Since this is a bye week, I decided to go slowly, dig deep and hopefully bring you some in-depth insight on a few things I have noticed. Therefore, I will be breaking my film study into a series of articles over the next week. This article is about Aaron Rodgers. Read the full story

Green Bay – There is interest from both the Green Bay Packers and Mark Tauscher in reaching a contract agreement, but the two sides still must hammer out a deal.

Tauscher worked out for the Packers Tuesday afternoon and from most accounts passed his physical test with flying colors. It was about 11 months ago that Tauscher suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee, and the Packers had set an Oct. 1 date to revisit the possibility of re-signing him.

Tauscher also worked out for Kansas City last week and his agent may be trying to use that as leverage to get him the best possible deal. But all things being equal, Tauscher would prefer to stay with the Packers, where he would probably regain his starting right tackle position in a short while.

Coach Mike McCarthy said he had made it known to right tackle Allen Barbre that re-signing Tauscher was a possibility, so it should not come as a shock to Barbre.

According to offensive line coach James Campen, who attended Tauscher’s workout, everything went well.

“He looked fine,” Campen said. “I visited with him for about 10 minutes. It’s always nice to talk to Mike.”

None of the coaches knew what management’s intentions were with Tauscher and were unaware if anything was imminent. However, one league source said it was a matter of the two sides working out financial terms.

“It would give you a good football player to our 53-man roster,” McCarthy said of the possibility of adding Tauscher. Mark’s history here, he has played a ton of football for us. He just has the experience.”

http://www.jsonline.com/

By Michael Buteau

Oct. 6 (Bloomberg) — Brett Favre’s performance in the Minnesota Vikings’ victory over Green Bay on ESPN likely produced the highest-rated show in cable-televison history.

Minnesota’s 30-23 win over the Packers drew a 14.2 rating, which may turn out to be the biggest audience for a cable- television program, according to the Walt Disney Co.-owned network. Each rating point represents 1.114 million homes.

Favre, who spent 16 of his 19 seasons with the Packers, threw three touchdown passes at the Metrodome in Minneapolis last night against his former team to become the only player to win against all 32 of the National Football League’s current teams.

“This one carried a little more weight,” Favre, 39, said in a televised interview after Minnesota improved to 4-0. “It was everything it was billed to be.”

ESPN spokesman Josh Krulewitz said that the rating is “expected” to be a record when final numbers come out this afternoon.

The largest cable audience for a Monday night game until now was 12.95 million for the Dallas Cowboys’ 41-37 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 15, 2008. That also was a record for any cable program.

Last year’s Vikings-Packers game on Monday Night Football, in the first week of the season, drew a 9.3 rating, 65 percent below last night’s number.

Favre won three NFL Most Valuable Player awards and a Super Bowl title with the Packers before being forced out in 2008 as Green Bay went with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback.

Facing many of his former teammates for the first time, Favre completed 24-of-31 passes for 271 yards. He threw touchdown passes of one yard to Visanthe Shiancoe in the first quarter, 14 yards to Sidney Rice in the second and 31 yards to Bernard Berrian in the third quarter.

To contact the reporter on this story: Michael Buteau in Atlanta at mbuteau@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: October 6, 2009 14:07 EDT

http://www.bloomberg.com/

* Left tackle Levi Jones worked out for the Packers on Monday, according to a league source. Jones has years of starting experience at left tackle, but the Packers have been looking more for help at right tackle — where Allen Barbre has struggled. Packers starting left tackle Chad Clifton missed Sunday’s game with a high ankle sprain but is working to get back. Jones is one of the higher caliber free agent offensive linemen still available. Read the full story

After Green Bay’s 21-15 victory over Chicago, here are three (mostly) indisputable facts I feel relatively sure about:

1. Before I could start banging the drum again, Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Monday that Allen Barbre will retain his job as the starting right tackle. Barbre had the kind of night offensive linemen dread: When it’s apparent early in a game that they can’t stop the player across from him. Bears defensive end Adewale Ogunleye embarrassed Barbre twice in the first quarter alone, and things improved minimally as the game went on. (You wonder if it had more to do with Ogunleye losing steam than it did Barbre improving.) Packers coaches should share some blame for not adjusting quicker to get Barbre some help. If you can’t replace him, you can call plays that allows a tight end or running back to throw a shoulder at the defensive end to slow him down a bit. Read the full story

The Debut Is Always Scary

By Lance Allan

I had part of the Packers debut right.  I figured a tight game, since first games are usually teams trying to fight to establish themselves, especially division rivals.  I just figured it would be 31-27 Pack…not an 21-15 slugfest where the offense was sluggish until the last 2:28, when it matter most. Read the full story

GREEN BAY – Aaron Rodgers brought the Packers back late in the fourth quarter, heaving a 50-yard touchdown pass to Greg Jennings with 1:11 remaining to give Green Bay a 21-15 victory over the Chicago Bears in the season opener Sunday night.

