Diner morning news: the Packers move on
Rodgers growing pains are over, and the offense will be better. Michael Lombardi
QUOTE: Men do not care how nobly they live, but only how long, although it is within the reach of every man to live nobly, but within no man's power to live long. -- Seneca the Younger (4 B.C.-65 A.D.)
The week after July 4 is normally a very quiet time in the NFL. Most team executives and coaches take off this week, so news is light. But lo and behold, now we have another Brett Favre bulletin: Charley Walters of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports that Mr. Favre may have leased a condominium in Edina, Minn. So the worst-kept secret keeps getting out. Has Brad Childress come back from fishing in Alaska yet?
Dont worry, this isnt another Favre column. This is going to be a column on the Packers offense, explaining why I feel theyll be explosive this season. However, it does start with Favre.
What's an article on the Packers without at least one Favre reference?
All the talk about Favre heading to Minnesota keeps making me ask the fundamental question: How much better will the Vikings be with Favre? I wrote on Sunday (and have been thinking this since) that we know the Vikings are a good team without him, but are they are great team with him? I cannot seem to bring clarity to that question in my mind, but it did make me wonder about the Packers offense as they lived life without Favre last year.
The Packers became a very good offense last season without him, but now they have a chance to be great.
Bill Walsh always used to say, The first year, we teach the player the system. The second year, we develop his skills within the system. That line resonates with me every time I think about Aaron Rodgers, the Packers quarterback.
Rodgers played well, but as Matt Bowen, my Houston Texans spokesman and colleague here at the Post, pointed out, he struggled to close out games in the fourth period last season. It was a growing year for him, the pains of not being able to play for so long, but this year will be the money year and the game will slow down for him. Once it slows down, hell improve his fourth-quarter performances.
I was not convinced that Rodgers could become a great pro player when he left Cal. I know that everyone talks about the great Jeff Tedfords offense at California, but in reality, its a college offense. This is not meant to degrade Tedford but rather to explain how he uses the rules of the college game to his full advantage -- which for me is very smart.
The offense uses the hash marks and the ability to go unbalanced to give the quarterback easier reads with the ball. The unbalanced rules of college football greatly enhance the ability to protect the passer.
The NFL rules, as they relate to an unbalance line, are different, so Tedfords offense does not easily translate to the NFL. When Rodgers was coming out, I was concerned about his ability to fit into the offense we were running at the Hotel.
He had the kind of game that needed to go to the right scheme. Dont forget, Mike McCarthy the head coach of the Packers, was in San Francisco, where they selected Alex Smith over Rodgers.
Rodgers proved last year that he can run the Packers system very well and should be able to handle an expansive package in 09.
As unimpressed as I am with the Vikings offensive creativity (wait until Favre starts changing things), Im very impressed with what McCarthy has done with his offense.
I have learned to have great respect for his ability to formulate a game plan and create imaginative designs in his offense. He has grown as a coach, utilizing his talented skills players.
Last season, with injuries abounding, the Packers offense was very proficient, finishing fifth in points scored. This year, if theyre able to stay healthy, theyll be an explosive offense that will be hard to match up against each week.
Expect a big year out of Aaron Rodgers.
One of my new Twitter friends is Ryan Grant of the Packers. For me, Grant is the critical piece separating the Packer offense from very good and great. He had the classic get paid year last season, which means he was more worried about getting paid in the offseason than working hard to prepare for the season.
He did have over 1,200 yards, but he averaged slightly below 4.0 per carry as opposed to 07, when he averaged above 5.0. I realize the injuries on the offensive line had something to do with his lack of big-play production, as it affected all the Packers. But this year, I expect the 07 Grant to return -- the player who was explosive in the spread set, made big plays and made people miss tackles.
Everyone in Packerland is concerned about the changes in the defense as they relate to their current personnel with new coordinator Dom Capers. Certainly, theres a reason for concern (change causes concern), but the Packers offense is going to be the best friend to the Packers new defense.
If the offense is as explosive as I expect, they will build the lead, which then will allow Capers to become more exotic with his scheme. Capers might be the best complement to the Packers offense, creating pressure from various positions on the field, which in turn creates turnovers. My concerns about the Packers on defense get smaller every time I think about how explosive they can be in year two of the Aaron Rodgers era.
Ravens center Matt Birk, who filled in well for SI.coms Peter King yesterday in his Monday Morning Quarterback column, had this to say about a Favre signing: I think Favre will play for the Vikings this year.
This will start a civil war between Minnesota and Wisconsin. A truce will be reached in this epic border battle after it is discovered at a tailgate party that Johnsonville Brats (Wisconsin) and Grain Belt Beer (Minnesota) are perfect complements for each other.
All that might happen off the field, but on the field, the Packers seem to have the better offense in terms of design, personnel and coaching.
The Packers have moved on while the Vikings have taken a step back in time. Does this make them go from good to great? I really doubt it.