The Green Bay Packers will officially open their 2009 season when they take on the Cleveland Browns tonight at Lambeau Field.  There have been many headlines this off-season as the team looks to build on their six-win season from last year.

After two weeks of training camp, here are five things to watch for when the Packers hit the field at seven o’clock tonight.

1. What kind of defensive schemes will the Packers throw at the Browns?

Unless you have been living under a rock for the last two or so months, you know the Packers are moving to a 3-4 scheme on defense this season.  Led by coach Dom Capers, the defense will be extremely active and coming from all angles.

In camp, the Packers have used very confusing blitz packages that feature players coming from all sides and at all times.  Anything from safety blitzes to corner blitzes to all-out blitzes, the Packers are looking to get as far away from their last year’s vanilla defense as possible.

This also means going with different sets in different situations.  The defense has been seen in sets with two down linemen and five linebackers and sometimes have gone back to the traditional 4-3.

It will also be interesting to see if Capers shows all his cards during the first pre-season game.  Jeremy Thompson, Nick Barnett, Justin Harrell, Clay Matthews III, and B.J. Raji are all expected to sit out the team’s first pre-season game, so the “first team” defense will not be completely full strength.

First impressions are everything, so it will be important for Capers and the defense to get off on the right foot against coach Eric Mangini and the Browns.

 

2. Will the kicking game be any better than what reports from camp have said?

One big issue the Packers had last year that was not addressed in the off-season was the punting situation.  Derrick Frost was about as bad of a punter as I have ever seen, and Jeremy Kampinos was just average.

This season, Kampinos has squared off against Durant Brooks in hopes that one will come out on top as the Packers punter for week one.  Early returns have said neither have done an outstanding job, and real-game situations will tell a lot about who is the front-runner at this point.

As for kicker Mason Crosby, he had a couple awful days in practice that were well documented in the media.  Since then, Crosby has been pretty much perfect in practice and kicking 50+ yard field goals with ease.

With no competition against him, we’ll see if Crosby has improved on what he did last year with a stronger, more accurate leg.

 

3. Will Aaron Kampman transition to the 3-4 defense or look lost at his new position?

Much has been made over Kampman’s move to outside rush linebacker in the new defense, and whether he is upset about the switch is stil up in the air.

What is certain is that we will get a good look at new his position tonight, and it should be evident whether the move was the right one.

On one hand, he could come out firing from the two-point stance, pressuring the quarterback; making plays; and most importantly, doing well in coverage.

Or, he will look slow and lack the fire that has made him one of the hardest working defensive players in the league.

The front seven for the Packers is pretty much set in stone (once B.J. Raji gets a hold of the defense in practice), but its success will hinge on Kampman’s ability to get to the quarterback while still being able to cover in different formations.

 

4. Which of the three backup running backs/wide receivers will emerge with a big game?

Starting with the running backs, Ryan Grant and Brandon Jackson will see limited time tonight, with Jackson getting a few more reps.  What will be even more interesting will be which back takes the lead in the race for the third and final spot on the roster.

Deshawn Wynn has looked fantastic in practice but has struggled to stay healthy, Craigg Lumpkin has also shown great speed and Tyrell Sutton has been a brusier over the last two weeks.

All three backs bring a little something different to the table, so it will be important to see whose game translates the best to what the Packers are looking for.

While the four wide receiver positions have all but been set in stone, the fifth spot is still very much up for grabs.  Receivers Jake Allen and Brett Swain are both challenging Ruvell Martin for the last spot on the roster, and might even make the Packers think twice about keeping six WR’s.

Allen has formed good chemistry with the quarterbacks and has shown he is not afraid to go up and get the ball, as seen in practice.  Swain entered training camp in excellent condition and early reports say he is ready to prove his game is worthy of a spot on the 53-man roster.

 

5. Who will become the front runner for the right tackle position?

Both Breno Giacomini and Allen Barbre have been fighting for the starting right tackle position, and while Barbre is listed as the No. 1 tackle, nothing is set in stone.

Both have seen time with the first team on different occasions and both have done fairly well (in comparison with the underachieving offensive line).

Tomorrow night, both tackles should see significant time on the field, and one will come out with the early lead heading into the next three games.

Barbre’s quickness and size combine to be exactly what teams look for in their right tackle in the zone blocking scheme, while Giacomini’s frame is a little larger.

Regardless of who wins the battle, the whole offensive line must continue to play better, or it will not matter who lines up at right tackle.

As a team, the Green Bay Packers will be looking to reverse their fortunes from last year as the 2009 season approaches. With a brand new defensive scheme in place and another year of experience under the offense’s belt, the Packers will look to improve on their 2008 campaign that saw them win just six games.

Looking to help that cause are five players who are ready to break out of the shadows and become impact players for the Packers this year.

 

1. Jermichael Finley, Tight End

When he was drafted out of the University of Texas, the one knock on Finley was that inexperience would plague him. After playing just two seasons for the Longhorns, Finley was drafted in the third round of the 2008 draft (91st overall) as the seventh tight end.

In his rookie season, Finley was used sparingly on offense and ended the year with just six catches for 74 yards and a touchdown. In a November game against the Tennessee Titans, he was critical of quarterback Aaron Rodgers on a failed fourth down pass, saying Rodgers “didn’t throw it good at all”. 

After the comments, Finley went back to a much smaller role in the offense for the rest of the season and caught some heat for the words.

