Changing it up this year, I usually do the North as a whole but I?m going to do the North team by team and hope Poolplayer is reading. I?m going to start with the Packers as there are far more Packer fans here and lurking than any other North team. Now last season I really thought Rodgers was going to come for revenge and I was dead wrong. Was it him getting injured week 1 or was it the fact that this team always seems to be a MASH unit by season?s end? To me Rodgers is aging faster than guys like Brees and Brady, I know those are top level guys but when you have many, even outside of Packerland calling him the goat it sets the bar very high. To me that notion is absurd, this is a guy who is still really good but not at GOAT status. He became a starter when defensive rules changed in favor of offenses and lets face it defenses outside of very few teams weren?t very good. The Packers pounded on very weak NFC North teams with struggling secondaries. They had Findlay seaming the middle and would use multi receiver sets and he would light up weak secondaries and have guys running wide open. Fast forward and the loss of
An athletic tight end and teams getting better with better secondaries and you don?t see the same numbers he was putting up. You see a less confident qb who throws the ball away a ton. Also without saying he?s a guy whose leadership skills have been often been scrutinized. I had to add this in to get the apologists riled up but I don?t think you can argue the stats.
Heading into 2019 the Packers come in with Guy Lafluer as the head coach taking over for Mike McCarthy in season fired team. It seems as though the upper brass would like him to take over as the guy who can keep Rodgers in some sort of check. Now the Packers made a lot of defensive off season moves and used their first two picks to solidify what should be an improving defense. Jaire Alexander who they drafted 1 last year should be an absolute stud and can become one of the leagues best cover corners, the problem with Green Bay is going to be weather their front 7 will improve. They released Mike Daniels from what sounds like conditioning issues and to save cap room, so the key to their front 7 is Kenny Clark, he?s a very good DT and his health is of the upmost key. The additions of Amos and the 2 smiths at LB should really spark plug the defense and they could be close to a 10-15 defense and with luck maybe be top 10 if Gary and Savage play well as rookies and if Kevin King ( hamstring issues) ever stayed healthy as he is really good but can?t stay on the field. I am a little baffled by them giving Lowry an extension as I believe him to be a stiff and liability. Also watch to see if Fackrell plays a lot as well even though he lead the team in sacks he?s a major defensive liability. Blake MartiNez in the middle is steady but the Packers have enough upside on defense to be a force.
Offensively Rodgers is only have one reliable WR last year and they will need a young second wide out to step up. Tight end Graham is old and then they have the third round pick who has some athleticism. I like the rb Jones but it seems like they go away from him far too soon and maybe that changes with new regime. Tackles are solid especially if Bulaga stays healthy, interio lone ia the key as they can be manhandled against good fronts.
I expect the Packers to be improved from last season but they have more ?ifs? than the Bears and Vikes. I expect them to win 9 games and if stars align they could vie for
The division and win 11 games, but that defense would really have to ball out.
I?m thinking Rodgers gets hurt again and if that happens it?s seaon over. As of now I?m sticking with 9-7
An athletic tight end and teams getting better with better secondaries and you don?t see the same numbers he was putting up. You see a less confident qb who throws the ball away a ton. Also without saying he?s a guy whose leadership skills have been often been scrutinized. I had to add this in to get the apologists riled up but I don?t think you can argue the stats.
Heading into 2019 the Packers come in with Guy Lafluer as the head coach taking over for Mike McCarthy in season fired team. It seems as though the upper brass would like him to take over as the guy who can keep Rodgers in some sort of check. Now the Packers made a lot of defensive off season moves and used their first two picks to solidify what should be an improving defense. Jaire Alexander who they drafted 1 last year should be an absolute stud and can become one of the leagues best cover corners, the problem with Green Bay is going to be weather their front 7 will improve. They released Mike Daniels from what sounds like conditioning issues and to save cap room, so the key to their front 7 is Kenny Clark, he?s a very good DT and his health is of the upmost key. The additions of Amos and the 2 smiths at LB should really spark plug the defense and they could be close to a 10-15 defense and with luck maybe be top 10 if Gary and Savage play well as rookies and if Kevin King ( hamstring issues) ever stayed healthy as he is really good but can?t stay on the field. I am a little baffled by them giving Lowry an extension as I believe him to be a stiff and liability. Also watch to see if Fackrell plays a lot as well even though he lead the team in sacks he?s a major defensive liability. Blake MartiNez in the middle is steady but the Packers have enough upside on defense to be a force.
Offensively Rodgers is only have one reliable WR last year and they will need a young second wide out to step up. Tight end Graham is old and then they have the third round pick who has some athleticism. I like the rb Jones but it seems like they go away from him far too soon and maybe that changes with new regime. Tackles are solid especially if Bulaga stays healthy, interio lone ia the key as they can be manhandled against good fronts.
I expect the Packers to be improved from last season but they have more ?ifs? than the Bears and Vikes. I expect them to win 9 games and if stars align they could vie for
The division and win 11 games, but that defense would really have to ball out.
I?m thinking Rodgers gets hurt again and if that happens it?s seaon over. As of now I?m sticking with 9-7
