Just got word that our own Bobby O’Shea’s interview on the Packers is up at Doc Sports.

Here is a little excerpt:

“The difference between ‘07 and ‘08 were injuries and losses in close games. Nick Barnett, Cullen Jenkins, James Jones, Mark Tauscher, Scott Wells, Atari Bigby, and Al Harris all missed significant time. This led to a lack of depth and generally wearing out late in games. We lost an unbelievable seven games by four or less points, including one (at Minnesota) due to a missed last second field goal. The offensive line needs more depth at tackle to replace Tauscher, but I’m confident in Spitz, College, and Wells in the middle. On the defensive side of the ball, we have overhauled our scheme by switching to a 3-4 . If Ryan “Big Grease” Pickett can hold the NT down, our talented linebackers should rock the house. Look for Jenkins and a combination of Johnny Jolly and Justin Harrell (or a player early in the draft) to man the DE positions and keep our ‘backers clean.”

You can check out the entire interview by clicking here.

(Stay Tuned)

On January 30th, Lounge Lizard Paul suggested I make a top ten WORST players on the team. Here it is, but prepare to be surprised.

When I was making this list, I wrote up some of the bad players right away. The regulars were there, the players whose name I cursed every Sunday. Then I ran out, and I ran out at around nine.

This is a good problem to have for a team roster, but a horrible problem when trying to put together a top ten piece. After a week of thinking and drinking(T & D), I came up with the list.

Here it is, the top ten worst players from 2008.

10. Nick Collins – As good as Nick was, he also matched it with stretches of very bad play. Nick Collins is Darren Sharper 2.0 and it drives me nuts. Why can’t he just be consistent? C’mon, Nick. Hopefully Capers can fix him.

9. Ryan Grant – I wonder how many bruises our offensive linemen have on their backs from Ryan Grant running into them? Grant seems bright, but he plays dumb. What makes it worse was every time he stepped out, someone stepped in and ran BETWEEN the tackles and got positive yards. Horrible year. Will he rebound or will someone take his job in 2009?

8. Chad Clifton – Maybe Clifton can’t play well with a bruised back (damn you, Grant). Maybe that explains Clifton’s bad year. Or Clifton is just getting old and banged up as his career gets up there. Clifton did not help the running game or the passing game and I hope he’s replaced by a better player next year.

7. Charlie Peprah – I admit, Peprah makes the list because I started running out of people while making it. However, he was pretty bad when he came in at safety. There’s no denying that one.

6. James Jones – Mr. Stone Hands. He’s big. He’s strong. He’s quick. He sucks. James frustrates me to no end. He is reaching Ahmad Carroll level of throwing away talent. He always seems to be dropping a pass or limping off the field. Both of those angered me a lot in 2008.

5. Ruvell Martin – Here comes the backlash. I like Ruvell. He’s charming and talented. He also was nowhere to be seen in 2008, and he got playing time too! He played in 13 games and was useless in 13 games. 1 touchdown. 13.5 average a game. Even after buttering up Aaron Rodgers for three years couldn’t help Ruvell in 2008. Get him a watch next year, maybe he’ll throw you some more.

4. Tony Moll – He sucked. I hope he doesn’t suck in 2009. That is all.

3. Jarrett Bush – After a horrible punt (see: #2), Bush would match the horribleness with missed tackles. Or penalties. Or, taking up space. And that’s just Bush the special teamer. As a cornerback, Bush rarely saw the field, and when he did, he was horrible. Charlie Peprah got on the field more in 2008 than Bush. That’s bad.

2. Derrick Frost – This guy was so bad. I was shocked how bad this professional punter was. I can understand if we sent Alex out there to kick, but Frost is a specialist at one thing: kicking a ball. He also sucks at it. Frost at Punter was like having an armless man taking the mound in an MLB game.

1. Justin Harrell – So much was expected from him this year. With Corey let go, we needed the defensive tackles we had to step up, and he didn’t. Some will say he was injured and it doesn’t count, but it does. He sucks, and so do his bones made of glass.

This is the official call to all arm-chair quarterbacks who reside here. It’s time to get your picks in for tomorrows games. It’s pretty simple, just leave a comment.

For those of you that just fell from a planet that is not this one, here is the rundown.

NFC Championship

Arizona Cardinals vs. Philadelphia Eagles

AFC Championship

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens

Best of the Rest: Highlights 2008

In what is becoming a clearance sale, the Green Bay Packers have dumped the entire defensive coaching staff. All defensive coaches with the exception of Winston Moss have just been fired.

Released are defensive ends coach Carl Hairston, defensive tackles coach Robert Nunn, secondary coach Kurt Schottenheimer, cornerbacks/nickel package coach Lionel Washington, and quality control assistant Joe Whitt, Jr.

Wow.

(Stay Tuned)

There is breaking news that Packer’s defensive coordinator Bob Sanders has been fired. There has been no official announcement from the Packers.

The National Football post, who is reporting the information, is partly owned by former Packer guru Andrew Brandt.

One can assume that the search for a new defensive coordinator will begin immediately. Coaches that will possibly be considered are San Francisco coach Mike Nolan, former New York Jets coach Eric Mangini, former Cleveland Browns coach Romeo Crennel and former Jacksonville defensive coordinator Gregg Williams.

(Stay Tuned)

Best of the Best 2008: Part II

The season is over and it is time to reflect on how we got there.  It’s time to see who did THEIR job and who should be looking for a NEW job.

If there’s one thing I like, it’s judging people.  This week I have to judge the quarterbacks and running backs, the bread and butter of the offense.

These two positions were a hot topic in the offseason, especially quarterback, but which position really carried the offense?  This is the area most people look at when they judge an offense so hell, I’ll do the same to kick off my 2008 report card series.

