Ketchup or Catsup? Playing Catch-up!

So there's a lot to catch up on in Packerland and, sadly, most of the news is bad. Let's start with the good news.

You may recall last week's DDS MVP was Charles Woodson. Apparently, the NFL agreed with me, as it has awarded Charles with this NFC Defensive Player of the Week award. This marks the second time this season that my chosen game MVP went on to be recognized by the league. Psychic? Probably not. Either way, big ups and a hearty congrats to Charles Woodson, who has consistently been Green Bay's saving grace on defense. Now, on to the myriad of frustrating information...



Star LB Nick Barnett, a veteran leader on and off the field, may be lost for the season. Packers.com reports that Barnett suffered a dislocated wrist in last Sunday's contest. The injury is similar to the one that kept Bear's LB Brian Urlacher out all of last season. While ESPN.com is reporting that Barnett is done for the year, head coach Mike McCarthy says not to jump the gun. Nick is seeking a second opinion and, though the organization has not officially said Barnett is done, I think we should anticipate a lengthy absence.



The injury has prompted some front office action, as LB Brandon Chillar is also currently sidelined. The Packers have signed LB Maurice Simpkins to the team. Simpkins is an undrafted rookie free agent who spent last year on Green Bay's indoor football team, the Blizzard. All I have to go on is a 10 minute locker room interview via the Packer's website, but at least the guy doesn't seem like a total dip. He has a good head on his shoulders, but time will tell if that head knows anything about footaball.

Meanwhile, on offense, coach McCarthy said this is the week we finally get to see rookie tail back Dimitri Nance in action. It would have been last week, but Detroit's clock-hogging left the Packers with little time on offense and certainly no room for experimentation. Personally, I'm very interested to see what Nance can do. He's small and shifty, a style of running I have never seen in a green and gold uniform.

Offensive lineman Mark Tauscher is the latest big name added to the injury report, but frankly, i don't view this loss as a crisis. Unlike last year's O-line woes, the Packers are well equipped to deal with this situation. Rookie Bryan Bulaga should be ready to go, and T.J. Lang will certainly be available as well. Overall, the line is performing much better than last season and I don't expect that to change drastically here against the Redskins.

One additional news blurb - He's baaaack... The Vikings have traded for WR Randy Moss. Yes, Favre finally has his man. You may recall that, in '06/7, Favre made a big push for the Packers to sign Randy Moss from the Raiders, and by all accounts, still holds a grudge against Packer's GM Ted Thompson for failing to get that done. This changes everything in the NFC North. Favre is pumped and that's not good. Look for those guys in purple to start winning a few more games and making the division a lot more interesting.

A Quick Week 5 Preview!

Mr. McCarthy goes to Washington! This week the Packers visit the Redskins, who rank 24th overall in the league, but rank 1st in the offensive-team-name category. Seriously though, the Packers are going to have to respect Redskins QB McNabb. While he may not be throwing to anybody, I'm not sure Green Bay has enough healthy defensive players for that to matter much. The key will be QB pressure from the corner, via LB's Clay Matthews, Frank Zombo, and whoever else the Packers may sign off the street in the next 10 minutes... If the Packer's defense can make McNabb uncomfortable, he may throw up some ducks. He's known for being very hot and cold -- On when on, and wildly inaccurate on off days.

On paper, quarterback Aaron Rodgers should have no problem running a clinic. In the past 8 years, the skins defense has been ranked very well. But a new head coach in Mike Shanahan has brought a newly implemented 3-4 defensive scheme that hasn't gelled yet. To put it mildly, Washington's defense has struggled against some fairly impotent teams. With all their areal weapons, look for the Packers to try and catch the 'Skins napping via RB Dimitri Nance, a shifty rookie getting his first chance to show what he can do. Provided the Pack can execute on 3rd down, or avoid them altogether, I see over 30 points.

Special Teams will be looking to bounce back, but with all the personnel changes on defense, the ST unit is forced to learn some new names and faces. I'd be surprised to see Jordy Nelson returning kicks. Sorry Jordy, but 2 dropped balls is absolutely unacceptable.

At the end of the day, Washington is a team of over-the-hill role players and is currently being rebuilt. McNabb is not over the hill though, and should provide a challenge.

Packers 34 - Redskins 17

10-9 8:30pm Post Edit: Jordy Nelson has indeed gotten the nod to return kickoffs this week. Save last week's 2 bloops, Nelson certainly does not have a history of putting the ball on the ground. Let's hope last week was an aberration, because his return yardage has been a big improvement over last year's efforts.