One could describe those comments as a microcosm of Finley’s rookie season: immaturity. Just 21 years old, Finley was a raw talent (4.82 forty-yard dash and 35 inch vertical) who was more of an athlete than a football player.

A year later, Finley is back as a complete player who is consistently making plays during practices and is pushing to be the starting tight end this year. He has improved his blocking skills ten fold and head coach Mike McCarthy says he feels comfortable using him in just about any set.

If Finley is able to overtake current starter Donald Lee in the offense, he will add a much more athletic and bigger option for Aaron Rodgers that can stretch the field.

 

2. Deshawn Wynn, Running Back

Since he was drafted in 2007, Deshawn Wynn has had problems staying on the football field.  In his rookie season, he was pegged as the starter but a shoulder injury caused him to miss the team’s last nine games.  Last season, Wynn was waived and later assigned to the practice squad for the Packers.

He was brought back to the 53 man roster in week six, but a calf injury caused him to miss six games once he was back.  In the limited action he saw towards the end of last year, he rushed for 106 yards and a touchdown in the season finale against the Lions.

This season, Wynn is fully healthy and ready to contribute regularly to the running game. The ex-Gator will battle Brandon Jackson for the third down running back spot, but position coach Edgar Bennett has been singing Wynn’s praises all through camp.

Wynn has all the physical tools to succeed at the NFL level, but staying healthy will be the one obstacle he must overcome. If he is able to do so, look for him to make a large impact on the run game and screen game.

 

3. Jeremey Thompson, Outside Linebacker

When it was announced that the Green Bay Packers would be moving to a 3-4 defense followed by the hiring of Dom Capers, the first player that came to mind as someone who will love this change was Thompson.

Drafted out of Wake Forest as a defensive end, Thompson started just three games late in the season for the Packers and only appeared in nine games as whole, but showed a ton of speed and quickness that made him the perfect specimen for a switch to a 3-4 linebacker.

At 6′4″, 270 lbs., Thompson is the perfect fit for an outside linebacker in Capers’ scheme and will fight for a starting spot with rookie Clay Matthews III. While Matthews is now seeing reps with the first team, Thompson still figures to see a ton of playing time this season.

He will need to play more physical at the point of the attack, something Matthews does very well, but his speed and quickness combine with his frame to make a freak of an athlete that the Packers will somehow use this season.

 

4. Allen Barbre, Right Tackle

After Mark Tauscher went down with a torn ACL last year, it was apparent that his time in Green Bay was running low.  Still a few months away from being 100 percent, the Packers have not re-signed the former Wisconsin Badger and have decided to move on.

Battling for the right tackle position this year will be Allen Barbre and Breno Giacomini.  Barbre, the third year tackle out of Missouri Southern State, has not seen much action in his first couple years with the Packers but is now the front runner to win the RT spot.

He played tackle all throughout college but was immediately moved to tackle when the Packers drafted him in the fourth round of the 2007 Draft. Now, he is being asked to move back to tackle and early returns say he is succeeding there.

Dominant in the run game, Barbre will need to be more consistent (just as the whole O-line will need to be) if he wants to keep his position on the field.  He is smaller than Giacomini by three inches and seven pounds but moves a little quicker. This is important in the zone blocking scheme the Packers run and is one of the reasons he is in line to win the job.

If he wins the job this year, Barbre will be the right tackle of the future for the Green and Gold.

 

5. Jordy Nelson, Wide Receiver

One of the story lines coming into training camp this year was the battle the Packers had going on for the third wide receiver position. Second-year receiver Jordy Nelson and James Jones were to battle for the spot and thus far the two have both performed well in camp. 

While both have different skill sets, Nelson’s rough demeanor and soft hands make him a candidate for the last break out player.

Last season, Nelson caught 33 balls for 366 yards and scored on two occasions. His blocking was outstanding and he dropped the fewest passes on the team. This season, he will see more playing time and hopefully have created even more chemistry with Aaron Rodgers.

As a part of one of the deepest receiving corps in the league, Nelson will join Donald Driver and Greg Jennings on the outside, which should free up some room for Nelson to run free. At 6′3″, Nelson has the body of a tight end with track speed that makes him a rare talent.

This spot on the list easily could have gone to James Jones, but Nelson has the potential to become better than Jones if he continues to work on his skills. Time will tell, but Nelson looks to be the replacement for Driver, and a good one at that.

Former Atlanta Falcons superstar Michael Vick was recently re-instated to the National Football League by commissioner Roger Goodell after serving a 23-month prison term for his actions in a dogfighting ring. 

During the ordeal, the Falcons cut ties with the quarterback, drafted Matt Ryan, made the playoffs, and have turned over a new leaf as a franchise.

For Vick, the search for a new team willing to take the baggage he may bring has been a rough one.  While he claims that teams have shown interest in him and that he will be signed in the near future, nothing solid has surfaced.

For those of you reading the title of this article and saying “NO!  What are you thinking, Mark?!”, relax, because there is no way Ted Thompson would make a deal for the troubled quarterback. 

Not only is Vick the polar opposite of a “Packer person,” but he would likely cost too much money for Thompson to pull the trigger.  Everyone knows how stingy he is in free agency.

If you are a reader that is saying “Hey, maybe taking a flyer on the most electric player in the game isn’t such a bad idea”, let’s explain to the other group of readers why.

First and foremost, the Packers are a team that could afford Vick, even if he wanted a little more money than expected.  Even after signing Tramon Williams and Greg Jennings to big extensions, the team has plenty of cap space to negotiate a deal with Vick.

