Packer Notes: Matthews Wins, Havner's Workout, and Chalk Talk
by Brandon on Nov 11, 2010 7:01 AM CST
in Green Bay Packers News
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PrintOnce again, LB Clay Matthews is honored as the NFC Defensive Player of The Week. He had 4 tackles, 1 sack, 2 pass defenses, and a 62 yard INT return for a TD against the Cowboys. It's the third time he's won the award.
According to Packer Report, TE Spencer Havner worked out on Tuesday and could re-sign by Monday. I'm not so sure about this one. Brad Biggs said the Packers worked out 8 players this week, while Packer Report specified they only saw Havner. It's certainly possible (assuming Havner's injured hamstring is healed) that he could take over for TE Andrew Quarless (if his injured shoulder is serious) or for one of the recently signed linebackers such as Diyral Briggs.
Chalkboard talk: Doug Farrar of Football Outsiders breaks down some of CB Tramon Williams's recent games against the Vikings, Jets, and Cowboys. Meanwhile, Pat Kirwan at NFL.com examines some of the blitz packages Dom Capers used against the Cowboys. Both are great articles, but really detailed if you're not into all the Xs and Os.
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I'd love to see Havner suit up again
Was disappointed when he was cut and the Lions signed him and hopeful when they cut him loose (admittedly, Pettigrew and Sheffler are pretty good) .
He’s not a big time receiving TE, but he’s got the potential to make those key catches to preserve drives and score in short yardage.
"Show me a good loser, and I'll show you a loser." - Vince Lombardi
I guess I am not as high on him as you. Just cause he made a few wide open catches last year doesn’t make him some beast of a pass catcher. I equate him to someone like Vrabel where its the element of surprise that allows him to make a few plays here and there.
yea i feel like he wasnt covered because he was a linebacker
but now that teams know what he can do i dont think hell be as effective
I don’t know, I think his size makes him in asset in short range. I get the Vrabel comparison, but I can see him out-muscling a defender trying to lay a hit on him within short scrimmage.
"Show me a good loser, and I'll show you a loser." - Vince Lombardi
edit:
^^^on a more regular basis than mere surprise plays.
btw… what does err’body think of Crabtree? There was a lot of excitement about him at the beginning of the season.
"Show me a good loser, and I'll show you a loser." - Vince Lombardi
Hasn't everyone in the NFL
played well against Jerry Hughes thus far? I’m not too impressed with Crabtree so far, but I’ve never been very impressed with Havner either. Plus, Crabtree is a few years younger and a better run blocker.
"We've got Hank Baskett"
by I voted for Kodos on Nov 11, 2010 7:54 PM CST up reply actions
well everyone sites his “amazing touchdowns” as his contribution. I don’t hear much about him being an exceptional blocker. If his receiving skills are what we are to be excited about, paint me unexcited. Just cause he made a few catches with no one on him doesn’t mean he’s someone that is a good receiver. I don’t object to him coming in to fill a void if we need it but I don’t see him really contributing much.
Our kind of player!
I was also shocked to hear that he had been cut. This guy seems like, with the exception of his off season fiasco, exactly the type of player we look for. He is multi use and willing to take whatever role given. With the right direction from some of our veteran players, this could be a real talent in the rough.
Versatile
I’ll give you he’s versatile… But a “real” talent?!! Not hardly… He is a failed ILB, who was moved to TE just to keep him around for ST purposes only!
Give him credit for catching the balls he did, but he didn’t get himself open! He was left uncovered or Rodgers threw him open! No “real” talent is evident looking at the film! And I’ve watch as many plays of his as I could find to determine whether he ever made a play to create an opportunity. He didn’t…
You've been Stroh'd!!!
TD's
havner found the end-zone. that’s what he did. Open or not, he finished the play. currently, our TE’s are not doing that. not saying he is the “magic bullet”, but he knows the system and he and Rodgers have found the end zone together more than Rodgers has found it with Lee, crabtree, and quar this year. bring him in.
Finished the play?
Havner wasn’t running 50 yards with 3 tacklers dragged on him. Most of his TDs were with goal to gain.
