Blurring the Edges: September 2006

September 17, 2006: New Orleans Saints at Packers

Packers start fast when DB-Aaron Kampman strips the ball at the 38 from Saints’ QB-Drew Brees.

Favre connects to Jennings for a 32 yard touchdown on a third down conversion. DB-Kabeer Gbaja Biamila recovers a fumbled ball, but the Saints’ defense pressures Favre, and the Packers put three points on the board with a K-Dave Rayner 24 yard field goal.

Packers come up with another turnover when DB-Nick Collins tipped the ball into CB-Al Harris on the 11. It was a bad decision by Brees throwing down the field with no receivers in the vicinity of Harris and Collins.

What looked like a bad snap from Packers’ C-Scott Wells turned into a good play. Wells recognized the neutral zone infringement and snapped the ball. Favre had to chase the ball for 10 yards then throw it away, but it turned out to be a positive play. Driver made a good catch for 5 yards that he turned into a 43 yard run down the field. A couple plays later in the series, Favre couldn’t find anyone to toss the ball to and took a sack, causing a 3rd and 13. Packers score from a 36 yard Rayner field goal.

* First Quarter: 13-0 ~ Packers *

Brees connects with TE-Mark Campbell for 33 yards and RB-Deuce McAllister runs three yards for the touchdown. After a short drive of modest gains, Brees makes a 26 yard throw to WR-Devery Henderson for the touchdown, Carroll on coverage.

* Second Quarter: 13-14 ~ Saints *

New pick up, former Viking, WR-Koren Robinson returns the kick off to the 30 and scuffled enough after the play to get the referees involved. Driver smoked CB-Mike McKenzie for 16 yards and S-Roman Harper body slammed Driver after he was down to draw a personal foul. Packers weren’t able to capitalize from this because TE-Bubba Franks drew an unsportsmanlike conduct call on the same play. Favre was intercepted by S-Omar Stoutmire in the end zone.

Brees hit WR-Joe Horn for 57 yards on a LB-Brady Poppinga missed coverage. Kampman sacks Brees, creating another fumble, this time recovered by the Saints. They settle for a 45 yard field goal.

Very little Packer offense and the Saints got the ball back. LB-Nick Barnett took a poor angle on RB-Reggie Bush and then couldn’t keep up with the number two draft pick, resulting in a 23-yard gain. Poppinga dropped what would have been an interception and K-John Carney made a 47-yard field goal. Favre hit Driver on a pass, and he smoked pass McKenzie again.

* Third Quarter: 13-20 ~ Saints *

The day’s play created a little more fire in the players, Favre was waving a towel on the sidelines and the defense tried to pump up the crowd more. A Carroll pass interference call gave the Saints a first down, and Brees connected with WR-Marques Coleston for a 25-yard touchdown. Green put another nail in the Packers’ would-be-win when he fumbled the ball on the Packers’ 25. McAllister took it in for the winning score.

RB-Noah Herron scored his first NFL touchdown, catching a six yard pass at 4:18 left in the game. Packers’ defense got the ball back to the offense for another try, but the receivers just couldn’t pull it in with two minutes left on the clock. The Saints get the ball and run down the remaining time on the clock.

* Final: 20-34 ~ Saints *

Commentary
The Packers showed more life in this game, but against a lower level team. The fact that they couldn’t put them away early in the game, or pull the win out in the end is somewhat troublesome. The receivers played a better game than last week, catching more balls and making some plays. They had nine dropped passes, and Favre’s favorite weapon remains Driver. When the defenses start focusing the majority of their attention on him, Favre will be in trouble. Green couldn’t get it together for a run game.

I’m not sure if it’s because of a young line, poor blocking by a tight end/fullback combo or what the deal is. I saw more fire and smiles out of Favre this week, but a couple of plays of frustration—after the play turned out in the Packers’ favor. Special teams has improved since last game—or just looks better because the Saints aren’t as good as the Bears.

As hard as it is to swallow, I think the trade of Samkon Gado was a good move. Noah Herron looks like he will be a good receiver, not sure about his rushing or blocking capabilities, but Green has a sufficient back up in him. Gado wasn’t getting it done on special teams, he got owned on coverage, blocked down the field. I want to see what Koren Robinson can do for the Packers pass game. I certainly hope they didn’t get him for just special teams returns.

September 10, 2006: Bears at Packers

* First Quarter: 0-7 ~ Bears *
* Second Quarter: 0-15 ~ Bears *
* Third Quarter: 0-19 ~ Bears *
* Fourth Quarter: 0-26 ~ Bears *

Packers’ defense did a good job stopping the run, limiting an explosive running duo of Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson to 23 rushes for 103 yards. The secondary looked good on paper with Pro Bowlers CB-Al Harris, CB-Charles Woodson and DB-Marquand Manuel, but this didn’t translate to the field. While they played well, they consistently missed big plays, or the little yardage string together to keep drives going.

The offense wasn’t connecting. The most reliable pass was QB-Brett Favre to WR-Donald Driver. RB-Ahman Green looked good coming back from injury, but the run didn’t dominate the defense. Rookie WR-Greg Jennings dropped most chances he was given, and the tight ends were a non-factor.

For the most part, Favre made better decisions, taking less of a chance when he was put into a corner. But late in the game, Favre went on the field seemingly by himself, throwing the ball to everyone who moved. This resulted in two interceptions. Favre had 170 passing yards, 96 yards to Driver. This loss dealt the Packers and Brett Favre their first shut out since 1991. Echoing the country’s proclamation of the Packers the worst team in the NFL—or second worse if they got some props compared to the Oakland Raiders.

