Annual 2015 Packer Camp Review and Season Prediction

By Mark

With the last public practice on Tuesday and cuts looming it's once again time for our annual review and prediction blog. This preseason which started out with much buzz and excitement has turned stale following injuries and inconstant play.

While injuries seem to be the headline story each day, the lackluster special teams and rather meh defense is our a bigger issue. ST have really not improved much and it's obvious Ron Zook won't/can't help that area.

Both the OL/DL depth hasn't been up to par so far throughout the preseason and that will be two key areas to watch as the season unfolds. While losing Jordy Nelson was a blow both Myles White and Jeff Janis should be able to cover that loss.

I spent a considerable amount of time watching the defensive backfield once again and really like the additions there. Gunter has been a great pickup and will join Shield as UDFA gems.

Green bay needs to get pressure on the QB and stop the run early in order for this defense to be successful.

Overall this looks like a 11-5 squad with potential to move up or down one depending on injuries etc. GB can not get in a hole this year and work it's way out. NFC north has improved and our depth doesn't appear to be there.

Remember to stop by and register at the forum to talk Packers and all your Wisconsin sports..it's free and only takes a minute. http://wisconsinsportstalk.net/

Let's see what 2015 brings us ..... until next time Go Pack Go !!!

NFL Players Off and Rolling...And the Hits Just Keep Coming

Compiled and Written By: Todd Stelzel, PackerToddsnEnds

Can you picture Aaron Charles Rodgers sitting down in his recliner at home, turning on Jeopardy and lighting up a "doobie," in order to relieve the bumps, bruises and headaches he sustained over the course of an NFL season? To tell you the truth, I can't "picture it"...but then again with all of the recent news about pot and NFL players...who knows what goes on behind closed doors.

Recently, Mike Freeman, Bleacher Report NFL Lead Writer wrote in an article dated June 30, 2015, that Marijuana use in the NFL is prevalent and pervasive. In the article titled, "Banned, but Bountiful: Marijuana Coveted by NFL Players as Invaluable Painkiller," he clearly outlines why football players in the NFL use the mind altering cannabis, instead of popping pills. Click on the title link above to open a new window and read the article. It is absolutely eye-opening and jaw dropping!!!

In a more recent article, Rob Demovsky, ESPN Staff Writer, reported on July 2, 2015, from Green Bay, Wisconsin, that "The NFL has suspended Green Bay Packers defensive end Datone Jones for one game. The league announced Thursday that Jones will miss the regular-season opener against the Chicago Bears for violating the league's substance abuse policy. It was not immediately known whether Jones failed a drug test or missed a test."

Given the one game consequence handed down by the NFL to Datone Jones, it is more than likely a minor substance abuse related infraction and not about Cocaine, Codeine, Vicodin or PED's.  After reading Freeman's article, I learned that the NFL's new drug policy forbids players to use Marijuana, yet for the most part has swept the issue under the rug with only random drug testing (prior to the start of training camp) and implements lenient consequences for smoking pot when compared to the use of other banned narcotic drugs by the NFL.

My thought...Now that the cannabis is out of the "baggie," no sense pretending we don't really know what's happening.  In other words, either do away with the policy or tighten up the policy, but don't sweep the policy under the rug.  The sooner it becomes less convoluted, the better it will be for all NFL stakeholders.

In 2015...Packers will go 13-3

Compiled and Written By: Todd Stelzel, PackerToddsnEnds

"Yellow 30, Yellow 30, Set...Uncle Bill's in jail...Uncle Bill's in jail...Set..."

As soon as the times and dates of the Green Bay Packer schedule are released, my wife and I like to sit down and make our bold win/loss predictions for the coming season. In addition, we determine which football game we want to see at Lambeau Field. This year was no different. Our Packer win/loss predictions were completed on April 22, 2015, (more than a month before the NFL Draft) and we purchased tickets on April 23rd to see the St. Louis Rams play the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, October 11. Our goal is to see every NFL team play the Packers at Lambeau. This year, I am predicting that the Packers will go 13-3 in 2015. My lovely wife of 28 years, has the Packers going 14-2. Like her, I am also predicting that the Green Bay Packers will play the New England Patriots in SB 50. Here is a breakdown of my regular season game by game predictions for the (13 and 3) 2015 Green Bay Packers.

