Thanks to a talent-rich draft, the annual ‘grading’ of teams’ performances in the NFL Draft has been a fairly generous one this year. If any division has polarized the opinion of the media, it is the NFC North. The Minnesota Vikings have been widely praised for their haul, although perhaps not too surprising, as any team would struggle not to draw praise for three first-round selections, while the Chicago Bears have been lamented for not filling certain needs and arguably reaching with their first-round selection of Kyle Long. That leaves the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers. Both teams have been praised for ‘solid’ drafts, but the latter’s general manager, Ted Thompson, may have struck gold with his current crop of rookies.

The Packers took UCLA’s Datone Jones with the 26th pick of the draft, and you’d struggle to find a person who does not like this pick. He has the ability to come in and start for the Packers immediately, and offers more dynamism on the edge than the likes of C.J. Wilson and Jerel Worthy. The pressure he will be able to generate on quarterbacks will help create space for Clay Matthews, who was often double teamed last season, and form a formidable one-two punch for the Packers’ defense. He has a lot to learn still, including improving his balance and agility, but he will make an impact on the Green Bay defense from day one.  Check out the NFL Future betting odds at Topbet.eu for a great 2013 NFL season.

Thompson also addressed the Packers’ desperate need for a running back, selecting Alabama’s Eddie Lacy in the second round before also taking Jones’ teammate at UCLA, Johnathan Franklin, in the fourth round. Lacy was arguably the best running back in draft, especially for teams looking for a workhorse back who can be on the field for all three-downs. However, injury concerns caused his stock to drop considerably. Instead of passing up on the immense talent Lacy offers, Thompson drafted some security in the form of Franklin. The duo should help take some heat off Aaron Rodgers, although both will need to work on their pass protection skills.

The offensive line was another area that Thompson and his team needed to strengthen, and they did so in the fourth round, taking David Bakhtiari (Colorado) and J.C. Tretter (Cornell). Green Bay has already decided to move Bryan Bulaga and Josh Sitton to left tackle and left guard respectively, ensuring Rodgers to have the best possible protection. This means that Bakhtiari and Tretter will likely compete with Marshall Newhouse and Derek Sherrod at the right tackle position, although potentially either or both could move inside. Given Newhouse’s and Sherrod’s troubles at the left tackle position over the last two seasons, it will be interesting to see how they transition to right, but Bakhtiari could oust both players by the beginning of the season if he impresses enough in training camp and preseason.

The Packers also added a number of players later in the draft whose contributions will likely be limited to special teams in their rookie year, but defensive lineman Josh Boyd of Mississippi State could be groomed into an NFL-quality nose tackle in a year or two. He could push B.J. Raji for playing time while also helping out in the rotation in the meantime.

Most critics of the Packers’ draft attribute not taking a safety as the reason for their lower grades, stating it was the one need the Packers failed to fill, but is there really a need at the position? Charles Woodson’s departure does leave a void in leadership, but Green Bay has real ability and potential at the position. Morgan Burnett has developed into an efficient and trustworthy presence in the secondary, whilst both M.D. Jennings and Jerron McMillian have shown flashes of their potential, and could excel with added responsibility.

Thompson is revered around the league as one of the savviest GMs out there. If this class of rookies helps take the Packers back to the Super Bowl, and it would be no surprise if they did, then he will have more than earned the respect the rest of the league pays him.

Image credit: Green Bay Packers via Facebook

The article Packers’ Draft Class Coming in Under the Radar appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Candlestick Park was silenced after second year quarterback Collin Kaepernick dropped back on the fourth play of the game and threw an interception to Packers cornerback Sam Shields, who returned it for a touchdown.

Kaepernick quickly brushed off his lone mistake to have a career day to help lift the 49ers over the Packers 45-31.

Green Bay’s defense was non-existent and unable to contain the dual threat quarterback. Kaepernick set a quarterback rushing record, compiling 181 yards on 16 carries for two touchdowns. He also completed 17 of 31 passes for 263 yards and two touchdowns.