Facing third-and-1 at the 50-yard line, Rodgers faked play action and heaved a rainbow of a throw deep to Jennings, who ran in for the go-ahead score. Rodgers found Jennings again for a 2-point conversion.

Rodgers’ big throw ruined the debut of Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, who threw a career-worst four interceptions.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Cullen Jenkins can recall the date off the top of his head: Sept. 28, the day his breakout 2008 season came to a screeching halt.

Well on his way to establishing an identity separate from his big brother, Pro Bowl pass rusher Kris, Jenkins tore a pectoral muscle in Week 4. He missed the remainder of the season, and the Green Bay Packers missed him dearly. Read the full story

To say the Green Bay Packers, a year after finishing 6-10, will win the Super Bowl this year is a bold prediction.  However, not even considering the team a true contender to win the big game would simply be foolish.

For those who want to discount the Packers’ preseason success because it’s preseason, let it be noted that it’s still pro football, the objective is still to beat the other team, and there’s still competition for starting positions yet to be determined so players still have something to play for.

And it’s one thing to just win the game, but for the starting units to completely crush the opposition like they have is really making a statement.

Beginning this discussion with the defense, hands down the best offseason pickup of any team was the Packers’ signing of Dom Capers as defensive coordinator.  He has completely turned this defense around and has the team excited about continuing their preseason dominance into the regular season.

The defensive scheme last year ran by Bob Sanders was painfully bland and predictable.  That, coupled with a few injuries, left the defense seemingly on its heels in most games.

But with Capers running the show, the defense, for lack of a better word, is on its toes attacking, intimidating, and setting the tone when the opposition’s offense steps onto the field.

Charles Woodson will be an All-Pro when everything is said and done.  Capers has been using him in a number of blitz packages and Woodson has been incredibly productive off those blitzes.

In the Arizona game alone he came off the edge and sacked Kurt Warner twice, forcing a fumble on both sacks.  He also stripped Jerheme Urban of the ball early in the game after a short completion.

Woodson has top-notch football IQ and is a very talented defensive back.  He has practically patented this tomahawk chop he does when making a tackle from behind and often times will force a fumble doing so.

Woodson also has great ball skills which he’s demonstrated throughout his career and with the new scheme heavily favoring zone coverage, Woodson will have increased vision to the quarterback.  No longer will he have to cover with his back to the ball.

This will benefit Woodson immensely as he is a master of dissecting plays when he’s playing zone or off coverage.  His ability to diagnose what the quarterback is trying to do can be attributed to his superior instincts and intense film study.

Woodson and the rest of the Packers defense have transitioned seamlessly to the new scheme.  They are playing fast and with excitement.  What a difference a unit’s enthusiasm can make on their effectiveness and execution.

Aaron Rodgers and the offense came up short last year in some tight matchups, but for the most part that was only after the defense lost the lead by allowing a score late in those games.

The offense overall ranked fifth in the league, highlighted by a 4,000-yard passer, two 1,000-yard receivers, and a 1,200-yard rusher.

They are looking to improve on that ranking with a healthy Ryan Grant and an experienced Rodgers entering his second year as the starter (oh and Brett Favre is out disrupting a different training camp this year).

Rodgers has been nearly perfect in the preseason, throwing for six touchdowns and no picks while racking up a 147.9 quarterback rating.  However, those stats, as impressive as they are, don’t even begin to tell the story of how effective Rodgers will be this season.

Throughout OTA’s, mini camp, training camp, and the preseason games, Rodgers has been accurate and disciplined with his throws and decisions, respectively.  He throws quite possibly the best deep ball out of any quarterback in the league, hitting his receivers in stride and where only they can catch the ball.

He is quick to get the ball out of his hands or tuck and run if nobody’s open, and it’s evident from his 34-yard scamper against Arizona that he’s got some wheels.

Without a sliver of a doubt, Rodgers has mastered Mike McCarthy’s offensive system and not only that, but he is the unquestioned leader of the team.  Everyone on the team was pushing Rodgers to lead this squad and he has through his play on the field and his voice on and off the field.

Rodgers will lead this team to a division title, his first (but not only) league MVP award, and a Super Bowl victory in this 2009 season.

It may seem like outlandish predictions, but this team is better than it was in 2007.  Names like Cullen Jenkins, Johnny Jolly, Jermichael Finley, and James Jones will surface around the league while better-known names like Rodgers, Woodson, and Greg Jennings will become very well-known names.

This team has a very bright future and the future is six days away.

http://bleacherreport.com/

Analysis: The Green Bay Packers New Look Secondary

With three defensive backs injured during the final preseason game, and two injuries at safety entering it, the depth in the secondary has been shaken up. The whole roster got more confusing when two players were placed on I.R. (S Charlie Peprah and CB Pat Lee), and one of the preseason’s stars was released (S Anthony Smith). And one new face was added in a trade.

