2000 season-in-review team reports —
NFC Central
As published in print Jan. 31, 2001
|
| Overview |
| Given the multitude of injuries the Packers suffered, it’s hard to
make a complete evaluation of Mike Sherman’s first season as head coach. Injuries
sidelined 17 players, including nine starters, for a total of 93 player games missed. But
Sherman deserves credit for keeping the team together. The Packers won seven of their last
10 games, including their final four. After starting the year 2-4, Sherman had the Packers
playing in a Week 17 game with a shot, albeit slim, at a wild-card berth. |
| Turning point |
| The Packers entered their Week 13 Monday-nighter at Carolina fresh off an
impressive win over the Colts. They were one game below .500 and facing a winnable game.
But little-known Panthers RB Brad Hoover rushed for 117 yards and a touchdown, and the
Packers dropped an embarrassing 31-14 decision. Though Green Bay went on to win its last
four games, a victory over Carolina would have enhanced the Packers’ playoff
standing. Sherman said it was the only game in which he considered the team flat. |
| Offensive MVP |
| With Dorsey Levens nursing knee injuries, Ahman Green took the bull by
the horns at running back, recording the fourth-best rushing total in club history (1,175
yards). Making Green’s feat even more impressive is that he had only 90 yards through
three games, and he didn’t become the featured back until Week Nine. Green’s
success can be attributed to his increased comfort level with the offense. As the lead
back, Green received most of the reps, and he began to run with more decisiveness. |
| Defensive MVP |
| FS Darren Sharper improved by leaps and bounds, earning the first Pro
Bowl berth of his career. He led the league with nine interceptions — one shy of
Green Bay’s all-time single-season high — and the team with 23 passes defensed.
Sharper cut back big-time on his missed tackles and recorded more hurries and sacks than
any Packers defensive back. |
| Biggest surprise |
| After losing ORT Earl Dotson to a back injury and having to replace an
ineffective Mike Wahle at left tackle, the Packers were forced to start two rookies in
their places. Seventh-round pick Mark Tauscher took over for Dotson, and second-rounder
Chad Clifton filled in for Wahle. Both played beyond expectations and likely will become
OL mainstays. |
| Biggest disappointment |
| WR Antonio Freeman. On the field, his play regressed. He needed help from
the coaches’ schemes to get open, and he struggled to separate from better
cornerbacks. Off the field, he was even more of a problem, culminating in his benching for
the Packers’ season finale after missing meetings the day before the game.
Freeman’s attitude and mindset have been questioned by fans and media, and the team
has grown weary of his disruptive behavior. |
| Rookie recap |
| TE Bubba Franks, the Packers’ first-round pick, was below average
and failed to make a play all year. Second-round pick Chad Clifton allowed one sack in 10
starts at left tackle. DT Steve Warren, a third-rounder, played well but blew out his
quadriceps muscle in Week 13. Fourth-round pick Na’il Diggs wasn’t spectacular,
but he was solid in 12 starts at outside linebacker. DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, a
fifth-round pick, played a lot in the last six weeks and looked good. ORT Mark Tauscher
never embarrassed himself as a seventh-rounder. WR Charles Lee, another seventh-round
pick, may get a chance to start in 2001. |
| Free-agent/trade review |
| DE John Thierry was Green Bay’s biggest free-agent addition. Though
he fizzled down the stretch, he played through several injuries and was the team’s
best pass rusher. Ahman Green, acquired in a trade with Seattle, was outstanding. Nate
Wayne started 13 games and finished second on the team in tackles after coming over in a
trade with Denver. Allen Rossum, acquired in a trade with Philadelphia, helped the Packers
in more ways than one (as a return specialist, defensive back and running back). |
Top of page
|
Regular-season record: 9-7
|
| Team leaders |
|
Rushing — Ahman
Green, 1,175 yards on 263 carries, 4.5 avg., 10 TDs.
Passing — Brett
Favre, 338-580 attempts for 3,812 yards, 20 TDs, 16 interceptions, 78.0 rating.
Receiving — Ahman
Green, 73 receptions for 559 yards, 7.7 avg., 3 TDs.
Scoring — Ryan
Longwell, 131 points on 32 PATs and 33 FGs.
Kickoff returns — Allen
Rossum, 50 for 1,288 yards, 25.8 avg., 1 TD.
Punt returns — Allen
Rossum, 29 for 248 yards, 8.6 avg., 0 TDs.
Punting — Josh
Bidwell, 78 for 38.5 avg., 34.6 net, 5 TB, 22 inside 20, 0 blk., 53L.
Interceptions — Darren
Sharper, 9 for 109 yards, 12.1 avg., 0 TDs.
Sacks — John
Thierry, 6½. |
| Results |
|
| Pointspread Shown Refers to Green Bay. |
| Date |
Opponent |
Spread |
Score |
| Sept. 3 |
New York Jets |
(-2.5) |
16-20 |
| Sept. 10 |
At Buffalo |
(+6) |
18-27 |
| Sept. 17 |
Philadelphia |
(-4) |
6-3 |
| Sept. 24 |
At Arizona |
(+2) |
29-3 |
| Oct. 1 |
Chicago |
(-5.5) |
24-27 |
| Oct. 8 |
At Detroit |
(+3) |
24-31 |
| Oct. 15 |
San Francisco |
(-4.5) |
31-28 |
| Oct. 22 |
BYE |
|
|
| Oct. 29 |
At Miami |
(+3.5) |
20-28 |
| Nov. 6 |
Minnesota |
(+3.5) |
26-20* |
| Nov. 12 |
At Tampa Bay |
(+8.5) |
15-20 |
| Nov. 19 |
Indianapolis |
(+4) |
26-24 |
| Nov. 27 |
At Carolina |
(-2.5) |
14-31 |
| Dec. 3 |
At Chicago |
(-2) |
28-6 |
| Dec. 10 |
Detroit |
(-4) |
26-13 |
| Dec. 17 |
At Minnesota |
(+8) |
33-28 |
| Dec. 24 |
Tampa Bay |
(-3) |
17-14* |
| * Overtime |
|
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