Packers Preview: Bouncing Back? Scary Thought

Zero2Cool
Elite Member Topic Starter

12 years ago

The Green Bay Packers seem to have everything a professional football team could ever want:

[list]

An innovative offense directed by a likeable but no-nonsense head coach and quarterbacked by a 29-year-old superstar.

A multifaceted, young, athletic defense.

A front office led by a respected former NFL player (team president Mark Murphy), along with a venerated general manager: Ted Thompson, a keen talent evaluator who has at his disposal one of the best scouting departments in football. In the last four years, three of his top executives—John Schneider, Reggie McKenzie and John Dorsey—have been named general managers.

A quaint hometown where fans’ loyalty is deep and unwavering, and where the pressure to win is palpable but not suffocating.

A rich history that includes not just 13 world championships (dating to 1929), but also a Super Bowl victory and a 15-win regular season within the last three years.[/list]

In a testament to the NFL’s fine line between good and great, these near-perfect Packers—who were perhaps better-stocked a year ago—are coming off a fairly underwhelming 11-5 season, in which their offense was not razor sharp (falling from first to fifth in scoring and third to 13th in yardage) and their defense uncharacteristically got out-schemed and embarrassed in a 45–31 divisional round loss at San Francisco.

Thus, Green Bay’s motif this year is “bouncing back.” Make no mistake, though: This club is primed to do some extraordinary things in 2013.

MMQB wrote:

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play2win
Senior Member

12 years ago

I agree. Somehow, we've been able to land what looks to be a very effective rushing tandem in Lacy and Franklin. We've been able to find what looks to be a diamond in the rough as a starting LT in Bakhtiari. We've been able to add competent WR depth and TE depth at the bottom of our roster. We're experimenting with Patrick Lewis at both LG and C, and he looks to be holding up quite well, for a team in need of quality depth at C.

That is a lot of new talent added to a already potent offense. Quite possibly 3 steals from the 2013 draft and UDFA class on that side of the ball.

Add possibly 3 or 4 more steals on defense with the additions of Datone Jones, Micah Hyde, Sam Barrington, Andy Mulumba, and the signing of one Johnny Jolly. Wow.

A lot has to come together, as we've had some significant losses to injury and FA, but it looks like this new talent could help make this Packers team far better than 2011-2012.

Dulak
Veteran Member

12 years ago

Originally Posted by: play2win

ya Im feeling a bit less 'bad' about losing woodson, drivers, Jennings, bishop ... although - our WRs still may be a little weaker and our DBs too our other positions look improved.

And plus we got young guys to train up so they could be better then what we had ... finley sure looked like a different dude out there - we might have to pay him again next year

play2win
Senior Member

12 years ago

Yeah Dulak, its kind of funny. All those guys you mentioned, Woodson, Driver, Jennings and Bishop, they are all pretty much done. We saw their play and health decline since winning the Super Bowl 2010, in every case. Driver is retired. Woodson still has a little left in him, but not at the money he would have wanted to stay. Jennings will prove that Rodgers really made him better, now that he has Ponder throwing to him. I bet his receiving yards will be under 700 with MIN. And then there is Bishop, who I could easily see being cut.

Meanwhile, Ted Thompson had what may very well be his best draft ever. We may be more talented than ever in his tenure. Lots of proving to do though. We will see.

DoddPower
Veteran Member

12 years ago

The 2013 draft class is looking like it could be a "great" one. Definitely impressive. Almost every pick looks good, and some look very good.

musccy
Veteran Member

12 years ago

I'm nervous about WR depth, most of the OL, and much of the front 7 still has a lot to prove. People are optimistic about Franklin, but McGinn (I believe) just had an article over the weekend about how he's been quite underwhelming thus far.

With that said, Lacy really does look like the real deal, Finley is giving me some hope, and Bakahrti and D. Jones also appear to be great pick ups. I also can't wait to see Cobb's continued growth.

Dulak
Veteran Member

12 years ago

Originally Posted by: musccy

I agree about franklin - so far I havnt seen much to warrant him being the 2nd coming as a back for us. Ok he can run a bit and they put him on some ST returns ... but starks and green appear to be doing just as well as him in the running game.

Lacy looks better then the rest so far.

I am also concerned about our WR depth - as long as nelson and cobb come back ok - then ok then ... but if not ... I think we will be struggling a bit.

nerdmann
Premier Member

12 years ago

Originally Posted by: Dulak

They've overthrown Franklin on some screens.

Lacy and Starks are your up the middle/between the tackles guys.

Franklin, Green and Harris are the guys you wanna get out in space with some blockers in front. Anyone of these guys can make the first man miss and then accelerate to the house.

I question Green's vision at times, he's got a little Ryan Grant in him. But I'd keep all 5.

“Winning is not a sometime thing, it is an all the time thing. You don't do things right once in a while…you do them right all the time.”

Mucky Tundra
Honored Member

12 years ago

Originally Posted by: nerdmann

Agree on their running styles. With Green I'm not sure he has what it takes to be an every down type of back but he seems to get pass blocking and receiving from what I saw vs the Rams.

