1) Introduction: Those of us in the AllGreenBayPackers.com community consider ourselves smart football fans. Based on Jersey Al’s history of quality content, the recent addition of some new writers and intelligent discussion in the comments section, I’d say say that assessment is accurate. We are smart football fans! But as much as we like to pat ourselves on the back for our knowledge, we shouldn’t kid ourselves and pretend that we have the ability to fully evaluate how a center played throughout an entire season. Intelligent or not intelligent, most football fans only notice the center when he snaps the ball over the QB’s head or gets flagged for holding. Unless you break down film every week, you mostly have to rely on what the coach’s are saying when asked about center play. In the case of Scott Wells, Packers coaches raved about him all season, and most fans barely realized he was on the field. Those two things mean Wells was solid.
2) Profile:
Scott Darvin Wells
Position: G-C
Height: 6-2 Weight: 300 lbs.
Born: January 7, 1981 in Spring Hill, TN
College: Tennessee (school history)
Drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the 7th round (251st overall) of the 2004 NFL Draft.
3) Expectations coming into the season for that player: Above average. Offensive line play was still a concern entering 2010, but nobody worried much about Wells. He was generally regarded as a solid but unspectacular player who wouldn’t get blown up every other play, but also wouldn’t dominate whomever he was lined up against. When you consider the high level of interior lineman in the NFC North and the quality of overall pass protection this season, Wells surpassed “above average” and wandered into “good” territory.
4) Player’s highlights/lowlights: Handling Casey Hampton in the Super Bowl stands out. Wells’ blocking on the final drive of the first Lions game also was impressive. It’s difficult to pinpoint specific things a center does that are highlight-worthy. Instead you have to ask yourself how many lowlights — dumb penalties, bad snaps, getting run over — come to mind. Nothing immediately pops up, which means Wells had a good season.
5) Player’s contribution to the overall team success: Significant. I don’t know what Aaron Rodgers and Wells are doing when they walk to the line, but it must be important. Rodgers is always yelling or pointing at something. Wells usually looks around a bit before he starts yelling and pointing too. They are likely setting up pass protection, and they must be pretty good at it. How many times did a defender come through the middle of Green Bay’s line unblocked? Not very often. Good job Rodgers and Wells. Keep up the yelling and pointing.
6) Player’s contributions during the 6-win end-of-season run: Solid. James Starks emerged in the playoffs and some of that credit goes to Wells. I wrote about how the Packers have to contain the Steelers interior pass rush in the Super Bowl and for the most part they did. Wells gets a pat on the back for that. Wells was just as steady through the season’s first 14 games as he was in the final six.
Season Report Card:
(B+) Level of expectations met during the season
(B ) Contributions to team’s overall success.
(B) Contributions to team’s success during the playoff run (last 6 games)
Overall Grade for the year: B
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Adam Czech is a a freelance sports reporter living in the Twin Cities and a proud supporter of American corn farmers. When not working, Adam is usually writing about, thinking about or worrying about the Packers. Follow Adam on Twitter. Twitter .
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Loved your frank approach to this eval. My favorite line:
“Good job Rodgers and Wells. Keep up the yelling and pointing.”
This hits on what I consider Wells’ primary value. I watch the OL a lot. There are still things about Wells’ blocking I don’t like, but the job he does with helping set the protection is invaluable. When Spitz got his shot at the job, it was the main thing that was sorely lacking.
I like Wells. Always have. But I’m guessing a successor is drafted this year to replace him in 2012.
An”unsung hero” as with others who earn that award,”scream and yell” their own song.Never to be an idol to the fans but highly worthy of “mention and an ovation” on the stage with the star.