As much as I have enjoyed writing here at PackerNation, the time has come for me to move on. I have been offered a blogging position in the Fansided blogging network at LombardiAve. I have completely enjoyed blogging here, and I hope to carry over my readership. I will still post links to the blogs on the PackerNation group on FanNation. Thanks for reading here and I hope to see your comments over on LombardiAve.The tight end position has always been a stronger position for the Packers. When the position is associated with the Packers, names like Jackson, Chmura, and Franks come to mind. Now, Donald Lee appears ready to join them.
The Packers go into the draft with two tight ends currently on their roster: Donald Lee and Tory Humphrey. Lee will go into 2008 as the full-time starter, while Humphrey is looking to recover from a devastating leg injury that ended his season before it started in training camp last year. The Packers long time staple at tight end, Bubba Franks, is gone. On February 20, Franks was released and he signed with the New York Jets almost a month later, on March 16. Franks' durability was becoming questionable and his time with the Pack was done. Therefore, there is only one player analysis to do, as Humphrey did not appear in a game last season.
Donald Lee
Rec: 48
Yds: 575
TDs: 6
AVG: 12.0
Long: 60
Lee was one of Brett Favre's favorite targets of 2008, as tight ends usually are. Lee showed great hands and speed for a tight end, evidenced by his 60-yard scamper against Washington in Week 6. He continues his improvement daily and will get more playing time in 2008 with the departure of Franks.
Humphrey went in to training camp last season after very strong offseason camps and OTAs. On the first day of training camp, Humphrey broke his leg just above the ankle. He spent three months of doing no activity and six months to fully recover. At 6-2, 250, Humphrey has the size and speed to stretch the field and compliment Lee as a deep threat. Because the Packers have only two tight ends on their roster, Humphrey is the top candidate to get major playing time behind Franks in 2008. He hopes to follow the impacts that Atari Bigby, Tramon Williams, and Lee made this year.
2007 Grade: B
2008 Outlook
Next season looks like it will continue to be good for the Packers tight ends. Lee has a contract extension under his belt and has the starting job essentially locked up. Humphrey will provide a spark and will hopefully bond with Aaron Rodgers. The addition of any rookies could affect this drastically.
2008 Projected Outlook: B
Draft Needs
The Packers will take a tight end this draft. I can guarantee that. But which tight end will they take? I do not see the Packers taking a tight end in the first round, leaving a tight end to most likely be taken in the second and third rounds. Because of this, USC's Fred Davis will most likely be gone along with Dustin Keller of Purdue and possibly Martellus Bennett of Texas A&M. If Keller is available in the second-round, I see the Packers taking him. However, the two tight ends I think would fit the Packers the best are Martin Rucker of Missouri or Jermichael
Finley of Texas, as both are big and athletic and would provide Rodgers with a lot of help. After the draft, the Packers will most likely take a flyer on an undrafted free agent, as they take four tight ends into OTAs most seasons. Joey Haynos (Maryland), Joe Jon Finley (Oklahoma), and Tom Santi (Virginia) are my best bets for these.
The Packers have determined their four opponents for the preseason:
Week 1: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Week 2: @ San Francisco 49ers
Week 3: @ Denver Broncos
Week 4: vs. Tennessee Titians
The Week 1 game against the Bengals is the Monday Night Football preseason opener. The game is the 48th annual Bishop's Charities Game, a series started by Vince Lombardi in 1961 to raise money for the Diocese of Green Bay. The games have raised over $3.4 million. The last time the Bengals met the Packers in the preseason was in 2006, also on Monday night.
In Week 2, the Packers meet San Francisco in the preseason for the first time since 1975, before traveling to Denver in Week 3 for the first time in the preseason since 2001.
Finally, the Packers meet the Titans at home for the 59th annual Upper Midwest Shrine Game. The tradition has raised more than $3.1 million for the Midwest Shrine's burn centers and children's hospitals. Green Bay has won the last four and eight of the last nine in the series. This is the seventh consecutive year the two teams will meet to close out the preseason.
