2009: Another Slow Start in the Cards?

[Fritz]

Okay...the players that now seem like sure top-5 picks might slide to the end of the first round after the combine, so that topic's played out for the moment...Favre's retirement is always fun, but wait, he plays for another team. The angst over hiring a coaching staff is gone.

So here's a slight but possibly interesting thread idea, which some have commented upon obtrusely in other threads: will the Packers get off to a slow start next year? And if they do, will it affect MM's future - and TT's?

I fear a slow start due to three factors: the now-historically slow-starting run game (and it looks like - again - the offensive line will be different this year), the difficulty of playing at NFL speed when your defense is still thinking its way through the 3-4, and the injury factor: length of recovery time for a guy like Nick Barnett (not sure about Jenkins), and Justin Harrell's back.

Will a 1-4 start or something like it cause so much dissatisfaction that the season will slide into oblivion, as it did this year? MM never did get it "corrected."

Tell me what you think. Tell me I'm wrong. Tell me Capers has the same ingredients he did the last two times he converted a defense to a 3-4 and had success. Tell me why Grant will run for 100+ yards in the first five games of the season. Or tell me my worst fears will be confirmed.

Packer nation, discuss.

[Cheesehead Craig]

I think a healthier Grant who doesn't miss training camp will be much better at the beginning of the season than last year. So that alone will help our early season rushing attack.

With A-Rod now with a full season under his belt, the passing playbook can be opened up more and he'll start to see more of the field, thus making our offense more efficient.

While the front 7 learns their way into the 3-4, they can't perform much worse then they did last season. I feel that the quality of coaching has dramatically increased on that side of the ball and so therefore the learning curve will be shortened and the player's abilities will be maximized more often than in the past. The better coaching will offset the inexperience.

I don't see a slow start to the Packers next season. I can certainly see how that can be expected though.

[cpk1994]

Re: 2009: Another Slow Start in the Cards?

Okay...the players that now seem like sure top-5 picks might slide to the end of the first round after the combine, so that topic's played out for the moment...Favre's retirement is always fun, but wait, he plays for another team. The angst over hiring a coaching staff is gone.

So here's a slight but possibly interesting thread idea, which some have commented upon obtrusely in other threads: will the Packers get off to a slow start next year? And if they do, will it affect MM's future - and TT's?

I fear a slow start due to three factors: the now-historically slow-starting run game (and it looks like - again - the offensive line will be different this year), the difficulty of playing at NFL speed when your defense is still thinking its way through the 3-4, and the injury factor: length of recovery time for a guy like Nick Barnett (not sure about Jenkins), and Justin Harrell's back.

Will a 1-4 start or something like it cause so much dissatisfaction that the season will slide into oblivion, as it did this year? MM never did get it "corrected."

Tell me what you think. Tell me I'm wrong. Tell me Capers has the same ingredients he did the last two times he converted a defense to a 3-4 and had success. Tell me why Grant will run for 100+ yards in the first five games of the season. Or tell me my worst fears will be confirmed.

Packer nation, discuss.

I can't tell you your're wrong, but I can't tell you you are right either. We need to wait and see what TT does in FA and the draft to get a better picture of what this team will have at its disposal.

That said, while your concerns are vaild, there are reasons for optimism, as well. ARod now has a year of expierence under his belt and should get even better. Grant will be fully healthy and without a contract to worry about so the running game should realistically get off to a better start. The secondary should be good again. There will be no distractions this off season, including no real pressing FA resignings, so the team can go about its business with full attention to the task at hand.

Basically I think we just need to wait and see what they come into training camp with.

[Fritz]

I feel better already. And I had forgotten that the pall of the Favre drama will not be hanging over the team this year.

[Pacopete4]

I feel better already. And I had forgotten that the pall of the Favre drama will not be hanging over the team this year.

I'm glad.. Gives TT butt rammers one less excuse to use when this team falls flat again and his record as GM gets even worse because he sits on his hands and thinks he's better than anyone that's ever drafted a team in the NFL..

[mission]

I feel better already. And I had forgotten that the pall of the Favre drama will not be hanging over the team this year.

I really gotta think this one can make a fight for #1 (against D Coaching) reason why we'll come out of the gates strong next season.

Think back to some of the worst moments of that debacle... how did YOU feel? Something strange in the pit of your stomach. I know for me, last off season was really shitty.

Imagine being inside of that... team torn, A-Rod... man...

This offseason is refreshing and I see no reason it won't positively affect the team just as it negatively did last year.

[Fritz]

Two points, Mission.

First, very smooth job of simply ignoring PP's inanity.

