Where do the Packers need the most help??

[PackerPro42]

It's between WR and O-line. If we would have drafted Jackson than it definatley would be O-line but I think it's a combination now.

[The Leaper]

I think our weakest link right now is the RB position...without question. We don't have one guy lining up behind Favre right now who doesn't have a MAJOR question mark about his ability to consistently deliver in 2006.

Green: coming off major surgery and injury that few have returned from with success.
Davenport: coming off minor surgery; never has been able to stay healthy.
Gado: very limited experience; previously struggled in zone blocking scheme.

All of these guys are going to have to change their approach in running as well from what has been taught in Green Bay in the past.

At least we have one solid performer or more at the other spots. Driver is a solid WR. Our OTs are very good, and we have young talent on the interior that will develop in time. DB is actually a position of pretty good depth right now.

[PackerPro42]

Actually Partial has a point there. They don't really have a good pass rushing d-end. KGB is good but he overpursues EVERYTHING.

[Partial]

Its not that their DE's are bad, they're just not great. DE and QB are the postions where if you have a great player that it can mask a lot of other sub par positions. Like the Packers for example are always a threat to win a game since they have a playmaker at QB. Same rule applies to DE. They can change an entire game plan when they get on a roll.

[Harlan Huckleby]

It's a good thing "trolling the wire" is one of TT's favorite offseason hobbies. Too bad there's not much there to fish for.

Tank would have us believe that TT's trolling the bars. Whichever - everybody needs a hobby, as you suggest.

[bigcoz75]

I went o-line only because it's such an unproven spot and needs to be improved over last year in order to create a running game. Next would be running back solely because the top 3 backs on the team are coming off injuries last season(assuming Gado isn't replaced by Herron as the OTAs started to show). WR isn't a big issue as long as you have a running game to worry opposing defenses.

[the_idle_threat]

I think our weakest link right now is the RB position...without question. We don't have one guy lining up behind Favre right now who doesn't have a MAJOR question mark about his ability to consistently deliver in 2006.

Green: coming off major surgery and injury that few have returned from with success.
Davenport: coming off minor surgery; never has been able to stay healthy.
Gado: very limited experience; previously struggled in zone blocking scheme.

All of these guys are going to have to change their approach in running as well from what has been taught in Green Bay in the past.

At least we have one solid performer or more at the other spots. Driver is a solid WR. Our OTs are very good, and we have young talent on the interior that will develop in time. DB is actually a position of pretty good depth right now.

I agree completely ...

[Zool]

Wouldnt a good O-line make the RB's and WR's look better? Give Favre time and he can make Bill Schroeder into a 1000 yard reciever.

[CaptainKickass]

I also picked WR.

While there can be ?'s about all of our RB's ONE of them will at least pan out, and if the cards are played right we could have one of the best backfields in the league.

We're going to be better than last year on D and that should be the difference in the 6 or so games we lost last year by 6pts or less.

Good riddance to JW but it certainly leaves us weaker at WR. If the WC offense that MM installs is anything like the old Pack/Holmgren Seattle/Holmgren passing scheme we will see a lot more motion before the snap and crossing routes/slants. I agree that Ferg is more suited to that style than the Sherman vertical. Kind of like a Darrel Jackson/Bobby Engram combo with Driver/Ferg. If gardner and Boe can play like they've been in the league as long as they have - WR could turn into a strength with some divine intervention.

One thing nobody else has commented on in this post is the effect of the TE's with a traditional WC offense. Let's not forget about Bubba and Co.

[The Leaper]

While there can be ?'s about all of our RB's ONE of them will at least pan out, and if the cards are played right we could have one of the best backfields in the league.

You can use the same logic at WR...Driver is a lock, and one of the other guys will "pan out". In fact, it makes MORE sense to say it of the WRs, because at least they will mostly be healthy and ready to learn and improve in training camp...while Green and Davenport aren't likely to be 100% at the start of camp and will spend much of camp just working their way back into shape. There are several rookies and several experienced vets who will battle it out at WR...what the hell is there at RB?? A hobbled Green? A hobbled Davenport? Granted, we know Gado is going to work his ass off...but that is hardly a guarantee that he is going to be able to carry the load if the other guys can't.

It is highly unlikely Green is still an impact RB. He may be able to return to being an effective starter, but he's not going to pile up 1600 yards anymore. He also has probably lost at least half a step in speed due to his age and injuries. Davenport has never been an impact player...he can be a solid ball possession RB when healthy, but rarely has made big plays happen on his own. He's also rarely been able to stay healthy. Honestly, IMO Davenport is the greatest chance for our running game this year...he needs to get back to 100% and stay healthy though, which has been impossible for him up to this point. Gado just doesn't have the talent or experience combination at this point to be a reliable starting back in the NFL, especially when you consider his struggles in this same zone blocking scheme while playing college ball. With the potential of starting 2 rookies on the interior OL, I don't want a green RB like Gado back there as the last line of defense protecting Favre.

And there is the whole Favre thing...he's made Bill Schroeder look like an All-Pro at times, so having elite talent at WR isn't as important with him in there. Behind a patchwork OL, having a strong RB is imperative...and I don't see one on the roster right now.

[CaptainKickass]

It is highly unlikely Green is still an impact RB. He may be able to return to being an effective starter, but he's not going to pile up 1600 yards anymore. He also has probably lost at least half a step in speed due to his age and injuries. Davenport has never been an impact player...he can be a solid ball possession RB when healthy, but rarely has made big plays happen on his own.

Regarding Green - if anyone can make it back, it's him. My aunt was the dean of students at Nebraska and said he was the most physically gifted athlete to ever attend the school and had a workout ethic unlike any other. I will not assume he's lost anything until he proves me wrong.

Davenpizzle has the history of injury - true. But to say that he's"never been an impact player" is the quintessential understatement of the last 4 years. What games have you been watching? I recall him racking up well over 130 yds (160 maybe? against the Rams?) in admirable fill in duty for Green (he may have been injured in that game - i'm a bit foggy) plus the value of using him and/ or Herron/Gado as a FB for what will appear as a 2 or 3 RB set has me seriously pumped! How do you scheme a D for a backfield with 3 RB's?

Injuries aside, it's all about the appearance of a threat first then the delivery. I like the appearance of Green, Davenpizzle, and Gado. regardless of injury that is a backfield that offensive coordinators drool over like a 12 yr old boy with his first Playboy.

What other team has a backfield with that kind of 3 headed monster? No one in our division.

[The Leaper]

How do you scheme a D for a backfield with 3 RB's?

When did we become a team that is running the wishbone?

[CaptainKickass]

How do you scheme a D for a backfield with 3 RB's?

When did we become a team that is running the wishbone?

When I had a Turkey dinner with this ladyfriend of mine and a few friends a couple weeks ago. We got to break the wishbone. I wished for a 2 or 3 rb set this season and she wished for a diamond ring.

Needsless to say - I won.

[Partial]

I agree, I am not too worried about the backfield. I probably should be, but I cannot get the image out of my head of Ahman getting back onto the field and being successful.

Those Dlinemen that had a similiar injury may have not been able to recover because of their size. I know Ahman has wanted to have this problem corrected since college, but hasn't had an opportunity to. Who knows, maybe he'll come back even better!

Even if they split carries between Green, Davenpoop and Gado, I think they'll have a successful running game. Hell, you can all rub this in my face if this is totally wrong, but I think the Packers will have a top 5 running attack in the league. I have a hunch they pound the ball in an attempt to minimize turnovers and wear down defenses.