TIME TO BE CONCERNED ?

[mmmdk]

No, I'm not concerned...

To be sure there are some issues and trouble spots, but getting whooped by Cleveland in the preseason isn't cause to push the panic button.

My main concerns at this point would be OL depth and everywhere on defense. Raji doesn't belong on the nose in a standard 3-4, and Dom Capers running his beloved 2-4 nickel as a base defense is a recipe to give the QB a comfortable pocket, and give up 5-7 yards, or more, on every running play against it. Hell, 2nd and 15, with Dom in that idiotic front is a viable running down for any offense. Never trusted Dom, and never will.

...and there's your oxymoron!

[denverYooper]

jennings and fin returned to practice today. that means the offense will soon be back to normal, so all we need is a slightly improved defense and we should be ready to roll towards 16-0 and another lombardi

Hopefully Jennings makes it through the season. I hope it was the case that the Packers were being cautious, but his concussion(s?) sounded pretty nasty. Also, he mentioned that this was his 2nd but that the Packers had him down for 3 now.

[Upnorth]

Personally I think it is time to be very concerned, at least for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The Packers on the other hand I will wait until the first game to yell the sky is falling.

[MJZiggy]

At least we know where we stand. Many have the same game plan.

[Patler]

Whether or not to be concerned depends on your expectations. Following 2011, I expect many fans to yell "the sky is falling" if the Packers lose at all before week 6, and whenever the second game of the season is lost.

My only expectation is for them to get into the playoffs. If they do it by going 16-0, great! If they do it by going 9-7, I really don't care.

My one other desire is that their season builds like it did in 2010, so they are playing their best football the second half of the season. I was never comfortable with how well they played offesnsively right out of the gate last year. No team can keep that up for 17 weeks and the playoffs. Consequently, if they are a little out of sync still when the season starts, I really don't care, even if they start out 3-3.

[RashanGary]

Whether or not to be concerned depends on your expectations. Following 2011, I expect many fans to yell "the sky is falling" if the Packers lose at all before week 6, and whenever the second game of the season is lost.

My only expectation is for them to get into the playoffs. If they do it by going 16-0, great! If they do it by going 9-7, I really don't care.

My one other desire is that their season builds like it did in 2010, so they are playing their best football the second half of the season. I was never comfortable with how well they played offesnsively right out of the gate last year. No team can keep that up for 17 weeks and the playoffs. Consequently, if they are a little out of sync still when the season starts, I really don't care, even if they start out 3-3.

More than likely, I think it's the defense that's going to be a work in progress. Each week, those young DL, LB and DB's are going to get a little better.

I think the offense will come out of the gates roaring. I have no problem with that. It's when you play a defense that just got all three of their probowl DL healthy for the first time comes marching in (like the Giants did) that problems begin. Those are the games where your offense is going to struggle. The best against the best. That's when you need to edge it out with ST's and defense. Our defense was awful. I don't think the offense was the problem down the stretch last year. I think it was running into the Giants defense and then not having our defense hold up it's end of the bargain.

[Patler]

More than likely, I think it's the defense that's going to be a work in progress. Each week, those young DL, LB and DB's are going to get a little better.

I think the offense will come out of the gates roaring. I have no problem with that. It's when you play a defense that just got all three of their probowl DL healthy for the first time comes marching in (like the Giants did) that problems begin. Those are the games where your offense is going to struggle. The best against the best. That's when you need to edge it out with ST's and defense. Our defense was awful. I don't think the offense was the problem down the stretch last year. I think it was running into the Giants defense and then not having our defense hold up it's end of the bargain.

I didn't mean to suggest that the offense was the problem last year. Just used it as the example of why I am not concerned now. I don't expect them to come out as strong as they did to start last season, nor do I care at all if the don't for the reasons I said.

There was nothing to be excited about at all on defense last year. I kept expecting it to get better, much better, because they couldn't possibly be that bad for the entire season. But, they were.

As for concern now for the defense. None whatsoever. It was so bad last year, I have no expectations, so no worry or concern now. Heck, it might be next year before the yung'uns come together on defense. Any improvement this year will be appreciated.

[Pugger]

With the additions we added this offseason our defense will be better (we can only get better after 2011). It might take a couple of weeks before the young guys get going but our offense can mask some of that early.

[gbgary]

bush penciled as the starter opposite tw is very disturbing.

[BobDobbs]

With the additions we added this offseason our defense will be better (we can only get better after 2011). It might take a couple of weeks before the young guys get going but our offense can mask some of that early.

I think our defense does have to get better as far as yardage is concerned. But, they did cause a lot of turnovers. That turnover differential was a big part of how many points we scored. I think we may actually need the D to step up pretty big right out of the gate. 49ers were one of the best defenses in the league and the Bears always play us tough. Even Seattle in the third week may have a strong defense this year.

I could definitely see us starting slowly on offense and Packerland freaking out.

[denverYooper]

One thing that might help the defense: Benson. *If* he can give the Packers a more reliable ground game, they might be willing and able to throttle back as needed to control the clock.

[Smidgeon]

I didn't mean to suggest that the offense was the problem last year. Just used it as the example of why I am not concerned now. I don't expect them to come out as strong as they did to start last season, nor do I care at all if the don't for the reasons I said.

There was nothing to be excited about at all on defense last year. I kept expecting it to get better, much better, because they couldn't possibly be that bad for the entire season. But, they were.

As for concern now for the defense. None whatsoever. It was so bad last year, I have no expectations, so no worry or concern now. Heck, it might be next year before the yung'uns come together on defense. Any improvement this year will be appreciated.

I have very high hopes for this year's draft and FA class. And I have hopes that Shields will get it together. But I don't have a lot of hope it will all come together this year. Rookies often don't contribute significantly the first year. So while I have high hopes for the contributors, I also understand hopes are different from expectations.

[rbaloha1]

bush penciled as the starter opposite tw is very disturbing.

Ditto

[Joemailman]

bush penciled as the starter opposite tw is very disturbing.

It likely won't last long. House and Hayward are both better, but House is injured (hopefully not seriously), and Hayward is a rookie.

[mmmdk]

Might be spot on, Packers offense is a dome team for sure! On another note though; I still don't buy our defense is "fixed"...and call me old school but defense wins championships. I'm not worried that Packers will not win games this season but it's those games in january & february that counts. Or are Packers just going to settle for the occasional and lone SB win whenever a superstar QB happens to drop by Green Bay? More SB wins please!

DEFENSE [I want a] DEFENSE !!