Under Construction!

Gaycandybacon
Member

12 years ago

#10

Franklin hasn't looked horrible, I think it's premature to right him off.... Like Nerd said there is a couple instances where they couldn't get Franklin in situations where he fits best.

Screens, Check downs, swing passes, tosses, etc.

I'm pretty damn sure we haven't seen what he could do yet.

In the Cardinal game he caught a screen pass for a pretty good gain.

I'm optimistic about Franklin. He definitely has a learning curve, but if someone can get him a ball in open space he can do damage..

I heard someone come on the radio and say they should cut him... I laughed so hard!

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Zero2Cool (4m) : YouTube has had me last hour or two lol

Mucky Tundra (29m) : Ugh this trade happened right as my shift started and it's killing me

Zero2Cool (30m) : Parsons wore 23 in high school.

Zero2Cool (43m) : Packers just cost Lions more money with Hutchinson too huh

Zero2Cool (2h) : That is fair by me.

buckeyepackfan (2h) : Kenny Clark is the player, 2 1st rnd picks

Zero2Cool (2h) : umm... what?

wpr (2h) : I am stunned

Mucky Tundra (2h) : RICKEY SCOOPS WAS RIGHT AGAIN!!!

Mucky Tundra (2h) : ITS HAPPENING

buckeyepackfan (2h) : DEAL IS DONE

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wpr (9h) : Me do-ed it gooderly,

Zero2Cool (23h) : Bahah, I was like WTF why isn't anyone posting on PP.com ... oops no one has permissions

dfosterf (27-Aug) : tell her I reckon

dfosterf (27-Aug) : Micah Robinson cut. Probable PS player tomorrow. Has to call mom back and t

Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : New site so much better. Might make switch and deal with it.

dfosterf (27-Aug) : Mecole Hardman to our practice squad

dfosterf (27-Aug) : Nick Nieman from Texans our 5th linebacker. Special teams signing

TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Looks like we signed Clayton Tune as QB3

wpr (27-Aug) : TKT people lose their minds over QB3. Point is almost none of them are ready that's why they are on the PS and other teams don't take them.

TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Unfortunately he doesn't seem ready to be an emergency QB.

TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : As a Canadian and a follower of Canadian University football. I am rooting for him

dfosterf (27-Aug) : I bet a lot of us will follow the Taylor Elgersma journey with interest. Personally, got a Kurt Warner vibe goin' on. I like him

TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Not sure if either will be claimed though.

TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Tune or Hooker would make sense

dfosterf (27-Aug) : Clayton Tune cut by the Cards? Don't know if that's the guy, we shall see

TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Per Bill Huber, the Packers will not be bringing back Taylor Elgersma or Sean Clifford on the practice squad, so a new third quarterback

Mucky Tundra (27-Aug) : Schefter must have deleted his tweet

dfosterf (27-Aug) : Hopefully Jerry reaches under the seat cushions and ashtrays of his jet and scrapes up the 45 million apr and spares us further nonsense

dfosterf (27-Aug) : Have to admit the PO'd Cowboy fan videos would be fun to watch. Problem with draft picks is half their fanbase barely knows what that is

beast (27-Aug) : I think Cowboys fans are ready to get their pitch forks and burning sticks if Jerry were to trade Micah

dfosterf (27-Aug) : If Jerry traded Micah to GB, here in northern Va. they would have to quick build yet another data center to handle the internet hate traffic

Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : its signing and trades that you don't hear about, other then announced

Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : If you hear rumors about Packers sign or trade, won't happen. Not how they work

dfosterf (27-Aug) : 19 players in a contract year. Jones called loss to us worst loss in Cowboy history. Forget Parsons trade. Not happenin' Cap'n

packerfanoutwest (27-Aug) : The Packers, meanwhile, are the youngest team in the league for the third consecutive year.

dfosterf (27-Aug) : That it was darkest before the dawn in Bengals and Commanders before they got deals done

Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : what is Schefter saying?

dfosterf (27-Aug) : He was getting Dorito infusion therapy

dfosterf (27-Aug) : He's outta shape. Why, just the other day I saw him splayed out on the trainers table

Mucky Tundra (27-Aug) : Parsons has followed Rasheed Walker on Twitter. Quite the choice

Mucky Tundra (27-Aug) : Kuhn is a former player who works for the team, if somethings going down, he would be close to it

Mucky Tundra (27-Aug) : @kuhnj30 Micah Freaking Parsons

Mucky Tundra (27-Aug) : A LOT of buzz on the Bird App regarding Parsons; even Schefter is saying it's serious

dfosterf (26-Aug) : *Orzech*

dfosterf (26-Aug) : Orzich long snapper 3 yr extension

Zero2Cool (26-Aug) : Packers signed someone for three year deal

Zero2Cool (26-Aug) : lol i know it's insane ... sign up for the waiver wire then you'll know

wpr (26-Aug) : YES!!!!!!

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