PaCkFan_n_MD
07-19-2006, 05:58 PM
'Experts' write off Green Bay's chances
By ROB REISCHEL
Special to Packer Plus
Posted: July 19, 2006
Brett Favre returned. Charles Woodson was signed in free agency. And the Green Bay Packers appear to have drafted well.
None of that did much to convince the national pundits that the Packers would be anything more than roadkill in 2006.
In a sampling of some of the better publications Packer Plus found, the "experts" don't expect Green Bay to improve much on its 4-12 season of a year ago.
Here's a look at what others are saying about the Packers and their chances for success this year.
Pro Football Weekly
This is the Bible of pre-season publications, highlighted by insight from a large group of NFL scouts. PFW picks Green Bay to finish 4-12 and last in the NFC North.
The magazine lists Green Bay's Super Bowl odds at 35-1 and ranks them at No. 26 in the 32-team NFL. Its Super Bowl pick is Carolina over Indianapolis.
PFW's scouts rank the game's top 50 players, regardless of position. No Green Bay player is listed when just a year ago, quarterback Brett Favre was No. 7 and running back Ahman Green was 24th.
Favre was listed as the NFL's fourth-best quarterback, the highest finish of any Packer among their positional groups. Chad Clifton was listed as the NFL's fifth-best tackle and Mark Tauscher was No. 14.
Green was listed as the NFL's eighth-best running back and Bubba Franks was No. 9 among tight ends.
Al Harris was the 12th-rated cornerback and Nick Barnett was No. 20 among inside linebackers. No other Packer player had a top-20 finish.
The magazine had the following summary regarding Green Bay's outlook: "For the 14th year in a row, the Packers will go only as far as Brett Favre can take them. Everything would have to break perfectly for Mike McCarthy to do better than 8-8 in his rookie season."
The Sporting News
This publication picks Green Bay to finish higher than any other we could find, predicting a 7-9 record and a second place finish in the NFC North. The magazine predicts Chicago to win the division with an 8-8 record. It also picks Pittsburgh to defeat Carolina in the Super Bowl.
Of Green Bay, The Sporting News says: "Brett Favre decided to return, but it wasn't for growing pains. The Pack will be in the picture in a weak division, but it will be a long way from really contending."
The magazine also picks cornerback Charles Woodson as its "Thumbs Up" pick and the offensive line as its "Thumbs Down" selection.
Street & Smith
This publication picks Green Bay to finish third in the NFC North, ahead of only Detroit. Minnesota is picked to win the division, with Chicago second. The publication picks Carolina to beat Denver in the Super Bowl.
As for the Packers, the magazine doesn't predict final records. But it does have an opponent give a scouting report, and the one on Green Bay isn't rosy.
"This doesn't look so good," the report reads. "(Brett) Favre has good reason to worry. Look at the middle of their offensive line. Favre better practice his wind sprints. Plus, they lose their best receiver in Javon Walker, although Donald Driver had a heck of a year. If Ahman Green can come back strong, it will make a big difference, but who knows about his health?
"Mike McCarthy has to coach Favre better than Mike Sherman did. He might be an idol, but he needs somebody to keep the reins on him like Mike Holmgren did. I thought (A.J.) Hawk was the best defensive player in the draft; more production than Mario Williams. They needed playmakers on defense. If Charles Woodson can stay healthy, he'll help a lot."
Athlon's
This magazine picks the Packers to finish last in the division, with Chicago as champion. Its Super Bowl pick is Indianapolis over Carolina.
The publication assigns a point value between 4-10 to each position group. The Packers' defensive line received the highest score on the team (8.0) and their offensive line had the lowest (5.5).
In what the magazine calls a "Two-Minute Drill," it says the following about Green Bay:
"At first glance, it would appear that Green Bay is a franchise in decline. Detractors say the writing is on the wall - Brett Favre's skills are diminishing, Ahman Green's best days are behind him, an unproven coach is in charge and the team is coming off a four-win, injury-riddled season. Still, appearances can be deceiving.
"The offense boasts four former Pro Bowlers at the skill positions, the defense looks much better thanks to free-agent pick ups and the draft and eight of the team's 12 losses in 2005 came by seven or fewer points.
Given the parity of the NFL and the mediocrity of the NFC North, there's no reason the Packers can't be better in 2006. Still, achieving much more than .500 would appear to be wishful thinking."
Lindy's
We're not big fans of this publication, because it refuses to make predictions. But judged on ratings given to each team's positional groups, Green Bay ranks last in the NFC North. The magazine also lists running back Ahman Green as its player "On the hot seat."
The publication also does ratings of positional groups and individuals. None of Green Bay's units were ranked among the top five. And the only Packers to receive top-10 rankings as individuals were right tackle Mark Tauscher (No. 4), cornerback Charles Woodson (sixth), quarterback Brett Favre (10th) and defensive tackle Ryan Pickett (10th).
