GREEN BAY (1-1) AT INDIANAPOLIS (0-2)
Friday, Aug. 26 Lucas Oil Stadium 7 p.m. CDT
PACKERS TRAVEL TO INDY FOR NATIONALLY TELEVISED GAME
Green Bay heads to Indianapolis to take on the Colts this Friday night at Lucas Oil Stadium in a nationally televised contest on CBS.This is the second straight season that the Packers and Colts have squared off on Aug. 26 in front of a national audience for the third preseason contest, when teams take a longer look at their starters.
In the 2010 preseason meeting at Lambeau Field, the
Packers topped the then-defending AFC champion Colts, 59-24. The 59 points posted by Green Bay were the most by a Packers team in the pre-season since they recorded a 75-0 shutout of the Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Crush on Sept. 5, 1938, in Ironwood, Mich. It was also the most points scored by the Packers against any NFL opponent in a game (preseason, regular season or postseason), topping the mark set on Oct. 7, 1945, in a 57-21 win vs. Detroit.
Green Bay’s 59-point total was also the most by any team in a preseason game since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970. Of the Packers’ three highest point totals in the preseason since 1979, all have come during Mike McCarthy’s head-coaching tenure. In 2009, Green Bay won at Arizona, 44-37, and in 2007, the Packers topped Seattle, 48-13.
This will be the ninth preseason meeting between the two teams, with the Colts holding a 5-3 advantage in the all-time series.
The teams have not played in Indianapolis during the preseason since an Aug. 24, 1996, contest that the Colts won, 30-6. Green Bay’s last visit to Indianapolis during the regular season was on Sept. 26, 2004, a 45-31 Colts victory.
For the Packers, this will be their first visit to Lucas Oil Stadium, which opened in 2008. The stadium is also the site of Super Bowl XLVI on Feb. 5, 2012.
Over the past 19 preseasons, the Packers have appeared on national television at least once during 18 of those years. The lone season that Green Bay did not appear in front of a national audience over that span was in 2009.
The Packers will wrap up their preseason slate next Thursday when they host the Kansas City Chiefs at Lambeau Field, while the Colts travel to Cincinnati next Thursday to take on the Bengals in their preseason finale.
WITH THE CALL
The game will air to a national audience on CBS. Play-by-play man Ian
Eagle and color analyst Phil Simms will have the call from the
broad-cast booth with Sam Ryan reporting from the sidelines.
In Wisconsin, CBS affiliates around the state, including WFRV (Ch. 5) in Green Bay and WDJT (Ch. 58) in Milwaukee, will carry the Friday night contest.
This will be the Packers’ first appearance on CBS during the preseason since an Aug. 15, 2003, contest at the Cleveland Browns, a 38-31 Green Bay victory.
Green Bay will make two appearances on CBS during the regular season, with home contests against Denver (Oct. 2) and Oakland (Dec. 11). Milwaukee’s WTMJ (620 AM), airing Green Bay games since 1929,
heads up the 52-station Packers Radio Network, with Wayne Larrivee (play-by-play) and two-time Packers Pro Bowler Larry McCarren (color) calling the action. The duo enters its 13th season of broadcasts together across the Packers Radio Network, which covers 43 markets in five states.
A HISTORY OF SUCCESS
Friday night’s matchup between the Packers and Colts will feature two of the most successful franchises in the league since the advent of free agency in 1993.
Green Bay and Indianapolis have made the most playoff playoff appear-ances in the league since ’93, with 13 each over that span. The fran-chises have combined for five Super Bowl appearances and three world titles during that period.
The Packers rank No. 3 in the NFL since ’93 with a .622 winning percent-age (179-109-0) during the regular season, with the Colts checking in at No. 4 with a .604 winning percentage (174-114-0) over that span. New England (.642) and Pittsburgh (.630) are the only teams with a higher winning percentage since 1993.
Since ’93, the Packers have won 10 or more games 11 times and captured seven division crowns, while the Colts have also posted 11 seasons with 10-plus wins (current streak of nine straight) and eight division titles.
Including playoffs, Green Bay’s 25 wins over the past two seasons rank No. 3 in the NFL behind only New Orleans (27) and Indianapolis (26). The Packers own the best home mark in the NFC since Week 15 of 2006
at 26-8 (.765), while the Colts rank No. 2 in the AFC at home over that span with a 27-7 record (.794), trailing only New England (30-3, .909).
VOL. XIII; NO. 6 GREEN BAY, AUG. 22, 2011 PRESEASON WEEK 3
Packers Public Relations Lambeau Field Atrium 1265 Lombardi Avenue Green Bay, WI 54304 920/569-7500 920/569-7201 faxJason Wahlers, Aaron Popkey, Sarah Quick, Tom Fanning, Jonathan Butnick
PRESEASON
Date Opponent Time TV
Sat., Aug. 13 at Cleveland Browns . . . L, 17-27 (57,077) Fri., Aug. 19 ARIZONA CARDINALS (Gold Pkg.) . . .W, 28-20 (67,688)
(Midwest Shrine Game)
Fri., Aug. 26 at Indianapolis Colts . . . 7 p.m. CBS Thu., Sept. 1 KANSAS CITY CHIEFS . . . 7 p.m. state
(Bishop’s Charities Game)
REGULAR SEASON
Date Opponent Time TV
Thu., Sept. 8 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS . . . 7:30 p.m. NBC Sun., Sept. 18 at Carolina Panthers . . . 12 noon FOX Sun., Sept. 25 at Chicago Bears . . . 3:15 p.m. FOX Sun., Oct. 2 DENVER BRONCOS (Gold Pkg.) . . . 3:15 p.m. CBS Sun., Oct. 9 at Atlanta Falcons . . . 7:20 p.m. NBC Sun., Oct. 16 ST. LOUIS RAMS . . . 12 noon FOX Sun., Oct. 23 at Minnesota Vikings . . . 3:15 p.m. FOX Sun., Oct. 30 Open Date . . . . Sun., Nov. 6 at San Diego Chargers. . . 3:15 p.m. FOX Mon., Nov. 14 MINNESOTA VIKINGS . . . 7:30 p.m. ESPN Sun., Nov. 20 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (Gold Pkg.) . .*12 noon FOX Thu., Nov. 24 at Detroit Lions . . . 11:30 a.m. FOX Sun., Dec. 4 at New York Giants . . . *3:15 p.m. FOX Sun., Dec. 11 OAKLAND RAIDERS . . . *12 noon CBS Sun., Dec. 18 at Kansas City Chiefs. . . *12 noon FOX Sun., Dec. 25 CHICAGO BEARS. . . 7:20 p.m. NBC Sun., Jan. 1 DETROIT LIONS . . . *12 noon FOX
*—Start time and broadcast may shift due to NFL flexible scheduling
NFL POSTSEASON DATES
Jan. 7-8 ... AFC and NFC Wild Card Playoffs Jan. 14-15 ...AFC and NFC Divisional Playoffs Jan. 22 ... AFC and NFC Championship Games Jan. 29 ... AFC-NFC Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium, Honolulu Feb. 5 ...Super Bowl XLVI at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana
PACKERS TOP CARDINALS IN HOME PRESEASON OPENER
Green Bay opened their home preseason slate with a 28-20 victory over Arizona in the 62nd annual Upper Midwest Shrine Game.QB Aaron Rodgers and the first-team offense were on the field for three series, and for the second straight week, posted a touchdown drive working out of the no-huddle offense. Rodgers connected on all five of his attempts on the series for 62 yards, highlighted by a 17-yard com-pletion to TE Jermichael Finley and a 20-yard scoring strike to WR
Greg Jennings. It was Rodgers’ second TD pass of the preseason,
with Jennings on the receiving end of both of them. RB Ryan Grant had two carries for 16 yards on the TD drive.
Returning to the field for the first time since suffering a knee injury in Week 5 last season at Washington, Finley caught four passes for 33 yards (8.3 avg.) on the night.
Backup QB Matt Flynn posted a perfect 158.3 passer rating by connecting on 5-of-6 attempts for 141 yards and a TD. Backed up deep in Green Bay territory early in the fourth quarter, Flynn found WR Chastin West down the right side-line near the Green Bay 25 and the first-year wideout outran the Cardinals defense for a 97-yard TD. West finished the night with five catches for 134 yards (26.8 avg.) and the score.
