Caste Football Looks at the 2007 Green Bay Packers

[color=red]pictured: A. J. Hawk[/color]It’s deja vu as far as the Packers go. In ’06 Green Bay had 9 white starters and 15 white players overall on the roster. Those numbers hold true again this year; and only one of the starters has changed from last season.The bulk of the white players are found on the offensive line, which again has all white starters: RT Mark Tauscher, RG Jason Spitz, C Scott Wells, LG Darryn Colledge, and LT Chad Clifton. Colledge and Spitz both started as rookies in 2006, so their added experience should help give Brett Favre the time he needs to find tight ends and receivers who are of unproven quality and/or dubious quality after Donald Driver. After having “survived” the era of Bill Schroeder, who missed by just one yard of having back to back thousand yard receiving seasons but who was the most hated man in the NFL for some reason, the Packers seem to have instituted a total ban on white receivers and tight ends.The heir apparent to Favre is former first round draft pick Aaron Rodgers, unless Rodgers becomes a free agent before Favre ends his all-time career, which this season should find him passing some of the most revered career passing marks in the sport. Rodgers looks to have what it takes to make his own mark when his time comes.The Packers signed John Kuhn after he was waived by the Steelers. Kuhn, out of small college Shippensburg, was used by the Steelers as a backup fullback and, gasp, tailback! Yes, John Kuhn had two carries last year. It’s not known if a huge fine was levied on the Steelers for their serious breach of Caste System rules.Many fans are expecting big things out of the Packers defense in 2007, and Aaron Kampman and A. J. Hawk are two of the main reasons why.After years of being labeled an “overachiever,” Kampman exploded in 2006 with 15.5 sacks, second most in the NFL. Kampman had already been a top defensive end, as he may be the best tackler among ends and also a consistently excellent pass rusher. But the only time he was publicized prior to last season was usually in conjunction with how the Packers needed to “upgrade” i.e., replace him with an “afflete.” But with Kampman, Aaron Schoebel, Jared Allen, Kyle Vanden Bosch, Justin Smith, Patrick Kerney, Aaron Smith, and maybe Brett Keisel, Matt Roth and others stepping up this season, whites are showing just how well they can play defensive end when given a fair opportunity.A. J. Hawk moves very quickly all over the field from his outside linebacker spot. Although the drunk white fans were on him because he did not start off his rookie season exceptionally well, Hawk ended up with 112 solo tackles in 2006, the third best total in the entire league. Hawk is a near-certain superstar at his position for many years to come.BYU grad Brady Poppinga does a solid job at the other outside LB spot.The Packers don’t have a single backup white player on defense.NUMBER OF WHITE STARTERS: 9APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF WHITE PLAYERS ON 53 MAN ROSTER: 15GRADE: D+

2007-09-16