My all-time 53 man Packers team
Acme Packing Company — ... Clifton TE- Paul Coffman, Ron Kramer WR- Don Hutson, James Lofton, Sterling Sharpe, Donald Driver, Antonio Freeman, Max McGee QB- Brett Favre, Bart Starr, Lynn Dickey FB- Jim Taylor, Clarke Hinkle RB- Paul Hornung, Tony Canadeo, Ahman Green, Johnny "Blood" McNally P- Max McGee (WR) DT- Henry Jordan, Dave Hanner, Gilbert Brown, Robert Brown(1966-1973) DE- Reggie White, Willie Davis, Lionel Aldridge, Ezra Johnson MLB- Ray Nitschke, Nick Barnett, Jim Carter LB- Dave Robinson, John Anderson, Tim Harris, ...

Defensive Coordinators Rankings: Bob Babich
Windy City Gridiron — ... joining the team last year, the blitz package is a thing of the past, though it could return if the Williams Wall misses significant time. 5. Dom Capers, Packers. He is a diehard believer in the 3-4 defense. We wonder whether Green Bay has the pieces to make the change in '09. Capers knows the scheme inside and out and has been through the transition before. He can guide players like Aaron Kampman, A.J. Hawk and Nick Barnett through struggles Thoughts?

Position Analysis: Linebackers
Acme Packing Company — ... In honor of the signing of 7th round draft choice OLB Brad Jones, it seemed a good time to look ahead at the linebackers. And this post does have another boring post title. I do try and spice up the post title on Twitter. This group was the biggest disappointment last season. There was the promise that LB A.J. Hawk and LB Nick Barnett would make a bigger impact last season, but instead each had his worst season as a pro. Now the Godfather, Dom Capers, is in town. He's brought with him the ...

Players Report; B.J. Raji is Still Unsigned, Nick Barnett Still Out
Acme Packing Company — ... is probably waiting for Raji to sign. Who's going to blink first? I would think there have been enough signings by now to determine what Raji should receive. Although normally I would like to see draft picks signed before training camp, I'm not worried in this case. As long as Raji is in shape, he shouldn't need that much time to learn the nose tackle/defensive end positions. Although Mike McCarthy believes he needs time to learn how to play at defensive end. LB Nick Barnett and LB Brad Jones both failed their physicals. ...

First Day of Training Camp for the Green Bay Packers
Acme Packing Company — ... When I read about training camp, I'm just glad no one gets hurt: * Best news of the day for the Packers: Near-perfect attendance, and no new injuries. NT B.J. Raji was the only player absent -- see this post for more on that -- and only LBs Nick Barnett (knee) and Brad Jones (back) did not participate. Unlike in Minnesota where they got off to a rough start when QB Tarvaris Jackson has ...

Packers Sign LB Stryker Sulak
Acme Packing Company — ... wanted? I don't think Sulak has any chance at making the team, absent an outstanding showing during the preseason games. But the Packers are a little thin at linebacker at the moment. LB Nick Barnett is still being held out as he recovers from knee surgery. Rookie 7th round pick LB ...

Open Thread: Cleveland at Green Bay
Acme Packing Company — ... taking bets on the game. That's basically a push line, the home team always gets 3 points, so the Packers aren't truly favored.  I'm not really sure which TV stations are broadcasting the game state wide, but it's probably the same ones that were planning to broadcast the Family Night Scrimmage. If you're outside the state, set the DVR to record the replay on the NFL Network at 1 a.m. EST.  I've got no idea about the injury report. LB Nick Barnett, rookie 7th round LB Brad Jones and rookie 1st round DT ...

Monday Packers Practice: Barnett, Raji, Hawk, and Harrell
Acme Packing Company — ... No one is more relieved that LB Nick Barnett is back on the practice field then the man himself. From his Twitter: And shot out to the fans who cheered me out today thanksq a lot.. Even the hater who sad Nick you better be worried about your spot lol... I just got done watching the film I must say I am really proud of myself.. I know it's the first day but man I put in a lot of work Also it was the first training camp practice for DT B.J. ...

