TEAMS on the RISE in AFC/NFC with shot at Playoffs

[MichiganPackerFan]

... and hopefully Rodgers can stay upright thru another season - he's been better than I thought he could ever be, but he didn't bring us from behind even once did he???

Wist,

Been a couple of years since we butted heads on, well, almost everything! Hoping to do more of that this season.

My only thought/counterpoint here is that while I it would have been great to see Rodgers come from behind to win some of those games, it was more the case that the Defense came from ahead to lose those games. I think he'll turn in some comebacks, but he should have never been in the position where he needed to!

[retailguy]

... and hopefully Rodgers can stay upright thru another season - he's been better than I thought he could ever be, but he didn't bring us from behind even once did he???

Wist,

Been a couple of years since we butted heads on, well, almost everything! Hoping to do more of that this season.

My only thought/counterpoint here is that while I it would have been great to see Rodgers come from behind to win some of those games, it was more the case that the Defense came from ahead to lose those games. I think he'll turn in some comebacks, but he should have never been in the position where he needed to!

To be fair, Rodgers did bring us from behind for a victory in the Detroit game. That was after the defense gave up a significant lead IIRC.

[MadScientist]

My only thought/counterpoint here is that while I it would have been great to see Rodgers come from behind to win some of those games, it was more the case that the Defense came from ahead to lose those games. I think he'll turn in some comebacks, but he should have never been in the position where he needed to!

To be fair, Rodgers did bring us from behind for a victory in the Detroit game. That was after the defense gave up a significant lead IIRC.

I think MPF was referring to games against NFL teams - the '08 Lions don't count.

[MichiganPackerFan]

To be fair, Rodgers did bring us from behind for a victory in the Detroit game. That was after the defense gave up a significant lead IIRC.

In Michigan the old joke was:
Q. Why doesn't Flint have a professional football team?
A. Because then Detroit would want one!

I'm having a hard time remembering back to which game that was. In September game, he gave them a huge lead and then the defense gave it up. Rodgers got them a FG to go back ahead, but then Woodson picked off two in his hometown, returning one and Collins also returned one to seal the comeback. The December game was simply trying to avoid embarrasment of letting Detroit go 1-15.

[woodbuck27]

I love that Waldo is open-minded - he does the statistical review and then draws some conclusions. He's also very intelligent and a very good poster.

Impressive.

Who has that much time... Good God

I think we should all pitch in and buy Waldo a hooker???

hahahahahahaha. Now that's funny.

Waldo is THE serious NFL FAN. Congratulations.

Waldo? Are you single? Have a very understanding Lady?

[woodbuck27]

Re: TEAMS on the RISE in AFC/NFC with shot at Playoffs

Thought it would be interesting to make a case for 2 teams from both the AFC and NFC who did not make the playoffs last year and could pass by teams from last year and make them in 2009.

Please Exclude the Patriots since they would be on everybody's picks.

Here is my take from the NFC

1. New Orleans Saints

Explosive Offense that signed a couple free agents in the secondary in Jabari Green and Darren Sharper that should help the defense. Also liked what they did in the draft in selecting the best CB in the draft in Malcolm Jenkins. Also brought on the DC everybody pretty much wanted in Greg Williams and that D IMO will be vastly improved. And for good karma don't be surprises if they keep Jonathon Casillas from the Badgers Stable QB with a rushing attack that might be scary as well. Pierre Thomas looked to be a big improvement over Deuce McCalister, and Reggie Bush is back. Loads of talent at WR as well and don't forget about Robert Meacham Don't be too surprisd if this team wins 10-11 games and the division

2. Green Bay Packers

I try to be anti homer, but with that being said this offense should be very good this year. I look for a more stable rushing attack and I think it's a focus of MM to put a OL out there that is stronger this year. Moving Wells out will be the first sign. Stable QB with weapons everywhere. And Ryan Grant has the full offseason and will be healthy and good for 13-1500 IMO
Listened to Donald Driver on the NFL Radio today and he was raving on how the defense was confusing the crap out of the offense this year and handling them. Vanilla Predictable Bob is gone, and in comes the Dominator. We'll see the type of confusion on opposing offenses this year that we haven't seen since Fritz was around. Like NO, Don't be surprised if this team wins 10-11 and a division.

AFC

1. Houston Texans

Hard not to love this offense. Schuab is very solid; just needs to stay healthy. Andre Johnson may be the best WR in the NFL and surely the top 3. Steve Slaton is the real deal, and Owen Daniels is very solid. They needed help on defense and added free agents Cato June and Antonio Smith, and then drafted Brian Cushing and Conner Barwin. Gotta like what they've done in FA and the draft. The tough part for the Texans is they compete with Indy and Tennessee in that division. But IMO if they stay healthy it's likely they have their first season above .500 and the playoffs would not surprise me.

