• Articles
  • News
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Website Terms of Use
  • Contact
Total Packers - Green Bay Packers Blogs and News
  • Home
  • Analysis
  • Packers News
  • Contact
  • Disclaimer
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Analysis
  • Packers News
  • Contact
  • Disclaimer
No Result
View All Result
Total Packers
No Result
View All Result

The Packers Defensive Resurgence Begins On The Line And A Few Other Notes

Monty McMahon by Monty McMahon
September 16, 2009
in Uncategorized
1
Jolly celebrates his pick against the Bears.

No, it wasn’t lost on us. We pointed out how well the Green Bay Packers defense played in week one both during the game and in the aftermath.

That, however, has been somewhat lost in the blather surrounding the terrible performance of the Packers offensive line.

It should be noted, though, both Cullen Jenkins and Johnny Jolly had monster games.

Jenkins, who was injured for most of the 2008 season, recorded six tackles – three for a loss – against the Bears on Sunday. Jolly, who has never been a starter for the Packers, recorded eight tackles and made an athletic play to intercept Bears quarterback Jay Cutler on a screen pass.

Meanwhile, nose tackle Ryan Pickett did exactly what he was supposed to do – clog up the middle and occupy blockers.

Packers’ defensive line coach Mike Trgovac noted Jenkins’ and Jolly’s performances can be partially attributed to the fact the team played the nickel for much of the game.

Trgovac estimated that it was close to a 50-50 split as far as how often Jenkins and Jolly were turned loose compared to how often they were asked to occupy blockers. Because defensive coordinator Dom Capers played more than half the snaps in the nickel defense, Jenkins and Jolly perhaps had more playmaking opportunities than usual.

“This was a big nickel game for us,” Trgovac said. “Those guys were in shade alignments a lot, so they’ll have a chance to make more plays when they’re in those offset shade alignments as opposed to when they’re head up on a guy.”

Don’t expect the Packers’ defensive ends to be as disruptive moving forward. When the team plays their base defense, Jenkins and Jolly will be asked occupy blockers more than they will be asked to make plays. However, if they do that job correctly, it will free the Packers’ linebackers to make plays.

Jenkins, Jolly and Pickett should be getting a little more help this week when the Bengals come to town, as well, with first-round pick B.J. Raji coming back from an injury.

———-

In other defensive news, it looks like starting safety Atari Bigby will be on the shelf for at least a couple weeks with a sprained knee. The Packers will start Aaron Rouse in his place.

Rouse had a tough offseason. He looked like he was going to be cut at the end of training camp. Instead, the Packers let veteran Anthony Smith go, who seemed to be giving Bigby a run for a his starting position.

If Rouse is a liability, Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy are the only ones to blame.

———-

Speaking of the cuts, one of the Packers’ other inexplicable roster cuts – wide receiver Ruvell Martin – signed with the St. Louis Rams on Tuesday.

The Rams brought in three receivers for tryouts in addition to Martin, including former New York Giants’ Super Bowl hero David Tyree. Martin obviously outperformed them all, which isn’t much of a surprise to us.

So, congrats to Ruvell. The guy deserves a job in the NFL.

———-

In Chicago Bears news, some people are starting to question Jay Cutler’s leadership abilities. Big surprise!

Everyone fell in love with the Bears when they traded for Cutler, but no one seemed to recall that the guy has never made the playoffs, his Denver Broncos team fell apart in the second half of last season, and his constant sniping with San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers was often a bigger story than the actual games. In short, Cutler has never displayed any sort of maturity or leadership ability.

Tony Dungy, who used to employ Bears coach Lovie Smith, Mike Martz, a friend of Smith’s, and Jim Mora have all criticized Cutler in recent weeks (the last two after Sunday’s game).

“[Cutler] just doesn’t get it,” Martz said. “He doesn’t understand that he represents a great head coach and the rest of those players on that team … somebody needs to talk to him.”

If Cutler doesn’t grow up soon and become Chicago’s savior, like everyone seemed to think before the season, the wheels could fall off soon.

