WST Podcast 1.24.11 (Packer Section)

Duration: 16:11

Topics:

• The WiscoSportsTalk Crew is joined by Dave from SteelersDepot.com and the Terrible Podcast.

• Dave and the WST guys talk about the confidence level of the Packer and Steeler faithful.

• Dave and the guys break down the weaknesses of their respective teams.

• Predictions for the big game.

WST Podcast 1.13.11

Duration: 28:35

Topics:

• The guys break down the good and the bad against the Eagles last weekend.

• Can/will James Starks repeat last weeks’ performance?

• Preview of the Packers v.s. Falcons Divisional playoff game.

• Key match-ups to watch for.

• Are Wisconsin sports fans the most knowledgable fans in America? T  he way they question Mike McCarthy’s decsions would suggest otherwise…
• Score predictions.

WiscoSportsTalk Podcast Part 1

Duration: 16.14

Topics:

- Can you be upset about the loss?

- How good is Matt Flynn?

- What are the chances Rodgers plays this week?

- Preview of Giants @ Packers, with and without Rodgers.

The WiscoSportsTalk Podcast shifts it up during the bye week and gives you their mid-season awards.  Who is the half-season MVP? Who’s a contender and who’s a pretender? Where do the Packers currently stand amongst the league’s elite?  The WST squad answers all of these questions and then closes with some Wisco updates and Shout Outs in this week’s final section!

A lot of Green Bay Packer Fans can rest easy now that two pivotal parts of the Packers Defense have been extended long term contracts. The news that DL Ryan Pickett and FS Nick Collins both will be extended today came from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s columnist, Greg A. Bedard.

It is reported that DL Ryan Pickett has received a four year extension worth a total of $28 million.  FS Nick Collins accepted a three year extension worth a total of 23 million dollars.

Quotes:

“I signed the papers today, We’ve been working on this off and on for a year.” I’m just happy to stay in Green Bay.” It meant the world to him to be here, his family likes it here; he loves to fish, he’s a small town guy, he loves being part of the Green Bay community.” – Ryan Pickett

“love this defense, I think I was built for it…I think the defense is going to grow leaps and bounds from last year.” – Ryan Pickett

“Our No. 1 goal is to get to the Super Bowl.”- Ryan Pickett’s response when asked if he and Collins made the decision together.

This Move will go a long way in helping the Packers return to the post season and compete for a Super Bowl championship.  Once again, the Ted Thompson haters have to eat a little bit of humble pie after this deal.  He’s done an excellent job of retaining quality talent on favorable deals.  Way to go Teddy. Go Pack!

Packers Safety, Nick Collins has signed his tender offer ( 1 year – 3.3 mil) today according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. This is great news for the Green Bay Packers and their fans, who expected Collins to take quite a while to sign the offer.  This breaking news is a good indication that Nick Collins will be back in the fold next season and that him and the Packers seem to be on the same page.  Nick will probably have a new contract by time we see him at OTA’s and Mini-camp this summer.  This deal is another indication that Ted Thompson is committed to keeping last years core in tact and establishing continuity going into next season.  Way to get this done Ted.

Quotes: Nick Collins’ agent, Alan Herman

“Nick really likes it in Green Bay and wants to stay there. Hopefully, this will help us finalize a deal as we move forward.”

“We hope to get things moving as free agency moves forward over the next week or so”

Lineup:

the Badgers are looking strong at the right time

• Chris Dennis
• Adam “Big A” Maritato
• Brian Peoplis
• Greg “Grego” Boulanger

Topics: (segment duration)

1. Big Ten and Big East basketball conference tournament preview (Beginning – 11:05)
2. Packers Free Agency:  has the Packer’s front office been smart or complacent (11:20 – 23:05)
3. Bucks basketball: Where can the Bucks end up come play-off time (23:20 – 33:40)
4. Convince Me! Brewers:  Do the Brewers have enough to reach the post season? Shout Outs! (34:00 – End)

The Packers have decided to give tender offers to 9 of their restricted free agents. This list includes safeties Nick Collins and Atari Bigby, cornerbacks Tramon Williams and Will Blackmon, guards Daryn Colledge and Jason Spitz, end Johnny Jolly, fullback John Kuhn and tight end Spencer Havner. Notably absent were punter Jeremy Kapinos and running back DeShawn Wynn.

What does all this mean? Well, each tender is leveled so the team will receive some sort of compensation from any team who signs one of these players. For example, Nick Collins and Tramon Williams received the highest level tender both money-wise and compensation-wise. If any team gives these players a higher offer, they will have to surrender a both a first and third round pick for either Collins or Williams. Johnny Jolly also received a high first round tender. These moves basically assure that these players will be back with the team next year.