This preseason schedule gives the Packers defense to go up against some of the rising stars of the quarterback position. In Week 1, the defense will be tested by Carson Palmer and the Bengals offense, while the (hopefully younger) secondary will be tested by wide receivers Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh. For the San Francisco game, the defense will add their two cents in to the quarterback competition between Alex Smith and Shaun Hill. Aaron Rodgers and Smith are forever linked by the 2005 NFL Draft. Rodgers and the Packers offense will go up against the re-revamped 49ers defense, featuring new acquisition, defensive end/linebacker Justin Smith.
In Week 3, the Packers return to Denver, site of their overtime victory on Monday night last October. Jay Cutler and the Broncos are not hoping for the same result, while the Broncos will try to identify the consistent starter for their rushing attack. Finally, the Packers close out the preseason against the dynamic Vince Young. The Packers linebackers will need to be on their toes, and this game will help determine the third linebacker spot, where it has been said that Brady Poppinga's job is up in the air.
Overall, the Packers could win all four of these games of the preseason, but we must remember that the preseason record does not matter. What matters is that the young guys get playing time and grow and mature, and that all position battles are taken care of.
The Packers made three additions to their football team Monday, announcing the signings of linebacker Brandon Chillar, long snapper Thomas Gafford, and tackle Joe Toledo.
Chillar spent the first four years of his NFL career with the St. Louis Rams after being selected in the 4th round of the 2004 NFL Draft. In college at UCLA, Chillar was a three-year starter and earned All-Pac 10 honors his senior year. He started 40 of 63 career games with the Rams, recording 254 tackles (173 solo) and 4.5 sacks. Chillar is 6'3", 242 pounds and was most likely brought in to provide help and competition for linebacker Brady Poppinga.
Gafford spent 2006 training camp with the Packers and was signed to a reserve/future contract by Seattle in January, 2007, but spent the last season out of football. Gafford was a four-year letterman at Houston (2001-2004). Gafford replaces the retired Rob Davis.
In college at University of Washington, Toledo originally played tight end for three years, but transitioned to tackle after being drafted in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins. Gafford can play both guard and tackle, and was signed to help beef up the interior offensive line.
Out of all these additions, Chillar seems as if he will make the biggest impact.
The Packers will open their 2008 season on Monday Night Football on September 8, 2008 against the rival Minnesota Vikings. Kickoff time is slated for 7 PM ET at Lambeau Field. This is the fourth time the Packers will open their season on a Monday Night. In their previous tries the team is 3-0. The Packers last Monday night opener was a 24-14 win over the Carolina Panthers in 2004. The last Monday night home game for the Packers came November 21, 2005, also against the Minnesota Vikings. There is speculation on whether or not the Packers will use this occasion to retire Brett Favre's #4.
This game will also be a pressure cooker for Aaron Rodgers, who will be making his first career NFL start. This will be the first time a quarterback other than Brett Favre was started a game for the Packers since September 1992.
In their previous five Monday night meetings with the Vikings, the Packers are 2-3, dating back to 1997. The most memorable meeting between these two teams was on November 6, 2000, when Antonio Freeman made a juggling/diving 43-yard touchdown catch to give the Packers a 26-20 victory.
My early prediction: Green Bay 27, Minnesota 20
Excuse the interruption please.
Wide receiver was probably the most successful position for the Packers in 2007. Donald Driver continued to show he is one of the best in the league, while Greg Jennings emerged as a star. Rookie James Jones started out hot but faded for a bit. He still played an intricate role in the offense. After coming back from suspension, Koren Robinson teamed with Ruvell Martin to round out the dangerous Big 5 offensive formation.
Donald Driver
Rec: 82
Yds: 1,048
TDs: 2
AVG: 12.8
Long: 47
Driver continued to lead a young Packers receiving corps in 2007. Driver's play was phenomenal down the stretch, especially in games such as the Thanksgiving matchup against the Detroit Lions where Driver recorded 10+ receptions and 100+ yards. Age is slowly catching up with Driver, but he remained Brett Favre's favorite target even though Jennings emerged as a more than viable option. I expect that next year Driver will take on the roll of the second receiver and be new quarterback Aaron Rodgers' veteran presence.
