The ACL-ocaust and our playoff chances

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A lot can happen in eight days. Before the Dallas game, Green Bay’s chances of earning a wildcard berth were looking dim. Today, they merely look cloudy, but for completely different reasons.

Just when the Packers’ defense was starting to look like it deserved its No. 4 ranking, having served up six quarters of astonishing stinginess against a great offense and a not-terrible one, Al Harris and Aaron Kampman had to go and blow out their ACLs. Of the two casualties, I’m a lot more worried about replacing Harris. Outstanding as Kampman has been in previous years, much as he was finally starting to come along in the 3-4 scheme and as much leadership as he brings to the locker room, it’s an undeniable fact that Green Bay’s best game as a defense came the week he was sitting out with a concussion. Clearly, we can make do without him.

Harris is a different story. Though he’s no longer as good as his reputation and has always struggled aganist elite receivers, Harris is an eminently solid player. The same can emphatically not be said for Jarrett Bush, who will move up to nickel back when current nickel Tramon Williams replaces Harris as a starter. Bush is simply terrible in coverage, however much he contributes on special teams. He’s had plenty of chances to prove himself and has never contributed anything memorable beyond penalties and blown assignments. During the preseason, the idea was floated that Bush is better suited to the 3-4, but I haven’t seen any evidence of him making strides this year. Leroy Butler thinks Bush will step up and answer the call this time around; I wish I could believe that.

Still, I’m optimistic about our chances of sneaking into the playoffs, for reasons I’ll lay out in my next post. Until then, I leave you with this heartening thought: At least it wasn’t Charles Woodson.