Week 1 at Chicago Bears. The Bears are still the Bears with Cutler at QB. Packers win.

Week 2 Seattle Seahawks. Finally, home field advantage. This time the Packers win!

Week 3 Kansas City Chiefs. Rodgers is better than Smith. Packers win.

Week 4 at San Francisco 49ers. Besides Kapernick, is anyone left? Packers win at San Fran!

Week 5 St Louis Rams. Coach Fisher is rebuilding. Packers win easily.

Week 6 San Diego Chargers. Welcome back Melvin Gordon. Good game, but Packers win to start the season out of the gate with 6 wins and 0 losses.

Week 7 Bye

Week 8 at Denver Broncos. Denver "D" does the trick. Packers lose for the first time this season on the road.

Week 9 at Carolina Panthers. Cam Newton gives the Packers fits, but Packers win.

Week 10 Detroit Lions. Detroit needs this game, but Packers win.

Week 11 at Minnesota Vikings. Are the Vikes for real? Not this year. Pack win!

Week 12 Chicago Bears. Cutler benched in Week 10! Packers roll and win.

Week 13 at Detroit Lions. Don't choke on your drumstick, but Packers lose this game by 1 point.

Week 14 Dallas Cowboys. Cowboy rushing attack still ineffective. Packers win.

Week 15 at Oakland Raiders. The fans look mean, but that's about it. Packers win.

Week 16 at Arizona Cardinals. AZ is the real deal. Packers lose a close game by 2 points.

Week 17 Minnesota Vikings. Vikes blow lead, fall flat in the second half. Packers win.

Some OTA News And Notes

By Mark

A rare busy week in Packer land this week. Let's review some top stories :

Casey Hayward made waves by sitting out OTA's with a foot injury. With his injury second year CB Demetri Goodson was playing with the first team defense all week.

Aaron Rodgers made his first comments since the Offensive staff changes and doesn't expect much to change. As quoted over at PackerNews.com 

         

In his first public comments since the change was announced, Rodgers believes it will be business as usual once the regular season begins.

"I think it's something he's been thinking about for a few years now," Rodgers said. "I'm not speaking for him, but I'm thinking that he's been wanting to get maybe a little closer to some of the other areas of the football team. When you're so dialed into play calling, having the ability to have eyes on what they're doing on the defensive side of the ball, on special teams, I think was important to him."

Other Notes From MM presser this week :

> No Nelson: Jordy Nelson was the biggest name on the sidelines, and he was vague about his return. The Pro Bowl receiver would not even confirm what kind of surgery he had on his hip this offseason. "Don't have any worries about anything that's of importance down the road," Nelson said. "But we feel excited about where we're at." Nelson said his hip bothered him last season, when he set career-highs with 98 catches and 1,519 yards. "Obviously if it didn't bother me, I probably wouldn't have had the surgery," Nelson said. "But nothing major. I had an opportunity to get some things cleaned up. We did it, and I think it was a good move and feel good about where we’re at moving forward."

> Starting corner: Casey Hayward's bid to replace Tramon Williams as the staring left cornerback is off to a slow start. Hayward did not practice Thursday and said he has missed most of the offseason workouts because of a foot injury. Second-year pro Demetri Goodson, who did not play a single snap on defense last year, was paired with Sam Shields as the No. 1 corners. First-round pick Damarious Randall, who missed rookie camp with an ankle injury, did only individual drills. Second-round pick Quinten Rollins worked with the No. 2 defense at right cornerback.

> Quick recovery: All three players coming off ACL reconstructions – receiver Jared Abbrederis, guard/tackle Don Barclay and outside linebacker Andy Mulumba – took part in individual drills but did not do any 11-on-11. Abbrederis and Barclay were injured early in training camp last year, and Mulumba was injured in Week 2 against the New York Jets. Their early return to practice suggests all could be ready for full-time participation in training camp. "I have no long-term concerns medically with anybody on our roster right now," coach Mike McCarthy said.

> Raji at the nose: There appeared to be no limitations on B.J. Raji, who missed all of last season because of a torn biceps tendon. Raji did both individual and team drills and was back at his old nose tackle position. That meant Letroy Guion, who filled in for Raji at nose last year, moved to end in the base 3-4 defense.

