13-3 season for the Pack? Read this optimistic assessment

[Willard]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/163832-packers-position-battles-resulting-from-the-2009-draft#comments

Highlights:
- Thompson bashers will be silenced with this excellent draft.
- BJ & Clay turn weakness into strength.
- Al Harris' days in GB are numbered. Trade bait?
- Pack's passing game the envy of most other teams.
- Chad Clifton's days in GB are numbered.
- Wells and Poppinga in for a fight for their careers.
- The Pack in the discussion for most talented in NFC (w/ NYG, Panthers).

[vince]

This will no doubt be dismissed as kool-aid chugging homerism by some, but I think its reasonable to have very high expectations of this team going into the season. A few of the pieces need a bit more seasoning, but the potential for greatness is certainly in place - assuming the team can maintain reasonable health at the right positions.

On a side note, I liked the author's retort to one of the responders to the article. A few posters come to mind who might do well for themselves to heed his advice.

PS. Here are some general guidelines for not looking like a fool when posting in an online community:

1. Make arguments, not attacks. An argument is based on facts, attacks usually fail to acknowledge facts and are usually based on emotion.
1b. Don't call names, it just makes you look childish.
2. Take some time to do some research. Old or outdated information is useless when discussing current topics.
3. Make sure you've actually read, and understand, what was being said before making rushing to respond.

These are very basic, once you've mastered them, let me know, and I can share some advanced argumentative techniques.

[oregonpackfan]

I do see a significant turnaround for the Packers. A 13-3 record, however, is unlikely. I think a 10-6 season is more realistic.

[HarveyWallbangers]

That article seemed to be written by a fan. An overly optimistic one. He also repeatedly spelled Tauscher's name incorrectly.

[cpk1994]

I do agree that 13-3 probably won't happen. But this writer is out of his retarded mind if he thinks that TT will get rid of Harris, Chillar and Clifton. Clifton maybe, but Harris? He really is smoking the hard stuff.

[Patler]

I do agree that 13-3 probably won't happen. But this writer is out of his retarded mind if he thinks that TT will get rid of Harris, Chillar and Clifton. Clifton maybe, but Harris? He really is smoking the hard stuff.

Harris might be a fish out of water on occasion in the new D. Besides, they might not have room for him with:

1. Woodson being Woodson
2. Williams, if he is ready to start full time
3. Blackmon, the returning return man
4. Lee if he is ready to be the nickel back; and
5. Underwood as the new CB in training

Which do you release just to hang on to the oldest CB on the roster?

Then throw in Bush as a wild card multi-position deep roster backup, but ST performer. A trade for Harris, getting a low round draft pick would not be the worst thing to do. It would not surprise me one bit if #2 and #4 above are true.

[cpk1994]

I do agree that 13-3 probably won't happen. But this writer is out of his retarded mind if he thinks that TT will get rid of Harris, Chillar and Clifton. Clifton maybe, but Harris? He really is smoking the hard stuff.

Harris might be a fish out of water on occasion in the new D. Besides, they might not have room for him with:

1. Woodson being Woodson
2. Williams, if he is ready to start full time
3. Blackmon, the returning return man
4. Lee if he is ready to be the nickel back; and
5. Underwood as the new CB in training

Which do you release just to hang on to the oldest CB on the roster?

Then throw in Bush as a wild card multi-position deep roster backup, but ST performer. A trade for Harris, getting a low round draft pick would not be the worst thing to do. It would not surprise me one bit if #2 and #4 above are true.

I'd release Pat Lee. You are trying to implement a new D. Capers needs to have the best talent available to him. Harris is still one of the best on the roster. I trust that Capers will maximize his use of Harris and would be better served year one to have another vet over Lee who would have to have major significant improvemnt to even think about moving Harris.

[vince]

While I agree that it's unlikely that Cliffy, Harris and Chillar are all gone before the start of training camp, the general tenor of the article regarding the team's depth and talent are, at minimum, a reasonable take on the state of the Packers.

Not many projected the Cardinals to be NFC representatives in the Super Bowl last year, and fewer yet projected the Giants the year before. Most predicted Coughlin to be fired by mid-season that year.

