Restoring Titletown: A Packers Franchise

[PeoplesChampGB]

Season Preview: Green Bay Packers
By Tim Johnson
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Can Brett Favre and the Packers bring the Lombardi home?

--Coach Mike Holmgren and this year's version of the Green Bay Packers are looking to continue on their recent success as training camp kicks off in a few days. Though there is a lot to be proud of if you are a Packers fan, one big obstacle remains in the way of a Lombardi Trophy: The Dallas Cowboys. Sure, the Green and Gold have made the playoffs two years in a row, but they seem to always end up in Texas Stadium where the Cowboys are near unbeatable. The past two years Green Bay has been eliminated by Dallas by 27-17 and 35-9 respectively.

Coach Mike Holmgren-"The Cowboys have a great football team and obviously they know what they are doing in Dallas. It's a new year and we are not thinking about the Dallas Cowboys. We just need to worry about what we're doing and if we are successful, let's see how the Cowboys are if they have to come to Lambeau in January."

No doubt there is a lot to be optimistic about this team. The offense and defense are stacked and there seem to be very few weaknesses. At quarterback Brett Favre commands this unit and he does it very well. If he doesn't kill you with his rocket arm, he will kill you with his improvisational skills.

Though not powerful, Edgar Bennett and Dorsey Levens are great screen backs and perfect for the West Coast offense that Holmgren has installed. William Henderson is a big, powerful bruiser of a fullback that can handle pass protection as well as knock a linebacker out of the way if need be. In the receiving corps, losing wideout Sterling Sharpe to a career ending injury will no doubt hurt this team but Robert Brooks, Mark Ingram and rookie Antonio Freeman should provide Favre with an adequate cast of pass catchers. Tight ends Keith Jackson and Mark Chmura are two of the best in the league at their position, and will no doubt challenge defensive coordinators on how to cover them both.

On the offensive line, the only weakness is possibly at left guard. Sure, Aaron Taylor has all of the tools to succeed. The question is if he can put it all together. Center Mike Winters is one of the best in the league while Ken Ruettgers provides excellent pass protection at left tackle.

Defensively, the Minister of Defense Reggie White returns for another season still looking for that evasive Super Bowl ring. After compiling 8 sacks last season (a down year for him), White looks to get back in the double digits. On the other side, Sean Jones provides a great compliment while the Grave Digger Gilbert Brown and John Jurkovic look to clog up the center.

Here is where the weaknesses come in. While George Koonce and Wayne Simmons still have room to grow, Fred Stickland is on the cusp of being 30 and is an average linebacker at best. If opposing runningbacks can get into the second level, I expect Strickland to struggle especially going against talented backs like Barry Sanders.

The Packers have three rookies at cornerback in Craig Newsome, Matthew Dorsett, and Roderick Mullen. I expect Newsome to start opposite of Doug Evans. Both starting corners are young and show plenty of potential, but I expect them to struggle with the likes of Cris Carter, Jerry Rice, and Michael Irvin. George Teague and LeRoy Butler fill out the safety position. Butler, creator of the Lambeau Leap, is one of the best safeties in the league so expect minimal over the top bombs against the Pack.

On special teams, kicker Chris Jacke and punter Craig Heintrich are solid and both should be competing for a pro bowl nod by the end of the year.

[PeoplesChampGB]

NFL Releases Preseason Schedule
By Dan Witherspoon
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--The Packers received the Preseason schedule for this year, and they have to feel good about the opponents they drew. Not only do they get to face the worst team in the league from last year (Oilers), not only do they get to face one of the expansion teams this year (Jaguars), but they also get to go against one of the tougher teams in the AFC last year in the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Seahawks, Oilers, and Jaguars are having competitions for the quarterback position. In Jacksonville, veteran Steve Beuerlein and former Favre protégé Mark Brunell will compete. In Seattle, disappointing draft pick Rick Mirer and John Friesz will see who will start for the Seahawks. Finally, down in Houston, Chris Chandler and rookie first round pick Steve McNair are vying for that coveted starting job.

In Green Bay, the quarterback position is secured but there are other positions at play. Below you will see the positions that are up for grabs this pre-season.

[jpfine]

Are you doing this in addition to your Panthers franchise?

[PeoplesChampGB]

Quote: Originally Posted by jpfine

Are you doing this in addition to your Panthers franchise?

Yes. I will be doing both.

[jpfine]

Nice, can't wait to see the outcome of both!!! Good luck!

[PeoplesChampGB]

Packers Finish Preseason Undefeated
By Tim Johnson
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The Packers finished the preseason unbeaten, but at a huge cost.

