IN AND OUT

Possible/Probable changes to the 2013 roster.

I wanted to run through the list of players with contracts ending in 2013 and then discuss the implications and how they will affect the team next season.

The playesr with an R in front of their name are restricted free agents which basically means the players a free to solicit themselves but the Packers have final say on whether they want to retain them.  If the Packers decide to retain the player they can only do so by matching the highest offer the player receives from another franchise.

1. Cedric Benson:  I am on the fence with Mr. Benson.  He lasted 4 games with the team this year and I could argue that his presence may not have had a positive impact on the team.  He is truly on the downside of his playing career and his durability is a real factor as we experienced first hand.  Also, his commitment to the team is another thing I wonder about.  It felt like he may have been more focused on his DJ'ing career than on his rehabilitation from the Lisfranc injury he suffered against the Colts in game 5.  If the Packers go after a back in the early rounds of the draft I don't see any reason to sign for another season.  Lets not forget

about Dujuan Harris.

2. (R) Tom Crabtree:  I liked what I saw out of him in the first 8-10 games of 2012.  He strikes me as a hard worker and showed that he has some skill beyond run blocking and pass pro.  He was a great contributor on special teams this year also.  Depending on the interest the rest of the league takes in him I feel like he may be worth keeping around.  Especially with the uncertainty of Finley's future, who has a contract ending 2014.

3. (R) Evan Dietrich Smith:  Definitely showed he can be trusted with the responsibility that comes with playing the Center position.  As long as he and Rodgers are comfortable together I don't see why we wouldn't retain him.  Saturday is all but an afterthought and a failed experiment at this point.  I think Smith would be money well spent, which is something I cannot say about Saturday.

4. Donald Driver:  This guy is probably my favorite player of all time and if character was enough I would keep him forever. I am going to miss him most of all.

                            

5. Rob Francois: didn't see a whole lot from Francois this year. He does look a lot like Lionel Richie though, which is cool.  It looked like the defense started looking to other players at linebacker.  Don't think we will see him next season but I also don't know enough about his actual worth on special teams.  If there is another team out there desperate for linebackers we may see him go to another team.

6. Ryan Grant: I like him, but no.

7. Greg Jennings:  I would love to keep a player of his caliber on the team.  We won't understand his value to the team until he is gone for good.  I will say that our offense was at its best with a healthy Greg Jennings in the lineup.  He is worth every penny he will get and if we aren't able to resign him I will be rooting for him wherever he goes...unless its the Vikings, Bears, or Lions.  By the way, this pick is from the moment I realized we were going to win Super Bowl XLV...Remember.

8. Brad Jones:  Really like what I saw out of Jones this year.  Still a lot of room for improvement but this was really his first year with experience as a major contributor to the defense.  He is also a very smart man and to me that is an attractive quality in a player. Smart people retain knowledge better than dumb people.

9. (R)Sam Shields: No brainer. We need to keep this guy.  Is it me or was he the best cover corner on our team this year.  Tramon Williams was not himself this year. That may have been a result of Charles Woodson being absent from his old position but it's not an excuse.  If you want be considered among the best you have to show up and be the best, no excuses.  Sam is learning quickly how good he can really be.  Just stay healthy.

10. Erik Walden:  I like Erik. What he lacks in raw talent he makes up in hustle.  I never saw him quit on a play.  In fact, during the Rams game he was the player that came all the way across the field to tackle on the 56 yard catch and run by Chris Givens.

11. Frank Zombo: Peace be with you.

Tomorrow I will go through the 2014 picks or at least the ones I feel will have an impact on the team next season.

The Packers Packer, Donald Driver

Donald Driver kissing the Super Bowl XLV Trophy.

     I understand, as a fan of 20 years, that there have been a large number of athletes who have played for the Packers.  Many of them have transcended the love and respect of the packer fan base and well beyond.  I don't feel a need to name names because that's not what I am trying to do here.  Right now I want to pay homage to one man only.  His contribution to the game and more specifically our franchise in my humble opinion has been immeasurable.   

     Donald Driver has never been known for his baditude.  He is not a player you will ever read about in the tabloids for a late night club fight, or domestic dispute.  He's never been tagged a diva, and  he's not known to be one that cries when he doesn't get his way.  In a day when it's rare to find a true model athlete, Donald Driver is truly one of a kind.  

     I'm going to throw out two names to see if they ring any bells.  Aaron Brooks and Dee Miller.  I wouldn't be too surprised if you knew who Aaron Brooks was, but what you may not know is both of these guys were wide receivers selected by the Packers in the same draft and before Donald Driver.  He was the Packers final and 213th overall pick in the 1999 NFL draft and believe it or not through a compensatory pick from the Chicago Bears.  If there was ever a reason to be thankful to the Chicago Bears...for anything.

