Read here from jsonline. Not sure this is true. I read just 2 days ago that he was going to play – I believe Pouncey himself announced that. If he doesn’t play, Pitt could be in serious trouble. I believe Big Ben and Legursky (the back-up center) had at least 2-3 poorly exchanged snaps against the Jets, including a fumble. But Raji would gobble up a guy like Legursky and the already questionable Pitt O-Line would become even more questionable.
In fact, their iffy O-Line could be a significant factor in this game. With Pouncey they are an OK, maybe average unit – but without him, they are a below average unit. So often, when the highlights show Roethlisberger dragging 5 defenders along with him while he’s still managing to throw the ball, what isn’t talked about is that Pitt’s questionable offensive line consistently allows those guys to get after Roethlisberger. My guess is that if we send the right guys (like Bishop, Matthews, Raji, Jenkins, Walden) who are strong enough to drag Big Ben down – Pitt could have some real trouble with our D.
packergeeks 
January 27, 2011 at 10:50 am |
It wouldn’t surprise me if he was out. He has a high ankle sprain and those typically take awhile to heal. That said, I won’t really believe it until there is an official report or statement that he is out.
January 27, 2011 at 11:32 am |
I agree in that it would be a blow to that unit. Their line isn’t great anyways and missing their best player is going to hurt. They will get him on the field if at all possible and they have 10 more days to heal him up. With a big interior o-lineman I think they can tape that ankle up and juice him up enough to play. He won’t be practicing and he won’t be 100% but I think he plays.
January 27, 2011 at 11:37 am |
Here is another article on that. Says he was fitted for a cast and a teammate confirmed he was out.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/morning-jolt/01/27/pouncey.roy.lee/index.html?eref=sihp
That def hurts Pittsburgh, but I hope that the Pack doesnt look past the shaky offensive line like they looked past the backup Bears QB’s. They still have some fast WR’s and could hurt us on the quick pass game, along with a solid play action.
You just never know with Big Ben……
Go pack!
January 27, 2011 at 12:22 pm |
One of my Steelers fan buddies told me on Tuesday that he has a reliable source who tells him that Pouncey is not expected to be ready to play. He would not identify the source, but my friend is a prominent enough person in the Pittsburgh community that he would be in a position to know people who might know something. (In other words, I am confident that he was conveying something more than the “word on the street”).
January 27, 2011 at 12:32 pm |
Center might be the most underrated position in the NFL and Pouncey sure has a reputation as a great one. Even if he can play it seems like a bum ankle is a pretty big restriction on an O-lineman.
By the way I just realized that with all of the focus on the IR, no one has mentioned that the Pack also lost Johnny Jolly before the season started. With all of the high profile suspensions over the last few years, I can’t ever remember a guy just seemingly disappearing like Jolly has. He wasn’t a Pro-Bowler but he was arguably their best all-around lineman last year. Wonder if he can come back next year. Adding him and Mike Neal to this D-Line group next year would really help an already pretty impressive defense.
January 27, 2011 at 12:37 pm |
very good point RayMidge. Throw Finley and Grant in there on offense and Barnett and Burnett back in there (as a back-ups?) – scary.
January 27, 2011 at 4:01 pm
He cant come back if hes serving time for that siz-urp.
Pack should cut ties with that idiot, d line depth or not. Hes a disgrace to the org.
January 27, 2011 at 1:11 pm |
Pouncey said he would play right after the AFC Championship. Doesn’t mean much coming from a player that early. My guess is a high ankle sprain for a big man will not be sufficiently healed in just two weeks.
On the injury side, we’re waiting to see if Walden’s ankle is going to be OK. Last I heard it sounded like he had a chance to practice tomorrow.
January 27, 2011 at 3:24 pm |
AW–You really think Grant & Barnett will be back next year? The way some players have stepped up & with the salary on Grant especially I wouldn;t be surprised to see TT make some moves. Not saying it would be the best thing but I think it may be a possibility. Now you guys have much greater footballminds than I and know the innerworkings of this team moreso than I do so I’m just throwing this out there to see what you think.
