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Despite going through one of the ugliest offseasons in the history of the NFL (see the aforementioned exiled QB) the Packers are still coming off a 13-3 season that saw the team a mere frozen field goal away from playing in the Super Bowl. This team is young, talented, and definitely poised to make another playoff run.
However, before we all start making hotel reservations in Tampa, Fla., for this year’s Super Bowl we should take an honest look at the Packers.
There’s good news and there’s bad news. The good news is that 20 of the Packers’ 22 starters from last year’s NFC championship game return to the lineup this year, including young playmakers like wide receiver Greg Jennings and running back Ryan Grant.
In Jennings the Packers not only have a vertical threat to ease the pressure on Donald Driver, they have an extremely productive player. The third-year player scored a team-high 12 touchdowns last year and was fourth in the NFL with a 17.4-yard per catch average.
Grant, on the other hand, is the perfect complement to the Packers’ spread-the-field passing attack. The third-year back’s one-cut-and-go style of running is a perfect fit for the Packers’ zone blocking scheme and brought much needed balance to the offense last year. Throw in receivers James Jones, Jordy Nelson and tight end Donald Lee and you have a nice group of young skill players to build an offense around.
The bad news is that the two players missing from the 2007 team are defensive tackle Corey Williams and that guy from the Wrangler commercials.
Rather than pay Williams, Green Bay general manager Ted Thompson traded him to Cleveland assuming that backups Justin Harrell and Johnny Jolly would fill his shoes. Well, you know what happens when you assume. … Harrell, who has demonstrated the durability of a Tiffany vase, is beginning the year on the appropriately named PUP list with a back injury.
Jolly — although available early in the season — is facing felony drug charges and may not be available later in the season. And then depending on the disposition of the courts in Texas could be unavailable for several seasons.
And then there’s the guy from the Wrangler commercials. As many of you know he is now playing in New York. While that is hard for many Packers fans to accept, new starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers couldn’t be happier that Brett finally found his way to Broadway.
Rodgers, who enters the 2008 seasons with the same number of NFL starts as yours truly, certainly seems as prepared as anyone to take over for a legend. Serving a three-year apprenticeship at quarterback is largely a thing of the past in NFL, but in doing so coach Mike McCarthy has been able to teach Rodgers the ins and outs of his complex system. More so than most first-year starters, Rodgers seems set up to succeed despite facing the pressure of replacing arguably the most beloved player in NFL history.
He certainly doesn’t play the game the same way as his predecessor does (picture something like Indiana Jones), but Rodgers’ personality (picture Jeff Spicoli) along with his preparation and ability to get out of the pocket should serve him well.
Mix in one of the top defenses in the NFL and you have a recipe for what should be another playoff run in Green Bay. Hopefully that will be enough to get rid of the bitter taste that the offseason left in the fans’ mouths.
