http://cheeseheadtv.com/blog/why-cornerback-is-the-packers-1-off-season-need

Cornerback Is Packers' #1 Off-Season Need
packeraaron in Al Harris, Charles Woodson, Off Season Strategy, Packer
Defense, Ted Thompson
They need a guard. And a defensive end. Not to mention a tight end and a
linebacker. But the Green Bay Packers need nothing more than a infusion on
talent at the position of cornerback. Not safety, cornerback.

Take a look at this excellent research compiled by the guys over at
Footballoutsiders. (For an explanation of their methods and mission, and how
their numbers are much more useful than mostly meaningless conventional
statistics, please read here.) They break down not just team defensive
ranking as a whole, but also how each defense fared in 2007 against
different offensive positions. (#1, #2 and 'Other' WRs, TE's RB's, ect.) As
you all know, I'm by no means a stat geek, but I found the positional
breakdown very telling. I've had more than a few small arguments with my
co-host of Packer Translplants regarding the dismal play of our #3 CB over
the course of the year. Corey seemed to echo McCarthy's argument that, when
your #1 and #2 corners are as good as Harris and Woodson, of course the
opposing team is going to go after the #3. And that might well explain SOME
of the following but not all - Only one team in the entire NFL was worse
against #3 and #4 wide recievers than the Green Bay Packers. (The Vikings
were the worst). Now, as I said, some of that is due to the fact that the
Packers #1 and #2 are so good. (Though thank goodness the chart only takes
the regular season into account. Goodness knows how much Green Bay may have
dropped against #1's if they had included Harris' playoff run-in with
Plaxico Burress.) But a lot of it has to do with some pretty poor play from
both Jarrett Bush (who I think is sub-standard at best) and Tramon Williams
(who I think gives great effort but just doesn't have the tools necessary to
be a good cover guy).

With both Harris and Woodson getting up in years, and nothing in reserve
behind them, it would seem obvious that Thompson needs to be proactive both
in the draft and in free agency to stockpile more talent in the defensive
backfield. Perhaps Will Blackmon could provide some help, but until he
proves he can stay healthy for more than the opening kickoff, the team
simply can't count on any realistic contribution there.

Archived from group: alt>sports>football>pro>gb-packers