January 27, 2011 at 3:27 pm |
I do think there could be some shuffling of personnel in the off-season – but I’d bet Grant and Barnett would be back assuming both recover fully. I’m not sure how much longer Barnett will be around in particular, that may depend on what the team decides to do with Hawk. And, from what I’ve read, the team is higher on Hawk (mostly because of his defensive communication/leadership) than most fans are at this point. Will be interesting to see what happens, but I do think Barnett and Grant will be back.
January 27, 2011 at 4:03 pm
Yeah, I think they are both back. But I dont think they will be getting extensions any time soon. We’ve found some great (young) depth at LB thanks to TT, and unfortunately for Grant, RB’s can be a dime a dozen with the right O line. (See: Denver Broncos, 1990’s)
January 27, 2011 at 4:15 pm
My thoughts: we’ll see Barnett on the outside or 3rd on the depth chart in the middle. As for Grant he’ll be back and featured if healthy.
January 27, 2011 at 4:29 pm |
Why not Barnett at ROLB with the way Hawk and Bishop have played inside? Matthews, Hawk, Bishop, and Barnett all on the field at the same time sounds good to me. Doesn’t Barnett’s size and speed fit well for the outside in a 3-4?
January 27, 2011 at 4:56 pm |
yeah – I wrote a few weeks back on the possibility of Barnett being a OLB when he returns. I think it makes lots of sense (unless Walden somehow beats him out…).
January 27, 2011 at 5:09 pm |
Which he might
January 27, 2011 at 7:07 pm |
My thoughts regard Cullen Jenkins, who I love as a player. While not always healthy, he’s a great asset to the D-line. I’m concerned we won’t be able to afford him next year (he’s a FA after this year)
January 27, 2011 at 7:13 pm |
Thanx for the insight. Again, it’s why I really like this site. Almost like having a gang of Packer insiders.
January 27, 2011 at 9:28 pm |
PFT now reporting Pouncey has a broken bone in his ankle, as well as a high ankle sprain.
A broken bone may not be an absolute deal-breaker (c.f. Favre), but it sure makes it harder for him to get ready.
D∈T
January 27, 2011 at 11:38 pm |
Sticking with the O-line theme but with a twist. I see the key being the packers offensive line. If they can keep pit rushers away from Rodgers then he just might light it up like in Atlanta. Also love all the serious focus that woodson is providing. I have a very good feeling that we will come ready to play. I wonder if pit will have a little “been there done that” attitude since they are semi-regulars to the SB while we seem to be hungry and not awestruck at all.
January 28, 2011 at 11:36 am |
I’m guessing Jenkins will get the franchise tag until they reach a long term deal. It’s about $7 million for a DT. Colledge would be the only other candidate for the tag and there is no way the Packers are going to pay him $10.7 million next year. Spitz, Jones, and Jackson are probably other guys they probably want to resign but won’t use the tag.
January 28, 2011 at 11:55 am |
Brandon Jackson? See, I think he may be the odd man out. Grant, Starks, Jackson is the depth chart as I see it. If he’s willing to take a big pay cut, then I think he stays, otherwise, there are plenty of good catching, but very slow, RB’s available. and we havent seen much of starks out of the backfield – with his running style, I think he would be pretty good at it…
I also think we may see some of it in Dallas – though not too much as Pitt LB’s are tenacious.
January 28, 2011 at 12:27 pm
Of course it depends on the right price but I think Jackson has some value to the Packers. He obviously isn’t a feature back but he is a pretty good 3rd down back. He has great hands and blocking skills and he knows the system very well. That has some real value to the Packers and he showed that value in the playoffs. That screen pass against the Eagles was a thing of beauty and he toasted Urlacher for a long first down last game which lead to the 2nd TD. He showed good hands and quickness in both those big plays. He also seems to have that knack of all good 3rd down backs in that he can find that little sweet spot in the defense that turns a little check down into good yards. I’d like to see him back next year.
