The Fab Five
By CHRIS HAVEL
It is apropos that Mike McCarthy embarks upon the rest of his NFL coaching career in his native Pittsburgh.
The Green Bay Packers play the Steelers in Saturday’s pre-season opener, but for McCarthy it is more than an exhibition. It is a first glance at McCarthy’s program a year into his reign. This isn’t Mike Sherman’s team. It is McCarthy’s.
The Packers’ head coach is in the second year of a three-year contract. The meter is running. The clock is ticking. With every news conference, team meeting, practice and game the line between success and failure is being drawn.
So much goes into being a successful NFL coach – and that includes plenty of luck – that McCarthy’s challenge is considerable. But that doesn’t mean it is impossible. On the contrary, McCarthy seemingly has laid a solid foundation for success. One of the cornerstones, perhaps THE cornerstone, is transforming raw talent into polished skill.
When that happens it validates scouting department’s knack for identifying talent and the coaching staff’s ability to develop it.
With that in mind, here are five players whose youth must be served, and whose potential must be realized, if the Packers are going to have a winning season.
CULLEN JENKINS, right defensive end
He played so well the coaches had no choice but to start him ahead of Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila late last season. Jenkins’ presence gave instant credibility to the run defense, and he also flashed pass rush skills.
The Packers’ decision to sign him to a hefty contract extension drew modest attention in the off-season. By season’s end, Jenkins’ re-signing will be considered one GM Ted Thompson’s shrewder moves.
Jenkins, 26, is hitting his prime. Until now, he has been miscast as an undersized (6-3, 290) defensive tackle. The truth is he can be an impact player at defensive end.
NICK COLLINS, free safety
He flashed a glimpse of his massive potential in the Packers’ victory at Chicago in the 2006 season finale.
Collins, 23, has the size, speed and intangibles to be an exceptional player. He plays bigger than his 5-11, 200-pound frame. With an infusion of confidence, and another season under his belt, he should be a difference maker this season. In fact, the Packers’ defense NEEDS him to be a difference maker. The hunch here is he will deliver.
GREG JENNINGS, receiver
Before Jennings’ ankle injury he was the toast of the team. He snared passes, piled up yards after the catch and smiled for the TV cameras. His engaging personality, humble demeanor and early success made him a darling.
Then he came up lame and faded into obscurity.
Rest assured, Jennings is going to be back with a vengeance this season. The Packers liked his potential so much they declined to trade for Randy Moss and they used a third-round pick on a receiver (San Jose State’s James Jones) to one day be Jennings’ running mate. If they didn’t think Jennings had the goods they may have been tempted to use their first-round pick on any of a handful of top-rated rookie receivers.
Whether Jennings ultimately can be a No. 1 receiver remains to be seen, but he is going to pile up the catches and yards so long as Donald Driver stays healthy and plays at a high level. Jennings was underrated in the 2006 NFL Draft, and he has been an afterthought throughout this training camp.
By season’s end, Jennings’ contributions will be major.
DARYN COLLEDGE, left guard
The Packers selected him to be their guard of the present and quite likely their tackle of the future.
Thus far, he has exceeded expectations.
Colledge, 24, blends in nicely with fellow offensive line mates Chad Clifton, Mark Tauscher, Scott Wells, Jason Spitz and Tony Moll. Collectively, they have the potential be the offense’s backbone. Individually, Colledge will distinguish himself as a Pro Bowl-caliber player before he is finished.
BRANDON JACKSON, running back
Jackson has shown the athleticism, intellect and pass-catching ability to be a very good NFL back. It is too early to say whether he can be more than that, but I wouldn’t be surprised.
Fans worry that he wasn’t the full-time starter at Nebraska. Why worry? Better for Jackson that he has less wear-and-tear on his body. And it is possible the Cornhuskers’ coaching staff either miscast Jackson or underrated his ability.
Either way, Jackson, 21, is off to a strong start. There is no reason to think he won’t develop into an above-average NFL back, and probably sooner than later.
Chris Havel is a freelance writer, best-selling author and host of northeast Wisconsin’s top-rated sports radio talk show, Sports Line, heard Monday through Friday from 4 to 6 p.m. on Sports Radio 107.5 FM and 1400 AM THE FAN. He writes a weekly column exclusively for Packers Fan Tours’ Website throughout the 2007 season.
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