PackOne
16 years ago
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080901/PKR01/80901040/1058 

The Green Bay Packers face perhaps the NFLs best rushing offense in the Sept. 8 season opener against the Minnesota Vikings, and it looks like they might finally have their top run stopper back.


Defensive tackle Ryan Pickett got onto the practice field on Monday afternoon for the first time after missing all of training camp and the preseason with a hamstring injury. Though the Packers dont have to issue an official practice or injury report until Thursday, coach Mike McCarthy confirmed that Pickett worked today.

The Packers put Pickett through a multitude of tests over the weekend and finally cleared him to return for Mondays practice.

Pickett wasnt sure how many snaps he would play in the opener against the Vikings but considering how thin the Packers are at defensive tackle and that the Vikings last season led the league in rushing yards and rushing average thanks in large part to running back Adrian Peterson Pickett could get his usual workload despite missing the entire preseason.

General Manager Ted Thompson kept only three true defensive tackles Pickett, Johnny Jolly and Colin Cole on the 53-man roster. Last season, they opened with six, although only four were activated for the first game.

Were going to have a three-man rotation instead of six, Pickett said. I think its going to be great, and maybe Ill get more plays this year than I had last year. My first year (in Green Bay in 2006) I had so many and then it almost got cut in half last year. Im looking forward to having more plays.

Though Pickett was sweating at his locker following his post-practice shower, he said he never felt winded during practice.

I actually felt lighter on my feet if you can believe that, he said.

Pickett wouldnt disclose his weight, although he acknowledged that hes heavier than 330, which was his listed weight on the roster.

Just a little bit, but not too much, Pickett said. Im right on point. Im actually probably lighter than I was at this point last year.

KGB returns, too
Pickett wasnt the only defensive lineman to return to practice on Monday.

Defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila returned a week after he experienced a setback with his surgically repaired knee.

I did a little something out there today, he said after practice, and it felt good.

Asked whether it felt different than last Monday, when he returned only to drop out a day later due to recurring soreness, he said: It felt good, so thats very encouraging.

More injuries
Center Scott Wells also returned to practice on Monday after missing the last two preseason games with a lower back injury.

Others who appeared to be limited or out of practice were: safeties Atari Bigby (ankle) and Charlie Peprah (hamstring), linebackers A.J. Hawk (chest) and Tracy White (ankle), receiver James Jones (knee), guard Josh Sitton (knee), left tackle Chad Clifton (rest) and defensive end Jeremy Thompson (groin).

Its unlikely any of those players will return for Tuesdays practice but some could come back after Wednesdays off day.

I wanted to make sure I split the workload up and did all the heavy lifting early in the week but give the guys that are nicked time to get ready, McCarthy said. And well get their work at the end of the week.

Hodge is gone
To make room on the 53-man roster for new long snapper Brett Goode, the Packers cut linebacker Abdul Hodge, a third-round pick from the 2006 draft.

Hodge had a good training camp after patellar-tendon surgeries sidelined him all last season.

At the initial cuts to 53 players on Saturday, General Manager Ted Thompson kept Hodge as a seventh linebacker, which is one more than usual. But Thompson decided to cut Hodge instead of, among others, linebacker Tracy White, rookie tackle Breno Giacomini, safety Charlie Peprah and cornerback-safety Jarrett Bush.

Thompson said the Packers tried to trade Hodge over the weekend before cutting him Monday morning to make room for Goode.

Depth chart
Here are some notables from the teams unofficial depth chart, which the Packers released Monday:

Will Blackmon was listed as the punt returner ahead of Jordy Nelson and Tramon Williams. Blackmon and Nelson were listed as the top two kickoff returners ahead of Williams, Pat Lee and Kregg Lumpkin.

Blackmon was listed as the backup cornerback behind Charles Woodson, while Williams was behind Al Harris. That means Blackmon moved ahead of Jarrett Bush as the No. 4 cornerback.

The interior of the offensive line was Daryn Colledge at left guard, Wells at center and Jason Spitz at right guard.
UserPostedImage
bozz_2006
16 years ago
+1 for being the bringer of good news!