Greg Jennings
Rec: 53
Yds: 920
TDs: 12
AVG: 17.4
Long: 82t
The 2007 season was Jennings' breakout performance. He became Favre's big play target while establishing himself as one of the NFL's best WRs. He's young and fast and could be poised to take over the number one receiver spot from Driver. Jennings could definitely be a Pro Bowl receiver next year.
James Jones
Rec: 47
Yds: 676
TDs: 2
AVG: 14.4
Long: 79t
Jones came out of nowhere as a third-round pick from San Jose State and showed he could be a good wide receiver. He got off to a fast start, but after the Chicago game in which he fumbled on two consecutive possessions in the red zone, his looks diminished extremely. Favre compared him to former Packers wide receiver Sterling Sharpe and it is said that Jones has "hands of glue." Jones should get more chances next year as he grows, gets mature, and, hopefully, gets better.
Koren Robinson
Rec: 21
Yds: 241
TDs: 1
AVG: 11.5
Long: 43
I have read that Robinson will not be back next year, but I have yet to read into that claim. After he came off of suspension, Robinson gave the Packers their much needed fifth option to create mismatches. Robinson also boosted the kick return game. Robinson would be missed if he does not come back, but he would leave a void for Martin to fill.
Ruvell Martin
Rec: 16
Yds: 242
TDs: 4
AVG: 15.1
Long: 36
At 6'4", Martin is oozing with potential. He has shown just flashes of brilliance to the disappointment of many, but he became a great red zone target with his four touchdown receptions in 2007. If he continues to develop and build up a rapport with Rodgers, he could have a very bright future ahead of him.
2007 Grade: A-
2008 Outlook
Next season looks very bright for these young stars as they continue to develop. Driver is getting old, but the emergence of Jennings and Jones can help offset Driver's negative progression. There will be growing pains as many of these guys are young, and they will have to deal with a new quarterback in Rodgers. However, we can still expect these receivers to produce in 2008.
2008 Projected Grade: B+
Draft Needs
I suggested in a past entry that James Hardy be the solution for the Packers wide receivers, as he would join Martin as a big physical presence. He is slated as late first-round, early second-round pick, and the common consensus is the Packers will draft a cornerback with their first round pick, making it unlikely they will draft him. Other potential draft picks could be Andre Caldwell from Florida, Earl Bennett from Vanderbilt, Mario Manningham from Michigan, and Jordy Nelson from Kansas State. Those are the wide receivers I would see them taking in the second/third-round time period. Other wide receivers that could be available later in the draft are Louisville's Harry Douglas, Coastal Carolina's Jerome Simpson, Appalachian State's Dexter Jackson, Oklahoma State's Adarius Bowman, and Michigan's Adrian Arrington. I almost definitely see the Packers picking up a wide receiver at some point during the draft.
Korey HallAs evidenced by the stats of both Kuhn and Hall, the fullbacks in the Packers system are used more for blocking than for receiving or rushing. Hall saw the most action this season, playing in 14 games (10 starts), primarily as the blocking back for Ryan Grant. He suffered a few nagging injuries at the end of the season, but was back for the playoffs. Hall played linebacker at Boise State and made a great conversion over to the offensive side of the ball. The coaches raved about his ability to change over to the offensive side of the ball. Hall was still able to use his defensive prowess, however, as he ranked tied for third on the team in special teams tackles. Hall's role will proceed to grow next season, both on the offensive side of the ball and on special teams.
Kuhn was acquired shortly before the season start and found it hard to find game action. He appeared in all 16 games, starting one. Kuhn found a niche on special teams, finishing tied for sixth on the team in special teams tackles. I'm not sure if the Packers expect to bring him back next season to continue in his role backing up Hall.
2007 Grade: B-
2008 Outlook
Both fullbacks will get better with experience. Once Hall and running back Ryan Grant develop a rapport, the duo should take off. Hall is one of the brightest prospects on the Packers and has a great future ahead. For Kuhn, I am not really sure what 2008 brings. He is under contract, but I am not sure if he will make it through camp. The Packers do like to use two fullback sets, so he should have a pretty good chance to return.
2008 Projected Grade: B
Draft Needs
None.