While Thompson believes in building within and is planning to spend that money to extend his young stars, the fact remains that Vick is signable.

With Vick signed and in camp, the first thing to do is implement the Wildcat formation into the offense. 

Outside of Donald Driver running the ball maybe twice last year (might have even been ’07), the Packers have never run the Wildcat or even considered it.  Part of the reason?  They never had anyone who could run it.

The Bears have Devin Hester, who is one of the quickest players in the league and seems to have a knack for the big play.

The Vikings selected Percy Harvin out of Florida with their first pick in the draft this year to run the Wildcat, and the Lions have Calvin Johnson who can do everything.

Vick would be an answer to the the “exciting” players in the NFC North, but also add the dimension of being able to pass in certain situations. 

With Vick, one of the most exciting offenses in the league quickly becomes THE most exciting offense in the league. 

For as much criticism as Vick took behind the helm as a quarterback, he was never all that bad.

Was he as good as his $120 million contract said he should have been?  Certainly not.  But as a Wildcat specialist and back-up quarterback for the Packers, he will be well worth what the Packers end up paying him.

Last year, rookies Brian Brohm and Matt Flynn manned the back-up duties behind Aaron Rodgers and were less than impressive.  The seventh-rounder Flynn beat out the second rounder Brohm for the back-up job and that looks to be the case this year.

If Vick comes in, suddenly the Packers have a veteran back-up with a whole lot of experience under his belt.  Keeping four quarterbacks on the roster would not be an option, but if the coaching staff feels Vick is good enough, then Brohm still might have trade value and Flynn is expendable.

The problems he would cause for defenses are unimaginable. Think about a shotgun formation with Rodgers next to Vick in the backfield.

Now put Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, and James Jones out on the field and spread them out wide.  Even a swing pass of a simple handoff to Vick would put the defense in a confused state.

While Vick probably isn’t a huge threat as a pure running back, and the Packers do not need any more wide receiver help, using him in the Wildcat would be a huge addition to the offense.

Regardless of how good one believes Michael Vick is on the field or how good he could be with the Packers in the Wildcat formation, the off-the-field issues are what scare most people away.

It’s true, Vick has a terrible reputation right now and his legacy and image has been tarnished forever in some people’s eyes. 

While I am not here to judge people or say what is right or wrong in the world, what Vick did was not really all that terrible in comparison to other players in the league and their actions.  There are players in the league who have done some pretty terrible things (Tank Johnson, Pacman Jones, Randy Moss, just to name a few).

If you believe Vick, then he is truly sorry for his actions and understands that what he did was immoral, disgusting, and wrong.  Serving almost two years in jail changes a lot of people, and the word is that Vick is a changed man.  He has kept up on his conditioning and seems to be ready and anxious to get back in the game of football.

Another factor in whether or not Vick should come to Green Bay is the location.  Vick would not be in a huge city like New York or Chicago where he would have media members breathing down his neck after every practice and game. 

If ESPN’s coverage of the Packers over the years is any indication, Vick might NEVER be mentioned in the press.

In a smaller town like Green Bay, Vick could be himself and would be away from any potential problems that he might face in a bigger city with a bigger population.

Maybe the biggest concern is what effect Vick might have on the rest of the locker room.  Maybe it’s just that they are the only team I follow, but the Packers seem to have one of the tightest core group of guys in the league.

I wrote earlier on how the wide receivers are all best buddies, and it seems as if the rest of the team acts that way as well.

A more humbled Vick would know that the Packers are not his team and that he is not calling the shots.  He would be a role player and that is something that might take off some of the pressure that Vick has faced in the past, causing him to lash out.

Throw in his contract a zero tolerance policy that says if he acts out of order he is gone and will not be paid.

So which side do I take in this whole argument?  I say no to signing Vick but it isn’t because of what you might think.  I believe he could really help this team, and any team for that matter. 

He didn’t succeed under the spotlight, but the athleticism is still there for any team that wants him.  If he is asked to come in and be a starting quarterback for a team, problems will arise and Vick will simply be the same quarterback that he was before this whole incident occurred.

The reason I think Vick is the wrong answer for the Packers now is the timing of everything.  Training camp started yesterday and the Packers are off and rolling.

There is no second-guessing the draft, the free agent selections, or any of the coaching selections.  What you have is what you go with to start the year.

I realize that whoever decides to roll the dice on Vick will have this predicament, but for a team like the Packers who struggled last year and are putting in a brand new defense, he just isn’t the answer right now.

To me, his top landing spots would be New England, San Francisco, and Miami.  Wherever he lands up, he is going to be a steal in the dog-eat-dog world of the NFL (come on, I had to do it once).

Heading into the 2008 season, many wondered how Aaron Rodgers would fare in his first season as the man in charge of running the Green Bay Packers’ offense.  After the off-season fiasco that was Brett Favre, Rodgers knew that if he did not produce quickly the Packers faithful would have very little patience.

Lucky for Rodgers, his offense sported the best receiving corps in the NFL and only got better as the year went on.  The 24-year-old from California would finish his pressure-filled season with 4038 yards, 28 touchdowns, just 13 interceptions, and a passer rating of 93.8, that ranked him sixth in all of football.

While his late-game production was disappointing to many, and the Packers’ 6-10 record did not impress, Rodgers got his first year as a starter under his belt and gained experience that will only make him better this upcoming fall.  Along with the experience he has gained, the guys he will be throwing to also make things a little easier.