No. 3 QB Graham Harrell got into the act as well, completing 7-of-9 passes for 81 yards and a TD. Harrell found rookie WR Kerry Taylor on a 6-yard TD pass with just over five minutes remaining to put Green Bay up 28-20.
Rookie RB Alex Green made his preseason debut on Friday night and picked up 25 yards on a screen pass late in the first half down to the Arizona 2. Two plays later, Green took it in for the 2-yard TD.
Rookie CB Brandian Ross helped seal the win for Green Bay when he picked off a Richard Bartel pass in the end zone with just over four minutes remaining and the Packers protecting an eight-point lead. DE Ryan Pickett dropped QB Kevin Kolb for a 12-yard sack, and P
Tim Masthay delivered another strong effort with a 46.6-yard average
and a 42.2-yard net average on five punts, placing two of them inside the 20.
The injuries reported by Head Coach Mike McCarthy following the game were DE C.J. Wilson (concussion testing) and WR Randall
Cobb (knee).
WR Shaky Smithson (shoulder), WR Brett Swain (hamstring), S/ CB Brandon Underwood (knee), CB Davon House (hamstring), S
Anthony Levine (concussion), TE Spencer Havner (hamstring),
RB James Starks (ankle), LB Clay Matthews (hamstring), G
Adrian Battles (Achilles), T Chris Campbell (knee), DE Lawrence Guy (concussion) and DE Mike Neal (knee) did not dress.
MIKE McCARTHY - ARIZONA POST-GAME EXCERPTS
(Do you think you’ve got a little something with that
no-huddle?)
“I feel that we’ve always done a good job with the no-huddle. It’s good to get quality work, game-time work. I think it’s a reflection of the maturity of our offense, particularly Aaron Rodgers. Aaron does an excellent job handling the calls at the line of the scrimmage. They’re 2-for-2. I’m very pleased with the no-huddle so far.”
(What did you think of Alex Green’s performance?)
“Jumped out at me on the screen. I really don’t get a chance to sit there and watch individuals play, particularly on offense because I’m calling
the football game. But he looked excellent on the screen play. I’m excited to see the film, see what he did on the special teams because we had him on special teams there in the first quarter. It’s great to have him back. It looks like he is moving very well from his quad strain. I thought he made a good first impression.”
(The fact that the No. 1 offense turned the switch on what
would have been their last series of the game, is there something in that that would suggest that they responded at the right time?)
“Well, it’s preseason football. I’m not trying to dismiss it as something less or something not as important, but I thought the team came out with a lot of urgency tonight compared to last week. That was the emphasis. It was great to be home in front of our crowd. I didn’t see any-body white knuckling because it was their last series because technically
they didn’t know it was their last series. They come out when the coaches tell them to go out. They have a general idea of how many plays they may play, but based on where we were at that time, I think it was 14-16 plays going into that third series, it was close to the amount of work I wanted to get with that first offense. It wasn’t like it was their last drive so we treated it like the two-minute drill. That wasn’t the case.”
(Are you pleased where you are,
two games into the preseason?)
“I really don’t think…I have nothing to com-pare it to. This is a different training camp for everybody in the league. Would I like to be further down the road in some areas? Absolutely. But we are here for a reason. So I think it’s important to stay in tune with the reality of what your team looks like, the reality of what certain phases of your team looks like, and the reality of the separation in the level of experience between some of your players. And we’ll continue to push this week to get it closer together. We’re happy we won the game. That was the objective, but we have a lot of work to do and this is the way we’ll approach it.”
COMING UP...
The Packers have shifted into their regular-season schedule for the remainder of training camp after holding the the last of their 11 night practices on Aug. 11 at Ray Nitschke Field.
The team will practice three times this week, with the padded sessions on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday all beginning at 11:15 a.m. On Thursday, the Packers will travel to Indianapolis for Friday night's game against the Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
The team will take Saturday off before returning to the practice field on Sunday at 11:15 a.m. The Packers will practice next Monday at 11:15 a.m. and then will hold the final session open to the public on Tuesday morning at 11 a.m.
SAVE THE DATE
Important dates to remember (all times CDT):
Friday, Aug. 26 – Preseason game at Indianapolis Colts, 7 p.m., Lucas Oil Stadium
Tuesday, Aug. 30 – Final practice open to public, 11 a.m., Nitschke Field; NFL-mandated roster reduction, to 80 players
Thursday, Sept. 1 – Preseason game vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 7 p.m., Lambeau Field
Saturday, Sept. 3 – NFL-mandated roster reduction, to 53 players
Thursday, Sept. 8 – Regular-season opener vs. New Orleans Saints,
7:30 p.m., Lambeau Field
THE DOPE ON
THIS WEEK’S
OPPONENT:
Packers vs. Indianapolis Colts:All-time regular season: 20-20-1 All-time, postseason: 1-0All-time, in Green Bay: 7-3-0
(incl. 1965 Western Conf. Championship)
All-time, preseason: 3-5-0
Streaks: The two teams have split their last six regular-season
meetings, dating back to 1988.
Last meeting, regular season:
Oct. 19, 2008, at Lambeau Field; Packers won, 34-14
Last meeting, preseason:
Aug. 26, 2010, at Lambeau Field; Packers won, 59-24
COACHES CAPSULES
Mike McCarthy: 53-34-0, .582, (incl. 5-2 postseason); 6th NFL season Jim Caldwell: 26-10-0, .842 (incl. 2-2 postseason); 3rd NFL season Head to Head: Never met
vs. Opponent: McCarthy 1-0 vs. Colts; Caldwell 0-0 vs. Packers MIKE McCARTHY…Is in sixth year as the Packers’ 14th head coach.
Having led Green Bay to the playoffs three of his five seasons in Green Bay, he joined Vince Lombardi and Mike Holmgren as the only coaches to guide the Packers to a Super Bowl title with a win over Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XLV.
His .714 winning percentage (5-2) in the postseason is tied for first among active NFL head coaches, matching the mark of New England’s Bill Belichick (15-6) and Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin (5-2).
One of only two coaches, along with New Orleans’ Sean Payton, to have his offense ranked in the top 10 in total yardage each of the last five seasons.
Was named Packers head coach on Jan. 12, 2006, his first head-coaching job after 13 years as an NFL assistant.
Honored as the 2007 Motorola NFL Coach of the Year and NFL Alumni Coach of the Year.
Became the first Packers coach since Lombardi to lead the team to a championship game in his second season.
JIM CALDWELL…Is in third year as the Colts’ 19th head coach.
Led the team to a 14-2 record, two playoff wins, and a Super Bowl appearance in his first season.
Became the only rookie head coach in NFL history to win his first 14 games, the second to post 14 regular-season wins overall (George Seifert, 1989), and the fifth to reach the Super Bowl.
Previously served as the Colts’ QB coach (2002-04) and as the assis-tant (2005-07) and associate head coach (2008) under Tony Dungy. Also served as QB coach at Tampa Bay (2001), head coach at Wake
Forest University (1993-2000) and as an assistant coach at six other colleges, beginning in 1977 at his alma mater, Iowa, where he was a four-year starter at defensive back.
THE PACKERS-COLTS SERIES
The rivalry dates back to 1953, when the Colts were in Baltimore and played the Packers twice per season from 1953-1966.
The most memorable game in that stretch came in the 1965 Western Conference Championship at Lambeau Field, won by the Packers 13-10 in overtime, the first sudden-death game in franchise history. Don Chandler’s disputed FG at the end of regulation tied the game and led the NFL to raise the uprights the following year.
The two clubs have met just four times in the last 18 years but have staged two shootouts, both in Indianapolis, in that time. On Nov. 16, 1997, the Colts prevailed 41-38 on a FG at the end of regulation, hand-ing the Packers their last loss that season until Super Bowl XXXII, vs. Denver. Then on Sept. 26, 2004, the Colts prevailed again, 45-31, as Brett Favre and Peyton Manning combined for 753 passing yards and nine TDs.
