Smidgeon
08-04-2010, 10:37 AM
An email transcript, courtesy of a friend's inquiry:
Her: The talk around here on the sports shows is all about GB and how good they are going to be this year.
Me: They’ll be good. I’m not sure about great though. I think those expectations need to be tempered. Here’s what GB does have for sure:
TE: The best young TE in football in Finley; potential to be the best in the NFL as soon as this year, but needs to improve his blocking
WR1: One of, if not the, best deep ball #1 WRs in the NFL in Jennings; probably not a Top 10 WR though as he’ll disappear in some games
WR2: The way my brother puts it, Driver has the best three steps of any WR in the NFL. He’s explosive and sudden.
WR3: I don’t care if it’s Jones or Nelson. They could start for half the teams in the league.
RB: Steady Eddy. Not flashy, will average around four yards per carry, and will have only a couple runs over 40 yards. But Grant will be dependable, not lose yards or fumble, and will end up with around 1200 yards on the ground. Again.
QB: Approaching elite with Montana like accuracy and moxie; but still has to show he can take over a game and win one on guts alone. Honorable mention is not losing yards when a play isn’t there.
OL: Maybe the steadiest in years with backups staying in one spot. Still unsure about the age of the tackles or the LG.
Offense: Not worried. Like last year, they’ll put up a lot of points. Might still be in the Top 10 in sacks, especially if either of the Tackles go down.
CB1: Returning DPOY. Not worried
CB2: More worry. Williams is talented, but doesn’t have a lot of starting experience. Harris is still recovering from offseason surgery.
CB3: A lot of worry. Not any experience here; though both Lee and Underwood have talent.
FS: No worry. Collins is coming off his second consecutive pro-bowl and may be the most underrated safety in the league.
SS: The options are either a ballhawking rookie without experience or a knack for big hits or an enforcer safety who can’t stay on the field due to injury. If the former with Burnett, GB will easily lead the league in interceptions (and possibly be up there for big plays given up). If the latter, I just hope Bigby can stay healthy.
LOLB: Matthews will be effective, but likely not as effective as last year. Teams will be daring the Packers to effectively blitz them from somewhere else and will be doubling Clay constantly. He’ll still be one of the top 3 defenders on the team.
WILB: Barnett will be a year more removed from knee surgery and just as effective as always
SILB: AJ Hawk will be again reliable and steady. If only the young members of the OL and secondary could be this reliable
ROLB: Big question mark. The penciled starter Jones has been out since the first day of camp with a bruised back. He flashed as a rookie taking over from Kampman but as a fan I have no idea if his ceiling is high enough to be consistently effective year long
DE1: Jenkins is possibly the most underrated DLineman in the game. Always effective and a beast. Does tend to wear down as the season progresses and get held by the Steelers OL while the Steelers’ QB throws a game winning TD.
DE2: Pickett is the Packers’ franchise player. The staff moved him to the end after playing the nose all last year. Waiting to see the effectiveness before concluding.
NT: Raji was a top 10 pick in the draft last year. Has definitely flashed with great quickness and strength. Still waiting to see it consistently though.
Defense: I expect growing pains. I think there are still holes in the defense, but there are enough high powered players to compensate.
Her: One of the guys I like to listen on Tuesdays because they talk a lot of pro football, says Rodgers is going to have a breakout year this year.
Me: How were the last two years for Rodgers not break out years? He’s the first QB in NFL history to throw for over 4k yards in his first two years. GB set a franchise record for offense last year. He currently is the all time NFL leader in pass rating over Steve Young. I read he’s the only player to throw for 30TDs or more, 7INTs or less, and run for 5TDs. If Rodgers has a “break out” year on top of that, I expect him to runaway with the MVP and have people no longer question who the best QB is in the NFL (which I don’t think will happen). I think he’ll continue to get better and refine his game, but to “break out” is a misnomer because he already has.
Now, some of my summaries are just opinions that I know people will vehemently disagree with. So disagree away. I also know that some of it is just respouting things I've heard elsewhere. In those cases, yes, I am no better than a parrot since I have nothing except words on the internet to form an opinion. So vilify away.
