From Larry R in Appleton, WI

There seem to be an unusually high number of free agents this year due to the changing rules over the last 24 months.  None of these can be signed until after the draft (probably).  Because of this timing, teams that normally would have signed their own free agents and grabbed one or two new players, now will be tempted to go to the draft first.  Those teams may draft for need to protect against the chance that they will not be able to sign the free agent they really want. In fact, the Packers might also be influenced by this and draft a new receiver without knowing how much resigning James Jones would cost them.  More likely though TT will, as always, draft the best available player….definitely the best strategy this year when you are at number 32.

Whenever the new CBA is finalized, teams are going to be doing a lot of scrambling to lock in their own free agents first and then seeing what is leftover out there.  Not a good deal for the free agents because all the teams will have loaded up during the draft to fill their greatest needs.  Who will the Packers scramble to sign first?  My vote is for Jones, Crosby, Kuhn, and Jackson.  Jenkins would be nice but I am afraid he has peaked.

The following is the list of Packer free agents:

• WR James Jones
• DE Cullen Jenkins
• G Daryn Colledge
• C/G Jason Spitz
• S Atari Bigby
• S Anthony Smith
• FB Korey Hall
• TE/LB Spencer Havner
• CB Josh Bell
• LB Matt Wilhelm
• RB Brandon Jackson
• FB John Kuhn
• K Mason Crosby
• WR Brett Swain

Second Year Impact

Coaches frequently comment that the greatest player improvement comes between year 1 and year 2.  What kind of improvement should we look for from each of these players and how do they go about acheiving it in the off season?  More importantly, who if anyone will step forward enough to be a starter or better yet an impact player?

Here is a list of last year’s rookies looking to make an impact in 2011:

Bryan Bulaga – A very solid rookie year.  More consistency and run blocking for the entire line needs emphasis.  Already a starter and an impact player.

Josh Gordy – Surprised if he makes the roster

Nick McDonald – Should improve enough to make the roster.

Dimitri Nance – A tough road to have a chance to make the team.  Gone.

Andrew Quarless – Got a ton of playing time and we have not really seen the big play potential that his physical skills suggest that he has. Perhaps a noticeable improvement but still only a second string tight end that might take some snaps away from Crabtree.

Sam Shields – Wow what a rookie year.  More playing time and workouts with the coaching staff, Williams and Woodson should make Shields even more valuable.  Packers are in a great position here now when all we have to do is look for our fourth CB.  I expect his play to continue to improve and yes he will make some spectacular plays.  If he is good enough to prompt more discussion of Woodson moving to Safety…..that says a lot.

James Starks – Might well be our starting RB next year.  Simply needs more time to pick up the blocking and pass catching skills.  Real improvement and yes he may have an impact.  He will just have to get the ball often enough.  Not likely to happen actually.

CJ Wilson – Likely to get more playing time.

Frank Zombo – Made some great contributions in 2010 and who knows what he can bring in 2011.

Morgan Burnett – Should be a great competition for a starting safety position.  More experience will clearly help.

Mike Neal –  Resign Jenkins?  Neal definitely showed flashes in 2010.  Not resigning Jenkins would be a huge opportunity for Neal!

Marshall Newhouse – Might have a long shot chance at a starting role.

Tom Crabtree – Strictly speaking Crabtree is not really finishing his rookie season but it is the first season he has had significant playing time and he has been labeled the Packers best blocking tight end in some comments.

Who is most likely to step up big time?  My guess is Starks will get more and more playing time and he will make very good use of it.  Shields will be better than ever and keep getting better with more playing time and end up giving the Packers will have the best defensive backfield in the business in 2011.  Mike Neal will be in a great position to get a fast start and have a great year.  Very good possibility that there will be a new starter on both the offensive and the defensive line.  Sometimes you wish they could expand the roster beyond 80.  Now how are the 2011 rookies going to fit in?  They cannot all be on the practice squad!

I am extremely nervous about this game. Mike McCarthy does not have a good record in close games and this game will almost certainly be close. The only way it is a blowout is if the Giants win big.

I don’t see that happening though, so I’ll say Packers win 23-20. Packers stay alive another week. I’ll be at Lambeau today but will try to get some Tweets in – @packernet.

7:30 PM:  Here we go!

7:31 PM:  I’m on Twitter @packernet too.