NOTABLE CONNECTIONS
Packers P Tim Masthay entered the NFL with the Colts as a non-drafted free agent in 2009 and spent part of ’09 training camp with Indianapolis… Masthay was a teammate of Colts TE Jacob Tamme and QB Mike Hartline at Kentucky…Packers DE Mike Neal was born in Gary, Ind., and attended high school in Merrillville, Ind. …Colts WR Taj Smith entered the NFL with the Packers in 2008 as a non-drafted free agent and spent train-ing camp that summer with Green Bay…Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin was on the staff at Iowa when Colts TE Dallas Clark played for the Hawkeyes...Colts OL coach Pete Metzelaars and QB coach Frank Reich played for Carolina in ’95 when Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers was in his first season as head coach there...Packers safe-ties coach Darren Perry played at Penn State when Colts head coach Jim Caldwell and special teams coach Ray Rychelski were on the staff there… Colts DL coach John Teerlinck was Packers OLB coach Kevin Greene’s position coach with the Rams in ’91...Colts linebackers coach Mike Murphy was Packers assistant head coach/inside LBs Winston Moss’ position coach when he played LB for Seattle…Colts WR David Gilreath played at the University of Wisconsin…The two teams feature several players who were college teammates, including Colts QB Peyton Manning and Packers T Chad Clifton (Tennessee), Colts RB Joseph Addai and DT Drake Nevis and Packers QB Matt Flynn and FB Quinn Johnson (LSU), Colts WR Anthony Gonzalez and Packers LB A.J. Hawk (Ohio State), Colts DE Jamaal Anderson and Packers LS Brett Goode (Arkansas), Colts G Josh Beekman and T Anthony Castonzo and Packers NT B.J. Raji (Boston College)...Colts DE John Chick and Packers WR Diondre Borel (Utah State), Colts WR Austin Collie and Packers LB Vic So’oto (BYU), Hartline and Packers WR Randall Cobb (Kentucky)…Colts DE Jerry Hughes, OL Jake Kirkpatrick and OT Michael Toudouze and Packers G/T Marshall Newhouse…Colts RB Javarris James and Packers CB Sam Shields (Miami)…Colts T Jeff Linkenbach and DT Ricardo Matthews and Packers CB Brandon Underwood (Cincinnati), Colts TE Michael Matthews and LB Philip Wheeler and Packers S Morgan Burnett (Georgia Tech), Colts DT Fili Moala and DB Kevin Thomas and Packers LB Clay Matthews (USC), Colts DB Mike Newton and G Jamey Richard and Packers RB James Starks (Buffalo), Colts DB Jerraud Powers and Packers CB Pat Lee (Auburn), Colts LB Pat Angerer and Packers T Bryan Bulaga (Iowa), and Colts QB Curtis Painter and DB Brandon King and Neal (Purdue).
LAST MEETING, REGULAR SEASON
Oct. 19, 2008, at Lambeau Field; Packers won, 34-14.
Safeties Nick Collins (62 yards) and Aaron Rouse (99 yards) both ran back interceptions for long touchdowns as Green Bay won going away. QB Aaron Rodgers was an efficient 21-of-28 for 186 yards and a TD, a 12-yarder to TE Donald Lee early in the second quarter that gave the Packers the lead for good.
RB Ryan Grant carried the ball 31 times for 105 yards and a TD. Colts QB Peyton Manning was 21-of-42 for 229 yards and the two
INTs. RB Dominic Rhodes rushed for 73 yards and two TDs.
LAST MEETING, PRESEASON
Aug. 26, 2010, at Lambeau Field; Packers won, 59-24.
The Packers topped the defending AFC champions, 59-24, with the point total the highest posted by a Green Bay team in the preseason since a 75-0 win over the Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Crush on Sept. 5, 1938, in Ironwood, Mich.
QB Aaron Rodgers led the No. 1 offense on three TD drives in just a half of work, connecting on 21-of-29 passes for 195 yards and three TDs. TE Jermichael Finley led the offense with six receptions for 85 yards, including a 15-yard TD grab, and Rodgers added TD passes to WRs Donald Driver and James Jones.
FB Korey Hall recovered a muffed punt in the end zone for a TD in the second quarter and WR Jason Chery added a 75-yard punt return for a score in the fourth quarter.
0 3-0 mpionship))
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LOTS OF FAMILIAR FACES
General Manager Ted Thompson continued his philosophy of building through the draft in the 2011 offseason, so much of the Packers’ core remains intact once again.
Eight Packers earned Pro Bowl recognition in 2010, the most by a Green Bay team since it featured nine in 1967, and all eight of those players return for the 2011 campaign.
Green Bay welcomes the return of 21 of 22 players that started against Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XLV.
The Packers battled their way through several season-ending injuries in 2010, finishing the season with 15 players on injured reserve. The group returning from injuries includes fifth-year RB Ryan Grant, a 1,200-yard rusher in both 2008 and 2009, fourth-year TE Jermichael
Finley, the team’s leading receiver through four games last season,
third-year LB Brad Jones, who started five games in 2010, second-year S Morgan Burnett, the starting strong safety for the first four contests last season, and second-year DE Mike Neal, who was lim-ited to just two games as a rookie in 2010 but figures to compete for increased time this season.
The continuity extends to the coaching staff, where almost the entire group returns for 2011 with a few changes in duties.
Edgar Bennett, who tutored the running backs for the past six sea-sons, moves into the role of wide receivers coach in 2011, while Jerry
Fontenot, the assistant offensive line coach for the past four seasons,
takes over the running backs.
John Rushing, the offensive quality control coach in 2009-10, will now serve as assistant wide receivers/special teams. Joel Hilgenberg, who worked with the Packers last year during the spring and summer as a coaching intern, will serve as the offensive quality control coach. Hilgenberg enjoyed a 10-year playing career (1984-93) as an offensive lineman with the New Orleans Saints.
MEET THE DRAFT PICKS
Training-camp storylines always hover around new players and just how they figure into the depth chart. This summer, all eyes will be on the 10 draft picks added to the club this past April, Green Bay’s largest draft class since an 11-player one in 2007. With no offseason work at Lambeau Field due to the lockout, training camp is the 2011 class’ first on-field action as Packers. T Derek Sherrod, the first Mississippi State offensive lineman to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft, was a first-team All-America selection by CBSSports.com and Rivals.com in 2010 and earned first-team All-SEC honors. He helped the Bulldogs rank second in the SEC in rushing in 2010 and first in ’09. Sherrod joined new linemate Bryan Bulaga (2010) as only the second offensive tackle to be selected in the first round by Green Bay in the past 14 drafts.
The Packers stayed in the SEC in Round 2 by selecting versatile Kentucky WR Randall Cobb in the second round. He earned first-team All-America recognition from The Associated Press, ESPN.com and SportsIllustrated.com as a junior in 2010 as an all-purpose player. Cobb set the SEC single-season record for all-purpose yards with 2,396
in 2010, topping the previous mark of 2,310 yards by Arkansas RB Darren McFadden (2007). He was the only player in FBS to rank first or second on the team in receiving, rushing and passing.
RB Alex Green, the Packers’ third-round choice, rushed for 1,199 yards and 18 TDs in 2010, ranking second in University of Hawaii his-tory for rushing yards in a single season and tying the school mark for rushing TDs. His average of 8.2 yards per carry in 2010 ranked No. 1 in NCAA Division I-A among players with 100 or more carries. Green spent his first two seasons at Butte Community College in Oroville, Calif., the same junior college that produced QB Aaron Rodgers.
In the fourth round, the Packers drafted CB Davon House, who earned first-team All-Western Athletic Conference honors as a junior and senior at New Mexico State. He finished his career ranked first in school history in INT return yardage with 319 and tied for sixth with 11 INTs. House was named to the Jim Thorpe Award watch list and was an honorable mention All-America selection by The NFL Draft Report in 2010. Green Bay selected TE D.J. Williams out of the University of Arkansas
in the fifth round. In 2010, he became the first Razorback to win the John Mackey Award, an honor given to the nation’s top tight end. Williams also received the 2010 Disney Spirit Award, which is given to the most inspirational figure in college football. He finished his Arkansas career with 152 receptions, the second-highest total in school history and the most by a non-wide receiver.
With the first of three choices in the sixth round, the Packers picked G Caleb Schlauderaff. He earned second-team All-America honors from Walter Camp and SportsIllustrated.com and was named first-team All-Mountain West at Utah in 2010. A four-year starter, he was part of a Utes squad in 2008 that finished No. 2 in the AP’s final poll, the only team in the country to post a perfect record (13-0).
