MM Press Conference 10-14-12: DJ Smith, Saine out for the year

MM: Perry, Shields to be evaluated as the week goes to determine if they can play this week. "Nick looks good. It's better then we thought it would be. We were very fortunate."

Packers have put RB Brandon Saine on injured reserve and claimed RB Johnny White on waivers from the Bills.

Johnny White

Running Back

Birth DateFebruary 3, 1988
Birth PlaceDurham, NC
Experience2 years
Drafted2011: 5th Rnd, 133rd by BUF
CollegeNorth Carolina

MM (on turf conditions): "It's unfortunate (regarding DJ Smith). "Im not an expert" on field conditions. Does not know if that was contributing factor.

MM: "James Starks has really moved forward. We'll get him ready". Very positive on Alex Green. Doesn't see why Green "could not carry a full load".

MM: "Quarless and Zombo are definitely ready." Foresees activating them soon.

quote:

Birth DateFebruary 3, 1988

Sweet, we have the same birthday, albeit two years apart.

Future HOF right there.

MM: "BJ Raji was pretty close" to being able to play last night. Doc felt he wasn't quite ready.

Sounds like Raji will be a good bet to play this week.

No one asked him anything on Jennings. Wouldn't be shocked if GB held him out one more week.

DJ Smith out for the year, ochee.
Him that means we are going to see some new faces at ILB.

Out of the 4 guys that went down with knees, I think we lucked out on the severity of their injuries.

I was fearing all 4 on IR. Perry and Shields ready maybe even this week is great news.

Unless that is classic MM speak for "they will both be put on IR after we take a look at them on Wednesday."

If you look at Francios, Zombo, Lattimore, Jones, all of these guys bring some good things and then some not so good things. Maybe I'm assuming too much but I wonder if there will really be that much of a drop off without Smith there.

In losing Bishop it was a very obvious drop off. But is DJ Smith to Francios or Lattimore or Jones or Zombo that huge of a drop?

Jones seemed to make some plays after Smith went out. They have a lot of LB's on the roster, I'm sure some combination will work an a lot of the time there aren't 4 LB's on the field anyway.

MM: Casey Hayward received game ball. He's a heck of a football player.
- A.J. Hawk is kind of like QB on defense. Played best game of year last night.

One thing that will be interesting is what if anything TT will do in the 2013 draft at ILB.

Hawk is playing extremely well. But you have Bishop and now Smith coming off major injuries. If ACL's take 6-9 mos to fully heal, Smith would be looking at returning about the start of TC. Bishop I'd assume would be faster but then again he'll be 30. I'd have to think that TT would bring him some new blood via the draft at ILB.

Figured Smith and Saine's injuries would be the two that were the most serious. Hate to see guys get injured, but losing them won't hurt the Pack very much. Glad to hear that Shields and Perry's issues aren't major, they are 2 guys that may very well play a huge role this season.

MM said flatout that Green will be the Packers lead back and that Green is past any "rep counts".

Zombo and Quarless are ready to practice this week as well coming off PUP. MM said Sherrod is behind the other 2, though

Pack lucked out with Perry/Shields as it sounds like neither of their injuries are serious at all

quote:

One thing that will be interesting is what if anything TT will do in the 2013 draft at ILB.

The top of the draft right now looks pretty heavy on D players so there will be some good LBs available. He'll also be looking at C, RB and WR. There are some good backs out there, don't know much about C or WR this year. Haven't seen any receivers jumping off the page this season though TT usually looks past the front page anyway.

Video:
MM Presser MO-10-15-12

bless DJ Smith but outside the tackles it appears he doesn't have the speed to stay with or closing speed to cover the pass game. he won't get you hurt bad but you can almost count on the guy he's covering to be open. all the same, heal well and get back.

Hopefully TT can find a starting ILB at pick #32 next year.

I thought Frenchy played every bit as good as Smith last season. Likewise, I thought Jones made a few standout plays last night as well. I hate to see anybody go down, but the loss of Smith and Saine will be minimal.

quote:

MM: "Quarless and Zombo are definitely ready." Foresees activating them soon.

Zomb takes Smith Roster spot.. The FNG from Buff takes Saine spot.. Where does AQ fit in?

quote:

One thing that will be interesting is what if anything TT will do in the 2013 draft at ILB.

