Packers Daily Links: Rodgers Is Bruised And Battered But Okay
By Brian Carriveau on Jan 25, 2011 with 25 Comments
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, arguably the most integral player on the entire Packers roster, has some bumps and bruises coming out of the NFC Championship game. “Rodgers took a nasty helmet-to-jaw hit from Chicago defensive end Julius Peppers in the second half of Sunday’s NFC Championship Game victory over the Bears, and while that didn’t bother him on Monday, he was feeling the effects of a hard hit to his right shoulder on his touchdown run on the Packers’ opening possession of the game,” writes Jason Wilde of ESPNWisconsin. Head coach Mike McCarthy said he’s fine in yesterday’s press conference.
The most significant injury to come out of Sunday’s game was to outside linebacker Erik Walden. “Walden was diagnosed with an ankle sprain, an injury that knocked him out of Sunday’s game,” writes Bill Huber of Packer Report. “Walden, who has started five of the past six games on the right side, has been given ‘a chance’ by coach Mike McCarthy to practice Friday,” writes Huber. Having the extra time off before the Super Bowl will benefit Walden, but depending on the severity of the injury, he may continue to be limited. Stay tuned.
The only player currently on the Packers with a Super Bowl ring is fullback John Kuhn. “It’s at home here,” Kuhn is quoted as saying by Gary D’Amato of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “I keep it in the safe. I don’t look at it all that much. I was on the practice squad.” Kuhn did not play in that game and says it’s been a goal of his to get back to the Super Bowl to win one as an active player.
With the Packers taking on the Steelers in the Super Bowl, Mike McCarthy was asked to revisit his formative years growing up in Pittsburgh. “Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy had just won the biggest game of his life, a 21-14 victory over the Bears to secure the NFC title, when he reverted to the wide-eyed kid who grew up in Pittsburgh in the late 1960’s and ‘70’s,” writes Kareem Copeland of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. “He was being handed the Halas Trophy by none other than Steelers Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw.”
Left tackle Chad Clifton was another player to sustain an injury against the Bears, but it doesn’t appear serious. “Tackle Chad Clifton was dealing with a sore neck after suffering a stinger against the Bears. He left the game for a while but was able to return,” writes Gary D’Amato. Clifton said he doesn’t anticipate missing any practice time.
The Packers will practice starting Friday this week. “Upon arriving in Arlington, the Packers will have a media session on Monday afternoon or evening and then the full-blown media day on Tuesday at the stadium before resuming practice on Wednesday,” writes Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. “The Packers will use Southern Methodist University as their practice site while in the Dallas area. The Steelers will be in Fort Worth, practicing at TCU.” McCarthy emphasized that the team will virtually be ready to play the game before even heading to Dallas.
As far as before arriving in Dallas, the practice schedule this week will go a little something like this: “The players have Monday and Tuesday this week to take care of tickets and travel arrangements and the like for family and other Super Bowl guests,” writes Mike Spofford of the Green Bay official website. “Then Wednesday will become like a Monday, the day after the game, with film study and some meetings. That’s the day everything gets back to football.”
B.J. Raji took some good-natured ribbing after the NFC Championship game from friends, teammates and even the head coach. “Green Bay Packers nose tackle B.J. Raji may have scored the game-winning touchdown, but he managed to get downgraded on his 18-yard pick-six interception return on two fronts Monday: For showboating and holding the ball out before crossing the goal line, and for the hula dance he did after scoring,” writes Jason Wilde.
Rookie cornerback Sam Shields receives a boatload of praise from Cliff Christl and Eric Baranczyk of the Press-Gazette. “If there was a draft do-over today, Shields not only would be selected, he might well be a first-round pick,” according to their article. “Combine Tramon Williams’ improvement this year with Shields’ meteoric rise from nowhere, and it’s an amazing development.” The Packers got first-round talent beyond the seventh round. Hard to believe.
General manager Ted Thompson is featured in an article by Jason Wilde. Quotes from Mike Holmgren. Highly suggested reading.
Television ratings for the NFC Championship were a 57.0 rating and an 85 share. “The telecast of the New York Giants 23-20 overtime victory over the Packers for the 2007 season NFC title had a slightly higher rating but lower share in the Milwaukee market,” writes Bob Wolfley of the Journal Sentinel. “That game had 58.5 rating and 78 share on Channel 6. That game on Jan. 20, 2008 kicked off around 5:40 p.m. Sunday’s game kicked off about 2:05 p.m.”
An Australian Packer fan shares his feelings on the team.
The cast of the Lombardi play are celebrating the Packers performance.
Filed Under: Daily Links • Packers News
We keep hearing about how good Williams and Shields have become without hearing about Joe Whitt. Their coach obviously has had a lot to do with their development. Charles Woodson has pointed out how great a coach he is.
We hear about Kevin Greene’s work with Matthews, Zombo, Walden and Jones all the time. Hopefully Whitt starts getting a little credit in the media.
Whitt, Perry, Moss, Trgovac, Greene, Capers. If this is not the best defensive staff in the league, and one of the best defensive staff ever assembled by the Packers, it’s damn close.
I can see all of these guys having shots as DCs and possibly HCs, a la Mike Holmgren’s offensive staff of the 90′s, with MM, Reid, Chucky…
I’ve got nothing to add to any of these posts. I’m just so darn happy…
I hope he doesn’t get any credit. Then other teams won’t be so keen to take him from us. Anyway, i hope ted does with his successful coaches what he does with players- sign them to long term contracts and keep them in-house.