Leading the way for the Pack, fresh off his contract extension, is Greg Jennings.  Entering his fourth year, the 25-year-old from Western Michigan, has already shot into the top ten discussion when it comes to receivers.  Over the last two years, Jennings has racked up over 2200 yards and twenty one touchdowns to lead the Packers.

After signing a contract extension this summer, he went and trained in Minnesota at a camp hosted by Larry Fitzgerald.  Chris Carter and Jerry Rice were two of the highlights of the camp and there is no doubt Jennings learned some valuable tidbits while attending.

Outside of his talent, Jennings is everything you could ask for in a star wide receiver.  He doesn’t have his own show on VH1 and he has no plans, that I know of, to change his last name to a spanish number.  When he scores a touchdown, he finds his teammates instead of a cell phone hidden in the goal post.  When another receiver scores a touchdown, he is the first to congratulate him instead of asking for the ball more.

He does things the right way and the fact that the combo of Rodgers and Jennings is signed for the next four years means good things are about to happen for the Packers offense.  A large part of why Jennings is the way he is can be attributed to his friend and teammate who lines up away from him every Sunday.

Donald Driver will be entering his eleventh season as a Green Bay Packer and has showed little signs of slowing down.  Seemingly ageless, Driver was on the right side of his fifth straight 1,000 yard season despite handing over the reisngs of a number one receiver to Jennings.

After the Alcorn State grad was a surprising no show at the voluntary mini-camps, many wondered whether or not he was happy with his contracts.  I wrote on why Driver was wrong if he thought he deserved a pay raise, and clearly so did Driver as he explained the matter was family, not contract, related.

With the depth at wide receiver the Packers have this year, it would not be a shock to see Driver’s numbers decrease from last year.  Mike McCarthy has explained he would like to run the ball more and the aforementioned depth is a good problem to have. Don’t expect Driver to slack on effort or pout if he doesn’t see the ball enough.  He is the epitome of a guy that straps on his helmet and goes out and plays the game.

While Jennings and Driver will be holding down the one and two spots on the depth chart, the third option is wide open and the Packers will have two very solid players fighting for the position.

In my eyes, the front-runner to win the job is last year’s second round selection Jordy Nelson.  In his rookie campaign, the 24-year-old from Kansas State, racked up 366 yards receiving and a pair of touchdowns in the limited time he saw on the field.

His blocking skills were also a very positive note from Nelson’s rookie season and it is a trait that should give him even more playing time this year.  When I watch him play, I see a younger Brandon Marshall.  He goes up and fights for balls with his huge frame at 6′3″, 217 lbs. and fights like a tight end to gain extra yards.

If Nelson does not win the job, James Jones will be the reason why.

After an outstanding rookie season that saw him haul in 47 passes for 676 yards and a couple of touchdowns, injuries slowed his second year to a screeching hault.  Combined with rumors of him falling out of favor with the coaching staff, his season was limited to ten games that saw him catch just 20 passes and score once.

In week 15 against Jacksonville, Jones racked up 132 yards on five catches and began to show his old form from two seasons ago.  Early returns have been all positive for him, and even if he does not beat out Nelson he will be a heck of a fourth wide receiver.

The front-runner to grab the fifth and probably last wideout spot this year is Ruvell Martin.  Despite just thirty one catches over the last two years, Martin has been a clutch target for his quarterbacks and is an above average blocker.

Brett Swain and undrafted free agent Jamarko Simmons  both have shots at making the team and it would not be crazy to think the Packers would keep six receivers on their roster if someone warranted in a spot.  As it goes for these five, they make up the deepest corps in the league.

They have great chemistry with each other and love whenever someone succeeds.  No one in the group has an ego bigger than the team and they all strive for greatness.  They work hard at their craft and are developing with Rodgers every day.

Training camp will tell a lot of the story on just how good this group can be along with running back Ryan Grant and tight ends Donald Lee and the rising Jermichael Finley, but all signs point to this group having another stellar year for the high-powered Packers offense.

The Green Bay Packers and wide receiver Greg Jennings announced a three-year contract extension on Wednesday, making Jennings one of the highest paid wideouts in the game.  Let’s see how he got there….

The year was 2006 and the Green Bay Packers just completed their first day of rookie camps. First year Packers head coach Mike McCarthy was asked how the Pack’s latter second-round selection fared in the team’s camp.

McCarthy simply replied, “Oh, we didn’t miss on that one”. The rest was history.

Coming out of college, Jennings entered the draft after breaking just about every receiving record for the Western Michigan Broncos. He was projected as a second-to-third round pick behind the likes of Santonio Holmes, Chad Jackson, Derek Hagan, and Sinorice Moss.

His great route running and even better hands made him a perfect fit for the Packers’ west coast offense. The two knocks on Jennings going into the draft were his lack of size—just 5-foot-11—and his speed—4.42 40-yard dash at the combine. 

Fast forward three years and you’ll find a guy that has as much game speed and quickness as anyone in the league. Depsite his height, Jennings is also a guy that can go up for a jumpball with the best cornerbacks in the league.

Like McCarthy said on that first day of camp, Jennings was everything but a miss. In his first season, he caught 45 balls for 632 yards and three touchdowns. He caught Brett Favre’s 400th touchdown and was named to the AP’s All-Rookie Team that year. 

Over the next two years, Jennings amassed 133 catches, 2302 yards, and 21 touchdowns as one of the most productive receivers in the league.

