Can the Packers Overcome Ryan Grant's Season Ending Injury?

Before the season, the Green Bay Packers were a hot pick to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. After the week one road victory at Philadelphia, the Packers remain at the top of many predictions to go deep in the playoffs. If the Packers are going to fulfill the lofty expectations set for them, they are going to have to do it without their starting running back Ryan Grant who was placed on season ending IR this week. Grant's season barely got started when an awkward tackle in the second quarter made every Packers fan hold their breath. Seeing Grant limp off the field with a severely sprained ankle that required season ending surgery, made me immediately start to question whether or not the Packers have enough firepower at the running back position to fill Grant's void. The Packers have only two running backs on their roster and decided to keep three fullbacks including John Kuhn as an emergency backup running back. Well it is now a full blown emergency.

With Grant out, the Packers have to find a way to replace a running back with the fourth most yards in the entire NFL in the past two years. Brandon Jackson becomes the starter with no starting experience and fullback John Kuhn as the only backup available. The Packers signed Dimitri Nance off the Atlanta Falcons practice squad who is an undrafted rookie out of Arizona State University. Nance is an emergency backup with no NFL carries to his name.

General Manager Ted Thompson likes to work from within and develop players but in this case, I think it is necessary to go elsewhere and find help. The Packers still have one of, if not the most potent passing attacks in the NFL, but unless they can develop a decent running game, it makes the offense that much more predictable. The Packers will no longer be able to rely on play action pass if they cannot find a suitable replacement for Grant. Hopefully Brandon Jackson can fill Grant's void and if you read any of the comments made by head coach Mike McCarthy it sounds like the Packers are content with Jackson as the starter. If not, some of the expectations for this team need to be lowered because although the NFL is a pass dominated league, it is extremely difficult to win without the presence of a respected running game.

Wisconsin Badgers Key Players Presentation

Click on the link below to watch my presentation on some of the key players for the Wisconsin Badgers football team this year. 

http://mbbc.na4.acrobat.com/p81407498/

Aaron Rodgers' Journey

Below is a little taste of Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers journey to being considered one of the best QB's in the NFL. I did it through a pretty cool tool called Prezi. Go ahead and check it out!

Aaron Rodgers' Journey on Prezi

Mike Ramczyk Interview

I had the opportunity to interview Mike Ramczyk who is the sports editor at my local newspaper, the Lake Geneva Regional News. I got to ask him questions about sports and covering sports on a local basis as well as state wide. Mike's answers were very informative and quite interesting in regards to sports journalism and sports media.

Q: Why and how did you choose sports writing as a career?

A: I chose it as a career because I have loved sports my whole life. I also enjoyed reading the stats and scores in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. I used to write down the games and stat leaders for pro football every Sunday, and I would predict the winners and keep my record. As a junior at UW-Whitewater, I chose Journalism as my major because I had already worked in it and I loved it.

Q: Did you play any sports growing up and if so, what?

A: Yes, I played just about every sport, including soccer when I was 8, high school baseball, football, basketball and track, and I’ve golfed plenty of times. I love winning in sports and being competitive.

Q: What is your biggest challenge in sports writing?

A: My biggest challenge in sports writing is making a story interesting enough for someone not related to the topic to read it. I know parents want to read about their kids, but it’s hard to interest the person who doesn’t like sports.

Q: Do you ever experience writer's block and if so, how do you overcome it?

A: Not so much, but there are times when I don’t know how to express what I want to say. I will simply jot down some notes or move on to another story then come back to the one I had trouble with.

Q: What is your favorite sport and favorite sport to write about?

A: My favorite sport to play is baseball. My favorite sport to watch is football, and my favorite sport to write about is football. People absolutely love football, and there is so much action and emotion that goes into coaches and players on and off the field.

Q: What advice would you give to someone who was looking into entering the field of sports media or journalism?

A: Only do it if you love sports and love writing. It’s not the most lucrative field, but it is very fulfilling. Also, it’s hard to get into, so you have to start small and work your way up. I would say start at your college newspaper then show those clips to your local paper. Eventually, a break will come your way. I covered small-town stuff for two years before the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel offered me an entry-level job. Now I’m a sports editor. It took me five years to become a sports editor for a full-time job.

Q: What is your routine for writing a story or covering a game or team?

A: For covering a football game for example, I actually roam the sideline taking pictures of the action. With any noteworthy play, I jot down what happened in my notebook. Then, after the game, I interview coaches and players with a digital recorder. Finally, I use my notes, what I physically saw and my comments to formulate a story. I’d start with the lead, which is who won and why they won. Then, I write about what else happened in descending order of importance.

Q:What is your most fond memory involving your job and/or sports writing in general?

A: So far, it is a tie between meeting and interviewing Ryan Braun of the Brewers and covering a Wisconsin Badgers football game. Braun was an awesome guy, and I felt professional. And the Badger game was sooooo exciting. There were 80,000 screaming fans all around me, and I was down on the field taking pictures. Also, the media room had about 50 writers, photographers and TV people. It was very exhilarating!