Based on AR’s play in the 2nd half, does anyone think he may have suffered a mild concussion as a result of the Pepper’s cheap shot?
I’m a little suspicious and I’m glad AR has 2 weeks to rest up.
I thought his rhythm was disrupted more as a byproduct of having Lang in the game with a rookie, Bulaga (even though he played well) on the right side. Also, the Chicago defense really tightened up after halftime.
Granted, Lang adjusted to the speed/stage, but it seemed that he really rushed his progressions during and after that series.
Clifton returned in the 2nd quarter though, right?
Clifton missed two series.
Did Rodgers find a groove after that? That’s all I’m asking.
I’m suspicious too, though he did not look nearly as dazed and out to lunch as he did in Detroit. But how could you walk away unscathed after a punishing (and suspension-worthy) blow like that?
More suspicious since he was not one of the players that participated in the multi-player presser yesterday at Lambeau as Rodgers went radio silent the last time he had one. *shrugs*
Even if he sustained his third one, I don’t think we’ll publicly hear anything about this time. He’s become the poster child for NFL concussions this year whether he wants it or not. But with that also comes an ever growing bullseye on his head for those *coughharrisoncough* who think taking him out with a blow the head will give the opponent an extra edge. Players will see it has his achilles heel and won’t hesitate to lower the boom.
Read Peter King’s MMQB Tuesday Edition. Rodgers says his new helmet prevented a third concussion.
Interesting to read Bill Barnwell’s (Football Outsiders) ESPN Insider piece(sub. required) make a strong case that the Packers run game has been weaker in the post-season with Starks than what Jackson/Kuhn did in the regular season. Calls him ‘overhyped’.
Uh-oh, the Starks bandwagon is coming to get you now!
Obviously Starks has potential, but he has been hyped up quite a bit. The 16 yard reception when Jackson ran around Urlacher was better than any play Starks made last Sunday. Starks will get what is there in the blocking (Atlanta game case in point), and not much else. Neither Starks or Jackson can create for themselves in the run game.
If the guy is saying that, he knows nothing about football.
True, the second half of the Bears’ game, Starks seemed hesitant.
But it’s clear to anyone that Starks is by leaps and bounds the better runner, and that the running game is much better now.
Not even close.
James Starks and his 3.5-3.8 yds per carry is not scaring anyone on the Steelers Defense. And, they know a lot about football.
First of all, where’s the source?
Second of all, the Steelers are the #1 rush D. They don’t fear anyone’s rushing O.
But it’s a complete lie if you think they won’t respect Starks. Just like with Grant, no, they won’t drop 8 in the box.
But just like with Grant, the PA works with Starks. It doesn’t with Jackson. It was made pretty clear.
It’s no coincidence that Starks has been able to run the ball 20+ times whereas neither Kuhn nor Jackson could. He warrants it.
The Packers had NO running game without Starks. They have one now.
NFL.com
Starks
3.5 regular season
3.8 playoffs
Jackson
3.7 yards per carry
I not saying that the run game was better with Jackson/Kuhn either by the way. For the record I hope Starks goes off for 180yds an 2tds in the Superbowl, I just don’t think there is any reason to blow his horn just yet.
So, why accuse me of lying by putting words in my mouth that the Steelers won’t respect the running game?
Yeah, because YPC tell the whole story.
Lucky us our coach is smart enough to know who’s better.
Run game weaker with Starks than with Jackson/Kuhn? Wow, now I heard it all. Bill Barnwell is an idiot. Sure Starks was not nearly as good in Atlanta or Chicago as he was in Philly, but it is simple to see Starks is a better pure runner than Jackson or Kuhn.
I’ll just go with the eyeball test for everything I need to know about James Starks at this point. He looks better with the ball in his hands than Jackson does. And I think he had one great run Sunday where he completely cut back all the way to the weak side and picked up 10. That cutback is there A LOT in our little zone scheme, but our RBs never see it.
Throw in the fact that Starks hasn’t played in a game in 2 years, and he basically didn’t practice for 2 years, either, and I’m thrilled to death.
Our run game isn’t as dynamic this postseason because our passing game has been off the charts this postseason.
Hit the nail on the head, Ruppert.
FO looks at stats, and for that they’re great. But something like this goes well beyond stats, and they should recognize that the sample size and situations for James Starks is a big contrast to what they have for Brandon Jackson.
My eyes told me everything I need to know about Starks. My conclusion? He’s a much better runner than Jackson for multiple reasons, and he’s now showing the fans he can pick up blocks when it counts.
Keep hyping up Starks, just makes the Steelers plan for him more which leaves ARod to do his best to tear apart the Steelers secondary.
I think an unsung hero is Jordy Nelson, jsut throw the ball to him and he makes first downs. He was great in that role w Atlanta. Love to see more of him because the secondaries worry about jennings and Driver.
Add to that the fact that while Pittsburgh’s defense is stellar, our wide recievers can play each other’s positions and shift around, creating matchups with their secondary. I like their safeties, but their corners aren’t that great.
I hope these two weeks give Rodgers time to heal up and tear the Steelers apart. GO PACK GO
Starks is by far the better runner than Bjax as he’s a one cut and go guy. Bjax problem is he dances around to much in traffic and never hits the hole, now get him out in space and he’ll make a defender look silly, like he did to Urlachler. Take out Bjax 80 yard run at Washington and his avg. takes a big hit. I like the guy, just not as an featured back, very solid 3rd down back. I hope he does to Harrison what he did to Urlachler.