Cliff Christl doubts '06 Packers will be as good as '05 team

[packrulz]

Let's see.

Healthy (hopefully) Ahman Green vs. the stable of RBs last year - Advantage '06

Jason Spitz vs. Adrian Klemm - Hopefully, Advantage '06

Scott Wells vs. Injured Mike Flanagan - Personally, I think this will be at least a wash

Tony Moll vs. Will Whitticker - we'll see

Mike McCarthy and crew vs. Mike Sherman and crew - Who knows?

This team clearly has more talent than last year, but it is young.

the "more talent" could be erased by the coaching.

Jim Bates vs. Bob Sanders? Regardless of the talent level, Bates did wonders with the '05 defense that I don't think will be replicated with Sanders.

The "advantages" on offense, other than Greg Jennings are complete guesses as of now.

Ahman Green has shown nothing that makes me believe we have a top 10 RB that will stay healthy.

The scheme is being forced on the existing talent. We haven't had multiple drafts like the Broncos to flesh out the scheme. Our luck in picking OL's is feeble. Sherman's scheme had been a very good running attack until last year. I don't know if Joe Philbin and Jeff Jagodzinski are Alex Gibbs and Gary Kubiak. In addition, the Denver personnel department is clearly superior to the Packers.

Spitz is just "a guy" at this point as was Adrian Klemm. That's not an upgrade. I see potential with Spitz though.

Tony Moll over Whitticker? How? A wash at best. No evidence.

As I said, I see no running game. 3.4 yards per carry tops and 65 yards per game are my guesses for 2006, And the pass protection looks horrendous.

Bubba Franks is a better blocker than GB's TE's last year, but Donald Lee and David Martin had 60 receptions in '05 vs. Franks and Martin's 39 in '04. If we get the '04 Franks, that's LESS prodution from the TE's.

Franks is very co-ordinated, strong at the point of attack, and a true professional, but he's too stationary to ever be considered a threat except in the redzone. He's become another Ed West. Donald Lee and David Martin are better mid range threats than Bubba Franks, in my opinion. At least there's a hope of a 20+ yard play. None of them are big play guys admittedly.

I guess my point is evidence continues to pile up in my head that Ted Thompson is not another Ron Wolf. I would feel a lot better and be more patient if Ted had gotten a more experienced, winning coaching staff. This staff does not inspire confidence in me, and I doubt it does the players either.

Either Ted Thompson sees something no one else in the the NFL saw in McCarthy, or he just wanted a "yes" man after a year of personal animosity with Mike Sherman.

On the plus side, Seattle was in the Super Bowl. But is Mike McCarthy and his staff the equivalent of Mike Holmgren and his?

Preseason means nothing and TT would rather take young guys with potential instead of older guys who probably are as good as they'll be or have issues. I'm still excited about Hawk/Jennings/Hodge and I think Pickett & Woodson are upgrades.

[Fritz]

Cliff Christl is a gnarly old sour puss.

I think this article qualifies as one of his "feel good" pieces.

You are a funny dude, Scott. And I agree with your assessment.

[mraynrand]

Remember just two years ago when the Packers carried B.J. Sander all season as a second punter?

Different GM. Opposite philosophy.

It was pretty stupid, but did it affect anything, really?

[mraynrand]

If the Packers do better than 4-12 Uncle Cliffy should be forced to eat this article in a brat roll with brown mustard and a Leinenkugel.

I think he'd enjoy this, if it were spicey.

[prsnfoto]

We all need to relax, i am far from a football guru but even i have noticed two things that won't happen anymore now that the season is here:They are playing a lot of zone defense and are barely using the chop block. This team might and i hope be comepletely different come Sunday there might be a reason practices have been closed so long, if we get beat 35-3 then i am wrong but what if we win or lose 21-20 and play well it could happen keep the faith friends.

[Joemailman]

If the Packers do better than 4-12 Uncle Cliffy should be forced to eat this article in a brat roll with brown mustard and a Leinenkugel.

Why waste a great beer on that grouchy old fart? He'd probably say the Leinie's is no better that an Old Milwaukee Light.

[Noodle]

Remember just two years ago when the Packers carried B.J. Sander all season as a second punter?

Different GM. Opposite philosophy.

It was pretty stupid, but did it affect anything, really?

Interesting point. We act like the Sander thing was the ruin of the franchise, but honestly, it really didn't matter all that much in the end. What killed ol Sherman was the Joe Johnson signing not working out. But at least Shermy went out gunning.

Harv, I like the analysis, but I have to agree that the huge unknown is the coaching. If the coaching is good, then every call Harv made will come to pass. If the coaching blows, well, I'd rather not think about that.

[cpk1994]

Remember just two years ago when the Packers carried B.J. Sander all season as a second punter?

Different GM. Opposite philosophy.

It was pretty stupid, but did it affect anything, really?

Yes it did. They only carried 4 recievers that year and could have used that spot to carry another reciever which may have avoided only having two recievers in the Minny playoff game. Oh yes it had an impact? It was that move that convinced me that Sherman was incompetant and had to go.

[mraynrand]

Remember just two years ago when the Packers carried B.J. Sander all season as a second punter?

Different GM. Opposite philosophy.

It was pretty stupid, but did it affect anything, really?

Yes it did. They only carried 4 receivers that year and could have used that spot to carry another reciever which may have avoided only having two recievers in the Minny playoff game. Oh yes it had an impact? It was that move that convinced me that Sherman was incompetant and had to go.

Fine, but would your number five receiver have waltzed into the Viking game and made a difference with Clifton injured, and your defense playing like a sieve? Face facts, the Packers lost to the Vikings because the Vikings were better and some sucky fifth receiver wasn't going to make any damn difference.

Sherman was incompetant? How many other GMs have a career .667 winning percentage. How many were fired?

[Noodle]

Looks to me like we're carrying 4 WRs this year. So you're saying TT = Sherman = stupid?

[HarveyWallbangers]

Looks to me like we're carrying 4 WRs this year. So you're saying TT = Sherman = stupid?

I'm not so sure yet. This roster will change more and soon. Probably this week. Leach or Humphrey will be gone as soon as Hendu is healthy.

[Zool]

If the Packers do better than 4-12 Uncle Cliffy should be forced to eat this article in a brat roll with brown mustard and a Leinenkugel.

I think he'd enjoy this, if it were spicey.

I would enjoy it more if they shoved it up his ass and he had to regurgitate it and feed it to baby birds. This guy is about as qualified to write sports articles as my left testicle.

[the_idle_threat]

I actually like Cliffy. But is he a better sportswriter than Zool's left testicle? I dunno, what has the testicle written?

[the_idle_threat]

I guess my point is evidence continues to pile up in my head that Ted Thompson is not another Ron Wolf.

If AJ Hawk turns out like Terrell Buckley, well then maybe TT is another Ron Wolf ...

[Terry]

Christl: But Martin also is cursed by a lack of speed in a league where speed is of the upmost importance.

Shall we talk about Antonio Freeman?

Ahman Green has shown nothing that makes me believe we have a top 10 RB that will stay healthy.

Green has shown you something that makes you believe he won't stay healthy?