"Hail Rodgers"

I took last week off because I was busy at work and I really didn't know what to think about the Packers after dismantling the Lions in the 6h must-win in as many weeks. I felt the Lions were only downslide even though the Packers had failed to win the same game last year at Lambeau Field against the Vikings with the North title on the line.

That failure stuck in my mind heading into the game against the Giants as did the other two times Eli Manning faced the Packers at Lambeau in the playoffs and beat Brett Favre the first time and Aaron Rodgers the second.

However, this is a different Packers team facing an older and not better Eli with Aaron Rodgers at the top of his game and the Aaron Rodgers who was mired in a slump when he faced the Vikings last year.

FROM THE SUBLIME TO THE RIDICULOUS, PART VINTITRE'

(Italian because that's where the German terrorist was killed)

SUBLIME

On The Set of the "Big Fan"

It seems dating a movie star has given Aaron Rodgers the beginning of Hollywood Fever. After appearing on Celebrity Jeopardy last year Rodgers will appear January 9 on the second episode of the new ABC night time game show "Big Fan" hosted by Conan O'Brien's Ed McMahon Andy Ritcher.

Week 2 - Musings And Predictions

It looks like starting cornerback Sam Shields will not be playing because of a concussion. Outside linebacker Jayrone Elliott (hamstring), cornerback Josh Hawkins (hamstring) and safety Chris Banjo (hamstring) did not participate in practice and may be inactive on Sunday night. The other two on the injury list wide receivers Trevor Davis (shoulder) and Jeff Janis (broken hand) were full participants.

 

The Vikings will be without starting defensive tackle Shariff Floyd (knee) and may be without starting right cornerback Xavier Rhodes (knee) and starting left tackle Matt Kalil (hip). Last week's hero inside linebacker Eric Kendricks has an ankle injury, but he was a full participant as was running back Adrian Peterson (ankle). Former Packer wide receiver Charles Johnson has a quad injury, but he was also a full participant.

 

With that out of the way now down to tacks. Even though Shaun Hill did a decent job at quarterback in the win over the Titans No. 1 draft pick Sam Bradford will start this week. The key to him or anyone is getting a rush on him, so if the pass rush is there the Packers should keep the game a low scoring affair.

Defense A Work In Progress

Holding the Cleveland Browns to 11 points was a bit of an illusion. Actually the Packers could have lost the game if the touchdown pass in the second quarter had counted. What I saw didn't look good as far as the starters were concerned.



Defensively it was sadly same old, same old. First: Missed tackles. Second: Busted plays resulting in long gains. Third: Being suckered into being out of position on outside containment resulting in long gains, especially the left side. Four: Only two passes defensed on 23 pass attempts. NOT GOOD.

 

Dean Lowry (#94) Has Jumped Ahead Of No. 1 Pick Kenny Clark

The defensive scheme was basically a 2-4-5 most of the game after starting the game in a 3-4-4. The official starting unit was #4 pick Dean Lowry at left end, Letroy Guion at nose tackle and Mike Daniels at right defensive tackle. I hope you notice there is no right defensive end in Dom Capers' scheme, but 2 interior linemen.

 

Everybody Loves Blake

The OTAs (Organized Team Activities) and the mini-camp are over and for some odd reason there has been very little news coming out of Packer Land concerning actually personnel issues. I have watched and read everything on a daily basis, but I haven't had a post in since May 1 (15 days before I turned 63) because there was nothing to report since I'm not in Green Bay actually watching practice and reporting something substantive unlike the self-absorbed ass-kissers that pass themselves off as journalists in the age of Donald Trump and Dan Patrick, where the messenger is more important than the subject being reported on.

In past year's the reporters would tell us outlanders who is playing left tackle and where the now healthy Nick Perry (I will predict right now he will be injured) is lining up, but nothing from the tweets except bullshit about how the reporter is feeling that day or what he ate for breakfast or some inside joke he has with another self-absorbed reporter. It seems everything in today's media is about the reporter's personality and nothing to do about what he is covering.

The FOXinization of the news ruined the news business during the Clinton Administration and it has been transforming sports news for a while now making the reporter more the story than the story itself. Us in the hinterlands will have to make the pilgrimage to the Shrine to get any sort of news of substance. I couldn't care less what is going on the reporter's life and his buddies. But that is what I'm getting on the whole.