Green Bay also drafted LB D.J. Smith out of Appalachian State in the sixth round. He was one of only two players in school history to record 500 tackles in his career, joining three-time NFL Pro Bowler Dexter Coakley. Smith finished his career at ASU as the NCAA Division I FCS active leader in tackles with 525.
The Packers added another linebacker in the sixth round with the selec-tion of Ricky Elmore from the University of Arizona. He finished his collegiate career with 25½ sacks, second in school history behind only Tedy Bruschi (52, 1992-95). Elmore led the Pac-10 in sacks in 2010 with 11, giving him 21½ over his final two seasons for the Wildcats. With the first of two picks in the seventh round, Green Bay drafted TE
Ryan Taylor from the University of North Carolina. He set a
single-season school record for receptions by a tight end with 36 in 2010, and established career highs for receptions and yards in each of his final three college games. Taylor was also a key contributor on special teams, serving as a two-year captain for that unit during his Tar Heel career. The Packers also drafted DE Lawrence Guy out of Arizona State in
the seventh round. An early entry into the draft, he earned honorable mention All-Pac-10 recognition each of his three seasons with the Sun Devils and was part of units that led the conference and finished in the top 20 nationally in run defense in 2009 and 2010.
PACKERS TEAM NOTES
PLAYERS
K.C. Asiodu . . . ah-see-OH-due Diondre Borel . . . .Dee-on-dray Buh-rell Bryan Bulaga. . . .buh-LAH-gah Robert Francois. . . fran-swah Sampson Genus . . . JEAN-us Brett Goode. . . GEWD Graham Harrell . . . HAIR-uhl Spencer Havner. . . .HAY-vner Jon Hoese . . . HAZE-ee Cardia Jackson . . . car-dee-ay John Kuhn. . . KOON Anthony Levine . . . luh-veen Tim Masthay . . . MAS-tay Ryan Pickett . . . .PICK-ett Andrew Quarless. . . QUAR-liss B.J. Raji. . . RAH-jee
Brandian Ross. . . Brandon Caleb Schlauderaff . . . schlah-der-off Derek Sherrod . . . sher-ROD Josh Sitton . . . SITT-en Vic So’oto . . . so-OH-toe Chastin West. . . CHASS-tin Tramon Williams. . . truh-MAHN
COACHES
James Campen . . . .KAMP-en Tom Clements . . . KLEMM-ints Jerry Fontenot . . . FON-tin-oh Ben McAdoo . . . MACK-ah-doo Shawn Slocum . . . SLOW-kumm Mike Trgovac . . . TER-guh-vac
PRONUNCIATION GUIDE
ST. NORBERT AND THE PACKERS
Continuing a tradition started under Packers coach Scooter McLean in 1958, the Green Bay Packers will call St. Norbert College home for a 54th consecutive training camp this summer. The relationship between the pri-vate college in De Pere, Wis., and the Green Bay Packers marks the longest continual use of any training camp facility by an NFL team.
Players will take up residence in Victor McCormick Hall, a 60-room coed dormitory used to house 225 students during the academic year. St. Norbert, founded in 1898 by Abbot Bernard Pennings, borders the
Fox River and enrolls around 2,000 students.
The Packers use their own practice and team-meeting facilities at Lambeau Field during training camp, with the college serving as housing headquarters.
Players return to St. Norbert via cars and vans every evening for team dinner.
The 6.62-mile commute is estimated at 11 minutes each way.
The team will travel roughly 264.8 miles between the college and practice facility during training camp…that’s almost 4,660 lengths of a football field. It will take an estimated 7 hours, 20 minutes for the team to commute to and from the college…roughly the time of two-and-a-half NFL games.
A LOOK AT THE SCHEDULE
The Green Bay Packers’ 91st NFL regular-season schedule – headlined by four prime-time games as well as a nationally televised Thanksgiving contest – was released in mid-April by the National Football League. Green Bay will begin the 2011 season at home against the New Orleans
Saints in a Thursday night contest on Sept. 8. The matchup of the last two Super Bowl winners will mark the first time in franchise history that the Packers will open the season on a Thursday night. It will also be just the third Thursday night game in Lambeau Field history.
The Packers will head out on the road in Week 2 to take on Carolina, the first of back-to-back road games for Green Bay. It is the second straight season that Green Bay has played two contests away from Lambeau Field in the first three weeks.
For the second straight season, the Packers will visit Soldier Field in Week 3 to take on the Chicago Bears, a rematch of the 2010 NFC Championship Game.
Green Bay will face another 2010 playoff foe in Week 5 when it travels to Atlanta for a Sunday night contest against the Falcons on NBC. It will be the Packers’ third game against an NFC South opponent in the first five weeks.
The Packers will host Minnesota in Week 10 on ESPN’s Monday Night Football. 2011 marks the 19th consecutive season the Packers have appeared on MNF, the NFC’s longest streak (Denver, 20).
For the third time in Head Coach Mike McCarthy’s tenure, the Packers will travel to Detroit for a Thanksgiving Day matchup. Green Bay won the previous two Thanksgiving meetings (2007, 2009) under McCarthy.
With the MNF game against Minnesota and the Thanksgiving game at Detroit, the Packers will have three games in an 11-day span. Green Bay has some recent experience with a stretch similar to that, having won three contests in 12 days in 2009 (Nov. 15-26).
Both of the Packers’ December road games will be played outdoors in potential cold-weather conditions with visits to the N.Y. Giants (Week 13) and the Kansas City Chiefs (Week 15).
Green Bay finishes the regular season with back-to-back home contests (Chicago, Detroit) for the second straight season. The only other time the Packers have finished with two home games in consecutive seasons was 1922-23.
For just the second time in franchise annals, the Packers will play on Christmas. Green Bay will host Chicago in prime time on NBC. The only other Christmas game in Packers history also came against the Bears (2005) at Lambeau Field.
The Packers will be the first NFL team to play on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day in the same season, with all three games coming against divisional foes.
Green Bay closes against an NFC North opponent for the fifth time in the past six seasons, this time against Detroit.
2011 SCHEDULE NUGGETS
Green Bay’s bye week arrives in Week 8, the second time the Packers have had their bye that week under McCarthy (2008).
The Packers go into (at Minnesota) and come out of the bye (at San Diego) on the road for the first time since 2003.
Under McCarthy, the team has won four of five games immediately after the bye week and 11 of its last 15 after the week off dating back further. Overall, the Packers are 30-19 (.612) after the bye under McCarthy, and
since 2000, the team is 61-36 (.629) following the week off.
Thirteen games are slated for Sunday this season, with two Thursday night contests and one on Monday night. Only six games are scheduled for noon (CT) starts with five games currently slated for 3:15 p.m. (CT). The Packers have five games on the schedule against 2010 playoff
teams, beginning right away in Week 1 vs. New Orleans. The other matchups come against Chicago (Weeks 3 and 16), Atlanta (Week 5), and Kansas City (Week 15).
Green Bay (No. 9 offense, No. 5 defense) was one of just four NFL teams to finish in the top 10 in both total offense and defense in 2010. The Packers play all three of the other teams in 2011, hosting New Orleans (No. 6/No. 4) in Week 1 and traveling to take on San Diego (No. 1/No. 1) in Week 9 and the N.Y. Giants (No. 5/No. 7) in Week 13.