———-

Finally, when does Packers linebacker Nick Barnett watch game film? All the time, apparently.

I wish all that film study would translate into some big plays on the field.

[ad#totalpackers468x60]

Tags: Aaron RouseAtari BigbyAtari BigbyB.J. RajiB.J. RajiChicago BearsChicago BearsCullen JenkinsCullen Jenkinsdefensedefensive lineGreen Bay PackersJay CutlerJay CutlerJohnny JollyJohnny JollyLovie SmithNick BarnettNick BarnettRuvell MartinRyan PickettRyan PickettSt. Louis Rams
Previous Post

It’s Time To Jump On The Packers’ Offensive Line

Next Post

Top 10 Green Bay Packers Stats We Wished They Kept

Christian Watson celebrates touchdown against the Chicago Bears - December 2022

Ownage With Plenty of Drama: Packers 28-19 Over Bears

December 4, 2022
Packers Overcome Special Teams to Beat Bears 45-30

Packers vs Bears – Game Day: Week 13

December 4, 2022
Aaron Rodgers recovers a fumble against the Chicago Bears

What We Learned From Chicago Win

September 30, 2022
Aaron Jones celebrates win against the Bears with Aaron Rodgers

Packers Bounce Back, Beat Bears 27-10

September 19, 2022
Next Post

Top 10 Green Bay Packers Stats We Wished They Kept

Comments 1

  1. Avatar for Andrew Chitko Andrew Chitko says:
    13 years ago

    Aaron Rouse had a tremendous training camp and stood out as one of the bigger hitters on the team. The problem is he often provides a really big cushion for receivers to make the catch, then closes like a freight train and hits them….HARD.

    I predict Rouse will have a big year and be a presence back there like Atari Bigby used to be. We need a guy like Chuck Cecil back there scaring the hell out of everyone and that guy is Aaron Rouse.

    Watch out for this guy! He’s going to light up Ochocinco this weekend.

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Total Packers - Green Bay Packers News and Rumors

Find It!

No Result
View All Result

Recent Posts

  • Comparing The 2022 First Round Wide Receivers with Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs
  • Look Into the Top 5 Favorites of This Season’s 2023 Super Bowl
  • Reviewing Gutekunst, the Packers Roster and Coaches: Where Did it All Go Wrong: The Preseason Decisions
  • Packers Fall Apart in 4th: Lose 20-16 to End Season
  • Packers vs Lions – Game Day: Week 18
  • Packers Make Statement: Pound Vikings 41-17
  • Packers vs Vikings – Game Day: Week 17
  • Packers vs Vikings: The Pack Needs to Save the Season
  • Packers Deliver Huge Present: 26-20 Over Dolphins
  • Packers Bring Rams; Mayfield Back to Earth 24-12
  • Packers vs Rams – Game Day: Week 15
  • Romeo Doubs’ Return for the Rams is Much Needed

Popular Tags

A.J. Hawk Aaron Rodgers Brett Favre Brian Gutekunst Bryan Bulaga Charles Woodson Chicago Bears Chicago Bears Clay Matthews Clay Matthews III Dallas Cowboys Davante Adams Detroit Lions Eddie Lacy fans Featured free agents game analysis Green Bay Packers Green Bay Packers Greg Jennings injuries Jay Cutler Jermichael Finley Jordy Nelson Julius Peppers Mike McCarthy Mike McCarthy Minnesota Vikings Morgan Burnett New England Patriots New Orleans Saints NFL Oakland Raiders Philadelphia Eagles predictions Randall Cobb Sam Shields San Francisco 49ers Seattle Seahawks T.J. Lang Ted Thompson Ted Thompson Tramon Williams Ty Montgomery
No Result
View All Result
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Articles
  • News
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Website Terms of Use
  • Contact

© 2022 Total Packers -- This site is not affiliated with the Green Bay Packers or Packers.com

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Analysis
  • Packers News
  • Contact
  • Disclaimer

© 2022 Total Packers -- This site is not affiliated with the Green Bay Packers or Packers.com