Packer Blog Roundup - On Rookie Signings, Super Bowl Picks, and Zone Blocking

by Brandon on Jul 1, 2010 8:00 AM CDT in Green Bay Packers Analysis

- The Green Bay Packers have just started to sign their draft picks, the first three signed last week, but it's not something to worry about on July 1. Here's a great updated list of signings around the NFL from Walter Football. My guess is that the next Packer to sign is S Morgan Burnett. With three CBs drafted right ahead of him signed, and the Lions just signed CB Amari Spievey, and two other DBs signed right after him, his contract slot should be pretty well determined.

- One FOX Sports talking head jumps on the Packers-to-the-Super-Bowl bandwagon and Jersey Al and packergeeks ask him to jump off already. I have to admit I'd like to keep my expectations low right now. I'm sure I'll be irrational and expect them to win every game no later than Week 5.

- Aaron Nagler at Cheesehead TV writes about RB Ryan Grant in the zone blocking scheme. While the Packers aren't zone blocking 100% of the time, the scheme does seem to be a good fit for Grant, who's very good at making one cut and hitting the gap.

- From Jersey Al's Blog: Which undrafted free agent has a real shot at making the team? The easy answer is one of the two undrafted free agent punters. My best guess is an undrafted WR, such as Chastin West, will make the team as the No. 5 WR. It'll all come down to whether any of those receivers can actually hang onto the ball during preseason games.

- From Green Bay Packer Nation: The top 5 most exciting games of the past three years. I would have to include the three playoff games. The one regular season game that really remains memorable for me was Week 1 vs. the Eagles in 2007. After sitting through the difficult 2005 and 2006 season, to watch them beat a good team when they didn't play their best was a major turnaround. It made me wonder how good they could be in 2007.

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Top 3 Most Exciting Games

1. Packers @ Broncos (2007)- Favre threw the game winning OT pass to Jennings. I was at that game, so to experience it was absolutely majical. Maybe the game wasn’t exciting to watch on tv, but hearing these teenage Bronco fans acting cocky, then looking at their faces after the OT pass…….priceless!

2. Vikings @ Packers (2008)- Aaron Rodgers first official game as the starting QB for the Packers. Considering I missed his game at Dallas the year before, it was the first real time game action I’ve seen of Rodgers (not mop up duty or Preseason). His performance was incredible, and I knew he was a special QB from that moment on.

3. Packers @ Cardinals (2009)- Yes, we lost this game and it was in the playoffs, but you cannot deny it was a good game. After those early turnovers and the defense just not stopping their offense, most QB’s would feel screwed. Some may give up all together. Rodgers battled back. He showed a lot of heart, determination, and dedication to win that game. He did everything he could to try and win. In the end we fell short as a team, but I loved the effort he and the rest of our offense showed to try and win that game. Rodgers showed he belonged in the playoffs and showed he will never give up no matter what stands in his way.

"No player is greater than a team."
-Vince Lombardi

by Jabooty on Jul 1, 2010 10:40 AM CDT reply actions

haha

i misspelled “magical.”

"No player is greater than a team."
-Vince Lombardi

by Jabooty on Jul 1, 2010 10:40 AM CDT up reply actions

AZ

I gotta go w/ the playoff game vs. AZ!!! I was at the game and it was the most exciting game I have ever been too. It was INCREDIBLE!!! And I was also at the Boise st vs Oklahoma Fiesta bowl… after the AZ game then the Broncos… Beyond that the Pitts game last year has to rank right up there.

by Strohman on Jul 1, 2010 12:35 PM CDT up reply actions

AZ Game is the best that I have been to

Im not saying it is the best Packer game ever… But it is the best offensive battle that I have ever been to. We had front row endzone seats, Defense failed to show for the game which was highly dissapointing. Rodgers battled back the entire game when he got facemasked in overtime (bad no-call there zebra). The first play saw Jennings a half a step away from ending the game. Rodgers kept them in the game, the defense kept them from winning… Hopefully the coaches will look at the tapes from last year and realize that we need to blitz more; especially against Favre. We will play most of the top tier QB’s this year and they must not be allowed the time to pick apart the defense.

Arizona fans were horribly whiny, just all around cry babies. By far the worst fans Ive seen thus far. We went to the week prior game in AZ as well, same result, same whiners. Dallas was bad too years ago, but they simply talk smack ONLY when there team is winning.

Last laugh is ours though; Arizona no longer has a QB and Dallas comes to Lambeau again this year. If the defense stays healthy, O-Line does their job, and we implement a blitz package once and a while, we will see the playoffs again. redemption!

by Tee Merc on Jul 2, 2010 5:06 AM CDT up reply actions

Holy cow...

