Packer's Progress Report: Week 1-3

Every year, the Packers are usually a team that gets off to a slow start and then become a force as the season goes on.  However, the beginning of the 2011 season they are off to a 3-0 start due to the continuing effort from the top quarterback(in my eyes), in the league.  Aaron Rodgers has amassed over 900 yards passing with 8 touchdowns.  Two areas of the team that are off to a slow start is the running game and pass defense.  The running game is not a dominant one as we Packer fans know, but Ryan Grant did have a good game this past Sunday at Chicago, rushing for 92 yards on 17 attempts. Rodgers is 9th in total yards in the NFL with 917, 8 TDs, and 1 INT with a RTG rating of 120.9, the highest RTG in the league a head of Tom Brady. He has 305.7 yards per game and has the highest completion rating in the league thus far, completing 74-103 with a rating of 71.8. Greg Jennings is the Packers leading receiver with 18 rec 263 yards and 2 TDs, look very good last week against the bears catching a career high 9 rec in a game with 119 yards and 0 TDs. speaking of career games, Packers star TE Jermichael Finley had 3 TDs 7 rec and 85 yards against the Bears in week 3. Ryan Grant had a slow week 1-2 but looked like he was back to his old 2008-2009 form with 17 att: and 92 yards rushing with 0 TDs, As for the pass defense, the Pack are currently ranked 31st  in opposing team’s passing yards.

Injuries can make or break any teams season. Look at the Indianapolis Colts. One key injury can make your team go from contenders to pretenders, most of the time last year the Green Bay Packers deified the odds and won a Superbowl with over 15 people on the injured reserve. This year the Packers have been bitten by the injury bug one more time with Nick Collins having a season ending neck injury. Granted Morgan Brunett  made a huge impression on Packers fans with a huge game against rival Chicago Bears.  Also having  big games against the Bears were running back Ryan Grant and right tackle Bryan Bulaga. I bring up these names because like Collins they were also injured. Just not to the severity of Collins. Ryan came out of the game last week vs the Bears with a bruised kidney but did end up coming back in the game. Grant is questionable for this weeks game against the Denver Broncos but doesn't think it will keep him out very long, In an appearance on WSSP radio in Milwaukee, Grant said: “I feel fine. I have been walking around. I finished the game and everything. We really don’t know any details right now. Like I said I feel fine. It wasn’t really anything major to it, just precautionary I guess. We’ll get some more information from the doctors on some tests later on this week.” Bulaga on the other hand narrowly missed a season ending ACL tear, but thankfully for fans, he only suffered a sprained and bruised knee and will only likely miss one game. The season is still young and everyone is trying to get back into sync now with the unfortunate loss of Pro Bowl safety Nick Collins lost for the season with a neck injury.  I have faith in Charlie Peprah stepping in after last year’s display of good play from him, teamed with rising star Morgan Burnett. Also with a slight injury is back up linebacker Brad Jones who is dealing with a hamstring strain. Compared to this time last year Packers are in similar if not better shape. The lack of OTA's and training camps has not effected the Packers as severally as many people have predicted. Packers have started the season 3-0 and compared to the same time last season, they have been better offensively and poorer defensively. With 13 games left its no doubt that the packers will become a stronger team after every week. I see the Pack making another deep playoff run, hopefully ending with another Superbowl victory.

Until next time, Beer, Brats, and Championships.

-Andrew Vrchota @TheBIGVrchota

-Michael Schuster @mikeshuz

-Nick Pritzlaff @WSB_Nick

-Brandon Krueger @WSB_Brandon

Follow us on Twitter for up to date news on Brewers, Packers, Badgers, and more. Live in game commentary, previews, and post game discussion. @WISportsBlog @TheBIGVrchota @WSB_Nick @WSB_Brandon @mikeshuz

The Brains and The Braun

First of all, congratulations to the Milwaukee Brewers, who won the National League Central last evening with a little help from the rival Chicago Cubs. Brewer's Ryan Braun hit a 3 run HR in the 8th inning to put the Brewers ahead 4-1, which was quiet similar to how the Brewers cliched the Wild Card in 2008. That lead would hold and John Axford would get his 44th save of the year, 41st consecutive. Then, we had to wait. Things were looking bright, though. Shortly after Braun hit his HR, Alfonso Soriano then mimicked Braun when he too hit a 3 run blast to put the Cubs ahead 4-1, later winning 5-1. The division was sealed. It was the Brewers first divisional championship since 1982 and first playoff birth since 2008.

