Bretsky
08-25-2006, 12:01 AM
Rick Braun
E-MAIL
Green Bay - Saturday night was much more like it, wouldn't you say?
Instead of playing the role of punchee, as they did a week earlier against the San Diego Chargers, the Green Bay Packers were the aggressors.
Instead of sitting back and thinking about it, the Packers went out and did it.
Instead of being the team that made the mistakes, the Packers were the team that forced the mistakes.
So all is right in Packer World, right? The 38-10 victory over the Atlanta Falcons is a sign of things to come, right?
Linebacker A.J. Hawk and the Green Bay Packers had a good night against the Atlanta Falcons and QB Michael Vick at Lambeau Field.
Well, maybe. But then again, maybe not.
Sure, it looked as though Tony Moll solidified the offensive line.
Yes, the defense put pressure on the passer - and even dropped the slippery Michael Vick once among the five sacks.
Then add in three interceptions, one returned for a touchdown by Jason Horton.
And the running game got out of the gate even without Ahman Green, who is scheduled to return Monday night at Cincinnati.
Yes, those are all positive developments.
Then again, hold on just a second.
Sure, Saturday's performance brings a lot of reason to hope. But reality must also be considered.
Taken as a whole, the Packers' body of work must also include that exhibition opener. It can't be tossed aside.
Because the hard, cold reality is that this Packer team is very young. The final roster is almost sure to include at least 40% rookies and second-year players.
And what you get from rosters with such a makeup is exactly what we've seen in the first two weeks: wild swings in level of play.
That's not to say that fans should give up on the 2006 Packers.
Instead, what is needed is almost a little trip in a time machine.
Yes, Brett Favre is still the quarterback. But maybe the best way for Packer fans to approach 2006 is to forget all the things that happened after Favre arrived in 1992.
When we're talking about 2006, forget the 13-year run in which the Packers never finished with a losing record. Forget the six division titles, forget the two NFC championships, and forget the victory in Super Bowl XXXI.
These are not those Packers.
Instead, think back to 1992.
Remember when it was all so new?
Remember Ron Wolf coming in and putting his mark on the franchise. Remember Mike Holmgren coming in and not tolerating mistakes.
And remember putting years of futility from the 1970s and '80s behind them.
Current general manager Ted Thompson is a Wolf disciple. Whether McCarthy ends up having anywhere near the success of Holmgren remains to be seen. For now, the similarities are that both came to Green Bay after serving as the offensive coordinator in San Francisco and neither tolerates mistakes.
It'll be awhile before we can look at McCarthy and compare him to Holmgren one way or another.
But for now, a foundation seems to be in place.
If they're lucky, these Packers in 2006 will be a lot like the Packers of 1992.
What looks like an excellent 2006 draft can serve as a major building block. And the 2005 draft might still turn into a success despite the unfortunate loss of second-round pick Terrence Murphy to a serious neck condition.
Coming off a 4-12 season - coincidentally, that also was the Packers' record in 1991 - the 2006 Packers should hope to resemble that 1992 team that turned things around in Green Bay back then.
The only glaring difference would be that there was just one year of futility behind this team rather than of 2½ decades.
So watch the 2006 Packers with optimism. Watch them to see how the foundation players develop. Watch them and get excited by the victories and the solid performances.
Just don't expect the 1996 Packers. Don't even expect the 2002 Packers. Instead, think back to the 1992 Packers - at least those of you old enough to remember.
There are a lot of things that general managers take into account when reviewing a player's qualities. Strength tests, 40-yard-dash times, height, weight. Thompson adds in another major factor.
"You try to figure out who likes football No. 1," Thompson said. "We think it's really important that you like football; that you like the game, like to play the game."
Thompson believes he has a lot of such players.
In 1992, Ron Wolf and Mike Holmgren had such a player. Turns out, that guy led the Packers to their first victory in 1992.
In 2006, that guy is still the quarterback.
Brett Favre most likely won't be around the next time the Packers go to a Super Bowl. But maybe, just maybe, he's seeing the next Packer Super Bowl team in its infancy.
With that in mind, Packer fans should watch for this team to first walk before it runs.