Maybe even more important than all Jennings has done on the field; his actions off the field. In a world full of Chad Johnson’s, TO’s, and wide receivers that care more about the box score than the standings, Jennings is truly a breath of fresh air.

Not once has he called out a quarterback, demanded the ball, or showboat after scoring.

On the contrary, the first thing Jennings does after a score is find his wide receiver counterparts and celebrate with them.

During interviews, Jennings sports a huge smile and talks about how exciting it is to play with Rodgers, get better, and watch his teammates improve. He is everything that you could ask for in a wide receiver.

It’s only a matter of time before veteran Donald Driver hangs his cleats up and passes the wide receiver torch to Jennings, but with the way he holds himself there should not be much of a drop off.  It is very easy to see the effect that Driver has had on Jennings.

In that same sense, Jennings will now focus his attention on breeding young receivers like Jordy Nelson and James Jones, making sure they play to their full potential and do it the right way.

With Rodgers and Jennings, the Packers have potentially one of the best scoring tandems in team history in four years.

Jennings reminds me a lot of Larry Fitzgerald, who doesn’t have the size of a Terrell Owens or the speed of a Chad Johnson. Still, he puts in his time week in and week out, works his tail off, and has fun playing the game.

All these things combined towards a big pay day for Jennings, and it could not have happened to a better guy.

First of all Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and any other father figures in your life. It’s a day where we give out funny cards that we can find, buy them something nice and try not to annoy them while they watch the matinee baseball game and(hopefully) the end of the US Open.

But one thing that tends to go overlooked, in my case at least, is the thanks that we give our dads for opening us up to the world of sports. As I sit here at 19 years old, spitting out blogs and constantly checking ESPN.com for the latest updates, I do not want this thanks to go unnoticed anymore.

As a child, I can remember always having sports in my life. With a dad that was as passionate about sports as anyone I knew, and an athletic brother two years older than me, I had no other choice. I would always have some kind of ball in my hand and, any chance I could, would watch whatever game was on with my dad.

I can remember playing basketball out in my driveway, acting as both teams in the game and playing all the way to 100. When my dad got home, he was the first one to ask how the game went and if the team he liked more won.

Some of my favorite memories came from playing catch out in the street with my dad, where he would make grounders tough on me and fly balls even harder.

One specific memory I have of playing catch was when my dad drifted me over towards the fire hydrant to see if I would still go for the catch. Well, one bruised knee later and a few tears shed, I had caught the ball and the inning was over.

As for football in the street, when we weren’t playing catch he was punting the ball to me and having me work on my returning. One fateful day, for him, he told me that if I caught the next punt that I would get ice cream for a year in 2011.

He put as much muscle into it as any other punt as it headed for the bushes in front of our house, which at the time were taller than me. After a dive into the thorny bushes, that probably wasn’t worth the ice cream, I came out holding the football in what has become an awesome memory for me and my dad.

Rounding out the driveway sports was our awesome games of H.O.R.S.E or one-on-one matchups in basketball. I will go to my grave saying that Tim Duncan learned his trademark bank shot from my father, which usually gave him a quick “H-O” to nothing start in games.

When we would play against each other, I would always drive in on him and make contact to try to score my points. He taught me to never shy away from contact when going to the hoop because,more likely than not, it would draw a foul or the defender would get out of the way.

He explained how if I faded away from contact to try to get a clean shot off that I would never get any calls. Years later, I would lead my CYO team to a City Championship where I led the team in getting to the free throw line.

As a player, my dad was always my biggest fan and my biggest critic.  Not to say that him being a critic was a bad thing, but he always told me what I could do better and how to do that.

As a father of myself and my three brothers, my dad has coached more baseball and basketball teams than he can probably count. Every year and every team that he coached, he acted as the third base coach for the team. Being small but fast, my dad perfected the art of the bunt for me and made it something I would do often at the plate.

As a travel baseball coach, my dad probably spent more time in car rides to Wisconsin for tournaments than he did driving to work. As a baseball player, my dad and I went to tournaments in Cooperstown, Disney World, and just about every Wisconsin town there is.

As I mentioned before, there was always a TV or radio on in my house with a game on. My dad, a die-hard fan of the Packers and Brewers, instilled the importance of loyalty to me. Being a Packers fan in the 80’s will do that to a man.

More importantly was the way that my dad involved me in sports trips to Wisconsin.  He very easily could have brought a friend or co-worker to a Packers game, but instead took his sons and tailgated, bought us souvenirs in the pro shop, and an endless supply of hot chocolate for December Packers games. When the Green and Gold were out of town, Overtime Sports Bar and Grill was always the destination after church on Sunday.

As I moved into college at Marquette University, my dad still took me to Brewers games that were just a few minutes away from campus, and also picked me up on the way to Lambeau. It was then that my dad started a whole new “era” of helping me out in my love of sports.

When I started my blog online, I really did not expect it to grow into something as big as what it has. I have tried to post something every day instead of posting a couple of times on the Marquette basketball team once in a while. Just like he did in the driveway, in the third base coaching box, in section 125, row 25 at Lambeau Field, my dad was right there next to me as my biggest fan.

I could come to him with ideas, opinions, and statistics to see what he thought of them all. From there, I used those talks, sometimes arguments, that we had and turned them into blog posts that have been read by over 40,000 fans. None of what I post on my blog would be possible without 19 years of support from my biggest fan, my dad.

Last year, I sat in on Steve “Homer” True’s ESPN radio show in Milwaukee to get a feel for what a studio was like. I took away a lot from the experience, but the main thing he put in my head was that nothing I do in the sports world will be possible without passion.