--The Packers had a stellar preseason, going undefeated and showing off how much talent that they have at the helm. They, however, will be without a major piece of the defense this season. We have learned that defensive end Reggie White will miss the entire 1995 season with a dislocated knee. The Packers were counting on White to be the anchor of the defensive line. Instead, Green Bay will have to rely on defensive tackle Gilbert Brown and defensive end Sean Jones to lead the defense through the season.

Defensive End Sean Jones-"It's just a devastating loss to this football team. Reggie is a true leader, we are proud to call him our captain. Just hurts that he will not be along for the ride this season. But hey, and even he will tell ya, Reggie isn't the only guy on this team. The next man is going to have to step up. We still have a whole season to play."

After placing White on injured reserve, the Packers went out into free agency and were able to sign defensive end Burt Grossman. Grossman will now be the starter at left end and is expected to play Week One vs. the Minnesota Vikings.

Reggie White wasn't the only player to go down with a devastating injury. Steelers Quarterback Neil O'Donnell suffered a torn Achilles tendon and is expected to call it a career. We wish Mr. O'Donnell the best. Below you will find the injury list for the NFL.

Injury Note

PIT QB Neil O'Donnell (Torn Achilles) Career

GB LE Reggie White (Dislocated Knee) Season

ARI MLB Garth Jax (Torn Tricep) 9 Weeks

CAR RT Matthew Campbell (Broken Collarbone) 8 Weeks

SF RT Harris Barton (Torn Groin) 7 Weeks

NO RE Israel Stanley (Broken Tibia) 6 Weeks

DEN RT Broderick Thompson (Foot Fracture) 5 Weeks

[PeoplesChampGB]

Regular Season Schedule Released
By Dan Witherspoon
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The Packers received a juggernaut of a schedule

--The NFL released the 1995-1996 regular season schedule today and the Packers appear to have drawn an unlucky hand. The NFC North division is going to be up for grabs early as the Packers face the Bears, Lions and Vikings three out of the first four weeks. In the middle are the Arizona Cardinals, who could be able to pull off an upset if the Packers are looking past them.

After a game against the Seahawks, who are dealing with a ton of quarterback issues, the Chiefs come to Lambeau where the Packers will have to deal with the likes of Derrick Thomas and Marcus Allen. The Packers will then travel to St. Louis to take on the Rams for their first season after moving from Los Angeles. Chris Miller, Jerome Bettis and Isaac Bruce look to take the Rams past the 4-12 record they had last season.

The Packers are then fortunate to receive a bye Week 8 which is directly in the middle of the season. This will allow the Packers to rest up before the final stretch. From here the season will get a lot tougher.

After another game against Warren Moon and the Minnesota Vikings, Randall Cunningham and Ricky Waters will try to put the Packers on ice when the Eagles come to town. The Packers will then travel to Tampa to take on the Bucs with rookie sensations Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks. Then the Packers will have to deal with the defending champion 49ers, led by Steve Young and Jerry Rice.

Barry Sanders and the Lions will then take on the Packers in Detroit on Thanksgiving, followed by another divisional game against the Chicago Bears. The Packers will then travel to San Diego to take on the defending AFC Champion San Diego Chargers. After a matchup against the Raiders in Oakland, the Packers will then finish out their schedule with a tough matchup against John Elway and the Broncos.

[PeoplesChampGB]

Packers Preview: Week One
By Dan Witherspoon
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With the first four games consisting of three NFC North matchups, the Packers cannot afford a letdown this Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings. In a very competitive NFC, the Packers are going to have to start fast out of the gates if they are to stay with teams like San Francisco and Dallas.

The Packers will hope to slow down WR Cris Carter.

First step is to win the NFC North and what better way to do that than an opening day win against the defending champions of the division, the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings have made the postseason three years running but have had no success getting out of the wildcard round. This year they claim to have all of the pieces in place. And as long as quarterback Warren Moon and wide receiver Cris Carter are on the same page, it could be a nightmare for that Packers secondary.

Safety LeRoy Butler-"They have a very good receiving corps and their quarterback has a cannon. We just have to make sure we are aware and not let anyone get behind us."

The Vikings also have one of the most explosive forces in the NFL, defensive tackle John Randle. Randle is looking to continue his dominance last year as he compiled 42 tackles and 13.5 sacks.

Quarterback Brett Favre should be able to offset Randle by using screen passes to keep him from rushing the backfield. The Vikings linebacking corps and secondary are average at best, so expect the Packers to have a good day through the air.