—————————————————-

A-Rod

*28 Touchdowns
*13 Interceptions
*4,038 Yards Passing + 207 Rushing Yards

There was no way the quarterback who replaced Brett Favre would come in and have a good year, especially a first year starter. Right?

After all the offseason drama, we finally got to see what Aaron Rodgers has, and what he has is all the talent and moxy needed to lead a championship team. Every quality you want from a quarterback – toughness, accuracy, power, mobility, leadership, awesome mustache – Aaron Rodgers has.

When giving out these grades I wanted to base them on more than just statistics, so what else is there to judge a quarterback by? How you handle pressure is a big part of it, and I’m not talking about “big defensive lineman running at you” pressure. There’s media pressure, which he handled well during Favre-Gate. There’s also pressure to be “clutch” and put the team on your shoulders. The Packers lost 7 games by 4 points or less and a lot of people want to put that on the quarterback, but 1) You can say that about any loss. “We would have won if the quarterback would have thrown more touchdowns!” and 2) Aaron Rodgers has the most fourth quarter touchdown passes of anyone in the 2008 season. Sounds pretty clutch to me.

Aaron did all of this with what a lot of people would call a questionable offensive line which poses the question: What’s he going to do when he has a GOOD offensive line? Scary.

Fun Facts
- Aaron’s 2008 passer rating was 93.8, which is better than 12 of the totals Favre put up in his 16 years in Green Bay!
- Aaron had 4 rushing touchdowns this year.

GRADE: A-

Matt Flynn

*5 Attempts in 2008

Matt Flynn was like many backup quarterbacks this year. He didn’t see the field often. He got some rare action on a fake punt and played some snaps in the Bucs game when Aaron Rodgers separated his shoulder, but like most backups, he was the clipboard man all season long.

GRADE: INCOMPLETE

Ryan Grant

*1203 Rush Yards
*3.9 Average
*4 Touchdowns

Those numbers above are bad. Four touchdowns by a starting running back who carried the ball 312 times is sad. Last year he scored EIGHT touchdowns on just 188 attempts. This year Ryan Grant was bad. There is no denying that.

Ryan was the most frustrating running back to watch this season. If I had to take a shot every time Grant ran into the back of his own linemen, I would be dead right now. DEAD! I don’t understand how someone with supposedly good vision misses holes on a regular basis and chooses to dart into his own players. When he wasn’t running into his teammates he was running directly into the opposition and going down on the first hit.

This was not the same guy we seen in 2007. Was he dogging it because of his big contract? Was he hurt ALL year? Was the offensive line THAT bad? Some of these questions have nothing to do with the fact that Grant apparently needs contacts, and a new box of tampons. Man up, Nancy.

Fun Facts
- Grant lost 3 of his 4 fumbles.

GRADE: C-

Brandon Jackson

*248 Yards
*5.5 Average

Oh what could have been. A 5.5 average is respectable. It beats the crap out of 3.9 that’s for sure. Getting that average is that much harder when the other team KNOWS you’re going to be utilized when you come in, mostly through the pass game. They KNOW it.

I believe Jackson can be our Brian Westrbook, but he never got the chance. Instead we force fed defensive lines a heavy dose of Ryan Grant. I say defensive lines because that’s how far he usually got.

Jackson is younger, stronger, faster, smarter, is better at pass protection, and has better hands. Basically, Brandon Jackson is better in every way. Grant was rewarded a big contract after a great half-year in 2007. He isn’t living up to it and now it might be likely Jackson takes his starting job next year because when Jackson did get playing time, he was impressive.

GRADE: B-

DeShawn Wynn

*13.8 Average

I like Wynn. I like power backs with some speed in them. I don’t like guys who get hurt all the time and seem ‘unmotivated.’ But what is Wynn? He’s a mystery wrapped in an enigma, wrapped in a fat man’s body.

Wynn rarely gets taken down by the first tackler and that, like his frame, is huge. So what if he’s not a home run threat? He’s a first down threat. Last year he did well but got hurt. This year he did well but got hurt. Can he stay healthy? If he can, he can be a great short yardage back. If not, he’s just taking up another roster spot.

In 2008, Wynn was good when he was actually suited up. That’s all I can really say about it, but hey, I stretched that into three paragraphs!

Fun Facts
- Wynn likes porkchops, hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, waffles, tacos, and anything else in the fridge.

GRADE: C

*0.0 Average
*1 TD Reception

Korey Hall

No spectacular statistic for ol’ Korey Hall’s 2008 season. Hall is just one of those guys who gets things done. He opens up holes and plays the game right. Not once in this season did I say “Damn that Korey Hall!” and that itself should be a statistic.

Hall is a great fullback and I’m glad he’s a Packer.

Fun Facts
- Korey is a fullback!

GRADE: B+

John Kuhn

*2 Receiving Touchdowns

This is the guy who motivated McCarthy to pull the Fullback Dive out of his ass. I can only assume he paid off Philbin who brought the idea to McCarthy who signed off on it. Kuhn and Korey Hall are like two pits in a pear.

GRADE: B

UP NEXT: WIDE RECEIVERS\TIGHT ENDS

The Best of the Best 2008

Fan Video: Hover on Screen for Part II

Week Seventeen Highlights

Entering Lambeau for the first time.

Guess who is there right now?

Nothing fancy, nothing that will tug at your heart strings… just a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday Season from both of us here at The Packers Lounge.

It’s been a great year getting to know everyone, spending a season together, and finding a great place we all can share Packer football at every turn.

May your Sundays be merry and bright and may all your Packer games be white.

(Merry Christmas)

Final Drive: Packers vs. Bears