Sounds like we’ve been to the same games the past couple years… I was at both games end of the year too… And the Dallas game in GB 2 yrs ago! Agree the AZ fans are kinda whiny…

Disagree w/ blitzing #4 and other top QB’s… They are the elite cuz they can recognize and dismantle the blitz when it comes! Pressure is huge though… SImply MUST get to the QB w/ 4 rushers!!! Blitzing leave too many holes to chose from! Its been shown that you need pressure but bringing 5 or 6 is disaster against the top QB’s… NO only really brought 4 on the majority of downs against Favre, they just got alot of pressure w/ 4… THats the difference!!!

by Strohman on Jul 2, 2010 10:42 AM CDT up reply actions

The best way to get to 4 is to hit him

Over and over and over.

Saints showed that in the NFC Championship game. Yes, elite QB’s can dissect blitz, but you still have take some shots… definitely more than what they tried in the two game last year.

by PackApologist on Jul 2, 2010 10:51 AM CDT up reply actions

shots

Gotta take SOME shots, and they have to be disguised very well and get home… Best QB’s like #4 know a blitz is coming before the ball is snapped!!! And know before the snap where they are going w/ it!!! Thats why you have to be very careful…

Elite QB’s love to be blitzed… They know its coming and exactly how to beat it!!!

by Strohman on Jul 2, 2010 11:10 AM CDT up reply actions

FA

Most likely FA to gain a roster spot is definitely Nick McDonald… All he has to do is show he can play some C, to go along w/ playing OG and he beats out Deitrich Smith! I don’t think much of Smth… Too small to stand up, kinda like Wells in that regard. They are like 6’2 300 whereas McDonald is 6’4 315… Thats a big difference and w/ a full year he could put on more muscle.

I don’t think any WR is going to beat Swain out. If there is one that has a chance I gotta say Patrick Williams!

by Strohman on Jul 1, 2010 1:18 PM CDT reply actions

I know it is really early for this

The running back from Oregon State is a great zone blocking back with awsome break away speed. I hate the early draft watch and heisman watch but this kid is worth the hype. He would make a great Packer. Sorry, dreams are nice though.

by Giant_in_la_area on Jul 2, 2010 12:28 AM CDT reply actions

that dude is TINY...

Seems like another Dexter McCluster! Maybe a LITTLE faster but certainly not big enough on the Pro level to use on a regular basis. Unless you were a huge McCluster fan I don’t see the point! BTW- I wasn’t a McCluster fan at all!!!

by Strohman on Jul 2, 2010 1:17 AM CDT up reply actions

A missing game in the top five

Well not really missed, Brandon did touch on it, but I would highlight it, the Seahawks playoff game of 07. That game just kicked ass! One of the great pleasures of my life was going to that game and partying in the snow.

I also have to agree that the Cards playoff game of this past year should be on the list, even though I needed to take a sick day following that game just to recover from the emotional hang over.

I would put on the Dallas game from 09. It was so wonderful watching that beat down take place and kick off our late season winning streak.

I would go either the 08 Vikings game or the 09 Bears as well. Each game had their highlights and came down to the wire.

The last would be one of the close 07 games, such as the Broncos game, the Eagles game, or the Chiefs game.

by PackApologist on Jul 2, 2010 12:48 AM CDT reply actions

great game

From the Packers perspective… They dominated after the 1st qtr!!! That game wasn’t very exciting… Just alot of fun cuz they made a great comeback from early game turnovers, but still dominated the play all day! Seattle was over-matched that day!!! Only reason it ever was a game was the Packers/Grants early fumbles…

by Strohman on Jul 2, 2010 1:21 AM CDT up reply actions

Seahawks game #1

I didn’t list it as such, but that was the best game of the last three seasons. It was their only win in the playoffs during that time, so that’s a big point. Plus the turn around by RB Ryan Grant, who went from 2 early fumbles to domination thereafter, was amazing. Plus the snow was awesome in HD.

by Brandon on Jul 5, 2010 10:52 PM CDT up reply actions

exciting

look no further than the last 2 super bowl games the packers were in. it doesn’t get any more exciting than that, the anticipation of the game coming and the fact that the packers were there 2 years in a row. the games were both very exciting to watch.

can be any of a handfull of games ffor instance, the game in frisco where T.O. caught the game winner with secods left after rice’s phantom no fumble call. in a loss, that was an exciting game.

by hermitcrab on Jul 2, 2010 1:46 AM CDT reply actions

Problem

I think the main reason why no one has chosen the SB’s is because the topic is best games of the last three years. The SB’s were over ten years ago. Well that and the second SB is still a hollow point in my soul.

The Frisco game was also nearly ten years ago as well.

by PackApologist on Jul 2, 2010 9:23 AM CDT up reply actions