7:43 PM:  Packers waste a beautiful drive. Terrible third-down play and then a stupid decision to kick a 54-yard field goal. Good start, bad start.

7:50 PM:  Wow what a pick by Sam Shields! Must feel the heat of Al Harris (hehe). Now if the damn offense could score we would be in great shape.

7:59 PM:  Need seven this time. Cannot give them life by only getting three.

8:04 PM:  Points off turnovers – that is the name of the game. And I love the dump-off to Jackson, it’s unstoppable, once he is in space he can make guys miss. Wish he could do it more on running plays.

8:08 PM:  Punt her away gentleman! A Matthews sack and a Matthews tipped pass and it’s 3-and-out!

8:14 PM:  Passing blocking is horrible thus far but Rodgers is either running from it or getting it off at the last minute. Packers have to shore up protection though big time.

8:16 PM:  Dallas might win the challenge, leaving the Packers in their worst possible down-and-distance scenario. If only we had Eric Torkelson to take it over the top for the score.

8:24 PM:  Cowboys might be about to quit. Matthews with a huge play – downside though is Ryan Pickett is down, we cannot afford to lose him for the stretch run. Sometimes those big guys just need a little extra time getting up, knock on wood.

8:31 PM:  John Kuhn the new hero! Can’t stop him running or passing. This is bananas!

8:34 PM:  Rodgers is on fire tonight! Get it in the zone here though, field goal is meaningless.

8:37 PM:  Touchdown Jennings! I feel pretty good right now. Just don’t let them get a cheapy before the half.

8:43 PM:  Packers get a gift touchdown thanks to one of the worst fumble call in NFL history. Can you believe how bad officiating is in the NFL this year? I’ll take the seven points but that was not a touchdown in any stretch of the imagination. I know replay is part of the game and you have to think about challenges when using timeouts, but I think I like college better, where every play is reviewable by the booth.

8:47 PM:  Cowboys don’t give up and are knocking on the door after the Packers defense laid down. Now the Cowboys have life. That was absolutely the worst thing that could have happened to the Packers. The defense quit!

8:51 PM:  28-7 Packers at the half. I like it but because of that last drive by the Cowboys I am worried. I can’t believe the defense did that. This game I think is going to come down to the offense, they will have to score every drive in the second half. I feel a Cowboys explosion coming. The Packers’ defense has a big head.

9:09 PM:  Just what I thought, a 3-and-out. Defense better step it’s game up!

9:14 PM:  Alright defense! Great stop, now let’s see another TD by the offense so us fans can relax a little.

9:24 PM:  Can we call this an offensive breakout? 325 to 92 yards and 20-4 in first downs. Not too shabby. If the Packers can get to 6-3 at the bye week with 10 guys on injured reserve, it will be one hell of an accomplishment. I like our chances now.

9:30 PM:  Nick Collins will not be available for play next week after delivering a late, head-to-head shot to Roy Williams. What an idiot! The bozo that hit Austin Collie in the Philly-Indy game will be suspended too, I don’t get it. Why can’t you just tackle the guy, why do you have to drill the guy?

9:37 PM:  Turn out the lights, no, not just yet. Can’t jinx them. Too much time left. I want one more score, TD, FG, safety, whatever.

9:53 PM:  I am going to go ahead and project Green Bay as the winner in this contest.  Exit polls show strong support with 75% of the polls reporting. Packers are 6-3 with three three-point losses, two in overtime, and five starters on injured reserve. The old gunslinger is next in two weeks. Vikings and Bears set the stage in Chicago next week.

9:55 PM:  On Twitter the rest of the night (@packernet). What a great win for the Packers! Is there any question who the cream of the NFC North is? The Bears barely beat an 0-7 team and the Vikings looked horrible for 55 minutes against a horrible team. The question is, can the Packers handle success like the 1996 Packers did. That is the question.

College Reel (ASU):

Preseason – 2 yd TD vs. Chiefs:

Preseason – 2nd TD vs. Chiefs:

This week’s game is going to be unavailable to a lot of western WI and Twin Cities Packer fans.

Oh well, if you live in this area and you don’t own the NFL Sunday Ticket, you’ll just have to head to a bar to watch via Slingbox.

See all of the 2010 Western WI / Twin Cities Packer Game Blackouts.

Kevin

Follow me on Twitter tonight – @packernet. Ugly so far.

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