The best news in all of this was that the starting lineup is the same. CB Charles Woodson and CB Al Harris will start, alongside S Atari Bigby and S Nick Collins. CB Tramon Williams could play as much as 60% of the time as the nickel back.

So meet the new face: CB Derrick Martin.

• He was a 6th round draft choice of Baltimore in 2006, and the Green Bay Packers acquired him in trade for OL Tony Moll. The Packers have had their eye on Martin since they scouted him in college at Wyoming.
• In his first three seasons, he played exclusively at cornerback, starting 3 games in 2007. He played in 4 games in 2008 before a shoulder injury ended his season.
• This preseason, he’s been playing exclusively at safety. Now that he’s in Green Bay, I expected he’d be playing some at cornerback again, but, according to Tom Pelissero, he spent his first practice following safeties coach Darren Perry around. So he’s a safety.
• He projected as high as a 3rd round pick in 2006. But according NFL Draft Scout, as a cornerback, the best he can be is a nickel back, so the move to safety might be a good one.
• And he had some problems with a bowling pin and some marijuana back in 2008, but was never charged.

S Anthony Smith had a great preseason, there were even rumors he might unseat Bigby, but surprisingly he was released last weekend. CB Pat Lee was a 2nd round pick in 2008 and seemed certain to move up the depth chart in 2009, but a back injury kept him out most of training camp and a knee injury ended his season.

Cornerbacks:

CB Will Blackmon. According to Tom Pelissero, he’s still not dressed for practice. If he’s healthy, he’ll be the top reserve.

CB Brandon Underwood. They love those guys that can play multiple positions. Although he played safety during his final college season at Cincinnati, the 6th round pick has been playing exclusively at cornerback in the NFL. He’s got some promise; he appears to be able to close on receivers with a good jump and his tall 6′1″ frame. But he also plays with a lot of cushion and has gotten spun around by a double move on more than one occassion. He’s not ready to play right now, but he’s the next healthy cornerback currently on the depth chart.

Safety:

S Aaron Rouse. According to Tom Pelissero, he was in practice on Monday. Just as in 2008; he remains the top backup at safety.

S Jarrett Bush. The former nickel back has been playing exclusively at safety this preseason. The team roster lists him as a cornerback/safety, but he’d only play cornerback in an emergency.

S Derrick Martin. He’ll be a safety, so he seems like an odd addition because they need cornerback depth. Apparently the Packers just had a “thing” for him, so says GM Ted Thompson.

http://www.acmepackingcompany.com/

Have you seen enough?

How do you think the Bears will fare after watching their final exhibition Thursday night against the Browns?

The Bears open the regular season Sept. 13 in Green Bay and the NBC-TV broadcast crew that will call the contest offered opinions on a Tuesday conference about the Bears and the rest of the NFC North. Read the full story

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Quarterback Brian Brohm, wide receiver Ruvell Martin and running back Tyrell Sutton were among 18 players cut by the Green Bay Packers to meet the NFL-mandated 53-player roster limit Saturday.

Brohm, a second-round draft pick last year who once was considered a potential franchise quarterback during his college career at Louisville, could be a candidate for the Packers’ practice squad if he is not picked up by another team. Read the full story

Green Bay — On most days this off-season, Ryan Grant would emerge through the familiar Packers tunnel onto Lambeau Field, turn left and take off, starting at the aisle between Sections 131 and 133.

He sprinted every step – not skipping two at a time – running up and then down each and every aisle. Past the seats where the bikini girls brave the elements, past where the adoring await with open arms for the Lambeau Leap, past the press box and rows of critics, around to the scoreboard that so badly needs him and by the famous retired numbers of Hutson, Starr, Nitschke and White. Read the full story

When: 7 p.m. Thursday.

Where: LP Field, Nashville.

Broadcast: Television – Channel 4. Radio – WTMJ-AM (620).

Injury report: Packers – DT Justin Harrell (back), S Charlie Peprah (knee), RB Brandon Jackson (ankle), WR Greg Jennings (head), CB/RET Will Blackmon (thigh) and S Aaron Rouse (hamstring) won’t play; QB Matt Flynn (shoulder) will be available only as a holder. Titans – WR Nate Washington (hamstring) and CB Ryan Mouton (ankle) are out; LB Josh Stamer (groin), RET Mark Jones (stinger) and TE Jared Cook (ankle) are questionable. Read the full story

Well, so much for flying under the radar.

About the worst thing anyone can say is the Packers will finish third in the NFC North but make the playoffs anyway. Sports Illustrated’s Peter King, for instance, has the Packers finishing third and losing to Chicago for the NFC championship. Read the full story