His favorite target was wideout Michael Crabtree, who caught nine passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns.

The Packers also had no answer for 49ers running back Frank Gore. Gore carried the ball 23 times for 119 yards and a touchdown. He also caught two passes for 48 yards.

After the Packers had a 14-7 lead going into the second quarter, momentum quickly shifted when Packers punt returner Jeremy Ross muffed the catch and the 49ers recovered the fumble. The 49ers responded with a touchdown to tie the game.

On Green Bay’s ensuing drive quarterback, Aaron Rodgers over threw wideout Jordy Nelson and was intercepted. Once again the 49ers turned a Packers mistake into a touchdown to retake the lead.

The Packers went into the half down 24-21 but did not make any halftime adjustments to get back into the game and were outscored 21-10 in the second half.

Rodgers finished the game, completing 26 of 39 passes for 257 yards two touchdowns and one interception. Rodgers connected with James Jones and Greg Jennings for touchdowns.

Jones finished the game with four receptions for 87 yards along with his touchdown. Jennings led the Packers with six receptions for 54 yards along with his late score.

The 49ers are now heading back to the NFC Championship game. They will either face the No.1 seed Atlanta Falcons or the No.5 seed Seattle Seahawks. If the Seahawks pull off the upset, San Francisco will host the Championship game at Candlestick Park.

As for the Packers, they will enter the offseason with many decisions to make regarding players and staff.

Image Courtesy : Green Bay Packers

The article Kaepernick Demolishes Packers appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

The Green Bay Packers clinched the NFC North division for a second consecutive season with their 21-13 victory over divisional rivals the Chicago Bears at Solider Field.

Aaron Rodgers helped the Packers continue their 12-game winning streak in the NFC North division by tossing three touchdown passes. Rodgers completed 22 of 36 passes for 291 along with his three touchdown passes.

James Jones was the recipient to all three touchdowns, catching a total of five catches for 60 yards. Also, wideout Randall Cobb caught a game high six reception for 115 yards.

The Packers featured a combination of running backs to help jumpstart the run game. Alex Green, Ryan Grant and DuJuan Harris combined for 94 of Green Bay’s 113 rushing yards. The run game has picked up in the recent weeks due to rotation they have implemented.

Green Bay was ecstatic with the return of linebacker Clay Matthews, who missed the team’s last four games with a hamstring injury. His presence on defense was known, finishing the game with six tackles and two sacks. Matthews has 11 sacks in the 10 games he has played this season. The defensive pressure stepped it up in his return, combining for four total sacks.

The gameplan for Jay Cutler and the Chicago Bears was to run the ball, control the clock and keep Rodgers off the field. Their opening drive looked as if it would have been successful but they had trouble moving the ball.

Cutler finished the game after completing 12 of 21 passes for 135 yards one touchdown and one interception. Cutler connected with wide receiver Brandon Marshall on a 15-yard touchdown in the second quarter to give the Bears their early (and only) lead of the game.

The Packers secondary contained Marshall, who leads the league with 107 receptions, to only six receptions for 35 yards along with his score.

As for Chicago’s run game, Matt Forte had 20 carries for 69 yards. Forte also contributed in the pass game catching five passes for 64 yards.

Chicago’s tenacious defense was without Brian Urlacher but was still able to force two turnovers against Green Bay. Grant busted through the defense for a positive gain and was hit by cornerback Charles Tillman, who forced a fumble recovered by linebacker Nick Roach.

With less than eight minutes left, on a punt, returner Cobb attempted to throw a backwards pass to Jeremy Ross which he also fumbled — the Bears regained possession. The Bears were only able to kick a field goal on the horrendous Packers mistake.

With the victory, the Packers are in contention to earn a first-round playoff bye. As for the Bears, they have fallen to 8-6, along with four other teams in the NFC and will have to battle to earn a wild card playoff position. The Packers will be play their final home game of the season next week against the Tennessee Titans. The Bears will head west to take on the Arizona Cardinals.

Image Courtesy : Green Bay Packers

The article Green Bay Packers Clinch NFC North Division appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.