Looking back on everything I have done in my life involving sports, I owe it all to my dad for giving me that passion to make me my best at everything I do and cheering me along the whole time.

He gives me a roof to sleep under, a chance to go to college and earn a degree, endless laughs on jokes, and the instruction manual on how to be an awesome dad.

But even more than all those things, the memories of sports I will have with my dad mean more to me than anything, and something I will keep with me forever. Thanks, dad.

Donald Driver, entering his 10th season for the Green Bay Packers, is closing in on a few all-time records for the Green and Gold. He has six 1,000-yard receiving years and has racked up 43 touchdowns in his storied career as a Packer. 

However, what gets lost in the stats and first down shimmys is how Driver got to this point. 

This is his story.

Donald Jerome Driver was born to Marvin Driver and Faye Gray on Feb. 2, 1975 in Houston, Texas. It quickly became apparent that Driver had serious speed, as at an early age he was given the nickname ‘Quickie’ by his parents who got so tired of chasing him around the house.

The youngster learned a quick lesson of humility very early on in his life. His mother would often skip meals to continue working late through the night and, at one point, Driver and his four other siblings lived in a U-Haul truck for days and nights on end.

Driver also lived in numerous hotels that his mother paid for using food stamps, as well as living in friend’s houses and not knowing what tomorrow would bring.

Laying in his bed one night, shared with his brother, Driver told his brother he would get his family out of the hell they were living in. After his parents divorced, his father went to jail and Driver turned to drug dealing as a way to cope with the tough times.

After spending many nights without parents and multiple holidays by himself, at the age of 14, Driver moved in with his grandmother Betty Lofton. There, his grandmother made him attend church and bible study on a weekly basis.

It was then that Driver attended Milby High School in Houston, where he excelled in sports from the day he stepped on campus.  He was a four sport athlete, lettering in track, football, basketball, and baseball all four years.

His father was an outstanding football player who could have made it in the pros, but when his father died, he needed to support his wife and had to give up his dreams.  Driver would watch highlight tapes of his father that led to his interest in football. 

In high school, Driver was an honorable mention All-State player in football and excelled in track and field.

Driver’s hard work on the field paid off as he received a four-year scholarship to attend Alcorn State University. There, he became an Olympic class high jumper, topping out at seven feet, six inches.

He won the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Athlete of the Year Award three years in a row. Had he not taken up football as a profession, Driver could have qualified for the 2000 Summer Olympic Games.

On the gridiron, Driver showed just as much progress and production. In his final year at Alcorn State, the senior caught 55 balls for 1,128 yards and 10 touchdowns. Going into the 1999 NFL Draft, he was just 6’0″, weighed 174 pounds, and was considered by many more of a track star than someone that compete in the NFL.

However, the Green Bay Packers gave him a look in the seventh and final round of the draft, selecting him with the 213th overall pick.

Nine years and 577 catches later, Driver is the same person that laid in the bed next to his brother, promising to help his family out.  The only difference is that Driver is now helping others.

In 2000, Driver began the Donald Driver Foundation with the goal to “help change homeless family and education issues each day with strong hands that build and strengthen instead of destroy and weaken, with strong minds that invent new ideas to achieve these goals, and with loving hears that overflow with love and compassion.”

The foundation has helped 17 families purchase homes and assist in mortgages in the Green Bay and Houston areas and also provides 10 $1,000-tuitions to students in Texas, Mississippi, and Wisconsin.

Driver has hosted fundraisers for the foundation that include the annual Donald Driver Golf Classic, the Celebrity Nine-Ball Shootout, and the annual Donald Driver Football Camp.

In 2002, Driver was given the “Walter Payton Man of the Year Award” for the Packers for his work in the community.  He has been given numerous awards for other work that he has done and received a “JB Award” in 2007, named after CBS’ James Brown, given to a select few players in the league for their contributions to their communities.

He does not have the mouth of a Terrell Owens or the ego of a Chad Johnson.  Yet, the little known track star out of a small school in Mississippi has made it big in the NFL.  At 33 years old, Driver has not let up one bit and has stayed the Packers second best option on the offensive side of the ball.

A big part of why Greg Jennings does not have the wide receiver superstar ego has to be because of Driver.  He is an excellent mentor that has been through every rough patch out there and has no doubt helped in that regard.

To put it very lightly, Donald Driver understands hard work.  He also understands that sometimes it takes a little help from others to get through tough times in his life.

The stats speak volumes about Driver’s play on the field, but his cheek-to-cheek smile speak even louder about how grateful Driver is to be where he is at.  Shimmy on, Donald.  We’re all cheering for you.

No one in the NFL was under more pressure to perform last year than Aaron Rodgers, and he did so in excellent fashion. His final stats included 4,038 yards and 28 touchdowns as he made most Packers fans forget about the Brett Favre saga earlier that summer.

He will go into the season as the obvious starter and will look to avoid the sophomore slump, despite being in his fifth year. He made smart decisions all year and played through a very tough shoulder injury that easily could have had him miss a start.

He proved to be a great fit for the Packers and meshed well with his weapons on offense.  He acts well beyond his years and is a true professional that still enjoys the game.

Backing up Rodgers, at least to start the year, will be last year’s seventh round draft choice Matt Flynn.  Flynn was not even a lock to make the team last year, as most thought the Packers would keep second round pick Brian Brohm and sign a veteran.

