making. “I feel very good about what we have accomplished to this point,” McCarthy said. “Defensively, Dom has been able to get his whole package in, which is very refreshing. I think it’s a compliment to both the coaches and players. If they did not spend the extra one-on-one time in April, we would not be in this position today.”
- After being limited for the first three weeks of these offseason practices, Packers first-round draft pick Clay Matthews was working at right outside linebacker with the second string defense on Wednesday. “We’ve been watching his reps because of the hamstring.” McCarthy said. “Last week they’re a little tentative, but this week was full go,” said Matthews. Matthews said he didn’t feel as if he fell behind, but he wasn’t sure when he would work with the starters. Jeremy Thompson has been in that role. “They haven’t told me,” said Matthews. “I’m sure once they feel comfortable enough to put me with the ones . . . Right now there’s players ahead of me that know what they’re doing.”
by Joe Tailgate on June 19, 2009
in NFL News
- Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo bid an inspirational farewell to the players Tuesday but left them with a warning about training camp, which begins after rookies, quarterbacks and selected veterans report July 29. “The first five days are definitely a bear, the way it’s laid out, the times of practices, the length of practices,” Spagnuolo said of his plans for workouts. “Typically, if you don’t come in shape and in the right frame of mind, you run the risk of getting injured and not being up to speed for what we want to do. After that, it doesn’t get that much easier, but it tends to thin out a little bit and they’re able to survive.”
- QB Marc Bulger told the media that he realizes that this season is probably his last chance as a starter for the Rams. “I understand we have to win,” Bulger told FOXSports.com after a recent offseason practice. “It’s not fair to our fans or the ownership. If we don’t, I know it starts with me. It’s probably my final chance.” After being a perennial Pro Bowler early in his career, Bulger has been a major disappointment over the last few years as the Rams have turned into one of the worst teams in the league.
- Bears MLB Brian Urlacher is still out with a groin injury. That’s not a huge concern in mid-June, but considering a hamstring injury in late July 2004 was an issue for the entire season, it’s something to monitor. Urlacher did some jogging on the side with Hunter Hillenmeyer, who missed the entire offseason program to recover from surgery to repair a sports hernia. ”Once you’ve gone through an entire offseason, a lot of players have sore muscles — no more than that,” coach Lovie Smith said. ”I’m putting Brian along with quite a few other players that we have right now. And we try to take precautions with the guys at this point of the season.”
- Packers first-round draft pick Clay Matthews was working at right outside linebacker with the second string defense on Wednesday. “We’ve been watching his reps because of the hamstring.” McCarthy said. “Last week they’re a little tentative, but this week was full go,” said Matthews. Matthews said he didn’t feel as if he fell behind, but he wasn’t sure when he would work with the starters. Jeremy Thompson has been in that role. “They haven’t told me,” said Matthews. “I’m sure once they feel comfortable enough to put me with the ones . . . Right now there’s players ahead of me that know what they’re doing.”
- Titans Coach Jeff Fisher said he didn’t fault Vince Young for speaking out – reporters asked questions and Young answered them. “Anybody that is in a backup role right now is frustrated because they are not playing,” Fisher said. “It doesn’t just stop at Vince. Everybody wants to be a starter and we understand that. I wouldn’t classify it as frustration. He understands that he is in the situation that he is in and he just needs to keep working.” Young was defensive last season when asked about things like his demotion and whether he had quit on his teammates by initially refusing to re-enter the opener after being booed. Wednesday a much more collected Young said he’s learned a lot since then.