Week 1: My NFL picks 11-5

September 17, 2006: New Orleans Saints at Packers

Packers start fast when DB-Aaron Kampman strips the ball at the 38 from Saints’ QB-Drew Brees. Favre connects to Jennings for a 32 yard touchdown on a third down conversion.

DB-Kabeer Gbaja Biamila recovers a fumbled ball, but the Saints’ defense pressures Favre, and the Packers put three points on the board with a K-Dave Rayner 24 yard field goal.

Packers come up with another turnover when DB-Nick Collins tipped the ball into CB-Al Harris on the 11. It was a bad decision by Brees throwing down the field with no receivers in the vicinity of Harris and Collins.

What looked like a bad snap from Packers’ C-Scott Wells turned into a good play. Wells recognized the neutral zone infringement and snapped the ball. Favre had to chase the ball for 10 yards then throw it away, but it turned out to be a positive play. Driver made a good catch for 5 yards that he turned into a 43 yard run down the field. A couple plays later in the series, Favre couldn’t find anyone to toss the ball to and took a sack, causing a 3rd and 13. Packers score from a 36 yard Rayner field goal.

* First Quarter: 13-0 ~ Packers *

Brees connects with TE-Mark Campbell for 33 yards and RB-Deuce McAllister runs three yards for the touchdown.

After a short drive of modest gains, Brees makes a 26 yard throw to WR-Devery Henderson for the touchdown, Carroll on coverage.

* Second Quarter: 13-14 ~ Saints *

New pick up, former Viking, WR-Koren Robinson returns the kick off to the 30 and scuffled enough after the play to get the referees involved.

Driver smoked CB-Mike McKenzie for 16 yards and S-Roman Harper body slammed Driver after he was down to draw a personal foul. Packers weren’t able to capitalize from this because TE-Bubba Franks drew an unsportsmanlike conduct call on the same play. Favre was intercepted by S-Omar Stoutmire in the end zone.

Brees hit WR-Joe Horn for 57 yards on a LB-Brady Poppinga missed coverage. Kampman sacks Brees, creating another fumble, this time recovered by the Saints. They settle for a 45 yard field goal.

Very little Packer offense and the Saints got the ball back.

LB-Nick Barnett took a poor angle on RB-Reggie Bush and then couldn’t keep up with the number two draft pick, resulting in a 23-yard gain. Poppinga dropped what would have been an interception and K-John Carney made a 47-yard field goal.

Favre hit Driver on a pass, and he smoked pass McKenzie again.

* Third Quarter: 13-20 ~ Saints *

The day’s play created a little more fire in the players, Favre was waving a towel on the sidelines and the defense tried to pump up the crowd more.

A Carroll pass interference call gave the Saints a first down, and Brees connected with WR-Marques Coleston for a 25-yard touchdown.

Green put another nail in the Packers’ would-be-win when he fumbled the ball on the Packers’ 25. McAllister took it in for the winning score.

RB-Noah Herron scored his first NFL touchdown, catching a six yard pass at 4:18 left in the game.

Packers’ defense got the ball back to the offense for another try, but the receivers just couldn’t pull it in with two minutes left on the clock. The Saints get the ball and run down the remaining time on the clock.

* Fourth Quarter: 20-34 ~ Saints *

Commentary

The Packers showed more life in this game, but against a lower level team. The fact that they couldn’t put them away early in the game, or pull the win out in the end is somewhat troublesome.

The receivers played a better game than last week, catching more balls and making some plays. They had nine dropped passes, and Favre’s favorite weapon remains Driver. When the defenses start focusing the majority of their attention on him, Favre will be in trouble.

Green couldn’t get it together for a run game. I’m not sure if it’s because of a young line, poor blocking by a tight end/fullback combo or what the deal is.

I saw more fire and smiles out of Favre this week, but a couple of plays of frustration—after the play turned out in the Packers’ favor.

Special teams has improved since last game—or just looks better because the Saints aren’t as good as the Bears. As hard as it is to swallow, I think the trade of Samkon Gado for ?? was a good move. Noah Herron looks like he will be a good receiver, not sure about his rushing or blocking capabilities, but Green has a sufficient back up in him. Gado wasn’t getting it done on special teams, he got owned on coverage, blocked down the field.

I want to see what Koren Robinson can do for the Packers pass game. I certainly hope they didn’t get him for just special teams returns.

I watched "Friday Night Lights" (the movie) for the first time last week. I don't know if I built it up too much if I don't have the male mind to truly appreciate it--but the movie was a disappointement. Don't get me wrong, it was enjoyable. But it wasn't the gridiron classic worthy to kickoff each September.

When I say I don't have a male mind, I mean that there is something intrincicly different about our wiring. Peter Berg (who I've always been a fan of) said he doesn't understand women, maybe his world just doesn't translate into mine.

I know football. I have as much of an idea of how emotional high school football is as I can have without playing the game. But this movie just didn't touch me. The character development stopped when the football sequences began. The football action was filmed well, but so disjointed and incomplete in its editing.

And I just can't swallow all the liberty Berg took with the story. From changing Boobie's number, playing in Houston to fudging the actual game (they never made it to state championship). How did any of these changes further your story? As far as I can see they didn't, and now I don't trust what you tell me.

Sure Berg, you came up with a few good lines and your casting was awesome (Lucas Black--meow! I'm such a sucker for an athlete). This movie just didn't live up to the likes of Miracle.

This may be the best football movie so far, but there is much room for improvement.

Blurring the Edges

Monday, September 18, 2006

The Packer Post--Installment 46

2006 Season Picks

Sunday, September 10, 2006

Give me Miracle or Rent anyday over Lights shining on the Permian Panthers

Nervous

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