Green Bay Packers Strategy and Personnel
by Sports Xchange
Woodson's knack for freelancing in coverage as an instinctive player and previous experience of playing some at safety when he was with the Oakland Raiders a few years ago don't take away from the impact he can have on the field at his new position. Plus, the Packers are able to get budding young cornerback Tramon Williams on the field full time as a starter opposite Al Harris.
PLAYER NOTES
--P Jeremy Kapinos was signed by the team Wednesday afternoon to fill the punting void created when inconsistent Derrick Frost was cut Monday. Kapinos, a first-year player who was with the New York Jets last season, had a tryout with the Packers on Tuesday. He is expected to practice with the team for the first time Thursday.
--WR Lorne Sam was signed to the practice squad Wednesday. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Sam had previously been with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted rookie this year.
--C Scott Wells hasn't been ruled out from playing Sunday against the Houston Texans. Wells took part in the walk-through portion at the start of practice Wednesday and then did some conditioning work off to the side, three days after he suffered a game-ending concussion in the second quarter of the loss against the Carolina Panthers. Wells' condition has improved, and pending his passing a series of mandatory concussion tests from the team's medical staff, he could be back practicing Friday.
--RB Ryan Grant was a full participant in practice Wednesday. He suffered a sprained right thumb in the last game and had to come out in the second quarter. Grant should be OK to make the start Sunday, though he'll probably have to wear a protective splint over the thumb.
--RB Brandon Jackson, who filled in for Grant the last two-plus quarters of the previous game and had a season-high 80 rushing yards, was held out of the bulk of practice Wednesday as he recovers from a bruised quadriceps sustained Sunday. Jackson is expected to be fine to practice by Friday and ready to play this weekend.
--DE Aaron Kampman is listed on the injury report because of an illness, which kept him out of most of practice Wednesday. Kampman, who leads the team with 91/2 sacks, had suffered a strained quadriceps in the last game. With that injury apparently behind him, Kampman will be good to go Sunday.
--S Aaron Rouse went through the entire practice Wednesday and appears to have bounced back from an ankle injury that kept him out of the last game. He should be available for spot duty on defense behind starters Nick Collins and Charles Woodson and to contribute on special teams.
--FB John Kuhn suffered some knee soreness from the last game, but the integral blocking back and situational short-yardage runner was a full participant Wednesday and should be able to play Sunday.
--CB Pat Lee has been ruled out for the second straight game because of a knee injury. The rookie had been contributing on special teams before being hurt.
--RB DeShawn Wynn had limited work Wednesday. The No. 3 halfback continues to be hampered by a calf injury. He has been deactivated the last five games.
GAME PLAN: The forecast for Sunday in Green Bay calls for a high temperature of 18 degrees, purportedly giving the advantage to the Packers as the Texans make their inaugural appearance at Lambeau Field. Since passing the football will be difficult amid the arctic conditions, ball control through a sustained rushing attack figures to be the priority for both teams. That could favor Houston, which is armed with diminutive, but speedy rookie Steve Slaton, who has been piling up the yards in recent weeks. Slaton ranks second among the league's featured backs with an average of 5.0 yards per carry. The Packers' 27th-rated run defense is allowing 4.8 yards per rush. The expected return of quarterback Matt Schaub after a four-game layoff because of a knee injury will allow the Texans to be two-dimensional with league-leading receiver Andre Johnson. Al Harris and Tramon Williams would have the one-on-one matchups on Johnson with Charles Woodson at safety for the second straight game. Look for Woodson to play closer to the line of scrimmage as the Packers look to neutralize Houston's rushing attack first and foremost. Green Bay will have to be wary in passing situations of Slaton coming out of the backfield and productive tight end Owen Daniels. Lead back Ryan Grant should play after coming out of the last game with a sprained thumb, but the time could be right for the Packers to get Brandon Jackson equally involved in the run game. Jackson responded in relief of the injured Grant against the Carolina Panthers with 11 carries for a season-high 80 yards. The menacing threat of defensive end Mario Williams coupled with Houston's possible liberal use of blitzing will force quarterback Aaron Rodgers to be quick and decisive with his throws. The Texans' injury-riddled secondary can be exploited.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH: Packers OTs Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher vs. Texans DE Mario Williams -- "Super Mario" comes to Green Bay on Sunday off a spectacular three-sack, forced-fumble performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday night. Williams inflicted damage from both right end and left end. He primarily lines up on the right side, which would put most of the onus on left tackle Clifton to keep Williams from getting to quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Clifton gave up one of two sacks by the Carolina Panthers' Julius Peppers last time out. The Texans might look to work Williams against right tackle Tauscher, who managed to play the last game with a hamstring injury but isn't close to full strength.
Packers punt-coverage unit vs. Texans punt returner Jacoby Jones: In what could turn out to be a low-scoring affair, a big play on special teams might spell the difference on the scoreboard. Green Bay's coverage units, particularly on kickoffs, have been atrocious the last two games. The likes of the New Orleans Saints' Courtney Roby and the Carolina Panthers' Mark Jones were huge thorns in the Packers' side, but Jones is a bigger threat to break a long one on punt returns. He is averaging 14.5 yards, has five runbacks of at least 20 yards and two of at least 40 yards, and has scored two touchdowns.
INJURY IMPACT: Atari Bigby won't play Sunday against the Houston Texans after being knocked out of the previous game because of a sprained shoulder. Even if Bigby was healthy enough to play this weekend, the Packers were ready to stick with converted Pro Bowl cornerback Charles Woodson at Bigby's former starting spot of strong safety for the second straight game.
--Top halfbacks Ryan Grant and Brandon Jackson are recovering this week from a sprained right thumb and a bruised thigh, respectively. Grant is expected to make the start Sunday, though a protective splint he'll possibly be wearing could affect his ability to carry the football. Jackson wasn't on the field for the meat of practice Wednesday and might need until Friday before he tests the leg on the field. The injury isn't considered serious, so Jackson should be able to play Sunday.
--Center Scott Wells left the last game in the second quarter with a concussion. He must pass a series of concussion tests administered by the team's medical staff before he's cleared to get back on the field again, which the club is hopeful could happen Friday. Consequently, Wells has a chance to play this weekend. If he's not deemed ready for the game, however, right guard Jason Spitz would move over to center again, and rookie Josh Sitton would be at right guard.
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