Welcome to another successful installment of Five Questions with an Enemy Blogger, where each week, via email, I will be exchanging hot questions and [sometimes] answers with a rival blogger about their team and the upcoming matchup.This week I sat down with Thomas Pelissero of Packers Insider Blog, a Green Bay Press-Gazette [credentialed] column that covers the Green Bay Packers.
Dan Benton: "Like the Giants, Green Bay has been struggling with injury this year. Which of their injuries has been, or has the potential to be the most devastating?"
Thomas Pelissero: "The series of injuries in the backfield really have hit the Packers hard, as evidenced by their inability to run the football in the preseason and Week 1. Vernand Morency strained a knee on the first day of training camp and hasn't played a down; P.J. Pope suffered a knee injury a week later and eventually was waived; second-round pick Brandon Jackson missed the preseason finale after suffering a mild concussion in a freak collision with a teammate; and Ryan Grant, acquired from the Giants on cutdown weekend, missed most of his first week of practice here with tight hamstrings. The healthiest guy in the group is seventh-round pick DeShawn Wynn, who previously missed time with calf, stomach and quadriceps problems. It's been ridiculous."
DB: "I, personally, had high hopes for Brandon Jackson, but he's underperformed thus far. Is it just taking him time to adjust to the NFL, or was the "sleeper" label unfairly and unjustly applied here?"
Pelissero: "It's a little tough to judge Jackson, because the offensive line has had all sorts of trouble. Also, he wasn't supposed to be a load-carrying back as a rookie -- coaches envisioned him splitting time with Morency. But with Morency on the sideline the past six-plus weeks, Jackson's been taking all the reps in practice and getting far more game work than anyone anticipated. All that said, he hasn't flashed much playmaking ability since the Packers put on the pads, nor has he been particularly consistent blocking or catching in the passing game. If and when Morency gets back on the field, we'll see whether reducing Jackson's workload allows the rookie to be more dangerous in spots."DB: "Honestly, will Brett Favre ever retire? And when he does, will Aaron Rodgers be capable of replacing the legend?"
Pelissero: "Will the Pope ever lose the hat? It's going to be a year-to-year thing until Favre does retire (yes, it has to happen someday), and Rodgers remains in line to inherit throne. If Favre comes back next season, though, will the Packers and Rodgers be comfortable with him riding pine into the fourth of a five-year deal? I don't buy it. Both sides have to consider their options at that point. For as good as Rodgers has looked in short bursts with the starters during practice and the preseason, we won't really know what he's made of until he starts a game."DB: "Looking ahead to Sunday, what should concern Green Bay most about the New York Giants?"
Pelissero: "Besides J-Load breaking ribs on quarterback sneaks? I'll say Jeremy Shockey, just based on matchups. Brady Poppinga, the Packers' strong-side linebacker, is suspect in coverage -- one of few weaknesses for a pretty solid defense. If he's chasing Shockey's nameplate all day, it'll be a long day for the Packers. (And not that it's particularly relevant now, but the last time these teams met, in 2004, Shockey had five receptions for 74 yards and a TD in a 14-7 Giants win.)"DB: "Prediction time! Normally I ask for a winner and score, but I'm going to switch gears a little bit today -- the score always seems like an afterthought with these two teams. In total, how many players will be injured this weekend?"
Pelissero: "I'll say it'll equal the number of points the Packers offense generates: six."A special thanks to Thomas Pelissero for taking the time. Again, you can read his Packers coverage on the Insider Blog section of the Green Bay Press Gazette.
