MVN - Most Valuable Network

Seahawks Q&A

I asked the following questions of Anna Park over at The Power of 12, the Seattle Seahawks site on MVN; her answers are in italics. She also posed five questions to me, and you should be able to see my answers posted soon over there.

1, Both teams are in weak divisions, but do you feel like the loser of this game is already out of the playoff picture?
No not at all…because both teams are in such weak divisions I think its way too early to say that either of us will be out of the playoffs. I honestly would be surprised if the NFC West Champs actually have a winning record this year.
2. With the injuries both teams are facing, do you feel that if they can survive to make it into the playoffs healthy, what do you feel their chances are of beating the quality teams of the NFC East in the playoffs? Read the rest of this entry »

Seahawks-Packers: Injury Report Fantasy Team

This is each team’s most valuable unit so far this season.

Two teams considered contenders if not favourites to win their divisions. Both are facing almost certain elimination should they come up short in this game.

Why? Both teams have been ravaged by injuries. In fact, this game features an entire roster of injured players, some of which can play through them, some of which cannot. (Those out for the season on injured reserve or the physically unable to perform list are in italics, without their injuries as finding such information would have required searching news archives.)

Here is that list, beginning with Seahawks players and ending with Packers players in bold:

QB: Matt Hasselbeck, knee (listed as questionable, but reports are he will likely sit out); Seneca Wallace, calf (questionable); Aaron Rodgers, shoulder (probable)

RB: Maurice Morris, knee (probable); Kregg Lumpkin, hamstring (questionable); Ryan Grant, hamstring (will play)

FB: Korey Hall, knee (probable) Read the rest of this entry »

Offended by Green Bay’s defenders

While the Packers offensive output thus far hasn’t been dazzling by any means, much of the blame for Green Bay’s first three game losing streak since 2006 can be assigned directly to the Packers defense.

They’re just flat out offensive.

Now, as I’ve discussed before, much of the reason for their poor play can be attributed to a slew of injuries that have forced key players to watch from the sidelines. But this is the NFL. Injuries invariably happen – and both the players and the coaching staff simply aren’t making the needed adjustments.

Let’s take a look at some of the numbers for the NFL’s 26th ranked defense. Read the rest of this entry »

Now is the time for true Packer fans to show their love for the team

After a fantastic 2-0 start and a boom in support for Aaron Rodgersthe Packers have lost three in a row.  Reaction to this down-slide has been mixed.  Fans visiting this site have thus far voted on our poll that they would rather see Brett Favre in a Packer uniform this year instead of Rodgers.  As MJ pointed out in his most recent article, Rodgers’ numbers are pretty spectacular considering the adversity he’s faced, as well as the fact they they were his first five NFL starts.  There has never been a greater time for Packer fans to not only support Rodgers, but support this team and be true fans. Read the rest of this entry »

Have Injuries Already Doomed the Packers Season?

In these desperate times, the team could really use last year’s 16th overall draft bust–er, pick, Justin Harrell, to make an appearance beyond training camp

Aaron Rodgers proved he does not lack toughness, playing on a separated shoulder. More than that, he played well: 25-37, 313 yards, 3 TDs, 1 interception.

The 109.4 passer rating Sunday was only his third highest in the five starts this year. Brett Favre only exceeded that number in half of last season’s starts, in a year he was the runner-up for the MVP.

Rodgers is on pace for 4077 yards (plus 262 rushing), 29 TDs (plus six rushing) and only 13 interceptions (plus three lost fumbles). By comparison, Favre had 4155 yards (plus only 12 rushing), 28 TDs (0) and 15 interceptions (plus three fumbles).

Thus, including using his legs, Rodgers is on pace to net 172 more yards and seven more touchdowns while accounting for three fewer turnovers. He is doing this while being on pace for 26 fewer completions in 13 fewer attempts, but 28 more rushes.

But one reason he is projecting fewer passes and more rushes is that the line has not been healthy, and they have not adequately protected Read the rest of this entry »

Falcons Preview

Michael Turner is the Enemy Most Feared for the Green and Gold Sunday

Gerald Laskowski over at our sister site for the Falcons was unable to respond to my request for a question and answer exchange in time to provide that here. He was busy with an interview with Michael Boley–imagine, putting an interview with a player over a Q&A with me! (However, he did send a response to this article I will include below.)

Thus, I am left to providing no inside insights on their team, but I can tell you that what I have observed is sufficient cause for concern in Green Bay.

The Falcons travel north to take on the team that they sent Brett Favre to, but for once will have that shadow cast over the other sideline. After Aaron Rodgers was for the first time clearly out played by Favre last week, that shadow is as long as it has been since week one.

To make matters worse, Rodgers is not healthy. He has been so limited in practice as to virtually assure there will be timing problems, and no one can be sure he will be able to maintain full arm strength throughout the game.

That is why I believe that if he plays, it is because of Favre’s shadow. There is absolutely no reason Read the rest of this entry »

Cullen Jenkins’ injury spells doom for the increasingly banged up Packers

The Packers are in big trouble this year as another one has bitten the proverbial dust. Big trouble. Could this be the 2005 season all over again?

This time, as Casey Burkett noted yesterday, it’s standout defensive lineman Cullen Jenkins, who tore his pectoral muscle trying to sack Brian Griese in the Packers’ week four loss to the Bucs.

Jenkins has been placed on injured reserve and will miss the season, which is bad news for him and even worse news for a Green Bay Packers squad that is collecting injuries as if they were football cards.

The biggest impact will be on the struggling defensive line – a group that is ranked 26th in the league in rush defense after allowing an average of 157.8 yards per game on the ground through four weeks. Read the rest of this entry »

Packers injury bug bites Jenkins hard

According to ESPN.com Packers defensive end Cullen Jenkins‘ season is over due to a torn pectoral muscle.  Jenkins had been playing very solid this year and looked like he was ready to be the player the Packers expected when they signed him to his 4 year contract extension in February of 2007.

This is a huge blow to the defensive line and further compounds the misery that is Justin Harrel.  Hopefully Kabeer Gbaja Biamila can fill this void and not be just an overpaid 3rd down end.

Rodgers intends to play in week 5. Packers fans Civil War suspended until further injury.

If you’re anything like me, as soon as Aaron Rodgers ran off the field clutching his arm and wincing in pain you felt your stomach turn.  When the moment came that Matt Flynn came in to actually play, my stomach was in all out pandemonium fully equipped with gut twisting and nausea.  I don’t know where that feeling comes from exactly.  My brain being connected to my body apparently wants me to physically feel the psychological anguish that it was going through.  Brains are jerks apparently.

I learned this morning from Packers.com that Rodgers had “no structural damage” and “has every intention of playing this week against Atlanta.”  This is great news not only because our chances of winning with Rodgers are exponentially better, but because it, at least for one week, puts off the civil war between Packer fans about the trade of iron man, Brett Favre. Read the rest of this entry »

Team’s Next Move: Form Own M*A*S*H Unit

Even the surgeons from the Greatest Show Ever couldn’t patch THIS unit up.

In the past week, Packers fans have watched their team go from contender to pretender.

However, this has less to do with the losses on the field than the losses to the roster. Instead of being able to focus on who is returning from training camp injuries, such as center Scott Wells, the team has seen their injury report grow.

Last week, Al Harris went down with what has been reported as a ruptured spleen. Despite Harris’ hope he can return, the team should plan on him being done for the year.

The good news there is Tramon Williams did an admirable job this week; heck, the entire Packers pass defense did, holding Brian Griese under a 40 passer rating. Unfortunately, six more players were added to the report, and that contributed to the team’s second consecutive loss. Read the rest of this entry »