Morning Buzz: Teams are blitzing Rodgers
Welcome to your Morning Buzz, rounding up news and views regarding the Green Bay Packers from around the web and here at PackersNews.com. Grab a cup of coffee (or put the kettle on) and get caught up on everything you need to know about the Packers.
To start us off, Pete Dougherty takes a look at the different approaches taken by Ted Thompson and Jerry Reese, the general manager of the Packers' opponent this week, the New York Giants.
Jerry Reese gave his all in free agency last spring by fully guaranteeing a staggering $92.5 million for three defensive players: end Olivier Vernon ($40 million guaranteed), cornerback Janoris Jenkins ($28.5 million) and tackle Damon Harrison ($24 million).
That’s the exact opposite approach from how GM Ted Thompson has built and maintained the Packers. Thompson’s 12-year record of working the open market consists essentially of signing Ryan Pickett (2006), Charles Woodson (‘06) and Julius Peppers (2014). In that context, tight end Jared Cook’s one-year, $2.75 million deal in the offseason was huge news.
Michael Cohen looks at the curious case of James Starks, who has not gotten off to a great start so far in 2016. As Cohen points out, of Starks’ 12 carries this season, 25 percent have gone for negative yardage. That is suboptimal.
Pro Football Focus gave the Packers’ offensive line some love this week.
There was a time when teams wouldn’t dare blitz Aaron Rodgers. It seems that time has passed.
NBC is trying to have some fun with the fact that Sunday night’s game is going up against the second presidential debate.
The Packers fell one spot to #6 in Football Outsiders’ DVOA rankings after taking a week off for their bye. (What is DVOA you ask? Learn about FO’s signature metric here.)
Aaron Rodgers has been inhuman in Lambeau:
Yes, the Packers' run defense has been pretty impressive.
It’s been a while since the Giants beat a playoff team outside the NFC East.
Mike Freeman continues his series for Bleacher Report ranking NFL franchises by various criteria. This week, he ranks fan bases, and Packers fans most likely will enjoy the result.
The NFL will be allowing players to wear “alt-cleats” in Week 13.
Chris and Kyle Long, brothers who play for the Patriots and Bears respectively, are continuing their efforts to bring awareness to the lack of drinkable water in East Africa. Packer guard T.J. Lang is part of a group of NFL players working with the Long’s to help bring awareness to their Waterboys project.