So true. Ive seen Quarless drop at least two or three TDs in the end zone this year. I like his potential n he reminds me of a rookie Jermicheal Finley but at this point our TE corp is not looking very impressive. Havner last year, with the very few opportunities he had, he made the best of it. I mean he had the same amount of TDs as Jennings, which is pretty good. Also since hes a former LB, he understands how zone coverages work n thats why he got open. I say bring him in, its not like our TEs have been spectacular.
Had as many TDs as Jennings
Only because teams were doubling Jennings and leaving Havner uncovered.
"We've got Hank Baskett"
by I voted for Kodos on Nov 11, 2010 8:03 PM CST up reply actions
Best red zone TE
There’s a knack to getting open in the endzone and I think Havner has it, certainly more than any TE currently playing. Yes it is easier if Jennings is doubled and you are an unknown but he would be worth it if defenses did pay attention to him which would lead to the wrs getting more single coverage.
by Wisfan on Nov 11, 2010 8:17 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
except
Havner didn’t GET open! He was left uncovered or Rodger threw him open!!! That means the play was made by Rodgers or no one covered him! He gets credit only for catching a pass!!! Nothing else!
You've been Stroh'd!!!
Havner has body odor!
BUT YOU DIDN’T SEE THAT ANGLE!
by Bush League All Star on Nov 11, 2010 10:35 PM CST up reply actions
At least he caught the ball though, which is what matters. I’ve seen Lee and Quarless drop WAY too many TDs.
+1
It’s pretty easy to catch the ball when no one is covering you, so I don’t think the “Lee and Quarless drop TDs” argument is very strong. A pretty good argument, but not a crushing one.
Unless it is due to vicious body odor, it’s unlikely teams will continue to choose not to cover Havner (don’t recall him catching any TDs with the Lions).
I think the current TE lineup is pretty good for non-starters. Yes, Quarless is inexperienced, but he has excellent physical tools and lots of potential (which is about the all we could say of Finley after his rookie year), and playing time will help him improve. Crabtree is our blocking specialist, and is a better run-blocker than Havner. And Lee is . . . Well, we know what we’re getting out of Lee. He’s never really impressive, but he knows the system and is assignment sure. I don’t see any need to go after Havner.
"We've got Hank Baskett"
by I voted for Kodos on Nov 11, 2010 11:31 PM CST up reply actions
Ok
So other receivers are covered and Havner isn’t.
Havner catches the ball when required.
So if other teams catch on and start covering him, then that takes away coverage on other receivers, right?
So someone else will be open and need to catch the ball, thanks to Havner taking coverage away from them.
Sounds kinda valuable to me one way or the other.
by Darrell L on Nov 12, 2010 1:39 PM CST up reply actions 2 recs
This is kind of where I'm at too
We can talk all day about how his plays last year were a result of the defense not covering him or what-not, but he’s a guy that showed he can produce if needed. What’s the worst that could happen with a signing like this? He gets covered this season and frees up someone else to catch passes? Thanks, I’ll take that. Who do we release? One of the mediocre LB we signed off the street that hasn’t seen the field yet.
I feel he’s not a guy who’s going to break a game open for a team, but he’s someone you can count on to catch something that’s thrown to him and can play ST.
Towlieppan: "You wanna throw high?"
I can't tell if you're kidding or serioius
“If the other teams catch on and start covering him, then that takes away coverage on other receivers, right?”
Is there anyone on our team that whose hands are so bad you don’t have to cover them whatsoever? No. Thus, every WR or TE we send out has to be covered by the other team, thereby “tak[ing] coverage away” from other receivers. I can’t see how Havner has the advantage over anyone in this case.
But I think you’re kidding. Right?
"We've got Hank Baskett"
by I voted for Kodos on Nov 13, 2010 2:23 AM CST up reply actions
Yep
Exactly what I’m saying. And it could be that the reason why he was uncovered was because he understands zones since he also plays LB, so he just found the sweet spot where no defender was at, and caught the ball. And to say that he didn’t do anything afterwards is untrue. If I remember correctly, in that Clevland game last year he had like a 45 yard catch which was mostly yac.
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