PS I love how MM aka Mr. Pittsburgh says that Pickett "worked" today.
UserPostedImage
longtimefan
16 years ago
I am more concerned with Pick making it back..I think in the long run we would miss him way more the kgb
bozz_2006
16 years ago
he practiced and he felt fine. i'm confused; are you still concerned?
UserPostedImage
longtimefan
16 years ago

he practiced and he felt fine. i'm confused; are you still concerned?

"bozz_2006" wrote:



Came across wrong...

I want him in the games much more then KGB..

.So if KGB has to sit out or get less playing time I am okay with that..
digsthepack
16 years ago
Looking at the roster composition along the DL and LB corps, I have to assume that Jenkins and/or Montgomery get a decent number of snaps inside on passing downs.....giving the interior rotation some additional bodies. That said, I just have a sneaking suspicion that the LB corps will be the unit that keys the defense this year.

Given the talent amongst the starting and backup LBs, I envision a lot more blitzing, and a lot more use of unusual formation/player groupings to be extremely disruptive. Sanders is of the Jim Bates mold....somewhat conservative in scheme....but Winston Moss has his title for a reason......to make sure that Bates follows through on McCarthy's desire to be more aggressive/disruptive with the defense this year, as the team DOES possess the talent to do so.

I have a sneaking suspicion that if Sanders is unable/unwilling to break from his comfort zone scheme-wise, that Moss will assume greater control over the defense and, as Maximus said in Gladiator, "unleash hell upon my command".

