Position Evaluation: Secondary

Cornerback is the position former Head Honcho Ted Thompson (or is he, but more on that later) worked on the most in his final years and the position that was the least improved and the main reason, in addition to Dom Capers, the Packers defense sucked for the last several seasons.

Cornerback has been a major disaster after the loss of Tramon Williams and Sam Shields, despite being filled by three high draft choices. Thompson began to rebuild the unit by drafting Damarious Randall and Quinten Rollins No. 1 and No 2 in 2015 and then Kevin King No. 2 (he was actually Thompson’s top draft pick when he traded out of the 1st round) last season. In addition, he drafted Demetri Goodson No. 6 in 2014.

Take Heed You Ted Thompson Supporters

The Packers predictably laid an egg before a national audience Sunday night against the Atlanta Falcons giving the general population a good look at the Green Bay Packers roster that the local kiss ass media doesn’t seem to see.

After the win over the punchless Seahawks the Packers jumped from No. 3 in the NFL Power Rankings to No. 1 (a spot I thought was a bit inflated because I felt the Seahawks weren’t that formidable of an opponent to justify a No. 1 ranking).

2017 Ted Thompson to 2015 Ted Thompson, "You blew it".

After Ted Thompson chose Washington cornerback Kevin King with the first pick of the second round and North Carolina safety Josh Jones in its second pick of the second round pick it's now evident that Ted Thompson's 2015 draft was a dismal failure.

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.

"Black Hole" of Oakland Edition

The 'Black Hole'

Aaron Rodgers will be making his first trip back home to play at the O.co Coliseum, which is know more as the "Black Hole" in Oakland and the home of the Oakland A's. The Packers will be playing in Oakland for the first timein 12 years with the last game being the infamous Dec. 22, 2003 game the day after Brett Favre's father died. Favre threw four TD passes and beat the Raiders, 41-7. Ahman Green rushed for 127 yards.

 

We could only hope for a similar outcome, but not similar circumstances. The Packers go in with a one game lead in the North Division over the Vikings, who hosts at the Bears Sunday at noon.

 

The Packers will be playing the game without cornerback Sam Shields (concussion) and wide receiver/kick returner Ty Montgomery (ankle). Wide receiver Davante Adams (foot), defensive tackle Mike Daniels (hamstring), guard T.J. Lang (shoulder/ankle) and center Corey Linsley (ankle) listed as questionable.

First Thoughts on the Shearing the Rams

When You're Desperate Pour a Mann's Bootleg Brew

The Packers are 5-0 thanks to another good defensive performance in the mode of bend-but-don't-break. The Rams made drives, but the Packers were able to keep them out of the end zone in the second half.

 

One reason was the maturation of the Packers secondary along with continuing pressure by the front six and seven. A second reason and the most important in my opinion was because of the Mann's Bootleg Brew Desperation Pouring excellence.

 

You scoff you sorry unbelievers of the pouring - just ask Avery or Therese. The Packers were leading 21-10 at the start of the fourth quarter and had just had Mason Crosby's 47-yard field goal wiped out because of a hands-to-face penalty on Richards Rodgers and Tim Masthay, who evidently doesn't know what a coffin corner is anymore, had just punted from the Rams 39 directly down the middle of the field into the end zone making it essentially a 19-yard punt.

Post-Game Analysis: The Defense - Backfield in Motion

The play of the secondary has been much better than I would have guessed, but in a different way. With the loss of Tramon Williams and Davon House to free agency there is a big hole to fill on the left side at cornerback and it seems it just might have been filled, but not by the person everyone would have thought, except for me, of course.

On the Island:

The game started with Casey Hayward manning Williams' spot and Sam Shields on the right side. Neither had any stats, but did a decent job of keeping Tom Brady and Jimmy Garoppolo in check holding them to 2-of-4 with one long pass by Garoppolo for 16 on the left side.

Quinten Rollins

2015 #2 (62) draft pick Quinten Rollins took over for Hayward and undrafted free agent rookie LaDarius Gunter replaced Shields. These two have been the talk of the camp leading up to the game and Rollins has been the talk of the town afterwards.

SECOND VERSE SAME AS THE FIRST

With only one returning player at inside linebacker and two defections to replace at cornerback General Manager Ted Thompson went heavy at safety with his first two draft picks.

 

After taking the top ranked safety Damarious Randall from Arizona State at No. 30 in the first round Thompson took another sip from the safety well by snagging fourth ranked Quinten Rollins from Miami of Ohio with the 62nd pick in the second round with the plan being to move both to cornerback.

 

Quentin Rollins

Both are similar in stature (5-11, 195) and in the NFL.com rankings Rollins was actually ranked six spots higher on the overall rankings list.

 

Rollins is an interesting prospect. He is almost a carbon copy of last year's No. 6 round draft pick cornerback Demetri Goodson from Baylor. Rollins has only one year of college football experience while Goodson had two after both started their collegiate careers as basketball players.

 

If everything goes to form Rollins might not see any action at corner like Goodson did last year. In fact, with both Randall and Rollins moving from safety to cornerback neither of Thompson's top two picks could have any impact at all next season.