He is the longest tenured player still playing for the Green Bay Packers who was not drafted by Ted Thompson.  He is one of only 29 players from that draft class to be selected to the Pro Bowl at least once.

     His journey through the NFL is not a likely story, and perhaps that's what makes it so special.  His appreciation for what he has and what he's accomplished is obvious to everyone who has ever seen him play.  I can honestly say I have never seen him without a smile on his face.  His unmatched work ethic and veteran leadership has earned him incredible respect from all the players on his team.  During a preseason game earlier this year, when he was still recovering from injuries, they showed him going over poloroids with Desmond Moses, an undrafted rookie linebacker, on the sideline.  Can't say I've seen a lot of wide receivers in their 14th year in the league helping an overwhelmed kid trying to make the cut on defense.  That's what you get with Driver.  That's what makes him such a compelling individual.

     I have a pretty good idea that we have seen the last of Donald Driver as a player so I wanted to do something to commemorate his accomplishments.  Both as a player and a man.  I hope from the bottom of my heart that this is just the first chapter in a life that has brought joy to so many.

 Driver being Driver.

 Dancing with the stars

 Kicking Chicago's Butt, business as usual.

 A well deserved piece of jewelry.

   Remember this catch, I do. The textbook definition of YAC!

Thanks for all the memories Donald, not sure what we're gonna do when your gone.

BURNING QUESTION-DEFENDING READ OPTION

BURNING QUESTION #1

How to defend against the read option offensive approach.

     Before I delve into anything regarding the Packers offense, and all of the intriguing issues and changes that we are certainly on the precipice of; I feel I have no choice but to sustain my immediate desire to help them, or moreover help myself, understand the issues apparent on defense.

     In this segment I am going to be critical of the lackluster performance by our defense in the divisional playoff round against the San Francisco 49ers.  It wasn't the first time we saw our D struggle against different versions of what we currently call the "Read Option" which I will abbreviate to "RO" to save space.  It was indeed the most embarrassing and the most costly.  All week writers and analysts spoke about the biggest difference in this 49ers team from week 1 to the playoffs was the change at quarterback from Smith to Kaepernic.  The monumental difference it made against the Packers in the the playoff game at "The Stick" I don't believe anyone could have predicted.  Its almost laughable now looking back at some of the pro Packer articles written insisting that "this wasn't the same Packer team that walked on the field week one;" and I don't believe they were insinuating they were any worse.  In fact many were thinking they were better.  By the end of the game the truth was revealed and the proof was stinking up the pudding. 

     I am a firm believer that football teams are generally created equal.  If an athlete is signed to an NFL team that means he is an amazing, one in a million talent.  There are no slouches playing in the league right now.  It is the reason parody exists in the league.  As one team falls another begins its ascent into football domination.    This is one of the most unique and compelling facets of the game.  It is also the reason you do not see a lot of teams getting blown out week after week.  

     Another thing that makes this game so special is that no matter how long its played it is constantly evolving.  Two years ago and really last year especially the "Spread Passing Attack" was something teams were having fits over.  Teams that had stud quarterbacks were using multiple wide receiver/tight end sets.  Even taking there running back completely out of the backfield.  The idea was to send more receivers out than a defense had adequate backs to cover.  Aaron Rodgers was a quarterback made for that type of offense.  His mobility and allusiveness in the pocket left little need for extra protection.  His acute awareness of the blitz made him lethal with the ball in his hands.  In 2011 he used this type of Arial Assault to rewrite history with 45 touchdown passes and and astonishing 6 interceptions.  Other teams offenses were doing everything they could to mimic this approach while defenses tripped over each other trying to find a way to stop it.  

     Unfortunately, as newtons law goes, what goes up must come down.  And so it did with a kersplat.  Teams figured out the Achilles Heal of that particular offensive approach.  The strangest thing about it is how simple the answer was.  Whats perhaps more disturbing is how long it took teams to figure it out.  If you haven't heard how you stop it I can explain it in one sentence.  DROP YOUR SAFETIES BACK.  Its a lot harder for a quarterback to burn you deep if you have an extra guy in coverage back there.

     Now if your wondering why I'm bringing this all up and thinking in your head, "Uh Chandler, I thought you weren't going to be talking about offense." I say to you, "Just chill, I getting to my point."  

