Packers Most Likely to Lose Their Starting Spot by Week 8

wpr
Preferred Member Topic Starter

11 years ago

While we do have separate threads for Hawk and Sheilds I found the article that lumps them all together interesting.

5 Green Bay Packers Most Likely to Lose Their Starting Spot by Week 8
by Brian Carriveau

Whether due to age, ineffectiveness or lack of consistency, several players on the Green Bay Packers hold precarious grips on their starting jobs.

A poor training camp or a couple mental errors in a game could mean the difference between a spot in the starting lineup and a spot on the sidelines.

No one is throwing in the towel on these players. They'll receive every opportunity to prove themselves this season; they just have to take advantage of those situations.

Donald Driver

Following his attention-getting triumph on the reality television series Dancing with the Stars, Donald Driver's recently restructured contract with more than a million dollars in guaranteed pay has all but assured he'll be part of the Packers' plans in 2012.

But how big of a role will Driver play?

Marshall Newhouse

After a rookie season in which he saw action in exactly zero games, Newhouse was thrown to the wolves in 2011.

Filling in for an injured Chad Clifton, Newhouse had an up-and-down sophomore year.

A.J. Hawk

Solid, not spectacular, might be one of the best ways to describe A.J. Hawk.

The intangibles Hawk brings as a leader––being smart, communicating with teammates, not making mental errors and staying relatively healthy––are all positive traits.

Sam Shields

The unheralded hero of the Packers' 2010 Super Bowl just might have been Sam Shields, a college wide receiver that went undrafted and then made the transition to professional cornerback.

In just his rookie season, Shields played a large role in the Packers' nickel package, shutting down opposing wide receivers and coming up with a couple interceptions at the most opportune times, including the NFC Championship game.

Charlie Peprah

Charlie Peprah finds himself in a similar situation to A.J. Hawk as a player who's solid, but not a standout.

Filling in for injured safeties Morgan Burnett in 2010 and Nick Collins in 2011, Peprah has held down the fort, showing he's good enough to start in a Super Bowl and win it in 2010.

I really wanted to post the whole article but following Kevin's wishes I am putting the link for the rest of the story.

If Donald is the starter it is in name only. He won't have to wait until the middle of the season to be unseated. I suspect they know he is the #5 receiver at best (including Finley.)

With Sherrod's injury it is Marshall's job to lose. As long as he plays a solid game they won't pull him in favor of Derek.

With so many sub packages it is a misnomer is saying AJ is or is not a starter. He will be out on the field part of the time. He will be on the sidelines part of the time. Certainly Smith will see more playing time this year than last year. Some of those snaps will be at the expense of Hawk. I doubt AJ gets benched for the bulk of the game. And if so it will be a game to game decision depending upon opposition's offense.

technically I don't think Shields is a starter. That falls to Woodson and Williams.
As I said in the Shield's thread I expect him to have a better understand of the intricacies of a CB in the NFL. No doubt he assumed that his speed would cover all his errors last year. he is a little wiser now. It will only be a good thing if House or Hayward play themselves into a larger role.

Peprah is one of those guys that everyone loves to kick around. He has made the most of the talent that he has. Instead of appreciating his efforts many seem to complain because he is not All Pro caliber. I do expect him to lose out to either Woodson in his hybrid role. Especially if the young CBs come on strong. While others look to Jennings or Mc Millian to take over Peprah's position I think they are lat least a year away from doing so.

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nerdmann
Premier Member

11 years ago

Driver, Newhouse and Peprah are not starters.

As for Shields, the whole defensive backfield was hung out to dry last season. They were also required to tackle like LBs, being that no one in front of them was willing (or able) to do so. That should be over now.

The CBs won't have to cover for an inordinant amount of time, because we will be getting more pressure on the QBs. Also, we should be able to stop the run this year.

IF Shields loses his starting position, it will be temporary, and it will be due largely to outstanding performances by Davon House or Chris Heyward.

I think Datko is in the mix at LT.

As for Hawk, it wouldn't surprise me to see DJ Smith get more time. McCarthy had some good things to say about Smith today. Although in fairness to Hawk, the defense should be back to it's previous level, and he had a pretty decent year in 2010. Wouldn't mind seeing the rookie make a statement here either. What's his name? Manning? I see him beating out Francois.

“Winning is not a sometime thing, it is an all the time thing. You don't do things right once in a while…you do them right all the time.”

DakotaT
Select Member

11 years ago

In the secondary in subpackages, I think what we might see is Shields and Tramon on the outside, House and Hayward in the slot and Woodson and Burnett playing safety. Peprah still starts in base if he beats out Jennings and Levine.

Hawk will be better this year because he has a tackling machine trying to take his job and he'll have a much improved line in front of him.

I expect a total turnaround on D this year, and if not - then Dom can hit bricks.

I believe Sherrod is our LT of the future but Newhouse will start the season. No clue on Datko yet. Grandpa Driver doesn't even belong on that list because he isn't the starter and shouldn't even make the team if things were actually fair. But since we have to give him a farewell tour some poor kid will have to spend the year on the practice squad instead of teh active roster.

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