This season I've realized that I have a passion for this team like no other sport out there. Sure, the Packers winning the Super Bowl was awesome, but I experienced it already back in 1996. I have never had a memorable Brewers season where I was this into it. I remember when my dad would take me to County Stadium when the Brewers only drew about 10,000 fans a game. My first memory I have is when (Sammy) Sosa and (Mark) McGuire were in the middle of their HR battle in 1998 and seeing both of those icons play the Brewers was such a great experience. I'm a firm believer that if it wasn't for that HR chase in '98, baseball in America would be dead. But anyways, back to the Brewers.

13 years later, here I am talking to you folks about a team that has superstars that you run out of fingers to count on. It's a team that plays smart (most of the time). Playing smart all starts with a great manager, and Mr Roenicke has done that this season. You never see them (players) in the news for drugs, violence, or anything else that is considered unacceptable. Sure, the antics make the news a lot. But, you see that with any team and they are honestly having a lot of fun. We have a superior pitching staff that I believe is only bettered by The Phillies. We have 2 legitimate MVP candidates, in Braun and Fielder, who each have 100 RBIs and 30+ HRs. But, after last nights performance I'm convinced Ryan Braun is your National League MVP. And it warms my heart we have him until he retires. He has the potential of being the Brewers version of Yankee great, Derek Jeter. He's going to break records. Lots of them. He is here to stay, and Milwaukee Brewers fans appreciate everything he has done, is doing, and will do.

Our next milestone is to break our single season wins record, which stands at 95. (Brewers are at 93 with 5 games remaining.) Also, if timed correctly, the Brewers vs Marlins game could set MLB history by being the 200,000th game played. A lot of magic going on at Miller Park this year, and only more to come as we move to the postseason.

 

Until next time, Beer, Brats, and Championships.

-Andrew Vrchota @TheBIGVrchota

Follow us on Twitter for up to date news on Brewers, Packers, Badgers, and more. Live in game commentary, previews, and post game discussion. @WISportsBlog @TheBIGVrchota @WSB_Nick @WSB_Brandon @mikeshuz

The Hunt for a BCS Championship, Bucky Style

One could say the Badgers had one of their best seasons last year when they lost one lone game in the regular season. They peaked at #5 in the nation. They took out #1 ranked Ohio State (Wisconsin was ranked #18 at that point) at Camp Randall in which some call one the most one sided dominate wins over a #1 ranked team in college football history (31-18 victory). The Badgers made it too the Rose Bowl where they lost to Andy Dalton and the TCU Horned Frogs. Their run game, which some argue got them to where they were that season, seemed absent during the Rose Bowl. The final score was 21-19. The season was over. J.J. Watt, Lance Kendricks, Gabe Carimi, John Moffitt, and Bill Nagy were all taken by teams in the NFL. The Badgers would also not see Scott Tolzien return because he was a senior. Tolzien went undrafted. John Clay, a junior,  was undrafted but signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers. It was time to rebuild.

The Badgers entered the 2011 season with high expectations.  With the transfer of Russell Wilson from North Carolina State, expectations are even higher.  Through the first three games of the season, the Badgers have not been a disappointment.  The Badgers have out scored opponents 135-24 so far. Russell Wilson has thrown for a staggering 791 yards and 8 touchdowns. The Wisconsin Badgers also have a formidable duo at the running position. Monte Ball and James White have combined this season for 82 carries 480 yards and 9 touchdowns (Ball with 7). Finally, Nick Toon, the Badgers #1 wide receiver, has 200 yards receiving with 3 touchdowns, averaging 14 yards per catch. If these kinds of performances continue for the rest of the season, I see no reason why Wilson should not get any Heisman votes, or why the Badgers can't be the #1 team in the nation. It has been 11 years since the Heisman has been won by a Badger (Ron Dayne) and this year fans all across the state have "that feeling of something good"  And with two contenders for the Big Ten Championship, Ohio St. And Michigan St, already with a loss this season, the Badgers have a great opportunity to win the Leaders Division and have a chance at winning back to back Big Ten Titles.

Until next time, Beer, Brats, and Championships.

-Andrew Vrchota @TheBIGVrchota

-Michael Schuster @mikeshuz

-Nick Pritzlaff @WSB_Nick

-Brandon Krueger @WSB_Brandon

Follow us on Twitter for up to date news on Brewers, Packers, Badgers, and more. Live in game commentary, previews, and post game discussion. @WISportsBlog

State of the Union: Brewers

When the 2011 season got underway for the Milwaukee Brewers, the fans had everything to be excited about. Doug Melvin and Mark Attanasio did an outstanding job in the offseason by addressing the issues the Brewers had from the previous season, which was mostly the pitching aspect of the game. Brewers acquired starting pitchers Zach Greinke from the Kansas City Royals (along with Yuniesky Betancourt) in exchange for top prospects which included Alcides Escobar and Lorenzo Cain. Brewers also acquired Shaun Marcum from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for a very promising athlete, Brett Lawrie. We also traded for Nyjer Morgan, who we acquired from the Washington Nationals for Cutter Dykstra. The bullpen was still a partial red flag, even with veteran pitcher Takashi Saito being signed from free agency. The Brewers were set, ready to take on the NL Central and all of baseball. They finally had a contending team.