However, Flynn beat out Brohm and became the back-up which prevented a free agent to come in.  Flynn was two for five in his only playing time of the year against Tampa Bay, but Rodgers played in all 16 games last year so it was not a huge issue.

Flynn does not project to be more than a backup, but another year under his belt cannot hurt if he has to start a game next year.

General manager Ted Thompson took some heat when he drafted Brian Brohm in the second round in last year’s draft.

The pick seems more confusing as Brohm was the third string quarterback for all 16 games last year.  However, Brohm will be just 24 years next year and should improve in his second season.

Remember, the year before he came out for the draft, he was considered one of the top picks in the draft.

 

2009 Projections

Aaron Rodgers: 350-540, 31 TD, 14 INT, 4,110 yards, 235 rushing yards

As the 2009 Green Bay Packers draft came to a close, I had to say I was more excited about this team than I had been since the 2008 NFC Championship Game. 

Some needs were addressed while others were looked over as being not as pressing, but in the end, the Packers came out with one of the better drafts of any team we saw over the weekend. 

However, it has always been my theory that there is no such thing as a good or a bad draft pick on the exact day of the draft. 

In 2002, the Lions were applauded for their selections of Joey Harrington, running back Luke Staley, and offensive lineman Victor Rogers. 

Who? 

The point is that no one knows who is going to be good for which team, so there is no point in grading a team’s draft or saying what was a good pick.  Rather, I am going to break down the Packers draft in terms of what I liked, and what I didn’t like about each one of their picks. 

This is helpful because if someone liked the pick, they can relate to it, but also see why some would not like the selection, and vice versa. 

No grades. 

No thumbs up or down.

Just the good and the bad of the 2009 Packers draft

 

No. 9.  B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College

What I Liked: Raji was the obvious pick in this situation as the Packers move to a 3-4 scheme next year. 

We have seen all throughout the NFL what a good nose tackle can do for a defense that plays the 3-4 scheme, and Raji will not be an exception to this rule.  He will be able to come in right away and start at the nose tackle position and will succeed. 

He eats up blockers and is a better pass rusher than most give him credit for.  He has a high motor and, as was mentioned before, was clearly the right pick in this situation.

What I Didn’t Like: Where is Ryan Pickett going to play? 

Head Coach Mike McCarthy says that Pickett will move to the defensive end position, but I am not sure if I like how that is going to work out. 

Pickett is your prototypical nose tackle, and he is just a tad bit smaller than Raji is (by seven pounds).  That seven pounds is not enough to turn him into a 3-4 defensive end, and I do not think he can succeed there. 

If he is not a threat on the outside, it will not open up things for our rushing linebackers on the end.

 

No. 26. Clay Matthews, OLB, USC

What I Liked: Other than picking up another first round talent in Matthews, I loved that we addressed the need opposite of Aaron Kampman at the outside linebacker position. 

Brady Poppinga was penciled in as the starter before the draft, and after the Packers passed on Brian Orakpo and Aaron Maybin, the position was still very much an issue. 

In Matthews, they get a hard nosed athlete that comes from a long line of successful football family members.  He will start right away and has to be considered an early candidate for Defensive Rookie of the Year.

What I Didn’t Like: How much did we give up for this guy again? 

Picks No.s 41, 73, and 83 for this slot and pick No. 162. 

According to the NFL Draft Pick Value Chart, the picks that we received totaled 727.6 and we gave up 890.  Those stats do not lie, and this really shows how much Thompson wanted Matthews. 

Also, Matthews started just one season at Southern Cal, so he is a little bit of a one hit wonder.  While we did not need as much depth in this year’s draft, we still could have received more in this trade.

 

No. 109. T.J. Lang, OL, Eastern Michigan

Why I Liked It: True to Ted Thompson, he goes with another versatile, small school offensive lineman in the middle of the draft. 

I had Lang as a third round pick, and the value to get him here was very good.  He will probably play right tackle in the NFL as I do not think he is fast enough to play on the left side of the line.  

With Mark Tauscher looking more and more like he will not come back, Lang should have a shot at obtaining the starting spot.

Why I Didn’t Like It: One of the stories of this year’s draft was offensive lineman falling, and this was the case even in the fourth round. 

I thought an even bigger steal was out there on the draft board in Notre Dame’s safety David Bruton, but Ted Thompson seemed content with the safety situation throughout the whole draft, so Lang was the pick. 

Not too much to complain about on picking him.

 

No. 145. Quinn Johnson, FB, LSU

Why I Liked It: I didn’t know much about Johnson coming into the draft other than he was one of the top fullbacks in the class. 

After the Packers selected him, I can see why the Packers drafted him to come in and compete for a starting gig.  Johnson absolutely destroys linebackers and, playing in the SEC, that is quite an accomplishment. 

Johnson will not give you much more than a lead blocker, but on the goal line—he will be vital and it was a good pick up.

Why I Didn’t Like It: Any time a team has two solid fullbacks (Korey Hall, John Kuhn), you don’t expect them to go back to that position, but the Packers did. 

While Johnson was a fine draft pick, he will have to fight to make the team, and his one-dimensional style of play makes him questionable. 

With guys like TE Cornelius Ingram and OT Xavier Fulton on the board, this pick will have to be reevaluated later.

 

No. 162. Jamon Meredith, OT, South Carolina

Why I Liked It: The value of this pick was unbelievable, as Meredith was a second round pick in most mocks, going as early as the first in others. 

