Notes: Pooch kicks dog Bears
Strategy keeps Hester in check
By LORI NICKEL
lnickel@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Oct. 8, 2007
Green Bay - Before the 27-20 loss to Chicago on Sunday night, Green Bay Packers rookie kicker Mason Crosby had kicked off 23 times for 1,512 yards, an average of 65.7, to rank 14th among kickers with 14 or more kickoffs. He had seven touchbacks, fourth-most in the National Football League.
In other words, the guy has a leg to put the ball deep.
So it was a new strategy in just the fifth game of Croby's career to pooch kick away from Chicago's exceptional kick returner, Devin Hester, in an effort to make him a non-factor.
Boy, did it work.
Mason's kickoffs were as follows: 42 yards (2-yard return), 35 yards (0-yard return), 34 yards (0-yard return) and 45 yards (15-yard return).
Hester, who led the NFL with six returns for touchdowns last year and another in the Super Bowl, was mostly limited to punt returns and a face-to-face meeting with Packers defensive back Frank Walker.
"One of the things we didn't want to do is let Hester get the ball back there and make a play on us," said fullback Korey Hall, who plays on that unit. "I felt like we did a good job of that. It was the smart thing. He's one of the best kick returners in the league. Why kick the ball to him?"
Injury updates: Center Scott Wells was poked in the eye in the third quarter and was replaced by Jason Spitz. Running back DeShawn Wynn left in the first quarter for intravenous fluids to treat cramps and dehydration, but returned. Wide receiver Greg Jennings left in the third quarter for X-rays on his shoulder, but returned.
Costly turnovers:Mike Eayrs, the Packers' director of research and development, has pointed out in the past how costly turnovers can be to the offender. Eayrs has recent research showing that teams that commit no turnovers win 77% of the time.
Conversely, a team that has three or more turnovers wins only 21% of the time.
The Packers had five turnovers against the Bears, including two fumbles by receiver James Jones, two interceptions by Brett Favre and a fumble on a return by Charles Woodson, giving the Bears extra possessions and, twice, excellent field position.
"We've got to take care of the football," coach Mike McCarthy said. "It was a sloppy game in the second half."
Said Favre on his first interception: "Should have thrown it away. I was throwing to James Jones on a little underneath route."
Favre, going for the tying-touchdown on the last play, was intercepted for the 277th time in his career. That tied the NFL record, set by George Blanda.
Star struck: The second-largest Lambeau Field crowd for a regular-season game - 70,904 - included musician Justin Timberlake, actress Jessica Biel and American Idol winner Taylor Hicks. Those three were on the sideline before kickoff and waited in the hallway as Favre, Nick Barnett and the rest of the Packers ran out of the tunnel and on to the field for pregame warmups. Timberlake and Biel cheered loudly as the team walked by.
Members of the small Timberlake-Biel entourage said the two didn't want to comment as they walked back up to their seats.
But Hicks, who was accompanied by WISN Channel 12 weekday co-anchor Caroline Lyders, was celebrating his 31st birthday. It was the first visit to Lambeau Field for the native of Birmingham, Ala., and Hicks is a Packers fan.
"Him being from Mississippi and watching Brett, he beat Alabama one year, I think," Hicks said. "And being from Alabama you hear about the Bart Starr connection. I'm a big NFL football fan and what a great way to spend a 31st birthday. This is my first visit to Lambeau. Being from the South, this place is a football Mecca."
Timberlake and Hicks chatted for a while. Also seen in the stadium were actors Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher. Stadium employees also said "Dawson Creek's" James Van Der Beek and "Days of Our Lives' " Deidre Hall were in Lambeau.
"I guess this is what happens when the Pack gets on a roll," Hicks said.
Hicks didn't sing the national anthem - that was performed by the University of Wisconsin marching band - but he has been busy enough. He just wrapped up a tour, has a new DVD coming out and his show debuted Sunday night on HDNet.
Harrell's debut: First-round draft pick Justin Harrell played his first snaps of his career, about a handful on regular play, and lined up on field goal attempts.
All alone: After fumbling away receptions on consecutive series, Jones looked inconsolable. As the rest of his offensive teammates sat on the north Packers bench, Jones took a seat by himself on the south bench. In a classy move, lineman Tony Moll came over to encourage him.
Pink everywhere: The pink towels around the Packers' necks were in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness month, as survivor Deanna Favre, Brett's wife, was the team's honorary captain.
No 5-0: No current Packer has ever started a season 5-0; the last time the Packers began with that record was 1965. |