Just a thought......
State Motto: "Wisconsin, our serial murderers eat their kill!"
Fan Shout
Zero2Cool (10h) : WR who said he'd break Xavier Worthy 40 time...and ran slower than you
Mucky Tundra (14h) : Who?
Zero2Cool (15h) : Texas’ WR Isaiah Bond is scheduled to visit the Bills, Browns, Chiefs, Falcons, Packers and Titans starting next week.
Zero2Cool (19h) : Spotting ball isn't changing, only measuring distance is, Which wasn't the issue.
Zero2Cool (19h) : The spotting of the ball IS the issue. Not the chain gang.
Mucky Tundra (2-Apr) : Will there be a tracker on the ball or something?
Zero2Cool (1-Apr) : uh oh
Martha Careful (1-Apr) : Too bad camera's can't spot the ball as well.
Mucky Tundra (1-Apr) : So will the chain gang be gone completely or will they still be around as a backup or whatever?
Zero2Cool (1-Apr) : The method for measuring first downs in the NFL will switch from chain gangs to camera-based technology in 2025, the league announced.
Martha Careful (1-Apr) : A big step in the right direction. Just put in the college system is very very good.
Zero2Cool (1-Apr) : NFL has passed a rule that allows both teams to possess the ball in OT during the regular season
Zero2Cool (1-Apr) : Touchbacks on kickoffs will now bring the ball to the 35-yard line.
beast (31-Mar) : It might of gotten more popular recently, but braiding hair (even men) in certain cultures goes back for centuries.
Martha Careful (30-Mar) : Is men braiding their hair a new style thing? Watching the NCAA men's tournament many players have done
Zero2Cool (29-Mar) : Ha. Well, it'd be nice for folks to reset their own password. Via validated email 😏
beast (29-Mar) : Monopoly was supposed to be an educational game, that show how evil capitalism was and how we should avoid it
beast (29-Mar) : Lol, I was thinking username would be better, as then I wouldn't have to keep an email up to date lol 😂
beast (29-Mar) : Zero2Cool (25-Mar) : I was thinking email because I think it'll make folks keep it up todate lol
wpr (29-Mar) : sure is
Zero2Cool (29-Mar) : Monopoly is a rip off of The Landlord's Game
wpr (27-Mar) : 28 days until the draft
earthquake (27-Mar) : Which seemed strange to my 9 year old self, that you could be a fan for a team other than the one you play for
earthquake (27-Mar) : Nothing eventful happened, other than it being clear that he was a bengals fan
earthquake (27-Mar) : And we went and hung out with him one afternoon, I must have been 9 or so
earthquake (27-Mar) : That’s wild, when I was a kid my friend lived in the same apartment complex in De Pere
Mucky Tundra (27-Mar) : Only career highspot was a 200 yard rushing game while playing for the Cardinals
Mucky Tundra (27-Mar) : He is a former Packer. Drafted out of Northern Illinois. Didn't do much in GB.
dfosterf (26-Mar) : Despicable
Zero2Cool (26-Mar) : Former NFL. I think Packers too
Zero2Cool (26-Mar) : NFL RB Leshon Johnson has been charged in a massive dog fighting operation, with the FBI seizing over 190 Pit Bulls
Mucky Tundra (26-Mar) : Some real irony of a QB as short as Wilson playing for the Giants
Mucky Tundra (26-Mar) : Giants country, let's be the tall beings of lore!
Mucky Tundra (26-Mar) : Russell Wilson signs with the Giants.
Zero2Cool (25-Mar) : I was thinking email because I think it'll make folks keep it up todate lol
wpr (25-Mar) : I don't think there is a significant difference. I use a user name for many. Others email.
Martha Careful (25-Mar) : email
Zero2Cool (25-Mar) : would it be better to use EMAIL or USERNAME to log into a site?
wpr (25-Mar) : Thanks Zero
Zero2Cool (24-Mar) : New forum has the ability to Thank a post now.
beast (24-Mar) : And the only time they have won the Championship in an even year, was the first time they did, in 2006.
beast (24-Mar) : Since 2007, there have been 10 odd numbered years, Wisconsin Women have won the Championship in 7 of those 10 odd numbered years.
buckeyepackfan (24-Mar) : Congratulations Lady Badger Hockey Team. NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!!
Zero2Cool (23-Mar) : I don't think it's completed yet. it was just announced last month, right?
dhazer (23-Mar) : did netflix ever release the Packers documentary
Zero2Cool (21-Mar) : And it is glorious!
beast (21-Mar) : Unsigned FA QB Rodgers is supposedly in the Steelers building
Martha Careful (19-Mar) : But I don't own a car! So can I still use it in my apartment?
Zero2Cool (19-Mar) : btw, new site auto updates
Zero2Cool (19-Mar) : Woohoo!
Please sign in to use Fan Shout
2024 Packers Schedule
Friday, Sep 6 @ 7:15 PM
Eagles
Sunday, Sep 15 @ 12:00 PM
COLTS
Sunday, Sep 22 @ 12:00 PM
Titans
Sunday, Sep 29 @ 12:00 PM
VIKINGS
Sunday, Oct 6 @ 3:25 PM
Rams
Sunday, Oct 13 @ 12:00 PM
CARDINALS
Sunday, Oct 20 @ 12:00 PM
TEXANS
Sunday, Oct 27 @ 12:00 PM
Jaguars
Sunday, Nov 3 @ 3:25 PM
LIONS
Sunday, Nov 17 @ 12:00 PM
Bears
Sunday, Nov 24 @ 3:25 PM
49ERS
Thursday, Nov 28 @ 7:20 PM
DOLPHINS
Thursday, Dec 5 @ 7:15 PM
Lions
Sunday, Dec 15 @ 7:20 PM
Seahawks
Monday, Dec 23 @ 7:15 PM
SAINTS
Sunday, Dec 29 @ 3:25 PM
Vikings
Sunday, Jan 5 @ 12:00 PM
BEARS
Sunday, Jan 12 @ 3:30 PM
Eagles
Recent Topics
10h / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

15h / Green Bay Packers Talk / bboystyle

1-Apr / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

1-Apr / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

31-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

30-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

29-Mar / Random Babble / wpr

28-Mar / Feedback, Suggestions and Issues / dfosterf

28-Mar / Random Babble / Martha Careful

26-Mar / Random Babble / Mucky Tundra

25-Mar / Random Babble / Martha Careful

24-Mar / Random Babble / packerfanoutwest

24-Mar / Random Babble / Zero2Cool

21-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

19-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

Headlines
Copyright © 2006 - 2025 PackersHome.com™. All Rights Reserved.