Monday Practice: Barnett Returns, Poppinga Starts, and the Offensive Line Is Settled
The practice schedule this week for the Green Bay Packers was one on Monday night, then Tuesday morning, Wednesday morning, closed to the public on Thursday, and the preseason game at Arizona on Friday night. During the Monday night practice, according to Greg Bedard, there were no pads, plenty of jogthroughs, and it looked "like the lamest practice in terms of action this camp."
The biggest practice news was that LB Nick Barnett has been cleared for contact. Although there wasn't any contact on Monday. Mike McCarthy said Barnett has passed his physical and will take about 50% of the reps in practice this week.
The big news today was from McCarthy's press conference:
A:But that's the five we decided on with Jason Spitz at center and Allen Barbre at the right tackle position...
Q:Was it pretty close?
A:Very tough decision. Scott Wells has graded out at a very high level. Scott is probably one of our top three or four linemen as far as grading out so far in the preseason...
It was very close. Whether it was Spitz at guard, Wells at center, that was definitely a combination we looked at. But we felt last year Josh had earned a starting position at guard, lost that due to injury. We felt that he has improved. He's a physical player on that right side, and that's probably the reason why we did go with him.
Let's just say C Scott Wells is the 4th best lineman this preseason. My guess is that LT Chad Clifton, LG Daryn Colledge, and C Jason Spitz all graded ahead of him. Therefore it appears that he even graded ahead of RG Josh Sitton. But Wells lost the starting battle to Sitton. This goes with the Packers' goal to improve the strength and size of the offensive line since Sitton has at least 20 lbs. on Wells. But Sitton has made a couple of errors this preseason while I haven't noticed any from Wells. Either way, the offensive line was going to be fine, but Wells had actually outplayed Sitton this preseason.
Again from the press conference:
Q: What was the biggest difference between Barbre and Giacomini?
A: I just think Allen is further ahead than Breno.
While Wells made the decision to bench him hard, RT Breno Giacomini made it easy when he missed a tackle that led to QB Matt Flynn's shoulder injury. From Tom Pelissero:
On the sack he gave up Saturday that left Flynn injured: "Bad footwork, bad punch — just all-around bad technique. It’s a tough play. I felt pretty good in the game (until then). After that, I didn’t feel good at all. Losing performance on my part because of that play. That just can’t happen."
Unfortunately for Giacomini, he had played pretty well up to that point, and RT Allen Barbre did allow a pass deflection and committed a holding penalty. But as Breno said, the sack on Flynn just can't happen.
Luckily his sprained shoulder isn't too bad, according to McCarthy:
Q: What is the prognosis on Matt Flynn?
A: Matt may make it by the end of the week to practice. He's sore, so this is his first time he's gone through this type of injury. We'll see where he is at in two days. If he practices obviously he'll have a chance to play in the game, but I probably won't know that until Wednesday.
C'mon coach, it's just practice! Why can't LB Clay Matthews have a shot at beating out LB Brady Poppinga?
Q: Do they have their work cut out for them to beat out Poppinga at this point?
A: Oh, absolutely. I don't care who you are if you don't practice.
If Poppinga can play as well during the regular season as he's done during the first two preseason games, then I've got no problem with naming him the starter. I don't think he'll keep it up based on watching him on game day the last three seasons. At some point, Matthews will beat him out.
And, unfortunately, the injury to the undrafted rookie TE Devin Frischknecht was as bad as it looked:
Q: How about Devin Frischknecht?
A: He had season-ending surgery. He had a broken tibia and fibula. He was operated on shortly after the game, and he's doing very well.