With the aging left tackle Chad Clifton looking at his best years in the rear view mirror, a replacement is necessary and Meredith gives a great body to work with, along with quick feet, and a smart mind. 

Competition on the offensive line is never a bad thing, and Meredith brings the potential to start.

Why I Didn’t Liked It: Did Ted Thompson really see something that 31 other teams missed on? 

Meredith has all the physical tools to be great, but a lot of character concerns are raised. 

In particular, some sources were saying that Meredith was uncoachable even though he denies those reports.  While it seems like Meredith will have a chip on his shoulder next year, that chip better stay in line or else he will be gone just as fast as he was snatched up in the fifth round.

 

No. 182. Jarius Wynn, DE, Georgia

Why I Liked It: At first, I was mad at the selection of Wynn because I had never heard of him, and he just seemed like an undersized defensive end. 

Then, I realized that these are the picks that Ted Thompson usually turns into gems, and I eased up a bit. 

Wynn had two sacks in the Capital One Bowl against Michigan State and really came on strong at the end of the year.  He will have to bulk up a little bit in order to play defensive end in the 3-4, but could be a late round steal.

Why I Didn’t Like It: There was SO much value on the board at this point in the draft, and some of the bigger names were still out there that I would have liked to see over Wynn. 

Cedric Peerman, the running back out of Virginia, was a steal at this point and we passed on him for whatever reason. 

Wynn is a wait and see prospect, but the Packers staff must have liked something.

 

No. 187. Brandon Underwood, CB, Cincinnati

Why I Liked It: Any time Mel Kiper likes a pick, I have to like it a little bit. 

Underwood was one of three Bearcat cornerbacks to come out to the draft this year and Kiper claimed that Underwood was the most underrated. 

He has the ability to play both the cornerback and safety position, and is a stud on special teams from everything I hear.

Why I Didn’t Like It: Coye Francies from San Jose State was still available when Underwood was taken, but Thompson must have valued his versatility very highly. 

It’s hard to find problems with a sixth round pick, especially one with a lot of upside, but I probably would have liked to see Francies at this point in the draft.

 

No. 218. Brad Jones, LB, Colorado

Why I Liked It: Jones was the second player that I had no idea on in Thompson’s draft, but he tested out very well at the combine and at his pro day—so he has a lot of upside to him. 

Also, Dom Capers knows what he is doing in putting the 3-4 scheme together, so that gives me hope that he will have a shot to make the team at best.  More than likely, he will be moved to the practice squad or cut by the time the preseason rolls around.

Why I Didn’t Like It: One of my favorite players of the draft was still available at this point, and that was Rashad Jennings from Liberty. 

Thompson signed a running back after the draft in Tyrell Sutton, so he was obviously thinking about the position.  Jennings brings a ton of upside, and I think he will be a starter in the NFL one day. 

Jones led his team in sacks and hurries last year, but I doubt he can make the transition to the NFL.

The first player selected by the Packers in the 2009 NFL draft will be: Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia

 

Reasons and explanation: Really trying to shake things up, as I think Ted Thompson is going to surprise us all on draft day.  Moreno is the most complete back in the draft and Thompson believes he is destined for greatness.

At pick No. 12 or 13 (where I believe we will be trading to), Moreno is the BPA and all the studs are really gone, and the talent level is the same from here to pick 25 or so.

Moreno looks like a silly pick now, but our running back situation is eerily similar to that of the Vikings situation when they drafted Peterson.  If Thompson really believes Moreno can be that good, why wouldn’t he draft him? 

Wells, Raji, and Orakpo have been mentioned with the Packers this whole draft, but one of the best athletes who has flown under the radar has been Moreno, and I really think he could be the pick.

The second player selected by the Packers in the 2009 NFL draft will be: Jarron Gilbert, DE, San Jose State

Reasons and explanation: The talent of rush outside linebackers, while more important than DE’s, is much deeper later in this draft so Thompson goes biggest need. 

Go back and look at most of Thompson’s drafts.  The first pick is best player available while the second pick is biggest need. 

Gilbert can come into the rotation right away and provide depth for a team that is going to need it in the 3-4.

 

Tie-breaker questions:

Will the Packers make a draft-day trade involving their first round No. 9 pick? (answer “yes” or “no”) Yes, happens all the time and someone is going to want to overpay with draft picks to get the spot, and Ted will be more than willing to do so.

Denver or Washington will trade up to get Sanchez, Raji (Denver), or an offensive lineman who slips (Washington).

Will the Packers third selection in the draft be an offensive player or a defensive player? (answer “offense” or “defense”) Offense (guard)

Will the Packers use any of their draft choices (day one or two) to take a punter? (answer “yes” or “no”) No, can’t see Ted wasting one of his oh-so-valued picks on a punter.  I like what we have on the roster right now.

 

Additional comments or predictions:

It happens every year, and this year will be no different: we will all be mad at Ted Thompson for his picks today.  I almost wrote a full article on this, but I guess I can just put it here. 

The general public sees YouTube videos, mock drafts from experts, and looks up the occasional combine stats on players.  General managers, Ted Thompson included (as hard as it is to believe), has been watching countless hours of game tape on players, not just highlight reels.

The Packers have interviewed the player they are going to pick and know what kind of guy he is.  They have most likely had him in for a private workout. 

So when you say you “don’t like a guy” or “this guy is a reach,” I’d ask you to take a look back and think about whether all the “scouting” people do gives them the right to say that. 

Sit back, relax, and enjoy one of the most important drafts for the Packers in a long time.