Giving Johnny Jolly a high tender worth almost $3 million dollars for next year seems like a bit of a surprise considering his availability for next year is in question. He has a felony drug charge that has a good chance of netting him a four game (could be more) suspension, with the possibility of jail time. His play on the field last year was undeniably a major factor in why the team would offer him such  a high tender.

Daryn Colledge, who is reportedly angry with the Packers, received a second round tender. This is also a high level tender that will most likely keep away offers from other teams. Colledge had made his desire to test free agency known and is not pleased that his options are very much limited now. Jason Spitz and Atari Bigby also got second round tenders, and will most likely be playing in green and gold next season (for at least the preseason).

Will Blackmon received a fourth round tender, so he will brought back for the preseason with a major opportunity to compete for playing time on defense. It is still up in the air whether the team should keep him or not though.

Low level offers were given to John Kuhn and Spencer Havner.

The Green Bay Packers off-season figures to be a an interestng and, most likely, long process.  The buzz is that the Packers are quickly working to grind out deals with NT Ryan Pickett and FS Nick Collins . So Im going to assume that those deals get hammered out and are of no concern come draft day.  So, when referring to Adam “Big A” Maritato’s article, I concluded that the Packers have two glaring weaknesses that they must address on the first day of the draft.  Those two areas of need are Offensive Tackle and Corner-back.  With many of our offensive linemen entering un/restricted free agency, we can’t assume that they will

Can Al Harris be the same player he was?

all be brought back.  The packers have made it clear that they want to build through the draft and avoid long, expensive contracts, especially with the possibility of an un-capped year.  We also cannot assume that CBs Al Harris, Will Blackmon, and Pat Lee will all recover from their injuries and be productive members of this team by next season, if at all.  These positions must be filled and I believe that there are plenty of talented, young prospects in this years draft to fill the void.  So with out further ado…….

The Packers Selections Round 1-3-

Round 1: (in order of preference)

OT Anthony Davis- Rutgers- 6’6, 328 lbs

Bruce Campbell is a beast!!

OT Bryan Bulaga- Iowa- 6’6, 311 lbs

OT Bruce Campbell- Maryland- 6’6, 312 lbs.

I think with the likely departure and age of the packers current Offensive Tackles, this position needs to be addressed in the 1st round of this years draft.  Although, I was quoted on the Podcast saying that the Packers true needs lie in the defensive backfield; this years draft seems to be loaded with 1st round caliber Offensive Tackles and the Packers can’t afford to let one of those gems slip by.

Round 2:

CB Kyle Wilson- Boise St.- 5’10, 190 lbs

CB Devin McCourty- Rutgers- 5’11 190 lbs.

CB Javier Arenas- Alabama- 5’9 200 lbs.

What I love about this group of Cornerbacks is that they are described as strong tacklers.  Part of the reason the packers were great against the run was because

Kyle Wilson

Charles Woodson was exceptional at taking on blockers and making tackles on ball carriers.  Kyle Wilson may go higher than this because his stock is at an all time high Following an excellent showing at the Senior Bowl.  But He, Devin McCourty and Javier

Devin McCourty is Sick!!

Arenas would easily be able to step in and contribute as a Nickel or Dime back next season.  All of these guys are great athletes and projected as future starters in the NFL, save for a few reviews on Arenas.  All three of these Cornerbacks double as Kick/Punt returners for their respective college teams and all possess “home run” capability.  I would love any one of these picks.

Round 3:

Dexter McCluster is a big play waiting to happen

RB  Dexter Mccluster- Ole Miss- 5’8, 165 lbs.

S Darrel Stuckey- Kansas- 6’1, 205 lbs.

ILB Daryl Washington- TCU- 6’3, 234 lbs.

Dexter McCluster may be small, but this little rocket runs a 4.32 40 yard dash.  This Kid has the agility and the speed to break one for a touchdown on any play.  Many compare him to Darren Sproles, which I would have to agree with.  If the packers arent confortable with the playmaking ability of one of their earlier picks and this guy is still on the board; they have to take him.  Darrel Stuckey is known as a safety that can cover a lot of territory in a short amount of time.  Stuckey has topped out at 4.4 in the 40 yard dash but consistently runs around a 4.5.  If he runs 4.5 at the combine, I would expect him to be around in the 3rd round when the Packers select.  Daryl Washington is an interesting pick because he’s got excellent side-line to side-line speed and is described as an excellent tackler.  The Packers need to evaluate ILB, AJ Hawks progression and decide whether this season was just a hiccup in what will be a productive career or if this season was a foreshadow for what to expect long term. I personally feel that a replacement, at the very least, needs to be considered.  AJ hawk repeatedly over – pursues running lanes which results in him getting blocked out of the play entirely.  He’s no stalwart in pass coverage either; AJ struggles in Man and Zone.  If the Packers feel the same way I do,  Daryl Washington makes a lot of sense here in the 3rd round.