Packers’ Mid-Season Report Card Posts High Marks
By Chris Havel
The Green Bay Packers have passed their mid-term exams with flying colors.
Here is the best and worst of what the NFC North’s first-place Packers had to offer en route to their 7-1 win-loss record this season:
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER:
Is there really a doubt? Nope. Brett Favre continues to amaze with his leadership, talent and durability. The Methuselah of NFL quarterbacks would be inundated with talk of a league-record fourth Most Valuable Player award if not for New England’s Tom Brady. That’s OK with Favre. When a player is 38 years old and accomplished just about all there is, all that matters is winning. Come to think of it, that’s always what it has been about with Favre.
OFFENSIVE MVP:
Donald Driver gets my vote. The veteran wide receiver is a big-play threat and much, much more. He is the unquestioned leader of one of the league’s top wide receiver units. When Greg Jennings, James Jones, Koren Robinson and Ruvell Martin make a play rest assured that Driver’s influence played a role. It might be as obvious as drawing double coverage or as subtle as a brief reminder during a timeout about what the receiver might anticipate from the defense. Best of all, Driver plays a co-dependant position without demanding the limelight.
DEFENSIVE MVP:
A strong argument could be made for nose tackle Ryan Pickett, linebackers Nick Barnett and A.J. Hawk and cornerback Charles Woodson. Each has contributed above and beyond the call, and they are critical to the Packers’ defensive success. That said, defensive end Aaron Kampman continues to play at a Pro Bowl level. Kampman (nine sacks) and pass-rush specialist Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (five and one-half sacks) are the NFL’s top sack combo among teammates. Kampman’s relentless pressure, leadership and cool under fire exemplify what the Packers’ defense is all about.
SPECIAL TEAMS MVP:
Rookie kicker Mason Crosby has been reliable on field goals, and his distance on kickoffs has provided the defense with excellent field position throughout the first half of the season. He also isn’t shy about making tackles, and his exceptionally strong leg is a significant weapon.
MOST UNDERRATED:
Tackles Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher get noticed when they miss a block or commit a penalty while their play-in, play-out pass protection and toughness seldom get mentioned. Consider it done.
MOST DISAPPOINTING:
The running back unit in general and DeShawn Wynn in particular. The group has an excellent teacher in running backs coach Edgar Bennett and that has been reflected especially in the play of fullback Korey Hall. However, Wynn continued to show why he was a classic underachiever at Florida. He didn’t diligently prepare for the rigors of the NFL and it showed in his dehydration against the Bears and his being prone to injury. On the positive side – and with Bennett’s tutelage – this group should improve in the season’s second half.
COACH MIKE McCARTHY’S FINEST MOMENT:
Whatever the second-year coach did during halftime of the Packers-Giants game at the Meadowlands worked. The Packers turned a sluggish first half into a road game rout. That game reinforced the team’s confidence after what many suggested was a fortunate victory in the season opener against Philadelphia. In fact, that game did wonders for both teams. The Packers have gone 5-1 and the Giants haven’t lost.
McCARTHY’S WORST MOMENT:
The second half of the Bears game was disappointing for several reasons. Favre completed 19 of 22 passes in the first half but McCarthy became tentative in the second half. It might have been because he was trying to protect a precarious lead against the defending NFC North champions, or because the Packers’ absentee running game began to show a pulse. Furthermore, while McCarthy was right to get in James Jones’ face for the back-to-back fumbles, he shouldn’t have benched him. The Packers’ offense needed Jones to function at its highest level in a key game. To McCarthy’s credit he regrouped from that loss and the Packers haven’t looked back.
MOST PLEASANT SURPRISE:
Jennings has become the big-play maker when the team needs it most. He has been fearless and sure-handed in the clutch. His recognition leading up to the first play of overtime at Denver led to one of the most exciting victories of the season. His terrific route, catch and run against the Chargers provided the second-best moment.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR AHEAD:
The Packers continue to perplex the so-called experts by winning in a variety of ways. Look for Favre to continue to play at a high level, and expect the defense to get better. None of the units has had its finest day, either individually or collectively.
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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