Will 2007 Be The Year For The Packers? » Brats & Beer

January 6, 2007
posted under: Packers, season recap

Well, another NFL playoff starts today, and for the second year in a row there’s no Green & Gold to watch and root for and cause much swearing at the TV. I’m sure, though, that I’ll be watching the games today and tomorrow because I’m programmed to robotically watch football anytime and anywhere it is on.

The 8-8 Packers came within a few yards and couple turnovers of being a wild card team this year, which of course begs the question what the next season will bring. Personally, I’m already excited to be watching the playoffs next year at this time. I know I shouldn’t get too jazzed too early for fear of jinxing the whole thing, but the way I look at it, Green Bay is on the right track and could be a powerful team in 2007.

The defense, even with the holes still remaining (i.e. Marquand Manuel) was really starting to come together at the end of the season. The combination of Corey Williams, Ryan Pickett, and Cullen Jenkins (who needs to be re-signed) on the line could be just the thing the Packers need to stop the run next year, with KGB held in reserve for passing downs — which is where he should have been all along. The linebacking corps is solid and should get off to a quicker start in 2007 now that AJ Hawk has a pro season under his belt.

The big question marks for the defense are all in the secondary. Will Al Harris hold out this year for more money? Can Woodson make it through another season without serious injury? Will the Packers please replace Kurt Schottenheimer as DBs coach? I think Ted Thompson will most likely be scouting a few rookie safeties and corners for the ‘07 Draft.

On offense, well, the big question is will Brett Favre return for another season. I think he will, and I don’t think he’ll drag out his decision like last year, but you never know. Either way, the running game needs to improve greatly for the 2007 Packers to be successful, and for that to happen I think they need a combination of new blood on the line and in the backfield. I was glad to see Ahman Green back for another season, and a 1,000-yard season at that, but it may be time for the Packers to look elsewhere for yards out of the backfield. Green Bay has the #16 pick in the draft, so that certainly puts them out of the running for Adrian Peterson (and I’m not totally convinced he won’t be a bust), but TT could trade up enough to get someone like Tony Hunt, who ran for 1,300 yards and 11 TDs this year for Penn State.

For the offensive line, I wouldn’t be surprised to see TT take a guard in the early rounds. That decision, though, will depend on who the Packers hire to replace Jeff Jagodzinski as offensive coordinator and how committed that person is to the whole zone blocking scheme.

Tight end is another need need for the Packers. Many GBP bloggers out there, including yours truly, have said it is time for Bubba Franks to go even though the Press-Gazette seems to think otherwise. A lot of rumors are circulating that Tony Gonzalez might be leaving Kansas City after this season, a thought that has me salivating like a dog at the dinner table.

All of this might sound like a lot to achieve in one offseason, but the Packers are in a much better position than last year at this time, I would say. With lots of available cap money and a decent draft in April, Green Bay should be back to its winning ways when the chill of autumn comes calling this year.