By MaChez, TSZ Expert
Green
Bay Packers - Over/Under 10.5 Wins
2012: 11-5*, 1st in the NFC North, 3rd in the NFC
In
2012, the Packers won eight of their last ten en route to an 11-5* record and
the 3rd seed in the NFC playoffs. After a wildcard win over the division rival
Vikings, Colin Kapernick used his tattoos to distract the Packers D while
destroying them for 181 yards rushing and 4 TDs. The Packers have gone 27-8 since winning the
Superbowl in 2011, but after two divisional round exits, anything short of the
NFC Championship this year will be a disappointment.
The
Packers' biggest problem is their offensive line. They consistently compete
with the Bears to see who can give up more sacks, and last year they won
51-44. Fifty-one! Instead of signing a proven veteran, Coach
Mike McCarthy decided flipping all the existing, average linemen was the best
way to protect his $110 million QB so RG Josh Sitton and RT Brian Bulaga are
now on the left side. Bulaga's weak
little ACL went and tore itself and now Rookie Dave Bahkatari will be thrown to
the wolves. In other news,
@JaredAllen69 and @JuliusPeppers49 are still #excited.
Aaron
Rodgers isn't too concerned, though, because 1) he’s Aaron Rodgers, 2) he's
actually a better passer outside the pocket and 3) he‘s got more important
things on his mind with his recent public breakup with boyfriend Ryan
Braun. He will have an unreal year as
usual, but in case he needs time off for personal issues, the Packers recently
signed the self-proclaimed “more mature” and “married” Vince Young.
Perhaps
the Packers best move was the shoring up of the running back position by
drafting the talented Eddie Lacey, who will be the run-through-guys back, and
fourth-rounder Jonathan Franklin, who will be the run-around-guys back. If these two can live up to even half their
potential, the Packers will finally have a dynamic offense, and passing will be
even easier for Rodgers. Have fun with that NFL defenses.
Gone
this year are long-time wide receivers, Donald Driver and the aforementioned, big-mouthed,
Greg Jennings. Still in Green Bay are
James Jones (led the league in TDs last year), Jordy Nelson, and the dynamic
Randall Cobb, who were basically the WR corps last year. With big-talking, helmet-punching TE
Jermichael Finley entering a contract year, this offense has the talent and
motivation to be one of the highest-scoring in the league again even if they
pass the ball every play. An improved run
game and offensive line will just be added luxuries.
Cornerback
Charles Woodson also left this off-season, but the Packers still have quite the
talented, turnover-forcing secondary.
With one of the better cornerback trios in the league (Tramon Williams,
Sam Shields, and Casey Hayward) and franchise free safety Morgan Burnett, they
only really need better play at strong safety.
BJ Raji and the D-Line got an upgrade this year with the drafting of
athletic beast, DE Datone Jones in the first-round and with Jerel Worthy, CJ
Wilson, Mike Neal, and Johnny Jolly all coming back from injury (or jail),
there’s some good depth here, as well.
The
Packers big issue on defense is their linebackers not named Clay. Giving Desmond Bishop to the Vikings was
baffling and leaves them with the blah AJ Hawk and meh Brad Jones at ILB. Former 2012 first pick, Nick Perry, who was
injured last year, needs to take some of the pressure off of Matthews.
Overall
the defense has talent, but coordinator Dom Capers hasn’t been getting the guys
to play well together. The fact that he
still has a job after the playoff loss last year is incredible and he will need
a good showing this year to preserve it.
He spent the off-season figuring out the read-option and will now
probably get torched in the 13 games against traditional pocket-passers. The Pack might be better off with this Dom.
Fortunately
for the Packers, Rodgers basically renders any problem irrelevant whether it’s
the D, the OL, or global warming. I
think the defense will improve significantly this year, but even if they don’t,
the improved offense should put up numbers rivaling 2011’s 35 PPG and keep the
Packers favored in all but 3 to 5 of their games this season (@SF, @BAL, @NYG,
@CHI, ATL). They are simply too good to
not to win the division and possibly grab a bye in the playoffs. I see them going 12-4, and confidently
recommend taking the OVER 10.5 Wins.
NFC North Team Breakdowns: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, or Final Standings
Very well written! Clever and witty.
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