     As easy as it was for teams to slow down the heavy/deep passing attack, I firmly believe its every bit as easy to stop the "RO."  It may even be easier....  Whaaaaa? I know, sounds crazy but just hear me out.  I've begun my research on defending this offensive style and it actually has me excited.  Its sounds ludicrous to be excited about anything that brought our season to an end but here's why.  First of all, the RO isn't a new thing.  College teams have used it for years and thus college teams have developed effective techniques of stopping it.  Second, the reason college teams run this style of offense is because most college teams don't have Aaron Rodgers behind center.  The have to rely on a guy that they cannot trust to throw the ball effectively more than 20 times a game. And even that number is high.  The RO gives your quarterback several options on every down.  Judging by what the defense looks like on the opposite side of the field the offense is structured in such a way that the quarterback can throw it, hand it off, or even and tuck and run with it himself.  Giving the quarterback options alleviates the pressure to throw the ball while simultaneously adding a dimension to his game that makes him more dangerous.

    So now we know why its used and that "other teams" (meaning, obviously not ours) have in the past had success stopping this approach.  No we just need to know how they did it so the Packers can implement this into there defensive playbooks and not look like jerks the next time somebody tries it on us.  Don't think for a second we have seen the last of it because you are fooling yourself.  Not only do we play the 9ers in San Francisco next season but I'm sure any other teams with a quarterback that isn't confined to a wheelchair may try to include this into their arsenal after seeing how effective SF was with it.

Much of what is new in defending the spread involves giving different looks on the backside of all those “zone-read” and other read plays that spread teams are so fond of. For example, on the typical zone-read play, the line is responsible for blocking everyone but the backside defensive end; the quarterback “reads” him. If he crashes to take the runningback (or at least to eliminate the runningback’s cutback lane), the quarterback keeps it; if the defensive end is not in position to tackle the runner (either because he stays put or takes the quarterback, the QB simply hands the ball off to the runner.

Defenses began reacting by using a technique called a “scrape exchange” to mess up the read. With this defensive adjustment, the defensive end always crashes for the running-back  while the linebacker “scrapes” over to take the quarterback. If the quarterback doesn't see this, he will pull the ball, thinking he will have an easy lane on the backside, and instead runs straight into the linebacker.

If the offense knows that the defense is shifting to this (a big if), what is the adjustment? Tell the tackle to block the defensive end, and the quarterback to read the linebacker. Often the linebacker will take himself out of the play, and with good blocking, the offense should be able to get a good run play, or a big play if the runner can cut back.

But let’s step back from scheme: what else can a defense do? One answer, is just to get more athletic. As TCU’s excellent coach Garry Patterson recently told the NY Times’s Pete Thamel:

Patterson’s base defense consists of four down linemen, two linebackers and five defensive backs. Many teams have gone away from four-man defensive lines and have added a linebacker for a 3-4 alignment, but Patterson chooses to keep the front stout and the back end of the defense flexible.

It is a simple concept for a complicated challenge.

“ You've got to spread out with them,” he said. “We try to coach defense like coaches coach offense.”

Patterson’s theories on slowing down the spread quickly come back to speed.

“If the defensive end is fast enough to be able to play the running back or the quarterback instead of some other person on your defense, that frees up a guy,” he said. “If nine guys out of your 11 can run somebody down, it always helps.”

This last quote is the most important. Reconsider the diagrams above. Now, let’s say (a) that the defensive end (or linebacker in a “scrape-exchange” scheme) is a real stud, and (b) that the quarterback is nothing special — not a Pat White or Vince Young. In that case, when the defense sees the zone read the defender being “read” can pretty much just wait until he knows whether the QB or RB is keeping it, and then attack accordingly. Unless the quarterback is a real athletic threat (think of Michigan’s motley quarterbacking crew from last season), that defender can play both the zone-read and not fear having the quarterback run by him; if the QB runs, he’ll get ‘em.

The obvious answer for the offense is to get more athletic at quarterback (like Michigan is trying to do), but there are other things, like amping up the options on the backside reads for the QB if he doesn’t give it to the back. But, as always, the chess match goes on and on . . . .

Thanks to Chris of smartfootball.com for the insight in how to defend this thing.  I wish Dom Capers and the defense good luck with this.  I really do think we have the right personal to be successful in stopping it.  Like everything else, it just takes practice.

CATCH YOU ON THE FLIP!

OK, I saw this on facebook and just had to share it. Freaking Hilariousness. Enjoy!

Also check out this and this.

Ok, so those last 2 aren't football related, but still pretty hilarious.

When I get a second this week I am actually going to do something productive and look into how the hell the Packers can stop the read option.  Or at least slow it down.  I'm super tired of watching all the great talent we have look anemic on the football field every time we collide with a mobile quarterback.

This is the way the league is moving.  Last year it was the Spread passing attack and now that teams have dropped safeties we are seeing quarterbacks running the ball out of the back field.