Second, I did wonder, last summer, if the drama would affect the team. I hoped it would pull the team together - let's show 'em we can win anyway! - but that obviously didn't happen.

I'm hoping for a harmonious offseason - re-upping a bunch of current Packers (like most posters, Jennings and Collins top my list, though I'd hate to see Colledge spend his crappy years developing in GB and then go somewhere else and play well), a draft heavy on the "D" and good attendance at the offseason stuff, and finally, an injury-free (well, minimal injury) training camp.

[Joemailman]

The issue of the Packers having a new defensive scheme to adjust to works both ways. On one hand. the Packers could go through some growing pains. On the other hand, opposing offenses early on could have a tough adjustment to make since the Packers have been a 4-3 team for years. It will likely be a hybrid defense in 2009, and Capers will do his best to keep opposing offenses guessing.

Offensively, the key is the running game. The Packers really need to see the 2007 Ryan Grant, not the 2008 version. I expect the passing offense to be outstanding. Nelson won't be a rookie, and Jones should be healthy. I expect Arod to have a banner year.

[Fritz]

I'm a big Jones fan. I hope that dude has a breakout year. He's big and strong and when he concentrates he seems able to make the tough catch.

[cpk1994]

Two points, Mission.

First, very smooth job of simply ignoring PP's inanity.

Second, I did wonder, last summer, if the drama would affect the team. I hoped it would pull the team together - let's show 'em we can win anyway! - but that obviously didn't happen.

I'm hoping for a harmonious offseason - re-upping a bunch of current Packers (like most posters, Jennings and Collins top my list, though I'd hate to see Colledge spend his crappy years developing in GB and then go somewhere else and play well), a draft heavy on the "D" and good attendance at the offseason stuff, and finally, an injury-free (well, minimal injury) training camp.

The lack of drama will certainly be good for Rodgers. He can now concentrate on the job at hand, instead of having to handle the unfair treatment from the media.

I agree about Jennings and Collins, but I am not as sold as you are on Colledge. I don't know if TT needs to go heavy on the D, but I think a draft with mostly Lineman, O & D, will suffice.

[cpk1994]

Offensively, the key is the running game. The Packers really need to see the 2007 Ryan Grant, not the 2008 version.

I think their is a good chance of seeing the 2007 Ryan Grant. This year he will come in fully healthy and able to fully participate in all activities as he doesn't have a contract to worry about.

[mission]

Two points, Mission.

First, very smooth job of simply ignoring PP's inanity.

Second, I did wonder, last summer, if the drama would affect the team. I hoped it would pull the team together - let's show 'em we can win anyway! - but that obviously didn't happen.

I'm hoping for a harmonious offseason - re-upping a bunch of current Packers (like most posters, Jennings and Collins top my list, though I'd hate to see Colledge spend his crappy years developing in GB and then go somewhere else and play well), a draft heavy on the "D" and good attendance at the offseason stuff, and finally, an injury-free (well, minimal injury) training camp.

I was with you in the "it'll pull em together" camp but I guess that's the glass-half-full in me.

Either way, I'm stickin with that same attitude this year with the defensive changes and no one having to take a side in the locker room.

What should really get this forum going is a good draft and a splash or two in FA ... if we can do that, draft well for defense/o-line then we should see some of our moves translate to wins on the field.


(as for PP, what can you really say to that? lol ... I'm learning Fritz, hang with me!)

[retailguy]

I feel better already. And I had forgotten that the pall of the Favre drama will not be hanging over the team this year.

I'm glad.. Gives TT butt rammers one less excuse to use when this team falls flat again and his record as GM gets even worse because he sits on his hands and thinks he's better than anyone that's ever drafted a team in the NFL..

What useful purpose did this serve? We're past this type of stuff. As a final warning, my quarter is two headed and I'll be looking for tails. In short, if this keeps up, you won't be coming back...

[texaspackerbacker]

Is the schedule even out yet?

Talking about 1-4, gosh, maybe you negativists will want to amend that to 0-5 if the Lions aren't in the first five games.

As was said, having Grant healthy alone will make a lot of difference. The biggest factor, though--other than possibly schedule--is kinda up to McCarthy. Even though Rodgers played well right from the start last season, he had a very short leash early and really even later in the season. I think McCarthy's hesitance to open things up was a major reason for the slow start.

It's all kinda hazy now, but that ol' four letter word, L-U-C-K undoubtedly had a lot to do with it--I mean other kinds of bad luck besides the most obvious kind, injuries.

[bobblehead]

One more reason to think we will start off better. MM is feeling a bit of pressure and he won't cut anyone any slack in preseason. If guys aren't performing they will get relegated to the bench fast. Guys who perform will be on the field.