Instead of needs What are your reasons for hope?

[CaliforniaCheez]

There are several thing to be hopeful about, especially improvement in players.

Here are some in no paricular order:

Deitrich-Smith- made the team ahead of a draft pick and was active while Giacomini was not.

Finley - Really improved his play this season.

Havner - Found a roster spot and had fewer drops than Lee. Emergency LB and Special Teams contributor. He can only improve as a TE based on how little he has played it.

Jones - as a late round pick learning a complicated defense, played well enough to keep Poppinga off the field and did not screw up too much. He will only get better.

Sitton - Continued to improve and was solid on the line. One of the least expensive starters on the team.

Wynn - prove he was not a bust in relief duty on the D-line.

Ahman Green may have more years in him.

Lang was active while Giacomini was not.

There is a surplus of FB, WR, LB depth.

Despite all the sacks Rodgers stayed healthy.

There are many positives to take from the season.

[packers11]

I can watch another elite QB for the next 10-12 years... that was my biggest fear ...

I am 20 and I haven't seen a bad QB yet... I'm pretty spoiled

[Smidgeon]

I don't know about surplus of WRs. I would say the amount is just right, providing DD doesn't start slipping. Jennings, Jones (if he can focus and trust himself again), and Jordy all have arrows pointing up. I like talented WRs four deep, even with Finley hitting his stride. So if DD does slip, I hope TT's got an ace up his sleeve...

[MadScientist]

I can watch another elite QB for the next 10-12 years... that was my biggest fear ...

I am 20 and I haven't seen a bad QB yet... I'm pretty spoiled

Sure you've seen bad QB's - they've just been on other teams

As for reasons to be hopeful, I'd say the biggest is that the Packers' needs are in most cases for better backups for injury / age replacements. That is the guys who are starting are good enough to win with.

[denverYooper]

Re: Instead of needs What are your reasons for hope?

Jones - as a late round pick learning a complicated defense, played well enough to keep Poppinga off the field and did not screw up too much. He will only get better.

I'm interested to see how Jones does after an offseason in the weight room. The offseason program should help his game a lot.

Raji, also, should benefit from the offseason program. I expect to see more pass rush from him next year after a full training cycle. I see him really hitting his stride at year 3, but I think he'll show more next year and get better at using that huge base to push the pocket in.

[MichiganPackerFan]

I think Rodgers will be a strong contender for the MVP next season.

[Sparkey]

I can watch another elite QB for the next 10-12 years... that was my biggest fear ...

I am 20 and I haven't seen a bad QB yet... I'm pretty spoiled

Hmmm,

David Whitehurst, Rich Campbell, Randy Wrong errr Wright, Vince Ferragamo, Blair Kiel, Mike Tomczak, Anthony Dilweg, Bill Troup (just threw up in my mouth) and the other POC Piesarkieweicor however it was spelled.

Yeah, lucky you!

[RashanGary]

I haven't seen a bad one and I'm 28. Well, as a young, young kid I remember Dilwig and Wright but barely. I think Dilweg was #8 and Wright was a double digit # but I could be wrong.

Mostly I remember Majkowski, Favre and now Rodgers. Nice run for me.

[Smidgeon]

Re: Instead of needs What are your reasons for hope?

Jones - as a late round pick learning a complicated defense, played well enough to keep Poppinga off the field and did not screw up too much. He will only get better.

I'm interested to see how Jones does after an offseason in the weight room. The offseason program should help his game a lot.

Raji, also, should benefit from the offseason program. I expect to see more pass rush from him next year after a full training cycle. I see him really hitting his stride at year 3, but I think he'll show more next year and get better at using that huge base to push the pocket in.

I think the DE Wynn will get the most value out of the offseason program by putting on good weight.

[RashanGary]

Brad Jones
BJ Raji
Jarius Wynn
Jermichael Finley
Jordy Nelson
Brandon Underwood
Josh Sitton
TJ Lang
Evan Dietrich Smith
Clay Matthews
Quinn Johnson


Who knows how much gain we can get out of these guys. Skys the limit for a lot of them. Then you have:


Rodgers
Jennings
Collins
Jolly
Grant
B Jackson
J Jones
Colledge
Wells
Jenkins
Kuhn
Tramon
Chillar
Barnett


Lots of guys just entering or in the middle of their prime. Not too many old guys that we count on. Might depend on a rookie or two, but next years team is going to be loaded with 2nd - 8th year players (the best kind).

[RashanGary]

I think this Packer team is about to peak. A free agent OT, a free agent nickle back and a good draft and we're one of the SB front runners in the NFC.


Some big improvements from within and a good draft and we could be one of the front runners.


We're right on the doorstep of greatness. Not much more and we're over the top.

[wist43]

Rodgers (who I can't believe has become the QB he is), some other good young talent to build around (Finley, Matthews, Raji, Jennings), some solid vets (Jenkins, Jolly, Woodson, Driver, Grant).

And the switch to the 3-4... w/o the switch, I'd have little hope.

There are still plenty of holes, and more to come open... but, maybe they can make a run one year or another in next few years.

[Packers4Ever]

I can watch another elite QB for the next 10-12 years... that was my biggest fear ...

I am 20 and I haven't seen a bad QB yet... I'm pretty spoiled

Spoiled? LOL Spoiled rotten, I'd say !!
(not really, we still need you)

[MichiganPackerFan]

Rodgers (who I can't believe has become the QB he is), some other good young talent to build around (Finley, Matthews, Raji, Jennings), some solid vets (Jenkins, Jolly, Woodson, Driver, Grant).

And the switch to the 3-4... w/o the switch, I'd have little hope.

There are still plenty of holes, and more to come open... but, maybe they can make a run one year or another in next few years.

(nice post!!!)

[Joemailman]

Packers have 6 Pro Bowl caliber players (Matthews, Collins, Rodgers, Grant, Jennings and Finley) who are 27 or younger. Few teams are so fortunate. Josh Sitton is close to being in this group. This is an unusually strong group of young players to build a team around.