Are the Packers a legit Super Bowl contender in 2010?
Bruce Smith of PackerChatters thinks so…
Looking at the basic structure and foundation of the Green Bay Packers and the significant progress they made as a team in ’09, I think the answer in an unequivocal YES!
As in any off season, there are many questions to be answered and there is much work to be done. How will Ted Thompson handle his own free agent possibilities UFA and RFA? What will Thompson do with the draft? How much player development will happen during the OTA’s, mini-camps and training camp? I could add many more, but that goes with the turf of life in the NFL. There will be many threads and discussion regarding these and other questions as the off season unfolds, but back to the basic structure and foundation – Here are a few areas that I believe are likely to improve the team greatly:
* Aaron Rodgers will head into just his 3rd season as a starter. In many ways he played great, even beyond what was reasonable to expect, but there is one very fixable problem with his game right now – he holds the ball too long and takes too many sacks. The Packers led the league in taking sacks – this is attributable to many things, injuries, inconsistency in the offensive line, questionable play calling, penalties and bad plays putting them in bad situation… But there was a factor that Aaron has control of and can change. By a conservative count Rodgers was responsible for taking at least 17 sacks that were directly attributable to him holding the ball too long and/or making the wrong read. That number (17) is way too high, and you can trust that it will be a primary focus by the coaching staff and Aaron on reducing that number to 6 or less. No one is suggesting that Aaron should start chucking the ball up for grabs, rather, for him to simply trust his reads more and if it is NOT there take off and use his superior athletic ability to make a play or chuck the ball past the line of scrimmage and out of bounds.
Smith makes several spot-on observations. It’s a good read for Packer fans.
Photo from fOTOGLIF
Hey, Packer Fan, who cares about the Packers now? This is Jets season.
How about a Jets vs Vikings Super Bowl?
Hey, Jet Fan, we have an entire thread dedicated to the Jets:
http://www.scoresreport.com/tag/new-york-jets/
Might want to check that out instead of leaving time-wasting comments on this post.
I think the answer to this question depends on the same variable it had for 4 of the last 5 years…whether Brett Favre decides to retire or not.
T-Bone – Go ahead, beyond this year where Favre is bucking every late season flame out trend he’s had since 02′ tell me how you come up with ’4 of 5 years’?
Great year this year, beyond expectations; flamed out in 08′ (don’t say ‘injury’, it’s the same tendon Elway completely ruptured and still won the super bowl); 07′ his play went downhill just before the playoffs and he threw it up for grabs to the only Packer NOT running downfield open in OT against the Giants; 05′ and 06′ he was careless and stunk up the joint.
Yes, he’s played well this year and should send half his paycheck to Sidney Rice for coming up with at least 8-10 badly thrown jumpballs that should have been INT’s.
Go on, tell me how great he’s been since 01′ again….
T-Bone & Chris: I disagree with both of you and think it depends on the offensive line… by no means am I a Packers fan, but Aaron Rodgers is on, if they can get that guy better protection he will be scary! When I picture Aaron this year it has been with his head snapped back from the blind side! If Green Bay can’t stop that massive pass rush of Minnesota it may still be a while…
Runner: Are you serious?
Chris – I think T-Bone was making a joke, my man.
My point was, the Packers always had a chance for the playoffs and possibly superbowl when Favre was there. Now that he’s with the Vikings, they are the better team. So as long as he remains un-retired, he can effect the Packers’ playoff hopes since I see the Vikings as the division winner with him there.
The irony is obviously lost on you Chris. Also, you may want to cut down on the caffeine drinks.