So How Good Are The Packers, Really?
Acme Packing Company — ... will get healthy, or how well Nick Barnett will recover from surgery.  But the biggest question is already being answered. ...

Monday Practice: Barnett Returns, Poppinga Starts, and the Offensive Line Is Settled
Acme Packing Company — ... schedule this week for the Green Bay Packers was one on Monday night, then Tuesday morning, Wednesday morning, closed to the public on Thursday, and the preseason game at Arizona on Friday night. During the Monday night practice, according to Greg Bedard, there were no pads, plenty of jogthroughs, and it looked "like the lamest practice in terms of action this camp."  The biggest practice news was that LB Nick Barnett has been cleared for contact. Although there wasn't ...

Taking a Crack at the Fifty-Three Man Roster
Acme Packing Company — ... four man front, Kampman and Thompson can be considered as d-linemen, as they'll be playing with a hand on the ground as ends. So think of it as 5 +.5 +.5. Of the rookies cut, at least one of them is bound to practice squad-ed, although the Packers may look for discards from other teams. Really, the only one of them I've heard positive things about has been Talley, a nicely sized DE out of Delaware. Linebackers Who they'll keep: Aaron Kampman, Nick Barnett, AJ Hawk, Brady Poppinga, Brandon Chillar, ...

Wednesday Practice: Injuries and The Linebackers Continue To Impress
Acme Packing Company — ... I'm sure Thursday is a travel day to Arizona for Friday's game against the Cardinals. Mike McCarthy said QB Matt Flynn, LB Clay Matthews, and LB Nick Barnett are doubtful for the game, which in preseason means they're out. A few others won't play either, from Tom Pelissero: That's in addition to the list of players who didn't suit up once this week and won't play against the Cardinals: CB Pat Lee (back), S Aaron Rouse (hamstring), DE ...

Final Week of Training Camp; Rosters Cut Down To 75 On Tuesday
Acme Packing Company — ... Harris, but they were probably talking about players on the bubble. JaRon Harris hasn't been awful, but he did have a bad deflection against Cleveland. There are a bunch of good receivers in camp, so one mistake might be one too many. It's probably the end of preseason play for CB Al Harris, CB Charles Woodson, and definitely over for WR Greg Jennings. But the game against Tennessee will be the first game for LB Clay Matthews and LB Nick Barnett. From Mike McCarthy:  ...

Final Preseason Practice: Injuries, Barnett and Matthews, and Final Preseason Roster Battles
Acme Packing Company — ... and LB Nick Barnett. Although they've missed the first three preseason games, depending on how they both play at Tennessee, it's possible they could both start Week 1. Back in 2006, LB ...

Preseason Preview: Green Bay Packers at Tennessee
Acme Packing Company — ... happy with their wide receivers if they think Matt Jones is the answer to any question, except "Name a 1st round bust of the Jaguars?" As far as the Packers are concerned, here's what to watch for: Don't blink! You might miss the 1st team offense. QB Aaron Rodgers was on the field for exactly one play in their 2008 preseason game against Tennessee, a 68 yard TD strike to WR Greg Jennings. Can LB Nick Barnett and LB Clay Matthews prove they deserve to start? They've ...

The Season Is Upon Us!
Acme Packing Company — ... penetrate just one or two yards in the backfield, they can short-circuit any rushing attempts the Bears throw at us.  When Forte gets to the linebackers, the only real concern is Nick Barnett's ability to make tackles after the long rehab from an ACL tear.  ...