Minnesota Vikings Depth Chart - 1995
Regular Offense
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
WR	#86 Jake Reed (86)	#81 Chris Walsh (70)
TE	#83 Mike Tice (81)	#87 Adrian Cooper (78)	#85 Greg DeLong (73)*	#89 Andrew Jordan (72)
LT	#78 Chris Hinton (87)	#67 Rick Cunningham (72)
LG	#64 Randall McDaniel (96)	#61 Everett Lindsey (71)
C	#62 Jeff Christy (85)	#68 Mike Morris (74)
RG	#73 Todd Steussie (76)	#67 Rick Cunningham (70)
RT	#77 Korey Stringer (81)*	#67 Rick Cunningham (74)
WR	#80 Cris Carter (97)	#82 Qadry Ismail (76)	#84 David Palmer (69)
QB	#1 Warren Moon (94)	#14 Brad Johnson (72)
FB	#29 Charles Evans (74)
HB	#26 Robert Smith (82)	#32 Amp Lee (73)	#31 Scottie Graham
Base 4-3 Defense
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
LDE	#92 Roy Barker (75)	#91 Martin Harrison (69)	#99 James Harris (68)
LDT	#93 John Randle (97)	#95 Fernando Smith (70)
RDT	#98 Esera Tuaolo (70)	#72 Jason Fisk (69)*
RDE	#90 Derrick Alexander (72)*	#91 Martin Harrison (71)	#99 James Harris (67)
WLB	#51 Broderick Thomas (77)	#52 Richard Brown (72)
MLB	#55 Jack Del Rio (83)	#53 Tuineau Alapate (69)
SLB	#58 Ed McDaniel (81)	#50 Jeff Brady (72)
CB	#21 Charles Mincy (76)	#25 Alfred Jackson (71)
SS	#42 Harlon Barrett (73)	#24 Robert Griffith (68)
FS	#43 Orlando Thomas (77)*	#24 Robert Griffith (75)
CB	#20 Dewayne Washington (80)	#27 Corey Fuller (75)*	#37 Donald Frank
Special Teams
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
K	#7 Fuad Reveiz (80)
P	#4 Mike Saxon (90)
H	#14 Brad Johnson (72)
PR	#84 David Palmer (90)
KR	#84 David Palmer (90)	#82 Qadry Ismail (82)
LS	#64 Randall McDaniel (96)

Green Bay Packers Depth Chart - 1995
Regular Offense
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
WR	#83 Mark Ingram (81)	#81 Anthony Morgan (81)	#80 Charles Jordan (72)
TE	#88 Keith Jackson (95)	#89 Mark Chmura (93)	#83 Jeff Thomason (76)
LT	#75 Ken Ruettgers (88)
LG	#73 Aaron Taylor (82)*	#68 Joe Sims (71)
C	#52 Frank Winters (95)	#50 Mike Arthur (70)
RG	#76 Harry Galbreath (85)	#63 Adam Timmerman (76)
RT	#72 Earl Dotson (83)	#71 Gary Brown (70)
WR	#87 Robert Brooks (87)	#86 Antonio Freeman (78)*	#85 Terry Mickens (73)
QB	#4 Brett Favre (99)	#9 Jim McMahon (81)	#11 Ty Detmer (74)
FB	#30 William Henderson (82)
HB	#34 Edgar Bennett (84)	#25 Dorsey Levens (79)	#29 Marcus Wilson (74)	#32 Travis Jervey (73)*
Base 4-3 Defense
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
LDE	#92 Reggie White (98)	#91 Burt Grossman (73)
LDT	#64 John Jurkovic (85)	#98 Gabe Wilkins (75)	#90 Darius Holland (69)*
RDT	#93 Gilbert Brown (82)	#94 Bob Kuberski (72)
RDE	#96 Sean Jones (86)	#97 Mike LaBounty (70)
WLB	#59 Wayne Simmons (78)
MLB	#55 Fred Strickland (78)	#54 Bernardo Harris (68)*
SLB	#53 George Koonce (80)	#57 Joe Kelly (74)	#51 Brian Williams (74)*
CB	#21 Craig Newsome (76)	#22 Lenny McGill (70)	#28 Roderick Mullen (69)*
SS	#36 LeRoy Butler (97)
FS	#31 George Teague (83)	#39 Mike Prior (80)
CB	#33 Doug Evans (79)	#45 Keith Crawford (70)	#23 Matthew Dorsett (69)
Special Teams
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
K	#13 Chris Jacke (84)
P	#17 Craig Hentrich (94)
H	#9 Jim McMahon (81)
PR	#86 Antonio Freeman (74)*
KR	#86 Antonio Freeman (74)*	#32 Travis Jervey (57)*
LS	#48 Mike Bartrum (49)