Must draft Center..

My wish list, in order:

1 - Center
2 - WR. if Greg walks
3 - Nose, to replace Picket and maybe Raji
4 - RB
5 - Safety depth.

Quite frankly, I had high hopes for Smith until he looked relatively slow playing next to Hawk.

Not sure how the Packers have been lucky with injuries. Jennings has missed more games than he's played, Bishop is on IR, and a number of other guys have missed playing time.

Still, what is encouraging is the next guy mentality. Raji is hurt and Worthy steps up. Shields is hurt and Hayward steps up.

quote:

Originally posted by packerboi
In losing Bishop it was a very obvious drop off. But is DJ Smith to Francios or Lattimore or Jones or Zombo that huge of a drop?

Losing a preferred starter is a dropoff 95% of the time. Smith out performed them and has gotten most of the reps for the last 10 weeks. If we trust the system, TT and MM, then Smith was the best option and the other guys were not.

quote:

Originally posted by RatPack:
Quite frankly, I had high hopes for Smith until he looked relatively slow playing next to Hawk.

Well said.. Same here.

Manning has been quiet. Know he was ill but maybe he could help.

quote:

If we trust the system, TT and MM, then Smith was the best option and the other guys were not.

They are not always right... See Bishop, Desmond.. How long did he dominate in camp before only getting a chance due to injury? I could name a few more, the point is, sometimes they miss.

Maybe Frenchie, Lattimore or Manning are diamonds in the rough? Maybe they are junk? We learned Smith wasn't as good as we hoped. I for one was hoping he would replace Hawk this year. After seeing him play for 5 weeks, I was wrong.

Is manning redshirting?

Can't write a player off after 5 weeks. At least I can't. That being said excited for NMU.

I think Jones is going to surprise some folks.

I think Francios, Jones and Mannin will be able to adequately replace Smkth. I'd be more concerned with Perry or Shields missing the season.

Any news on House? Is he ever going to play?

Smith has not been stellar in pass defense, but otherwise I think he has been decent. His blitzing has been above average. Many very good inside linebackers get their butts kicked regularly- you could make a two hour documentary of Brian Urlacher's inability to stop the run between the tackles--and yet he will be a first vote hall of famer---likewise Hawk and Nick Barnett are/were good yet have looked terrifying at times..He'll be missed...but a 16 to 20 game season calls for much depth or hellacious luck.

quote:

Originally posted by hof1991:

quote:

Originally posted by packerboi
In losing Bishop it was a very obvious drop off. But is DJ Smith to Francios or Lattimore or Jones or Zombo that huge of a drop?

Losing a preferred starter is a dropoff 95% of the time. Smith out performed them and has gotten most of the reps for the last 10 weeks. If we trust the system, TT and MM, then Smith was the best option and the other guys were not.

...exactly what I was going to say...although Smith looked "god awful" vs. Indy

3-minute video on RB Johnny White, made by the Bills after they drafted him in the 5th round last year:

http://www.buffalobills.com/me...c0-8efc-7f5ee1f27498

It think there's a chance they like Lang as a center when they're done with Saturday. Already knows all the line calls.

Read on twitter that Francois has practiced primarily in AJ's spot, thus Jones getting the nod. Jones looked fine finishing against HOU, so ill be curious to see if that changes with a week of practice.

Injuries have been rough, but at least Hawk picked the right season for a career year.

Not saying he's a savior or whatever, but the press clippings have the makings of one of those Thompson hidden gems. If all he has to do is play ST, he might be just that.

Saine played special teams & Johnny White was picked up with an eye on that. He was a college standout & was even a special teams captain.

Johnny White - one of the hardest working guys I've been around

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MM: Casey Hayward received game ball. He's a heck of a football player.

That guy might be one of the bigger steals of the draft. He's played fantastic so far. I'm excited to see him step up if Shields misses any time.

Another thing I found interesting: Morgan Burnett has played every defensive snap of every game so far this year. And with the exception of the SF game, has played very well. I'd like to see him make some plays in the run game though. Had a nice game in that regard last night.

I noticed the same thing. Always trailing receivers or tight ends in coverage too.

quote:

Originally posted by RatPack:
Quite frankly, I had high hopes for Smith until he looked relatively slow playing next to Hawk.