M.I.A. – Cullen Jenkins

I’ve liked Jenkins since the Packers took a chance on him after his stint in NFL Europe. I remember being excited to see him when Grady Jackson was injured in the first game of the season in 2004 against the Panthers. He lined up and looked lost, but his speed and quickness off the line were evident right from the start. Over the years, he’s developed a killer first step that has allowed him to penetrate into the opponents backfield at least two or three times a game to blow up whatever play the offense was trying to run.

But this season, those plays have been completely absent. I’m not sure if it’s because teams are combo-blocking him more on the inside (which I doubt) or if he’s playing through some pretty significant injuries (which I suspect is the case). Either way, the Packers haven’t had a sack in two games, and that is disconcerting heading into the playoffs. If teams can just set up a tight end to Kampman’s side and a back to KGB’s side, without fear of getting a push up the middle, the Packers could be in trouble. They have to figure out a way to get pressure from the interior of the line, including from Jenkins or Corey Williams, or it will come back to bite them come playoff time.