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Comments
Barnett
Finally!! I am glad he is back on the field and cant wait to see if he is 100%
And a little FYI- Did anyone else know Rodgers has a record label? Him and his friend Ryan Zachary. Suspended Sunrise is their name. I guess Aaron is a self taught guitarist. I couldn’t find any of his music so if anyone can please share.
by bizzle4 on Aug 25, 2009 9:00 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
ILB
Getting Barnett back is fine, but I think naming him a starter at this point would be a mistake. He just got cleared for contact, so the knee is sound, but he has to be lacking both strength and confidence in the knee! The confidence is the largest and last thing to overcome… At this point Chillar has played so well, that he should remain the starter until Barnett proves he is recovered both mentally and physically. Barnett has also just started to practice in the 34 D, which he has NEVER played in. Hard to name him a starter when he is coming off an ACL injury AND has never played in the new D scheme!
GIve Barnett reps that he can succeed in, let him succeed and then gradually give him more reps in more packages until he proves he is better than Chillar!!!
At the other ILB spot… Bishop has made more plays than Hawk and is more physical than Hawk… IMO, Bishop should be named the starter for AZ! Let him and Hawk compete for the starting job on opening day! Either it lights a fire under Hawk that we have yet to see, or Bishop starts… Either way, the best player is the starter opening day!!!
by Strohman on Aug 25, 2009 3:35 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
It's gotta be Chillar ahead of Bishop
I think the original plan was Chillar backup Hawk on the right ILB, but since Barnett’s been out all preseason, Chillar’s been playing left ILB. As far as I can tell, Bishop’s been playing exclusively at left ILB. It could be Bishop at left ILB and Chillar at right ILB, if they give him the job over Hawk, which is possible.
If Barnett is ready for contact, and starts one preseason game, he’s a lock as the starter, although it probably has to be one entire preseason game. I remember Brady Poppinga missed the 2005 season with an injury, was held back in camp the next season and only made his preseason debut in the final game. But the coaches were fine with naming him the starter at the beginning of the 2006 season. Although the big difference is that Barnett is going to be on the field a lot more than Poppinga has ever played, since Brady’s always pulled when they switch to the nickel.
by Brandon on Aug 25, 2009 10:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
ILB
Sorry, gotta disagree w/ you on this one… From what I have read, Hawk has been playing the strong side ILB spot (LILB) for the Packers D. Bishop is DEFINITELY a stong side ILB. Chillar is more of a guy that need protection to run to the ball. The weak ILB (RILB) is the one that Chillar has been playing and where Barnett is supposed to man this season… TO me that puts Chillar vs. Barnett and Bishop vs Hawk for the starting spots.
It is easy to assume that the 2 ILB positions are the same but they are not… The weak ILB spot is similar to the Will LB in the Packers old 43 under Sanders. ANd the Stong ILB is like the Mike LB in the old scheme, except that it requires a more phsical player who can take on OL. Barnett is not built to take on OL, which is the reason, IMO, that he is now playing the Weak ILB. Hawk at 250 should be better suited for that duty, but as we know he has trouble disengaging from OL. Whether due to short arms or some other reason.
by Strohman on Aug 26, 2009 12:42 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hmm, Im not confident with either tackle, Clifton is done and Barbre had a penaltie
but otherwise the OLine seems good
On that fly to right-center
I kinda expected JD to plow into Rios with an ATV.
EVERYBODY PICK US FOR 3RD OR 4TH SO I DINK WE DOIN POOTY GOO
Sox Machine
by Sox Machine on Aug 17, 2009 7:35 PM PDT reply recommended Unrec 3
by blackoutsox on Aug 25, 2009 8:23 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Clifton
I had really low expectations for him coming into the season. He had four surgeries in the offseason, and 2008 was a poor season. But he’s looked ok, which is better than I expected, so my low expectations have been exceeded. It’s not much of compliment, but he’s by far the best left tackle on the roster.
by Brandon on Aug 25, 2009 10:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Performance over Pedigree
Is how I hope this LB situation plays out. From what I read and what I see, Bishop has performed better than Hawk. He should start, in my opinion.
I think Chillar should start as well.
I hope this linebacking corps shakes out in the same manner as the Patriots when they were winning Super Bowls—it seemed like they had 8 linebackers contributing in each game.
by Wade V on Aug 26, 2009 1:55 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

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