Is the Packer roster special?

[Fritz]

I think we have a special roster. Stars on both sides of the ball. There are going to be young guys who step up this yer and become stars too. A star or two is born every year under Ted.

Ted=Barbra Streisand

[Zool]

Ted=Barbra Streisand

When he retires "you don't bring me pro-bowlers.......anymore"

[pbmax]

When he retires "you don't bring me pro-bowlers.......anymore"

That would make Mike Sherman Kris Kristofferson.

[3irty1]

Strange question, I'd argue that the Packers roster has 2 special aspects:

Depth, this remains to be seen this year and isn't even necessary if you are lucky. Last year the team had truly special depth across the Oline, LBers, Safeties, and throughout the offense. Even QB.

Teams like the Eagles might have as many pro bowlers as we do but when you compare those blue chippers, the Packers' are really a league better. The only really all world player is the newfangled corner they nabbed with the crazy name. By the time this current group of Packers is done it could be a who's who of hall of famers.

[sharpe1027]

There is a whole lot of optimism in this thread. I like it!!

I think the Packers have a really good thing going, BUT they might not be as good as the hype. Last year they did an amazing job with a ton of injuries, BUT the post season success makes it all too easy to forget that they were only 10-6 and a 6th seed. Great run through the playoffs though!

I think that the roster is one of the best, but stepping back and trying to be objective (difficult as a big fan), I doubt I would have the same opinion if they had missed the playoffs and the roster was only good enough for them to just get in.

I thought the roster was something special before the start of last year, but I wasn't certain. I still think it is one of the best, but I am still a bit uncertain just how good it is.

[swede]

I think the Packers have a really good thing going, BUT they might not be as good as the hype. Last year they did an amazing job with a ton of injuries, BUT the post season success makes it all too easy to forget that they were only 10-6 and a 6th seed. Great run through the playoffs though!

I think that the roster is one of the best, but stepping back and trying to be objective (difficult as a big fan), I doubt I would have the same opinion if they had missed the playoffs and the roster was only good enough for them to just get in...

[MadScientist]

I think that the roster is one of the best, but stepping back and trying to be objective (difficult as a big fan), I doubt I would have the same opinion if they had missed the playoffs and the roster was only good enough for them to just get in.

Maybe, but the rest of us Kool-aid drinkers would have just chalked it up to the ridiculous number of injuries. It took a bit of luck to get into the playoffs, but once there, this team showed a lot. The key this year will be the left side of the O-line. If Lang can pass block as well as Colledge and if Clifton can hold up (or have Newhouse fill in adequately) then this should be an elite team. If not, then it's trouble.

[bobblehead]

homer!

I'm sort-of kidding. I remember many years when I've looked at the Packers, and especially the Badgers, at the start of the team and thought, "no holes." Then the team goes .500

I just think fans can not be objective. We look at the potential of players, we hope, and always guess they are above average, like the children of Lake Wobagon.

This is fair, and I have been guilty of the same. Part of my optimism right now is that this team got stronger with injuries. That shows superior depth. They also never get blown out. When you are in every game, it speaks volumes. Position by position, we have a couple small weaknesses and a few question marks. I think our RB's are average. Our LG, FS, and LOLB are all unproven. Out of those contending for those positions, only Burnett looks like he could be an all pro.

BUT...to win in the NFL, you need certain things. A very good LT (check), a pass rush (check, but could be better), superior QB play (check), ability to adapt to your opponents weakness (check). You simply need to be average at the rest.

[bobblehead]

Food for thought: The Eagles are now unofficially worried about their O line after a bad preseason performance. And it had some problems last year. I don't think they can be labeled a juggernaut yet. And that roster still has holes at WR (Jackson has been banged up and injured before, Maclin is still limited), LB and safety.

I watched them against the Browns last night and the Eagles LB corps are shit. If any team can power run the ball, Vick can take a nap between possessions.

[HarveyWallbangers]

That could very likely be Philly's downfall. Their DL can rush the QB, but it's not a good run stopping unit on the whole. And they may have the worst starting LB corps in the NFL. Of course, they are talented enough on offense (provided Vick's stays healthy) to outscore people, and good luck falling behind them and having to pass your way back into the game.

[Lurker64]

That could very likely be Philly's downfall. Their DL can rush the QB, but it's not a good run stopping unit on the whole. And they may have the worst starting LB corps in the NFL. Of course, they are talented enough on offense (provided Vick's stays healthy) to outscore people, and good luck falling behind them and having to pass your way back into the game.

Well, the thesis for the Iggles defense this year is for Vick and the explosive offense to get the team to jump out to a lead, so the other team is coming from behind and the Eagles can just line up in nickel and rush the passer (which they're set up pretty well to do.) The problem is, of course, if Vick doesn't play lights out and the Eagles are playing from behind instead of ahead, they're kind of screwed against a team who can run the ball.

The Packers definitely made hay with the "we will play nickel as often as possible last year" but that's largely because the Packers were actually very successful at stopping the run when it mattered (stopping the run matters on 3rd and short, stopping the run does not really matter on first and 10 or second and 6.) You need to be able to do two things in the NFL to turn a good defense into a championship defense: stop the pass on third and medium-long, and stop the run on third and short. The Eagles defense is set up to do the former pretty well, but definitely not the latter.

[Brandon494]

Were we good at stopping the run last season? If their defense can create turnovers they will be fine.

[ThunderDan]

There is a whole lot of optimism in this thread. I like it!!

I think the Packers have a really good thing going, BUT they might not be as good as the hype. Last year they did an amazing job with a ton of injuries, BUT the post season success makes it all too easy to forget that they were only 10-6 and a 6th seed. Great run through the playoffs though!

I think that the roster is one of the best, but stepping back and trying to be objective (difficult as a big fan), I doubt I would have the same opinion if they had missed the playoffs and the roster was only good enough for them to just get in.

I thought the roster was something special before the start of last year, but I wasn't certain. I still think it is one of the best, but I am still a bit uncertain just how good it is.

If Finley stays healthy this year the Packers O will win 9-11 games on their own throw in our D and we are 13-3 with Superbowl aspirations.

[Lurker64]

Were we good at stopping the run last season? If their defense can create turnovers they will be fine.

When it mattered, yes, absolutely.

According to Football Outsiders, in terms of "Power Rank" in 2010 (defined as):

Percentage of runs on third or fourth down, two yards or less to go, that achieved a first down or touchdown. Also includes runs on first-and-goal or second-and-goal from the two-yard line or closer. This is the only statistic on this page that includes quarterbacks. Teams are ranked from lowest power success percentage allowed (#1) to highest power success percentage allowed (#32).

We were ranked #2.

We were also 5th best in the league in terms of preventing open-field running yards.

[Scott Campbell]

Somebody in this thread mentioned the Packer SB of 90's, or maybe I just imagined they did. That team was way more stacked than this one. The Ron Wolfe era was totally different. You had th Cowboys building a team of allstars with 2-deep talent.

There wasn't 2-deep talent on that team. They don't win squat with Jason Garret under center.