PACKERS TEAM NOTES
2010
RESULTS
PRESEASON
Date Opponent Time Att. Sat., Aug. 14 CLEVELAND BROWNS (Gold Pkg.). . . . L, 24-27 (68,958)
(Midwest Shrine Game)
Sat., Aug. 21 at Seattle Seahawks. . . .W, 27-24 (65,586) Thu., Aug. 26 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS . . . .W, 59-24 (68,987)
(Bishop’s Charities Game)
Thu., Sept. 2 at Kansas City Chiefs. . . L, 13-17 (63,843)
REGULAR SEASON
Date Opponent Time Att. Sun., Sept. 12 at Philadelphia Eagles . . . .W, 27-20 (69,144) Sun., Sept. 19 BUFFALO BILLS. . . .W, 34-7 (70,741) Mon., Sept. 27 at Chicago Bears . . . L, 17-20 (62,179) Sun., Oct. 3 DETROIT LIONS (Gold Pkg.). . . .W, 28-26 (70,729) Sun., Oct. 10 at Washington Redskins . . . L, 13-16+ (87,760) Sun., Oct. 17 MIAMI DOLPHINS . . . L, 20-23+ (70,815) Sun., Oct. 24 MINNESOTA VIKINGS . . . .W, 28-24 (71,107) Sun., Oct. 31 at New York Jets . . . .W, 9-0 (78,484) Sun., Nov. 7 DALLAS COWBOYS (Gold Pkg.) . . . .W, 45-7 (70,913) Sun., Nov. 14 Open Date . . . Sun., Nov. 21 at Minnesota Vikings . . . .W, 31-3 (64,120) Sun., Nov. 28 at Atlanta Falcons . . . L, 17-20 (68,204) Sun., Dec. 5 SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS . . . .W, 34-16 (70,575) Sun., Dec. 12 at Detroit Lions . . . L, 3-7 (57,659) Sun., Dec. 19 at New England Patriots . . . L, 27-31 (68,756) Sun., Dec. 26 NEW YORK GIANTS . . . .W, 45-17 (70,649) Sun., Jan. 2 CHICAGO BEARS. . . .W, 10-3 (70,833)
+ – overtime
POSTSEASON
Date Opponent Time Att. Sun., Jan. 9 at Philadelphia Eagles . . . .W, 21-16 (69,144) Sat., Jan. 15 at Atlanta Falcons . . . .W, 48-21 (69,210) Sun., Jan. 23 at Chicago Bears . . . .W, 21-14 (62,377) Sun., Feb. 6 Pittsburgh Steelers . . . .W, 31-25 (91,060)
POSITION-BY-POSITION
BY THE NUMBERS
Nothing attracts more attention during training camp, both from fans and media, than positional battles. Here’s a look at the Packers’ current roster. Just a quick note – the first number is the number of players at that posi-tion currently on the roster, while the second is the number at the posiposi-tion during Week 1 last season.
Quarterback – 3 (2)
Aaron Rodgers has emerged as one of top players in the league at his position, with a career passer rating (98.4) that ranks No. 1 in NFL history. He posted 12,394 passing yards from 2008-10, which ranks No. 2 in league history behind only Kurt
Warner (12,612, 1999-2001) for the most passing yards by a QB in his first three seasons as a starter.
Behind Rodgers is fourth-year signal call-er Matt Flynn, who saw his most exten-sive game action in 2010. He has served as the No. 2 quarterback in each of his first three NFL seasons and got his first start as a pro last season in Week 15 at New England when Rodgers was sidelined with a concussion.
Also at the position is first-year player
Graham Harrell, who spent time on
the practice squad and as the third QB in 2010. He set numerous NCAA records including career TD passes and comple-tions while at Texas Tech (2005-08).
Running back – 5 (3)
Ryan Grant, one of only three players in team annals to post
back-to-back 1,200-yard seasons (2008-09), returns to action after missing all but one game in 2010 due to an ankle injury sustained at Philadelphia in Week 1.
Behind Grant is second-year pro James Starks, who was limited to just four games in the regular season but made a splash in the playoffs with a team-high 315 yards, the third most ever by an NFL rookie in a single postseason.
Rookie Alex Green was selected in the third round out of the University of Hawaii. His average of 8.2 yards per carry in 2010 ranked No. 1 in NCAA Division I-A among players with 100 or more carries, and his 1,199 yards on the season were good for No. 2 in school annals. Second-year man Dimitri Nance saw some action as a rookie, posting
95 yards on 36 carries (2.6 avg.). The running back group also includes non-drafted rookie Brandon Saine, who finished his career at Ohio State with 1,408 rushing yards and 17 TDs.
Fullback – 3 (3)
Last year the team kept three fullbacks, with two of those players, John
Kuhn and Quinn Johnson, returning in 2011.
With injuries at running back, Kuhn took on more of a role as a ball-carrier and responded by setting or matching his career high in every major offensive category.
Johnson saw action in 11 games as a rookie in 2010, and at 263 pounds, brings a physical presence to the position.
The only other fullback on the roster is non-drafted free agent Jon
Hoese from the University of Minnesota. Wide receiver – 12 (5)
Veterans Donald Driver and Greg Jennings, who both earned Pro Bowl recognition in 2010, form a dangerous 1-2 combination on the outside. Jennings has topped the 1,000-yard mark each of the last three seasons, while Driver has topped the mark in six of the last seven seasons.
Fifth-year wideout James Jones, who recently re-signed with the team as an unrestricted free agent, posted career-highs in catches (50) and receiving yards (679) as he joined Jennings and Driver to comprise the first trio of 50-catch receivers in team history. Fourth-year man
Jordy Nelson had a career year as well, posting personal bests in
catches (45) and receiving yards (582) in 2010.
Third-year pro Brett Swain made contributions as the No. 5 wideout in 2010 as well as on special teams, appearing in all 16 contests. Green Bay added versatile WR Randall Cobb in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft. Cobb was a first-team All-America selection by The Associated Press as an all-purpose player in 2010 at Kentucky and will likely factor in as a return man in addition to wide receiver.
First-year man Chastin West will look to compete for a roster spot after spending the 2010 season on the practice squad, as will several other young players. That group includes first-year WR Antonio Robinson and non-drafted rookies Diondre Borel,
Tori Gurley, Shaky Smithson and Kerry Taylor.
Tight end – 6 (4)
An already deep tight end group welcomed the addition of two more players through the draft.
Fourth-year TE Jermichael Finley posted one of the most productive stretches by a Packers TE with a team-high 301 receiv-ing yards on 21 catches in the first four games, but his season was cut short when he sustained a knee injury at Washington on the opening series in Week 5.
Second-year man Andrew Quarless saw increased time after Finley’s injury, and posted 21 catches for 238 yards (11.3 avg.) and a TD in his debut campaign.
Second-year TE Tom Crabtree appeared in all 16 contests in 2010, contributing primarily as a blocker and on special teams. Third-year pro Spencer Havner caught four TD passes with Green Bay in 2009. The Packers added 2010 John Mackey Award winner D.J. Williams of
Arkansas through the draft, as well as seventh-round selection Ryan
Taylor out of the University of North Carolina. Offensive line – 15 (10)
Four of five starters return from a year ago on a line that started the same five players the final 16 games of the season (including playoffs). Veteran LT Chad Clifton, who earned his second career Pro Bowl
selection in 2010, returns for his 12th season. Second-year RT Bryan
Bulaga, the Packers’ first-round pick in 2010, started the final 12
games and all four postseason contests as a rookie.
Eighth-year C Scott Wells brings a consistent presence to the middle of the line, while RG Josh Sitton emerged as one of the top guards in the league in 2010 in his third season, earning recognition as a Pro Bowl alternate.
Many eyes will be focused on the competition at left guard with starter Daryn Colledge departing in free agency. Rookie Derek Sherrod, Green Bay’s first-round pick in 2011, was a three-year starter at LT at Mississippi State but will be in the mix at LG. So will third-year man T.J.
Lang, who provided depth at guard and tackle in 2010 after starting
three games at tackle as a rookie in 2009.
Also expected to compete along the inside are second-year pros
Nick McDonald and Evan Dietrich-Smith and rookie G Caleb Schlauderaff, a sixth-round pick in 2011. G/T Marshall Newhouse,
a fifth-round pick in 2010, will also be battling for a roster spot. The group also includes first-year G Adrian Battles, first-year T Chris
Campbell, and rookie T/G Ray Dominguez, C Sampson Genus
POSITION-BY-POSITION
Defensive end – 6 (5)The defensive end group will be led by veteran Ryan Pickett, who appeared in 14 games with 12 starts in 2010 and posted 53 tackles (27 solo) and a sack.
With the departure of veteran end Cullen Jenkins in free agency, the right defensive end position is expected to feature a competition between a trio of young players in second-year pros Mike Neal and C.J. Wilson and third-year man Jarius Wynn.
Neal, Green Bay’ second-round selection in 2010, was limited to two games during his rookie campaign due to a shoulder injury, but did show flashes of his potential in brief action.
Wilson, another member of the 2010 draft class (seventh round), saw significant time during his debut campaign due to injuries along the line. He appeared in 15 games with two starts and registered 21 tackles (12 solo) and a sack.
After being released in the final roster cutdown last season, Wynn re-signed with the team heading into Week 2 because of injuries and went on to appear in nine contests on the season.
The Packers added another defensive end late in this year’s draft by selecting Lawrence Guy out of Arizona State in the seventh round. Non-drafted rookie Eli Joseph rounds out the position group for Green Bay.