To much delight of Brewers Nation, baseball heard the unfortunate news that Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright was done for the season. Adam blew out his elbow during spring training which required Tommy John's surgery, putting him out for 15 months. Still, the Cardinals had their depth in their pitching staff and remained a contender. The Reds also looked to be promising with their young pitching and their dominate offense. It was off to the races, with the Reds and Cardinals as the heavy favorites to take the NL Central as the season began. Since the Brewers are such a small market team, no one even gave them the light of day on the top sports television networks and shows. But, as you can see, there is a reason a baseball season is 162 games and not merely decided by who looks good on paper.

With the magic number being at just 8, the Brewer get to finish the season out with all teams below a record of .500, and have the last 6 games at Miller Park, where they are a ML best 52-23, one would think that the division is all but theirs. The Cardinals, who have a 4 game series coming up at the Phillies, remain 5.5 games behind the Brewers. The only thing that is holding back the Brewers right now is themselves, who seem to have turned the burners off as of late and seem to want to just coast into the post season. All sides of the ball have been dismal. Batters are struggling to hit, pitchers are getting their pitch counts too high early, and defense has been lackluster. The media hasn't helped either. The Sports Illustrated "curse", Nyjer Morgan's antics, K-Rod complaining to the media about not being used how he wants, and then Fielder announcing that he will likely not play for Milwaukee next year, all come into play at the absolute worst time. The Brewers are about to win the NL Central for the first time since coming over from the American League, and all this negativity affects a surging team like the Brewers. Just a month ago, they were the hottest team in baseball. Now it seems like the morale has deflated.

The news on Fielder probably not playing here next season isn't shocking, its what everyone expects. However, an interview like that should be conducted in the offseason, not when a team is in a playoff hunt. As for K-Rod, I understand we promised him split saves between him and closer John Axford. Nonetheless, Frankie knew coming in he was here to be our set-up guy. Axford is currently on a 39 game save streak. The say goes: "Don't fix what isn't broken." Nyjer Morgan will be Nyjer Morgan. Until he stops producing as a .300 hitter, let him do what he wants, whether its a beast mode pose, or an "Ahhhhh!!" As long as he keeps his cool and doesn't let his temper get the best of him, he will be a great asset for the Brewers in the postseason and into next year, assuming we offer him a contract. I'll save the complete talk of Fielder's free agency for a different blog after the season is over with.

The bottom line is is that the Brewers, in my eyes and in the eyes of the 2,000 plus new season ticket holders, is that the Brewers are the real deal. We have a chance to do great things this year and years to come. We finally have an owner who wants to win, a General Manager who makes things happen and keeps promises, and a head coach who is gutsy yet tactical at the same time. It's a recipe for success. A recipe that could put up a few new banners to hang at Miller Park, and who knows, one could even say "World Series" on it. Time will tell. We just need to ignite one last time this year and not let it run out until mid-October. We defeated the odds so much this year by outlasting the Reds and presumably the Cardinals too. We now just have to prove we can win under the spotlight, when all the cameras are on us. If we do that, engrave the Brewers name on that World Series trophy. We have a team that can do it.

Until next time, Beer, Brats, and Championships.

-Andrew Vrchota @TheBIGVrchota

Hello, Wisconsin!

Hello everyone, my name is Andrew, and I will be one of the 4 writers on this blog writing for you fans. I have along with me, Nick Pritzlaff, Brandon Krueger, and Michael Schuster. I will be covering the Milwaukee Brewers, Nick will cover the Packers, Brandon will cover the Badgers and Admirals, and Michael will cover the Badgers and the Bucks. The main focus will be the Brewers, Packers, and Badgers for the first few months of the existence of this blog. If this kicks off like we expect, we will contemplate starting a podcast on iTunes. Until then, sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride. I'll leave you with links to get in contact with the writers.

Twitter:
Wisconsin Sports Blog - @WISportsBlog
Andrew - @TheBIGVrchota
Nick - @WSB_Nick
Brandon - @WSB_Brandon
Michael - @mikeshuz

Until next time, Beer, Brats, and Championships