The Packers have two legitimate All-Pros in quarterback Aaron Rodgers and wide receiver Jordy Nelson. They three more possible Pro Bowlers in left tackle David Bakhtiari, tight end Martellus Bennet and free safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix with maybe defensive lineman Mike Daniels (in Dom Capers’ two-man line there is not much for a lineman to do that take up space).
Offensively, quarterback is set as long as Rodgers doesn’t go down. I don’t think Brett Hundley is ready or will ever be since he should have been trade bait this year, but wasn’t even considered. If he has progresses being under the “Quarterback Guru” for three years like he should have then I would have kept Taysom Hill instead of letting him hit the waiver wire where he was snatched up by the Saints.
Running backs are fine. I think No. 5 pick Aaron Jones will be the starter. But I could be wrong and Ty Montgomery will be the starter. However, since Montgomery is still wearing No. 88 I don’t think he can legally be a running back, so I feel he will be a slot back with third down duties. But I think Jones could have a breakout season as the fulltime starter.
Wide receivers are fine. Trevor Davis could push for the fourth or even the third or second spot. The Packers need downfield speed and he has that.
Tight end seems to be the position of merit this season with the signing of two free agents, Martellus Bennett and Lance Kendricks. I hope they bring not only an option in the middle of the field, but a much needed red zone target. If they do the the offense could be special.
Offensive line is a puzzle. Bakhtiari and Bryan Bulaga are solid at tackle, if Bulaga can play. Evidently Lane Taylor is the second coming of Fuzzy Thurston with his recent signing of a contract extension. Corey Linsley is solid at center, but his injury prone and there is nobody behind him with the loss of JC Tretter to the Browns and Don Barclay to injury. Right guard Jahri Evans has been ok at right guard, but to trade a 29 year old Pro Bowl guard (T.J. Lang) for a 34 year old former Pro Bowl guard is not a good trade.
The backups are inadequate, so let’s hope Evans has more left in his tank than Jeff Saturday had in his. If not and Bulaga isn’t able to answer the bell then the offensive line is a liability that will derail a possible great offense.
The key to the defense is pass rush, pass rush, pass rush. Without pressure on the quarterback the Packers are doomed. In Dom Caper’s 2-4-5 scheme the Packers by design play coverage and they have proven year in and year out they couldn’t cover my mother in her walker. So signing Ahmad Brooks and Chris Odom to go with Clay Matthews, Nick Perry and Nick Fackrell are the key to the playoffs (I won’t say Super Bowl because I firmly believe as long as Mark Murphy, Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy, because he won’t fire Capers, are in charge the Packers will never get the Super Bowl).
The defensive line of Daniels, Kenny Clark, Christian Ringo, Ricky Jean-Francios, Montravious Adams and Dean Lowry are just bodies. They mean nothing from a pressure point of view. They hopefully can stop the run, but the defense isn’t designed to stop the run up the middle with only two linemen on the field a the same time and the inside linebacker play off the line.
The safeties are fine, but not much more than that. Clinton-Dix is good, but this is the year we find out if he is Willie Wood or Nick Collins or just good. Morgan Burnett is not as good. I would have picked up T.J. Ward when he was cut by the Broncos because I think he would have been an upgrade over Burnett. When you get a chance to pick up a good veteran on the free market you take it. Ted Thompson doesn’t (Brooks and Odom aside).
Kentrell Brice and Marwin Evans seem like good talents, but they are undrafted free agents and I’m not sure they are future Willie Woods. The only undrafted free agents that have proved to be a find lately were Sam Shields and Tramon Williams and maybe LaDarius Gunter, but he regressed last year.
Josh Jones is a 2nd round pick who seems to have skills, expect for tackling. I hope he learns to wrap and drag because the Packers defense has enough trouble making stops without giving up yards after the catch or run.
Now to the corners, who were terrible last year and might be terrible again this year. A bust at Jacksonville former 4th round pick Davon House returns and he missed all of the preseason games with an injury. Not a good start in his triumphant return. On the other side is 2nd round pick Quinten Rollins and he was injured and suspect last year. They are picking him to be the best corner. Let’s hope so.
Behind them are former No. 1 pick Damarous Randall and this year’s top pick Kevin King and undrafted free agents Josh Hawkins, Gunter and Lenzy Pipkins. King has been a disappointment, Randall can’t stay healthy and then rest are the rest. Heaven help us.
I would have signed former All-Pro Joe Haden when he was cut by the Browns. It wouldn’t have cost much to kick his tires and see if he has kicked his injury ways. If he has anything left he would have upgraded the secondary considerably, but the Steelers signed him, which might just make their defense a Super Bowl contender. Ted Thompson don’t do that.
Inside linebackers are another position that gets no respect and deserves none. The best of the lot is undrafted free agent Joe Thomas. 4th round draft picks Jake Ryan and Blake Martinez are adequate at best. What is needed is a big thumper to stop the run, but Thompson doesn’t consider inside linebacker a position on the field. Heave help us.
The defense and the playoffs all comes down to outside linebacker. Clay Matthews is no longer the “Claymaker”. He can’t get to the quarterback any more and when he doesn’t they just step around him. Ahmad Brooks was signed to replace “Old Man Rivers” Julius Peppers and let’s hope he can. Brooks was cut by the 49ers because he is a headache and he loves to jump offsides. Let’s hope he can see the “northern lights” and play with some discipline. The one thing he does bring is nastiness and the milk sop Packers defense could use some. Calling the Packers defense soft is insulting soft things.
Nick Perry had a breakout year to earn a big salary and once again he is hurt. I wish I could say this is a surprise, but for him is SOP. If he can’t record at least 11 sacks this year the Packers are doomed. Odom is a rookie, who seems to have some pass rush ability, but once again the Falcons cut him. There must be a reason because good teams don’t cut good players without a reason.
Behind them is Kyler Fackrell, who as rookie looked like he could rush the passer, but he hasn’t progressed since. He is a lot like Jayrone Elliott in that way. Speaking of Elliott if he takes off under a new coaching staff then what does that say about Mike McCarthy and Dom Capers. I think we all what that would say.
The practice squad stayed in-house. All 10 were Packers cuts and 4 were on the team last year. The roster was not good enough to make the Super Bowl last year, so why keep those 4 players. The roster needs new blood and not just cheap undrafted nobodys. But once again Ted Thompson don’t do that.
The starting roster breakdown. The entire starting defensive unit (5-1st; 1-2nd; 1-3rd; 4-4th) was drafted by Thompson. This should be a top 5 unit, but sadly it is not.
The special teams starters are two undrafted free agents and Mason Crosby, a 6th round draft pick.
The offensive starters are: 2-1st, 2-2nd; 0-3rd; 1-4th; 2-5th; 1-6th; 2 unrestricted free agents; 1-undrafted free agent.
Final roster breakdown is this. 36 are Thompson draft choices (7-1st; 7-2nd; 5-3rd; 7-4th; 4-5th; 4-6th; 2-7th), 4 are street free agents, 2 are unrestricted free agents, 1 is a waiver acquisition, and 10 are undrafted free agents.
With 14 picks in the first two rounds and 10 in the starting lineup that means the success of the team lands squarely on the shoulders of Ted Thompson. One Super Bowl appearance in 12 seasons with the two best quarterbacks in the history of the game is not a good record. Even the “We Trust in Ted” crowd should be able to see that.
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