Nose tackle – 4 (1)
Third-year man B.J. Raji was the lone nose tackle on the roster in 2010 and he responded in a major way by starting all 16 contests and posting 66 tackles (36 solo). His 6½ sacks were the most by an NFL nose tackle since Minnesota’s Ken Clarke registered seven in 1990, and Raji was selected as a Pro Bowl alternate.
Seventh-year veteran Howard Green was acquired by the Packers off waivers midway through the season in 2010 and ended up playing a prominent role on the line as he worked primarily at end. Solid against the run, Green appeared in nine contests with three starts and posted 17 tackles (four solo).
Jay Ross, who spent time on the practice squad in 2010, and
non-drafted free agent Chris Donaldson round out the position group.
Linebacker – 14 (8)
This position was also hit hard by injuries in 2010, but several players took advantage of the opportunities that were presented to them. On the inside, sixth-year LB A.J. Hawk continued to serve as a
steady-ing presence on the defense, but took on more of an every-down role in 2010. He led the team with 134 tackles (97 solo), and his career-high three interceptions tied for the league lead among linebackers. At the other inside spot, fifth-year LB Desmond Bishop moved into
a starting role for the first time in his career after contributing primarily on special teams in his first three seasons in the league. Bishop trailed only Hawk in tackles with 121 (82 solo), while his 10 passes defensed were the most by a Green Bay LB since John Anderson registered 15 in 1981.
Second-year man Robert Francois and rookie D.J. Smith, a sixth-round choice this spring, are expected to compete for a roster spot on the inside, as will second-year man K.C. Asiodu, first-year LB Cardia
Jackson and non-drafted rookie Elijah Joseph.
On the outside, third-year LB Clay Matthews looks to follow up his first two years that saw him become the first Packer to earn Pro Bowl recognition in each of his first two seasons since RB John Brockington (1971-72). He led the team with 13½ sacks, No. 2 in the NFC and No. 4 in the NFL.
At the ROLB spot opposite Matthews, three players that started games there in 2010 return. Second-year man Frank Zombo played in 13 games with eight starts as a non-drafted rookie and recorded four sacks, while fourth-year LB Erik Walden played in nine games with two starts and posted three sacks. Third-year pro Brad Jones was limited to just six games with five starts last season due to a shoulder injury, but is expected to compete once again for the starting spot while also poten-tially providing some depth on the inside.
The Packers added LB Ricky Elmore from the University of Arizona in the sixth round of the draft, and he will be joined by non-drafted rookies
Jamari Lattimore and Vic So’oto in competing for a spot on the
outside.
Cornerback – 8 (6)
Veteran Charles Woodson earned his seventh career Pro Bowl bid in 2010, registering career highs in tackles (105) and forced fumbles (five) while adding two interceptions and two sacks.
In his first season as a full-time starter, fifth-year man Tramon
Williams posted the finest all-arounds season of his career with career
highs in tackles (63), interceptions (six) and passes defensed (23). Sam Shields won the nickel job as a non-drafted rookie free agent in
2010, and the second-year man appears poised to maintain that role once again this season.
Sixth-year pro Jarrett Bush remains one of the team’s best special teams players and provides experience at the position, while fourth-year man Pat Lee saw his most significant action as a pro in his third season.
Green Bay added another player to the mix with the selection of CB
Davon House out of New Mexico State in the fourth round. Filling
out the position group are first-year CB Josh Gordy and non-drafted rookie Brandian Ross.
Safety – 7 (4)
Securing three straight Pro Bowl berths has solidified FS Nick Collins’ status as one of the game’s best at his position. Opposite Collins, how-ever, will be where most of the focus is in the back end.
Second-year man Morgan Burnett, who started the opening four games at SS in his debut campaign, will be looking to return to his start-ing role after sustainstart-ing a season-endstart-ing knee injury last year in Week 4. But Burnett could see competition from sixth-year pro Charlie
Peprah, who stepped into Burnett’s starting spot and posted the finest
season of his career with 64 tackles (50 solo), two interceptions and seven passes defensed.
Third-year man Brandon Underwood, who played CB his first two seasons, has made the shift to safety, and non-drafted rookies
Anthony Bratton and M.D. Jennings join first-year S Anthony Levine to round out the group.
Specialists – 3 (3)
Though no specialist job in the NFL could ever be deemed secure, K
Mason Crosby, LS Brett Goode and P Tim Masthay are the only
players at their respective positions on the roster. Solid performances in camp and in preseason action should earn each a roster spot. Masthay earned his spot last season with a strong showing in training
camp, and went on to post a 37.6-yard net average during the regular season to match the best mark since 1976 (Jon Ryan, 2007).
Crosby, whose 509 points are the second most in NFL history by a player in his first four seasons, re-signed with the team recently as an unrestricted free agent. Goode has handled the long-snapping duties each of the past three seasons.
Coaches’ Box: Dom Capers (defensive coordinator), Joel Hilgenberg (offensive quality control), Scott McCurley (defensive quality control), Joe Philbin (offensive coordinator), John Rushing (asst. wide receivers/special teams) and Joe Whitt Jr. (secondary - cornerbacks).
Sideline: Edgar Bennett (wide receivers), James Campen (offen-sive line), Tom Clements (quarterbacks), Mike Eayrs (research and development), Jerry Fontenot (running backs), Kevin Greene (outside linebackers), Ben McAdoo (tight ends), Chad Morton (spe-cial teams assistant), Winston Moss (inside linebackers/asst. head coach), Darren Perry (secondary - safeties), Shawn Slocum (special teams coordinator) and Mike Trgovac (defensive line).
WR Greg Jennings, 5-11, 198, 6th Year, Western Michigan
One of just five receivers in team history to post three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and one of only four to catch 12 touchdown passes in two different years.
Ranks in the top 10 in franchise history in receiving yards (10th, 5,222), receptions (t-9th, 322) and touchdown catches (t-8th, 40).
Leads the NFL with 27 catches of 40-plus yards over the past four sea-sons, and his career 31.5-yard average per TD reception ranks second among active players (min. 20 TD catches).
His 3,670 receiving yards over the past three seasons and his 37 TD receptions over the past four years both rank fourth in the league over those spans.
LT Chad Clifton, 6-5, 320, 12th Year, Tennessee
Earned Pro Bowl recognition last season for the second time in his career as he was voted into the all-star game for the first time, having served as an injury replacement in 2007.
Has blocked for five of the top eight single-season rushers in franchise history (Ahman Green, 2001-03; Ryan Grant; 2008-09), and has helped pave the way for a 1,000-yard rusher in eight of his 11 seasons in Green Bay.
Reached the 150-game career milestone in 2010, making him only the sixth offensive lineman in franchise history to do so.
Has started 122 of 128 games (132 of 138 including playoffs) at left tackle since returning to the field in ’03 from the serious pelvic injury that ended his 2002 season.
LG T.J. Lang, 6-4, 318, Third Year, Eastern Michigan
Served as reserve at tackle and guard in his second season while also seeing limited action on defense as an emergency lineman in short-yardage situations.
Played three different positions up front during his rookie campaign, starting games at both tackle spots and becoming the first Packers rookie to start consecutive games at left tackle since Chad Clifton in 2000.
Began his college career as a defensive lineman, but converted to the offensive line as a sophomore and started 36 straight games (10 at RT, 26 at LT) over his final three years.
C Scott Wells, 6-2, 300, 8th Year, Tennessee
Started all 16 contests for the second time in his career and earned All-NFC recognition from Pro Football Weekly in 2010.
Has played in 95 games with 84 starts during his seven seasons in Green Bay, with 72 starts at center the past five seasons.
Part of an offense that ranked No. 9 in the league in total yards last season, the fifth straight year the offense has ranked in the top 10. A key blocker in Ryan Grant’s back-to-back 1,200-yard rushing seasons
in 2008-09, helping Grant become only the third running back in team history to accomplish that feat.
RG Josh Sitton, 6-3, 318, 4th Year, Central Florida
Was named 2010 Offensive Lineman of the Year by the NFL Alumni Association and was selected as a Pro Bowl alternate.
Is the only Packer on either side of the ball to not miss a snap over the past two seasons.
According to STATS LLC, did not allow a sack all season and was flagged for holding only one time in 2010.
