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Vikings
DL - Elite, better than a year ago
LB's - Very good. Equal to a year ago
DB's - Average. Equal to a year ago.
All in all, the Vikings defense is all about the front four and this is an elite group. They should be right up there with the best defenses in the NFL in 2008.
OL - Very good again. Equal to last year, but maybe not as strong without McKinney in game 1. IF the Vinking don't get in 3rd and managable situations their QB could be killed without a good LT. This is an important matchup in game 1.
RB's - Elite
WR's/TE's - Average
QB - Below average
I think their offense is going to be slightly better than a year ago. Their elite defense makes them look better than they are and they certainly can run the ball. It's going to be a physical game as I don't see the Vikings trying to toss the ball around Lambeau.
ST's - My impression of the Vikings ST's over the years was that they are average to good. They're starting to trade away draft picks, ala - Mike Sherman so maybe they start experiencing depth/ST's problems this year.
Packers
DL - Average. Pickett and KGB are two specialists that make the unit stronger, but they are going to be about equal to last years team without Jolly (comparable to being without Williams). Last year when they lost JOlly they were average. This year without Williams I think they'll be average.
LB's - Very good. Barnett is said to be studying more film and ready to take his game to a new level. Poppinga has been impressively physical this preseason and Hawk is at a point in his career that improvement should be expected again. This unit should be a little better than a year ago and definitly deeper with Chillar and Bishop's monster sophmore improvements.
DB's - Very good. Woodson is a stud in my opinion and looks to be a great shape. Harris is still very good and Tramon Williams is showing signs of being a starting caliber player. After the 3rd CB, there is a big drop off.
All in all I expect the DL to be a little worse and the LB's to be a little better. They have been together for another year so maybe they can play equal to last year even without the extra DT.
OL - Clifton and Tauscher should have at least one more year of good play. The interior line was tossed around and played out of position all offseason, but with the regular season approaching they're getting back to their best positions and look to be hitting their stride. I see them being equal to last year with slightly worse OT play and slightly better OG play. If injuries happen maybe all of that mixing and matching pays off.
RB - Grant seems legit and Brandon Jackson has taken big leaps. Between the two of them the Packers can pound the ball and not have to worry about wearing out just one set of legs. I see them as better than a year ago with exerience for Grant and Jackson and physical improvement from Jackson. I also expect Herron to make the team and I think he could be a very underrated piece to Aaron Rodgers third down packages with his smart, consistant, always dependable play in pass protection.
WR's and TE's - This group is elite. Driver, Jennings, James Jones, Donald Lee, Ruvell Martin, Jordy Nelson, Humphry and Finley are all talented with the ball in their hands. They can mix and match packages and take advantage of just about any weakness on a defense. McCarthy is a creative, aggressive offensive coach who's not affraid to put his foot on the oppositions throat and will not hold back on each weeks mismatches. With so much pass catchign talent opposing secondarys and LB's are going to be terrorized all year long.
QB - I know the Favre lovers believe there is no way a first year QB can play close to the greatest ever but I don't think Favre was the greatest ever and I do think Rodgers can play at a similar level. I'm calling my shot, Rodgers to the probowl in 08. The lesson, QB's look good with talent and the Packers have had some talented teams for the last 15 years.
I give the ST's edge to the packers. Crosby has been nailing kicks at an alarming rate and his leg is obviously more than strong enough. With the exception of one or two bad punts Jon Ryan looks to have increased his hang time and consistancy. Blackmon looks healthy and ready to roll. Barbre, Bishop, Brandon Jackson, James JOnes, Nick Collins, Tramon Williams, Jarrett Bush, Jason Hunter, Tracy White and company are all impressive physical specimens that can blow up blockers and beat down tacklers. I think this can be one of the leagues best ST's units, maybe the best if Blackmon can excell at returns.
At the end of the day I think these are two very equal teams. The Vikings have a better defense and run game. The Packers have better ST's and pass game. The hate level for the Vikings/Packer rivalry is about to be amped up another notch because these two teams are going to fight tooth and nail for the division and both are very physical. I think the Vikings will set the tone with defense and the run game and teh Packers with beat you down ST's. This should be a great, physical game wtih little fights breaking out on ST's and from time to time on offense and defense. When the game is over I expect more bad blood than before it's kicked off. This is a great way to start the season. Go Pack Go.
