Titletown Report

Pettine joins Bears as Senior Defensive Assistant

February 11, 2021 By Bill Scott

Mike Pettine

After three seasons in Green Bay as the Packers defensive coordinator, Mike Pettine is joining their rivals, the Chicago Bears as a senior defensive assistant.

Pettine has 17 seasons of NFL experience, spending time with Baltimore, the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills. He then spent two seasons as head coach of the Cleveland Browns, one year with Seattle before joining the Packers in 2017.

After the 2020 season, the Bears promoted Sean Desai from safeties coach to defensive coordinator, among a number of other defensive moves.

Pettine helped the Packers win the NFC North title and reach the NFC Championship Game each of the past two seasons. Last season, Pettine’s defense ranked ninth in the league in total yards (334.0), eighth in red-zone touchdown percentage (57.7) and tied for 10th in sacks (41).

Order is set for 2021 NFL Draft’s opening round

February 8, 2021 By Bill Scott

The completion of the NFL season means the first round order for the NFL Draft is set.

Jacksonville, following their 1-15 season, holds the number 1 pick, followed by the New York Jets, Miami Dolphins (trade from Houston), Atlanta Falcons and Cincinnati Bengals rounding out the top five.

The next five are Philadelphia, Detroit, Carolina, Denver and Dallas at number 10. The New York Giants have the 11th selection, followed by San Francisco, the L.A. Chargers, Minnesota Vikings and New England Patriots at number-15. Arizona has the 16th selection, followed by Las Vegas, Miami, Washington and the Chicago Bears at number-20.

Indianapolis has the 21st selection followed by Tennessee, New York Jets (from Seattle), Pittsburgh and Jacksonville (from the LA Rams) at number-25. Cleveland has the 26th pick, followed by Baltimore, New Orleans, Green Bay and Buffalo at number-30.

Kansas City picks 31st after falling to Tampa Bay in the Super Bowl, with the Buccaneers getting the 32nd and final selection of the opening round.

The 2021 Draft starts with the opening round on Thursday, April 29, in Cleveland, Ohio. The second and third rounds will be held Friday, April 30, followed by rounds four through seven on Saturday, May 1.

Packers announce the hiring of Barry, Drayton

February 8, 2021 By Bill Scott

The Green Bay Packers made it official on Monday afternoon, announcing the hiring of Joe Barry as the teams new defensive coordinator along with the promotion of Maurice Drayton to special teams coordinator.

Barry worked as an assistant coach in the NFL for 19 seasons, most recently serving as the assistant head coach/linebackers for the Los Angeles Rams. In his four seasons with the Rams (2017-20), Barry was part of a defensive staff that helped the team rank No. 2 in the league over that span in sacks (192), tied for No. 2 in takeaways (104) and interceptions (63), No. 7 in overall defense (329.9 ypg) and No. 9 in scoring defense (21.5 ppg). This past season marked the first time in franchise history that the Rams led the league in both scoring defense (18.5 ppg) and overall defense (281.9 ypg). The Rams also led the NFL in pass defense for the first time in franchise history and ranked No. 2 in the NFL in 2020 with 53.0 sacks.

Barry spent four seasons previously as a defensive coordinator (Detroit, 2007-08; Washington, 2015-16). [Read more…]

Rodgers wins third MVP Award

February 7, 2021 By Bill Scott

Aaron Rodgers (File Photo)

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was the favorite to win the NFL’s MVP award on Saturday, so the announcement was not a surprise. In fact, the only surprise came when he announced that he got engaged during the season.

Rodgers received 44 of the 50 votes conducted by a nationwide panel of media members, becoming just the sixth player to be named the NFL’s MVP at least three times. He also captured the honor in 2011 and 2014.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen received four votes and Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes earned two votes.

Rodgers led the Packers to a 13-3 record, leading the NFL with 48 touchdown passes and just five interceptions. Rodgers became just the third quarterback in NFL history to lead the league in both categories. Tom Brady did in in 2010 and Johnny Unitas did it in 1958.

The 37-year-old Packers quarterback completed over 70 percent of his passes for 4,299 yards. His 48 touchdown passes nearly doubled his total from his first season in Matt LaFleur’s offense, when he threw 26 touchdown passes.

Rodgers joins Brett Favre, Jim Brown, Brady and Unitas as three-time winners. Peyton Manning has five MVP awards.

Tennessee’s Derrick Henry won the Offensive Player of the Year award. Aaron Donald of the Rams is the Defensive Player of the Year. The Chargers Justin Herbert was named Offensive rookie of the year, while Washington’s Chase Young won the Defensive honor. Cleveland’s Kevin Stefanski was named the Coach of the Year and Washington’s Alex Smith captured the Comeback Player of the Year award.

Report: Packers to add Joe Barry as Defensive Coordinator

February 7, 2021 By Bill Scott

After being turned down by University of Wisconsin defensive coordinator Jim Leonard on Friday, Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur is turning to Joe Barry as the Packers new Defensive Coordinator. The deal is expected to be finalized this weekend. The hiring was first reported by ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky.

The 50-year-old Barry replaces Mike Pettine, who LaFleur decided not to retain after the Packers season came to an end.