> New drills: The most interesting new drill in practice came during a punt return period. The returners each had a ball in their left hand while trying to field a punt with their right hand. Randall Cobb, Micah Hyde, Abbrederis and Rollins were the primary returners. Rollins muffed several returns before he got the hang of the drill.

> Play of the day: Hyde came all the way from the slot position to make a leaping interception along the sideline during an 11-on-11 period. He picked off a Scott Tolzien pass intended for rookie receiver Javess Blue on a fade route.

> Taking attendance: A total of nine players missed practice completely. Quarterback Brett Hundley and receiver Ty Montgomery were in Los Angeles for the NFL Rookie Premier event. Rookie linebacker James Vaughters could not participate because his alma mater, Stanford, is still in session. Both he and Montgomery, also from Stanford, should return for the mini camp June 16-18. Outside linebacker Julius Peppers was ill. He practiced the previous day, which was closed to reporters. Those out with injuries were: Hayward, Nelson, outside linebacker Nick Perry, outside linebacker Mike Neal and defensive end Josh Boyd.

Green Bay returns to OTA this week starting June 4th. Much more here as the season gears up !

GO PACK GO !!

Late Comers: Packers Sign Five Late Round Draft Picks

According to a recent Fox Sports Wisconsin article http://www.foxsports.com/wisconsin/story/green-bay-packers-sign-several-late-round-draft-choices-050815 the Packers just signed the following late round draft picks. I'm excited about the news because I think Greenbay got a bunch of steals. It will be interesting to see who ends up making the biggest impact. I think that Jake Ryan is capable of becoming a star.  

Round Four 129th overall  Jake Ryan ILB Michigan

Round Five 147th overall "Trade" Brett Hundley QB UCLA

Round Six 206 overall Aaron Ripkowski FB Oklahoma

Round 6 2010 overall Christian Ringo Louisiana-Lafayette  *compensatory* 

Round 6 213 overall Kennard Backman  UAB *compensatory* 

My Reaction To The Packers Draft

I'm happy with the Packers draft. I think Ted Thompson did an excellent job of addressing the teams defensive needs. Former Bruin Brett Hundley is arguably the most interesting pick of the draft. I'm going to give the Packers a B.What grade would you give their draft ?  




Round One 30th overall: Damarious Randall DB Arizona State.

Round Two: 62 overall Quinten Rollins DB Miami Ohio

Round Three 94th overall TY Montgomery WR Stanford

Round Four 129th overall  Jake Ryan ILB Michigan  

Round Five 147th overall "Trade" Brett Hundley QB UCLA 

Round Six 206 overall Aaron Ripkowski FB Oklahoma

Round 6 2010 overall Christian Ringo Louisiana-Lafayette  *compensatory* 

Round 6 213 overall Kennard Backman  UAB *compensatory* 

My Top 3 Favorite Packers Regular Season Matchups

3. Week 11: The Green Bay Packers visit the Vikings.

2.  Week 2: The Green Bay Packers host the Seattle Seahawks.  

1.  Week 8:  The Green Bay Packers visit the Broncos.

Local Competition: Packers Sign Wisconsin Born Quarterback

According to http://www.foxsports.com/wisconsin/story/green-bay-packers-sign-uw-whitewater-qb-matt-blanchard-041515 The Packers just signed Wisconsin native Matt Blanchard. The quarterback has some NFL experience. He briefly played for the Chicago Bears, and the Carolina Panthers. I think that it will be interesting to see if he is able to make the practice squad.

The most exciting part about the offseason is following the chess moves. Blanchard could make a major impact on the teams potential postseason run you never know. Do you think that he will make a major impact ? I personally do.    

My Top 3 Favorite Packers Preseason Matchups

3 Packers VS The Philadelphia Eagles

2 Packers VS  New Orleans Saints

1 Packers VS New England Patriots

They Passed: What If The Packers Didn't Draft Rodgers ?

Aaron Rodgers fell to the Packers in 2005 and the rest is history.  Green Bay could've drafted another superstar instead. Falcons wide receiver  Roddy White was selected two picks later.

How do you think Roddy White would've impacted the Packers future ?