Known best for his run blocking, was a key cog in Ryan Grant’s career-best 1,253-yard season in 2009, the sixth-career-best single-season rushing total in franchise annals.
RT Bryan Bulaga, 6-5, 314, 2nd Year, Iowa
Started the final 12 games of 2010 and the entire postseason at right tackle after taking over for veteran Mark Tauscher (shoulder), the most regular-season starts by a Packers rookie tackle since Tauscher’s 14 in 2000. Named to the Pro Football Weekly/PFWA all-rookie team.
Capped his impressive rookie season by becoming the youngest player, according to STATS LLC, to ever start in the Super Bowl (21 years, 322
days) and turned in a commendable performance against Pittsburgh pass rusher LaMarr Woodley.
TE Jermichael Finley, 6-5, 247 4th Year, Texas
In 2010, led the team in receiving yards (301) and per-catch average (14.3) through four games before going down for the season with a knee injury on the second offensive snap at Washington in Week 5.
In breakout 2009 campaign, posted second-most catches in a single season by a Green Bay tight end (55) and fifth-most yards (676), despite missing three games with a knee injury.
Finished ’09 with Green Bay playoff-record 159 receiving yards in NFC Wild Card loss at Arizona, the second-most productive game by a tight end in NFL postseason history behind San Diego’s Kellen Winslow (166 yards, Jan. 2, 1982, vs. Miami).
Also in ’09, tied regular-season, single-game franchise marks for yards (128, Week 4 at Minnesota) and receptions (nine, Week 15 at Pittsburgh) by a tight end. Again matched the reception mark in 2010 with nine at Chicago in Week 3.
WR Donald Driver, 6-0, 194, 13th Year, Alcorn State
Ranks first on the franchise’s all-time list for receptions with 698 and ranks second in team history with 9,615 career yards, needing just 42 yards to surpass James Lofton (9,656) for the franchise mark.
Has caught 50 or more passes in a season a franchise-best nine times, topping Lofton and Sterling Sharpe (seven each).
Extended two team records in 2009 with his seventh 1,000-yard season and sixth straight. Indianapolis’ Reggie Wayne was the only other player in the league to have a 1,000-yard season each of those six years (2004-09).
Was credited with his fourth career Pro Bowl selection in 2010 since he would have been named to the all-star squad as an injury replacement for DeSean Jackson had the Packers not been preparing for Super Bowl XLV.
QB Aaron Rodgers, 6-2, 225, 7th Year, California
His career passer rating of 98.4 ranks No. 1 in NFL history (min. 1,500 attempts).
Posted 12,394 passing yards from 2008-10, which ranks No. 2 in league history behind only Kurt Warner (12,612, 1999-2001) for the most pass-ing yards by a QB in his first three seasons as a starter.
In 47 regular-season starts, has posted 14 games with 300-plus passing yards, 26 without an interception and 25 with a 100-plus passer rating. Became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for more than
4,000 yards in each of his first two seasons (2008-09) as a starter.
RB Ryan Grant, 6-1, 222, 5th Year, Notre Dame
Set to return from a season-ending ankle injury suffered in the 2010 season opener at Philadelphia, which ended a streak of 48 consecutive games played (51 including playoffs).
Topped 1,200 rushing yards in both 2008 and 2009, only the third back in team history to do so in consecutive years (Ahman Green, 2001-03; Jim Taylor, 1961-62) and one of only four backs in the NFL to do so those years (Adrian Peterson, Thomas Jones, Chris Johnson).
Has a career-long streak of 299 carries without a fumble, with his last fumble on a rushing play coming in the third quarter of the 2008 season finale vs. Detroit. His lone fumble in 2009 came on a pass reception (Week 2 vs. Cincinnati).
FB John Kuhn, 6-0, 250, 6th Year, Shippensburg
Has played in 62 of 64 games (69 of 71 including playoffs) during his four seasons in Green Bay.
Set or matched his career high in every offensive category in 2010. Only player on the team to have a rushing and receiving touchdown each
of the past three seasons, and is the first Packer to achieve that feat since RB Ahman Green (2002-04).
Converted 10-of-12 opportunities on third-and-1 or fourth-and-1 in 2010, an 83.3 percentage that ranked No. 3 in the NFL among players with 10 attempts.
LDE Ryan Pickett, 6-2, 340, 11th Year, Ohio State
Has played in 148 of a possible 160 regular-season games during his 10-year career, missing just seven contests due to injury.
Unselfishly made the transition to left defensive end after serving as the starting nose tackle in 2009, the first year of defensive coordinator Dom Capers’ 3-4 scheme. Played in 14 games with 12 starts last season, finishing with 53 tackles (27 solo), a sack, a fumble recovery and a pass defensed.
Key component of Packers’ No. 1-ranked rushing defense in 2009 (franchise-record 83.3 yards allowed per game), the first time in team history that Green Bay led the league in that category.
NT B.J. Raji, 6-2, 337, 3rd Year, Boston College
Led all NFL nose tackles with 6½ sacks in 2010, the most recorded by a nose tackle since Minnesota’s Ken Clarke posted seven in 1990 (accord-ing to STATS LLC).
Was the only Green Bay defensive lineman to open every game in 2010, with his career-high 66 tackles (36 solo) pacing the line.
Selected as a Pro Bowl alternate and was named to USA Today’s All-Joe Team, which honors unheralded players in the league.
Added 12 tackles, a sack, two passes defensed and an interception in the postseason, highlighted by an 18-yard INT return for a score at Chicago in the NFC Championship Game that put Green Bay up 21-7 in the eventual 21-14 victory.
RDE Mike Neal, 6-3, 294, 2nd Year, Purdue
Limited to just two games as a rookie due to injuries, but recorded his first forced fumble and first sack as a pro.
Earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors from the media as a senior when he finished second on the team with 5½ sacks and third with 11½ tackles for loss.
Posted several team weightlifting records at Purdue, including a 510-pound bench press and a 615-510-pound squat.
LOLB Clay Matthews, 6-3, 255, 3rd Year, Southen California
Became the first Packer since RB John Brockington (1971-72) to earn Pro Bowl recognition in each of his first two seasons in the NFL. Named first-team All-Pro by The Associated Press in 2010, the first
Green Bay LB to earn that honor since Tim Harris in 1989. Finished second to Pittsburgh safety Troy Polamalu in the AP’s Defensive Player of the Year voting.
Is the only Packer (since 1982) to record a double-digit sack total in each of his first two seasons in the league.
Was named NFL Defensive MVP by Pro Football Weekly, and also earned NFL Defensive Player of the Year recognition from Sporting News and NFC Defensive Player of the Year honors from the Committee of 101 in 2010.
BLB A.J. Hawk, 6-1, 247, 6th Year, Ohio State
Has either led the team or finished second in tackles in each of his five seasons.
Hasn’t missed a game in his career, playing in all 80 contests with 77 starts. The only two non-starts came in both Minnesota games in ’09 and the season opener in 2010 at Philadelphia when Packers opened in nickel defense.
Tied for No. 1 among NFL linebackers in 2010 with a career-high three interceptions, and is tied for No. 1 with five interceptions over the past two seasons. Earned first career Pro Bowl selection in 2010.
Has posted 626 tackles (444 solo), nine sacks, eight interceptions, 29 passes defensed, two forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries during his career.
MLB Desmond Bishop, 6-2, 238, 5th Year, California
Started the final 12 games of the season and finished second on the team with 121 tackles (82 solo), three sacks and an interception, all career highs.
Led the linebackers with a career-high 10 passes defensed in 2010, the most by a Green Bay LB since John Anderson registered 15 in 1981. Paced the team with a career-high 22 special teams tackles in 2009, and
his 50 tackles on special teams from 2007-10 were tied for the team lead (Jarrett Bush) over that span.
ROLB Erik Walden, 6-2, 250, 4th Year, Middle Tennessee St.
Signed by the Packers as a free agent on Oct. 27, 2010, went on to appear in nine games with two starts along with another three starts in the postseason.
Earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors for his Week 17 per-formance vs. Chicago when he recorded a career-high three sacks and a career-best 16 tackles.
Originally a sixth-round draft choice by the Dallas Cowboys in 2008, he played in a total of 28 games for Kansas City and Miami from 2008-10.