On your marks, get set...
Her: The talk around here on the sports shows is all about GB and how good they are going to be this year.
Me: They’ll be good. I’m not sure about great though. I think those expectations need to be tempered. Here’s what GB does have for sure:
TE: The best young TE in football in Finley; potential to be the best in the NFL as soon as this year, but needs to improve his blocking
WR1: One of, if not the, best deep ball #1 WRs in the NFL in Jennings; probably not a Top 10 WR though as he’ll disappear in some games
WR2: The way my brother puts it, Driver has the best three steps of any WR in the NFL. He’s explosive and sudden.
WR3: I don’t care if it’s Jones or Nelson. They could start for half the teams in the league.
RB: Steady Eddy. Not flashy, will average around four yards per carry, and will have only a couple runs over 40 yards. But Grant will be dependable, not lose yards or fumble, and will end up with around 1200 yards on the ground. Again.
QB: Approaching elite with Montana like accuracy and moxie; but still has to show he can take over a game and win one on guts alone. Honorable mention is not losing yards when a play isn’t there.
OL: Maybe the steadiest in years with backups staying in one spot. Still unsure about the age of the tackles or the LG.
Offense: Not worried. Like last year, they’ll put up a lot of points. Might still be in the Top 10 in sacks, especially if either of the Tackles go down.
CB1: Returning DPOY. Not worried
CB2: More worry. Williams is talented, but doesn’t have a lot of starting experience. Harris is still recovering from offseason surgery.
CB3: A lot of worry. Not any experience here; though both Lee and Underwood have talent.
FS: No worry. Collins is coming off his second consecutive pro-bowl and may be the most underrated safety in the league.
SS: The options are either a ballhawking rookie without experience or a knack for big hits or an enforcer safety who can’t stay on the field due to injury. If the former with Burnett, GB will easily lead the league in interceptions (and possibly be up there for big plays given up). If the latter, I just hope Bigby can stay healthy.
LOLB: Matthews will be effective, but likely not as effective as last year. Teams will be daring the Packers to effectively blitz them from somewhere else and will be doubling Clay constantly. He’ll still be one of the top 3 defenders on the team.
WILB: Barnett will be a year more removed from knee surgery and just as effective as always
SILB: AJ Hawk will be again reliable and steady. If only the young members of the OL and secondary could be this reliable
ROLB: Big question mark. The penciled starter Jones has been out since the first day of camp with a bruised back. He flashed as a rookie taking over from Kampman but as a fan I have no idea if his ceiling is high enough to be consistently effective year long
DE1: Jenkins is possibly the most underrated DLineman in the game. Always effective and a beast. Does tend to wear down as the season progresses and get held by the Steelers OL while the Steelers’ QB throws a game winning TD.
DE2: Pickett is the Packers’ franchise player. The staff moved him to the end after playing the nose all last year. Waiting to see the effectiveness before concluding.
NT: Raji was a top 10 pick in the draft last year. Has definitely flashed with great quickness and strength. Still waiting to see it consistently though.
Defense: I expect growing pains. I think there are still holes in the defense, but there are enough high powered players to compensate.
Her: One of the guys I like to listen on Tuesdays because they talk a lot of pro football, says Rodgers is going to have a breakout year this year.
Me: How were the last two years for Rodgers not break out years? He’s the first QB in NFL history to throw for over 4k yards in his first two years. GB set a franchise record for offense last year. He currently is the all time NFL leader in pass rating over Steve Young. I read he’s the only player to throw for 30TDs or more, 7INTs or less, and run for 5TDs. If Rodgers has a “break out” year on top of that, I expect him to runaway with the MVP and have people no longer question who the best QB is in the NFL (which I don’t think will happen). I think he’ll continue to get better and refine his game, but to “break out” is a misnomer because he already has.
Now, some of my summaries are just opinions that I know people will vehemently disagree with. So disagree away. I also know that some of it is just respouting things I've heard elsewhere. In those cases, yes, I am no better than a parrot since I have nothing except words on the internet to form an opinion. So vilify away.
On your marks, get set...