Zero2Cool
15 years ago
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When Packers fans look back on the 2008 season five years from now, they will see it as a success, despite their 6-10 record.

They will wonder how the decision to choose Aaron Rodgers over a declining Brett Favre was ever a decision at all, like Brady vs. Bledsoe or Aikman vs. Walsh.

They will look back and see the start of something special -- maybe not as special as the Favre era (certainly less hero worship) -- but a rare successful transfer of power from one elite quarterback to the next.

Make no mistake: 2008 Green Bay Packers were not your average 6-10 football team.

They outscored their opponents by 29 points, had a +7 turnover differential, and finished fifth in the league in scoring. In short, they were unlucky.

You can believe that Aaron Rodgers doesn't possess some bogus trait that makes quarterbacks solely responsible for winning close game in the ultimate team sport, or you can see Green Bay's seven losses in 2008 by five points or less for what it was: a fluke.

This power ranking is not based on Green Bay's boffo preseason.

G.M. Ted Thompson built his offense up the right way, with homegrown talent all over the offensive line, and at the skill positions. Some of the picks weren't popular at the time (Rodgers, Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson), but they have given Green Bay enviable depth at every position except tackle. Even tight end is deep, with emerging receiver Jermichael Finley a sleeper to score a half dozen times.

This is an an offense that should be in the top ten in scoring for a long time, so they just need their defense to be average in order to contend for the division title.

The Packers hired defensive coordinator Dom Capers to install a flexible 3-4 defense. Capers is a big upgrade in terms of coaching talent and the move should pay off in the long run, but it requires the majority of the defenders to undertake new responsibilities.

Green Bay has the linebackers necessary to pull off the move, and their defensive line has potential if first-round pick B.J. Raji emerges alongside Cullen Jenkins, one of the most underrated players in football. The secondary is hoping Al Harris and Charles Woodson don't get old all at once.

If defense coalesces, it's hard to find a weakness in this roster. The NFC North looks better than it has in memory, but there is nothing stopping the Packers from winning it.

We trust their head coach and quarterback a lot more than their rivals in Minnesota. Brett Favre said previously that he wanted to join the Vikings in 2008 out of revenge, but perhaps Rodgers and Thompson will be the ones exacting revenge for all the drama Favre has put them through the last four years.

Key Player: Rodgers. He doesn't need to get better necessarily, but he does need to stay healthy despite a shaky situation at tackle.

Rookie to watch: Raji. He could split time between end and tackle, but he'll be a key to the run defense at either spot.

Best veteran acquisition: None. Just not Ted Thompson's style.

Key game: Week Eight, vs. Vikings. Do we really need to explain this one?


UserPostedImage
nyrpack
15 years ago
let them say what they want, a couple of nice victorys and they will be in the top 4-5 real quick !!
jimmy b.
Greg C.
15 years ago
Thanks for the article. I'm even more fired up for the season now.
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TheEngineer
15 years ago
That's a heck of a spiel.
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wamj2008
15 years ago
All of the FOX guys picked the Pack to be in the NFC Championship. 2 of them picked them to face NE in the Superbowl. Not that it means anything, but people are starting to take notice.
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Fan Shout
packerfanoutwest (6h) : Aaron Rodgers’s first pass of first team period was picked off
Mucky Tundra (11h) : tbh I didn't hear of his passing
Zero2Cool (11h) : Cosby Show. Malcom Jamal Warner I think is real name
Mucky Tundra (12h) : I was thinking of Ozzy and Hulk
Mucky Tundra (12h) : Who's Theo?
Zero2Cool (12h) : How is Theo alliteration?
Mucky Tundra (12h) : Bad week for people whose names are alliterations
Zero2Cool (14h) : Hulk Hogan gone too.
Zero2Cool (15h) : Oh, it's toe injury
Zero2Cool (16h) : Hope it's not serious. that would stink
dfosterf (16h) : Sounds like an ankle not a knee for Fields
dfosterf (16h) : Ya Flaccp on Browns
Zero2Cool (16h) : Maybe Tyrod Taylor instead
Zero2Cool (16h) : He's on Browns, right?
dfosterf (16h) : They would probably go with Flacco is my guess if Fields out
dfosterf (16h) : Fleece 'em again!
Zero2Cool (16h) : Malik Willis might be someone Jets come after
packerfanoutwest (16h) : Packers introduce 1923-inspired classic uniform, leather-look helmet
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Both LB Quay Walker and Rookie DB Micah Robinson have passed their physicals
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Happy to see site feels more snappy snappy
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : No sir. I did not.
dfosterf (23-Jul) : You didn't get free childcare when you were at work?
wpr (23-Jul) : These guys make hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. Pay for their own childcare.
dfosterf (23-Jul) : 2nd issue. Number 1 issue was no gameday childcare. 1 of 3 teams not providing it
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Suppose if locker room is main issue, we sitting pretty
wpr (23-Jul) : I thought so Mucky. In those useless player polls GB always rates high overall. Locker is a part of it.
Mucky Tundra (23-Jul) : Wasn't the locker room just updated like 6 or 7 years ago?
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : I have forum updated on different site. We'll see how this one goes before going to that
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Elgton Jenkins has a back injury, is expect to end contract dispute
wpr (23-Jul) : It's funny the PA complained about the locker room. It wasn't that long ago it was top shelf. Things change in a hurry.
wpr (23-Jul) : The site is much more better.
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : NFLPA report said Packers lockerroom needed upgrade. Whining bout where you change?
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : I saw that and thought it was kind of lame.
dfosterf (23-Jul) : Packers new locker room is pretty awesome. Great for morale, imo
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Shuffled things on the web server. Hope it makes it faster.
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Other times, it's turtle ass
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Sometimes it's snappy, like now.
beast (23-Jul) : I feel like it's loading at the top of the next minute, or something like that.
beast (23-Jul) : Also the thanks/heart takes FOREVER to load, and posting in the shout box takes three times FOREVER!
beast (23-Jul) : Thanks for saying something, I thought it was slow, but assumed it was on my end
beast (23-Jul) : Thanks for saying something, I thought it was slow, but assumed it was on my end
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Yeah, I noticed that too. Is it slow for PackerPeople.com too?
wpr (23-Jul) : I don't know what you IT guys call it but the page loading is very slow for me today.
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : SSL might be settled now.
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Still working through SSL cert issues
wpr (23-Jul) : Glad to be back
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : I think PH original finally working.
dfosterf (22-Jul) : Can tell you are having a fun day Kev
Zero2Cool (22-Jul) : Yep, I had to manually move them. It'll fix itself after more posts.
Mucky Tundra (22-Jul) : Same deal with the songs/videos thread, says you replied last but when I go there it's what I posted earlier is last
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