This has been a subject discussed throughout many threads over the past couplpe weeks, but I wanted to have a central location to see an answer from some of you guys.

Brad Jones, Jerron McMillian, M.D. Jennings, Davon House, Casey Hayward, Randall Cobb, James Jones, Dez Moses, Eric Walden, and maybe others (these were just guys off the top of my head that have outperformed expectations, either mine or others)

Who do you think has best exemplified the next man up mentality and/or outperformed expectations at this point in the season?

My pick would be Brad Jones. I remember watching him play OLB and he never seemed to make flashy plays or even be a contributor to the defense. But he has made some tackles for loss and seems to be an improvement in coverage over both Bish and Smith. All that from a third string, new MLB convert. Never thought that'd happen.

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My pick - Casey Hayward and Jerron McMillian, without those two cats stepping up and playing huge minutes with Shields and Woodson down.. I think we are in a world of hurt.

Brad Jones would be right there along with DJ Smith prior to injury.


And I would be amiss not mentioning James Jones and Cobb in the receiving corp with huge minutes being missed by Jennings and Nelson.

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I would say Jeff Saturday because Aaron Rodgers hasn't been killed yet.

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No question Brad Jones is at the top of the long list, along with Hayward, McMillian, James Jones, Eric Walden, Randall Cobb, EDS, TJ Lang, Des Moses, MD Jennings and Alex Green. They've all stepped up and contributed well in place of starters. Hey, even Mike Neal makes the list. He played well after Raji was first injured, and has continued to do so.

If I had to pick just one, it would be a very difficult call between Brad Jones and Casey Hayward.

For me it's not the next man up, but the next team up. If you've told me before the season that Dez Moses, Erik Walden, Casey Hayward, Jerron McMillian and M.D. Jennings are the guys to keep the Packers in the game, I would have expected a blowout in every single game. Seeing all the veterans play in 2011 and putting together the league's worst defense yardagewise, you cannot rate high enough what all those young second stringers did this season. We have to give Ted Thompson tons of credit for putting together this incredible depth, I don't see any other team in the league that could put up a 7-3 being banged by injuries of key players as the Packers are.

Just an incredible performance by all of these kids, so I don't want to give the nod to one of the guys.

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My vote would have to go to a defensive player because of how awful they were last season and Hayward has been playing amazing football. The others have as well but Hayward is all over my tv every game.

Offensively, the nod would go to Randall Cobb. Everyone knew this kid was going to be a good player but he had to fill the openings quickly with both Jennings and Nelson out (add Benson too with some of his RB play). Again, Cobb is all over my tv every game.

These two young guys have stepped in and done amazing work. The other guys deserve credit as well and the list is nice and long.

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hayward is it foe me.

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James Jones.

Hes one guy who has not only filled in but seriously upped his game. He has caught everything and made some huge plays. Heyward and Jones have been good as well but they were both kind of unknowns and people didn't really doubt them because nobody had seen them at the positions they are playing before. James Jones had many doubters and fans wanting to trade him, cut his pay etc...

My selection would be Casey Hayward for sure, kids stepping up and showing superstar potential and its not just his nose for the ball its everything his coverage is unbelievable for a rookie.

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This is good news for a change.

http://espnwisconsin.com/common/more.php?m=49&action=blog&r=40&post_id=15311 

Or ???????????????,who knows with the Packers medical staff?

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