Thursday, November 19, 2009

Aaron Rodgers and Alex Smith revisited

This Sunday, at Lambeau Field ,the Packers take on the 49ers (who selected Alex Smith over Aaron Rodgers in the 2005 NFL draft). The two will be forever linked together, but both have taken different paths in their short NFL careers. They may look alike but that's where the similarities end. Alex Smith the No. 1 overall pick started right away for a bad 49er team and hurt his shoulder in 2007 and 2008, and has had 5 new offensive coordinators. Meanwhile, it was a blessing in disguise for Rodgers to drop to the No. 24 overall pick to the Packers. Rodgers rode the bench for his first 3 seasons behind Brett Favre but now is the future of the Green Bay Packers. Who knows what would have happened if the roles would have been reversed! “It still hurt when my name wasn’t called first, but it also hurt second, third, fourth all the way down to 23,” Rodgers said. “But I got here and was excited about it. The rest was history.
“It was difficult to go through that one day in April, but I think it’s made all the difference now.” The real kicker here is Mike McCarthy, the Packers head coach now, was the offensive coordinator for the 49ers at that time and played a part of the decision to take Alex Smith over Aaron Rodgers.
Also, I have some buddies coming into town Monday on Nov. 23 to check out the Cheech and Chong show at the Radisson Three Clans Ballroom. Defiantly never a dull time with these two in town.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Packers management on the hot seat

With two losess to the Minnesota Vikings and Brett Favre on the record book, accompanied with a loss to 0-7 Tampa Bay, Mike McCarthy and Ted Thompson are under fire!! It's hard to believe that 18 out of 22 starters from the Packers team that went 13-3 in 2007 are now facing a season like this. There are only two new defensive starters: Johnny Jolly replaced Corey Williams on the line, and linebacker Clay Matthews took over for Brady Poppinga. On offense, Josh Sitton starts at right guard in place of Jason Spitz and quarterback Aaron Rodgers has replaced the legendary Brett Favre.
As good as I think Rodgers is, I believe that Thompson underestimated Favre's leadership and quick release throws. I know the offensive line is in shambles, and Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher are getting old, but that's no excuse why the team hasn't tried to upgrade these positions. The special teams have also has regressed, and the new 3-4 scheme hasn't lived up to the hype we originally heard.
There definitely will be a sense of urgency this weekend at Lambeau Field when the Packers take on the Dallas Cowboys. The Packers must win if they want any shot at making a push towards the playoffs. If not, this could be a long,long,long off season for the Packer players and management.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Packers look to rebound in the bay

The Green Bay Packers tickets for the next game at Lambeau Field are still in demand, as the team heads to Tampa for the battle of the bay. Coming off a very tough loss against the Vikings the Packers look to make a change at both tackle positions. Mark Tauscher and Chad Clifton both are pushing to start this weekend.
If McCarthy goes with Tauscher, it means the Packers will have their starting tackle duo of the previous nine seasons together for the first time in a long time. “No substitute for experience,” McCarthy said, “and Mark Tauscher and Chad Clifton have a ton of it. You see that just in the practice today, just some of the things that they do.” Be nice to see Aaron Rodgers upright this weekend.
With the Packers out of town for the weekend I'm looking for something to do with my girlfriend and found that Resch Center tickets are always a good idea.