Packers: Jennings Profile & Falcons Scouting Report

Senior writer jclombardi highlights Packers headlines.

Packers Jennings receiving attention: If ever there were a year for Greg Jennings to distinguish himself from his peers, carry the passing offense and seize his first Pro Bowl berth, this is it. In fact, after the Green Bay Packers drubbed the Minnesota Vikings and Jennings had a seven-catch, 152-yard, three-touchdown day, quarterback Aaron Rodgers said he has made a conscious effort to find No.?85 more often. Rodgers is as sure a bet as anyone to make the Pro Bowl. Why wouldn’t his top target have a shot as well? Jennings sure has made his case. He has 32 receptions and 520 receiving yards in the last five games, four of which the Packers have won – two of them on a national stage. If Jennings could somehow maintain that pace in the final six games of the year – and this is asking a lot – he would leapfrog over other receivers in the NFC and could even have his best year statistically. His relevance, to Green Bay’s offense and success, has never been more evident. But here’s the catch – it is not so intentional beyond the quarterback. ”We are not designing new plays for Greg or anything like that,” said Packers coach Mike McCarthy. “Greg is an outstanding football player, he is an excellent route-runner, and Aaron and Greg have really been on the same page here of late.”

Falcons scouting report: Run Offense–Offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey, a former head coach with the Buffalo Bills, runs the power running scheme he learned as an assistant coach with the Steelers. Halfback Michael Turner is a perfect back for the scheme because of his bowling-ball type build and enough speed even at age 28 to break a long run. He’s the NFL’s No. 6 rusher (864 yards, |4.3-yard average). “He runs hard, powerful, guys bounce off him,” a scout said. “I don’t think (he’s elite), he’s second or third tier.” Passing offense–Falcons, who rank No. 6 in total yards and scoring, have one of the league’s top young guns in quarterback Matt Ryan plus two top weapons in receiver Roddy White and tight end Tony Gonzalez. He’s close to the total package, with good size, plenty of arm talent, a first-rate mind and strong leadership skills. His mobility isn’t great but is good enough. This season he’s thrown 18 touchdown passes to only five interceptions, and his passer rating (92.9 points) ranks No. 13 in the NFL. Run defense-the Falcons run a quickness-oriented 4-3 scheme and this year rank No. 7 in points allowed and No. 17 in yards allowed. A smallish defensive front that mostly tries to shoot gaps rather than hold up blockers. “They just don’t make mistakes ever,” a scout said of the defense as a whole. “Really disciplined.” Pass Defense--the Falcons have only one pass rusher of note, defensive end John Abraham. He’s on pace to hit double digits in sacks again. Cornerback Dunta Robinson is the Falcons’ best cover man. Brent Grimes, a third-year pro from Shippensburg who entered the league undrafted, is smallish but smart and has three interceptions opposite Robinson. Special Teams--little Eric Weems is a good dual-role return man even though he lacks top-end speed. His 13.6-yard average on punts would rank No. 4 in the NFL if he had enough returns to qualify for the league rankings, and his 26.0-yard average on kickoffs is tied for No. 10 in the league.

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Packers Profile: Cornerback Shields

Senior writer jclombardi profiles rookie CB Shields & Packers injury report.

Shields–”I am getting better, better“: To fully appreciate just how far Sam Shields as come – and understand just how much it took for the Green Bay Packers rookie cornerback to get to this point – you have to listen to what Joe Whitt says about him now, and what he was muttering to himself about Shields about six months ago. But first, understand this: Whitt, the Packers’ young and exuberant cornerbacks coach, is not afraid to make bold pronouncements. Before the season, he told anyone who’d listen that Tramon Williams was the team’s best cover corner. After the ultra-fast – but ultra-raw – Shields went undrafted this spring and the Packers signed him as a rookie free agent, Whitt knew what kind of potential Shields had. “Write this down,” Whitt said of Shields, the Packers’ No. 3 cornerback in their nickel defense. “Sam is going to be one of the top corners in this league in two years.” That’s heady stuff for a guy with Shields’ thin cornerback resume, but the Packers’ actions – releasing Harris – spoke even louder than Whitt’s words. “I don’t think anybody can stand here and say Sam Shields was going to be (one of) your starting corner(s) in Week 10, especially the way he arrived here as a free agent,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy, “But you never questioned the ability. He’s a young man that’s been very thorough, very coachable, very detailed in everything he’s doing. He has a tremendous upside, and we’re excited about the progress he’s made.”

Notebook–Shields catches on quickly: When the Green Bay Packers lined up to return the second-half kickoff against the Dallas Cowboys last Sunday, undrafted rookie cornerback Sam Shields broke a cardinal rule. Shields lined up near the goal line and drifted 6 yards deep in the end zone. Normally, the returner should take a knee for a touchback in that situation. “Not normally,” special teams coordinator Shawn Slocum said on Thursday. “But he’s not normal.” Shields, who was timed at 4.20 seconds in the 40-yard dash, is indeed not normal. Shields returned that kickoff 49 yards — “I saw the hole and I hit it” was his matter-of-fact explanation. Because of that one return, he will line up as the kickoff returner when the Packers play at Minnesota on Sunday. Shields’ ability was evident against Dallas. But during the preseason, Shields had fumbled away chance after chance to return kickoffs and punts by routinely dropping the ball in practice and games. Through plenty of extra work before and after practice, Shields has become so sure-handed that Slocum said he wouldn’t hesitate to use Shields on punts, too. The Packers rank 21st in punt returns, with Tramon Williams averaging 8.0 yards per return. Packers injury report–Limited participation: WR Donald Driver (quad); FB Korey Hall (back); LB Clay Matthews (shin); DE Ryan Pickett (ankle); C Scott Wells (arch); CB Charles Woodson (toe). Full participation: LB Brandon Chillar (shoulder); T Chad Clifton(knee); CB Pat Lee (ankle); TE Andrew Quarless (shoulder). Coach Mike McCarthy said Pickett did “a lot more” on Thursday than Wednesday, and the goal for Driver is to practice on Friday. Bringing the heat–The Packers are tied with St. Louis for the NFL lead in sacks with 28, with Clay Matthews leading the individual race with 10.5.

Packers give Shields shot as returner: The Minnesota Vikings have Percy Harvin. The Chicago Bears have Devin Hester. The Detroit Lions have Stefan Logan. The Green Bay Packers? They’ve ridden up and down with Jordy Nelson and Pat Lee on kickoff returns and treaded water with Tramon Williams on punt returns most of the season. But in an attempt to keep up with Joneses, the Packers plan to break out their own return specialist Sunday against the Vikings. Welcome to the NFC North, Sam Shields. ”If he’s back there, good luck because he’s got some speed,” said Charlie Peprah, a regular member of the special teams until his ascension to starting safety. “That will be a good changeup.” Over the past five seasons they have ranked 19th, 31st, 22nd, 31st and 32nd in kick return average. This year, they rank sixth in the NFL in average drive start (29.1), but they have lacked the momentum-changing uppercut of a breakaway threat. In his only return of the season against Dallas, Shields broke through a lane for a 49-yard gain, causing coach Mike McCarthy and special teams coach Shawn Slocum to practically hand him the kickoff return job before he reached the sideline. ”We’re all pretty excited about his capabilities,” Peprah said.

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