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!

Green Bay Packers vs. Baltimore Ravens- December 7, 2009

Last December, my roommate and I went to the Packers vs. Ravens game on Monday Night Football. The game was played in December so needless to say it was extremely cold. Lambeau Field is the most historic and well known stadiums in sports and I could see why. The feeling I got while walking into the stadium and watching the game was incredible and I would recommend it to every sports fan to make a trip up to Green Bay at least once. This slideshow is just a little taste of what we experienced in what was a night I will never forget. 

Why the Brewers Should Trade Prince Fielder

There is no doubting that Prince Fielder is one of the best power hitters in Major League Baseball. The question is, whether the Brewers think he is worth breaking the bank on as Fielder has one more year of arbitration before he becomes a free agent. In my opinion, the answer to that question is an emphatic NO!

Fielder is represented by agent Scott Boras, who is notorious for driving up the price tag on his clients, which narrows the market for elite players like Fielder, to teams with high payrolls. The Brewers are not of those teams and should not spend most of their future on a first baseman with weight concerns. I will admit that Fielder is as durable as they come, evidenced by him not missing a start in over two years; but there is concerns that Fielder may have issues with his weight as he gets older. That is not a risk the Brewers should be willing to take. Fielder's agent Boras already turned down an offer from Brewer's management that would have paid Fielder $150 million over eight years. Boras said he thinks his client is worth in the $200 million range, which would pay him more than Yankee Mark Texeira or Phillies Ryan Howard. $200 million is a serious amount of money and if the Brewers were to give Prince Fielder that much money, they would be mortgaging their future on one player, and for a small market team like the Brewers, the safe bet is to trade fielder for prospects and build from within.

The Brewers desperately need young pitching and Fielder is their best bet to acquire young arms and hopefully can develop them into major league pitchers. As evidenced by the past few seasons, home runs will not get a team to the playoffs. Instead, pitching is the key and right now the Brewers have few options in that department and Fielder is a key chip in acquiring pitchers. The Brewers might not get comparable value for Fielder, but they have to take the chance because if not, it could be a long time before Milwaukee has a playoff worthy pitching staff.

Aaron Rodgers for MVP

Aaron Rodgers, quarterback of the Green Bay Packers, is one of the best quarterbacks in all of professional football. The fifth year Cal product has high expectations this year and for good reason. He is the only quarterback in NFL history to throw for more than 4,000 yards in each of his first two seasons. He thew for 30 touchdowns last season with only 7 interceptions and 4,434 yards. Rodgers is regarded as one of the most athletic quarterbacks as he ran for over 300 yards which led all quarterbacks and ran in 3 touchdowns. He is known around the league as throwing one of the most perfect spirals and has great arm strength, excelling at throwing the deep ball. He is patient in the pocket with great vision. He has an ability to fit the ball into tight places and also has great touch. Rodgers has all the skills necessary to be the best quarterback in the NFL. His work ethic is tireless and is a great locker room and team guy.

Rodgers had a remarkable year last season, but incredibly, he could have an even bigger year this year. He is surrounded by an abundance of weapons on the offensive side of the ball with a deep and talented receiving core, led by Greg Jennings and Donald Driver, a solid run game with Ryan Grant, and an emerging star in tight end Jermichael Finley. The only question surrounding this Packers offense is the offensive line. Last year the Packers gave up 50 sacks, which led the NFL. This year the Packers drafted OT Bryan Bulaga from Iowa with their first round pick, hoping to help sure up the offensive line. If there is one thing Rodgers is criticized on, it is holding on to the ball too long. He was better at getting rid of the ball faster at the end of last year and the result was an unstoppable offense. In the Packers first round of the playoffs against the Arizona Cardinals, Rodgers threw for 423 yards and 4 touchdowns and led the Packers back from an early deficit to force overtime. If that game was any indication of what the Packers offense could do this year, Rodgers will surely be in the running for MVP honors.

He got off to a good start Saturday in the Packers first preseason game against the Cleveland Browns. Rodgers led only three offensive series and led them on two touchdown drives, throwing for over 150 yards and a 25 yard touchdown to wide receiver Greg Jennings. The most impressive thing about his performace was his almost perfect completion percentage by completing twelve of thirteen passes. Rodgers could rack up staggering statistics this year and if that's the case, it will be hard to argue against him winning the league's Most Valuable Player award.