Those who projected anywhere near 13-3 two year ago for the Packers were also roundly dismissed as unrealistic homers. But it was the self-proclaimed "realists" who were soundly wrong.

Of course, injuries, lack of DL depth, ease of scheming versus the Packer pass rush, and poor special teams reared its ugly head last year. It seems reasonable to project - and only time will tell - that this team has taken strong steps to correct that which ailed them last year.

[HarveyWallbangers]

1. Woodson being Woodson
2. Williams, if he is ready to start full time
3. Blackmon, the returning return man
4. Lee if he is ready to be the nickel back; and
5. Underwood as the new CB in training

Keep Harris. Underwood can be kept as the 4th safety/6th corner.

[RashanGary]

I wouldn't be shocked if Harris is gone. HE's old. He's not a great fit in this defense.

I'd rather see him as nickle, but that is my preference.


Blackmon is awful.

Bush is awful.

Lee was awful. Lee appears dumb. This defense seems to rely on smart players being in the right spot at the right time. Lee's best skill coming out was man coverage and this defense should play very little man coverage\

Underwood is a rookie and should be bad at best in year 1


If I had to guess who makes it, I'd go like this:

Woodson
Williams
Harris
Underwood
Lee (ST's)
Bush (ST's)

I really hope Underwood pans out because I have little to no confidence in Blackmon or Lee panning out and Woodson is getting older.

[bobblehead]

I love April when 2 rookies step right in to perform at a high level and transform a defense by themselves.

If I were a betting man (or more specifically if I could find a line on it) I would bet that Raji doesn't even start. Don't get me wrong, he will get a lot of snaps, but probably won't start. Mathews is harder to tell. I still think if Barnett is healthy the 4 will be Kamp, Barnett, Hawk, Chillar, but that is just me.

[wist43]

Even I've upped my expectations... but they still have a lot of work to do.

Raji will make everyone better on D... Capers will devise game plans that will generate more pressure, and hopefully the OL will be improved.

Add all that together, and you get a contender for the division... not a SB contender though. Although, with an improved defense, the could have a "punchers chance" of making some noise in the playoffs.

[Zool]

What he ^ said.

No reason to not contend for the division this season. Should be a fun season. I hope the D starts knocking the snot out of some people this year.

[RashanGary]

Even I've upped my expectations... but they still have a lot of work to do.

Raji will make everyone better on D... Capers will devise game plans that will generate more pressure, and hopefully the OL will be improved.

Add all that together, and you get a contender for the division... not a SB contender though. Although, with an improved defense, the could have a "punchers chance" of making some noise in the playoffs.

This is where I am. I like the defense, but we'll be kidding ourselves if we think, in one year, we're going to get everyone playing as seamlessly as NE and Pittsburgh do.

Capers is a great coach though. I expect a huge turn around with that unit and I really hope the ST's is also greatly improved with the extra linebackers and what looks like a deeper roster.

Let's remember, we were a top 5 offense a year ago. IF the D and ST's do better, it will give the offense more easy shots a points, more opportunities with the ball and will wear defenses down more. A good defense instead of a bad one will send a huge ripple through this whole team. Plus, the schedule looks much better than a year ago.

I'm very optimistic. I even think this team could contend. I'm skeptical that it will all come together, but I'd be less surprised with a SB than I would be with 5-11.

[Patler]

I'd release Pat Lee. You are trying to implement a new D. Capers needs to have the best talent available to him. Harris is still one of the best on the roster. I trust that Capers will maximize his use of Harris and would be better served year one to have another vet over Lee who would have to have major significant improvemnt to even think about moving Harris.

Pat Lee? He gets released only if they are convinced he will never put it together. Otherwise, the guy gets more than a single season to prove himself. I agree, he has to show marked improvement from what he showed in pre-season last year, but it could happen. It was said last year that he showed good improvement during the season, and the coaches were anxious to get him on the field, but he had the knee injury and ended up on IR for the last 4 games instead of being able to show what he had learned.

They always say it is better to get rid of a player a year too soon than a year too late. This could be Harris' "year too soon".