LCB Charles Woodson, 6-1, 202, 14th Year, Michigan
In 2010, earned third straight and seventh career Pro Bowl bid, won first Super Bowl in his 13 seasons in the NFL, and returned his 10th intercep-tion for a touchdown to move into the No. 3 spot in league history. Holds the franchise record with nine defensive TDs (eight INTs, one
fumble return), eclipsing CB Herb Adderley and S Darren Sharper (seven each) in ’09 for the team mark.
Named NFL Defensive Player of the Year by The Associated Press in 2009, becoming only the second Packer to win the award (DE Reggie White, 1998) and the oldest defensive back to earn the honor.
In ’09, posted a career-high nine interceptions, and earned NFC Defensive Player of the Month honors three times. Became first defen-sive player in the NFL to win a monthly award three times in the same season.
RCB Tramon Williams, 5-11, 191, 5th Year, Louisiana Tech
Ranked No. 1 in the NFL with a combined nine interceptions (six in regular season, three in postseason) in 2010.
Posted career highs in tackles (63), interceptions (six) and passes defensed (23) on his way to being selected to the Pro Bowl in 2010 as an injury replacement.
With three interceptions during the 2010 playoffs, tied Joe Laws (1944) and Craig Newsome (1996) for the franchise single-postseason record. In Week 5 at Washington, he became the first player in franchise history
to post a 50-yard punt return (52 yards) and a 60-yard INT return (64 yards) in the same game.
SS Morgan Burnett, 6-1, 209, 2nd Year, Georgia Tech
In 2010, became only the second Packers rookie to open the season as a starter at safety since Chuck Cecil in 1988, joining teammate and three-time Pro Bowl selection Nick Collins (2005).
Started the first four games of the season at SS before sustaining a season-ending knee injury vs. Detroit in Week 4.
In just three seasons at Georgia Tech, intercepted 14 passes, two shy of the school’s career record.
FS Nick Collins, 5-11, 207, 7th Year, Bethune-Cookman
Selected to the Pro Bowl for the third straight season in 2010, becoming the first Packers safety since LeRoy Butler (1996-98) to earn the honor in three consecutive seasons.
Ranks second in the league with 439 interception return yards since 2008, and is tied for second among NFL safeties with 17 interceptions over that span.
Has missed just three games in six seasons (all in 2007, knee injury) since being drafted in the second round in 2005.
Returned three INTs for TDs in 2008, becoming the first NFL safety to do so since Kansas City’s Lloyd Burruss in 1986. His 295 INT return yards in ’08 led the NFL and broke the franchise record (Bobby Dillon, 244 in 1956).
Unofficial, Aug. 22, 2011
OFFENSE
WR:
85
Greg Jennings
89
James Jones
18
Randall Cobb
16
Brett
Swain
19
Diondre
Borel
13 Kerry
Taylor
LT:
76
Chad Clifton
74
Marshall Newhouse
72
Theo Sherman
LG: 70
T.J.
Lang
78 Derek
Sherrod
64 Adrian
Battles
C:
63
Scott Wells
67
Nick McDonald
62
Evan Dietrich-Smith
56
Sampson
Genus
RG:
71
Josh Sitton
67
Nick McDonald
68
Caleb Schlauderaff
RT:
75
Bryan Bulaga
69
Chris Campbell
73
Ray Dominguez
TE:
88
Jermichael Finley
81
Andrew Quarless
83
Tom Crabtree
84
D.J.
Williams
82
Ryan
Taylor
41
Spencer
Havner
WR:
80
Donald Driver
87
Jordy Nelson
11
Chastin West
86
Tori
Gurley
17
Antonio
Robinson
9 Shaky
Smithson
QB:
12
Aaron Rodgers
10
Matt Flynn
6
Graham Harrell
RB:
25
Ryan Grant
44
James Starks
23
Dimitri Nance
20 Alex
Green
33 Brandon
Saine
FB:
30
John Kuhn
45
Quinn Johnson
35
Jon Hoese
DEFENSE
LDE:
79
Ryan Pickett
98
C.J. Wilson
91
Lawrence Guy
NT:
90
B.J. Raji
95
Howard Green
99
Jay Ross
60
Chris
Donaldson
RDE:
96
Mike Neal
94
Jarius Wynn
65
Eli Joseph
LOLB: 52
Clay Matthews
59
Brad Jones
97
Vic So’oto
BLB:
50
A.J. Hawk
49
Robert Francois
48
Cardia Jackson
54
K.C.
Asiodu
MLB:
55
Desmond Bishop
51
D.J. Smith
46
Elijah Joseph
ROLB: 93
Erik Walden
58
Frank Zombo
57
Ricky Elmore
47
Jamari
Lattimore
LCB:
21
Charles Woodson
22
Pat Lee
24
Jarrett Bush
39
Brandian
Ross
RCB:
38
Tramon Williams
37
Sam Shields
40
Josh Gordy
31
Davon
House
SS:
42
Morgan Burnett
26
Charlie Peprah
43
M.D. Jennings
29
Anthony
Bratton
FS:
36
Nick Collins
34
Anthony Levine
28
Brandon Underwood
SPECIAL TEAMS
K:
2
Mason Crosby
8
Tim Masthay
P:
8
Tim Masthay
2
Mason Crosby
H: 8
Tim
Masthay
18
Randall
Cobb
PR:
18
Randall Cobb
9
Shaky Smithson
19
Diondre Borel
87
Jordy
Nelson
KR:
20
Alex Green
18
Randall Cobb
22
Pat Lee
37
Sam
Shields
PC:
61
Brett Goode
62
Evan Dietrich-Smith
KC:
61
Brett Goode
62
Evan Dietrich-Smith
HOW THE PACKERS WERE BUILT
Year Record Draft (40) Trades (1) Free Agents (42)
1999 8-8-0 WR Donald Driver D7b 2000 9-7-0 T Chad Clifton D2 2001 12-4-0
2002 12-4-0 2003 10-6-0
2004 10-6-0 C Scott Wells D7 (FA-04) 2005 4-12-0 QB Aaron Rodgers D1
S Nick Collins D2a
2006 8-8-0 LB A.J. Hawk D1 DE Ryan Pickett (UFA)
WR Greg Jennings D2b CB Tramon Williams
CB Charles Woodson (UFA) 2007 13-3-0 WR James Jones D3a RB Ryan Grant (NYG)
LB Desmond Bishop D6b
K Mason Crosby D6c
2008 6-10-0 WR Jordy Nelson D2a LS Brett Goode
CB Pat Lee D2c TE Jermichael Finley D3 G Josh Sitton D4b QB Matt Flynn D7a
WR Brett Swain D7b (FA-08)
2009 11-5-0 NT B.J. Raji D1a LB Robert Francois
LB Clay Matthews D1b T/G T.J. Lang D4 FB Quinn Johnson D5a DE Jarius Wynn D6a (FA-10) S/CB Brandon Underwood D6b LB Brad Jones D7
2010 10-6-0 T Bryan Bulaga D1 G Adrian Battles
DE Mike Neal D2 T Chris Campbell
S Morgan Burnett D3 TE Tom Crabtree
TE Andrew Quarless D5a C/G Evan Dietrich-Smith
G/T Marshall Newhouse D5b CB Josh Gordy
RB James Starks D6 QB Graham Harrell
DE C.J. Wilson D7 TE Spencer Havner
LB Cardia Jackson S Anthony Levine P Tim Masthay C/G Nick McDonald RB Dimitri Nance (PS-Atl) S Charlie Peprah NT Jay Ross CB Sam Shields LB Erik Walden WR Chastin West LB Frank Zombo
2011 T/G Derek Sherrod D1 LB K.C. Asiodu
WR Randall Cobb D2 WR Diondre Borel
RB Alex Green D3 S Anthony Bratton
CB Davon House D4 T/G Ray Dominguez
TE D.J. Williams D5 NT Chris Donaldson
G Caleb Schlauderaff D6a C Sampson Genus
LB D.J. Smith D6b WR Tori Gurley
LB Ricky Elmore D6c FB Jon Hoese
TE Ryan Taylor D7a S M.D. Jennings
DE Lawrence Guy D7b LB Elijah Joseph
DE Eli Joseph LB Jamari Lattimore WR Antonio Robinson CB Brandian Ross RB Brandon Saine T Theo Sherman WR Shaky Smithson LB Vic So’oto WR Kerry Taylor
