Position analysis: Tight ends
2007-08-20 00:34:00 Our position by position analysis continues today with the tight ends. This the third in our nine part series leading up to roster cutdowns.Donald Lee - This the the Green Bay Packers starter by default. He's solid but certainly not spectacular. It's possible that he could thrive in the first starting role of his NFL career. Unfortunately, it's also possible that he could play no better than any other year that has made him a career backup so far. Here's to hoping it's the former.Bubba Franks - The Packers' front office might not admit it, but Saturday's four catch game might have saved Franks's job. After a woeful 2006 season and a poor first preseason game, Franks just may have been on the ropes. He rebounded in a big way. Working in his favor is a history with Brett Favre. Of course, it was Favre that threw the ball to Franks during all his Pro Bowl seasons. If Franks plays like a man possessed, he may just resurrect his career.Zac Alcorn - He's been praised as having th...
Tight end position very unsettled
2007-08-14 17:25:00 Running back may be a position that's a little thin right now for the Green Bay Packers, but that's nothing compared to the uncertainty at tight end.There are more question marks surrounding the tight ends than anywhere else.Bubba Franks has just about received the most biting criticism he's ever gotten when today's Green Bay Press-Gazette questioned whether Franks will even make the Packers' roster.Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette writes, "The issue is whether he'll even be on the Green Bay Packers' 53-man roster when they're preparing for the Sept. 9 regular-season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles."With Donald Lee seemingly entrenched as the starting tight end, Franks didn't help his situation when he dropped an easy pass in Saturday's preseason opener at Pittsburgh. The drop was a drive killer. He whiffed on a third-and-8 play from the 50 that stalled what had been a productive series by the second-string offense."There's been every opportunity in the ...
Tight end update
2007-08-04 17:25:00 The Green Bay Packers aren't quite in as dire a situation as it seemed yesterday at the tight end position.The Packers were down to two completely healthy tight ends yesterday in Donald Lee and Joe Werner. Tory Humphrey is lost for the season while Bubba Franks, Clark Harris and Zac Alcorn sat out at practice on Friday with various injuries.It appears as if they'll have some relief just in time for the team's Family Night scrimmage at Lambeau Field tonight, though."Tight ends Zac Alcorn (foot) and Clark Harris (ankle) both missed practice, but McCarthy said he hoped both would be available for the scrimmage," reports Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.The Packers are prepared to move on with or without them. "We're going to do what we have to do," head coach Mike McCarthy told the Green Bay Press-Gazette. "We need the work. The football team needs the work, so if we go four wideouts all day, we'll go four wideouts all day. We'll get the work in." While it may b...
Packers down to two tight ends
2007-08-03 21:48:00 As of Friday's afternoon practice, the Green Bay Packers are down to two healthy tight ends. And one of them has been playing tight end for all of three days.Tory Humphrey is likely out for the season with a broken leg. Bubba Franks (pictured) is sitting out yet another practice with a scratched eye. And both Zac Alcorn and Clark Harris are sitting out practice today with unspecified injuries. Neither their injuries nor the extent of them is currently known.The only healthy tight ends are Donald Lee and Joe Werner. The Packers will have to rely heavily on Lee with Werner being a former basketball player who just signed a contract with the Packers three days ago as a project.If any out of the group of Franks, Alcorn or Harris are out for any length of time, the Packers may have to sign yet another tight end just to get through training camp.Photo credit: www.cbfans.com
Young tight ends make statement
2007-08-03 15:27:00 A pair of young and inexperienced tight ends did their best to prove their worth at Thursday's evening training camp practice for the Green Bay Packers."Brett Favre found his tight end on two different occasions for long gainers," according to the Green Bay Press-Gazette. "In the team blitz drill, Favre had a nice completion downfield to Zac Alcorn. Later in the seven-on-seven drill, Favre connected with rookie Clark Harris over the middle."If they can gain the trust of Favre, they stand a good chance of making the team.
Word of the day: cramps
2007-07-30 00:15:00 Several Green Bay Packers suffered from cramps at their second training camp practice of the year."DT Justin Harrell doubled over in pain from an apparent cramp in his left calf late in practice," reports Tom Pelissero of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. "He briefly received attention from trainers before wrapping a towel around the leg. He did not participate in the final team period and was slimping slightly afterward, but it did not appear to be anything more serious than a cramp."The cramps among other players forced the Packers to end practice early."With Bubba Franks sitting out and Clark Harris and Zac Alcorn battling cramps, the Packers finished practice with only one TE -- Donald Lee," writes Pelissero.The Packers cut practice 12 reps short due to the shortage at tight end.Cramps definitely forced head coach Mike McCarthy's hand on Sunday morning, but the first two practices were cut short despite McCarthy's previous prediction that training camp practices would probably be l...
A closer look at the depth chart
2007-07-29 17:24:00 The depth chart recently released by the Green Bay Packers gives some insight into the players fans should be keeping an eye on as training camp progresses.People put a lot of attention on the starting lineup, but the second and third string is where attention needs to be focused. It is these players that will round out the final roster of 53. This is where head coach Mike McCarthy and Ted Thompson will have tough choices in early September whether to keep or release certain players.A look at the depth chart located on the Packers' official website and also released to reporters on Friday reveals a couple things.Getting a lot of attention in the mainstream media is first round draft choice Justin Harrell already being listed with the first string ahead of Corey Williams despite a solid season by Williams in 2006 and an injury plagued season for Harrel last year as well.Both players barring the unforseen will undoubtedly make the Packers' roster. And the depth chart may not be far ...
Alcorn gets receives praise
2007-07-28 16:48:00 Who has the best hands on the Green Bay Packers? Donald Driver? Not according to head coach Mike McCarthy at yesterday's press conference.Tom Pelissero of the Green Bay Press-Gazette reports, "Tight end Zac Alcorn 'has the best hands on the team,' and the team will continue to experiment with a number of players at that position in different offensive sets."There will be plenty of competition at tight end. Donald Lee has been listed as the starter on the team's official depth chart to start the season. And Bubba Franks might have slipped, but at least he has a ton of experience."McCarthy said Franks reported to camp in better shape than he was a year ago and expected him to compete for the starting job," writes Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "But others such as Tory Humphrey and Zac Alcorn will be trying to take his job."
Mind your manners
2007-06-01 13:23:00 A pair of melees occurred during the Green Bay Packer OTA practices yesterday."Tempers flared twice Thursday, the first time with guard Allen Barbre getting into a scrum with defensive tackle Daniel Muir and once again shortly thereafter when tight end Zac Alcorn took exception to the defense being played by end Jason Hunter after a reception," reports Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. |
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