Packers are getting healthy

wizard 87

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How many teams can say they have their entire roster of players on the practice field at this time of the year?

Maybe only the Green Bay Packers, who this week did not have to hold out a single player because of injury.

The only players who spent any time on this season's 53-man roster who weren't available this week because of injury were running back Kregg Lumpkin and defensive lineman Cullen Jenkins — both of whom are on season-ending injured reserve.

Even quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who sprained his right shoulder on Sept. 28, got a lot of work. On Thursday, he threw more balls than he has in any practice since he was injured against Tampa Bay. Rodgers and cornerback Charles Woodson were listed as limited participants most of the week, but they got in more work than normal.

Coach Mike McCarthy believes it created a better environment for practice and increased the chance for individual improvement.

However, there could be a downside to having a completely healthy roster. It will make for some tough decisions when selecting the 45-man active roster for Sunday's game at Minnesota, but McCarthy believes that's a good problem to have.
Thumbs down

One of the first drills the Packers do in practice every day is ball security. They go about it several different ways. Sometimes a ball carrier runs through gauntlet of players trying to knock the ball free. Other times, an offensive player is double-teamed by two defenders who are trying to rip the ball free.

As much as the drill is designed to help offensive players protect the football, it's also done to help the guys on the defensive side learn how to force turnovers.

While it may be working for the offense — the team has lost just five fumbles this season — it doesn't seem to be helping the defense. The Packers have recovered only one fumble all season. Every other NFL team has at least two fumble recoveries.

That's another indication the Packers' linebackers aren't making plays. The best linebackers in the league are the ones who force turnovers with jarring hits. There's been a dearth of those plays from Nick Barnett, A.J. Hawk, Brady Poppinga and Brandon Chillar.

The Packers rank high in the turnover stats — only seven teams have more takeaways — thanks to a league-leading 13 interceptions.
Key matchup

Vikings running game vs. Packers run defense

Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor must be licking their chops after watching LenDale White and Chris Johnson of the Tennessee Titans run up and down the field on the Packers last Sunday in Nashville, Tenn. Only twice in eight games this season has the Packers' defense held an opponent under 100 yards rushing. What's worse, the Packers have committed the same mistakes time and again. Though it may be a different player, it almost always can be chalked up to lapses in gap control in defensive coordinator Bob Sanders' two-gap system. Peterson and Taylor have combined to give the Vikings the sixth-best rushing offense in the NFL, while the Packers' run defense ranks 27th out of 32 teams. Going in, it looks like a mismatch.
 

starr15

Cheesehead
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for qb,wr,and cb thats easy to put players on the disabled:brian brohm,jordy and ruvell martin,and pat lee with tramon williams
 

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