January 28, 2011 at 12:07 pm |
Great article about Troy Palomalu. Bottom line: This guy is a beast, and a great, humble guy to boot. I’m genuinely terrified of him come Feb. 6th.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/commentary/news/story?id=6065234
January 28, 2011 at 12:08 pm |
Sorry – Polamalu. Eye dunt speel to gud ohn fryday marnings.
January 28, 2011 at 12:30 pm |
I’m a huge fan of Polamalu – I think he changes games as much or more than any defensive player out there. QBs just hate playing against the guy. Even if he’s not racking up stats, he is shifting all over the place all the time and I think he’s just a headache for QBs trying to read their defense. However, as good as he is even injured, I do think his injury has slowed him down in the last 2 games. Hopefully 2 weeks to recover isn’t enough time!
January 28, 2011 at 1:52 pm |
Change of topic: This from Pro Football Talk.
The Philadelphia Eagles don’t have a defensive coordinator. And they haven’t had a defensive coordinator for several weeks.
And they may not have a defensive coordinator until the day after the Super Bowl, at the earliest.
Reuben Frank of CSNPhilly.com believes that the Eagles are waiting for a guy who’s still coaching — and that the guy for whom they’re waiting is Packers safeties coach Darren Perry.
In fact, Frank thinks the deal may already be done.
If Perry’s still under contract, the Packers could block the move. But if the Packers are willing to let Perry leave — and if they’ve also permitted Perry to work out a deal with the Eagles while Green Bay’s season still was unfolding — then Perry could get the job quickly.
The Packers don’t have a defensive backs coach per se; Perry handles the safeties and Joe Whitt, Jr. coaches the cornerbacks. It’s possible that Whitt will simply assume responsibility for both positions, if Perry goes.
Perry spent nine seasons in the NFL, seven of them with Green Bay’s opponent in the Super Bowl. Perry started every game from 1992 through 1997, and 14 of 16 in 1998. He was a member of Pittsburgh’s Super Bowl XXX team.
January 28, 2011 at 4:28 pm |
I think I’d rather lose Perry than Trgovac. Trgovac has done a great job with our hodge podge d-line that I would hate to lose him.
January 29, 2011 at 1:10 am |
Brandon Jackson is without a doubt a limited player, but he is very useful. I would like to see him stick around. He understands how to block and he is a great (yes great) 3d down receiver. I think he has much more value for the pack than he would have for any other team, so I hope we keep him.
January 29, 2011 at 7:06 pm |
Another twist, apparently AR was critical of Barrnet and his rehab away form the team all year. Barnett responded rather nastily and immediately dropped his twitter account I’d say that’s a good thing). I guess we now know the ILB who won’t be there next year.
It’s time the team puts a stop to this twitter shit. These guys are starting to act like a bunch of high school girls.
January 30, 2011 at 3:43 pm |
Seems Jermichael is also adding his tweets to Barnett. Maybe there was a reason the Pack didn’t want Barnett or Finley to be in the picture.
January 30, 2011 at 9:46 pm |
Sick of photogate. Wish the game was today
January 30, 2011 at 11:28 pm |
Why isn’t MM puting a stop to this? He should say if anyone is asked about this that the answer is ‘It’s a done deal. No one on the team cares about it because it has been settled”. This needs to be put to bed now!!!!
January 31, 2011 at 1:18 pm |
Agreed. MM needs to end any possibility that they get distracted from game prep because some little bitch wants to be in a team photo.
January 31, 2011 at 8:17 pm |
In case anyone is still wondering about the original issue (Pouncey): it’s starting to look very much like he’s not going to be in any kind of shape to play on Sunday: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/31/maurkice-pouncey-arrives-in-dallas-on-canes/
February 3, 2011 at 9:42 am |
I wish it was Harrison! Or Polamalu (sp?), No make that and Palamalu.