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Preseason game two impressions
2007-08-19 16:09:00 Everyone was concerned about how the first string offense was going to fare after the disappointing performance against Pittsburgh. That Steelers game is now a distant memory after Brett Favre led the offense to an inspiring display versus the Seahawks. The passing game and the running game were clicking, and they didn't have a turnover. It was an A- performance if not a solid A.Could Atari Bigby be the next starting strong safety for the Packers? His two sacks and forced fumble along with a quarterback hurry were the most impressive. But maybe even better was that he didn't give up any long pass plays like he did against Pittsburgh one week earlier.The sack attack continued in much the same way it did against Pittsburgh. A.J. Hawk's manhandling of the fullback picking up the blitz was inspiring. Not to be outdone were Cullen Jenkins, Abdul Hodge, Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, Larry Birdine who also had sacks.Bubba Franks may have played the game of his life. It's too bad it had to come...
Packers thin at outside linebacker
2007-08-17 17:16:00 The good news is that the Green Bay Packers have a pretty good starting trio of linebackers. The bad news is that they'll be severely hurting if one of them gets injured.Middle linebacker isn't so much of a concern. At least there's some depth. They have both second year pro Abdul Hodge and rookie Desmond Bishop backing Nick Barnett up. But that in itself is a conundrum. Can the team afford to keep three middle linebackers?Hodge has been injured and hasn't been the same player ever since training camp opened last year. Meanwhile Bishop has played well in training camp, but is still only a rookie with little experience to rely upon. But the Packers may have no choice to keep them both seeing as they've invested so much into both of them.It's doubtful the Packers can afford to keep more than six linebackers. And if they keep both Hodge and Bishop, that only leaves one roster spot left for an outside linebacker.One has to figure backup weakside linebacker Tracy White will make th...
Bishop steps in for Barnett
2007-08-15 01:06:00 Rookie middle linebacker Desmond Bishop (pictured) is getting his chance with the first string defense."Linebacker Nick Barnett and guard Tony Palmer didn't participate in the morning workout," reports Mike Vandermause of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. "In Barnett's absence, rookie Desmond Bishop lined up with the No. 1 defense."What's most interesting is that Bishop is getting the reps ahead of second year pro Abdul Hodge who was last year's backup middle linebacker.Hodge started off last year's training camp with a bang, but has been anything stellar since then. In one game filling in for Barnett last year against San Francisco, Hodge played poorly and rarely saw the field on defense again.In his defense, Hodge has been hampered by injuries. Although, he has been hampered for nearly too long.It's hard to believe that one of last year's draft choices could be cut, but the it's a possibility the Packers could keep Bishop ahead of Hodge.Photo credit: mysanantonio.comWelcome to ...
Bishop gets elevated
2007-08-08 15:14:00 Rookie linebacker Desmond Bishop has been rewarded for his effort."Rookie Desmond Bishop worked ahead of second-year linebacker Abdul Hodge in the middle with the No. 2 defense," reports Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.Hodge has had an up and down kind of camp. He's been bothered by a nagging injury forcing him to miss some practice time, but he was impressive during Saturday's scrimmage. Hodge was among the hardest hitters on defense out on the field.
Hodge struggles early in camp
2007-07-30 15:01:00 It seems like decades ago that Green Bay Packers middle linebacker Abdul Hodge was wowing fans at training camp, which had people calling for Barnett to be moved outside.After a successful training camp in 2006, Hodge had a largely forgettable season. He was slowed by injuries, and they still haven't subsided."Coach Mike McCarthy indicated on Sunday night Hodge might have to go to a one-practice-a-day schedule until his knee problems subside," reports Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. "Meanwhile, he's getting passed by. Rookie Desmond Bishop worked in place of Hodge on Sunday as the middle linebacker with the No. 2 defense and held up well."Why is Hodge's injury lingering for so long?
Packers linebackers rank as NFL's 13th best
2007-07-25 15:10:00 The Green Bay Packers linebacking corps is ranked as the 13th best unit in the entire NFL by Doug Farrar for Fox Sports.According to Farrar, "Weak-side linebacker A.J. Hawk (pictured) could be the Next Big Thing. In his rookie campaign, the fifth overall draft pick was durable, reliable and productive. He may not have had the numbers of Ryans and Wimbley, and he's not an elite defender against the pass, but he's a great bet to blow up in his second year. Hawk is already a top 20 run-stopper and he led his team in Defeats. Brady Poppinga starts on the strong side, which means that he'll need to bump up a 56 percent Stop Rate against the run (Rank: 80th). Nick Barnett mans the middle for a group that could surprise a lot of people this year, especially with a very solid front four."Farrar uses a statistical analysis of terms such as "defeats" and "stop rate" to rank the units. Definitions of these terms can be found by clicking the above link.Second year man Abdul Hodge and newly d... |
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