2. Buffalo Bills

OK, this was a tough call but to me the second came down to the Bills or the Broncos. TO has a one year contract. TO and Lee Evans are one of the better one-two punches in the NFL. Dick Jauron is fighting for his job and if they start slow could be the first coach fired in 2009. But I'd hedging my gut to think they might make a playoff run. They drafted a solid LB last year in Paul Posluszny and this year added Penn State DE Aaron Maybin. New England will win this division, but the Bills might jump from the cellar to 2nd place

Here's the straight up as I see it with our team:

Aaron Rodgers was sensational as a Rookie last season. He passed for big yards and 28 TD's and he protected the ball well. He needs an improved OL. Therein lies our Achilles heal. If Aaron gets injured what do we have as a back-up QB? We need some consistency from our OL.

Next up our running game. We need an outside threat. It's easy to run for yards when the running back has a gaping hole to slide through but that's not always going to be the case and we need a running back that can bounce outside.

Tightend production and the screenpass. We again look weak in this position and we need to see some production with our running backs and the use of the screen pass. We need to see some versatility out of the backfield and a real west coast offense.

The defense on our team is one huge question mark and it has to be managed this season not next. It's all about now and winning the NFCN title back. A failure again on defense could turn out to be very embarassing to the Packer organization and I don't need to go into the details of all that here. We have to pursue the ball and stop the run. Then will our aging cornerbacks do the job against the pass? We have the same nagging questions with our secondary and possibly a malcontent Nick Collins. Who will step up in the other safety position?

GO PACKERS!

[SnakeLH2006]

Re: TEAMS on the RISE in AFC/NFC with shot at Playoffs

Here's the straight up as I see it with our team:

Aaron Rodgers was sensational as a Rookie last season. He passed for big yards and 28 TD's and he protected the ball well. He needs an improved OL. Therein lies our Achilles heal. If Aaron gets injured what do we have as a back-up QB? We need some consistency from our OL.

Next up our running game. We need an outside threat. It's easy to run for yards when the running back has a gaping hole to slide through but that's not always going to be the case and we need a running back that can bounce outside.

Tightend production and the screenpass. We again look weak in this position and we need to see some production with our running backs and the use of the screen pass. We need to see some versatility out of the backfield and a real west coast offense.

The defense on our team is one huge question mark and it has to be managed this season not next. It's all about now and winning the NFCN title back. A failure again on defense could turn out to be very embarassing to the Packer organization and I don't need to go into the details of all that here. We have to pursue the ball and stop the run. Then will our aging cornerbacks do the job against the pass? We have the same nagging questions with our secondary and possibly a malcontent Nick Collins. Who will step up in the other safety position?

GO PACKERS!

Arod was not a rookie..this will be his 5th year in GB. I get your point, but he performed above expectations for Snake, but nothing where I was WTF? Who is this guy.

..The OL..agreed, the achilles heel of the O. We desperately need a stud somewhere to emerge or draft one. The OL is below average leading to RB's....

RB's...Never been a Grant fan, but he is pedestrian at best, but hopefully BJack rises up as the outside threat. Grant DID look tentative at best last year, as I liked him in '07 going balls out. Looks like he didn't try hard to get yards like his first year in GB. Need an upgrade there too.

The D. Looks great on paper, but at some point, yes those old corners will just stop making plays, and get whooped. Woodson is a gamer, and lost his speed years ago (safety in 2010?). Al never had speed, but again, those guys aren't asked to run track sprints around the field. Personally, I feel TWill is up to the task to replace one of those guys soon at CB. Lee might be good too, as it's not crazy to to think he "finds it" this year or next.

The LB's are really damn good with good depth (despite what Wist believes). Lots of talent 7 deep. Kampy will be fine. AJ will be better. Barnett hopefully the same. Hopefully Matthews rises up as a starter. Poops, I'm fine with him as a backup, along with Chillar.....AS BACKUPS!!! And really a fan of the Bishop...wouldn't mind if he found a way to start this season, as he really looks the gamer part (tackling machine, makes plays) in the limited time he got. Overall the LB might be the strength of the 2009 Pack. No?

DL....much to be desired as we really need them to be average in 2009 and either draft/sign a stud in 2010. The DL scares Snake the most, though.

[Bretsky]

Interesting to look back on these; looks like I was way off on the Bills