Packers Preview: We Need To Score Like George Clooney On Cialis » Brats & Beer

July 27, 2007
posted under: Packers, Pre-season

We’re still a day away from the opening of Packers training camp, so we really have no idea yet what kind of team we’ll be looking at in 2008. That means almost any so called “expert” can make practically any kind of forecast they want about how this season will go without actually analyzing any facts. (Case in point: Peter King is again predicting a good year for the Lions.) Given that, I figured I’d take my shot at previewing the year to come with a rundown of what kind of Packers team we have.

I’m pretty sure the 2007 edition of the Green Bay Packers is going to test my emotional stability and sanity as much as last year’s team, because like last year there are some parts of the roster that look pretty good and then there appear to be some big holes left to fill. So I’ll start off this Packer preview by looking at the offense where we have some of the biggest question marks.

One position we don’t have to wonder about is quarterback. Sure, it looked like at the end of last season we might have seen the last of old No. 4, and yes there was that flare up between him and Ted Thompson that may or may not have actually occurred over the Randy Moss deal, but all that is in the past and Favre will start his 16th season as the Packers QB.

A word of warning, though, to all the Favre haters out there: If you thought last year’s media love fest was bad, you better get right with the Lord because it’s only going to get worse this year. Not only will you hear endless discussions about will he or won’t he retire, but Favre is going to set records this year for touchdown passes (he needs only seven to pass Marino), career wins (just two more to go) and passing attempts (136). If he can throw for more than 3,861 yards Favre will also surpass Marino’s career mark in that statistic. So just get prepared now for the heaping of man-love that John Madden, Peter King, and ESPN will be piling on this season.

Another strong suit for the Packers this year will be the offensive line. All the starters from last season are back and healthy, and they have a year’s experience in the zone blocking scheme installed by coach Mike McCarthy. Favre should have ample of protection on passing downs and they should open up some serious holes for the running game.

The big question, of course, is what kind of weapons the Packers have around Favre to create touchdowns. In the backfield we have some real potential I think with a committee of Vernand Morency and second-round pick Brandon Jackson. If the OL has mastered the zone blocking and these two can make the reads, we should see an increase in production on the ground, which can only mean good things for Favre and the passing game.

In the wide receiver corps we know we have a bona fide stud in Donald Driver, who will make some amazing plays and get his catches this year. On the opposite side, Greg Jennings will hopefully bounce back from last year’s injury and pick up where he left off his rookie season. Beyond that, though, who do we have? Robert Ferguson is a dud, Ruvell Martin is serviceable at best, and Carlyle Holiday is, well, who is Carlyle Holiday anyway? As for the rookies, both James Jones and David Clowney are major projects, but who knows, one of them might surprise us like Jennings did last year. Suffice it to say, though, the three-receiver set is not going to be a major part of the offense this year.

The biggest deficit to fill, though, is at tight end. Bubba Franks was entirely worthless last year and I have no faith whatsoever that he’ll make a comeback this season. (Prove me wrong, Bubba!) Donald Lee is the only other starting-caliber TE on the roster, and he has yet to show he can really carry the load for 16 games. Zac Alcorn and Tory Humphrey are some other names that have been bandied about, but they would have to make major improvements to become effective weapons. Weakness at this position is really going to be a challenge for the offense to overcome.

In the final analysis, it is going to have to start with the running game this year. If the Packers can develop a smashmouth ground game that McCarthy is comfortable with and will stick to, then I think Green Bay has a real shot at being a contender. Another thing I’ll be watching is how well Morency and Jackson develop as receivers; if they can give Favre an option in the short passing game in addition to carrying the rock, we should be in for a good year.