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With two years of hindsight, it’s now officially safe to declare that the Green Bay Packers don’t regret moving on from Brett Favre.
Because while the Packers have yet to win a playoff game under the tutelage of Aaron Rodgers, it’s pretty much impossible to blame Favre’s successor for those failures. “A-Rodg” has joined Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Drew Brees as one of the NFL’s elite quarterbacks.
He’s made Packers fans forget about Favre with nearly 8,500 yards and 58 touchdowns in two seasons.
But whether his supporting cast helps him or not, Rodgers won’t properly join Favre, Manning, Brady and Brees in the history books until he starts winning in January. Those who say that you can only truly measure a quarterback by his rings are full of crap and too lazy to properly investigate the ancillary factors — Rodgers is in the process of becoming a special player regardless of his playoff success.
That said, if he wants to go from superstar to legend, he’ll eventually need to win something. To do that, Rodgers will of course need significant contributions from that supporting cast. And in 2010, taking into account his 52-odd cohorts, I’m not sure Rodgers is on the brink of a title.
2009 in a nutshell: Only the Saints and Vikings score more points than the Packers, who grab a wild-card spot and then lose in one of the worst ways possible in their first playoff game.
Why 2010 could be different, in a nutshell: One more year under Rodgers’ belt; injuries on defence.
Three random thoughts/observations/projections
1. Rodgers was bashed around frequently last year, mainly because of injuries and generally poor play on the offensive line, but also because he has a bad habit of holding on to the ball for too long. While the second point is something Rodgers will have to fix himself, the first was left for the front office to deal with. And they didn’t do much. For the second straight year, Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher are the tackles, Daryn Colledge and Josh Sitton are slated to start at guard and Scott Wells will man the middle. The team spent its top pick on Iowa tackle Bryan Bulaga, but Bulaga has failed to impress thus far. One year after they surrendered a league-high 51 sacks, pass protection could once again be the Packers’ biggest problem in 2010.
2. That is unless they keep losing defensive backs. Starters Al Harris (knee) and Atari Bigby (ankle surgery) are on the PUP list and could miss significant chunks of the regular season. In the meantime, the unreliable Tramon Williams will start opposite Charles Woodson at corner while rookie third-round pick Morgan Burnett steps in for Bigby. A lot of pressure falls on Woodson and Pro Bowl safety Nick Collins to hold things down before Harris and Bigby return — if they return.
3. You’d think that the loss of former top pass rusher Aaron Kampman would hurt the Packers, but Kampman never fit in — nor did he want to fit in — to the 3-4 scheme they adopted last year, and his sack numbers fell off a cliff. And despite that loss, the Packers have one of the most talented front sevens in the league. The linebacker corps is young and pretty much suited to do everything from stopping the run to helping in pass protection to rushing the quarterback to forcing turnovers. The line, featuring 2009 top pick B.J. Raji as well as veterans Cullen Jenkins and Ryan Pickett, will get the job done. Although they will miss the suspended Johnny Jolly.
2010 prediction: The defence has some issues, as does the offensive line. That said, Green Bay will once again win a bunch of shootouts and survive. But even if Minnesota’s problems give the Packers a chance to win the division, I’m not sure they’ll be able to beat a team like Dallas or New Orleans in the playoffs.
once again brad you are a moron. a-rod can be blamed for not winning a playoff game — he turned the ball over against the cards in the playoffs this past january, it was in overtime and the play led to the packers losing. do you watch the nfl?
Yup, that loss is all on him. Had nothing to do with the pressure he faced on the play (and all season long, for that matter) thanks to his garbage offensive line or the fact that his defence gave up 45 points in regulation. Completely Aaron’s fault….
your sarcasm is duly noted.
All i am saying is your writing contradicts the fact of the matter — A rod turned the ball over twice in a game where his opposition (Warner) was perfect. Thus, he didn’t meet the challenge and his two errors — though usually inconsequential — lost the game.
And, if you want to blame the defence or the o-line i say this: warner was a machine in that game, throwing more TD’s than incompletions — i doubt any defense would be able to have stopped him and the cards that day. Second, it’s one thing to give up a sack (for the O-line) but the fumble that cost the game is on A-rod.
Dallas isn’t looking too good so far this season. With Harris back by mid-season, and Matthews looking outstanding, I believe we will be ready for N.O.