For some strange reason the Packers seem to struggle against it more than every other team in the league.  The difference between us and them is minuscule.  It all comes down to coaching and execution.  

Just Got Harbaughed

I had so much fun making the Pete Carroll Post that I didn't really want it to end.  Then I realized, it doesn't have to.  There are probably more people in the NFL with issues, than your average psych ward.  Honestly, I can hardly blame them.  It has to be very stressful to be under constant public scrutiny all while trying to be the best in the league.  To continue to achieve at this extraordinarily high degree of expectations year after year after year can turn any normal person into a ticking time bomb.

And so it goes that this profession gave birth to the peaking embolism that is Jim Harbaugh.  If ever there was man in serious need of his own planet Jim Harbaugh would be candidate numero uno. 

This is actually the same expression he made on his drivers licence.

Jim to Pete. "Shot in the freakin dark, and at risk of gettin my heart broke... You want do somethin later?"

"Alex...Your f#%$&ing fired!

This is the internship program Jim got Alex into after ruining his career.  Yes, hes a ball washer.  According to Jim.

Jim just had the epiphany that if he really wanted to he could eat a baby!  Now all he needs is a baby!

BINGO!

Jim to Colin. "If you win me a Superbowl I'll let you f*%# me."  I swear to God. Win me an SB and YOU CAN "F" ME!

Jim to Joe Staley. " Joe, it better be urine this time, God help you if its Gatorade again."

This is the moment when Jim realized they both had the same first name! SWEET.  He was later disappointed after finding out that there was no blood relation.

This is Jim telling a kid how stupid he looks in a red jumpsuit.  And that if it wasn't for those three guys over there he would beat him like rag doll.  Shortly after their meeting Jim stole his wheelchair.

Jim...please, for the love of all that is sacred in this world, get help!

The Many Faces of Pete

I wanted to do something fun for one of my first posts.  Then I got to thinking, what would be more fun than to reflect upon a common enemy.  Pete Carroll may be the newest pariah of the Packer fan base, but he's also an easy target.  I started looking up some images of this guy and I couldn't believe how many pictures there were of him looking like a complete dumb-ass.  So what I have done is compiled a small assortment of different photos that tells a story of one a the universes biggest mistakes, the creation of Pete "the weasel" Carroll.

In this particular picture we have captured Pete as he realizes that he probably should not have eaten Indian food the night before a big game.

This is the "point of no return" face.  Unfortunately for Pete, that was also his last clean pair of underwear.

No Lie.  This is Pete gesturing to Russell at how big the deuce was, still grimacing over an unforgettable bowel movement.

Pete inviting Russell over for the fecal bronzing ceremony, and Russell wishing he had Dorothy's ruby slippers.

My next montage is one I think we can all relate to.  We must never forget that this actually happened and that every Packer fan in the country felt a need to file sexual assault charges against the NFL the following day.

Along with what should have been the final score we see what was obvious only to Pete Carroll himself as a surefire game-ending TD.  If only the one in Atlanta yesterday would have been ruled the same way.  It really wasn't all that different.  Seahawk fans everywhere were left wondering if the rules had changed.

Pete's exact words. "If you ever want to see your family again, you know what has to be done."  In doing so this guy lost his job but kept his family safe.

Pete Carroll signalling to his assassin to go ahead with the hit anyway.  And celebrating his pseudo victory over the Packers.

Two guys confidently on the same page.  The worlds first Game Winning Interception.  I'm not saying this cost us a Superbowl, but we would probably have definitely won the Superbowl had it not.

If there was ever a man who needed a distraction.

"Remember, we keep our story straight.  If we keep it straight I promise we won't look like f%&*#ing idots"  - Pete Carroll to Russell Wilson

"You owe me a ring , muther f#%&*er. You think the Seahawks are a scary bunch.  Wait until you see a scorned group of Packer fans.  Don't Let me catch you in Green Bay punk.  Oh yeah, by the way, that zebra suite makes you look like a bitch!"-Mike McCArthy to REF after Seahwaks game

OK. I am finished with my rant, but before I go I want to leave you with 2 other pictures that I couldn't quite fit into my montage but I just had to share with you... 

Its the choices we make that define our character!

"What? You thought I said time out? I said prime trout! Open up your ears you jack wagon.  I own a trout farm in Washington and wanted to know if you wanted to by some prime trout you dick! -Pete Carroll pleading his case with a ref at the end of the divisional playoff game @ Atlanta.

If it isn't obvious to everyone I will go ahead and say it.  Though the photos are really real, my explanations of the events may not be entirely accurate.  Thanks for reading everybody and be looking out for the next article.  Coming soon.