Analysis: Green Bay Packers defeat Bears 21-15
Acme Packing Company — ... for a breakout performance from TE Greg Olsen, it sure didn't happen in this game. This was his only catch. Hardly his worst game against the Packers, he had a two fumble disaster a couple seasons ago, but he either kills the Packers or sucks. He's just inconsistent. (6:34) 6-J.Cutler pass short left to 37-J.McKie to GB 15 for 8 yards (31-A.Harris). I couldn't figure out the Packers linebacker rotation. LBs A.J. Hawk, Nick Barnett, and Brandon Chillar all played inside, but it seemed like ...

Chapter 2, Game 3 - vs. Green Bay Packers (Sept. 27th)
Turf Show Times — ... in yards per game.  With so many truncated drives, the Rams aren't getting the ball to Steven Jackson nearly enough.  One might argue that his explosiveness in terms of YPC might drop if he were used more, but I'd be willing to see his yards per drop if his total yards jumped.  Defensive fatigue is a statistic that isn't measured but has a huge impact.   Defensively, Green Bay boasts an enviable 3-4 LB group anchored by the trio of ILBs A.J. Hawk & Nick Barnett, and LOLB Aaron Kampman.  It'll be a great matchup ...

Recap: Green Bay Packers Defeat Rams 36-17
Acme Packing Company — ... one-handed catch by WR Donald Driver, his other hand was being held by the defender. (9:55) 30-J.Kuhn up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. It was like the Rams completely ignored FB John Kuhn on the play, although he had a wide open running lane due to a great block by Colledge.  (9:42) 39-S.Jackson right end to SL 22 for no gain (56-N.Barnett). LB Nick Barnett is still the best of the inside linebackers. LB A.J. ...

Analysis: More on the Green Bay Packers Win Over the Rams
Acme Packing Company — ... , LB Brandon Chillar, and LB Nick Barnett had been playing almost equal time in the first two games, but all three were on the field at the same time for most of the first half. The only reason Barnett came out is that he's still restricted to a 40 play/game limit, and LB ...

The Fight For First Place: Round One
Acme Packing Company — ... frequently than you'd think). Green Bay extended the consecutive streak of 100+ yard outings from opposing running backs when Steven Jackson gained 117 on 27 attempts.  Jackson's performance was more impressive than Cedric Benson's before him because a) Jackson managed to break off some big gains (including a 20-yarder), b) he had weaker blocking than Cincinnati has, and c) the linebackers played well on Sunday.  A.J. Hawk, Brandon Chillar, and Nick Barnett combined for 19 tackles and looked much better (but far from ...

A Somewhat Depressing Blowout
Acme Packing Company — ... designed to do.  It's fitting that Atari Bigby got the final interception in the end zone to seal the shutout, considering his absence forced the defense into a more conservative (read: more crappy) approach. Clay Matthews.  I know I already talked about how well the defense played as a whole, especially against Detroit's passing game.  And of course Matthews wasn't the only one responsible, as Aaron Kampman, Al Harris, Nick Barnett, and Michael Montgomery all came away with ...

Drive-By-Drive Breakdown of Packers' 26-0 Win Over Lions
Pride Of Detroit — ... The Lions rode that momentum and moved the ball down the field thanks in part to a 20-yard run by Kevin Smith and a face mask penalty by Nick Barnett, which came on a sack.  After John Standeford picked up a first down on a 5-yard pass a couple plays later, the Lions had 1st and goal at the 9.  Following an incompletion and a run by Kevin Smith that went for a loss, Stanton threw the ball into the end zone on 3rd and goal and was picked off by ...

More On The Shutout Against The Lions
Acme Packing Company — ... and turned in a performance worthy of a player taken 26th overall in the draft. Yes! Every time I saw LB Brady Poppinga playing at right OLB I wondered why. I didn't notice him on Sunday, except on special teams, but I wasn't exactly taking a roster count on every play either. Big thanks to Rob Demovsky for confirming it. Not that I think Matthews was personally responsible for the shutout, but he's clearly outplayed Poppinga. Also ILB Nick Barnett played on every defensive snap, to the detriment ...