Barry was the Rams assistant head coach/linebackers coach when LaFleur was coaching quarterbacks in Los Angeles in 2017. Barry since then, was working as linebackers coach and defensive passing game coordinator with the Chargers under Brandon Staley before Staley left for the Rams defensive coordinator position this past season.

Barry has previous defensive coordinator experience with the Detroit Lions in 2007-09 and Washington 2015-16.

The Packers defense ranked ninth during the 2020 season, but the Packers still fell short of the Super Bowl, in part because of a defensive miscue that allowed Tampa Bay to score a last-second touchdown at the end of the first half in the NFC Championship game. Pettine’s contract was up at the end of the season.

Barry becomes the second new coordinator hired by LaFleur since the end of the season. He also promoted Maurice Drayton to Special Teams Coordinator after firing Shawn Mennenga.

Woodson elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame

February 7, 2021 By Bill Scott

Charles Woodson

Charles Woodson became the latest Green Bay Packers star to join the NFL’s Hall of Fame. Woodson joins the Hall as a first-ballot Hall of selection.

As a member of the Packers, Woodson lead the NFL in interceptions in 2009 and 2011. He was a first-team All-Pro selection after both of those seasons and helped the Packers win the Super Bowl in 2010.

Woodson seven seasons in Green Bay and 11 more with the Raiders. His 65 interceptions is tied for fifth on the NFL’s all-time list. Thirty-eight of those interceptions came during his seven seasons with the Packers. He ranks fourth on the team’s all-time interceptions list. [Read more…]

Report: Leonhard turns down offer from Packers

February 6, 2021 By Bill Scott

Jim Leonard

Wisconsin Badgers defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard has reportedly turned down an offer to become the next defensive coordinator of the Green Bay Packers.

The Wisconsin State Journal was the first to report Leonhard’s decision. It was confirmed by Wisconsin Radio Network on Saturday morning.

Leonhard reportedly talked with Packers head coach Matt LaFleur by way of zoom on Tuesday and then in person on Thursday before turning down the job on Friday.

Leonhard told the State Journal, “it was me choosing UW. I want to stay at UW. I want to be at this level right now. Extremely flattered. Awesome opportunity. But it was not the right time for me to go back to the NFL.”

Leonhard staying at UW is huge for Paul Chryst and the Badgers. Leonhard was a three-time All-American safety at Wisconsin and has served as the school’s defensive coordinator for the past four years.

LaFleur now must now move forward with his search. Likely at or near the top of his list is Los Angeles Rams safeties coach Ejiro Evero. Evero was a quality control assistant coach for the Packers in 2016.

Packers Hall of Fame Inc. postpones 50th Induction Banquet

February 4, 2021 By Bill Scott

The 50th Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame Inc. Induction Banquet, which was first rescheduled from 2020 until April of this year, will be postponed until August 2021, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The August date, which will be finalized once the Packers schedule is announced, will allow more time for the general public to be vaccinated.

The Induction Banquet will feature Charles Woodson and Al Harris as the newest inductees into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame. Also being honored is Bud Selig as the Bob Harlan Leadership Award recipient and the late Zeke Bratkowski as the Bart and Cherry Starr Recognition Award recipient.

A new Media Award has been established by the Packers Hall of Fame Inc. and the first recipient will be the late Bud Lea, for whom the award will be named in the future. Regarding the special recognition as the Most Memorable Moment in Packers history, LeRoy Butler and Robert Brooks will be accepting on behalf of the world-renowned Lambeau Leap.

Badgers Caufield and Holloway named Big Ten stars

February 2, 2021 By Bill Scott

Wisconsin sophomore forward Cole Caufield was named the Big Ten’s number-one star and sophomore forward Dylan Holloway was named the second star by the conference on Tuesday.

Caufield led the nation with seven points last week, including four goals in a series sweep of Michigan State. He had a pair of goals in Friday’s 6-0 win over Michigan State and two more goals in Saturday’s 4-1 victory over the Spartans.

Caufield leads the nation in goals with 14 in 18 games this season. He extended his point streak to 10 games (nine goals, 10 assists) and his goal streak to five contests (seven goals).

Holloway tied for second nationally with two goals and four assists on the weekend. He now has a six-game point streak (three goals, eight assists) and five game multi-point streak.

The Badgers are in second place in the Big Ten, five points behind first place Minnesota. The two teams will meet this Friday and Saturday in Minneapolis. Wisconsin and Minnesota split a pair of games in Madison last month.

UW’s Leonard plans to interview for Packers vacant defensive coordinator position

February 2, 2021 By Bill Scott

Jim Leonard

Wisconsin Badger defensive coordinator Jim Leonard is expected to interview for the vacant Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator position. The Packers are looking for a replacement for Mike Pettine, who they decided not to bring back after his contract expired at the end of this past season.

Leonard has served as defensive coordinator at UW since 2017. Last season, UW finished fifth nationally against the run (96.1 ypg) and fifth in total defense (299.9 ypg).

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur started interviewing candidates over the weekend. The list of candidates includes Rams safeties coach Ejiro Evero, L.A. Chargers defensive passing game coordinator Joe Barry and current Packers secondary coach Jerry Gray, who has previous defensive coordinators experience with Buffalo and Tennessee. [Read more…]

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