By ROB REISCHEL
Special to Packer Plus
Posted: July 19, 2006
Brett Favre returned. Charles Woodson was signed in free agency. And the Green Bay Packers appear to have drafted well.
None of that did much to convince the national pundits that the Packers would be anything more than roadkill in 2006.
In a sampling of some of the better publications Packer Plus found, the "experts" don't expect Green Bay to improve much on its 4-12 season of a year ago.
Here's a look at what others are saying about the Packers and their chances for success this year.
Pro Football Weekly
This is the Bible of pre-season publications, highlighted by insight from a large group of NFL scouts. PFW picks Green Bay to finish 4-12 and last in the NFC North.
The magazine lists Green Bay's Super Bowl odds at 35-1 and ranks them at No. 26 in the 32-team NFL. Its Super Bowl pick is Carolina over Indianapolis.
PFW's scouts rank the game's top 50 players, regardless of position. No Green Bay player is listed when just a year ago, quarterback Brett Favre was No. 7 and running back Ahman Green was 24th.
Favre was listed as the NFL's fourth-best quarterback, the highest finish of any Packer among their positional groups. Chad Clifton was listed as the NFL's fifth-best tackle and Mark Tauscher was No. 14.
Green was listed as the NFL's eighth-best running back and Bubba Franks was No. 9 among tight ends.
Al Harris was the 12th-rated cornerback and Nick Barnett was No. 20 among inside linebackers. No other Packer player had a top-20 finish.
The magazine had the following summary regarding Green Bay's outlook: "For the 14th year in a row, the Packers will go only as far as Brett Favre can take them. Everything would have to break perfectly for Mike McCarthy to do better than 8-8 in his rookie season."
The Sporting News
This publication picks Green Bay to finish higher than any other we could find, predicting a 7-9 record and a second place finish in the NFC North. The magazine predicts Chicago to win the division with an 8-8 record. It also picks Pittsburgh to defeat Carolina in the Super Bowl.
Of Green Bay, The Sporting News says: "Brett Favre decided to return, but it wasn't for growing pains. The Pack will be in the picture in a weak division, but it will be a long way from really contending."
The magazine also picks cornerback Charles Woodson as its "Thumbs Up" pick and the offensive line as its "Thumbs Down" selection.
Street & Smith
This publication picks Green Bay to finish third in the NFC North, ahead of only Detroit. Minnesota is picked to win the division, with Chicago second. The publication picks Carolina to beat Denver in the Super Bowl.
As for the Packers, the magazine doesn't predict final records. But it does have an opponent give a scouting report, and the one on Green Bay isn't rosy.
"This doesn't look so good," the report reads. "(Brett) Favre has good reason to worry. Look at the middle of their offensive line. Favre better practice his wind sprints. Plus, they lose their best receiver in Javon Walker, although Donald Driver had a heck of a year. If Ahman Green can come back strong, it will make a big difference, but who knows about his health?
"Mike McCarthy has to coach Favre better than Mike Sherman did. He might be an idol, but he needs somebody to keep the reins on him like Mike Holmgren did. I thought (A.J.) Hawk was the best defensive player in the draft; more production than Mario Williams. They needed playmakers on defense. If Charles Woodson can stay healthy, he'll help a lot."
Athlon's
This magazine picks the Packers to finish last in the division, with Chicago as champion. Its Super Bowl pick is Indianapolis over Carolina.
The publication assigns a point value between 4-10 to each position group. The Packers' defensive line received the highest score on the team (8.0) and their offensive line had the lowest (5.5).
In what the magazine calls a "Two-Minute Drill," it says the following about Green Bay:
"At first glance, it would appear that Green Bay is a franchise in decline. Detractors say the writing is on the wall - Brett Favre's skills are diminishing, Ahman Green's best days are behind him, an unproven coach is in charge and the team is coming off a four-win, injury-riddled season. Still, appearances can be deceiving.
"The offense boasts four former Pro Bowlers at the skill positions, the defense looks much better thanks to free-agent pick ups and the draft and eight of the team's 12 losses in 2005 came by seven or fewer points.
Given the parity of the NFL and the mediocrity of the NFC North, there's no reason the Packers can't be better in 2006. Still, achieving much more than .500 would appear to be wishful thinking."
Lindy's
We're not big fans of this publication, because it refuses to make predictions. But judged on ratings given to each team's positional groups, Green Bay ranks last in the NFC North. The magazine also lists running back Ahman Green as its player "On the hot seat."
The publication also does ratings of positional groups and individuals. None of Green Bay's units were ranked among the top five. And the only Packers to receive top-10 rankings as individuals were right tackle Mark Tauscher (No. 4), cornerback Charles Woodson (sixth), quarterback Brett Favre (10th) and defensive tackle Ryan Pickett (10th).