A Most Delicious Matchup
Acme Packing Company — ... Green Bay has surprisingly turned into a surprisingly stout run defense over the course of the season.  They're ranked 16th against the run, but the difference between 10th ranked Tennessee and 20th ranked New England is less than 20 yards. Nick Barnett seems to have recovered fully from his ACL injury, ...

Rant: What Is The Point of NFL Fines?
Acme Packing Company — ... was fined $5,000 for an illegal blindside block to the head and neck area. Nick Barnett was fined $7,500 for a facemask. ...

That's More Like It
Acme Packing Company — ... and Nick Barnett registered seven and six tackles respectively, and generally looked like they belonged on the field.  ...

The Fight For First Place: Round Two
Acme Packing Company — ... five weeks.  Green Bay gets a major boost to its rush defense compared to the week 4 version of the team now that Atari Bigby is healthy and playing.  The defensive line has also been playing well; B.J. Raji and Cullen Jenkins have managed to get consistent penetration and break up plays as they develop.  The linebackers, most notably A.J. Hawk, have been streaky, but I attribute that more to having a surplus of contributors (Hawk, Nick Barnett, Brandon Chillar, Aaron Kampman, and Clay ...

Midseason Report: the Cleveland Browns' Offense
Dawgs By Nature — ... After hesitating, DA fires a dangerous pass almost right to LB Nick Barnett.  He was lucky this wasn't a pick 6. ...

Midseason Report: the Cleveland Browns' Offense (Part II)
Dawgs By Nature — ... The motion not only reveals something about the coverage, it also causes confusion between LB Nick Barnett and S ...

Week 9 Preview: Green Bay Packers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Buc 'Em — ... mans the opposite side OLB.   Matthews has already made impact plays as a rookie, stripping Peterson and returning it for a TD in the Pack's first matchup with Minny.  Headhunters AJ Hawk and Nick Barnett man the middle of the line.  All in all, this front 7 is big, physical, and very capable of stopping the run, but is susceptible in the passing game.  There are opportunities for Winslow and Stevens to take advantage of some one-one-one matchups in man coverage on shorter routes.  ...

The Run Defense
Acme Packing Company — ... to run up the middle. Dom Capers' defense is designed to force the runner outside, where the RB can get pinned in by the sideline and CB or OLB can make the tackle. There are a lot more defensive bodies in the middle this season, with three defensive tackles (DE Johnny Jolly, NT Ryan Pickett, and DE Cullen Jenkins) usually starting on the line bunched up inside the offensive tackles. Plus the extra inside linebacker, usually Brandon Chillar lined up next to Nick Barnett.  It was quite a contrast to watch the ...

Status of The Packers Post Week 8
Acme Packing Company — ... has been seemingly lost in pass coverage and has been less effective in rushing the passer without his hand in the ground, these factors alone made him a commodity prior to the trade deadline. The Houdini act that A.J Hawk is playing with Packers fans is really puzzling as he will have games where he has 9 tackles then a week later he will only play 9 snaps. The spotty play of A.J Hawk has opened the way for a nice rotation at the inside linebacker position involving Nick Barnett, Hawk, ...

Slowing it Down 8
Buc 'Em — ... are in a 3-3-5 look. It's an obvious passing down (3rd and 10) so that makes sense. Nick Barnett shows blitz. They are in man coverage with S help over top. However, I think ...

49ers-Packers Wednesday Injury Report and coordinators' transcript
Niners Nation — ... "I think the No. 1 objective is to make sure you take care of the football. They are plus-13 in the giveaway/takeaway ratio. They lead the NFL in takeaways and turnovers. So, the No. 1 thing you have to do is make sure you take care of the football, and you've got to account for [CB] Charles Woodson as a secondary blitzer, along with [LB] Nick Barnett. They do a lot of different things off of the stem of their 34 defense, which I think is where they're based. They'll game plan specific teams, so we'll have to see what their defensive plan will be for us." ...