DL - Elite, better than a year ago
LB's - Very good. Equal to a year ago
DB's - Average. Equal to a year ago.
All in all, the Vikings defense is all about the front four and this is an elite group. They should be right up there with the best defenses in the NFL in 2008.
OL - Very good again. Equal to last year, but maybe not as strong without McKinney in game 1. IF the Vinking don't get in 3rd and managable situations their QB could be killed without a good LT. This is an important matchup in game 1.
RB's - Elite
WR's/TE's - Average
QB - Below average
I think their offense is going to be slightly better than a year ago. Their elite defense makes them look better than they are and they certainly can run the ball. It's going to be a physical game as I don't see the Vikings trying to toss the ball around Lambeau.
ST's - My impression of the Vikings ST's over the years was that they are average to good. They're starting to trade away draft picks, ala - Mike Sherman so maybe they start experiencing depth/ST's problems this year.
Packers
DL - Average. Pickett and KGB are two specialists that make the unit stronger, but they are going to be about equal to last years team without Jolly (comparable to being without Williams). Last year when they lost JOlly they were average. This year without Williams I think they'll be average.
LB's - Very good. Barnett is said to be studying more film and ready to take his game to a new level. Poppinga has been impressively physical this preseason and Hawk is at a point in his career that improvement should be expected again. This unit should be a little better than a year ago and definitly deeper with Chillar and Bishop's monster sophmore improvements.
DB's - Very good. Woodson is a stud in my opinion and looks to be a great shape. Harris is still very good and Tramon Williams is showing signs of being a starting caliber player. After the 3rd CB, there is a big drop off.
All in all I expect the DL to be a little worse and the LB's to be a little better. They have been together for another year so maybe they can play equal to last year even without the extra DT.
OL - Clifton and Tauscher should have at least one more year of good play. The interior line was tossed around and played out of position all offseason, but with the regular season approaching they're getting back to their best positions and look to be hitting their stride. I see them being equal to last year with slightly worse OT play and slightly better OG play. If injuries happen maybe all of that mixing and matching pays off.
RB - Grant seems legit and Brandon Jackson has taken big leaps. Between the two of them the Packers can pound the ball and not have to worry about wearing out just one set of legs. I see them as better than a year ago with exerience for Grant and Jackson and physical improvement from Jackson. I also expect Herron to make the team and I think he could be a very underrated piece to Aaron Rodgers third down packages with his smart, consistant, always dependable play in pass protection.
WR's and TE's - This group is elite. Driver, Jennings, James Jones, Donald Lee, Ruvell Martin, Jordy Nelson, Humphry and Finley are all talented with the ball in their hands. They can mix and match packages and take advantage of just about any weakness on a defense. McCarthy is a creative, aggressive offensive coach who's not affraid to put his foot on the oppositions throat and will not hold back on each weeks mismatches. With so much pass catchign talent opposing secondarys and LB's are going to be terrorized all year long.
QB - I know the Favre lovers believe there is no way a first year QB can play close to the greatest ever but I don't think Favre was the greatest ever and I do think Rodgers can play at a similar level. I'm calling my shot, Rodgers to the probowl in 08. The lesson, QB's look good with talent and the Packers have had some talented teams for the last 15 years.
I give the ST's edge to the packers. Crosby has been nailing kicks at an alarming rate and his leg is obviously more than strong enough. With the exception of one or two bad punts Jon Ryan looks to have increased his hang time and consistancy. Blackmon looks healthy and ready to roll. Barbre, Bishop, Brandon Jackson, James JOnes, Nick Collins, Tramon Williams, Jarrett Bush, Jason Hunter, Tracy White and company are all impressive physical specimens that can blow up blockers and beat down tacklers. I think this can be one of the leagues best ST's units, maybe the best if Blackmon can excell at returns.
At the end of the day I think these are two very equal teams. The Vikings have a better defense and run game. The Packers have better ST's and pass game. The hate level for the Vikings/Packer rivalry is about to be amped up another notch because these two teams are going to fight tooth and nail for the division and both are very physical. I think the Vikings will set the tone with defense and the run game and teh Packers with beat you down ST's. This should be a great, physical game wtih little fights breaking out on ST's and from time to time on offense and defense. When the game is over I expect more bad blood than before it's kicked off. This is a great way to start the season. Go Pack Go.
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