11-5 in 2009.
The Green Bay Packers have a very strong team. From top to bottom the Packers sport playmakers and are solid on both sides of the ball. The NFC North only has 2 good teams and when playoff time comes the Packers and the Vikings will be the teams emerging.
Aaron Rodgers has asserted himself as a top of the line NFL QB, and the Packers organization has given him the weapons to excel. Ryan Grant is an underrated RB and he can get the job done week in and week out. Looking at his stats, Grant is the type of back who needs his touches to get going. If the Packers give him the ball more he could be in for a career year. Brandon Jackson is very quick and has good hands, he is the perfect compliment for Grant's between the tackles running style. When it comes to WR the Packers are not loaded, but if Donald Driver can turn in another good performance, the team will be in good shape. James Jones and Jordy Nelson are not bad 3/4 options and Greg Jennings has something to prove after a disappointing 2009. Jermichael Finley has emerged as a difference-maker at TE and will help Rodger's as a sure handed safety valve this season. The offensive line added Bryan Bulaga at tackle. While he will most likely not start there this season, a starting spot at guard could be his. The Packers offense will put up a great deal of points and will be a difficult unit to stop in 2010.
The Packers have the perfect personnel for a 3-4 defensive scheme. At NT, Ryan Pickett and B.J. Raji are giants, and will make running up the middle difficult for opposing teams. The DE position is a bit thin but that can be overshadowed with good, pass rushing OLBs. Clay Matthews has become very good at this and will be a major factor on this defense. A.J. Hawk has incredible talent and coupled with Nick Barnett, the middle of the Packers defense should be quite good. The secondary will be one of the better units across the league. Charles Woodson and Al Harris are great cover guys, with good DBs serving as their backups. The combo of Atari Bigby and Nick Collins is one of the better safety units in the league as well. This defense should be a great unit in 2010, allowing for the offense to be on the field a good amount of the time.
If Brett Favre does not come back to the Vikings, the Packers are the clear favorite to win the NFC North. On paper the Packers do not have a very difficult schedule, with a lot of winnable games, 4 of which are the Bears and Lions. If Favre comes back, the two teams will most likely battle for the division down to the end, with the other getting into the playoffs as the wild card. Overall, the Packers could easily be one of the last two teams still alive in the NFC.
-Prediction: 11-12 wins in 2010.
That's about right on both sides of the ball. I think Greg Jennings could rebound with a very very nice season. The only problem I see with this team is the lack of protection for Aaron Rodgers. The offensive line needs to get their act together, or the Packers could wind up losing their most important player.
ReplyDeleteIf Bulaga starts at guard it will be a major improvement. Rodgers also needs to get rid of the ball quicker.
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