Send e-mail to rbraun@journalsentinel.com
Green Bay - Saturday night was much more like it, wouldn't you say?
Instead of playing the role of punchee, as they did a week earlier against the San Diego Chargers, the Green Bay Packers were the aggressors.
Instead of sitting back and thinking about it, the Packers went out and did it.
Instead of being the team that made the mistakes, the Packers were the team that forced the mistakes.
So all is right in Packer World, right? The 38-10 victory over the Atlanta Falcons is a sign of things to come, right?
Linebacker A.J. Hawk and the Green Bay Packers had a good night against the Atlanta Falcons and QB Michael Vick at Lambeau Field.
Well, maybe. But then again, maybe not.
Sure, it looked as though Tony Moll solidified the offensive line.
Yes, the defense put pressure on the passer - and even dropped the slippery Michael Vick once among the five sacks.
Then add in three interceptions, one returned for a touchdown by Jason Horton.
And the running game got out of the gate even without Ahman Green, who is scheduled to return Monday night at Cincinnati.
Yes, those are all positive developments.
Then again, hold on just a second.
Sure, Saturday's performance brings a lot of reason to hope. But reality must also be considered.
Taken as a whole, the Packers' body of work must also include that exhibition opener. It can't be tossed aside.
Because the hard, cold reality is that this Packer team is very young. The final roster is almost sure to include at least 40% rookies and second-year players.
And what you get from rosters with such a makeup is exactly what we've seen in the first two weeks: wild swings in level of play.
That's not to say that fans should give up on the 2006 Packers.
Instead, what is needed is almost a little trip in a time machine.
Yes, Brett Favre is still the quarterback. But maybe the best way for Packer fans to approach 2006 is to forget all the things that happened after Favre arrived in 1992.
When we're talking about 2006, forget the 13-year run in which the Packers never finished with a losing record. Forget the six division titles, forget the two NFC championships, and forget the victory in Super Bowl XXXI.
These are not those Packers.
Instead, think back to 1992.
Remember when it was all so new?
Remember Ron Wolf coming in and putting his mark on the franchise. Remember Mike Holmgren coming in and not tolerating mistakes.
And remember putting years of futility from the 1970s and '80s behind them.
Current general manager Ted Thompson is a Wolf disciple. Whether McCarthy ends up having anywhere near the success of Holmgren remains to be seen. For now, the similarities are that both came to Green Bay after serving as the offensive coordinator in San Francisco and neither tolerates mistakes.
It'll be awhile before we can look at McCarthy and compare him to Holmgren one way or another.
But for now, a foundation seems to be in place.
If they're lucky, these Packers in 2006 will be a lot like the Packers of 1992.
What looks like an excellent 2006 draft can serve as a major building block. And the 2005 draft might still turn into a success despite the unfortunate loss of second-round pick Terrence Murphy to a serious neck condition.
Coming off a 4-12 season - coincidentally, that also was the Packers' record in 1991 - the 2006 Packers should hope to resemble that 1992 team that turned things around in Green Bay back then.
The only glaring difference would be that there was just one year of futility behind this team rather than of 2½ decades.
So watch the 2006 Packers with optimism. Watch them to see how the foundation players develop. Watch them and get excited by the victories and the solid performances.
Just don't expect the 1996 Packers. Don't even expect the 2002 Packers. Instead, think back to the 1992 Packers - at least those of you old enough to remember.
There are a lot of things that general managers take into account when reviewing a player's qualities. Strength tests, 40-yard-dash times, height, weight. Thompson adds in another major factor.
"You try to figure out who likes football No. 1," Thompson said. "We think it's really important that you like football; that you like the game, like to play the game."
Thompson believes he has a lot of such players.
In 1992, Ron Wolf and Mike Holmgren had such a player. Turns out, that guy led the Packers to their first victory in 1992.
In 2006, that guy is still the quarterback.
Brett Favre most likely won't be around the next time the Packers go to a Super Bowl. But maybe, just maybe, he's seeing the next Packer Super Bowl team in its infancy.
With that in mind, Packer fans should watch for this team to first walk before it runs.
Send e-mail to rbraun@journalsentinel.com